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Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair
ThenErico’Lincolnlaughedaloud."Wellspokenforonewhofearstomeetmefairly,mantoman,"saidhe."Saucyartthouthineownself,andifthouputtestfootupontheseboards,Iwillmakethysaucytonguerattlewithinthyteeth!"
"Now,"quothLittleJohn,"isthereneveramanherethatwilllendmeagoodstoutstafftillItrythemettleofyonfellow?"Atthis,halfascorereachedhimtheirstaves,andhetookthestoutestandheaviestofthemall.Then,lookingupanddownthecudgel,hesaid,"Now,Ihaveinmyhandbutasplintofwood—abarleystraw,asitwere—yetItrowitwillhavetoserveme,soheregoeth."Thereuponhecastthecudgeluponthestandand,leapinglightlyafterit,snatcheditupinhishandagain.
Theneachmanstoodinhisplaceandmeasuredtheotherwithfelllooksuntilhethatdirectedthesportcried,"Play!"Atthistheysteppedforth,eachgraspinghisstafftightlyinthemiddle.Thenthosethatstoodaroundsawthestoutestgameofquarterstaffthate’erNottinghamTownbeheld.AtfirstErico’Lincolnthoughtthathewouldgainaneasyadvantage,sohecameforthasifhewouldsay,"Watch,goodpeople,howthatIcarveyouthiscockerelrightspeedily";buthepresentlyfoundittobenosuchspeedymatter.Rightdeftlyhestruck,andwithgreatskilloffence,buthehadfoundhismatchinLittleJohn.Once,twice,thrice,hestruck,andthreetimesLittleJohnturnedtheblowstothelefthandandtotheright.
