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diff --git a/old/10148.txt b/old/10148.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 3f3c897..0000000 --- a/old/10148.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11580 +0,0 @@ -Project Gutenberg's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org - - -Title: The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood - -Author: Howard Pyle - -Release Date: November 20, 2003 [EBook #10148] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD *** - - - - -Produced by David Widger, Ted Garvin and PG Distributed Proofreaders - - - - -THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD - -by Howard Pyle - - - - -PREFACE - -FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE READER - -You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it shame to give -yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness in the -land of Fancy; you who think that life hath nought to do with innocent -laughter that can harm no one; these pages are not for you. Clap to the -leaves and go no farther than this, for I tell you plainly that if you -go farther you will be scandalized by seeing good, sober folks of real -history so frisk and caper in gay colors and motley that you would not -know them but for the names tagged to them. Here is a stout, lusty -fellow with a quick temper, yet none so ill for all that, who goes by -the name of Henry II. Here is a fair, gentle lady before whom all the -others bow and call her Queen Eleanor. Here is a fat rogue of a fellow, -dressed up in rich robes of a clerical kind, that all the good folk call -my Lord Bishop of Hereford. Here is a certain fellow with a sour temper -and a grim look--the worshipful, the Sheriff of Nottingham. And here, -above all, is a great, tall, merry fellow that roams the greenwood and -joins in homely sports, and sits beside the Sheriff at merry feast, -which same beareth the name of the proudest of the Plantagenets--Richard -of the Lion's Heart. Beside these are a whole host of knights, priests, -nobles, burghers, yeomen, pages, ladies, lasses, landlords, beggars, -peddlers, and what not, all living the merriest of merry lives, and all -bound by nothing but a few odd strands of certain old ballads (snipped -and clipped and tied together again in a score of knots) which draw -these jocund fellows here and there, singing as they go. - -Here you will find a hundred dull, sober, jogging places, all tricked -out with flowers and what not, till no one would know them in their -fanciful dress. And here is a country bearing a well-known name, wherein -no chill mists press upon our spirits, and no rain falls but what rolls -off our backs like April showers off the backs of sleek drakes; where -flowers bloom forever and birds are always singing; where every fellow -hath a merry catch as he travels the roads, and ale and beer and wine -(such as muddle no wits) flow like water in a brook. - -This country is not Fairyland. What is it? 'Tis the land of Fancy, and -is of that pleasant kind that, when you tire of it--whisk!--you clap the -leaves of this book together and 'tis gone, and you are ready for -everyday life, with no harm done. - -And now I lift the curtain that hangs between here and No-man's-land. -Will you come with me, sweet Reader? I thank you. Give me your hand. - - - - -CONTENTS - - How Robin Hood Came To Be An Outlaw - Robin Hood And The Tinker - The Shooting Match At Nottingham Town - Will Stutely Rescued By His Companions - Robin Hood Turns Butcher - Little John Goes To Nottingham Fair - How Little John Lived At The Sheriff's - Little John And The Tanner Of Blyth - Robin Hood And Will Scarlet - The Adventure With Midge, The Miller's Son - Robin Hood And Allan A Dale - Robin Hood Seeks The Curtal Friar - Robin Hood Compasses A Marriage - Robin Hood Aids A Sorrowful Knight - How Sir Richard Of The Lea Paid His Debts - Little John Turns Barefoot Friar - Robin Hood Turns Beggar - Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor - The Chase Of Robin Hood - Robin Hood And Guy Of Gisbourne - King Richard Comes To Sherwood Forest - Epilogue - - - - -PROLOGUE - -Giving an account of Robin Hood and his adventure with the King's -Foresters. Also telling how his band gathered around him, and of the -merry adventure that gained him his good right hand man, the famous -Little John. - - - -How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw - -IN MERRY ENGLAND in the time of old, when good King Henry the Second -ruled the land, there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest, -near Nottingham Town, a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood. No -archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill -and cunning as his, nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore -merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades. Right -merrily they dwelled within the depths of Sherwood Forest, suffering -neither care nor want, but passing the time in merry games of archery or -bouts of cudgel play, living upon the King's venison, washed down with -draughts of ale of October brewing. - -Not only Robin himself but all the band were outlaws and dwelled apart -from other men, yet they were beloved by the country people round about, -for no one ever came to jolly Robin for help in time of need and went -away again with an empty fist. - -And now I will tell how it came about that Robin Hood fell afoul of the -law. - -When Robin was a youth of eighteen, stout of sinew and bold of heart, -the Sheriff of Nottingham proclaimed a shooting match and offered a -prize of a butt of ale to whosoever should shoot the best shaft in -Nottinghamshire. "Now," quoth Robin, "will I go too, for fain would I -draw a string for the bright eyes of my lass and a butt of good October -brewing." So up he got and took his good stout yew bow and a score or -more of broad clothyard arrows, and started off from Locksley Town -through Sherwood Forest to Nottingham. - -It was at the dawn of day in the merry Maytime, when hedgerows are green -and flowers bedeck the meadows; daisies pied and yellow cuckoo buds and -fair primroses all along the briery hedges; when apple buds blossom and -sweet birds sing, the lark at dawn of day, the throstle cock and cuckoo; -when lads and lasses look upon each other with sweet thoughts; when busy -housewives spread their linen to bleach upon the bright green grass. -Sweet was the greenwood as he walked along its paths, and bright the -green and rustling leaves, amid which the little birds sang with might -and main: and blithely Robin whistled as he trudged along, thinking of -Maid Marian and her bright eyes, for at such times a youth's thoughts -are wont to turn pleasantly upon the lass that he loves the best. - -As thus he walked along with a brisk step and a merry whistle, he came -suddenly upon some foresters seated beneath a great oak tree. Fifteen -there were in all, making themselves merry with feasting and drinking as -they sat around a huge pasty, to which each man helped himself, -thrusting his hands into the pie, and washing down that which they ate -with great horns of ale which they drew all foaming from a barrel that -stood nigh. Each man was clad in Lincoln green, and a fine show they -made, seated upon the sward beneath that fair, spreading tree. Then one -of them, with his mouth full, called out to Robin, "Hulloa, where goest -thou, little lad, with thy one-penny bow and thy farthing shafts?" - -Then Robin grew angry, for no stripling likes to be taunted with his -green years. - -"Now," quoth he, "my bow and eke mine arrows are as good as shine; and -moreover, I go to the shooting match at Nottingham Town, which same has -been proclaimed by our good Sheriff of Nottinghamshire; there I will -shoot with other stout yeomen, for a prize has been offered of a fine -butt of ale." - -Then one who held a horn of ale in his hand said, "Ho! listen to the -lad! Why, boy, thy mother's milk is yet scarce dry upon thy lips, and -yet thou pratest of standing up with good stout men at Nottingham butts, -thou who art scarce able to draw one string of a two-stone bow." - -"I'll hold the best of you twenty marks," quoth bold Robin, "that I hit -the clout at threescore rods, by the good help of Our Lady fair." - -At this all laughed aloud, and one said, "Well boasted, thou fair -infant, well boasted! And well thou knowest that no target is nigh to -make good thy wager." - -And another cried, "He will be taking ale with his milk next." - -At this Robin grew right mad. "Hark ye," said he, "yonder, at the -glade's end, I see a herd of deer, even more than threescore rods -distant. I'll hold you twenty marks that, by leave of Our Lady, I cause -the best hart among them to die." - -"Now done!" cried he who had spoken first. "And here are twenty marks. -I wager that thou causest no beast to die, with or without the aid of -Our Lady." - -Then Robin took his good yew bow in his hand, and placing the tip at his -instep, he strung it right deftly; then he nocked a broad clothyard -arrow and, raising the bow, drew the gray goose feather to his ear; the -next moment the bowstring rang and the arrow sped down the glade as a -sparrowhawk skims in a northern wind. High leaped the noblest hart of -all the herd, only to fall dead, reddening the green path with his -heart's blood. - -"Ha!" cried Robin, "how likest thou that shot, good fellow? I wot the -wager were mine, an it were three hundred pounds." - -Then all the foresters were filled with rage, and he who had spoken the -first and had lost the wager was more angry than all. - -"Nay," cried he, "the wager is none of thine, and get thee gone, -straightway, or, by all the saints of heaven, I'll baste thy sides until -thou wilt ne'er be able to walk again." "Knowest thou not," said -another, "that thou hast killed the King's deer, and, by the laws of our -gracious lord and sovereign King Harry, thine ears should be shaven -close to thy head?" - -"Catch him!" cried a third. - -"Nay," said a fourth, "let him e'en go because of his tender years." - -Never a word said Robin Hood, but he looked at the foresters with a grim -face; then, turning on his heel, strode away from them down the forest -glade. But his heart was bitterly angry, for his blood was hot and -youthful and prone to boil. - -Now, well would it have been for him who had first spoken had he left -Robin Hood alone; but his anger was hot, both because the youth had -gotten the better of him and because of the deep draughts of ale that he -had been quaffing. So, of a sudden, without any warning, he sprang to -his feet, and seized upon his bow and fitted it to a shaft. "Ay," cried -he, "and I'll hurry thee anon." And he sent the arrow whistling after -Robin. - -It was well for Robin Hood that that same forester's head was spinning -with ale, or else he would never have taken another step. As it was, the -arrow whistled within three inches of his head. Then he turned around -and quickly drew his own bow, and sent an arrow back in return. - -"Ye said I was no archer," cried he aloud, "but say so now again!" - -The shaft flew straight; the archer fell forward with a cry, and lay on -his face upon the ground, his arrows rattling about him from out of his -quiver, the gray goose shaft wet with his; heart's blood. Then, before -the others could gather their wits about them, Robin Hood was gone into -the depths of the greenwood. Some started after him, but not with much -heart, for each feared to suffer the death of his fellow; so presently -they all came and lifted the dead man up and bore him away to Nottingham -Town. - -Meanwhile Robin Hood ran through the greenwood. Gone was all the joy -and brightness from everything, for his heart was sick within him, and -it was borne in upon his soul that he had slain a man. - -"Alas!" cried he, "thou hast found me an archer that will make thy wife -to wring! I would that thou hadst ne'er said one word to me, or that I -had never passed thy way, or e'en that my right forefinger had been -stricken off ere that this had happened! In haste I smote, but grieve I -sore at leisure!" And then, even in his trouble, he remembered the old -saw that "What is done is done; and the egg cracked cannot be cured." - -And so he came to dwell in the greenwood that was to be his home for -many a year to come, never again to see the happy days with the lads and -lasses of sweet Locksley Town; for he was outlawed, not only because he -had killed a man, but also because he had poached upon the King's deer, -and two hundred pounds were set upon his head, as a reward for whoever -would bring him to the court of the King. - -Now the Sheriff of Nottingham swore that he himself would bring this -knave Robin Hood to justice, and for two reasons: first, because he -wanted the two hundred pounds, and next, because the forester that Robin -Hood had killed was of kin to him. - -But Robin Hood lay hidden in Sherwood Forest for one year, and in that -time there gathered around him many others like himself, cast out from -other folk for this cause and for that. Some had shot deer in hungry -wintertime, when they could get no other food, and had been seen in the -act by the foresters, but had escaped, thus saving their ears; some had -been turned out of their inheritance, that their farms might be added to -the King's lands in Sherwood Forest; some had been despoiled by a great -baron or a rich abbot or a powerful esquire--all, for one cause or -another, had come to Sherwood to escape wrong and oppression. - -So, in all that year, fivescore or more good stout yeomen gathered about -Robin Hood, and chose him to be their leader and chief. Then they vowed -that even as they themselves had been despoiled they would despoil their -oppressors, whether baron, abbot, knight, or squire, and that from each -they would take that which had been wrung from the poor by unjust taxes, -or land rents, or in wrongful fines. But to the poor folk they would -give a helping hand in need and trouble, and would return to them that -which had been unjustly taken from them. Besides this, they swore never -to harm a child nor to wrong a woman, be she maid, wife, or widow; so -that, after a while, when the people began to find that no harm was -meant to them, but that money or food came in time of want to many a -poor family, they came to praise Robin and his merry men, and to tell -many tales of him and of his doings in Sherwood Forest, for they felt -him to be one of themselves. - -Up rose Robin Hood one merry morn when all the birds were singing -blithely among the leaves, and up rose all his merry men, each fellow -washing his head and hands in the cold brown brook that leaped laughing -from stone to stone. Then said Robin, "For fourteen days have we seen no -sport, so now I will go abroad to seek adventures forthwith. But tarry -ye, my merry men all, here in the greenwood; only see that ye mind well -my call. Three blasts upon the bugle horn I will blow in my hour of -need; then come quickly, for I shall want your aid." - -So saying, he strode away through the leafy forest glades until he had -come to the verge of Sherwood. There he wandered for a long time, -through highway and byway, through dingly dell and forest skirts. Now he -met a fair buxom lass in a shady lane, and each gave the other a merry -word and passed their way; now he saw a fair lady upon an ambling pad, -to whom he doffed his cap, and who bowed sedately in return to the fair -youth; now he saw a fat monk on a pannier-laden ass; now a gallant -knight, with spear and shield and armor that flashed brightly in the -sunlight; now a page clad in crimson; and now a stout burgher from good -Nottingham Town, pacing along with serious footsteps; all these sights -he saw, but adventure found he none. At last he took a road by the -forest skirts, a bypath that dipped toward a broad, pebbly stream -spanned by a narrow bridge made of a log of wood. As he drew nigh this -bridge he saw a tall stranger coming from the other side. Thereupon -Robin quickened his pace, as did the stranger likewise, each thinking to -cross first. - -"Now stand thou back," quoth Robin, "and let the better man cross -first." - -"Nay," answered the stranger, "then stand back shine own self, for the -better man, I wet, am I." - -"That will we presently see," quoth Robin, "and meanwhile stand thou -where thou art, or else, by the bright brow of Saint AElfrida, I will -show thee right good Nottingham play with a clothyard shaft betwixt thy -ribs." - -"Now," quoth the stranger, "I will tan thy hide till it be as many -colors as a beggar's cloak, if thou darest so much as touch a string of -that same bow that thou holdest in thy hands." - -"Thou pratest like an ass," said Robin, "for I could send this shaft -clean through thy proud heart before a curtal friar could say grace over -a roast goose at Michaelmastide." - -"And thou pratest like a coward," answered the stranger, "for thou -standest there with a good yew bow to shoot at my heart, while I have -nought in my hand but a plain blackthorn staff wherewith to meet thee." - -"Now," quoth Robin, "by the faith of my heart, never have I had a -coward's name in all my life before. I will lay by my trusty bow and -eke my arrows, and if thou darest abide my coming, I will go and cut a -cudgel to test thy manhood withal." - -"Ay, marry, that will I abide thy coming, and joyously, too," quoth the -stranger; whereupon he leaned sturdily upon his staff to await Robin. - -Then Robin Hood stepped quickly to the coverside and cut a good staff of -ground oak, straight, without new, and six feet in length, and came back -trimming away the tender stems from it, while the stranger waited for -him, leaning upon his staff, and whistling as he gazed round about. -Robin observed him furtively as he trimmed his staff, measuring him from -top to toe from out the corner of his eye, and thought that he had never -seen a lustier or a stouter man. Tall was Robin, but taller was the -stranger by a head and a neck, for he was seven feet in height. Broad -was Robin across the shoulders, but broader was the stranger by twice -the breadth of a palm, while he measured at least an ell around the -waist. - -"Nevertheless," said Robin to himself, "I will baste thy hide right -merrily, my good fellow"; then, aloud, "Lo, here is my good staff, lusty -and tough. Now wait my coming, an thou darest, and meet me an thou -fearest not. Then we will fight until one or the other of us tumble into -the stream by dint of blows." - -"Marry, that meeteth my whole heart!" cried the stranger, twirling his -staff above his head, betwixt his fingers and thumb, until it whistled -again. - -Never did the Knights of Arthur's Round Table meet in a stouter fight -than did these two. In a moment Robin stepped quickly upon the bridge -where the stranger stood; first he made a feint, and then delivered a -blow at the stranger's head that, had it met its mark, would have -tumbled him speedily into the water. But the stranger turned the blow -right deftly and in return gave one as stout, which Robin also turned as -the stranger had done. So they stood, each in his place, neither moving -a finger's-breadth back, for one good hour, and many blows were given -and received by each in that time, till here and there were sore bones -and bumps, yet neither thought of crying "Enough," nor seemed likely to -fall from off the bridge. Now and then they stopped to rest, and each -thought that he never had seen in all his life before such a hand at -quarterstaff. At last Robin gave the stranger a blow upon the ribs that -made his jacket smoke like a damp straw thatch in the sun. So shrewd -was the stroke that the stranger came within a hair's-breadth of falling -off the bridge, but he regained himself right quickly and, by a -dexterous blow, gave Robin a crack on the crown that caused the blood to -flow. Then Robin grew mad with anger and smote with all his might at the -other. But the stranger warded the blow and once again thwacked Robin, -and this time so fairly that he fell heels over head into the water, as -the queen pin falls in a game of bowls. - -"And where art thou now, my good lad?" shouted the stranger, roaring -with laughter. - -"Oh, in the flood and floating adown with the tide," cried Robin, nor -could he forbear laughing himself at his sorry plight. Then, gaining his -feet, he waded to the bank, the little fish speeding hither and thither, -all frightened at his splashing. - -"Give me thy hand," cried he, when he had reached the bank. "I must -needs own thou art a brave and a sturdy soul and, withal, a good stout -stroke with the cudgels. By this and by that, my head hummeth like to a -hive of bees on a hot June day." - -Then he clapped his horn to his lips and winded a blast that went -echoing sweetly down the forest paths. "Ay, marry," quoth he again, -"thou art a tall lad, and eke a brave one, for ne'er, I bow, is there a -man betwixt here and Canterbury Town could do the like to me that thou -hast done." - -"And thou," quoth the stranger, laughing, "takest thy cudgeling like a -brave heart and a stout yeoman." - -But now the distant twigs and branches rustled with the coming of men, -and suddenly a score or two of good stout yeomen, all clad in Lincoln -green, burst from out the covert, with merry Will Stutely at their head. - -"Good master," cried Will, "how is this? Truly thou art all wet from -head to foot, and that to the very skin." - -"Why, marry," answered jolly Robin, "yon stout fellow hath tumbled me -neck and crop into the water and hath given me a drubbing beside." - -"Then shall he not go without a ducking and eke a drubbing himself!" -cried Will Stutely. "Have at him, lads!" - -Then Will and a score of yeomen leaped upon the stranger, but though -they sprang quickly they found him ready and felt him strike right and -left with his stout staff, so that, though he went down with press of -numbers, some of them rubbed cracked crowns before he was overcome. - -"Nay, forbear!" cried Robin, laughing until his sore sides ached again. -"He is a right good man and true, and no harm shall befall him. Now hark -ye, good youth, wilt thou stay with me and be one of my band? Three -suits of Lincoln green shalt thou have each year, beside forty marks in -fee, and share with us whatsoever good shall befall us. Thou shalt eat -sweet venison and quaff the stoutest ale, and mine own good right-hand -man shalt thou be, for never did I see such a cudgel player in all my -life before. Speak! Wilt thou be one of my good merry men?" - -"That know I not," quoth the stranger surlily, for he was angry at being -so tumbled about. "If ye handle yew bow and apple shaft no better than -ye do oaken cudgel, I wot ye are not fit to be called yeomen in my -country; but if there be any man here that can shoot a better shaft than -I, then will I bethink me of joining with you." - -"Now by my faith," said Robin, "thou art a right saucy varlet, sirrah; -yet I will stoop to thee as I never stooped to man before. Good Stutely, -cut thou a fair white piece of bark four fingers in breadth, and set it -fourscore yards distant on yonder oak. Now, stranger, hit that fairly -with a gray goose shaft and call thyself an archer." - -"Ay, marry, that will I," answered he. "Give me a good stout bow and a -fair broad arrow, and if I hit it not, strip me and beat me blue with -bowstrings." - -Then he chose the stoutest bow among them all, next to Robin's own, and -a straight gray goose shaft, well-feathered and smooth, and stepping to -the mark--while all the band, sitting or lying upon the greensward, -watched to see him shoot--he drew the arrow to his cheek and loosed the -shaft right deftly, sending it so straight down the path that it clove -the mark in the very center. "Aha!" cried he, "mend thou that if thou -canst"; while even the yeomen clapped their hands at so fair a shot. - -"That is a keen shot indeed," quoth Robin. "Mend it I cannot, but mar -it I may, perhaps." - -Then taking up his own good stout bow and nocking an arrow with care, he -shot with his very greatest skill. Straight flew the arrow, and so true -that it lit fairly upon the stranger's shaft and split it into -splinters. Then all the yeomen leaped to their feet and shouted for joy -that their master had shot so well. - -"Now by the lusty yew bow of good Saint Withold," cried the stranger, -"that is a shot indeed, and never saw I the like in all my life before! -Now truly will I be thy man henceforth and for aye. Good Adam Bell[1] -was a fair shot, but never shot he so!" - - [1] Adam Bell, Clym o' the Clough, and William of Cloudesly were three - noted north-country bowmen whose names have been celebrated in many - ballads of the olden time. - -"Then have I gained a right good man this day," quoth jolly Robin. -"What name goest thou by, good fellow?" - -"Men call me John Little whence I came," answered the stranger. - -Then Will Stutely, who loved a good jest, spoke up. "Nay, fair little -stranger," said he, "I like not thy name and fain would I have it -otherwise. Little art thou indeed, and small of bone and sinew, -therefore shalt thou be christened Little John, and I will be thy -godfather." - -Then Robin Hood and all his band laughed aloud until the stranger began -to grow angry. - -"An thou make a jest of me," quoth he to Will Stutely, "thou wilt have -sore bones and little pay, and that in short season." - -"Nay, good friend," said Robin Hood, "bottle thine anger, for the name -fitteth thee well. Little John shall thou be called henceforth, and -Little John shall it be. So come, my merry men, we will prepare a -christening feast for this fair infant." - -So turning their backs upon the stream, they plunged into the forest -once more, through which they traced their steps till they reached the -spot where they dwelled in the depths of the woodland. There had they -built huts of bark and branches of trees, and made couches of sweet -rushes spread over with skins of fallow deer. Here stood a great oak -tree with branches spreading broadly around, beneath which was a seat of -green moss where Robin Hood was wont to sit at feast and at merrymaking -with his stout men about him. Here they found the rest of the band, some -of whom had come in with a brace of fat does. Then they all built great -fires and after a time roasted the does and broached a barrel of humming -ale. Then when the feast was ready they all sat down, but Robin placed -Little John at his right hand, for he was henceforth to be the second in -the band. - -Then when the feast was done Will Stutely spoke up. "It is now time, I -ween, to christen our bonny babe, is it not so, merry boys?" And "Aye! -Aye!" cried all, laughing till the woods echoed with their mirth. - -"Then seven sponsors shall we have," quoth Will Stutely, and hunting -among all the band, he chose the seven stoutest men of them all. - -"Now by Saint Dunstan," cried Little John, springing to his feet, "more -than one of you shall rue it an you lay finger upon me." - -But without a word they all ran upon him at once, seizing him by his -legs and arms and holding him tightly in spite of his struggles, and -they bore him forth while all stood around to see the sport. Then one -came forward who had been chosen to play the priest because he had a -bald crown, and in his hand he carried a brimming pot of ale. "Now, who -bringeth this babe?" asked he right soberly. - -"That do I," answered Will Stutely. - -"And what name callest thou him?" - -"Little John call I him." - -"Now Little John," quoth the mock priest, "thou hast not lived -heretofore, but only got thee along through the world, but henceforth -thou wilt live indeed. When thou livedst not thou wast called John -Little, but now that thou dost live indeed, Little John shalt thou be -called, so christen I thee." And at these last words he emptied the pot -of ale upon Little John's head. - -Then all shouted with laughter as they saw the good brown ale stream -over Little John's beard and trickle from his nose and chin, while his -eyes blinked with the smart of it. At first he was of a mind to be angry -but found he could not, because the others were so merry; so he, too, -laughed with the rest. Then Robin took this sweet, pretty babe, clothed -him all anew from top to toe in Lincoln green, and gave him a good stout -bow, and so made him a member of the merry band. - -And thus it was that Robin Hood became outlawed; thus a band of merry -companions gathered about him, and thus he gained his right-hand man, -Little John; and so the prologue ends. And now I will tell how the -Sheriff of Nottingham three times sought to take Robin Hood, and how he -failed each time. - - - - -PART FIRST -Telling how the Sheriff of Nottingham swore that he would deal dole to -Robing Hood. Also, how he made three trials thereat, but missed each -time by a good bow's length. - - -Robin Hood and the Tinker - -NOW IT WAS TOLD BEFORE how two hundred pounds were set upon Robin Hood's -head, and how the Sheriff of Nottingham swore that he himself would -seize Robin, both because he would fain have the two hundred pounds and -because the slain man was a kinsman of his own. Now the Sheriff did not -yet know what a force Robin had about him in Sherwood, but thought that -he might serve a warrant for his arrest as he could upon any other man -that had broken the laws; therefore he offered fourscore golden angels -to anyone who would serve this warrant. But men of Nottingham Town knew -more of Robin Hood and his doings than the Sheriff did, and many laughed -to think of serving a warrant upon the bold outlaw, knowing well that -all they would get for such service would be cracked crowns; so that no -one came forward to take the matter in hand. Thus a fortnight passed, in -which time none came forward to do the Sheriff's business. Then said -he, "A right good reward have I offered to whosoever would serve my -warrant upon Robin Hood, and I marvel that no one has come to undertake -the task." - -Then one of his men who was near him said, "Good master, thou wottest -not the force that Robin Hood has about him and how little he cares for -warrant of king or sheriff. Truly, no one likes to go on this service, -for fear of cracked crowns and broken bones." - -"Then I hold all Nottingham men to be cowards," said the Sheriff. "And -let me see the man in all Nottinghamshire that dare disobey the warrant -of our sovereign lord King Harry, for, by the shrine of Saint Edmund, I -will hang him forty cubits high! But if no man in Nottingham dare win -fourscore angels, I will send elsewhere, for there should be men of -mettle somewhere in this land." - -Then he called up a messenger in whom he placed great trust, and bade -him saddle his horse and make ready to go to Lincoln Town to see whether -he could find anyone there that would do his bidding and win the reward. -So that same morning the messenger started forth upon his errand. - -Bright shone the sun upon the dusty highway that led from Nottingham to -Lincoln, stretching away all white over hill and dale. Dusty was the -highway and dusty the throat of the messenger, so that his heart was -glad when he saw before him the Sign of the Blue Boar Inn, when somewhat -more than half his journey was done. The inn looked fair to his eyes, -and the shade of the oak trees that stood around it seemed cool and -pleasant, so he alighted from his horse to rest himself for a time, -calling for a pot of ale to refresh his thirsty throat. - -There he saw a party of right jovial fellows seated beneath the -spreading oak that shaded the greensward in front of the door. There was -a tinker, two barefoot friars, and a party of six of the King's -foresters all clad in Lincoln green, and all of them were quaffing -humming ale and singing merry ballads of the good old times. Loud -laughed the foresters, as jests were bandied about between the singing, -and louder laughed the friars, for they were lusty men with beards that -curled like the wool of black rams; but loudest of all laughed the -Tinker, and he sang more sweetly than any of the rest. His bag and his -hammer hung upon a twig of the oak tree, and near by leaned his good -stout cudgel, as thick as his wrist and knotted at the end. - -"Come," cried one of the foresters to the tired messenger, "come join us -for this shot. Ho, landlord! Bring a fresh pot of ale for each man." - -The messenger was glad enough to sit down along with the others who were -there, for his limbs were weary and the ale was good. - -"Now what news bearest thou so fast?" quoth one, "and whither ridest -thou today?" - -The messenger was a chatty soul and loved a bit of gossip dearly; -besides, the pot of ale warmed his heart; so that, settling himself in -an easy corner of the inn bench, while the host leaned upon the doorway -and the hostess stood with her hands beneath her apron, he unfolded his -budget of news with great comfort. He told all from the very first: how -Robin Hood had slain the forester, and how he had hidden in the -greenwood to escape the law; how that he lived therein, all against the -law, God wot, slaying His Majesty's deer and levying toll on fat abbot, -knight, and esquire, so that none dare travel even on broad Watling -Street or the Fosse Way for fear of him; how that the Sheriff had a mind -to serve the King's warrant upon this same rogue, though little would he -mind warrant of either king or sheriff, for he was far from being a law- -abiding man. Then he told how none could be found in all Nottingham Town -to serve this warrant, for fear of cracked pates and broken bones, and -how that he, the messenger, was now upon his way to Lincoln Town to find -of what mettle the Lincoln men might be. - -"Now come I, forsooth, from good Banbury Town," said the jolly Tinker, -"and no one nigh Nottingham--nor Sherwood either, an that be the mark-- -can hold cudgel with my grip. Why, lads, did I not meet that mad wag -Simon of Ely, even at the famous fair at Hertford Town, and beat him in -the ring at that place before Sir Robert of Leslie and his lady? This -same Robin Hood, of whom, I wot, I never heard before, is a right merry -blade, but gin he be strong, am not I stronger? And gin he be sly, am -not I slyer? Now by the bright eyes of Nan o' the Mill, and by mine own -name and that's Wat o' the Crabstaff, and by mine own mother's son, and -that's myself, will I, even I, Wat o' the Crabstaff, meet this same -sturdy rogue, and gin he mind not the seal of our glorious sovereign -King Harry, and the warrant of the good Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, I -will so bruise, beat, and bemaul his pate that he shall never move -finger or toe again! Hear ye that, bully boys?" - -"Now art thou the man for my farthing," cried the messenger. "And back -thou goest with me to Nottingham Town." - -"Nay," quoth the Tinker, shaking his head slowly from side to side. "Go -I with no man gin it be not with mine own free will." - -"Nay, nay," said the messenger, "no man is there in Nottinghamshire -could make thee go against thy will, thou brave fellow." - -"Ay, that be I brave," said the Tinker. - -"Ay, marry," said the messenger, "thou art a brave lad; but our good -Sheriff hath offered fourscore angels of bright gold to whosoever shall -serve the warrant upon Robin Hood; though little good will it do." - -"Then I will go with thee, lad. Do but wait till I get my bag and -hammer, and my cudgel. Ay, let' me but meet this same Robin Hood, and -let me see whether he will not mind the King's warrant." So, after -having paid their score, the messenger, with the Tinker striding beside -his nag, started back to Nottingham again. - -One bright morning soon after this time, Robin Hood started off to -Nottingham Town to find what was a-doing there, walking merrily along -the roadside where the grass was sweet with daisies, his eyes wandering -and his thoughts also. His bugle horn hung at his hip and his bow and -arrows at his back, while in his hand he bore a good stout oaken staff, -which he twirled with his fingers as he strolled along. - -As thus he walked down a shady lane he saw a tinker coming, trolling a -merry song as he drew nigh. On his back hung his bag and his hammer, -and in his hand he carried a right stout crabstaff full six feet long, -and thus sang he: - - "_In peascod time, when