"Give you greetings, lords and ladies," said he.

"But here we go, we three." Then all laughed, and one of the fair ladies cried out, "What three meanest thou, merry friend ?" Little John looked over his shoulder, for they had now passed each other, and he called back, "Big Jack, lean Jack and fat Jack-pudding." At this the fat Friar gave a groan and seemed as if he were like to fall from his saddle for shame; the other brother said nothing, but he looked before him with a grim and stony look.
Just ahead of them the road took a sudden turn around a high hedge, and some twoscore paces beyond the bend another road crossed the one they were riding upon.

When they had come to the crossroad and were well away from those they had left, the lean Friar drew rein suddenly.

"Look ye, fellow," quoth he in a voice quivering with rage, "we have had enough of thy vile company, and care no longer to be made sport of.

Go thy way, and let us go ours in peace." "La there, now!" quoth Little John.