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How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw
Thenonecameforwardwhohadbeenchosentoplaythepriestbecausehehadabaldcrown,andinhishandhecarriedabrimmingpotofale."Now,whobringeththisbabe?"askedherightsoberly.
"ThatdoI,"answeredWillStutely.
"Andwhatnamecallestthouhim?"
"LittleJohncallIhim."
"NowLittleJohn,"quoththemockpriest,"thouhastnotlivedheretofore,butonlygottheealongthroughtheworld,buthenceforththouwiltliveindeed.WhenthoulivedstnotthouwastcalledJohnLittle,butnowthatthoudostliveindeed,LittleJohnshaltthoubecalled,sochristenIthee."AndattheselastwordsheemptiedthepotofaleuponLittleJohn’shead.
ThenallshoutedwithlaughterastheysawthegoodbrownalestreamoverLittleJohn’sbeardandtricklefromhisnoseandchin,whilehiseyesblinkedwiththesmartofit.Atfirsthewasofamindtobeangrybutfoundhecouldnot,becausetheothersweresomerry;sohe,too,laughedwiththerest.ThenRobintookthissweet,prettybabe,clothedhimallanewfromtoptotoeinLincolngreen,andgavehimagoodstoutbow,andsomadehimamemberofthemerryband.
AndthusitwasthatRobinHoodbecameoutlawed;thusabandofmerrycompanionsgatheredabouthim,andthushegainedhisright-handman,LittleJohn;andsotheprologueends.AndnowIwilltellhowtheSheriffofNottinghamthreetimessoughttotakeRobinHood,andhowhefailedeachtime.