hound to horn - Gives ear till buck be killed, - And little lads with pipes of corn - Sit keeping beasts afield_--" - -"Halloa, good friend!" cried Robin. - -"I WENT TO GATHER STRAWBERRIES--" - -"Halloa!" cried Robin again. - -"BY WOODS AND GROVES FULL FAIR--" - -"Halloa! Art thou deaf, man? Good friend, say I!" -"And who art thou dost so boldly check a fair song?" quoth the Tinker, -stopping in his singing. "Halloa, shine own self, whether thou be good -friend or no. But let me tell thee, thou stout fellow, gin thou be a -good friend it were well for us both; but gin thou be no good friend it -were ill for thee." - -"And whence comest thou, my lusty blade?" quoth Robin. - -"I come from Banbury," answered the Tinker. - -"Alas!" quoth Robin, "I hear there is sad news this merry morn." - -"Ha! Is it indeed so?" cried the Tinker eagerly. "Prythee tell it -speedily, for I am a tinker by trade, as thou seest, and as I am in my -trade I am greedy for news, even as a priest is greedy for farthings." - -"Well then," quoth Robin, "list thou and I will tell, but bear thyself -up bravely, for the news is sad, I wot. Thus it is: I hear that two -tinkers are in the stocks for drinking ale and beer!" - -"Now a murrain seize thee and thy news, thou scurvy dog," quoth the -Tinker, "for thou speakest but ill of good men. But sad news it is -indeed, gin there be two stout fellows in the stocks." - -"Nay," said Robin, "thou hast missed the mark and dost but weep for the -wrong sow. The sadness of the news lieth in that there be but two in -the stocks, for the others do roam the country at large." - -"Now by the pewter platter of Saint Dunstan," cried the Tinker, "I have -a good part of a mind to baste thy hide for thine ill jest. But gin men -be put in the stocks for drinking ale and beer, I trow thou wouldst not -lose thy part." - -Loud laughed Robin and cried, "Now well taken, Tinker, well taken! Why, -thy wits are like beer, and do froth up most when they grow sour! But -right art thou, man, for I love ale and beer right well. Therefore come -straightway with me hard by to the Sign of the Blue Boar, and if thou -drinkest as thou appearest--and I wot thou wilt not belie thy looks--I -will drench thy throat with as good homebrewed as ever was tapped in all -broad Nottinghamshire." - -"Now by my faith," said the Tinker, "thou art a right good fellow in -spite of thy scurvy jests. I love thee, my sweet chuck, and gin I go -not with thee to that same Blue Boar thou mayst call me a heathen." - -"Tell me thy news, good friend, I prythee," quoth Robin as they trudged -along together, "for tinkers, I ween, are all as full of news as an egg -of meat." - -"Now I love thee as my brother, my bully blade," said the Tinker, "else -I would not tell thee my news; for sly am I, man, and I have in hand a -grave undertaking that doth call for all my wits, for I come to seek a -bold outlaw that men, hereabouts, call Robin Hood. Within my pouch I -have a warrant, all fairly written out on parchment, forsooth, with a -great red seal for to make it lawful. Could I but meet this same Robin -Hood I would serve it upon his dainty body, and if he minded it not I -would beat him till every one of his ribs would cry Amen. But thou -livest hereabouts, mayhap thou knowest Robin Hood thyself, good fellow." - -"Ay, marry, that I do somewhat," quoth Robin, "and I have seen him this -very morn. But, Tinker, men say that he is but a sad, sly thief. Thou -hadst better watch thy warrant, man, or else he may steal it out of thy -very pouch." - -"Let him but try!" cried the Tinker. "Sly may he be, but sly am I, too. -I would I had him here now, man to man!" And he made his heavy cudgel to -spin again. "But what manner of man is he, lad? - -"Much like myself," said Robin, laughing, "and in height and build and -age nigh the same; and he hath blue eyes, too." - -"Nay," quoth the Tinker, "thou art but a green youth. I thought him to -be a great bearded man. Nottingham men feared him so." - -"Truly, he is not so old nor so stout as thou art," said Robin. "But -men do call him a right deft hand at quarterstaff." - -"That may be," said the Tinker right sturdily, "but I am more deft than -he, for did I not overcome Simon of Ely in a fair bout in the ring at -Hertford Town? But if thou knowest him, my jolly blade, wilt thou go -with me and bring me to him? Fourscore bright angels hath the Sheriff -promised me if I serve the warrant upon the knave's body, and ten of -them will I give to thee if thou showest me him." - -"Ay, that will I," quoth Robin, "but show me thy warrant, man, until I -see whether it be good or no." - -"That will I not do, even to mine own brother," answered the Tinker. -"No man shall see my warrant till I serve it upon yon fellow's own -body." - -"So be it," quoth Robin. "And thou show it not to me I know not to whom -thou wilt show it. But here we are at the Sign of the Blue Boar, so let -us in and taste his brown October." - -No sweeter inn could be found in all Nottinghamshire than that of the -Blue Boar. None had such lovely trees standing around, or was so -covered with trailing clematis and sweet woodbine; none had such good -beer and such humming ale; nor, in wintertime, when the north wind -howled and snow drifted around the hedges, was there to be found, -elsewhere, such a roaring fire as blazed upon the hearth of the Blue -Boar. At such times might be found a goodly company of yeomen or -country folk seated around the blazing hearth, bandying merry jests, -while roasted crabs[Small sour apples] bobbed in bowls of ale upon the -hearthstone. Well known was the inn to Robin Hood and his band, for -there had he and such merry companions as Little John or Will Stutely or -young David of Doncaster often gathered when all the forest was filled -with snow. As for mine host, he knew how to keep a still tongue in his -head, and to swallow his words before they passed his teeth, for he knew -very well which side of his bread was spread with butter, for Robin and -his band were the best of customers and paid their scores without having -them chalked up behind the door. So now, when Robin Hood and the Tinker -came thereto and called aloud for two great pots of ale, none would have -known from look or speech that the host had ever set eyes upon the -outlaw before. - -"Bide thou here," quoth Robin to the Tinker, "while I go and see that -mine host draweth ale from the right butt, for he hath good October, I -know, and that brewed by Withold of Tamworth." So saying, he went -within and whispered to the host to add a measure of Flemish strong -waters to the good English ale; which the latter did and brought it to -them. - -"By Our Lady," said the Tinker, after a long draught of the ale, "yon -same Withold of Tamworth--a right good Saxon name, too, I would have -thee know--breweth the most humming ale that e'er passed the lips of Wat -o' the Crabstaff." - -"Drink, man, drink," cried Robin, only wetting his own lips meanwhile. -"Ho, landlord! Bring my friend another pot of the same. And now for a -song, my jolly blade." - -"Ay, that will I give thee a song, my lovely fellow," quoth the Tinker, -"for I never tasted such ale in all my days before. By Our Lady, it doth -make my head hum even now! Hey, Dame Hostess, come listen, an thou -wouldst hear a song, and thou too, thou bonny lass, for never sing I so -well as when bright eyes do look upon me the while." - -Then he sang an ancient ballad of the time of good King Arthur, called -"The Marriage of Sir Gawaine," which you may some time read yourself, in -stout English of early times; and as he sang, all listened to that noble -tale of noble knight and his sacrifice to his king. But long before the -Tinker came to the last verse his tongue began to trip and his head to -spin, because of the strong waters mixed with the ale. First his tongue -tripped, then it grew thick of sound; then his head wagged from side to -side, until at last he fell asleep as though he never would waken again. - -Then Robin Hood laughed aloud and quickly took the warrant from out the -Tinker's pouch with his deft fingers. "Sly art thou, Tinker," quoth he, -"but not yet, I bow, art thou as sly as that same sly thief Robin Hood." - -Then he called the host to him and said, "Here, good man, are ten broad -shillings for the entertainment thou hast given us this day. See that -thou takest good care of thy fair guest there, and when he wakes thou -mayst again charge him ten shillings also, and if he hath it not, thou -mayst take his bag and hammer, and even his coat, in payment. Thus do I -punish those that come into the greenwood to deal dole to me. As for -thine own self, never knew I landlord yet that would not charge twice an -he could." - -At this the host smiled slyly, as though saying to himself the rustic -saw, "Teach a magpie to suck eggs." - -The Tinker slept until the afternoon drew to a close and the shadows -grew long beside the woodland edge, then he awoke. First he looked up, -then he looked down, then he looked east, then he looked west, for he -was gathering his wits together, like barley straws blown apart by the -wind. First he thought of his merry companion, but he was gone. Then he -thought of his stout crabstaff, and that he had within his hand. Then -of his warrant, and of the fourscore angels he was to gain for serving -it upon Robin Hood. He thrust his hand into his pouch, but not a scrap -nor a farthing was there. Then he sprang to his feet in a rage. - -"Ho, landlord!" cried he, "whither hath that knave gone that was with me -but now?" - -"What knave meaneth Your Worship?" quoth the landlord, calling the -Tinker Worship to soothe him, as a man would pour oil upon angry water. -"I saw no knave with Your Worship, for I swear no man would dare call -that man knave so nigh to Sherwood Forest. A right stout yeoman I saw -with Your Worship, but I thought that Your Worship knew him, for few -there be about here that pass him by and know him not." - -"Now, how should I, that ne'er have squealed in your sty, know all the -swine therein? Who was he, then, an thou knowest him so well?" - -"Why, yon same is a right stout fellow whom men hereabouts do call Robin -Hood, which same--" - -"Now, by'r Lady!" cried the Tinker hastily, and in a deep voice like an -angry bull, "thou didst see me come into thine inn, I, a staunch, honest -craftsman, and never told me who my company was, well knowing thine own -self who he was. Now, I have a right round piece of a mind to crack thy -knave's pate for thee!" Then he took up his cudgel and looked at the -landlord as though he would smite him where he stood. - -"Nay," cried the host, throwing up his elbow, for he feared the blow, -"how knew I that thou knewest him not?" - -"Well and truly thankful mayst thou be," quoth the Tinker, "that I be a -patient man and so do spare thy bald crown, else wouldst thou ne'er -cheat customer again. But as for this same knave Robin Hood, I go -straightway to seek him, and if I do not score his knave's pate, cut my -staff into fagots and call me woman." So saying, he gathered himself -together to depart. - -"Nay," quoth the landlord, standing in front of him and holding out his -arms like a gooseherd driving his flock, for money made him bold, "thou -goest not till thou hast paid me my score." - -"But did not he pay thee?" - -"Not so much as one farthing; and ten good shillings' worth of ale have -ye drunk this day. Nay, I say, thou goest not away without paying me, -else shall our good Sheriff know of it." - -"But nought have I to pay thee with, good fellow," quoth the Tinker. - -"'Good fellow' not me," said the landlord. "Good fellow am I not when -it cometh to lose ten shillings! Pay me that thou owest me in broad -money, or else leave thy coat and bag and hammer; yet, I wot they are -not worth ten shillings, and I shall lose thereby. Nay, an thou -stirrest, I have a great dog within and I will loose him upon thee. -Maken, open thou the door and let forth Brian if this fellow stirs one -step." - -"Nay," quoth the Tinker--for, by roaming the country, he had learned -what dogs were--"take thou what thou wilt have, and let me depart in -peace, and may a murrain go with thee. But oh, landlord! An I catch yon -scurvy varlet, I swear he shall pay full with usury for that he hath -had!" - -So saying, he strode away toward the forest, talking to himself, while -the landlord and his worthy dame and Maken stood looking after him, and -laughed when he had fairly gone. - -"Robin and I stripped yon ass of his pack main neatly," quoth the -landlord. - -Now it happened about this time that Robin Hood was going through the -forest to Fosse Way, to see what was to be seen there, for the moon was -full and the night gave promise of being bright. In his hand he carried -his stout oaken staff, and at his side hung his bugle horn. As thus he -walked up a forest path, whistling, down another path came the Tinker, -muttering to himself and shaking his head like an angry bull; and so, at -a sudden bend, they met sharply face to face. Each stood still for a -time, and then Robin spoke: - -"Halloa, my sweet bird," said he, laughing merrily, "how likest thou -thine ale? Wilt not sing to me another song?" - -The Tinker said nothing at first but stood looking at Robin with a grim -face. "Now," quoth he at last, "I am right glad I have met thee, and if -I do not rattle thy bones within thy hide this day, I give thee leave to -put thy foot upon my neck." - -"With all my heart," cried merry Robin. "Rattle my bones, an thou -canst." So saying, he gripped his staff and threw himself upon his -guard. Then the Tinker spat upon his hands and, grasping his staff, came -straight at the other. He struck two or three blows, but soon found -that he had met his match, for Robin warded and parried all of them, -and, before the Tinker thought, he gave him a rap upon the ribs in -return. At this Robin laughed aloud, and the Tinker grew more angry -than ever, and smote again with all his might and main. Again Robin -warded two of the strokes, but at the third, his staff broke beneath the -mighty blows of the Tinker. "Now, ill betide thee, traitor staff," -cried Robin, as it fell from his hands; "a foul stick art thou to serve -me thus in mine hour of need." - -"Now yield thee," quoth the Tinker, "for thou art my captive; and if -thou do not, I will beat thy pate to a pudding." - -To this Robin Hood made no answer, but, clapping his horn to his lips, -he blew three blasts, loud and clear. - -"Ay," quoth the Tinker, "blow thou mayest, but go thou must with me to -Nottingham Town, for the Sheriff would fain see thee there. Now wilt -thou yield thee, or shall I have to break thy pretty head?" - -"An I must drink sour ale, I must," quoth Robin, "but never have I -yielded me to man before, and that without wound or mark upon my body. -Nor, when I bethink me, will I yield now. Ho, my merry men! Come -quickly!" - -Then from out the forest leaped Little John and six stout yeomen clad in -Lincoln green. - -"How now, good master," cried Little John, "what need hast thou that -thou dost wind thy horn so loudly?" - -"There stands a tinker," quoth Robin, "that would fain take me to -Nottingham, there to hang upon the gallows tree." - -"Then shall he himself hang forthwith," cried Little John, and he and -the others made at the Tinker, to seize him. - -"Nay, touch him not," said Robin, "for a right stout man is he. A metal -man he is by trade, and a mettled man by nature; moreover, he doth sing -a lovely ballad. Say, good fellow, wilt thou join my merry men all? -Three suits of Lincoln green shalt thou have a year, besides forty marks -in fee; thou shalt share all with us and lead a right merry life in the -greenwood; for cares have we not, and misfortune cometh not upon us -within the sweet shades of Sherwood, where we shoot the dun deer and -feed upon venison and sweet oaten cakes, and curds and honey. Wilt thou -come with me?" - -"Ay, marry, will I join with you all," quoth the Tinker, "for I love a -merry life, and I love thee, good master, though thou didst thwack my -ribs and cheat me into the bargain. Fain am I to own thou art both a -stouter and a slyer man than I; so I will obey thee and be thine own -true servant." - -So all turned their steps to the forest depths, where the Tinker was to -live henceforth. For many a day he sang ballads to the band, until the -famous Allan a Dale joined them, before whose sweet voice all others -seemed as harsh as a raven's; but of him we will learn hereafter. - - - - -The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town - -THEN THE SHERIFF was very wroth because of this failure to take jolly -Robin, for it came to his ears, as ill news always does, that the people -laughed at him and made a jest of his thinking to serve a warrant upon -such a one as the bold outlaw. And a man hates nothing so much as being -made a jest of; so he said: "Our gracious lord and sovereign King -himself shall know of this, and how his laws are perverted and despised -by this band of rebel outlaws. As for yon traitor Tinker, him will I -hang, if I catch him, upon the very highest gallows tree in all -Nottinghamshire." - -Then he bade all his servants and retainers to make ready to go to -London Town, to see and speak with the King. - -At this there was bustling at the Sheriff's castle, and men ran hither -and thither upon this business and upon that, while the forge fires of -Nottingham glowed red far into the night like twinkling stars, for all -the smiths of the town were busy making or mending armor for the -Sheriff's troop of escort. For two days this labor lasted, then, on the -third, all was ready for the journey. So forth they started in the -bright sunlight, from Nottingham Town to Fosse Way and thence to Watling -Street; and so they journeyed for two days, until they saw at last the -spires and towers of great London Town; and many folks stopped, as they -journeyed along, and gazed at the show they made riding along the -highways with their flashing armor and gay plumes and trappings. - -In London King Henry and his fair Queen Eleanor held their court, gay -with ladies in silks and satins and velvets and cloth of gold, and also -brave knights and gallant courtiers. - -Thither came the Sheriff and was shown into the King's presence. - -"A boon, a boon," quoth he, as he knelt upon the ground. - -"Now what wouldst thou have?" said the King. "Let us hear what may be -thy desires." - -"O good my Lord and Sovereign," spake the Sheriff, "in Sherwood Forest -in our own good shire of Nottingham, liveth a bold outlaw whose name is -Robin Hood." - -"In good sooth," said the King, "his doings have reached even our own -royal ears. He is a saucy, rebellious varlet, yet, I am fain to own, a -right merry soul withal." - -"But hearken, O my most gracious Sovereign," said the Sheriff. "I sent -a warrant to him with thine own royal seal attached, by a right lusty -knave, but he beat the messenger and stole the warrant. And he killeth -thy deer and robbeth thine own liege subjects even upon the great -highways." - -"Why, how now," quoth the King wrathfully. "What wouldst thou have me -do? Comest thou not to me with a great array of men-at-arms and -retainers, and yet art not able to take a single band of lusty knaves -without armor on breast, in thine own county! What wouldst thou have me -do? Art thou not my Sheriff? Are not my laws in force in -Nottinghamshire? Canst thou not take thine own course against those -that break the laws or do any injury to thee or thine? Go, get thee -gone, and think well; devise some plan of thine own, but trouble me no -further. But look well to it, Master Sheriff, for I will have my laws -obeyed by all men within my kingdom, and if thou art not able to enforce -them thou art no sheriff for me. So look well to thyself, I say, or ill -may befall thee as well as all the thieving knaves in Nottinghamshire. -When the flood cometh it sweepeth away grain as well as chaff." - -Then the Sheriff turned away with a sore and troubled heart, and sadly -he rued his fine show of retainers, for he saw that the King was angry -because he had so many men about him and yet could not enforce the laws. -So, as they all rode slowly back to Nottingham, the Sheriff was -thoughtful and full of care. Not a word did he speak to anyone, and no -one of his men spoke to him, but all the time he was busy devising some -plan to take Robin Hood. - -"Aha!" cried he suddenly, smiting his hand upon his thigh "I have it -now! Ride on, my merry men all, and let us get back to Nottingham Town -as speedily as we may. And mark well my words: before a fortnight is -passed, that evil knave Robin Hood will be safely clapped into -Nottingham gaol." - -But what was the Sheriff's plan? - -As a usurer takes each one of a bag of silver angels, feeling each coin -to find whether it be clipped or not, so the Sheriff, as all rode slowly -and sadly back toward Nottingham, took up thought after thought in turn, -feeling around the edges of each but finding in every one some flaw. At -last he thought of the daring soul of jolly Robin and how, as he the -Sheriff knew, he often came even within the walls of Nottingham. - -"Now," thought the Sheriff, "could I but persuade Robin nigh to -Nottingham Town so that I could find him, I warrant I would lay hands -upon him so stoutly that he would never get away again." Then of a -sudden it came to him like a flash that were he to proclaim a great -shooting match and offer some grand prize, Robin Hood might be -overpersuaded by his spirit to come to the butts; and it was this -thought which caused him to cry "Aha!" and smite his palm upon his -thigh. - -So, as soon as he had returned safely to Nottingham, he sent messengers -north and south, and east and west, to proclaim through town, hamlet, -and countryside, this grand shooting match, and everyone was bidden that -could draw a longbow, and the prize was to be an arrow of pure beaten -gold. - -When Robin Hood first heard the news of this he was in Lincoln Town, and -hastening back to Sherwood Forest he soon called all his merry men about -him and spoke to them thus: - -"Now hearken, my merry men all, to the news that I have brought from -Lincoln Town today. Our friend the Sheriff of Nottingham hath -proclaimed a shooting match, and hath sent messengers to tell of it -through all the countryside, and the prize is to be a bright golden -arrow. Now I fain would have one of us win it, both because of the -fairness of the prize and because our sweet friend the Sheriff hath -offered it. So we will take our bows and shafts and go there to shoot, -for I know right well that merriment will be a-going. What say ye, -lads?" - -Then young David of Doncaster spoke up and said, "Now listen, I pray -thee, good master, unto what I say. I have come straight from our -friend Eadom o' the Blue Boar, and there I heard the full news of this -same match. But, master, I know from him, and he got it from the -Sheriff's man Ralph o' the Scar, that this same knavish Sheriff hath but -laid a trap for thee in this shooting match and wishes nothing so much -as to see thee there. So go not, good master, for I know right well he -doth seek to beguile thee, but stay within the greenwood lest we all -meet dole and woe." - -"Now," quoth Robin, "thou art a wise lad and keepest thine ears open and -thy mouth shut, as becometh a wise and crafty woodsman. But shall we let -it be said that the Sheriff of Nottingham did cow bold Robin Hood and -sevenscore as fair archers as are in all merry England? Nay, good -David, what thou tellest me maketh me to desire the prize even more than -I else should do. But what sayeth our good gossip Swanthold? Is it not -'A hasty man burneth his mouth, and the fool that keepeth his eyes shut -falleth into the pit'? Thus he says, truly, therefore we must meet guile -with guile. Now some of you clothe yourselves as curtal friars, and -some as rustic peasants, and some as tinkers, or as beggars, but see -that each man taketh a good bow or broadsword, in case need should -arise. As for myself, I will shoot for this same golden arrow, and -should I win it, we will hang it to the branches of our good greenwood -tree for the joy of all the band. How like you the plan, my merry men -all?" - -Then "Good, good!" cried all the band right heartily. - -A fair sight was Nottingham Town on the day of the shooting match. All -along upon the green meadow beneath the town wall stretched a row of -benches, one above the other, which were for knight and lady, squire and -dame, and rich burghers and their wives; for none but those of rank and -quality were to sit there. At the end of the range, near the target, was -a raised seat bedecked with ribbons and scarfs and garlands of flowers, -for the Sheriff of Nottingham and his dame. The range was twoscore -paces broad. At one end stood the target, at the other a tent of striped -canvas, from the pole of which fluttered many-colored flags and -streamers. In this booth were casks of ale, free to be broached by any -of the archers who might wish to quench their thirst. - -Across the range from where the seats for the better folk were raised -was a railing to keep the poorer people from crowding in front of the -target. Already, while it was early, the benches were beginning to fill -with people of quality, who kept constantly arriving in little carts or -upon palfreys that curveted gaily to the merry tinkle of silver bells at -bridle reins. With these came also the poorer folk, who sat or lay upon -the green grass near the railing that kept them from off the range. In -the great tent the archers were gathering by twos and threes; some -talking loudly of the fair shots each man had made in his day; some -looking well to their bows, drawing a string betwixt the fingers to see -that there was no fray upon it, or inspecting arrows, shutting one eye -and peering down a shaft to see that it was not warped, but straight and -true, for neither bow nor shaft should fail at such a time and for such -a prize. And never was such a company of yeomen as were gathered at -Nottingham Town that day, for the very best archers of merry England had -come to this shooting match. There was Gill o' the Red Cap, the -Sheriff's own head archer, and Diccon Cruikshank of Lincoln Town, and -Adam o' the Dell, a man of Tamworth, of threescore years and more, yet -hale and lusty still, who in his time had shot in the famous match at -Woodstock, and had there beaten that renowned archer, Clym o' the -Clough. And many more famous men of the longbow were there, whose names -have been handed down to us in goodly ballads of the olden time. - -But now all the benches were filled with guests, lord and lady, burgher -and dame, when at last the Sheriff himself came with his lady, he riding -with stately mien upon his milk-white horse and she upon her brown -filly. Upon his head he wore a purple velvet cap, and purple velvet was -his robe, all trimmed about with rich ermine; his jerkin and hose were -of sea-green silk, and his shoes of black velvet, the pointed toes -fastened to his garters with golden chains. A golden chain hung about -his neck, and at his collar was a great carbuncle set in red gold. His -lady was dressed in blue velvet, all trimmed with swan's down. So they -made a gallant sight as they rode along side by side, and all the people -shouted from where they crowded across the space from the gentlefolk; so -the Sheriff and his lady came to their place, where men-at-arms, with -hauberk and spear, stood about, waiting for them. - -Then when the Sheriff and his dame had sat down, he bade his herald wind -upon his silver horn; who thereupon sounded three blasts that came -echoing cheerily back from the gray walls of Nottingham. Then the -archers stepped forth to their places, while all the folks shouted with -a mighty voice, each man calling upon his favorite yeoman. "Red Cap!" -cried some; "Cruikshank!" cried others; "Hey for William o' Leslie!" -shouted others yet again; while ladies waved silken scarfs to urge each -yeoman to do his best. - -Then the herald stood forth and loudly proclaimed the rules of the game -as follows: - -"Shoot each man from yon mark, which is sevenscore yards and ten from -the target. One arrow shooteth each man first, and from all the archers -shall the ten that shooteth the fairest shafts be chosen for to shoot -again. Two arrows shooteth each man of these ten, then shall the three -that shoot the fairest shafts be chosen for to shoot again. Three -arrows shooteth each man of those three, and to him that shooteth the -fairest shafts shall the prize be given." - -Then the Sheriff leaned forward, looking keenly among the press of -archers to find whether Robin Hood was among them; but no one was there -clad in Lincoln green, such as was worn by Robin and his band. -"Nevertheless," said the Sheriff to himself, "he may still be there, and -I miss him among the crowd of other men. But let me see when but ten men -shoot, for I wot he will be among the ten, or I know him not." - -And now the archers shot, each man in turn, and the good folk never saw -such archery as was done that day. Six arrows were within the clout, -four within the black, and only two smote the outer ring; so that when -the last arrow sped and struck the target, all the people shouted aloud, -for it was noble shooting. - -And now but ten men were left of all those that had shot before, and of -these ten, six were famous throughout the land, and most of the folk -gathered there knew them. These six men were Gilbert o' the Red Cap, -Adam o' the Dell, Diccon Cruikshank, William o' Leslie, Hubert o' Cloud, -and Swithin o' Hertford. Two others were yeomen of merry Yorkshire, -another was a tall stranger in blue, who said he came from London Town, -and the last was a tattered stranger in scarlet, who wore a patch over -one eye. - -"Now," quoth the Sheriff to a man-at-arms who stood near him, "seest -thou Robin Hood among those ten?" - -"Nay, that do I not, Your Worship," answered the man. "Six of them I -know right well. Of those Yorkshire yeomen, one is too tall and the -other too short for that bold knave. Robin's beard is as yellow as gold, -while yon tattered beggar in scarlet hath a beard of brown, besides -being blind of one eye. As for the stranger in blue, Robin's shoulders, -I ween, are three inches broader than his." - -"Then," quoth the Sheriff, smiting his thigh angrily, "yon knave is a -coward as well as a rogue, and dares not show his face among good men -and true." - -Then, after they had rested a short time, those ten stout men stepped -forth to shoot again. Each man shot two arrows, and as they shot, not a -word was spoken, but all the crowd watched with scarce a breath of -sound; but when the last had shot his arrow another great shout arose, -while many cast their caps aloft for joy of such marvelous shooting. - -"Now by our gracious Lady fair," quoth old Sir Amyas o' the Dell, who, -bowed with fourscore years and more, sat near the Sheriff, "ne'er saw I -such archery in all my life before, yet have I seen the best hands at -the longbow for threescore years and more." - -And now but three men were left of all those that had shot before. One -was Gill o' the Red Cap, one the tattered stranger in scarlet, and one -Adam o' the Dell of Tamworth Town. Then all the people called aloud, -some crying, "Ho for Gilbert o' the Red Cap!" and some, "Hey for stout -Adam o' Tamworth!" But not a single man in the crowd called upon the -stranger in scarlet. - -"Now, shoot thou well, Gilbert," cried the Sheriff, "and if thine be the -best shaft, fivescore broad silver pennies will I give to thee beside -the prize." - -"Truly I will do my best," quoth Gilbert right sturdily. "A man cannot -do aught but his best, but that will I strive to do this day." So -saying, he drew forth a fair smooth arrow with a broad feather and -fitted it deftly to the string, then drawing his bow with care he sped -the shaft. Straight flew the arrow and lit fairly in the clout, a -finger's-breadth from the center. "A Gilbert, a Gilbert!" shouted all -the crowd; and, "Now, by my faith," cried the Sheriff, smiting his hands -together, "that is a shrewd shot." - -Then the tattered stranger stepped forth, and all the people laughed as -they saw a yellow patch that showed beneath his arm when he raised his -elbow to shoot, and also to see him aim with but one eye. He drew the -good yew bow quickly, and quickly loosed a shaft; so short was the time -that no man could draw a breath betwixt the drawing and the shooting; -yet his arrow lodged nearer the center than the other by twice the -length of a barleycorn. - -"Now by all the saints in Paradise!" cried the Sheriff, "that is a -lovely shaft in very truth!" - -Then Adam o' the Dell shot, carefully and cautiously, and his arrow -lodged close beside the stranger's. Then after a short space they all -three shot again, and once more each arrow lodged within the clout, but -this time Adam o' the Dell's was farthest from the center, and again the -tattered stranger's shot was the best. Then, after another time of -rest, they all shot for the third time. This time Gilbert took great -heed to his aim, keenly measuring the distance and shooting with -shrewdest care. Straight flew the arrow, and all shouted till the very -flags that waved in the breeze shook with the sound, and the rooks and -daws flew clamoring about the roofs of the old gray tower, for the shaft -had lodged close beside the spot that marked the very center. - -"Well done, Gilbert!" cried the Sheriff right joyously. "Fain am I to -believe the prize is thine, and right fairly won. Now, thou ragged -knave, let me see thee shoot a better shaft than that." - -Nought spake the stranger but took his place, while all was hushed, and -no one spoke or even seemed to breathe, so great was the silence for -wonder what he would do. Meanwhile, also, quite still stood the -stranger, holding his bow in his hand, while one could count five; then -he drew his trusty yew, holding it drawn but a moment, then loosed the -string. Straight flew the arrow, and so true that it smote a gray goose -feather from off Gilbert's shaft, which fell fluttering through the -sunlit air as the stranger's arrow lodged close beside his of the Red -Cap, and in the very center. No one spoke a word for a while and no one -shouted, but each man looked into his neighbor's face amazedly. - -"Nay," quoth old Adam o' the Dell presently, drawing a long breath and -shaking his head as he spoke, "twoscore years and more have I shot -shaft, and maybe not all times bad, but I shoot no more this day, for no -man can match with yon stranger, whosoe'er he may be." Then he thrust -his shaft into his quiver, rattling, and unstrung his bow without -another word. - -Then the Sheriff came down from his dais and drew near, in all his silks -and velvets, to where the tattered stranger stood leaning upon his stout -bow, while the good folk crowded around to see the man who shot so -wondrously well. "Here, good fellow," quoth the Sheriff, "take thou the -prize, and well and fairly hast thou won it, I bow. What may be thy -name, and whence comest thou?" - -"Men do call me Jock o' Teviotdale, and thence am I come," said the -stranger. - -"Then, by Our Lady, Jock, thou art the fairest archer that e'er mine -eyes beheld, and if thou wilt join my service I will clothe thee with a -better coat than that thou hast upon thy back; thou shalt eat and drink -of the best, and at every Christmastide fourscore marks shall be thy -wage. I trow thou drawest better bow than that same coward knave Robin -Hood, that dared not show his face here this day. Say, good fellow, -wilt thou join my service?" - -"Nay, that will I not," quoth the stranger roughly. "I will be mine own, -and no man in all merry England shall be my master." - -"Then get thee gone, and a murrain seize thee!" cried the Sheriff, and -his voice trembled with anger. "And by my faith and troth, I have a -good part of a mind to have thee beaten for thine insolence!" Then he -turned upon his heel and strode away. - -It was a right motley company that gathered about the noble greenwood -tree in Sherwood's depths that same day. A score and more of barefoot -friars were there, and some that looked like tinkers, and some that -seemed to be sturdy beggars and rustic