At last Little John cried aloud, "Hold, good Cook!" whereupon each rested upon his sword, panting.
"Now will I make my vow," quoth Little John, "thou art the very best swordsman that ever mine eyes beheld.

Truly, I had thought to carve thee ere now." "And I had thought to do the same by thee," quoth the Cook, "but I have missed the mark somehow." "Now I have been thinking within myself," quoth Little John, "what we are fighting for; but albeit I do not rightly know." "Why, no more do I," said the Cook.

"I bear no love for that pursy Steward, but I thought that we had engaged to fight with one another and that it must be done." "Now," quoth Little John, "it doth seem to me that instead of striving to cut one another's throats, it were better for us to be boon companions.

What sayst thou, jolly Cook, wilt thou go with me to Sherwood Forest and join with Robin Hood's band?
Thou shalt live a merry life within the woodlands, and sevenscore good companions shalt thou have, one of whom is mine own self.

Thou shalt have three suits of Lincoln green each year, and forty marks in pay." "Now, thou art a man after mine own heart!" cried the Cook right heartily, "and, as thou speakest of it, that is the very service for me.