hinds; and seated upon a mossy -couch was one all clad in tattered scarlet, with a patch over one eye; -and in his hand he held the golden arrow that was the prize of the great -shooting match. Then, amidst a noise of talking and laughter, he took -the patch from off his eye and stripped away the scarlet rags from off -his body and showed himself all clothed in fair Lincoln green; and quoth -he, "Easy come these things away, but walnut stain cometh not so -speedily from yellow hair." Then all laughed louder than before, for it -was Robin Hood himself that had won the prize from the Sheriff's very -hands. - -Then all sat down to the woodland feast and talked among themselves of -the merry jest that had been played upon the Sheriff, and of the -adventures that had befallen each member of the band in his disguise. -But when the feast was done, Robin Hood took Little John apart and said, -"Truly am I vexed in my blood, for I heard the Sheriff say today, 'Thou -shootest better than that coward knave Robin Hood, that dared not show -his face here this day.' I would fain let him know who it was who won -the golden arrow from out his hand, and also that I am no coward such as -he takes me to be." - -Then Little John said, "Good master, take thou me and Will Stutely, and -we will send yon fat Sheriff news of all this by a messenger such as he -doth not expect." - -That day the Sheriff sat at meat in the great hall of his house at -Nottingham Town. Long tables stood down the hall, at which sat men-at- -arms and household servants and good stout villains,[Bond-servants.] in -all fourscore and more. There they talked of the day's shooting as they -ate their meat and quaffed their ale. The Sheriff sat at the head of the -table upon a raised seat under a canopy, and beside him sat his dame. - -"By my troth," said he, "I did reckon full roundly that that knave Robin -Hood would be at the game today. I did not think that he was such a -coward. But who could that saucy knave be who answered me to my beard so -bravely? I wonder that I did not have him beaten; but there was -something about him that spoke of other things than rags and tatters." - -Then, even as he finished speaking, something fell rattling among the -dishes on the table, while those that sat near started up wondering what -it might be. After a while one of the men-at-arms gathered courage -enough to pick it up and bring it to the Sheriff. Then everyone saw -that it was a blunted gray goose shaft, with a fine scroll, about the -thickness of a goose quill, tied near to its head. The Sheriff opened -the scroll and glanced at it, while the veins upon his forehead swelled -and his cheeks grew ruddy with rage as he read, for this was what he -saw: - - "_Now Heaven bless Thy Grace this day - Say all in sweet Sherwood - For thou didst give the prize away - To merry Robin Hood_." - -"Whence came this?" cried the Sheriff in a mighty voice. -"Even through the window, Your Worship," quoth the man who had handed -the shaft to him. - - - - -Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions - -NOW WHEN THE SHERIFF found that neither law nor guile could overcome -Robin Hood, he was much perplexed, and said to himself, "Fool that I am! -Had I not told our King of Robin Hood, I would not have gotten myself -into such a coil; but now I must either take him captive or have wrath -visited upon my head from his most gracious Majesty. I have tried law, -and I have tried guile, and I have failed in both; so I will try what -may be done with might." - -Thus communing within himself, he called his constables together and -told them what was in his mind. "Now take ye each four men, all armed -in proof," said he, "and get ye gone to the forest, at different points, -and lie in wait for this same Robin Hood. But if any constable finds -too many men against him, let him sound a horn, and then let each band -within hearing come with all speed and join the party that calls them. -Thus, I think, shall we take this green-clad knave. Furthermore, to him -that first meeteth with Robin Hood shall one hundred pounds of silver -money be given, if he be brought to me dead or alive; and to him that -meeteth with any of his band shall twoscore pounds be given, if such be -brought to me dead or alive. So, be ye bold and be ye crafty." - -So thus they went in threescore companies of five to Sherwood Forest, to -take Robin Hood, each constable wishing that he might be the one to find -the bold outlaw, or at least one of his band. For seven days and nights -they hunted through the forest glades, but never saw so much as a single -man in Lincoln green; for tidings of all this had been brought to Robin -Hood by trusty Eadom o' the Blue Boar. - -When he first heard the news, Robin said, "If the Sheriff dare send -force to meet force, woe will it be for him and many a better man -besides, for blood will flow and there will be great trouble for all. -But fain would I shun blood and battle, and fain would I not deal sorrow -to womenfolk and wives because good stout yeomen lose their lives. Once -I slew a man, and never do I wish to slay a man again, for it is bitter -for the soul to think thereon. So now we will abide silently in -Sherwood Forest, so that it may be well for all, but should we be forced -to defend ourselves, or any of our band, then let each man draw bow and -brand with might and main." - -At this speech many of the band shook their heads, and said to -themselves, "Now the Sheriff will think that we are cowards, and folk -will scoff throughout the countryside, saying that we fear to meet these -men." But they said nothing aloud, swallowing their words and doing as -Robin bade them. - -Thus they hid in the depths of Sherwood Forest for seven days and seven -nights and never showed their faces abroad in all that time; but early -in the morning of the eighth day Robin Hood called the band together and -said, "Now who will go and find what the Sheriff's men are at by this -time? For I know right well they will not bide forever within Sherwood -shades." - -At this a great shout arose, and each man waved his bow aloft and cried -that he might be the one to go. Then Robin Hood's heart was proud when -he looked around on his stout, brave fellows, and he said, "Brave and -true are ye all, my merry men, and a right stout band of good fellows -are ye, but ye cannot all go, so I will choose one from among you, and -it shall be good Will Stutely, for he is as sly as e'er an old dog fox -in Sherwood Forest." - -Then Will Stutely leaped high aloft and laughed loudly, clapping his -hands for pure joy that he should have been chosen from among them all. -"Now thanks, good master," quoth he, "and if I bring not news of those -knaves to thee, call me no more thy sly Will Stutely." - -Then he clad himself in a friar's gown, and underneath the robe he hung -a good broadsword in such a place that he could easily lay hands upon -it. Thus clad, he set forth upon his quest, until he came to the verge -of the forest, and so to the highway. He saw two bands of the Sheriff's -men, yet he turned neither to the right nor the left, but only drew his -cowl the closer over his face, folding his hands as if in meditation. So -at last he came to the Sign of the Blue Boar. "For," quoth he to -himself, "our good friend Eadom will tell me all the news." - -At the Sign of the Blue Boar he found a band of the Sheriffs men -drinking right lustily; so, without speaking to anyone, he sat down upon -a distant bench, his staff in his hand, and his head bowed forward as -though he were meditating. Thus he sat waiting until he might see the -landlord apart, and Eadom did not know him, but thought him to be some -poor tired friar, so he let him sit without saying a word to him or -molesting him, though he liked not the cloth. "For," said he to -himself, "it is a hard heart that kicks the lame dog from off the sill." -As Stutely sat thus, there came a great house cat and rubbed against his -knee, raising his robe a palm's-breadth high. Stutely pushed his robe -quickly down again, but the constable who commanded the Sheriffs men saw -what had passed, and saw also fair Lincoln green beneath the friar's -robe. He said nothing at the time, but communed within himself in this -wise: "Yon is no friar of orders gray, and also, I wot, no honest yeoman -goeth about in priest's garb, nor doth a thief go so for nought. Now I -think in good sooth that is one of Robin Hood's own men." So, presently, -he said aloud, "O holy father, wilt thou not take a good pot of March -beer to slake thy thirsty soul withal?" - -But Stutely shook his head silently, for he said to himself, "Maybe -there be those here who know my voice." - -Then the constable said again, "Whither goest thou, holy friar, upon -this hot summer's day?" - -"I go a pilgrim to Canterbury Town," answered Will Stutely, speaking -gruffly, so that none might know his voice. - -Then the constable said, for the third time, "Now tell me, holy father, -do pilgrims to Canterbury wear good Lincoln green beneath their robes? -Ha! By my faith, I take thee to be some lusty thief, and perhaps one of -Robin Hood's own band! Now, by Our Lady's grace, if thou movest hand or -foot, I will run thee through the body with my sword!" - -Then he flashed forth his bright sword and leaped upon Will Stutely, -thinking he would take him unaware; but Stutely had his own sword -tightly held in his hand, beneath his robe, so he drew it forth before -the constable came upon him. Then the stout constable struck a mighty -blow; but he struck no more in all that fight, for Stutely, parrying the -blow right deftly, smote the constable back again with all his might. -Then he would have escaped, but could not, for the other, all dizzy with -the wound and with the flowing blood, seized him by the knees with his -arms even as he reeled and fell. Then the others rushed upon him, and -Stutely struck again at another of the Sheriff's men, but the steel cap -glanced the blow, and though the blade bit deep, it did not kill. -Meanwhile, the constable, fainting as he was, drew Stutely downward, and -the others, seeing the yeoman hampered so, rushed upon him again, and -one smote him a blow upon the crown so that the blood ran down his face -and blinded him. Then, staggering, he fell, and all sprang upon him, -though he struggled so manfully that they could hardly hold him fast. -Then they bound him with stout hempen cords so that he could not move -either hand or foot, and thus they overcame him. - -Robin Hood stood under the greenwood tree, thinking of Will Stutely and -how he might be faring, when suddenly he saw two of his stout yeomen -come running down the forest path, and betwixt them ran buxom Maken of -the Blue Boar. Then Robin's heart fell, for he knew they were the -bearers of ill tidings. - -"Will Stutely hath been taken," cried they, when they had come to where -he stood. - -"And is it thou that hast brought such doleful news?" said Robin to the -lass. - -"Ay, marry, for I saw it all," cried she, panting as the hare pants when -it has escaped the hounds, "and I fear he is wounded sore, for one smote -him main shrewdly i' the crown. They have bound him and taken him to -Nottingham Town, and ere I left the Blue Boar I heard that he should be -hanged tomorrow day." - -"He shall not be hanged tomorrow day," cried Robin; "or, if he be, full -many a one shall gnaw the sod, and many shall have cause to cry Alack-a- -day!" - -Then he clapped his horn to his lips and blew three blasts right loudly, -and presently his good yeomen came running through the greenwood until -sevenscore bold blades were gathered around him. - -"Now hark you all!" cried Robin. "Our dear companion Will Stutely hath -been taken by that vile Sheriff's men, therefore doth it behoove us to -take bow and brand in hand to bring him off again; for I wot that we -ought to risk life and limb for him, as he hath risked life and limb for -us. Is it not so, my merry men all?" Then all cried, "Ay!" with a great -voice. - -So the next day they all wended their way from Sherwood Forest, but by -different paths, for it behooved them to be very crafty; so the band -separated into parties of twos and threes, which were all to meet again -in a tangled dell that lay near to Nottingham Town. Then, when they had -all gathered together at the place of meeting, Robin spoke to them thus: - -"Now we will lie here in ambush until we can get news, for it doth -behoove us to be cunning and wary if we would bring our friend Will -Stutely off from the Sheriff's clutches." - -So they lay hidden a long time, until the sun stood high in the sky. The -day was warm and the dusty road was bare of travelers, except an aged -palmer who walked slowly along the highroad that led close beside the -gray castle wall of Nottingham Town. When Robin saw that no other -wayfarer was within sight, he called young David of Doncaster, who was a -shrewd man for his years, and said to him, "Now get thee forth, young -David, and speak to yonder palmer that walks beside the town wall, for -he hath come but now from Nottingham Town, and may tell thee news of -good Stutely, perchance." - -So David strode forth, and when he came up to the pilgrim, he saluted -him and said, "Good morrow, holy father, and canst thou tell me when -Will Stutely will be hanged upon the gallows tree? I fain would not miss -the sight, for I have come from afar to see so sturdy a rogue hanged." - -"Now, out upon thee, young man," cried the Palmer, "that thou shouldst -speak so when a good stout man is to be hanged for nothing but guarding -his own life!" And he struck his staff upon the ground in anger. -"Alas, say I, that this thing should be! For even this day, toward -evening, when the sun falleth low, he shall be hanged, fourscore rods -from the great town gate of Nottingham, where three roads meet; for -there the Sheriff sweareth he shall die as a warning to all outlaws in -Nottinghamshire. But yet, I say again, Alas! For, though Robin Hood -and his band may be outlaws, yet he taketh only from the rich and the -strong and the dishonest man, while there is not a poor widow nor a -peasant with many children, nigh to Sherwood, but has barley flour -enough all the year long through him. It grieves my heart to see one as -gallant as this Stutely die, for I have been a good Saxon yeoman in my -day, ere I turned palmer, and well I know a stout hand and one that -smiteth shrewdly at a cruel Norman or a proud abbot with fat moneybags. -Had good Stutely's master but known how his man was compassed about with -perils, perchance he might send succor to bring him out of the hand of -his enemies. - -"Ay, marry, that is true," cried the young man. "If Robin and his men -be nigh this place, I wot right well they will strive to bring him forth -from his peril. But fare thee well, thou good old man, and believe me, -if Will Stutely die, he shall be right well avenged." - -Then he turned and strode rapidly away; but the Palmer looked after him, -muttering, "I wot that youth is no country hind that hath come to see a -good man die. Well, well, perchance Robin Hood is not so far away but -that there will be stout doings this day." So he went upon his way, -muttering to himself. - -When David of Doncaster told Robin Hood what the Palmer had said to him, -Robin called the band around him and spoke to them thus: - -"Now let us get straightway into Nottingham Town and mix ourselves with -the people there; but keep ye one another in sight, pressing as near the -prisoner and his guards as ye can, when they come outside the walls. -Strike no man without need, for I would fain avoid bloodshed, but if ye -do strike, strike hard, and see that there be no need to strike again. -Then keep all together until we come again to Sherwood, and let no man -leave his fellows." - -The sun was low in the western sky when a bugle note sounded from the -castle wall. Then all was bustle in Nottingham Town and crowds filled -the streets, for all knew that the famous Will Stutely was to be hanged -that day. Presently the castle gates opened wide and a great array of -men-at-arms came forth with noise and clatter, the Sheriff, all clad in -shining mail of linked chain, riding at their head. In the midst of all -the guard, in a cart, with a halter about his neck, rode Will Stutely. -His face was pale with his wound and with loss of blood, like the moon -in broad daylight, and his fair hair was clotted in points upon his -forehead, where the blood had hardened. When he came forth from the -castle he looked up and he looked down, but though he saw some faces -that showed pity and some that showed friendliness, he saw none that he -knew. Then his heart sank within him like a plummet of lead, but -nevertheless he spoke up boldly. - -"Give a sword into my hand, Sir Sheriff," said he, "and wounded man -though I be, I will fight thee and all thy men till life and strength be -gone." - -"Nay, thou naughty varlet," quoth the Sheriff, turning his head and -looking right grimly upon Will Stutely, "thou shalt have no sword but -shall die a mean death, as beseemeth a vile thief like thee." - -"Then do but untie my hands and I will fight thee and thy men with no -weapon but only my naked fists. I crave no weapon, but let me not be -meanly hanged this day." - -Then the Sheriff laughed aloud. "Why, how now," quoth he, "is thy proud -stomach quailing? Shrive thyself, thou vile knave, for I mean that thou -shalt hang this day, and that where three roads meet, so that all men -shall see thee hang, for carrion crows and daws to peck at." - -"O thou dastard heart!" cried Will Stutely, gnashing his teeth at the -Sheriff. "Thou coward hind! If ever my good master meet thee thou -shalt pay dearly for this day's work! He doth scorn thee, and so do all -brave hearts. Knowest thou not that thou and thy name are jests upon -the lips of every brave yeoman? Such a one as thou art, thou wretched -craven, will never be able to subdue bold Robin Hood." - -"Ha!" cried the Sheriff in a rage, "is it even so? Am I a jest with thy -master, as thou callest him? Now I will make a jest of thee and a sorry -jest withal, for I will quarter thee limb from limb, after thou art -hanged." Then he spurred his horse forward and said no more to Stutely. - -At last they came to the great town gate, through which Stutely saw the -fair country beyond, with hills and dales all clothed in verdure, and -far away the dusky line of Sherwood's skirts. Then when he saw the -slanting sunlight lying on field and fallow, shining redly here and -there on cot and farmhouse, and when he heard the sweet birds singing -their vespers, and the sheep bleating upon the hillside, and beheld the -swallows flying in the bright air, there came a great fullness to his -heart so that all things blurred to his sight through salt tears, and he -bowed his head lest the folk should think him unmanly when they saw the -tears in his eyes. Thus he kept his head bowed till they had passed -through the gate and were outside the walls of the town. But when he -looked up again he felt his heart leap within him and then stand still -for pure joy, for he saw the face of one of his own dear companions of -merry Sherwood; then glancing quickly around he saw well-known faces -upon all sides of him, crowding closely upon the men-at-arms who were -guarding him. Then of a sudden the blood sprang to his cheeks, for he -saw for a moment his own good master in the press and, seeing him, knew -that Robin Hood and all his band were there. Yet betwixt him and them -was a line of men-at-arms. - -"Now, stand back!" cried the Sheriff in a mighty voice, for the crowd -pressed around on all sides. "What mean ye, varlets, that ye push upon -us so? Stand back, I say!" - -Then came a bustle and a noise, and one strove to push between the men- -at-arms so as to reach the cart, and Stutely saw that it was Little John -that made all that stir. - -"Now stand thou back!" cried one of the men-at-arms whom Little John -pushed with his elbows. - -"Now stand thou back thine own self," quoth Little John, and straightway -smote the man a buffet beside his head that felled him as a butcher -fells an ox, and then he leaped to the cart where Stutely sat. - -"I pray thee take leave of thy friends ere thou diest, Will," quoth he, -"or maybe I will die with thee if thou must die, for I could never have -better company." Then with one stroke he cut the bonds that bound the -other's arms and legs, and Stutely leaped straightway from the cart. - -"Now as I live," cried the Sheriff, "yon varlet I know right well is a -sturdy rebel! Take him, I bid you all, and let him not go!" - -So saying, he spurred his horse upon Little John, and rising in his -stirrups smote with might and main, but Little John ducked quickly -underneath the horse's belly and the blow whistled harmlessly over his -head. - -"Nay, good Sir Sheriff," cried he, leaping up again when the blow had -passed, "I must e'en borrow thy most worshipful sword." Thereupon he -twitched the weapon deftly from out the Sheriff's hand, "Here, Stutely," -he cried, "the Sheriff hath lent thee his sword! Back to back with me, -man, and defend thyself, for help is nigh!" - -"Down with them!" bellowed the Sheriff in a voice like an angry bull; -and he spurred his horse upon the two who now stood back to back, -forgetting in his rage that he had no weapon with which to defend -himself. - -"Stand back, Sheriff!" cried Little John; and even as he spoke, a bugle -horn sounded shrilly and a clothyard shaft whistled within an inch of -the Sheriff's head. Then came a swaying hither and thither, and oaths, -cries, and groans, and clashing of steel, and swords flashed in the -setting sun, and a score of arrows whistled through the air. And some -cried, "Help, help!" and some, "A rescue, a rescue!" - -"Treason!" cried the Sheriff in a loud voice. "Bear back! Bear back! -Else we be all dead men!" Thereupon he reined his horse backward -through the thickest of the crowd. - -Now Robin Hood and his band might have slain half of the Sheriff's men -had they desired to do so, but they let them push out of the press and -get them gone, only sending a bunch of arrows after them to hurry them -in their flight. - -"Oh stay!" shouted Will Stutely after the Sheriff. "Thou wilt never -catch bold Robin Hood if thou dost not stand to meet him face to face." -But the Sheriff, bowing along his horse's back, made no answer but only -spurred the faster. - -Then Will Stutely turned to Little John and looked him in the face till -the tears ran down from his eyes and he wept aloud; and kissing his -friend's cheeks, "O Little John!" quoth he, "mine own true friend, and -he that I love better than man or woman in all the world beside! Little -did I reckon to see thy face this day, or to meet thee this side -Paradise." Little John could make no answer, but wept also. - -Then Robin Hood gathered his band together in a close rank, with Will -Stutely in the midst, and thus they moved slowly away toward Sherwood, -and were gone, as a storm cloud moves away from the spot where a tempest -has swept the land. But they left ten of the Sheriff's men lying along -the ground wounded--some more, some less--yet no one knew who smote them -down. - -Thus the Sheriff of Nottingham tried thrice to take Robin Hood and -failed each time; and the last time he was frightened, for he felt how -near he had come to losing his life; so he said, "These men fear neither -God nor man, nor king nor king's officers. I would sooner lose mine -office than my life, so I will trouble them no more." So he kept close -within his castle for many a day and dared not show his face outside of -his own household, and all the time he was gloomy and would speak to no -one, for he was ashamed of what had happened that day. - - - - -Robin Hood Turns Butcher - -NOW AFTER all these things had happened, and it became known to Robin -Hood how the Sheriff had tried three times to make him captive, he said -to himself, "If I have the chance, I will make our worshipful Sheriff -pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him -some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry feast with -us." For when Robin Hood caught a baron or a squire, or a fat abbot or -bishop, he brought them to the greenwood tree and feasted them before he -lightened their purses. - -But in the meantime Robin Hood and his band lived quietly in Sherwood -Forest, without showing their faces abroad, for Robin knew that it would -not be wise for him to be seen in the neighborhood of Nottingham, those -in authority being very wroth with him. But though they did not go -abroad, they lived a merry life within the woodlands, spending the days -in shooting at garlands hung upon a willow wand at the end of the glade, -the leafy aisles ringing with merry jests and laughter: for whoever -missed the garland was given a sound buffet, which, if delivered by -Little John, never failed to topple over the unfortunate yeoman. Then -they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they -gained in skill and strength. - -Thus they dwelled for nearly a year, and in that time Robin Hood often -turned over in his mind many means of making an even score with the -Sheriff. At last he began to fret at his confinement; so one day he -took up his stout cudgel and set forth to seek adventure, strolling -blithely along until he came to the edge of Sherwood. There, as he -rambled along the sunlit road, he met a lusty young butcher driving a -fine mare and riding in a stout new cart, all hung about with meat. -Merrily whistled the Butcher as he jogged along, for he was going to the -market, and the day was fresh and sweet, making his heart blithe within -him. - -"Good morrow to thee, jolly fellow," quoth Robin, "thou seemest happy -this merry morn." - -"Ay, that am I," quoth the jolly Butcher, "and why should I not be so? -Am I not hale in wind and limb? Have I not the bonniest lass in all -Nottinghamshire? And lastly, am I not to be married to her on Thursday -next in sweet Locksley Town?" - -"Ha," said Robin, "comest thou from Locksley Town? Well do I know that -fair place for miles about, and well do I know each hedgerow and gentle -pebbly stream, and even all the bright little fishes therein, for there -I was born and bred. Now, where goest thou with thy meat, my fair -friend?" - -"I go to the market at Nottingham Town to sell my beef and my mutton," -answered the Butcher. "But who art thou that comest from Locksley -Town?" - -"A yeoman am I, and men do call me Robin Hood." - -"Now, by Our Lady's grace," cried the Butcher, "well do I know thy name, -and many a time have I heard thy deeds both sung and spoken of. But -Heaven forbid that thou shouldst take aught of me! An honest man am I, -and have wronged neither man nor maid; so trouble me not, good master, -as I have never troubled thee." - -"Nay, Heaven forbid, indeed," quoth Robin, "that I should take from such -as thee, jolly fellow! Not so much as one farthing would I take from -thee, for I love a fair Saxon face like thine right well--more -especially when it cometh from Locksley Town, and most especially when -the man that owneth it is to marry a bonny lass on Thursday next. But -come, tell me for what price thou wilt sell me all of thy meat and thy -horse and cart." - -"At four marks do I value meat, cart, and mare," quoth the Butcher, "but -if I do not sell all my meat I will not have four marks in value." - -Then Robin Hood plucked the purse from his girdle, and quoth he, "Here -in this purse are six marks. Now, I would fain be a butcher for the day -and sell my meat in Nottingham Town. Wilt thou close a bargain with me -and take six marks for thine outfit?" - -"Now may the blessings of all the saints fall on thine honest head!" -cried the Butcher right joyfully, as he leaped down from his cart and -took the purse that Robin held out to him. - -"Nay," quoth Robin, laughing loudly, "many do like me and wish me well, -but few call me honest. Now get thee gone back to thy lass, and give -her a sweet kiss from me." So saying, he donned the Butcher's apron, -and, climbing into the cart, he took the reins in his hand and drove off -through the forest to Nottingham Town. - -When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where -butchers stood, and took up his inn[Stand for selling] in the best -place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon -the bench, then, taking his cleaver and steel and clattering them -together, he trolled aloud in merry tones: - - "Now come, ye lasses, and eke ye dames, - And buy your meat from me; - For three pennyworths of meat I sell - For the charge of one penny. - - "Lamb have I that hath fed upon nought - But the dainty dames pied, - And the violet sweet, and the daffodil - That grow fair streams beside. - - "And beef have I from the heathery words, - And mutton from dales all green, - And veal as white as a maiden's brow, - With its mother's milk, I ween. - - "Then come, ye lasses, and eke ye dames, - Come, buy your meat from me, - For three pennyworths of meat I sell - For the charge of one penny." - -Thus he sang blithely, while all who stood near listened amazedly. Then, -when he had finished, he clattered the steel and cleaver still more -loudly, shouting lustily, "Now, who'll buy? Who'll buy? Four fixed -prices have I. Three pennyworths of meat I sell to a fat friar or priest -for sixpence, for I want not their custom; stout aldermen I charge -threepence, for it doth not matter to me whether they buy or not; to -buxom dames I sell three pennyworths of meat for one penny for I like -their custom well; but to the bonny lass that hath a liking for a good -tight butcher I charge nought but one fair kiss, for I like her custom -the best of all." - -Then all began to stare and wonder and crowd around, laughing, for never -was such selling heard of in all Nottingham Town; but when they came to -buy they found it as he had said, for he gave goodwife or dame as much -meat for one penny as they could buy elsewhere for three, and when a -widow or a poor woman came to him, he gave her flesh for nothing; but -when a merry lass came and gave him a kiss, he charged not one penny for -his meat; and many such came to his stall, for his eyes were as blue as -the skies of June, and he laughed merrily, giving to each full measure. -Thus he sold his meat so fast that no butcher that stood near him could -sell anything. - -Then they began to talk among themselves, and some said, "This must be -some thief who has stolen cart, horse, and meat"; but others said, "Nay, -when did ye ever see a thief who parted with his goods so freely and -merrily? This must be some prodigal who hath sold his father's land, -and would fain live merrily while the money lasts." And these latter -being the greater number, the others came round, one by one to their way -of thinking. - -Then some of the butchers came to him to make his acquaintance. "Come, -brother," quoth one who was the head of them all, "we be all of one -trade, so wilt thou go dine with us? For this day the Sheriff hath asked -all the Butcher Guild to feast with him at the Guild Hall. There will -be stout fare and much to drink, and that thou likest, or I much mistake -thee." - -"Now, beshrew his heart," quoth jolly Robin, "that would deny a butcher. -And, moreover, I will go dine with you all, my sweet lads, and that as -fast as I can hie." Whereupon, having sold all his meat, he closed his -stall and went with them to the great Guild Hall. - -There the Sheriff had already come in state, and with him many butchers. -When Robin and those that were with him came in, all laughing at some -merry jest he had been telling them, those that were near the Sheriff -whispered to him, "Yon is a right mad blade, for he hath sold more meat -for one penny this day than we could sell for three, and to whatsoever -merry lass gave him a kiss he gave meat for nought." And others said, -"He is some prodigal that hath sold his land for silver and gold, and -meaneth to spend all right merrily." - -Then the Sheriff called Robin to him, not knowing him in his butcher's -dress, and made him sit close to him on his right hand; for he loved a -rich young prodigal--especially when he thought that he might lighten -that prodigal's pockets into his own most worshipful purse. So he made -much of Robin, and laughed and talked with him more than with any of the -others. - -At last the dinner was ready to be served and the Sheriff bade Robin say -grace, so Robin stood up and said, "Now Heaven bless us all and eke good -meat and good sack within this house, and may all butchers be and remain -as honest men as I am." - -At this all laughed, the Sheriff loudest of all, for he said to himself, -"Surely this is indeed some prodigal, and perchance I may empty his -purse of some of the money that the fool throweth about so freely." Then -he spake aloud to Robin, saying, "Thou art a jolly young blade, and I -love thee mightily"; and he smote Robin upon the shoulder. - -Then Robin laughed loudly too. "Yea," quoth he, "I know thou dost love -a jolly blade, for didst thou not have jolly Robin Hood at thy shooting -match and didst thou not gladly give him a bright golden arrow for his -own?" - -At this the Sheriff looked grave and all the guild of butchers too, so -that none laughed but Robin, only some winked slyly at each other. - -"Come, fill us some sack!" cried Robin. "Let us e'er be merry while we -may, for man is but dust, and he hath but a span to live here till the -worm getteth him, as our good gossip Swanthold sayeth; so let life be -merry while it lasts, say I. Nay, never look down i' the mouth, Sir -Sheriff. Who knowest but that thou mayest catch Robin Hood yet, if thou -drinkest less good sack and Malmsey, and bringest down the fat about thy -paunch and the dust from out thy brain. Be merry, man." - -Then the Sheriff laughed again, but not as though he liked the jest, -while the butchers said, one to another, "Before Heaven, never have we -seen such a mad rollicking blade. Mayhap, though, he will make the -Sheriff mad." - -"How now, brothers," cried Robin, "be merry! nay, never count over your -farthings, for by this and by that I will pay this shot myself, e'en -though it cost two hundred pounds. So let no man draw up his lip, nor -thrust his forefinger into his purse, for I swear that neither butcher -nor Sheriff shall pay one penny for this feast." - -"Now thou art a right merry soul," quoth the Sheriff, "and I wot thou -must have many a head of horned beasts and many an acre of land, that -thou dost spend thy money so freely." - -"Ay, that have I," quoth Robin, laughing loudly again, "five hundred and -more horned beasts have I and my brothers, and none of them have we been -able to sell, else I might not have turned butcher. As for my land, I -have never asked my steward how many acres I have." - -At this the Sheriff's eyes twinkled, and he chuckled to himself. "Nay, -good youth," quoth he, "if thou canst not sell thy cattle, it may be I -will find a man that will lift them from thy hands; perhaps that man may -be myself, for I love a merry youth and would help such a one along the -path of life. Now how much dost thou want for thy horned cattle?" - -"Well," quoth Robin, "they are worth at least five hundred pounds." - -"Nay," answered the Sheriff slowly, and as if he were thinking within -himself, "well do I love thee, and fain would I help thee along, but -five hundred pounds in money is a good round sum; besides I have it not -by me. Yet I will give thee three hundred pounds for them all, and that -in good hard silver and gold." - -"Now thou old miser!" quoth Robin, "well thou knowest that so many -horned cattle are worth seven hundred pounds and more, and even that is -but small for them, and yet thou, with thy gray hairs and one foot in -the grave, wouldst trade upon the folly of a wild youth." - -At this the Sheriff looked grimly at Robin. "Nay," quoth Robin, "look -not on me as though thou hadst sour beer in thy mouth, man. I will take -thine offer, for I and my brothers do need the money. We lead a merry -life, and no one leads a merry life for a farthing, so I will close the -bargain with thee. But mind that thou bringest a good three hundred -pounds with thee, for I trust not one that driveth so shrewd a bargain." - -"I will bring the money," said the Sheriff. "But what is thy name, good -youth?" - -"Men call me Robert o' Locksley," quoth bold Robin. - -"Then, good Robert o' Locksley," quoth the Sheriff, "I will come this -day to see thy horned beasts. But first my clerk shall draw up a paper -in which thou shalt be bound to the sale, for thou gettest not my money -without I get thy beasts in return." - -Then Robin Hood laughed again. "So be it," he said, smiting his palm -upon the Sheriff's hand. "Truly my brothers will be thankful to thee -for thy money." - -Thus the bargain was closed, but many of the butchers talked among -themselves of the Sheriff, saying that it was but a scurvy trick to -beguile a poor spendthrift youth in this way. - -The afternoon had come when the Sheriff mounted his horse and joined -Robin Hood, who stood outside the gateway of the paved court waiting for -him, for he had sold his horse and cart to a trader for two marks. Then -they set forth upon their way, the Sheriff riding upon his horse and -Robin running beside him. Thus they left Nottingham Town and traveled -forward along the dusty highway, laughing and jesting together as though -they had been old friends. But all the time the Sheriff said within -himself, "Thy jest to me of Robin Hood shall cost thee dear, good -fellow, even four hundred pounds, thou fool." For he thought he would -make at least that much by his bargain. - -So they journeyed onward till they came within the verge of Sherwood -Forest, when presently the Sheriff looked up and down and to the right -and to the left of him, and then grew quiet and ceased his laughter. -"Now," quoth he, "may Heaven and its saints preserve us this day from a -rogue men call Robin Hood." - -Then Robin laughed aloud. "Nay," said he, "thou mayst set thy mind at -rest, for well do I know Robin Hood and well do I know that thou art in -no more danger from him this day than thou art from me." - -At this the Sheriff looked askance at Robin, saying to himself, "I like -not that thou seemest so well acquainted with this bold outlaw, and I -wish that I were well out of Sherwood Forest." - -But still they traveled deeper into the forest shades, and the deeper -they went, the more quiet grew the Sheriff. At last they came to where -the road took a sudden bend, and before them a herd of dun deer went -tripping across the path. Then Robin Hood came close to the Sheriff and -pointing his finger, he said, "These are my horned beasts, good Master -Sheriff. How dost thou like them? Are they not fat and fair to see?" - -At this the Sheriff drew rein quickly. "Now fellow," quoth he, "I would -I were well out of this forest, for I like not thy company. Go thou -thine own path, good friend, and let me but go mine." - -But Robin only laughed and caught the Sheriff's bridle rein. "Nay," -cried he, "stay awhile, for I would thou shouldst see my brothers, who -own these fair horned beasts with me." So saying, he clapped his bugle -to his mouth and winded three merry notes, and presently up the path -came leaping fivescore good stout yeomen with Little John at their head. - -"What wouldst thou have, good master?" quoth Little John. - -"Why," answered Robin, "dost thou not see that I have brought goodly -company to feast with us today? Fye, for shame! Do you not see our good -and worshipful master, the Sheriff of Nottingham? Take thou his bridle, -Little John, for he has honored us today by coming to feast with us." - -Then all doffed their hats humbly, without smiling or seeming to be in -jest, while Little John took the bridle rein and led the palfrey still -deeper into the forest, all marching in order, with Robin Hood walking -beside the Sheriff, hat in hand. - -All this time the Sheriff said never a word but only looked about him -like one suddenly awakened from sleep; but when he found himself going -within the very depths of Sherwood his heart sank within him, for he -thought, "Surely my three hundred pounds will be taken from me, even if -they take not my life itself, for I have plotted against their lives -more than once." But all seemed humble and meek and not a word was said -of danger, either to life or money. - -So at last they came to that part of Sherwood Forest where a noble oak -spread its branches wide, and beneath it was a seat all made of moss, on -which Robin sat down, placing the Sheriff at his right hand. "Now busk -ye, my merry men all," quoth he, "and bring forth the best we have, both -of meat and wine, for his worship the Sheriff hath feasted me in -Nottingham Guild Hall today, and I would not have him go back empty." - -All this time nothing had been said of the Sheriff's money, so presently -he began to pluck up heart. "For," said he to himself, "maybe Robin -Hood hath forgotten all about it." - -Then, while beyond in the forest bright fires crackled and savory smells -of sweetly roasting venison and fat capons filled the glade, and brown -pasties warmed beside the blaze, did Robin Hood entertain the Sheriff -right royally. First, several couples stood forth at quarterstaff, and -so shrewd were they at the game, and so quickly did they give stroke and -parry, that the Sheriff, who loved to watch all lusty sports of the -kind, clapped his hands, forgetting where he was, and crying aloud, -"Well struck! Well struck, thou fellow with the black beard!" little -knowing that the man he called upon was the Tinker that tried to serve -his warrant upon Robin Hood. - -Then several yeomen came forward and spread cloths upon the green grass, -and placed a royal feast; while others still broached barrels of sack -and Malmsey and good stout ale, and set them in jars upon the cloth, -with drinking horns about them. Then all sat down and feasted and drank -merrily together until the sun was low and the half-moon glimmered with -a pale light betwixt the leaves of the trees overhead. - -Then the Sheriff arose and said, "I thank you all, good yeomen, for the -merry entertainment ye have given me this day. Right courteously have ye -used me, showing therein that ye have much respect for our glorious King -and his deputy in brave Nottinghamshire. But the shadows grow long, and -I must away before darkness comes, lest I lose myself within the -forest." - -Then Robin Hood and all his merry men arose also, and Robin said to the -Sheriff, "If thou must go, worshipful sir, go thou must; but thou hast -forgotten one thing." - -"Nay, I forgot nought," said the Sheriff; yet all the same his heart -sank within him. - -"But I say thou hast forgot something," quoth Robin. "We keep a merry -inn here in the greenwood, but whoever becometh our guest must pay his -reckoning." - -Then the Sheriff laughed, but the laugh was hollow. "Well, jolly boys," -quoth he, "we have had a merry time together today, and even if ye had -not asked me, I would have given you a score of pounds for the sweet -entertainment I have had." - -"Nay," quoth Robin seriously, "it would ill beseem us to treat Your -Worship so meanly. By my faith, Sir Sheriff, I would be ashamed to show -my face if I did not reckon the King's deputy at three hundred pounds. -Is it not so, my merry men all?" - -Then "Ay!" cried all, in a loud voice. - -"Three hundred devils!" roared the Sheriff. "Think ye that your -beggarly feast was worth three pounds, let alone three hundred?" - -"Nay," quoth Robin gravely. "Speak not so roundly, Your Worship. I do -love thee for the sweet feast thou hast given me this day in merry -Nottingham Town; but there be those here who love thee not so much. If -thou wilt look down the cloth thou wilt see Will Stutely, in whose eyes -thou hast no great favor; then two other stout fellows are there here -that thou knowest not, that were wounded in a brawl nigh Nottingham -Town, some time ago--thou wottest when; one of them was sore hurt in one -arm, yet he hath got the use of it again. Good Sheriff, be advised by -me; pay thy score without more ado, or maybe it may fare ill with thee." - -As he spoke the Sheriff's ruddy cheeks grew pale, and he said nothing -more but looked upon the ground and gnawed his nether lip. Then slowly -he drew forth his fat purse and threw it upon the cloth in front of him. - -"Now take the purse, Little John," quoth Robin Hood, "and see that the -reckoning be right. We would not doubt our Sheriff, but he might not -like it if he should find he had not paid his full score." - -Then Little John counted the money and found that the bag held three -hundred pounds in silver and gold. But to the Sheriff it seemed as if -every clink of the bright money was a drop of blood from his veins. And -when he saw it all counted out in a heap of silver and gold, filling a -wooden platter, he turned away and silently mounted his horse. - -"Never have we had so worshipful a guest before!" quoth Robin, "and, as -the day waxeth late, I will send one of my young men to guide thee out -of the forest depths." - -"Nay, Heaven forbid!" cried the Sheriff hastily. "I can find mine own -way, good man, without aid." - -"Then I will put thee on the right track mine own self," quoth Robin, -and, taking the Sheriff's horse by the bridle rein, he led him into the -main forest path. Then, before he let him go, he said, "Now, fare thee -well, good Sheriff, and when next thou thinkest to despoil some poor -prodigal, remember thy feast in Sherwood Forest. 'Ne'er buy a horse, -good friend, without first looking into its mouth,' as our good gaffer -Swanthold says. And so, once more, fare thee well." Then he clapped his -hand to the horse's back, and off went nag and Sheriff through the -forest glades. - -Then bitterly the Sheriff rued the day that first he meddled with Robin -Hood, for all men laughed at him and many ballads were sung by folk -throughout the country, of how the Sheriff went to shear and came home -shorn to the very quick. For thus men sometimes overreach themselves -through greed and guile. - - - - -Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair - -SPRING HAD GONE since the Sheriff's feast in Sherwood, and summer also, -and the mellow month of October had come. All the air was cool and -fresh; the harvests were gathered home, the young birds were full -fledged, the hops were plucked, and apples were ripe. But though time -had so smoothed things over that men no longer talked of the horned -beasts that the Sheriff wished to buy, he was still sore about the -matter and could not bear to hear Robin Hood's name spoken in his -presence. - -With October had come the time for holding the great Fair which was -celebrated every five years at Nottingham Town, to which folk came from -far and near throughout the country. At such times archery was always -the main sport of the day, for the Nottinghamshire yeomen were the best -hand at the longbow in all merry England, but this year the Sheriff -hesitated a long time before he issued proclamation of the Fair, fearing -lest Robin Hood and his band might come to it. At first he had a great -part of a mind not to proclaim the Fair, but second thought told him -that men would laugh at him and say among themselves that he was afraid -of Robin Hood, so he put that thought by. At last he fixed in his mind -that he would offer such a prize as they would not care to shoot for. At -such times it had been the custom to offer a half score of marks or a -tun of ale, so this year he proclaimed that a prize of two fat steers -should be given to the best bowman. - -When Robin Hood heard what had been proclaimed he was vexed, and said, -"Now beshrew this Sheriff that he should offer such a prize that none -but shepherd hinds will care to shoot for it! I would have loved nothing -better than to have had another bout at merry Nottingham Town, but if I -should win this prize nought would it pleasure or profit me." - -Then up spoke Little John: "Nay, but hearken, good master," said he, -"only today Will Stutely, young David of Doncaster, and I were at the -Sign of the Blue Boar, and there we heard all the news of this merry -Fair, and also that the Sheriff hath offered this prize, that we of -Sherwood might not care to come to the Fair; so, good master, if thou -wilt, I would fain go and strive to win even this poor thing among the -stout yeomen who will shoot at Nottingham Town." - -"Nay, Little John," quoth Robin, "thou art a sound stout fellow, yet -thou lackest the cunning that good Stutely hath, and I would not have -harm befall thee for all Nottinghamshire. Nevertheless, if thou wilt -go, take some disguise lest there be those there who may know thee." - -"So be it, good master," quoth Little John, "yet all the disguise that I -wish is a good suit of scarlet instead of this of Lincoln green. I will -draw the cowl of my jacket about my head so that it will hide my brown -hair and beard, and then, I trust, no one will know me." - -"It is much against my will," said Robin Hood, "ne'ertheless, if thou -dost wish it, get thee gone, but bear thyself seemingly, Little John, -for thou art mine own right-hand man and I could ill bear to have harm -befall thee." - -So Little John clad himself all in scarlet and started off to the Fair -at Nottingham Town. - -Right merry were these Fair days at Nottingham, when the green before -the great town gate was dotted with booths standing in rows, with tents -of many-colored canvas, hung about with streamers and garlands of -flowers, and the folk came from all the countryside, both gentle and -common. In some booths there was dancing to merry music, in others -flowed ale and beer, and in others yet again sweet cakes and barley -sugar were sold; and sport was going outside the booths also, where some -minstrel sang ballads of the olden time, playing a second upon the harp, -or where the wrestlers struggled with one another within the sawdust -ring, but the people gathered most of all around a raised platform where -stout fellows played at quarterstaff. - -So Little John came to the Fair. All scarlet were his hose and jerkin, -and scarlet was his cowled cap, with a scarlet feather stuck in the side -of it. Over his shoulders was slung a stout bow of yew, and across his -back hung a quiver of good round arrows. Many turned to look after such -a stout, tall fellow, for his shoulders were broader by a palm's-breadth -than any that were there, and he stood a head taller than all the other -men. The lasses, also, looked at him askance, thinking they had never -seen a lustier youth. - -First of all he went to the booth where stout ale was sold and, standing -aloft on a bench, he called to all that were near to come and drink with -him. "Hey, sweet lads!" cried he "who will drink ale with a stout -yeoman? Come, all! Come, all! Let us be merry, for the day is sweet -and the ale is tingling. Come hither, good yeoman, and thou, and thou; -for not a farthing shall one of you pay. Nay, turn hither, thou lusty -beggar, and thou jolly tinker, for all shall be merry with me." - -Thus he shouted, and all crowded around, laughing, while the brown ale -flowed; and they called Little John a brave fellow, each swearing that -he loved him as his own brother; for when one has entertainment with -nothing to pay, one loves the man that gives it to one. - -Then he strolled to the platform where they were at cudgel play, for he -loved a bout at quarterstaff as he loved meat and drink; and here befell -an adventure that was sung in ballads throughout the mid-country for -many a day. - -One fellow there was that cracked crowns of everyone who threw cap into -the ring. This was Eric o' Lincoln, of great renown, whose name had -been sung in ballads throughout the countryside. When Little John -reached the stand he found none fighting, but only bold Eric walking up -and down the platform, swinging his staff and shouting lustily, "Now, -who will come and strike a stroke for the lass he loves the best, with a -good Lincolnshire yeoman? How now, lads? Step up! Step up! Or else -the lasses' eyes are not bright hereabouts, or the blood of Nottingham -youth is sluggish and cold. Lincoln against Nottingham, say I! For no -one hath put foot upon the boards this day such as we of Lincoln call a -cudgel player." - -At this, one would nudge another with his elbow, saying, "Go thou, Ned!" -or "Go thou, Thomas!" but no lad cared to gain a cracked crown for -nothing. - -Presently Eric saw where Little John stood among the others, a head and -shoulders above them all, and he called to him loudly, "Halloa, thou -long-legged fellow in scarlet! Broad are thy shoulders and thick thy -head; is not thy lass fair enough for thee to take cudgel in hand for -her sake? In truth, I believe that Nottingham men do turn to bone and -sinew, for neither heart nor courage have they! Now, thou great lout, -wilt thou not twirl staff for Nottingham?" - -"Ay," quoth Little John, "had I but mine own good staff here, it would -pleasure me hugely to crack thy knave's pate, thou saucy braggart! I wot -it would be well for thee an thy cock's comb were cut!" Thus he spoke, -slowly at first, for he was slow to move; but his wrath gathered headway -like a great stone rolling down a hill, so that at the end he was full -of anger. - -Then Eric o' Lincoln laughed aloud. "Well spoken for one who fears to -meet me fairly, man to man," said he. "Saucy art thou thine own self, -and if thou puttest foot upon these boards, I will make thy saucy tongue -rattle within thy teeth!" - -"Now," quoth Little John, "is there never a man here that will lend me a -good stout staff till I try the mettle of yon fellow?" At this, half a -score reached him their staves, and he took the stoutest and heaviest of -them all. Then, looking up and down the cudgel, he said, "Now, I have -in my hand but a splint of wood--a barley straw, as it were--yet I trow -it will have to serve me, so here goeth." Thereupon he cast the cudgel -upon the stand and, leaping lightly after it, snatched it up in his hand -again. - -Then each man stood in his place and measured the other with fell looks -until he that directed the sport cried, "Play!" At this they stepped -forth, each grasping his staff tightly in the middle. Then those that -stood around saw the stoutest game of quarterstaff that e'er Nottingham -Town beheld. At first Eric o' Lincoln thought that he would gain an -easy advantage, so he came forth as if he would say, "Watch, good -people, how that I carve you this cockerel right speedily"; but he -presently found it to be no such speedy matter. Right deftly he struck, -and with great skill of fence, but he had found his match in Little -John. Once, twice, thrice, he struck, and three times Little John -turned the blows to the left hand and to the right. Then quickly and -with a dainty backhanded blow, he rapped Eric beneath his guard so -shrewdly that it made his head ring again. Then Eric stepped back to -gather his wits, while a great shout went up and all were glad that -Nottingham had cracked Lincoln's crown; and thus ended the first bout of -the game. - -Then presently the director of the sport cried, "Play!" and they came -together again; but now Eric played warily, for he found his man was of -right good mettle, and also he had no sweet memory of the blow that he -had got; so this bout neither Little John nor the Lincoln man caught a -stroke within his guard. Then, after a while, they parted again, and -this made the second bout. - -Then for the third time they came together, and at first Eric strove to -be wary, as he had been before; but, growing mad at finding himself so -foiled, he lost his wits and began to rain blows so fiercely and so fast -that they rattled like hail on penthouse roof; but, in spite of all, he -did not reach within Little John's guard. Then at last Little John saw -his chance and seized it right cleverly. Once more, with a quick blow, -he rapped Eric beside the head, and ere he could regain himself, Little -John slipped his right hand down to his left and, with a swinging blow, -smote the other so sorely upon the crown that down he fell as though he -would never move again. - -Then the people shouted so loud that folk came running from all about to -see what was the ado; while Little John leaped down from the stand and -gave the staff back to him that had lent it to him. And thus ended the -famous bout between Little John and Eric o' Lincoln of great renown. - -But now the time had come when those who were to shoot with the longbow -were to take their places, so the people began flocking to the butts -where the shooting was to be. Near the target, in a good place, sat the -Sheriff upon a raised dais, with many gentlefolk around him. When the -archers had taken their places, the herald came forward and proclaimed -the rules of the game, and how each should shoot three shots, and to him -that should shoot the best the prize of two fat steers was to belong. A -score of brave shots were gathered there, and among them some of the -keenest hands at the longbow in Lincoln and Nottinghamshire; and among -them Little John stood taller than all the rest. "Who is yon stranger -clad all in scarlet?" said some, and others answered, "It is he that -hath but now so soundly cracked the crown of Eric o' Lincoln." Thus the -people talked among themselves, until at last it reached even the -Sheriff's ears. - -And now each man stepped forward and shot in turn; but though each shot -well, Little John was the best of all, for three times he struck the -clout, and once only the length of a barleycorn from the center. "Hey -for the tall archer!" shouted the crowd, and some among them shouted, -"Hey for Reynold Greenleaf!" for this was the name that Little John had -called himself that day. - -Then the Sheriff stepped down from the raised seat and came to where the -archers stood, while all doffed their caps that saw him coming. He -looked keenly at Little John but did not know him, though he said, after -a while, "How now, good fellow, methinks there is that about thy face -that I have seen erewhile." - -"Mayhap it may be so," quoth Little John, "for often have I seen Your -Worship." And, as he spoke, he looked steadily into the Sheriff's eyes -so that the latter did not suspect who he was. - -"A brave blade art thou, good friend," said the Sheriff, "and I hear -that thou hast well upheld the skill of Nottinghamshire against that of -Lincoln this day. What may be thy name, good fellow?" - -"Men do call me Reynold Greenleaf, Your Worship," said Little John; and -the old ballad that tells of this, adds, "So, in truth, was he a green -leaf, but of what manner of tree the Sheriff wotted not." - -"Now, Reynold Greenleaf," quoth the Sheriff, "thou art the fairest hand -at the longbow that mine eyes ever beheld, next to that false knave, -Robin Hood, from whose wiles Heaven forfend me! Wilt thou join my -service, good fellow? Thou shalt be paid right well, for three suits of -clothes shalt thou have a year, with good food and as much ale as thou -canst drink; and, besides this, I will pay thee forty marks each -Michaelmastide." - -"Then here stand I a free man, and right gladly will I enter thy -household," said Little John, for he thought he might find some merry -jest, should he enter the Sheriff's service. - -"Fairly hast thou won the fat steers," said the Sheriff, "and hereunto -I will add a butt of good March beer, for joy of having gotten such a -man; for, I wot, thou shootest as fair a shaft as Robin Hood himself." - -"Then," said Little John, "for joy of having gotten myself into thy -service, I will give fat steers and brown ale to all these good folk, to -make them merry withal." At this arose a great shout, many casting -their caps aloft, for joy of the gift. - -Then some built great fires and roasted the steers, and others broached -the butt of ale, with which all made themselves merry. Then, when they -had eaten and drunk as much as they could, and when the day faded and -the great moon arose, all red and round, over the spires and towers of -Nottingham Town, they joined hands and danced around the fires, to the -music of bagpipes and harps. But long before this merrymaking had begun, -the Sheriff and his new servant Reynold Greenleaf were in the Castle of -Nottingham. - - - - -How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's - -THUS LITTLE JOHN entered into the Sheriff's service and found the life -he led there easy enough, for the Sheriff made him his right-hand man -and held him in great favor. He sat nigh the Sheriff at meat, and he ran -beside his horse when he went a-hunting; so that, what with hunting and -hawking a little, and eating rich dishes and drinking good sack, and -sleeping until late hours in the morning, he grew as fat as a stall-fed -ox. Thus things floated easily along with the tide, until one day when -the Sheriff went a-hunting, there happened that which broke the smooth -surface of things. - -This morning the Sheriff and many of his men set forth to meet certain -lords, to go a-hunting. He looked all about him for his good man, -Reynold Greenleaf, but, not finding him, was vexed, for he wished to -show Little John's skill to his noble friends. As for Little John, he -lay abed, snoring lustily, till the sun was high in the heavens. At last -he opened his eyes and looked about him but did not move to arise. -Brightly shone the sun in at the window, and all the air was sweet with -the scent of woodbine that hung in sprays about the wall without, for -the cold winter was past and spring was come again, and Little John lay -still, thinking how sweet was everything on this fair morn. Just then he -heard, faint and far away, a distant bugle note sounding thin and clear. -The sound was small, but, like a little pebble dropped into a glassy -fountain, it broke all the smooth surface of his thoughts, until his -whole soul was filled with disturbance. His spirit seemed to awaken -from its sluggishness, and his memory brought back to him all the merry -greenwood life--how the birds were singing blithely there this bright -morning, and how his loved companions and friends were feasting and -making merry, or perhaps talking of him with sober speech; for when he -first entered the Sheriff's service he did so in jest; but the -hearthstone was warm during the winter, and the fare was full, and so he -had abided, putting off from day to day his going back to Sherwood, -until six long months had passed. But now he thought of his good master -and of Will Stutely, whom he loved better than anyone in all the world, -and of young David of Doncaster, whom he had trained so well in all -manly sports, till there came over his heart a great and bitter longing -for them all, so that his eyes filled with tears. Then he said aloud, -"Here I grow fat like a stall-fed ox and all my manliness departeth from -me while I become a sluggard and dolt. But I will arouse me and go back -to mine own dear friends once more, and never will I leave them again -till life doth leave my lips." So saying, he leaped from bed, for he -hated his sluggishness now. - -When he came downstairs he saw the Steward standing near the pantry -door--a great, fat man, with a huge bundle of keys hanging to his -girdle. Then Little John said, "Ho, Master Steward, a hungry man am I, -for nought have I had for all this blessed morn. Therefore, give me to -eat." - -Then the Steward looked grimly at him and rattled the keys in his -girdle, for he hated Little John because he had found favor with the -Sheriff. "So, Master Reynold Greenleaf, thou art anhungered, art thou?" -quoth he. "But, fair youth, if thou livest long enough, thou wilt find -that he who getteth overmuch sleep for an idle head goeth with an empty -stomach. For what sayeth the old saw, Master Greenleaf? Is it not 'The -late fowl findeth but ill faring'?" - -"Now, thou great purse of fat!" cried Little John, "I ask thee not for -fool's wisdom, but for bread and meat. Who art thou, that thou shouldst -deny me to eat? By Saint Dunstan, thou hadst best tell me where my -breakfast is, if thou wouldst save broken bones!" - -"Thy breakfast, Master Fireblaze, is in the pantry," answered the -Steward. - -"Then fetch it hither!" cried Little John, who waxed angry by this time. - -"Go thou and fetch it thine own self," quoth the Steward. "Am I thy -slave, to fetch and carry for thee?" - -"I say, go thou, bring it me!" - -"I say, go thou, fetch it for thyself!" - -"Ay, marry, that will I, right quickly!" quoth Little John in a rage. -And, so saying, he strode to the pantry and tried to open the door but -found it locked, whereat the Steward laughed and rattled his keys. Then -the wrath of Little John boiled over, and, lifting his clenched fist, he -smote the pantry door, bursting out three panels and making so large an -opening that he could easily stoop and walk through it. - -When the Steward saw what was done, he waxed mad with rage; and, as -Little John stooped to look within the pantry, he seized him from behind -by the nape of the neck, pinching him sorely and smiting him over the -head with his keys till the yeoman's ears rang again. At this Little -John turned upon the Steward and smote him such a buffet that the fat -man fell to the floor and lay there as though he would never move again. -"There," quoth Little John, "think well of that stroke and never keep a -good breakfast from a hungry man again." - -So saying, he crept into the pantry and looked about him to see if he -could find something to appease his hunger. He saw a great venison pasty -and two roasted capons, beside which was a platter of plover's eggs; -moreover, there was a flask of sack and one of canary--a sweet sight to -a hungry man. These he took down from the shelves and placed upon a -sideboard, and prepared to make himself merry. - -Now the Cook, in the kitchen across the courtyard, heard the loud -talking between Little John and the Steward, and also the blow that -Little John struck the other, so he came running across the court and up -the stairway to where the Steward's pantry was, bearing in his hands the -spit with the roast still upon it. Meanwhile the Steward had gathered -his wits about him and risen to his feet, so that when the Cook came to -the Steward's pantry he saw him glowering through the broken door at -Little John, who was making ready for a good repast, as one dog glowers -at another that has a bone. When the Steward saw the Cook, he came to -him, and, putting one arm over his shoulder, "Alas, sweet friend!" quoth -he--for the Cook was a tall, stout man--"seest thou what that vile knave -Reynold Greenleaf hath done? He hath broken in upon our master's goods, -and hath smitten me a buffet upon the ear, so that I thought I was dead. -Good Cook, I love thee well, and thou shalt have a good pottle of our -master's best wine every day, for thou art an old and faithful servant. -Also, good Cook, I have ten shillings that I mean to give as a gift to -thee. But hatest thou not to see a vile upstart like this Reynold -Greenleaf taking it upon him so bravely?" - -"Ay, marry, that do I," quoth the Cook boldly, for he liked the Steward -because of his talk of the wine and of the ten shillings. "Get thee -gone straightway to thy room, and I will bring out this knave by his -ears." So saying, he laid aside his spit and drew the sword that hung by -his side; whereupon the Steward left as quickly as he could, for he -hated the sight of naked steel. - -Then the Cook walked straightway to the broken pantry door, through -which he saw Little John tucking a napkin beneath his chin and preparing -to make himself merry. - -"Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf?" said the Cook, "thou art no better -than a thief, I wot. Come thou straight forth, man, or I will carve -thee as I would carve a sucking pig." - -"Nay, good Cook, bear thou thyself more seemingly, or else I will come -forth to thy dole. At most times I am as a yearling lamb, but when one -cometh between me and my meat, I am a raging lion, as it were." - -"Lion or no lion," quoth the valorous Cook, "come thou straight forth, -else thou art a coward heart as well as a knavish thief." - -"Ha!" cried Little John, "coward's name have I never had; so, look to -thyself, good Cook, for I come forth straight, the roaring lion I did -speak of but now." - -Then he, too, drew his sword and came out of the pantry; then, putting -themselves into position, they came slowly together, with grim and angry -looks; but suddenly Little John lowered his point. "Hold, good Cook!" -said he. "Now, I bethink me it were ill of us to fight with good -victuals standing so nigh, and such a feast as would befit two stout -fellows such as we are. Marry, good friend, I think we should enjoy -this fair feast ere we fight. What sayest thou, jolly Cook?" - -At this speech the Cook looked up and down, scratching his head in -doubt, for he loved good feasting. At last he drew a long breath and -said to Little John, "Well, good friend, I like thy plan right well; so, -pretty boy, say I, let us feast, with all my heart, for one of us may -sup in Paradise before nightfall." - -So each thrust his sword back into the scabbard and entered the pantry. -Then, after they had seated themselves, Little John drew his dagger and -thrust it into the pie. "A hungry man must be fed," quoth he, "so, -sweet chuck, I help myself without leave." But the Cook did not lag far -behind, for straightway his hands also were deeply thrust within the -goodly pasty. After this, neither of them spoke further, but used their -teeth to better purpose. But though neither spoke, they looked at one -another, each thinking within himself that he had never seen a more -lusty fellow than the one across the board. - -At last, after a long time had passed, the Cook drew a full, deep -breath, as though of much regret, and wiped his hands upon the napkin, -for he could eat no more. Little John, also, had enough, for he pushed -the pasty aside, as though he would say, "I want thee by me no more, -good friend." Then he took the pottle of sack, and said he, "Now, good -fellow, I swear by all that is bright, that thou art the stoutest -companion at eating that ever I had. Lo! I drink thy health." So -saying, he clapped the flask to his lips and cast his eyes aloft, while -the good wine flooded his throat. Then he passed the pottle to the Cook, -who also said, "Lo, I drink thy health, sweet fellow!" Nor was he -behind Little John in drinking any more than in eating. - -"Now," quoth Little John, "thy voice is right round and sweet, jolly -lad. I doubt not thou canst sing a ballad most blithely; canst thou -not?" - -"Truly, I have trolled one now and then," quoth the Cook, "yet I would -not sing alone." - -"Nay, truly," said Little John, "that were but ill courtesy. Strike up -thy ditty, and I will afterward sing one to match it, if I can. - -"So be it, pretty boy," quoth the Cook. "And hast thou e'er heard the -song of the Deserted Shepherdess?" - -"Truly, I know not," answered Little John, "but sing thou and let me -hear." - -Then the Cook took another draught from the pottle, and, clearing his -throat, sang right sweetly: - -THE SONG OF THE DESERTED SHEPHERDESS - - "_In Lententime, when leaves wax green, - And pretty birds begin to mate, - When lark cloth sing, and thrush, I ween, - And stockdove cooeth soon and late, - Fair Phillis sat beside a stone, - And thus I heard her make her moan: - 'O willow, willow, willow, willow! - I'll take me of thy branches fair - And twine a wreath to deck my hair. - - "'The thrush hath taken him a she, - The robin, too, and eke the dove; - My Robin hath deserted me, - And left me for another love. - So here, by brookside, all alone, - I sit me down and make my moan. - O willow, willow, willow, willow! - I'll take me of thy branches fair - And twine a wreath to deck my hair.' - - "But ne'er came herring from the sea, - But good as he were in the tide; - Young Corydon came o'er the lea, - And sat him Phillis down beside. - So, presently, she changed her tone, - And 'gan to cease her from her moan, - 'O willow, willow, willow, willow! - Thou mayst e'en keep thy garlands fair, - I want them not to deck my hair_.'" - -"Now, by my faith," cried Little John, "that same is a right good song, -and hath truth in it, also." - -"Glad am I thou likest it, sweet lad," said the Cook. "Now sing thou -one also, for ne'er should a man be merry alone, or sing and list not." - -"Then I will sing thee a song of a right good knight of Arthur's court, -and how he cured his heart's wound without running upon the dart again, -as did thy Phillis; for I wot she did but cure one smart by giving -herself another. So, list thou while I sing: - -THE GOOD KNIGHT AND HIS LOVE - - "_When Arthur, King, did rule this land, - A goodly king was he, - And had he of stout knights a band - Of merry company. - - "Among them all, both great and small, - A good stout knight was there, - A lusty childe, and eke a tall, - That loved a lady fair. - - "But nought would she to do with he, - But turned her face away; - So gat he gone to far countrye, - And left that lady gay. - - "There all alone he made his moan, - And eke did sob and sigh, - And weep till it would move a stone, - And he was like to die. - - "But still his heart did feel the smart, - And eke the dire distress, - And rather grew his pain more sharp - As grew his body less. - - "Then gat he back where was good sack - And merry com panye, - And soon did cease to cry 'Alack!' - When blithe and gay was he. - - "From which I hold, and feel full bold - To say, and eke believe, - That gin the belly go not cold - The heart will cease to grieve_." - -"Now, by my faith," cried the Cook, as he rattled the pottle against the -sideboard, "I like that same song hugely, and eke the motive of it, -which lieth like a sweet kernel in a hazelnut" - -"Now thou art a man of shrewd opinions," quoth Little John, "and I love -thee truly as thou wert my brother." - -"And I love thee, too. But the day draweth on, and I have my cooking to -do ere our master cometh home; so let us e'en go and settle this brave -fight we have in hand." - -"Ay, marry," quoth Little John, "and that right speedily. Never have I -been more laggard in fighting than in eating and drinking. So come thou -straight forth into the passageway, where there is good room to swing a -sword, and I will try to serve thee." - -Then they both stepped forth into the broad passage that led to the -Steward's pantry, where each man drew his sword again and without more -ado fell upon the other as though he would hew his fellow limb from -limb. Then their swords clashed upon one another with great din, and -sparks flew from each blow in showers. So they fought up and down the -hall for an hour and more, neither striking the other a blow, though -they strove their best to do so; for both were skillful at the fence; so -nothing came of all their labor. Ever and anon they rested, panting; -then, after getting their wind, at it they would go again more fiercely -than ever. 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. -I will go with thee, and that right gladly. Give me thy palm, sweet -fellow, and I will be thine own companion from henceforth. What may be -thy name, lad?" - -"Men do call me Little John, good fellow." - -"How? And art thou indeed Little John, and Robin Hood's own right-hand -man? Many a time and oft I heard of thee, but never did I hope to set -eyes upon thee. And thou art indeed the famous Little John!" And the -Cook seemed lost in amazement, and looked upon his companion with open -eyes. - -"I am Little John, indeed, and I will bring to Robin Hood this day a -right stout fellow to join his merry band. But ere we go, good friend, -it seemeth to me to be a vast pity that, as we have had so much of the -Sheriff's food, we should not also carry off some of his silver plate to -Robin Hood, as a present from his worship." - -"Ay, marry is it," said the Cook. And so they began hunting about, and -took as much silver as they could lay hands upon, clapping it into a -bag, and when they had filled the sack they set forth to Sherwood -Forest. - -Plunging into the woods, they came at last to the greenwood tree, where -they found Robin Hood and threescore of his merry men lying upon the -fresh green grass. When Robin and his men saw who it was that came, -they leaped to their feet. "Now welcome!" cried Robin Hood. "Now -welcome, Little John! For long hath it been since we have heard from -thee, though we all knew that thou hadst joined the Sheriff's service. -And how hast thou fared all these long days?" - -"Right merrily have I lived at the Lord Sheriff's," answered Little -John, "and I have come straight thence. See, good master! I have -brought thee his cook, and even his silver plate." Thereupon he told -Robin Hood and his merry men that were there, all that had befallen him -since he had left them to go to the Fair at Nottingham Town. Then all -shouted with laughter, except Robin Hood; but he looked grave. - -"Nay, Little John," said he, "thou art a brave blade and a trusty -fellow. I am glad thou hast brought thyself back to us, and with such a -good companion as the Cook, whom we all welcome to Sherwood. But I like -not so well that thou hast stolen the Sheriff's plate like some paltry -thief. The Sheriff hath been punished by us, and hath lost three hundred -pounds, even as he sought to despoil another; but he hath done nought -that we should steal his household plate from him." - -Though Little John was vexed with this, he strove to pass it off with a -jest. "Nay, good master," quoth he, "if thou thinkest the Sheriff gave -us not the plate, I will fetch him, that he may tell us with his own -lips he giveth it all to us." So saying he leaped to his feet, and was -gone before Robin could call him back. - -Little John ran for full five miles till he came to where the Sheriff of -Nottingham and a gay company were hunting near the forest. When Little -John came to the Sheriff he doffed his cap and bent his knee. "God save -thee, good master," quoth he. - -"Why, Reynold Greenleaf!" cried the Sheriff, "whence comest thou and -where hast thou been?" - -"I have been in the forest," answered Little John, speaking amazedly, -"and there I saw a sight such as ne'er before man's eyes beheld! Yonder -I saw a young hart all in green from top to toe, and about him was a -herd of threescore deer, and they, too, were all of green from head to -foot. Yet I dared not shoot, good master, for fear lest they should slay -me." - -"Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf," cried the Sheriff, "art thou dreaming -or art thou mad, that thou dost bring me such, a tale?" - -"Nay, I am not dreaming nor am I mad," said Little John, "and if thou -wilt come with me, I will show thee this fair sight, for I have seen it -with mine own eyes. But thou must come alone, good master, lest the -others frighten them and they get away." - -So the party all rode forward, and Little John led them downward into -the forest. - -"Now, good master," quoth he at last, "we are nigh where I saw this -herd." - -Then the Sheriff descended from his horse and bade them wait for him -until he should return; and Little John led him forward through a close -copse until suddenly they came to a great open glade, at the end of -which Robin Hood sat beneath the shade of the great oak tree, with his -merry men all about him. "See, good Master Sheriff," quoth Little John, -"yonder is the hart of which I spake to thee." - -At this the Sheriff turned to Little John and said bitterly, "Long ago I -thought I remembered thy face, but now I know thee. Woe betide thee, -Little John, for thou hast betrayed me this day." - -In the meantime Robin Hood had come to them. "Now welcome, Master -Sheriff," said he. "Hast thou come today to take another feast with -me?" - -"Nay, Heaven forbid!" said the Sheriff in tones of deep earnest. "I care -for no feast and have no hunger today." - -"Nevertheless," quoth Robin, "if thou hast no hunger, maybe thou hast -thirst, and well I know thou wilt take a cup of sack with me. But I am -grieved that thou wilt not feast with me, for thou couldst have victuals -to thy liking, for there stands thy Cook." - -Then he led the Sheriff, willy-nilly, to the seat he knew so well -beneath the greenwood tree. - -"Ho, lads!" cried Robin, "fill our good friend the Sheriff a right -brimming cup of sack and fetch it hither, for he is faint and weary." - -Then one of the band brought the Sheriff a cup of sack, bowing low as he -handed it to him; but the Sheriff could not touch the wine, for he saw -it served in one of his own silver flagons, on one of his own silver -plates. - -"How now," quoth Robin, "dost thou not like our new silver service? We -have gotten a bag of it this day." So saying, he held up the sack of -silver that Little John and the Cook had brought with them. - -Then the Sheriff's heart was bitter within him; but, not daring to say -anything, he only gazed upon the ground. Robin looked keenly at him for -a time before he spoke again. Then said he, "Now, Master Sheriff, the -last time thou camest to Sherwood Forest thou didst come seeking to -despoil a poor spendthrift, and thou wert despoiled thine own self; but -now thou comest seeking to do no harm, nor do I know that thou hast -despoiled any man. I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires, -to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow -down; but I know not that thou hast tenants of thine own whom thou hast -wronged in any way. Therefore, take thou thine own again, nor will I -dispossess thee today of so much as one farthing. Come with me, and I -will lead thee from the forest back to thine own party again." - -Then, slinging the bag upon his shoulder, he turned away, the Sheriff -following him, all too perplexed in mind to speak. So they went forward -until they came to within a furlong of the spot where the Sheriff's -companions were waiting for him. Then Robin Hood gave the sack of silver -back to the Sheriff. "Take thou thine own again," he said, "and hearken -to me, good Sheriff, take thou a piece of advice with it. Try thy -servants well ere thou dost engage them again so readily." Then, -turning, he left the other standing bewildered, with the sack in his -hands. - -The company that waited for the Sheriff were all amazed to see him come -out of the forest bearing a heavy sack upon his shoulders; but though -they questioned him, he answered never a word, acting like one who walks -in a dream. Without a word, he placed the bag across his nag's back and -then, mounting, rode away, all following him; but all the time there was -a great turmoil of thoughts within his head, tumbling one over the -other. And thus ends the merry tale of Little John and how he entered -the Sheriff's service. - - - - -Little John and the Tanner of Blyth - -ONE FINE DAY, not long after Little John had left abiding with the -Sheriff and had come back, with his worship's cook, to the merry -greenwood, as has just been told, Robin Hood and a few chosen fellows of -his band lay upon the soft sward beneath the greenwood tree where they -dwelled. The day was warm and sultry, so that while most of the band -were scattered through the forest upon this mission and upon that, these -few stout fellows lay lazily beneath the shade of the tree, in the soft -afternoon, passing jests among themselves and telling merry stories, -with laughter and mirth. - -All the air was laden with the bitter fragrance of the May, and all the -bosky shades of the woodlands beyond rang with the sweet song of birds-- -the throstle cock, the cuckoo, and the wood pigeon--and with the song of -birds mingled the cool sound of the gurgling brook that leaped out of -the forest shades, and ran fretting amid its rough, gray stones across -the sunlit open glade before the trysting tree. And a fair sight was -that halfscore of tall, stout yeomen, all clad in Lincoln green, lying -beneath the broad-spreading branches of the great oak tree, amid the -quivering leaves of which the sunlight shivered and fell in dancing -patches upon the grass. - -Suddenly Robin Hood smote his knee. - -"By Saint Dunstan," quoth he, "I had nigh forgot that quarter-day cometh -on apace, and yet no cloth of Lincoln green in all our store. It must be -looked to, and that in quick season. Come, busk thee, Little John! -Stir those lazy bones of thine, for thou must get thee straightway to -our good gossip, the draper Hugh Longshanks of Ancaster. Bid him send -us straightway twentyscore yards of fair cloth of Lincoln green; and -mayhap the journey may take some of the fat from off thy bones, that -thou hast gotten from lazy living at our dear Sheriff's." - -"Nay," muttered Little John (for he had heard so much upon this score -that he was sore upon the point), "nay, truly, mayhap I have more flesh -upon my joints than I once had, yet, flesh or no flesh, I doubt not that -I could still hold my place and footing upon a narrow bridge against -e'er a yeoman in Sherwood, or Nottinghamshire, for the matter of that, -even though he had no more fat about his bones than thou hast, good -master." - -At this reply a great shout of laughter went up, and all looked at Robin -Hood, for each man knew that Little John spake of a certain fight that -happened between their master and himself, through which they first -became acquainted. - -"Nay," quoth Robin Hood, laughing louder than all. "Heaven forbid that -I should doubt thee, for I care for no taste of thy staff myself, Little -John. I must needs own that there are those of my band can handle a -seven-foot staff more deftly than I; yet no man in all Nottinghamshire -can draw gray goose shaft with my fingers. Nevertheless, a journey to -Ancaster may not be ill for thee; so go thou, as I bid, and thou hadst -best go this very evening, for since thou hast abided at the Sheriff's -many know thy face, and if thou goest in broad daylight, thou mayst get -thyself into a coil with some of his worship's men-at-arms. Bide thou -here till I bring thee money to pay our good Hugh. I warrant he hath no -better customers in all Nottinghamshire than we." So saying, Robin left -them and entered the forest. - -Not far from the trysting tree was a great rock in which a chamber had -been hewn, the entrance being barred by a massive oaken door two palms'- -breadth in thickness, studded about with spikes, and fastened with a -great padlock. This was the treasure house of the band, and thither -Robin Hood went and, unlocking the door, entered the chamber, from which -he brought forth a bag of gold which he gave to Little John, to pay Hugh -Longshanks withal, for the cloth of Lincoln green. - -Then up got Little John, and, taking the bag of gold, which he thrust -into his bosom, he strapped a girdle about his loins, took a stout -pikestaff full seven feet long in his hand, and set forth upon his -journey. - -So he strode whistling along the leafy forest path that led to Fosse -Way, turning neither to the right hand nor the left, until at last he -came to where the path branched, leading on the one hand onward to Fosse -Way, and on the other, as well Little John knew, to the merry Blue Boar -Inn. Here Little John suddenly ceased whistling and stopped in the -middle of the path. First he looked up and then he looked down, and -then, tilting his cap over one eye, he slowly scratched the back part of -his head. For thus it was: at the sight of these two roads, two voices -began to alarum within him, the one crying, "There lies the road to the -Blue Boar Inn, a can of brown October, and a merry night with sweet -companions such as thou mayst find there"; the other, "There lies the -way to Ancaster and the duty thou art sent upon." Now the first of these -two voices was far the louder, for Little John had grown passing fond of -good living through abiding at the Sheriff's house; so, presently, -looking up into the blue sky, across which bright clouds were sailing -like silver boats, and swallows skimming in circling flight, quoth he, -"I fear me it will rain this evening, so I'll e'en stop at the Blue Boar -till it passes by, for I know my good master would not have me wet to -the skin." So, without more ado, off he strode down the path that lay -the way of his likings. Now there was no sign of any foul weather, but -when one wishes to do a thing, as Little John did, one finds no lack of -reasons for the doing. - -Four merry wags were at the Blue Boar Inn; a butcher, a beggar, and two -barefoot friars. Little John heard them singing from afar, as he walked -through the hush of the mellow twilight that was now falling over hill -and dale. Right glad were they to welcome such a merry blade as Little -John. Fresh cans of ale were brought, and with jest and song and merry -tales the hours slipped away on fleeting wings. None thought of time or -tide till the night was so far gone that Little John put by the thought -of setting forth upon his journey again that night, and so bided at the -Blue Boar Inn until the morrow. - -Now it was an ill piece of luck for Little John that he left his duty -for his pleasure, and he paid a great score for it, as we are all apt to -do in the same case, as you shall see. - -Up he rose at the dawn of the next day, and, taking his stout pikestaff -in his hand, he set forth upon his journey once more, as though he would -make up for lost time. - -In the good town of Blyth there lived a stout tanner, celebrated far and -near for feats of strength and many tough bouts at wrestling and the -quarterstaff. For five years he had held the mid-country champion belt -for wrestling, till the great Adam o' Lincoln cast him in the ring and -broke one of his ribs; but at quarterstaff he had never yet met his -match in all the country about. Besides all this, he dearly loved the -longbow, and a sly jaunt in the forest when the moon was full and the -dun deer in season; so that the King's rangers kept a shrewd eye upon -him and his doings, for Arthur a Bland's house was apt to have aplenty -of meat in it that was more like venison than the law allowed. - -Now Arthur had been to Nottingham Town the day before Little John set -forth on his errand, there to sell a halfscore of tanned cowhides. At -the dawn of the same day that Little John left the inn, he started from -Nottingham, homeward for Blyth. His way led, all in the dewy morn, past -the verge of Sherwood Forest, where the birds were welcoming the lovely -day with a great and merry jubilee. Across the Tanner's shoulders was -slung his stout quarterstaff, ever near enough to him to be gripped -quickly, and on his head was a cap of doubled cowhide, so tough that it -could hardly be cloven even by a broadsword. - -"Now," quoth Arthur a Bland to himself, when he had come to that part of -the road that cut through a corner of the forest, "no doubt at this time -of year the dun deer are coming from the forest depths nigher to the -open meadow lands. Mayhap I may chance to catch a sight of the dainty -brown darlings thus early in the morn." For there was nothing he loved -better than to look upon a tripping herd of deer, even when he could not -tickle their ribs with a clothyard shaft. Accordingly, quitting the -path, he went peeping this way and that through the underbrush, spying -now here and now there, with all the wiles of a master of woodcraft, and -of one who had more than once donned a doublet of Lincoln green. - -Now as Little John stepped blithely along, thinking of nothing but of -such things as the sweetness of the hawthorn buds that bedecked the -hedgerows, or gazing upward at the lark, that, springing from the dewy -grass, hung aloft on quivering wings in the yellow sunlight, pouring -forth its song that fell like a falling star from the sky, his luck led -him away from the highway, not far from the spot where Arthur a Bland -was peeping this way and that through the leaves of the thickets. -Hearing a rustling of the branches, Little John stopped and presently -caught sight of the brown cowhide cap of the Tanner moving among the -bushes. - -"I do much wonder," quoth Little John to himself, "what yon knave is -after, that he should go thus peeping and peering about I verily believe -that yon scurvy varlet is no better than a thief, and cometh here after -our own and the good King's dun deer." For by much roving in the forest, -Little John had come to look upon all the deer in Sherwood as belonging -to Robin Hood and his band as much as to good King Harry. "Nay," quoth -he again, after a time, "this matter must e'en be looked into." So, -quitting the highroad, he also entered the thickets, and began spying -around after stout Arthur a Bland. - -So for a long time they both of them went hunting about, Little John -after the Tanner, and the Tanner after the deer. At last Little John -trod upon a stick, which snapped under his foot, whereupon, hearing the -noise, the Tanner turned quickly and caught sight of the yeoman. Seeing -that the Tanner had spied him out, Little John put a bold face upon the -matter. - -"Hilloa," quoth he, "what art thou doing here, thou naughty fellow? Who -art thou that comest ranging Sherwood's paths? In very sooth thou hast -an evil cast of countenance, and I do think, truly, that thou art no -better than a thief, and comest after our good King's deer." - -"Nay," quoth the Tanner boldly--for, though taken by surprise, he was -not a man to be frightened by big words--"thou liest in thy teeth. I am -no thief, but an honest craftsman. As for my countenance, it is what it -is; and, for the matter of that, thine own is none too pretty, thou -saucy fellow." - -"Ha!" quoth Little John in a great loud voice, "wouldst thou give me -backtalk? Now I have a great part of a mind to crack thy pate for thee. -I would have thee know, fellow, that I am, as it were, one of the King's -foresters. Leastwise," muttered he to himself, "I and my friends do -take good care of our good sovereign's deer." - -"I care not who thou art," answered the bold Tanner, "and unless thou -hast many more of thy kind by thee, thou canst never make Arthur a Bland -cry 'A mercy.'" - -"Is it so?" cried Little John in a rage. "Now, by my faith, thou saucy -rogue, thy tongue hath led thee into a pit thou wilt have a sorry time -getting out of; for I will give thee such a drubbing as ne'er hast thou -had in all thy life before. Take thy staff in thy hand, fellow, for I -will not smite an unarmed man. - -"Marry come up with a murrain!" cried the Tanner, for he, too, had -talked himself into a fume. "Big words ne'er killed so much as a mouse. -Who art thou that talkest so freely of cracking the head of Arthur a -Bland? If I do not tan thy hide this day as ne'er I tanned a calf's -hide in all my life before, split my staff into skewers for lamb's flesh -and call me no more brave man! Now look to thyself, fellow!" - -"Stay!" said Little John. "Let us first measure our cudgels. I do -reckon my staff longer than thine, and I would not take vantage of thee -by even so much as an inch." - -"Nay, I pass not for length," answered the Tanner. "My staff is long -enough to knock down a calf; so look to thyself, fellow, I say again." - -So, without more ado, each gripped his staff in the middle, and, with -fell and angry looks, they came slowly together. - -Now news had been brought to Robin Hood how that Little John, instead of -doing his bidding, had passed by duty for pleasure, and so had stopped -overnight with merry company at the Blue Boar Inn, instead of going -straight to Ancaster. So, being vexed to his heart by this, he set -forth at dawn of day to seek Little John at the Blue Boar, or at least -to meet the yeoman on the way, and ease his heart of what he thought of -the matter. As thus he strode along in anger, putting together the words -he would use to chide Little John, he heard, of a sudden, loud and angry -voices, as of men in a rage, passing fell words back and forth from one -to the other. At this, Robin Hood stopped and listened. "Surely," quoth -he to himself, "that is Little John's voice, and he is talking in anger -also. Methinks the other is strange to my ears. Now Heaven forfend that -my good trusty Little John should have fallen into the hands of the -King's rangers. I must see to this matter, and that quickly." - -Thus spoke Robin Hood to himself, all his anger passing away like a -breath from the windowpane, at the thought that perhaps his trusty -right-hand man was in some danger of his life. So cautiously he made his -way through the thickets whence the voices came, and, pushing aside the -leaves, peeped into the little open space where the two men, staff in -hand, were coming slowly together. - -"Ha!" quoth Robin to himself, "here is merry sport afoot. Now I would -give three golden angels from my own pocket if yon stout fellow would -give Little John a right sound drubbing! It would please me to see him -well thumped for having failed in my bidding. I fear me, though, there -is but poor chance of my seeing such a pleasant sight." So saying, he -stretched himself at length upon the ground, that he might not only see -the sport the better, but that he might enjoy the merry sight at his -ease. - -As you may have seen two dogs that think to fight, walking slowly round -and round each other, neither cur wishing to begin the combat, so those -two stout yeomen moved slowly around, each watching for a chance to take -the other unaware, and so get in the first blow. At last Little John -struck like a flash, and--"rap!"--the Tanner met the blow and turned it -aside, and then smote back at Little John, who also turned the blow; and -so this mighty battle began. Then up and down and back and forth they -trod, the blows falling so thick and fast that, at a distance, one would -have thought that half a score of men were fighting. Thus they fought -for nigh a half an hour, until the ground was all plowed up with the -digging of their heels, and their breathing grew labored like the ox in -the furrow. But Little John suffered the most, for he had become unused -to such stiff labor, and his joints were not as supple as they had been -before he went to dwell with the Sheriff. - -All this time Robin Hood lay beneath the bush, rejoicing at such a -comely bout of quarterstaff. "By my faith!" quoth he to himself, "never -had I thought to see Little John so evenly matched in all my life. -Belike, though, he would have overcome yon fellow before this had he -been in his former trim." - -At last Little John saw his chance, and, throwing all the strength he -felt going from him into one blow that might have felled an ox, he -struck at the Tanner with might and main. And now did the Tanner's -cowhide cap stand him in good stead, and but for it he might never have -held staff in hand again. As it was, the blow he caught beside the head -was so shrewd that it sent him staggering across the little glade, so -that, if Little John had had the strength to follow up his vantage, it -would have been ill for stout Arthur. But he regained himself quickly -and, at arm's length, struck back a blow at Little John, and this time -the stroke reached its mark, and down went Little John at full length, -his cudgel flying from his hand as he fell. Then, raising his staff, -stout Arthur dealt him another blow upon the ribs. - -"Hold!" roared Little John. "Wouldst thou strike a man when he is -down?" - -"Ay, marry would I," quoth the Tanner, giving him another thwack with -his staff. - -"Stop!" roared Little John. "Help! Hold, I say! I yield me! I yield -me, I say, good fellow!" - -"Hast thou had enough?" asked the Tanner grimly, holding his staff -aloft. - -"Ay, marry, and more than enough." - -"And thou dost own that I am the better man of the two?" - -"Yea, truly, and a murrain seize thee!" said Little John, the first -aloud and the last to his beard. - -"Then thou mayst go thy ways; and thank thy patron saint that I am a -merciful man," said the Tanner. - -"A plague o' such mercy as thine!" said Little John, sitting up and -feeling his ribs where the Tanner had cudgeled him. "I make my vow, my -ribs feel as though every one of them were broken in twain. I tell thee, -good fellow, I did think there was never a man in all Nottinghamshire -could do to me what thou hast done this day." - -"And so thought I, also," cried Robin Hood, bursting out of the thicket -and shouting with laughter till the tears ran down his cheeks. "O man, -man!" said he, as well as he could for his mirth, "'a didst go over -like a bottle knocked from a wall. I did see the whole merry bout, and -never did I think to see thee yield thyself so, hand and foot, to any -man in all merry England. I was seeking thee, to chide thee for leaving -my bidding undone; but thou hast been paid all I owed thee, full -measure, pressed down and overflowing, by this good fellow. Marry, 'a -did reach out his arm full length while thou stood gaping at him, and, -with a pretty rap, tumbled thee over as never have I seen one tumbled -before." So spoke bold Robin, and all the time Little John sat upon the -ground, looking as though he had sour curds in his mouth. "What may be -thy name, good fellow?" said Robin, next, turning to the Tanner. - -"Men do call me Arthur a Bland," spoke up the Tanner boldly, "and now -what may be thy name?" - -"Ha, Arthur a Bland!" quoth Robin, "I have heard thy name before, good -fellow. Thou didst break the crown of a friend of mine at the fair at -Ely last October. The folk there call him Jock o' Nottingham; we call -him Will Scathelock. This poor fellow whom thou hast so belabored is -counted the best hand at the quarterstaff in all merry England. His -name is Little John, and mine Robin Hood." - -"How!" cried the Tanner, "art thou indeed the great Robin Hood, and is -this the famous Little John? Marry, had I known who thou art, I would -never have been so bold as to lift my hand against thee. Let me help -thee to thy feet, good Master Little John, and let me brush the dust -from off thy coat." - -"Nay," quoth Little John testily, at the same time rising carefully, as -though his bones had been made of glass, "I can help myself, good -fellow, without thy aid; and let me tell thee, had it not been for that -vile cowskin cap of thine, it would have been ill for thee this day." - -At this Robin laughed again, and, turning to the Tanner, he said, "Wilt -thou join my band, good Arthur? For I make my vow thou art one of the -stoutest men that ever mine eyes beheld." - -"Will I join thy band?" cried the Tanner joyfully. "Ay, marry, will I! -Hey for a merry life!" cried he, leaping aloft and snapping his fingers, -"and hey for the life I love! Away with tanbark and filthy vats and foul -cowhides! I will follow thee to the ends of the earth, good master, and -not a herd of dun deer in all the forest but shall know the sound of the -twang of my bowstring." - -"As for thee, Little John," said Robin, turning to him and laughing, -"thou wilt start once more for Ancaster, and we will go part way with -thee, for I will not have thee turn again to either the right hand or -the left till thou hast fairly gotten away from Sherwood. There are -other inns that thou knowest yet, hereabouts." Thereupon, leaving the -thickets, they took once more to the highway and departed upon their -business. - - - - -Robin Hood and Will Scarlet - -THUS THEY traveled along the sunny road, three stout fellows such as you -could hardly match anywhere else in all merry England. Many stopped to -gaze after them as they strode along, so broad were their shoulders and -so sturdy their gait. - -Quoth Robin Hood to Little John, "Why didst thou not go straight to -Ancaster, yesterday, as I told thee? Thou hadst not gotten thyself into -such a coil hadst thou done as I ordered." - -"I feared the rain that threatened," said Little John in a sullen tone, -for he was vexed at being so chaffed by Robin with what had happened to -him. - -"The rain!" cried Robin, stopping of a sudden in the middle of the road, -and looking at Little John in wonder. "Why, thou great oaf! not a drop -of rain has fallen these three days, neither has any threatened, nor -hath there been a sign of foul weather in earth or sky or water." - -"Nevertheless," growled Little John, "the holy Saint Swithin holdeth the -waters of the heavens in his pewter pot, and he could have poured them -out, had he chosen, even from a clear sky; and wouldst thou have had me -wet to the skin?" - -At this Robin Hood burst into a roar of laughter. "O Little John!" said -he, "what butter wits hast thou in that head of thine! Who could hold -anger against such a one as thou art?" - -So saying, they all stepped out once more, with the right foot foremost, -as the saying is. - -After they had traveled some distance, the day being warm and the road -dusty, Robin Hood waxed thirsty; so, there being a fountain of water as -cold as ice, just behind the hedgerow, they crossed the stile and came -to where the water bubbled up from beneath a mossy stone. Here, -kneeling and making cups of the palms of their hands, they drank their -fill, and then, the spot being cool and shady, they stretched their -limbs and rested them for a space. - -In front of them, over beyond the hedge, the dusty road stretched away -across the plain; behind them the meadow lands and bright green fields -of tender young corn lay broadly in the sun, and overhead spread the -shade of the cool, rustling leaves of the beechen tree. Pleasantly to -their nostrils came the tender fragrance of the purple violets and wild -thyme that grew within the dewy moisture of the edge of the little -fountain, and pleasantly came the soft gurgle of the water. All was so -pleasant and so full of the gentle joy of the bright Maytime, that for a -long time no one of the three cared to speak, but each lay on his back, -gazing up through the trembling leaves of the trees to the bright sky -overhead. At last, Robin, whose thoughts were not quite so busy wool- -gathering as those of the others, and who had been gazing around him now -and then, broke the silence. - -"Heyday!" quoth he, "yon is a gaily feathered bird, I take my vow." - -The others looked and saw a young man walking slowly down the highway. -Gay was he, indeed, as Robin had said, and a fine figure he cut, for his -doublet was of scarlet silk and his stockings also; a handsome sword -hung by his side, the embossed leathern scabbard being picked out with -fine threads of gold; his cap was of scarlet velvet, and a broad feather -hung down behind and back of one ear. His hair was long and yellow and -curled upon his shoulders, and in his hand he bore an early rose, which -he smelled at daintily now and then. - -"By my life!" quoth Robin Hood, laughing, "saw ye e'er such a pretty, -mincing fellow?" - -"Truly, his clothes have overmuch prettiness for my taste," quoth Arthur -a Bland, "but, ne'ertheless, his shoulders are broad and his loins are -narrow, and seest thou, good master, how that his arms hang from his -body? They dangle not down like spindles, but hang stiff and bend at the -elbow. I take my vow, there be no bread and milk limbs in those fine -clothes, but stiff joints and tough thews." - -"Methinks thou art right, friend Arthur," said Little John. "I do -verily think that yon is no such roseleaf and whipped-cream gallant as -he would have one take him to be." - -"Pah!" quoth Robin Hood, "the sight of such a fellow doth put a nasty -taste into my mouth! Look how he doth hold that fair flower betwixt his -thumb and finger, as he would say, 'Good rose, I like thee not so ill -but I can bear thy odor for a little while.' I take it ye are both -wrong, and verily believe that were a furious mouse to run across his -path, he would cry, 'La!' or 'Alack-a-day!' and fall straightway into a -swoon. I wonder who he may be." - -"Some great baron's son, I doubt not," answered Little John, "with good -and true men's money lining his purse." - -"Ay, marry, that is true, I make no doubt," quoth Robin. "What a pity -that such men as he, that have no thought but to go abroad in gay -clothes, should have good fellows, whose shoes they are not fit to tie, -dancing at their bidding. By Saint Dunstan, Saint Alfred, Saint -Withold, and all the good men in the Saxon calendar, it doth make me mad -to see such gay lordlings from over the sea go stepping on the necks of -good Saxons who owned this land before ever their great-grandsires -chewed rind of brawn! By the bright bow of Heaven, I will have their -ill-gotten gains from them, even though I hang for it as high as e'er a -forest tree in Sherwood!" - -"Why, how now, master," quoth Little John, "what heat is this? Thou dost -set thy pot a-boiling, and mayhap no bacon to cook! Methinks yon -fellow's hair is overlight for Norman locks. He may be a good man and -true for aught thou knowest." - -"Nay," said Robin, "my head against a leaden farthing, he is what I say. -So, lie ye both here, I say, till I show you how I drub this fellow." So -saying, Robin Hood stepped forth from the shade of the beech tree, -crossed the stile, and stood in the middle of the road, with his hands -on his hips, in the stranger's path. - -Meantime the stranger, who had been walking so slowly that all this talk -was held before he came opposite the place where they were, neither -quickened his pace nor seemed to see that such a man as Robin Hood was -in the world. So Robin stood in the middle of the road, waiting while -the other walked slowly forward, smelling his rose, and looking this way -and that, and everywhere except at Robin. - -"Hold!" cried Robin, when at last the other had come close to him. -"Hold! Stand where thou art!" - -"Wherefore should I hold, good fellow?" said the stranger in soft and -gentle voice. "And wherefore should I stand where I am? Ne'ertheless, -as thou dost desire that I should stay, I will abide for a short time, -that I may hear what thou mayst have to say to me." - -"Then," quoth Robin, "as thou dost so fairly do as I tell thee, and dost -give me such soft speech, I will also treat thee with all due courtesy. -I would have thee know, fair friend, that I am, as it were, a votary at -the shrine of Saint Wilfred who, thou mayst know, took, willy-nilly, all -their gold from the heathen, and melted it up into candlesticks. -Wherefore, upon such as come hereabouts, I levy a certain toll, which I -use for a better purpose, I hope, than to make candlesticks withal. -Therefore, sweet chuck, I would have thee deliver to me thy purse, that -I may look into it, and judge, to the best of my poor powers, whether -thou hast more wealth about thee than our law allows. For, as our good -Gaffer Swanthold sayeth, 'He who is fat from overliving must needs lose -blood.'" - -All this time the youth had been sniffing at the rose that he held -betwixt his thumb and finger. "Nay," said he with a gentle smile, when -Robin Hood had done, "I do love to hear thee talk, thou pretty fellow, -and if, haply, thou art not yet done, finish, I beseech thee. I have yet -some little time to stay." - -"I have said all," quoth Robin, "and now, if thou wilt give me thy -purse, I will let thee go thy way without let or hindrance so soon as I -shall see what it may hold. I will take none from thee if thou hast but -little." - -"Alas! It doth grieve me much," said the other, "that I cannot do as -thou dost wish. I have nothing to give thee. Let me go my way, I -prythee. I have done thee no harm." - -"Nay, thou goest not," quoth Robin, "till thou hast shown me thy purse." - -"Good friend," said the other gently, "I have business elsewhere. I have -given thee much time and have heard thee patiently. Prythee, let me -depart in peace." - -"I have spoken to thee, friend," said Robin sternly, "and I now tell -thee again, that thou goest not one step forward till thou hast done as -I bid thee." So saying, he raised his quarterstaff above his head in a -threatening way. - -"Alas!" said the stranger sadly, "it doth grieve me that this thing must -be. I fear much that I must slay thee, thou poor fellow!" So saying, he -drew his sword. - -"Put by thy weapon," quoth Robin. "I would take no vantage of thee. Thy -sword cannot stand against an oaken staff such as mine. I could snap it -like a barley straw. Yonder is a good oaken thicket by the roadside; -take thee a cudgel thence and defend thyself fairly, if thou hast a -taste for a sound drubbing." - -First the stranger measured Robin with his eye, and then he measured the -oaken staff. "Thou art right, good fellow," said he presently, "truly, -my sword is no match for that cudgel of thine. Bide thee awhile till I -get me a staff." So saying, he threw aside the rose that he had been -holding all this time, thrust his sword back into the scabbard, and, -with a more hasty step than he had yet used, stepped to the roadside -where grew the little clump of ground oaks Robin had spoken of. Choosing -among them, he presently found a sapling to his liking. He did not cut -it, but, rolling up his sleeves a little way, he laid hold of it, placed -his heel against the ground, and, with one mighty pull, plucked the -young tree up by the roots from out the very earth. Then he came back, -trimming away the roots and tender stems with his sword as quietly as if -he had done nought to speak of. - -Little John and the Tanner had been watching all that passed, but when -they saw the stranger drag the sapling up from the earth, and heard the -rending and snapping of its roots, the Tanner pursed his lips together, -drawing his breath between them in a long inward whistle. - -"By the breath of my body!" said Little John, as soon as he could gather -his wits from their wonder, "sawest thou that, Arthur? Marry, I think -our poor master will stand but an ill chance with yon fellow. By Our -Lady, he plucked up yon green tree as it were a barley straw." - -Whatever Robin Hood thought, he stood his ground, and now he and the -stranger in scarlet stood face to face. - -Well did Robin Hood hold his own that day as a mid-country yeoman. This -way and that they fought, and back and forth, Robin's skill against the -stranger's strength. The dust of the highway rose up around them like a -cloud, so that at times Little John and the Tanner could see nothing, -but only hear the rattle of the staves against one another. Thrice Robin -Hood struck the stranger; once upon the arm and twice upon the ribs, and -yet had he warded all the other's blows, only one of which, had it met -its mark, would have laid stout Robin lower in the dust than he had ever -gone before. At last the stranger struck Robin's cudgel so fairly in the -middle that he could hardly hold his staff in his hand; again he struck, -and Robin bent beneath the blow; a third time he struck, and now not -only fairly beat down Robin's guard, but gave him such a rap, also, that -down he tumbled into the dusty road. - -"Hold!" cried Robin Hood, when he saw the stranger raising his staff -once more. "I yield me!" - -"Hold!" cried Little John, bursting from his cover, with the Tanner at -his heels. "Hold! give over, I say!" - -"Nay," answered the stranger quietly, "if there be two more of you, and -each as stout as this good fellow, I am like to have my hands full. -Nevertheless, come on, and I will strive my best to serve you all." - -"Stop!" cried Robin Hood, "we will fight no more. I take my vow, this -is an ill day for thee and me, Little John. I do verily believe that my -wrist, and eke my arm, are palsied by the jar of the blow that this -stranger struck me." - -Then Little John turned to Robin Hood. "Why, how now, good master," -said he. "Alas! Thou art in an ill plight. Marry, thy jerkin is all -befouled with the dust of the road. Let me help thee to arise." - -"A plague on thy aid!" cried Robin angrily. "I can get to my feet -without thy help, good fellow." - -"Nay, but let me at least dust thy coat for thee. I fear thy poor bones -are mightily sore," quoth Little John soberly, but with a sly twinkle in -his eyes. - -"Give over, I say!" quoth Robin in a fume. "My coat hath been dusted -enough already, without aid of thine." Then, turning to the stranger, -he said, "What may be thy name, good fellow?" - -"My name is Gamwell," answered the other. - -"Ha!" cried Robin, "is it even so? I have near kin of that name. Whence -camest thou, fair friend?" - -"From Maxfield Town I come," answered the stranger. "There was I born -and bred, and thence I come to seek my mother's young brother, whom men -call Robin Hood. So, if perchance thou mayst direct me--" - -"Ha! Will Gamwell!" cried Robin, placing both hands upon the other's -shoulders and holding him off at arm's length. "Surely, it can be none -other! I might have known thee by that pretty maiden air of thine--that -dainty, finicking manner of gait. Dost thou not know me, lad? Look upon -me well." - -"Now, by the breath of my body!" cried the other, "I do believe from my -heart that thou art mine own Uncle Robin. Nay, certain it is so!" And -each flung his arms around the other, kissing him upon the cheek. - -Then once more Robin held his kinsman off at arm's length and scanned -him keenly from top to toe. "Why, how now," quoth he, "what change is -here? Verily, some eight or ten years ago I left thee a stripling lad, -with great joints and ill-hung limbs, and lo! here thou art, as tight a -fellow as e'er I set mine eyes upon. Dost thou not remember, lad, how I -showed thee the proper way to nip the goose feather betwixt thy fingers -and throw out thy bow arm steadily? Thou gayest great promise of being -a keen archer. And dost thou not mind how I taught thee to fend and -parry with the cudgel?" - -"Yea," said young Gamwell, "and I did so look up to thee, and thought -thee so above all other men that, I make my vow, had I known who thou -wert, I would never have dared to lift hand against thee this day. I -trust I did thee no great harm." - -"No, no," quoth Robin hastily, and looking sideways at Little John, -"thou didst not harm me. But say no more of that, I prythee. Yet I will -say, lad, that I hope I may never feel again such a blow as thou didst -give me. By'r Lady, my arm doth tingle yet from fingernail to elbow. -Truly, I thought that I was palsied for life. I tell thee, coz, that -thou art the strongest man that ever I laid mine eyes upon. I take my -vow, I felt my stomach quake when I beheld thee pluck up yon green tree -as thou didst. But tell me, how camest thou to leave Sir Edward and thy -mother?" - -"Alas!" answered young Gamwell, "it is an ill story, uncle, that I have -to tell thee. My father's steward, who came to us after old Giles -Crookleg died, was ever a saucy varlet, and I know not why my father -kept him, saving that he did oversee with great judgment. It used to -gall me to hear him speak up so boldly to my father, who, thou knowest, -was ever a patient man to those about him, and slow to anger and harsh -words. Well, one day--and an ill day it was for that saucy fellow--he -sought to berate my father, I standing by. I could stand it no longer, -good uncle, so, stepping forth, I gave him a box o' the ear, and-- -wouldst thou believe it?--the fellow straightway died o't. I think they -said I broke his neck, or something o' the like. So off they packed me -to seek thee and escape the law. I was on my way when thou sawest me, -and here I am." - -"Well, by the faith of my heart," quoth Robin Hood, "for anyone escaping -the law, thou wast taking it the most easily that ever I beheld in all -my life. Whenever did anyone in all the world see one who had slain a -man, and was escaping because of it, tripping along the highway like a -dainty court damsel, sniffing at a rose the while?" - -"Nay, uncle," answered Will Gamwell, "overhaste never churned good -butter, as the old saying hath it. Moreover, I do verily believe that -this overstrength of my body hath taken the nimbleness out of my heels. -Why, thou didst but just now rap me thrice, and I thee never a once, -save by overbearing thee by my strength." - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "let us say no more on that score. I am right glad -to see thee, Will, and thou wilt add great honor and credit to my band -of merry fellows. But thou must change thy name, for warrants will be -out presently against thee; so, because of thy gay clothes, thou shalt -henceforth and for aye be called Will Scarlet." - -"Will Scarlet," quoth Little John, stepping forward and reaching out his -great palm, which the other took, "Will Scarlet, the name fitteth thee -well. Right glad am I to welcome thee among us. I am called Little -John; and this is a new member who has just joined us, a stout tanner -named Arthur a Bland. Thou art like to achieve fame, Will, let me tell -thee, for there will be many a merry ballad sung about the country, and -many a merry story told in Sherwood of how Robin Hood taught Little John -and Arthur a Bland the proper way to use the quarterstaff; likewise, as -it were, how our good master bit off so large a piece of cake that he -choked on it." - -"Nay, good Little John," quoth Robin gently, for he liked ill to have -such a jest told of him. "Why should we speak of this little matter? -Prythee, let us keep this day's doings among ourselves." - -"With all my heart," quoth Little John. "But, good master, I thought -that thou didst love a merry story, because thou hast so often made a -jest about a certain increase of fatness on my joints, of flesh gathered -by my abiding with the Sheriff of--" - -"Nay, good Little John," said Robin hastily, "I do bethink me I have -said full enough on that score." - -"It is well," quoth Little John, "for in truth I myself have tired of it -somewhat. But now I bethink me, thou didst also seem minded to make a -jest of the rain that threatened last night; so--" - -"Nay, then," said Robin Hood testily, "I was mistaken. I remember me now -it did seem to threaten rain." - -"Truly, I did think so myself," quoth Little John, "therefore, no doubt, -thou dost think it was wise of me to abide all night at the Blue Boar -Inn, instead of venturing forth in such stormy weather; dost thou not?" - -"A plague of thee and thy doings!" cried Robin Hood. "If thou wilt have -it so, thou wert right to abide wherever thou didst choose." - -"Once more, it is well," quoth Little John. "As for myself, I have been -blind this day. I did not see thee drubbed; I did not see thee tumbled -heels over head in the dust; and if any man says that thou wert, I can -with a clear conscience rattle his lying tongue betwixt his teeth." - -"Come," cried Robin, biting his nether lip, while the others could not -forbear laughing. "We will go no farther today, but will return to -Sherwood, and thou shalt go to Ancaster another time, Little John." - -So said Robin, for now that his bones were sore, he felt as though a -long journey would be an ill thing for him. So, turning their backs, -they retraced their steps whence they came. - - - - -The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son - -WHEN THE four yeomen had traveled for a long time toward Sherwood again, -high noontide being past, they began to wax hungry. Quoth Robin Hood, "I -would that I had somewhat to eat. Methinks a good loaf of white bread, -with a piece of snow-white cheese, washed down with a draught of humming -ale, were a feast for a king." - -"Since thou speakest of it," said Will Scarlet, "methinks it would not -be amiss myself. There is that within me crieth out, 'Victuals, good -friend, victuals!'" - -"I know a house near by," said Arthur a Bland, "and, had I but the -money, I would bring ye that ye speak of; to wit, a sweet loaf of bread, -a fair cheese, and a skin of brown ale." - -"For the matter of that, thou knowest I have money by me, good master," -quoth Little John. - -"Why, so thou hast, Little John," said Robin. "How much money will it -take, good Arthur, to buy us meat and drink?" - -"I think that six broad pennies will buy food enow for a dozen men," -said the Tanner. - -"Then give him six pennies, Little John," quoth Robin, "for methinks -food for three men will about fit my need. Now get thee gone, Arthur, -with the money, and bring the food here, for there is a sweet shade in -that thicket yonder, beside the road, and there will we eat our meal." - -So Little John gave Arthur the money, and the others stepped to the -thicket, there to await the return of the Tanner. - -After a time he came back, bearing with him a great brown loaf of bread, -and a fair, round cheese, and a goatskin full of stout March beer, slung -over his shoulders. Then Will Scarlet took his sword and divided the -loaf and the cheese into four fair portions, and each man helped -himself. Then Robin Hood took a deep pull at the beer. "Aha!" said he, -drawing in his breath, "never have I tasted sweeter drink than this." - -After this no man spake more, but each munched away at his bread and -cheese lustily, with ever and anon a pull at the beer. - -At last Will Scarlet looked at a small piece of bread he still held in -his hand, and quoth he, "Methinks I will give this to the sparrows." So, -throwing it from him, he brushed the crumbs from his jerkin. - -"I, too," quoth Robin, "have had enough, I think." As for Little John -and the Tanner, they had by this time eaten every crumb of their bread -and cheese. - -"Now," quoth Robin, "I do feel myself another man, and would fain enjoy -something pleasant before going farther upon our journey. I do bethink -me, Will, that thou didst use to have a pretty voice, and one that tuned -sweetly upon a song. Prythee, give us one ere we journey farther." - -"Truly, I do not mind turning a tune," answered Will Scarlet, "but I -would not sing alone." - -"Nay, others will follow. Strike up, lad," quoth Robin. - -"In that case, 'tis well," said Will Scarlet. "I do call to mind a song -that a certain minstrel used to sing in my father's hall, upon occasion. -I know no name for it and so can give you none; but thus it is." Then, -clearing his throat, he sang: - - "_In the merry blossom time, - When love longings food the breast, - When the flower is on the lime, - When the small fowl builds her nest, - Sweetly sings the nightingale - And the throstle cock so bold; - Cuckoo in the dewy dale - And the turtle in the word. - But the robin I love dear, - For he singeth through the year. - Robin! Robin! - Merry Robin! - So I'd have my true love be: - Not to fly - At the nigh - Sign of cold adversity_. - "_When the spring brings sweet delights, - When aloft the lark doth rise, - Lovers woo o' mellow nights, - And youths peep in maidens' eyes, - That time blooms the eglantine, - Daisies pied upon the hill, - Cowslips fair and columbine, - Dusky violets by the rill. - But the ivy green cloth grow - When the north wind bringeth snow. - Ivy! Ivy! - Stanch and true! - Thus I'd have her love to be: - Not to die - At the nigh - Breath of cold adversity_." - -"'Tis well sung," quoth Robin, "but, cousin, I tell thee plain, I would -rather hear a stout fellow like thee sing some lusty ballad than a -finicking song of flowers and birds, and what not. Yet, thou didst sing -it fair, and 'tis none so bad a snatch of a song, for the matter of -that. Now, Tanner, it is thy turn." - -"I know not," quoth Arthur, smiling, with his head on one side, like a -budding lass that is asked to dance, "I know not that I can match our -sweet friend's song; moreover, I do verily think that I have caught a -cold and have a certain tickling and huskiness in the windpipe." - -"Nay, sing up, friend," quoth Little John, who sat next to him, patting -him upon the shoulder. "Thou hast a fair, round, mellow voice; let us -have a touch of it." - -"Nay, an ye will ha' a poor thing," said Arthur, "I will do my best. -Have ye ever heard of the wooing of Sir Keith, the stout young Cornish -knight, in good King Arthur's time?" - -"Methinks I have heard somewhat of it," said Robin; "but ne'ertheless -strike up thy ditty and let us hear it, for, as I do remember me, it is -a gallant song; so out with it, good fellow." - -Thereupon, clearing his throat, the Tanner, without more ado, began to -sing: - -THE WOOING OF SIR KEITH - - "_King Arthur sat in his royal hall, - And about on either hand - Was many a noble lordling tall, - The greatest in the land. - - "Sat Lancelot with raven locks, - Gawaine with golden hair, - Sir Tristram, Kay who kept the locks, - And many another there. - - "And through the stained windows bright, - From o'er the red-tiled eaves, - The sunlight blazed with colored light - On golden helms and greaves. - - "But suddenly a silence came - About the Table Round, - For up the hall there walked a dame - Bent nigh unto the ground. - - "Her nose was hooked, her eyes were bleared, - Her locks were lank and white; - Upon her chin there grew a beard; - She was a gruesome sight. - - "And so with crawling step she came - And kneeled at Arthur's feet; - Quoth Kay, 'She is the foulest dame - That e'er my sight did greet.' - - "'O mighty King! of thee I crave - A boon on bended knee'; - 'Twas thus she spoke. 'What wouldst thou have.' - Quoth Arthur, King, 'of me_?' - - "_Quoth she, 'I have a foul disease - Doth gnaw my very heart, - And but one thing can bring me ease - Or cure my bitter smart. - - "'There is no rest, no ease for me - North, east, or west, or south, - Till Christian knight will willingly - Thrice kiss me on the mouth. - - "'Nor wedded may this childe have been - That giveth ease to me; - Nor may he be constrained, I ween, - But kiss me willingly. - - "'So is there here one Christian knight - Of such a noble strain - That he will give a tortured wight - Sweet ease of mortal pain?' - - "'A wedded man,' quoth Arthur, King, - 'A wedded man I be - Else would I deem it noble thing - To kiss thee willingly. - - "'Now, Lancelot, in all men's sight - Thou art the head and chief - Of chivalry. Come, noble knight, - And give her quick relief.' - - "But Lancelot he turned aside - And looked upon the ground, - For it did sting his haughty pride - To hear them laugh around. - - "'Come thou, Sir Tristram,' quoth the King. - Quoth he, 'It cannot be, - For ne'er can I my stomach bring - To do it willingly.' - - "'Wilt thou, Sir Kay, thou scornful wight?' - Quoth Kay, 'Nay, by my troth! - What noble dame would kiss a knight - That kissed so foul a mouth_?' - - "'_Wilt thou, Gawaine?' 'I cannot, King.' - 'Sir Geraint?' 'Nay, not I; - My kisses no relief could bring, - For sooner would I die.' - - "Then up and spake the youngest man - Of all about the board, - 'Now such relief as Christian can - I'll give to her, my lord.' - - "It was Sir Keith, a youthful knight, - Yet strong of limb and bold, - With beard upon his chin as light - As finest threads of gold. - - "Quoth Kay, 'He hath no mistress yet - That he may call his own, - But here is one that's quick to get, - As she herself has shown.' - - "He kissed her once, he kissed her twice, - He kissed her three times o'er, - A wondrous change came in a trice, - And she was foul no more. - - "Her cheeks grew red as any rose, - Her brow as white as lawn, - Her bosom like the winter snows, - Her eyes like those of fawn. - - "Her breath grew sweet as summer breeze - That blows the meadows o'er; - Her voice grew soft as rustling trees, - And cracked and harsh no more. - - "Her hair grew glittering, like the gold, - Her hands as white as milk; - Her filthy rags, so foul and old, - Were changed to robes of silk. - - "In great amaze the knights did stare. - Quoth Kay, 'I make my vow - If it will please thee, lady fair, - I'll gladly kiss thee now_.' - - "_But young Sir Keith kneeled on one knee - And kissed her robes so fair. - 'O let me be thy slave,' said he, - 'For none to thee compare.' - - "She bent her down, she kissed his brow, - She kissed his lips and eyes. - Quoth she, 'Thou art my master now, - My lord, my love, arise! - - "'And all the wealth that is mine own, - My lands, I give to thee, - For never knight hath lady shown - Such noble courtesy. - - "'Bewitched was I, in bitter pain, - But thou hast set me free, - So now I am myself again, - I give myself to thee_.'" - -"Yea, truly," quoth Robin Hood, when the Tanner had made an end of -singing, "it is as I remember it, a fair ditty, and a ballad with a -pleasing tune of a song." - -"It hath oftentimes seemed to me," said Will Scarlet, "that it hath a -certain motive in it, e'en such as this: That a duty which seemeth to us -sometimes ugly and harsh, when we do kiss it fairly upon the mouth, so -to speak, is no such foul thing after all." - -"Methinks thou art right," quoth Robin, "and, contrariwise, that when we -kiss a pleasure that appeareth gay it turneth foul to us; is it not so, -Little John? Truly such a thing hath brought thee sore thumps this day. -Nay, man, never look down in the mouth. Clear thy pipes and sing us a -ditty." - -"Nay," said Little John, "I have none as fair as that merry Arthur has -trolled. They are all poor things that I know. Moreover, my voice is -not in tune today, and I would not spoil even a tolerable song by ill -singing." - -Upon this all pressed Little John to sing, so that when he had denied -them a proper length of time, such as is seemly in one that is asked to -sing, he presently yielded. Quoth he, 'Well, an ye will ha' it so, I -will give you what I can. Like to fair Will, I have no title to my -ditty, but thus it runs: - - "_O Lady mine, the spring is here, - With a hey nonny nonny; - The sweet love season of the year, - With a ninny ninny nonny; - Now lad and lass - Lie in the grass - That groweth green - With flowers between. - The buck doth rest - The leaves do start, - The cock doth crow, - The breeze doth blow, - And all things laugh in_--" - -"Who may yon fellow be coming along the road?" said Robin, breaking into -the song. - -"I know not," quoth Little John in a surly voice. "But this I do know, -that it is an ill thing to do to check the flow of a good song." - -"Nay, Little John," said Robin, "be not vexed, I prythee; but I have -been watching him coming along, bent beneath that great bag over his -shoulder, ever since thou didst begin thy song. Look, Little John, I -pray, and see if thou knowest him." - -Little John looked whither Robin Hood pointed. "Truly," quoth he, after -a time, "I think yon fellow is a certain young miller I have seen now -and then around the edge of Sherwood; a poor wight, methinks, to spoil a -good song about." - -"Now thou speakest of him," quoth Robin Hood, "methinks I myself have -seen him now and then. Hath he not a mill over beyond Nottingham Town, -nigh to the Salisbury road?" - -"Thou art right; that is the man," said Little John. - -"A good stout fellow," quoth Robin. "I saw him crack Ned o' Bradford's -crown about a fortnight since, and never saw I hair lifted more neatly -in all my life before." - -By this time the young miller had come so near that they could see him -clearly. His clothes were dusted with flour, and over his back he -carried a great sack of meal, bending so as to bring the whole weight -upon his shoulders, and across the sack was a thick quarterstaff. His -limbs were stout and strong, and he strode along the dusty road right -sturdily with the heavy sack across his shoulders. His cheeks were ruddy -as a winter hip, his hair was flaxen in color, and on his chin was a -downy growth of flaxen beard. - -"A good honest fellow," quoth Robin Hood, "and such an one as is a -credit to English yeomanrie. Now let us have a merry jest with him. We -will forth as though we were common thieves and pretend to rob him of -his honest gains. Then will we take him into the forest and give him a -feast such as his stomach never held in all his life before. We will -flood his throat with good canary and send him home with crowns in his -purse for every penny he hath. What say ye, lads?" - -"Truly, it is a merry thought," said Will Scarlet. - -"It is well planned," quoth Little John, "but all the saints preserve us -from any more drubbings this day! Marry, my poor bones ache so that I--" - -"Prythee peace, Little John," quoth Robin. "Thy foolish tongue will get -us both well laughed at yet." - -"My foolish tongue, forsooth," growled Little John to Arthur a Bland. -"I would it could keep our master from getting us into another coil this -day." - -But now the Miller, plodding along the road, had come opposite to where -the yeomen lay hidden, whereupon all four of them ran at him and -surrounded him. - -"Hold, friend!" cried Robin to the Miller; whereupon he turned slowly, -with the weight of the bag upon his shoulder, and looked at each in turn -all bewildered, for though a good stout man his wits did not skip like -roasting chestnuts. - -"Who bids me stay?" said the Miller in a voice deep and gruff, like the -growl of a great dog. - -"Marry, that do I," quoth Robin; "and let me tell thee, friend, thou -hadst best mind my bidding." - -"And who art thou, good friend?" said the Miller, throwing the great -sack of meal from his shoulder to the ground, "and who are those with -thee?" - -"We be four good Christian men," quoth Robin, "and would fain help thee -by carrying part of thy heavy load." - -"I give you all thanks," said the Miller, "but my bag is none that heavy -that I cannot carry it e'en by myself." - -"Nay, thou dost mistake," quoth Robin, "I meant that thou mightest -perhaps have some heavy farthings or pence about thee, not to speak of -silver and gold. Our good Gaffer Swanthold sayeth that gold is an -overheavy burden for a two-legged ass to carry; so we would e'en lift -some of this load from thee." - -"Alas!" cried the Miller, "what would ye do to me? I have not about me -so much as a clipped groat. Do me no harm, I pray you, but let me depart -in peace. Moreover, let me tell you that ye are upon Robin Hood's -ground, and should he find you seeking to rob an honest craftsman, he -will clip your ears to your heads and scourge you even to the walls of -Nottingham. - -"In truth I fear Robin Hood no more than I do myself," quoth jolly -Robin. "Thou must this day give up to me every penny thou hast about -thee. Nay, if thou dost budge an inch I will rattle this staff about -thine ears." - -"Nay, smite me not!" cried the Miller, throwing up his elbow as though -he feared the blow. "Thou mayst search me if thou wilt, but thou wilt -find nothing upon me, pouch, pocket, or skin." - -"Is it so?" quoth Robin Hood, looking keenly upon him. "Now I believe -that what thou tellest is no true tale. If I am not much mistook thou -hast somewhat in the bottom of that fat sack of meal. Good Arthur, -empty the bag upon the ground; I warrant thou wilt find a shilling or -two in the flour." - -"Alas!" cried the Miller, falling upon his knees, "spoil not all my good -meal! It can better you not, and will ruin me. Spare it, and I will -give up the money in the bag." - -"Ha!" quoth Robin, nudging Will Scarlet. "Is it so? And have I found -where thy money lies? Marry, I have a wondrous nose for the blessed -image of good King Harry. I thought that I smelled gold and silver -beneath the barley meal. Bring it straight forth, Miller." - -Then slowly the Miller arose to his feet, and slowly and unwillingly he -untied the mouth of the bag, and slowly thrust his hands into the meal -and began fumbling about with his arms buried to the elbows in the -barley flour. The others gathered round him, their heads together, -looking and wondering what he would bring forth. - -So they stood, all with their heads close together gazing down into the -sack. But while he pretended to be searching for the money, the Miller -gathered two great handfuls of meal. "Ha," quoth he, "here they are, the -beauties." Then, as the others leaned still more forward to see what he -had, he suddenly cast the meal into their faces, filling their eyes and -noses and mouths with the flour, blinding and half choking them. Arthur -a Bland was worse off than any, for his mouth was open, agape with -wonder of what was to come, so that a great cloud of flour flew down his -throat, setting him a-coughing till he could scarcely stand. - -Then, while all four stumbled about, roaring with the smart of the meal -in their eyeballs, and while they rubbed their eyes till the tears made -great channels on their faces through the meal, the Miller seized -another handful of flour and another and another, throwing it in their -faces, so that even had they had a glimmering of light before they were -now as blind as ever a beggar in Nottinghamshire, while their hair and -beards and clothes were as white as snow. - -Then catching up his great crabstaff, the Miller began laying about him -as though he were clean gone mad. This way and that skipped the four, -like peas on a drumhead, but they could see neither to defend themselves -nor to run away. Thwack! thwack! went the Miller's cudgel across their -backs, and at every blow great white clouds of flour rose in the air -from their jackets and went drifting down the breeze. - -"Stop!" roared Robin at last. "Give over, good friend, I am Robin -Hood!" - -"Thou liest, thou knave," cried the Miller, giving him a rap on the ribs -that sent up a great cloud of flour like a puff of smoke. "Stout Robin -never robbed an honest tradesman. Ha! thou wouldst have my money, -wouldst thou?" And he gave him another blow. "Nay, thou art not getting -thy share, thou long-legged knave. Share and share alike." And he smote -Little John across the shoulders so that he sent him skipping half -across the road. "Nay, fear not, it is thy turn now, black beard." And -he gave the Tanner a crack that made him roar for all his coughing. "How -now, red coat, let me brush the dust from thee!" cried he, smiting Will -Scarlet. And so he gave them merry words and blows until they could -scarcely stand, and whenever he saw one like to clear his eyes he threw -more flour in his face. At last Robin Hood found his horn and clapping -it to his lips, blew three loud blasts upon it. - -Now it chanced that Will Stutely and a party of Robin's men were in the -glade not far from where this merry sport was going forward. Hearing -the hubbub of voices, and blows that sounded like the noise of a flail -in the barn in wintertime, they stopped, listening and wondering what -was toward. Quoth Will Stutely, "Now if I mistake not there is some -stout battle with cudgels going forward not far hence. I would fain see -this pretty sight." So saying, he and the whole party turned their steps -whence the noise came. When they had come near where all the tumult -sounded they heard the three blasts of Robin's bugle horn. - -"Quick!" cried young David of Doncaster. "Our master is in sore need!" -So, without stopping a moment, they dashed forward with might and main -and burst forth from the covert into the highroad. - -But what a sight was that which they saw! The road was all white with -meal, and five men stood there also white with meal from top to toe, for -much of the barley flour had fallen back upon the Miller. - -"What is thy need, master?" cried Will Stutely. "And what doth all this -mean?" - -"Why," quoth Robin in a mighty passion, "yon traitor felt low hath come -as nigh slaying me as e'er a man in all the world. Hadst thou not come -quickly, good Stutely, thy master had been dead." - -Hereupon, while he and the three others rubbed the meal from their eyes, -and Will Stutely and his men brushed their clothes clean, he told them -all; how that he had meant to pass a jest upon the Miller, which same -had turned so grievously upon them. - -"Quick, men, seize the vile Miller!" cried Stutely, who was nigh choking -with laughter as were the rest; whereupon several ran upon the stout -fellow and seizing him, bound his arms behind his back with bowstrings. - -"Ha!" cried Robin, when they brought the trembling Miller to him. "Thou -wouldst murder me, wouldst thou? By my faith"--Here he stopped and -stood glaring upon the, Miller grimly. But Robin's anger could not hold, -so first his eyes twinkled, and then in spite of all he broke into a -laugh. - -Now when they saw their master laugh, the yeomen who stood around could -contain themselves no longer, and a mighty shout of laughter went up -from all. Many could not stand, but rolled upon the ground from pure -merriment. - -"What is thy name, good fellow?" said Robin at last to the Miller, who -stood gaping and as though he were in amaze. - -"Alas, sir, I am Midge, the Miller's son," said he in a frightened -voice. - -"I make my vow," quoth merry Robin, smiting him upon the shoulder, "thou -art the mightiest Midge that e'er mine eyes beheld. Now wilt thou leave -thy dusty mill and come and join my band? By my faith, thou art too -stout a man to spend thy days betwixt the hopper and the till." - -"Then truly, if thou dost forgive me for the blows I struck, not knowing -who thou wast, I will join with thee right merrily," said the Miller. - -"Then have I gained this day," quoth Robin, "the three stoutest yeomen -in all Nottinghamshire. We will get us away to the greenwood tree, and -there hold a merry feast in honor of our new friends, and mayhap a cup -or two of good sack and canary may mellow the soreness of my poor joints -and bones, though I warrant it will be many a day before I am again the -man I was." So saying, he turned and led the way, the rest following, -and so they entered the forest once more and were lost to sight. - -So that night all was ablaze with crackling fires in the woodlands, for -though Robin and those others spoken of, only excepting Midge, the -Miller's son, had many a sore bump and bruise here and there on their -bodies, they were still not so sore in the joints that they could not -enjoy a jolly feast given all in welcome to the new members of the band. -Thus with songs and jesting and laughter that echoed through the deeper -and more silent nooks of the forest, the night passed quickly along, as -such merry times are wont to do, until at last each man sought his couch -and silence fell on all things and all things seemed to sleep. - -But Little John's tongue was ever one that was not easy of guidance, so -that, inch by inch, the whole story of his fight with the Tanner and -Robin's fight with Will Scarlet leaked out. And so I have told it that -you may laugh at the merry tale along with me. - - - - -Robin Hood and Allan a Dale - -IT HAS just been told how three unlucky adventures fell upon Robin Hood -and Little John all in one day bringing them sore ribs and aching bones. -So next we will tell how they made up for those ill happenings by a good -action that came about not without some small pain to Robin. - -Two days had passed by, and somewhat of the soreness had passed away -from Robin Hood's joints, yet still, when he moved of a sudden and -without thinking, pain here and there would, as it were, jog him, -crying, "Thou hast had a drubbing, good fellow." - -The day was bright and jocund, and the morning dew still lay upon the -grass. Under the greenwood tree sat Robin Hood; on one side was Will -Scarlet, lying at full length upon his back, gazing up into the clear -sky, with hands clasped behind his head; upon the other side sat Little -John, fashioning a cudgel out of a stout crab-tree limb; elsewhere upon -the grass sat or lay many others of the band. - -"By the faith of my heart," quoth merry Robin, "I do bethink me that we -have had no one to dine with us for this long time. Our money groweth -low in the purse, for no one hath come to pay a reckoning for many a -day. Now busk thee, good Stutely, and choose thee six men, and get thee -gone to Fosse Way or thereabouts, and see that thou bringest someone to -eat with us this evening. Meantime we will prepare a grand feast to do -whosoever may come the greater honor. And stay, good Stutely. I would -have thee take Will Scarlet with thee, for it is meet that he should -become acquaint with the ways of the forest." - -"Now do I thank thee, good master," quoth Stutely, springing to his -feet, "that thou hast chosen me for this adventure. Truly, my limbs do -grow slack through abiding idly here. As for two of my six, I will -choose Midge the Miller and Arthur a Bland, for, as well thou knowest, -good master, they are stout fists at the quarterstaff. Is it not so, -Little John?" - -At this all laughed but Little John and Robin, who twisted up his face. -"I can speak for Midge," said he, "and likewise for my cousin Scarlet. -This very blessed morn I looked at my ribs and found them as many colors -as a beggar's cloak." - -So, having chosen four more stout fellows, Will Stutely and his band set -forth to Fosse Way, to find whether they might not come across some rich -guest to feast that day in Sherwood with Robin and his band. - -For all the livelong day they abided near this highway. Each man had -brought with him a good store of cold meat and a bottle of stout March -beer to stay his stomach till the homecoming. So when high noontide had -come they sat them down upon the soft grass, beneath a green and wide- -spreading hawthorn bush, and held a hearty and jovial feast. After -this, one kept watch while the others napped, for it was a still and -sultry day. - -Thus they passed the time pleasantly enow, but no guest such as they -desired showed his face in all the time that they lay hidden there. Many -passed along the dusty road in the glare of the sun: now it was a bevy -of chattering damsels merrily tripping along; now it was a plodding -tinker; now a merry shepherd lad; now a sturdy farmer; all gazing ahead -along the road, unconscious of the seven stout fellows that lay hidden -so near them. Such were the travelers along the way; but fat abbot, rich -esquire, or money-laden usurer came there none. - -At last the sun began to sink low in the heavens; the light grew red and -the shadows long. The air grew full of silence, the birds twittered -sleepily, and from afar came, faint and clear, the musical song of the -milkmaid calling the kine home to the milking. - -Then Stutely arose from where he was lying. "A plague of such ill -luck!" quoth he. "Here have we abided all day, and no bird worth the -shooting, so to speak, hath come within reach of our bolt. Had I gone -forth on an innocent errand, I had met a dozen stout priests or a score -of pursy money-lenders. But it is ever thus: the dun deer are never so -scarce as when one has a gray goose feather nipped betwixt the fingers. -Come, lads, let us pack up and home again, say I." - -Accordingly, the others arose, and, coming forth from out the thicket, -they all turned their toes back again to Sherwood. After they had gone -some distance, Will Stutely, who headed the party, suddenly stopped. -"Hist!" quoth he, for his ears were as sharp as those of a five-year-old -fox. "Hark, lads! Methinks I hear a sound." At this all stopped and -listened with bated breath, albeit for a time they could hear nothing, -their ears being duller than Stutely's. At length they heard a faint and -melancholy sound, like someone in lamentation. - -"Ha!" quoth Will Scarlet, "this must be looked into. There is someone in -distress nigh to us here." - -"I know not," quoth Will Stutely, shaking his head doubtfully, "our -master is ever rash about thrusting his finger into a boiling pot; but, -for my part, I see no use in getting ourselves into mischievous coils. -Yon is a man's voice, if I mistake not, and a man should be always ready -to get himself out from his own pothers." - -Then out spake Will Scarlet boldly. "Now out upon thee, to talk in that -manner, Stutely! Stay, if thou dost list. I go to see what may be the -trouble of this poor creature." - -"Nay," quoth Stutely, "thou dost leap so quickly, thou'lt tumble into -the ditch. Who said I would not go? Come along, say I." Thus saying, -he led the way, the others following, till, after they had gone a short -distance, they came to a little opening in the woodland, whence a brook, -after gurgling out from under the tangle of overhanging bushes, spread -out into a broad and glassy-pebbled pool. By the side of this pool, and -beneath the branches of a willow, lay a youth upon his face, weeping -aloud, the sound of which had first caught the quick ears of Stutely. -His golden locks were tangled, his clothes were all awry, and everything -about him betokened sorrow and woe. Over his head, from the branches of -the osier, hung a beautiful harp of polished wood inlaid with gold and -silver in fantastic devices. Beside him lay a stout ashen bow and half a -score of fair, smooth arrows. - -"Halloa!" shouted Will Stutely, when they had come out from the forest -into the little open spot. "Who art thou, fellow, that liest there -killing all the green grass with salt water?" - -Hearing the voice, the stranger sprang to his feet and; snatching up his -bow and fitting a shaft, held himself in readiness for whatever ill -might befall him. - -"Truly," said one of the yeomen, when they had seen the young stranger's -face, "I do know that lad right well. He is a certain minstrel that I -have seen hereabouts more than once. It was only a week ago I saw him -skipping across the hill like a yearling doe. A fine sight he was then, -with a flower at his ear and a cock's plume stuck in his cap; but now, -methinks, our cockerel is shorn of his gay feathers." - -"Pah!" cried Will Stutely, coming up to the stranger, "wipe thine eyes, -man! I do hate to see a tall, stout fellow so sniveling like a girl of -fourteen over a dead tomtit. Put down thy bow, man! We mean thee no -harm." - -But Will Scarlet, seeing how the stranger, who had a young and boyish -look, was stung by the words that Stutely had spoken, came to him and -put his hand upon the youth's shoulder. "Nay, thou art in trouble, poor -boy!" said he kindly. "Mind not what these fellows have said. They are -rough, but they mean thee well. Mayhap they do not understand a lad -like thee. Thou shalt come with us, and perchance we may find a certain -one that can aid thee in thy perplexities, whatsoever they may be." - -"Yea, truly, come along," said Will Stutely gruffly. "I meant thee no -harm, and may mean thee some good. Take down thy singing tool from off -this fair tree, and away with us." - -The youth did as he was bidden and, with bowed head and sorrowful step, -accompanied the others, walking beside Will Scarlet. So they wended -their way through the forest. The bright light faded from the sky and a -glimmering gray fell over all things. From the deeper recesses of the -forest the strange whispering sounds of night-time came to the ear; all -else was silent, saving only for the rattling of their footsteps amid -the crisp, dry leaves of the last winter. At last a ruddy glow shone -before them here and there through the trees; a little farther and they -came to the open glade, now bathed in the pale moonlight. In the center -of the open crackled a great fire, throwing a red glow on all around. -At the fire were roasting juicy steaks of venison, pheasants, capons, -and fresh fish from the river. All the air was filled with the sweet -smell of good things cooking. - -The little band made its way across the glade, many yeomen turning with -curious looks and gazing after them, but none speaking or questioning -them. So, with Will Scarlet upon one side and Will Stutely upon the -other, the stranger came to where Robin Hood sat on a seat of moss under -the greenwood tree, with Little John standing beside him. - -"Good even, fair friend," said Robin Hood, rising as the other drew -near. "And hast thou come to feast with me this day?" - -"Alas! I know not," said the lad, looking around him with dazed eyes, -for he was bewildered with all that he saw. "Truly, I know not whether I -be in a dream," said he to himself in a low voice. - -"Nay, marry," quoth Robin, laughing, "thou art awake, as thou wilt -presently find, for a fine feast is a-cooking for thee. Thou art our -honored guest this day." - -Still the young stranger looked about him, as though in a dream. -Presently he turned to Robin. "Methinks," said he, "I know now where I -am and what hath befallen me. Art not thou the great Robin Hood?" - -"Thou hast hit the bull's eye," quoth Robin, clapping him upon the -shoulder. "Men hereabouts do call me by that name. Sin' thou knowest -me, thou knowest also that he who feasteth with me must pay his -reckoning. I trust thou hast a full purse with thee, fair stranger." - -"Alas!" said the stranger, "I have no purse nor no money either, saving -only the half of a sixpence, the other half of which mine own dear love -doth carry in her bosom, hung about her neck by a strand of silken -thread." - -At this speech a great shout of laughter went up from those around, -whereat the poor boy looked as he would die of shame; but Robin Hood -turned sharply to Will Stutely. "Why, how now," quoth he, "is this the -guest that thou hast brought us to fill our purse? Methinks thou hast -brought but a lean cock to the market." - -"Nay, good master," answered Will Stutely, grinning, "he is no guest of -mine; it was Will Scarlet that brought him thither." - -Then up spoke Will Scarlet, and told how they had found the lad in -sorrow, and how he had brought him to Robin, thinking that he might -perchance aid him in his trouble. Then Robin Hood turned to the youth, -and, placing his hand upon the other's shoulder, held him off at arm's -length, scanning his face closely. - -"A young face," quoth he in a low voice, half to himself, "a kind face, -a good face. 'Tis like a maiden's for purity, and, withal, the fairest -that e'er mine eyes did see; but, if I may judge fairly by thy looks, -grief cometh to young as well as to old." At these words, spoken so -kindly, the poor lad's eyes brimmed up with tears. "Nay, nay," said -Robin hastily, "cheer up, lad; I warrant thy case is not so bad that it -cannot be mended. What may be thy name?" - -"Allen a Dale is my name, good master." - -"Allen a Dale," repeated Robin, musing. "Allen a Dale. It doth seem to -me that the name is not altogether strange to mine ears. Yea, surely -thou art the minstrel of whom we have been hearing lately, whose voice -so charmeth all men. Dost thou not come from the Dale of Rotherstream, -over beyond Stavely?" - -"Yea, truly," answered Allan, "I do come thence." - -"How old art thou, Allan?" said Robin. - -"I am but twenty years of age." - -"Methinks thou art overyoung to be perplexed with trouble," quoth Robin -kindly; then, turning to the others, he cried, "Come, lads, busk ye and -get our feast ready; only thou, Will Scarlet, and thou, Little John, -stay here with me." - -Then, when the others had gone, each man about his business, Robin -turned once more to the youth. "Now, lad," said he, "tell us thy -troubles, and speak freely. A flow of words doth ever ease the heart of -sorrows; it is like opening the waste weir when the mill dam is -overfull. Come, sit thou here beside me, and speak at thine ease." - -Then straightway the youth told the three yeomen all that was in his -heart; at first in broken words and phrases, then freely and with -greater ease when he saw that all listened closely to what he said. So -he told them how he had come from York to the sweet vale of Rother, -traveling the country through as a minstrel, stopping now at castle, now -at hall, and now at farmhouse; how he had spent one sweet evening in a -certain broad, low farmhouse, where he sang before a stout franklin and -a maiden as pure and lovely as the first snowdrop of spring; how he had -played and sung to her, and how sweet Ellen o' the Dale had listened to -him and had loved him. Then, in a low, sweet voice, scarcely louder -than a whisper, he told how he had watched for her and met her now and -then when she went abroad, but was all too afraid in her sweet presence -to speak to her, until at last, beside the banks of Rother, he had -spoken of his love, and she had whispered that which had made his -heartstrings quiver for joy. Then they broke a sixpence between them, -and vowed to be true to one another forever. - -Next he told how her father had discovered what was a-doing, and had -taken her away from him so that he never saw her again, and his heart -was sometimes like to break; how this morn, only one short month and a -half from the time that he had seen her last, he had heard and knew it -to be so, that she was to marry old Sir Stephen of Trent, two days -hence, for Ellen's father thought it would be a grand thing to have his -daughter marry so high, albeit she wished it not; nor was it wonder that -a knight should wish to marry his own sweet love, who was the most -beautiful maiden in all the world. - -To all this the yeomen listened in silence, the clatter of many voices, -jesting and laughing, sounding around them, and the red light of the -fire shining on their faces and in their eyes. So simple were the poor -boy's words, and so deep his sorrow, that even Little John felt a -certain knotty lump rise in his throat. - -"I wonder not," said Robin, after a moment's silence, "that thy true -love loved thee, for thou hast surely a silver cross beneath thy tongue, -even like good Saint Francis, that could charm the birds of the air by -his speech." - -"By the breath of my body," burst forth Little John, seeking to cover -his feelings with angry words, "I have a great part of a mind to go -straightway and cudgel the nasty life out of the body of that same vile -Sir Stephen. Marry, come up, say I--what a plague--does an old weazen -think that tender lasses are to be bought like pullets o' a market day? -Out upon him!--I--but no matter, only let him look to himself." - -Then up spoke Will Scarlet. "Methinks it seemeth but ill done of the -lass that she should so quickly change at others' bidding, more -especially when it cometh to the marrying of a man as old as this same -Sir Stephen. I like it not in her, Allan." - -"Nay," said Allan hotly, "thou dost wrong her. She is as soft and -gentle as a stockdove. I know her better than anyone in all the world. -She may do her father's bidding, but if she marries Sir Stephen, her -heart will break and she will die. My own sweet dear, I--" He stopped -and shook his head, for he could say nothing further. - -While the others were speaking, Robin Hood had been sunk in thought. -"Methinks I have a plan might fit thy case, Allan," said he. "But tell -me first, thinkest thou, lad, that thy true love hath spirit enough to -marry thee were ye together in church, the banns published, and the -priest found, even were her father to say her nay?" - -"Ay, marry would she," cried Allan eagerly. - -"Then, if her father be the man that I take him to be, I will undertake -that he shall give you both his blessing as wedded man and wife, in the -place of old Sir Stephen, and upon his wedding morn. But stay, now I -bethink me, there is one thing reckoned not upon--the priest. Truly, -those of the cloth do not love me overmuch, and when it comes to doing -as I desire in such a matter, they are as like as not to prove stiff- -necked. As to the lesser clergy, they fear to do me a favor because of -abbot or bishop. - -"Nay," quoth Will Scarlet, laughing, "so far as that goeth, I know of a -certain friar that, couldst thou but get on the soft side of him, would -do thy business even though Pope Joan herself stood forth to ban him. He -is known as the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey, and dwelleth in Fountain -Dale." - -"But," quoth Robin, "Fountain Abbey is a good hundred miles from here. -An we would help this lad, we have no time to go thither and back before -his true love will be married. Nought is to be gained there, coz." - -"Yea," quoth Will Scarlet, laughing again, "but this Fountain Abbey is -not so far away as the one of which thou speakest, uncle. The Fountain -Abbey of which I speak is no such rich and proud place as the other, but -a simple little cell; yet, withal, as cosy a spot as ever stout -anchorite dwelled within. I know the place well, and can guide thee -thither, for, though it is a goodly distance, yet methinks a stout pair -of legs could carry a man there and back in one day." - -"Then give me thy hand, Allan," cried Robin, "and let me tell thee, I -swear by the bright hair of Saint AElfrida that this time two days hence -Ellen a Dale shall be thy wife. I will seek this same Friar of Fountain -Abbey tomorrow day, and I warrant I will get upon the soft side of him, -even if I have to drub one soft." - -At this Will Scarlet laughed again. "Be not too sure of that, good -uncle," quoth he, "nevertheless, from what I know of him, I think this -Curtal Friar will gladly join two such fair lovers, more especially if -there be good eating and drinking afoot thereafter." - -But now one of the band came to say that the feast was spread upon the -grass; so, Robin leading the way, the others followed to where the -goodly feast was spread. Merry was the meal. Jest and story passed -freely, and all laughed till the forest rang again. Allan laughed with -the rest, for his cheeks were flushed with the hope that Robin Hood had -given him. - -At last the feast was done, and Robin Hood turned to Allan, who sat -beside him. "Now, Allan," quoth he, "so much has been said of thy -singing that we would fain have a taste of thy skill ourselves. Canst -thou not give us something?" - -"Surely," answered Allan readily; for he was no third-rate songster that -must be asked again and again, but said "yes" or "no" at the first -bidding; so, taking up his harp, he ran his fingers lightly over the -sweetly sounding strings, and all was hushed about the cloth. Then, -backing his voice with sweet music on his harp, he sang: - -MAY ELLEN'S WEDDING - -(Giving an account of how she was beloved by a fairy prince, -who took her to his own home.) - - "_May Ellen sat beneath a thorn - And in a shower around - The blossoms fell at every breeze - Like snow upon the ground, - And in a lime tree near was heard - The sweet song of a strange, wild bird. - - "O sweet, sweet, sweet, O piercing sweet, - O lingering sweet the strain! - May Ellen's heart within her breast - Stood still with blissful pain: - And so, with listening, upturned face, - She sat as dead in that fair place. - - "'Come down from out the blossoms, bird! - Come down from out the tree, - And on my heart I'll let thee lie, - And love thee tenderly!' - Thus cried May Ellen, soft and low, - From where the hawthorn shed its snow. - - "Down dropped the bird on quivering wing, - From out the blossoming tree, - And nestled in her snowy breast. - 'My love! my love!' cried she; - Then straightway home, 'mid sun and flower, - She bare him to her own sweet bower. - - "The day hath passed to mellow night, - The moon floats o'er the lea, - And in its solemn, pallid light - A youth stands silently: - A youth of beauty strange and rare, - Within May Ellen's bower there. - - "He stood where o'er the pavement cold - The glimmering moonbeams lay. - May Ellen gazed with wide, scared eyes, - Nor could she turn away, - For, as in mystic dreams we see - A spirit, stood he silently. - - "All in a low and breathless voice, - 'Whence comest thou?' said she; - 'Art thou the creature of a dream, - Or a vision that I see?' - Then soft spake he, as night winds shiver - Through straining reeds beside the river. - - "'I came, a bird on feathered wing, - From distant Faeryland - Where murmuring waters softly sing - Upon the golden strand, - Where sweet trees are forever green; - And there my mother is the queen.' - - . . . . . . . - - "No more May Ellen leaves her bower - To grace the blossoms fair; - But in the hushed and midnight hour - They hear her talking there, - Or, when the moon is shining white, - They hear her singing through the night. - - "'Oh, don thy silks and jewels fine,' - May Ellen's mother said, - 'For hither comes the Lord of Lyne - And thou this lord must wed.' - May Ellen said, 'It may not be. - He ne'er shall find his wife in me.' - - "Up spoke her brother, dark and grim: - 'Now by the bright blue sky, - E'er yet a day hath gone for him - Thy wicked bird shall die! - For he hath wrought thee bitter harm, - By some strange art or cunning charm.' - - "Then, with a sad and mournful song, - Away the bird did fly, - And o'er the castle eaves, and through - The gray and windy sky. - 'Come forth!' then cried the brother grim, - 'Why dost thou gaze so after him?' - - "It is May Ellen's wedding day, - The sky is blue and fair, - And many a lord and lady gay - In church are gathered there. - The bridegroom was Sir Hugh the Bold, - All clad in silk and cloth of gold. - - "In came the bride in samite white - With a white wreath on her head; - Her eyes were fixed with a glassy look, - Her face was as the dead, - And when she stood among the throng, - She sang a wild and wondrous song. - - "Then came a strange and rushing sound - Like the coming wind doth bring, - And in the open windows shot - Nine swans on whistling wing, - And high above the heads they flew, - In gleaming fight the darkness through. - - "Around May Ellen's head they flew - In wide and windy fight, - And three times round the circle drew. - The guests shrank in affright, - And the priest beside the altar there, - Did cross himself with muttered prayer. - - "But the third time they flew around, - Fair Ellen straight was gone, - And in her place, upon the ground, - There stood a snow-white swan. - Then, with a wild and lovely song, - It joined the swift and winged throng. - - "There's ancient men at weddings been, - For sixty years and more, - But such a wondrous wedding day, - They never saw before. - But none could check and none could stay, - The swans that bore the bride away_." - -Not a sound broke the stillness when Allan a Dale had done, but all sat -gazing at the handsome singer, for so sweet was his voice and the music -that each man sat with bated breath, lest one drop more should come and -he should lose it. - -"By my faith and my troth," quoth Robin at last, drawing a deep breath, -"lad, thou art--Thou must not leave our company, Allan! Wilt thou not -stay with us here in the sweet green forest? Truly, I do feel my heart -go out toward thee with great love." - -Then Allan took Robin's hand and kissed it. "I will stay with thee -always, dear master," said he, "for never have I known such kindness as -thou hast shown me this day." - -Then Will Scarlet stretched forth his hand and shook Allan's in token of -fellowship, as did Little John likewise. And thus the famous Allan a -Dale became one of Robin Hood's band. - - - - -Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar - -THE STOUT YEOMEN of Sherwood Forest were ever early risers of a morn, -more especially when the summertime had come, for then in the freshness -of the dawn the dew was always the brightest, and the song of the small -birds the sweetest. - -Quoth Robin, "Now will I go to seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey of -whom we spake yesternight, and I will take with me four of my good men, -and these four shall be Little John, Will Scarlet, David of Doncaster, -and Arthur a Bland. Bide the rest of you here, and Will Stutely shall -be your chief while I am gone." Then straightway Robin Hood donned a -fine steel coat of chain mail, over which he put on a light jacket of -Lincoln green. Upon his head he clapped a steel cap, and this he covered -by one of soft white leather, in which stood a nodding cock's plume. By -his side he hung a good broadsword of tempered steel, the bluish blade -marked all over with strange figures of dragons, winged women, and what -not. A gallant sight was Robin so arrayed, I wot, the glint of steel -showing here and there as the sunlight caught brightly the links of -polished mail that showed beneath his green coat. - -So, having arrayed himself, he and the four yeomen set forth upon their -way, Will Scarlet taking the lead, for he knew better than the others -whither to go. Thus, mile after mile, they strode along, now across a -brawling stream, now along a sunlit road, now adown some sweet forest -path, over which the trees met in green and rustling canopy, and at the -end of which a herd of startled deer dashed away, with rattle of leaves -and crackle of branches. Onward they walked with song and jest and -laughter till noontide was passed, when at last they came to the banks -of a wide, glassy, and lily-padded stream. Here a broad, beaten path -stretched along beside the banks, on which path labored the horses that -tugged at the slow-moving barges, laden with barley meal or what not, -from the countryside to the many-towered town. But now, in the hot -silence of the midday, no horse was seen nor any man besides themselves. -Behind them and before them stretched the river, its placid bosom -ruffled here and there by the purple dusk of a small breeze. - -"Now, good uncle," quoth Will Scarlet at last, when they had walked for -a long time beside this sweet, bright river, "just beyond yon bend ahead -of us is a shallow ford which in no place is deeper than thy mid-thigh, -and upon the other side of the stream is a certain little hermitage -hidden amidst the bosky tangle of the thickets wherein dwelleth the -Friar of Fountain Dale. Thither will I lead thee, for I know the way; -albeit it is not overhard to find." - -"Nay," quoth jolly Robin, stopping suddenly, "had I thought that I -should have had to wade water, even were it so crystal a stream as this, -I had donned other clothes than I have upon me. But no matter now, for -after all a wetting will not wash the skin away, and what must be, must. -But bide ye here, lads, for I would enjoy this merry adventure alone. -Nevertheless, listen well, and if ye hear me sound upon my bugle horn, -come quickly." So saying, he turned and left them, striding onward -alone. - -Robin had walked no farther than where the bend of the road hid his good -men from his view, when he stopped suddenly, for he thought that he -heard voices. He stood still and listened, and presently heard words -passed back and forth betwixt what seemed to be two men, and yet the two -voices were wondrously alike. The sound came from over behind the bank, -that here was steep and high, dropping from the edge of the road a half -a score of feet to the sedgy verge of the river. - -"'Tis strange," muttered Robin to himself after a space, when the voices -had ceased their talking, "surely there be two people that spoke the one -to the other, and yet methinks their voices are mightily alike. I make -my vow that never have I heard the like in all my life before. Truly, if -this twain are to be judged by their voices, no two peas were ever more -alike. I will look into this matter." So saying, he came softly to the -river bank and laying him down upon the grass, peered over the edge and -down below. - -All was cool and shady beneath the bank. A stout osier grew, not -straight upward, but leaning across the water, shadowing the spot with -its soft foliage. All around grew a mass of feathery ferns such as hide -and nestle in cool places, and up to Robin's nostrils came the tender -odor of the wild thyme, that loves the moist verges of running streams. -Here, with his broad back against the rugged trunk of the willow tree, -and half hidden by the soft ferns around him, sat a stout, brawny -fellow, but no other man was there. His head was as round as a ball, and -covered with a mat of close-clipped, curly black hair that grew low down -on his forehead. But his crown was shorn as smooth as the palm of one's -hand, which, together with his loose robe, cowl, and string of beads, -showed that which his looks never would have done, that he was a friar. -His cheeks were as red and shining as a winter crab, albeit they were -nearly covered over with a close curly black beard, as were his chin and -upper lip likewise. His neck was thick like that of a north country -bull, and his round head closely set upon shoulders e'en a match for -those of Little John himself. Beneath his bushy black brows danced a -pair of little gray eyes that could not stand still for very drollery of -humor. No man could look into his face and not feel his heartstrings -tickled by the merriment of their look. By his side lay a steel cap, -which he had laid off for the sake of the coolness to his crown. His -legs were stretched wide apart, and betwixt his knees he held a great -pasty compounded of juicy meats of divers kinds made savory with tender -young onions, both meat and onions being mingled with a good rich gravy. -In his right fist he held a great piece of brown crust at which he -munched sturdily, and every now and then he thrust his left hand into -the pie and drew it forth full of meat; anon he would take a mighty pull -at a great bottle of Malmsey that lay beside him. - -"By my faith," quoth Robin to himself, "I do verily believe that this is -the merriest feast, the merriest wight, the merriest place, and the -merriest sight in all merry England. Methought there was another here, -but it must have been this holy man talking to himself." - -So Robin lay watching the Friar, and the Friar, all unknowing that he -was so overlooked, ate his meal placidly. At last he was done, and, -having first wiped his greasy hands upon the ferns and wild thyme (and -sweeter napkin ne'er had king in all the world), he took up his flask -and began talking to himself as though he were another man, and -answering himself as though he were somebody else. - -"Dear lad, thou art the sweetest fellow in all the world, I do love thee -as a lover loveth his lass. La, thou dost make me shamed to speak so to -me in this solitary place, no one being by, and yet if thou wilt have me -say so, I do love thee as thou lovest me. Nay then, wilt thou not take -a drink of good Malmsey? After thee, lad, after thee. Nay, I beseech -thee, sweeten the draught with thy lips (here he passed the flask from -his right hand to his left). An thou wilt force it on me so, I must -needs do thy bidding, yet with the more pleasure do I so as I drink thy -very great health (here he took a long, deep draught). And now, sweet -lad, 'tis thy turn next (here he passed the bottle from his left hand -back again to his right). I take it, sweet chuck, and here's wishing -thee as much good as thou wishest me." Saying this, he took another -draught, and truly he drank enough for two. - -All this time merry Robin lay upon the bank and listened, while his -stomach so quaked with laughter that he was forced to press his palm -across his mouth to keep it from bursting forth; for, truly, he would -not have spoiled such a goodly jest for the half of Nottinghamshire. - -Having gotten his breath from his last draught, the Friar began talking -again in this wise: "Now, sweet lad, canst thou not sing me a song? La, -I know not, I am but in an ill voice this day; prythee ask me not; dost -thou not hear how I croak like a frog? Nay, nay, thy voice is as sweet -as any bullfinch; come, sing, I prythee, I would rather hear thee sing -than eat a fair feast. Alas, I would fain not sing before one that can -pipe so well and hath heard so many goodly songs and ballads, -ne'ertheless, an thou wilt have it so, I will do my best. But now -methinks that thou and I might sing some fair song together; dost thou -not know a certain dainty little catch called 'The Loving Youth and the -Scornful Maid'? Why, truly, methinks I have heard it ere now. Then dost -thou not think that thou couldst take the lass's part if I take the -lad's? I know not but I will try; begin thou with the lad and I will -follow with the lass." - -Then, singing first with a voice deep and gruff, and anon in one high -and squeaking, he blithely trolled the merry catch of - -THE LOVING YOUTH AND THE SCORNFUL MAID - -_HE - "Ah, it's wilt thou come with me, my love? - And it's wilt thou, love, he mine? - For I will give unto thee, my love, - Gay knots and ribbons so fine. - I'll woo thee, love, on my bended knee, - And I'll pipe sweet songs to none but thee. - Then it's hark! hark! hark! - To the winged lark - And it's hark to the cooing dove! - And the bright daffodil - Groweth down by the rill, - So come thou and be my love. - -SHE - "Now get thee away, young man so fine; - Now get thee away, I say; - For my true love shall never be thine, - And so thou hadst better not stay. - Thou art not a fine enough lad for me, - So I'll wait till a better young man I see. - For it's hark! hark! hark! - To the winged lark, - And it's hark to the cooing dove! - And the bright daffodil - Groweth down by the rill, - Yet never I'll be thy love. - -HE - "Then straight will I seek for another fair she, - For many a maid can be found, - And as thou wilt never have aught of me, - By thee will I never be bound. - For never is a blossom in the field so rare, - But others are found that are just as fair. - So it's hark! hark! hark! - To the joyous lark - And it's hark to the cooing dove! - And the bright daffodil - Groweth down by the rill, - And I'll seek me another dear love. - -SHE - "Young man, turn not so very quick away - Another fair lass to find. - Methinks I have spoken in haste today, - Nor have I made up my mind_, - - _And if thou only wilt stay with me, - I'll love no other, sweet lad, but thee_." - -Here Robin could contain himself no longer but burst forth into a mighty -roar of laughter; then, the holy Friar keeping on with the song, he -joined in the chorus, and together they sang, or, as one might say, -bellowed: - - "_So it's hark! hark! hark! - To the joyous lark - And it's hark to the cooing dove! - For the bright daffodil - Groweth down by the rill - And I'll be thine own true love_." - -So they sang together, for the stout Friar did not seem to have heard -Robin's laughter, neither did he seem to know that the yeoman had joined -in with the song, but, with eyes half closed, looking straight before -him and wagging his round head from side to side in time to the music, -he kept on bravely to the end, he and Robin finishing up with a mighty -roar that might have been heard a mile. But no sooner had the last word -been sung than the holy man seized his steel cap, clapped it on his -head, and springing to his feet, cried in a great voice, "What spy have -we here? Come forth, thou limb of evil, and I will carve thee into as -fine pudding meat as e'er a wife in Yorkshire cooked of a Sunday." -Hereupon he drew from beneath his robes a great broadsword full as stout -as was Robin's. - -"Nay, put up thy pinking iron, friend," quoth Robin, standing up with -the tears of laughter still on his cheeks. "Folk who have sung so -sweetly together should not fight thereafter." Hereupon he leaped down -the bank to where the other stood. "I tell thee, friend," said he, "my -throat is as parched with that song as e'er a barley stubble in October. -Hast thou haply any Malmsey left in that stout pottle?" - -"Truly," said the Friar in a glum voice, "thou dost ask thyself freely -where thou art not bidden. Yet I trust I am too good a Christian to -refuse any man drink that is athirst. Such as there is o't thou art -welcome to a drink of the same." And he held the pottle out to Robin. - -Robin took it without more ado and putting it to his lips, tilted his -head back, while that which was within said "glug! lug! glug!" for more -than three winks, I wot. The stout Friar watched Robin anxiously the -while, and when he was done took the pottle quickly. He shook it, held -it betwixt his eyes and the light, looked reproachfully at the yeoman, -and straightway placed it at his own lips. When it came away again there -was nought within it. - -"Doss thou know the country hereabouts, thou good and holy man?" asked -Robin, laughing. - -"Yea, somewhat," answered the other dryly. - -"And dost thou know of a certain spot called Fountain Abbey?" - -"Yea, somewhat." - -"Then perchance thou knowest also of a certain one who goeth by the name -of the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey." - -"Yea, somewhat." - -"Well then, good fellow, holy father, or whatever thou art," quoth -Robin, "I would know whether this same Friar is to be found upon this -side of the river or the other." - -"That," quoth the Friar, "is a practical question upon which the cunning -rules appertaining to logic touch not. I do advise thee to find that out -by the aid of thine own five senses; sight, feeling, and what not." - -"I do wish much," quoth Robin, looking thoughtfully at the stout priest, -"to cross yon ford and strive to find this same good Friar." - -"Truly," said the other piously, "it is a goodly wish on the part of one -so young. Far be it from me to check thee in so holy a quest. Friend, -the river is free to all." - -"Yea, good father," said Robin, "but thou seest that my clothes are of -the finest and I fain would not get them wet. Methinks thy shoulders are -stout and broad; couldst thou not find it in thy heart to carry me -across?" - -"Now, by the white hand of the holy Lady of the Fountain!" burst forth -the Friar in a mighty rage, "dost thou, thou poor puny stripling, thou -kiss-my-lady-la poppenjay; thou--thou What shall I call thee? Dost thou -ask me, the holy Tuck, to carry thee? Now I swear--" Here he paused -suddenly, then slowly the anger passed from his face, and his little -eyes twinkled once more. "But why should I not?" quoth he piously. - -"Did not the holy Saint Christopher ever carry the stranger across the -river? And should I, poor sinner that I am, be ashamed to do likewise? -Come with me, stranger, and I will do thy bidding in an humble frame of -mind." So saying, he clambered up the bank, closely followed by Robin, -and led the way to the shallow pebbly ford, chuckling to himself the -while as though he were enjoying some goodly jest within himself. - -Having come to the ford, he girded up his robes about his loins, tucked -his good broadsword beneath his arm, and stooped his back to take Robin -upon it. Suddenly he straightened up. "Methinks," quoth he, "thou'lt -get thy weapon wet. Let me tuck it beneath mine arm along with mine -own." - -"Nay, good father," said Robin, "I would not burden thee with aught of -mine but myself." - -"Dost thou think," said the Friar mildly, "that the good Saint -Christopher would ha' sought his own ease so? Nay, give me thy tool as -I bid thee, for I would carry it as a penance to my pride." - -Upon this, without more ado, Robin Hood unbuckled his sword from his -side and handed it to the other, who thrust it with his own beneath his -arm. Then once more the Friar bent his back, and, Robin having mounted -upon it, he stepped sturdily into the water and so strode onward, -splashing in the shoal, and breaking all the smooth surface into ever- -widening rings. At last he reached the other side and Robin leaped -lightly from his back. - -"Many thanks, good father," quoth he. "Thou art indeed a good and holy -man. Prythee give me my sword and let me away, for I am in haste." - -At this the stout Friar looked upon Robin for a long time, his head on -one side, and with a most waggish twist to his face; then he slowly -winked his right eye. "Nay, good youth," said he gently, "I doubt not -that thou art in haste with thine affairs, yet thou dost think nothing -of mine. Thine are of a carnal nature; mine are of a spiritual nature, -a holy work, so to speak; moreover, mine affairs do lie upon the other -side of this stream. I see by thy quest of this same holy recluse that -thou art a good young man and most reverent to the cloth. I did get wet -coming hither, and am sadly afraid that should I wade the water again I -might get certain cricks and pains i' the joints that would mar my -devotions for many a day to come. I know that since I have so humbly -done thy bidding thou wilt carry me back again. Thou seest how Saint -Godrick, that holy hermit whose natal day this is, hath placed in my -hands two swords and in thine never a one. Therefore be persuaded, good -youth, and carry me back again." - -Robin Hood looked up and he looked down, biting his nether lip. Quoth -he, "Thou cunning Friar, thou hast me fair and fast enow. Let me tell -thee that not one of thy cloth hath so hoodwinked me in all my life -before. I might have known from thy looks that thou wert no such holy -man as thou didst pretend to be." - -"Nay," interrupted the Friar, "I bid thee speak not so scurrilously -neither, lest thou mayst perchance feel the prick of an inch or so of -blue steel." - -"Tut, tut," said Robin, "speak not so, Friar; the loser hath ever the -right to use his tongue as he doth list. Give me my sword; I do promise -to carry thee back straightway. Nay, I will not lift the weapon against -thee." - -"Marry, come up," quoth the Friar, "I fear thee not, fellow. Here is thy -skewer; and get thyself presently ready, for I would hasten back." - -So Robin took his sword again and buckled it at his side; then he bent -his stout back and took the Friar upon it. - -Now I wot Robin Hood had a heavier load to carry in the Friar than the -Friar had in him. Moreover he did not know the ford, so he went -stumbling among the stones, now stepping into a deep hole, and now -nearly tripping over a boulder, while the sweat ran down his face in -beads from the hardness of his journey and the heaviness of his load. -Meantime, the Friar kept digging his heels into Robin's sides and -bidding him hasten, calling him many ill names the while. To all this -Robin answered never a word, but, having softly felt around till he -found the buckle of the belt that held the Friar's sword, he worked -slyly at the fastenings, seeking to loosen them. Thus it came about -that, by the time he had reached the other bank with his load, the -Friar's sword belt was loose albeit he knew it not; so when Robin stood -on dry land and the Friar leaped from his back, the yeoman gripped hold -of the sword so that blade, sheath, and strap came away from the holy -man, leaving him without a weapon. - -"Now then," quoth merry Robin, panting as he spake and wiping the sweat -from his brow, "I have thee, fellow. This time that same saint of whom -thou didst speak but now hath delivered two swords into my hand and hath -stripped thine away from thee. Now if thou dost not carry me back, and -that speedily, I swear I will prick thy skin till it is as full of holes -as a slashed doublet." - -The good Friar said not a word for a while, but he looked at Robin with -a grim look. "Now," said he at last, "I did think that thy wits were of -the heavy sort and knew not that thou wert so cunning. Truly, thou hast -me upon the hip. Give me my sword, and I promise not to draw it against -thee save in self-defense; also, I promise to do thy bidding and take -thee upon my back and carry thee." - -So jolly Robin gave him his sword again, which the Friar buckled to his -side, and this time looked to it that it was more secure in its -fastenings; then tucking up his robes once more, he took Robin Hood upon -his back and without a word stepped into the water, and so waded on in -silence while Robin sat laughing upon his back. At last he reached the -middle of the ford where the water was deepest. Here he stopped for a -moment, and then, with a sudden lift of his hand and heave of his -shoulders, fairly shot Robin over his head as though he were a sack of -grain. - -Down went Robin into the water with a mighty splash. "There," quoth the -holy man, calmly turning back again to the shore, "let that cool thy hot -spirit, if it may." - -Meantime, after much splashing, Robin had gotten to his feet and stood -gazing about him all bewildered, the water running from him in pretty -little rills. At last he shot the water out of his ears and spat some -out of his mouth, and, gathering his scattered wits together, saw the -stout Friar standing on the bank and laughing. Then, I wot, was Robin -Hood a mad man. "Stay, thou villain!" roared he, "I am after thee -straight, and if I do not carve thy brawn for thee this day, may I never -lift finger again!" So saying, he dashed, splashing, to the bank. - -"Thou needst not hasten thyself unduly," quoth the stout Friar. "Fear -not; I will abide here, and if thou dost not cry 'Alack-a-day' ere long -time is gone, may I never more peep through the brake at a fallow deer." - -And now Robin, having reached the bank, began, without more ado, to roll -up his sleeves above his wrists. The Friar, also, tucked his robes more -about him, showing a great, stout arm on which the muscles stood out -like humps of an aged tree. Then Robin saw, what he had not wotted of -before, that the Friar had also a coat of chain mail beneath his gown. - -"Look to thyself," cried Robin, drawing his good sword. - -"Ay, marry," quoth the Friar, who held his already in his hand. So, -without more ado, they came together, and thereupon began a fierce and -mighty battle. Right and left, and up and down and back and forth they -fought. The swords flashed in the sun and then met with a clash that -sounded far and near. I wot this was no playful bout at quarterstaff, -but a grim and serious fight of real earnest. Thus they strove for an -hour or more, pausing every now and then to rest, at which times each -looked at the other with wonder, and thought that never had he seen so -stout a fellow; then once again they would go at it more fiercely than -ever. Yet in all this time neither had harmed the other nor caused his -blood to flow. At last merry Robin cried, "Hold thy hand, good friend!" -whereupon both lowered their swords. - -"Now I crave a boon ere we begin again," quoth Robin, wiping the sweat -from his brow; for they had striven so long that he began to think that -it would be an ill-done thing either to be smitten himself or to smite -so stout and brave a fellow. - -"What wouldst thou have of me?" asked the Friar. - -"Only this," quoth Robin; "that thou wilt let me blow thrice upon my -bugle horn." - -The Friar bent his brows and looked shrewdly at Robin Hood. "Now I do -verily think that thou hast some cunning trick in this," quoth he. -"Ne'ertheless, I fear thee not, and will let thee have thy wish, -providing thou wilt also let me blow thrice upon this little whistle." - -"With all my heart," quoth Robin, "so, here goes for one." So saying, he -raised his silver horn to his lips and blew thrice upon it, clear and -high. - -Meantime, the Friar stood watching keenly for what might come to pass, -holding in his fingers the while a pretty silver whistle, such as -knights use for calling their hawks back to their wrists, which whistle -always hung at his girdle along with his rosary. - -Scarcely had the echo of the last note of Robin's bugle come winding -back from across the river, when four tall men in Lincoln green came -running around the bend of the road, each with a bow in his hand and an -arrow ready nocked upon the string. - -"Ha! Is it thus, thou traitor knave!" cried the Friar. "Then, marry, -look to thyself!" So saying, he straightway clapped the hawk's whistle -to his lips and blew a blast that was both loud and shrill. And now -there came a crackling of the bushes that lined the other side of the -road, and presently forth from the covert burst four great, shaggy -hounds. "At 'em, Sweet Lips! At 'em, Bell Throat! At 'em, Beauty! At -'em, Fangs!" cried the Friar, pointing at Robin. - -And now it was well for that yeoman that a tree stood nigh him beside -the road, else had he had an ill chance of it. Ere one could say "Gaffer -Downthedale" the hounds were upon him, and he had only time to drop his -sword and leap lightly into the tree, around which the hounds gathered, -looking up at him as though he were a cat on the eaves. But the Friar -quickly called off his dogs. "At 'em!" cried he, pointing down the road -to where the yeomen were standing stock still with wonder of what they -saw. As the hawk darts down upon its quarry, so sped the four dogs at -the yeomen; but when the four men saw the hounds so coming, all with one -accord, saving only Will Scarlet, drew each man his goose feather to his -ear and let fly his shaft. - -And now the old ballad telleth of a wondrous thing that happened, for -thus it says, that each dog so shot at leaped lightly aside, and as the -arrow passed him whistling, caught it in his mouth and bit it in twain. -Now it would have been an ill day for these four good fellows had not -Will Scarlet stepped before the others and met the hounds as they came -rushing. "Why, how now, Fangs!" cried he sternly. "Down, Beauty! Down, -sirrah! What means this?" - -At the sound of his voice each dog shrank back quickly and then -straightway came to him and licked his hands and fawned upon him, as is -the wont of dogs that meet one they know. Then the four yeomen came -forward, the hounds leaping around Will Scarlet joyously. "Why, how -now!" cried the stout Friar, "what means this? Art thou wizard to turn -those wolves into lambs? Ha!" cried he, when they had come still -nearer, "can I trust mine eyes? What means it that I see young Master -William Gamwell in such company?" - -"Nay, Tuck," said the young man, as the four came forward to where Robin -was now clambering down from the tree in which he had been roosting, he -having seen that all danger was over for the time; "nay, Tuck, my name -is no longer Will Gamwell, but Will Scarlet; and this is my good uncle, -Robin Hood, with whom I am abiding just now." - -"Truly, good master," said the Friar, looking somewhat abashed and -reaching out his great palm to Robin, "I ha' oft heard thy name both -sung and spoken of, but I never thought to meet thee in battle. I crave -thy forgiveness, and do wonder not that I found so stout a man against -me." - -"Truly, most holy father," said Little John, "I am more thankful than -e'er I was in all my life before that our good friend Scarlet knew thee -and thy dogs. I tell thee seriously that I felt my heart crumble away -from me when I saw my shaft so miss its aim, and those great beasts of -thine coming straight at me." - -"Thou mayst indeed be thankful, friend," said the Friar gravely. "But, -Master Will, how cometh it that thou dost now abide in Sherwood?" - -"Why, Tuck, dost thou not know of my ill happening with my father's -steward?" answered Scarlet. - -"Yea, truly, yet I knew not that thou wert in hiding because of it. -Marry, the times are all awry when a gentleman must lie hidden for so -small a thing." - -"But we are losing time," quoth Robin, "and I have yet to find that same -Curtal Friar." - -"Why, uncle, thou hast not far to go," said Will Scarlet, pointing to -the Friar, "for there he stands beside thee." - -"How?" quoth Robin, "art thou the man that I have been at such pains to -seek all day, and have got such a ducking for?" - -"Why, truly," said the Friar demurely, "some do call me the Curtal Friar -of Fountain Dale; others again call me in jest the Abbot of Fountain -Abbey; others still again call me simple Friar Tuck." - -"I like the last name best," quoth Robin, "for it doth slip more glibly -off the tongue. But why didst thou not tell me thou wert he I sought, -instead of sending me searching for black moonbeams?" - -"Why, truly, thou didst not ask me, good master," quoth stout Tuck; "but -what didst thou desire of me?" - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "the day groweth late, and we cannot stand longer -talking here. Come back with us to Sherwood, and I will unfold all to -thee as we travel along." - -So, without tarrying longer, they all departed, with the stout dogs at -their heels, and wended their way back to Sherwood again; but it was -long past nightfall ere they reached the greenwood tree. - -Now listen, for next I will tell how Robin Hood compassed the happiness -of two young lovers, aided by the merry Friar Tuck of Fountain Dale. - - - - -Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage - -AND NOW had come the morning when fair Ellen was to be married, and on -which merry Robin had sworn that Allan a Dale should, as it were, eat -out of the platter that had been filled for Sir Stephen of Trent. Up -rose Robin Hood, blithe and gay, up rose his merry men one and all, and -up rose last of all stout Friar Tuck, winking the smart of sleep from -out his eyes. Then, while the air seemed to brim over with the song of -many birds, all blended together and all joying in the misty morn, each -man raved face and hands in the leaping brook, and so the day began. - -"Now," quoth Robin, when they had broken their fast, and each man had -eaten his fill, "it is time for us to set forth upon the undertaking -that we have in hand for today. I will choose me one score of my good -men to go with me, for I may need aid; and thou, Will Scarlet, wilt -abide here and be the chief while I am gone." Then searching through -all the band, each man of whom crowded forward eager to be chosen, Robin -called such as he wished by name, until he had a score of stout fellows, -the very flower of his yeomanrie. Besides Little John and Will Stutely -were nigh all those famous lads of whom I have already told you. Then, -while those so chosen ran leaping, full of joy, to arm themselves with -bow and shaft and broadsword, Robin Hood stepped aside into the covert, -and there donned a gay, beribboned coat such as might have been worn by -some strolling minstrel, and slung a harp across his shoulder, the -better to carry out that part. - -All the band stared and many laughed, for never had they seen their -master in such a fantastic guise before. - -"Truly," quoth Robin, holding up his arms and looking down at himself, -"I do think it be somewhat of a gay, gaudy, grasshopper dress; but it is -a pretty thing for all that, and doth not ill befit the turn of my -looks, albeit I wear it but for the nonce. But stay, Little John, here -are two bags that I would have thee carry in thy pouch for the sake of -safekeeping. I can ill care for them myself beneath this motley." - -"Why, master," quoth Little John, taking the bags and weighing them in -his hand, "here is the chink of gold." - -"Well, what an there be," said Robin, "it is mine own coin and the band -is none the worse for what is there. Come, busk ye, lads," and he -turned quickly away. "Get ye ready straightway." Then gathering the -score together in a close rank, in the midst of which were Allan a Dale -and Friar Tuck, he led them forth upon their way from the forest shades. - -So they walked on for a long time till they had come out of Sherwood and -to the vale of Rotherstream. Here were different sights from what one -saw in the forest; hedgerows, broad fields of barley corn, pasture lands -rolling upward till they met the sky and all dotted over with flocks of -white sheep, hayfields whence came the odor of new-mown hay that lay in -smooth swathes over which skimmed the swifts in rapid flight; such they -saw, and different was it, I wot, from the tangled depths of the sweet -woodlands, but full as fair. Thus Robin led his band, walking blithely -with chest thrown out and head thrown back, snuffing the odors of the -gentle breeze that came drifting from over the hayfields. - -"Truly," quoth he, "the dear world is as fair here as in the woodland -shades. Who calls it a vale of tears? Methinks it is but the darkness -in our minds that bringeth gloom to the world. For what sayeth that -merry song thou singest, Little John? Is it not thus? - -"_For when my love's eyes do thine, do thine, And when her lips smile so -rare, The day it is jocund and fine, so fine, Though let it be wet or be -fair And when the stout ale is all flowing so fast, Our sorrows and -troubles are things of the past_." - -"Nay," said Friar Tuck piously, "ye do think of profane things and of -nought else; yet, truly, there be better safeguards against care and woe -than ale drinking and bright eyes, to wit, fasting and meditation. Look -upon me, have I the likeness of a sorrowful man?" - -At this a great shout of laughter went up from all around, for the night -before the stout Friar had emptied twice as many canakins of ale as any -one of all the merry men. - -"Truly," quoth Robin, when he could speak for laughter, "I should say -that thy sorrows were about equal to thy goodliness." - -So they stepped along, talking, singing, jesting, and laughing, until -they had come to a certain little church that belonged to the great -estates owned by the rich Priory of Emmet. Here it was that fair Ellen -was to be married on that morn, and here was the spot toward which the -yeomen had pointed their toes. On the other side of the road from where -the church stood with waving fields of barley around, ran a stone wall -along the roadside. Over the wall from the highway was a fringe of young -trees and bushes, and here and there the wall itself was covered by a -mass of blossoming woodbine that filled all the warm air far and near -with its sweet summer odor. Then straightway the yeomen leaped over the -wall, alighting on the tall soft grass upon the other side, frightening -a flock of sheep that lay there in the shade so that they scampered away -in all directions. Here was a sweet cool shadow both from the wall and -from the fair young trees and bushes, and here sat the yeomen down, and -glad enough they were to rest after their long tramp of the morning. - -"Now," quoth Robin, "I would have one of you watch and tell me when he -sees anyone coming to the church, and the one I choose shall be young -David of Doncaster. So get thee upon the wall, David, and hide beneath -the woodbine so as to keep watch." - -Accordingly young David did as he was bidden, the others stretching -themselves at length upon the grass, some talking together and others -sleeping. Then all was quiet save only for the low voices of those that -talked together, and for Allan's restless footsteps pacing up and down, -for his soul was so full of disturbance that he could not stand still, -and saving, also, for the mellow snoring of Friar Tuck, who enjoyed his -sleep with a noise as of one sawing soft wood very slowly. Robin lay -upon his back and gazed aloft into the leaves of the trees, his thought -leagues away, and so a long time passed. - -Then up spoke Robin, "Now tell us, young David of Doncaster, what dost -thou see?" - -Then David answered, "I see the white clouds floating and I feel the -wind a-blowing and three black crows are flying over the wold; but -nought else do I see, good master." - -So silence fell again and another time passed, broken only as I have -said, till Robin, growing impatient, spake again. "Now tell me, young -David, what dost thou see by this?" - -And David answered, "I see the windmills swinging and three tall poplar -trees swaying against the sky, and a flock of fieldfares are flying over -the hill; but nought else do I see, good master." - -So another time passed, till at last Robin asked young David once more -what he saw; and David said, "I hear the cuckoo singing, and I see how -the wind makes waves in the barley field; and now over the hill to the -church cometh an old friar, and in his hands he carries a great bunch of -keys; and lo! Now he cometh to the church door." - -Then up rose Robin Hood and shook Friar Tuck by the shoulder. "Come, -rouse thee, holy man!" cried he; whereupon, with much grunting, the -stout Tuck got to his feet. "Marry, bestir thyself," quoth Robin, "for -yonder, in the church door, is one of thy cloth. Go thou and talk to -him, and so get thyself into the church, that thou mayst be there when -thou art wanted; meantime, Little John, Will Stutely, and I will follow -thee anon." - -So Friar Tuck clambered over the wall, crossed the road, and came to the -church, where the old friar was still laboring with the great key, the -lock being somewhat rusty and he somewhat old and feeble. - -"Hilloa, brother," quoth Tuck, "let me aid thee." So saying, he took -the key from the other's hand and quickly opened the door with a turn of -it. - -"Who art thou, good brother?" asked the old friar, in a high, wheezing -voice. "Whence comest thou, and whither art thou going?" And he winked -and blinked at stout Friar Tuck like an owl at the sun. - -"Thus do I answer thy questions, brother," said the other. "My name is -Tuck, and I go no farther than this spot, if thou wilt haply but let me -stay while this same wedding is going forward. I come from Fountain Dale -and, in truth, am a certain poor hermit, as one may say, for I live in a -cell beside the fountain blessed by that holy Saint Ethelrada. But, if -I understand aught, there is to be a gay wedding here today; so, if thou -mindest not, I would fain rest me in the cool shade within, for I would -like to see this fine sight." - -"Truly, thou art welcome, brother," said the old man, leading the way -within. Meantime, Robin Hood, in his guise of harper, together with -Little John and Will Stutely, had come to the church. Robin sat him down -on a bench beside the door, but Little John, carrying the two bags of -gold, went within, as did Will Stutely. - -So Robin sat by the door, looking up the road and down the road to see -who might come, till, after a time, he saw six horsemen come riding -sedately and slowly, as became them, for they were churchmen in high -orders. Then, when they had come nearer, Robin saw who they were, and -knew them. The first was the Bishop of Hereford, and a fine figure he -cut, I wot. His vestments were of the richest silk, and around his neck -was a fair chain of beaten gold. The cap that hid his tonsure was of -black velvet, and around the edges of it were rows of jewels that -flashed in the sunlight, each stone being set in gold. His hose were of -flame-colored silk, and his shoes of black velvet, the long, pointed -toes being turned up and fastened to his knees, and on either instep was -embroidered a cross in gold thread. Beside the Bishop rode the Prior of -Emmet upon a mincing palfrey. Rich were his clothes also, but not so gay -as the stout Bishop's. Behind these were two of the higher brethren of -Emmet, and behind these again two retainers belonging to the Bishop; for -the Lord Bishop of Hereford strove to be as like the great barons as was -in the power of one in holy orders. - -When Robin saw this train drawing near, with flash of jewels and silk -and jingle of silver bells on the trappings of the nags, he looked -sourly upon them. Quoth he to himself, "Yon Bishop is overgaudy for a -holy man. I do wonder whether his patron, who, methinks, was Saint -Thomas, was given to wearing golden chains about his neck, silk clothing -upon his body, and pointed shoes upon his feet; the money for all of -which, God wot, hath been wrung from the sweat of poor tenants. Bishop, -Bishop, thy pride may have a fall ere thou wottest of it." - -So the holy men came to the church; the Bishop and the Prior jesting and -laughing between themselves about certain fair dames, their words more -befitting the lips of laymen, methinks, than holy clerks. Then they -dismounted, and the Bishop, looking around, presently caught sight of -Robin standing in the doorway. "Hilloa, good fellow," quoth he in a -jovial voice, "who art thou that struttest in such gay feathers?" - -"A harper am I from the north country," quoth Robin, "and I can touch -the strings, I wot, as never another man in all merry England can do. -Truly, good Lord Bishop, many a knight and burgher, clerk and layman, -have danced to my music, willy-nilly, and most times greatly against -their will; such is the magic of my harping. Now this day, my Lord -Bishop, if I may play at this wedding, I do promise that I will cause -the fair bride to love the man she marries with a love that shall last -as long as that twain shall live together." - -"Ha! is it so?" cried the Bishop. "Meanest thou this in sooth?" And he -looked keenly at Robin, who gazed boldly back again into his eyes. "Now, -if thou wilt cause this maiden (who hath verily bewitched my poor cousin -Stephen) thus to love the man she is to marry, as thou sayst thou canst, -I will give thee whatsoever thou wilt ask me in due measure. Let me have -a taste of thy skill, fellow." - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "my music cometh not without I choose, even at a -lord bishop's bidding. In sooth, I will not play until the bride and -bridegroom come." - -"Now, thou art a saucy varlet to speak so to my crest," quoth the -Bishop, frowning on Robin. "Yet, I must needs bear with thee. Look, -Prior, hither cometh our cousin Sir Stephen, and his ladylove." - -And now, around the bend of the highroad, came others, riding upon -horses. The first of all was a tall, thin man, of knightly bearing, -dressed all in black silk, with a black velvet cap upon his head, turned -up with scarlet. Robin looked, and had no doubt that this was Sir -Stephen, both because of his knightly carriage and of his gray hairs. -Beside him rode a stout Saxon franklin, Ellen's father, Edward of -Deirwold; behind those two came a litter borne by two horses, and -therein was a maiden whom Robin knew must be Ellen. Behind this litter -rode six men-at-arms, the sunlight flashing on their steel caps as they -came jingling up the dusty road. - -So these also came to the church, and there Sir Stephen leaped from his -horse and, coming to the litter, handed fair Ellen out therefrom. Then -Robin Hood looked at her, and could wonder no longer how it came about -that so proud a knight as Sir Stephen of Trent wished to marry a common -franklin's daughter; nor did he wonder that no ado was made about the -matter, for she was the fairest maiden that ever he had beheld. Now, -however, she was all pale and drooping, like a fair white lily snapped -at the stem; and so, with bent head and sorrowful look, she went within -the church, Sir Stephen leading her by the hand. - -"Why dost thou not play, fellow?" quoth the Bishop, looking sternly at -Robin. - -"Marry," said Robin calmly, "I will play in greater wise than Your -Lordship thinks, but not till the right time hath come." - -Said the Bishop to himself, while he looked grimly at Robin, "When this -wedding is gone by I will have this fellow well whipped for his saucy -tongue and bold speech." - -And now fair Ellen and Sir Stephen stood before the altar, and the -Bishop himself came in his robes and opened his book, whereat fair Ellen -looked up and about her in bitter despair, like the fawn that finds the -hounds on her haunch. Then, in all his fluttering tags and ribbons of -red and yellow, Robin Hood strode forward. Three steps he took from the -pillar whereby he leaned, and stood between the bride and bridegroom. - -"Let me look upon this lass," he said in a loud voice. "Why, how now! -What have we here? Here be lilies in the cheeks, and not roses such as -befit a bonny bride. This is no fit wedding. Thou, Sir Knight, so old, -and she so young, and thou thinkest to make her thy wife? I tell thee it -may not be, for thou art not her own true love." - -At this all stood amazed, and knew not where to look nor what to think -or say, for they were all bewildered with the happening; so, while -everyone looked at Robin as though they had been changed to stone, he -clapped his bugle horn to his lips and blew three blasts so loud and -clear, they echoed from floor to rafter as though they were sounded by -the trump of doom. Then straightway Little John and Will Stutely came -leaping and stood upon either side of Robin Hood, and quickly drew their -broadswords, the while a mighty voice rolled over the heads of all, -"Here be I, good master, when thou wantest me"; for it was Friar Tuck -that so called from the organ loft. - -And now all was hubbub and noise. Stout Edward strode forward raging, -and would have seized his daughter to drag her away, but Little John -stepped between and thrust him back. "Stand back, old man," said he, -"thou art a hobbled horse this day." - -"Down with the villains!" cried Sir Stephen, and felt for his sword, but -it hung not beside him on his wedding day. - -Then the men-at-arms drew their swords, and it seemed like that blood -would wet the stones; but suddenly came a bustle at the door and loud -voices, steel flashed in the light, and the crash of blows sounded. The -men-at-arms fell back, and up the aisle came leaping eighteen stout -yeomen all clad in Lincoln green, with Allan a Dale at their head. In -his hand he bore Robin Hood's good stout trusty bow of yew, and this he -gave to him, kneeling the while upon one knee. - -Then up spake Edward of Deirwold in a deep voice of anger, "Is it thou, -Allan a Dale, that hath bred all this coil in a church?" - -"Nay," quoth merry Robin, "that have I done, and I care not who knoweth -it, for my name is Robin Hood." - -At this name a sudden silence fell. The Prior of Emmet and those that -belonged to him gathered together like a flock of frightened sheep when -the scent of the wolf is nigh, while the Bishop of Hereford, laying -aside his book, crossed himself devoutly. "Now Heaven keep us this day," -said he, "from that evil man!" - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "I mean you no harm; but here is fair Ellen's -betrothed husband, and she shall marry him or pain will be bred to some -of you." - -Then up spake stout Edward in a loud and angry voice, "Now I say nay! I -am her father, and she shall marry Sir Stephen and none other." - -Now all this time, while everything was in turmoil about him, Sir -Stephen had been standing in proud and scornful silence. "Nay, fellow," -said he coldly, "thou mayst take thy daughter back again; I would not -marry her after this day's doings could I gain all merry England -thereby. I tell thee plainly, I loved thy daughter, old as I am, and -would have taken her up like a jewel from the sty, yet, truly, I knew -not that she did love this fellow, and was beloved by him. Maiden, if -thou dost rather choose a beggarly minstrel than a high-born knight, -take thy choice. I do feel it shame that I should thus stand talking -amid this herd, and so I will leave you." Thus saying, he turned and, -gathering his men about him, walked proudly down the aisle. Then all the -yeomen were silenced by the scorn of his words. Only Friar Tuck leaned -over the edge of the choir loft and called out to him ere he had gone, -"Good den, Sir Knight. Thou wottest old bones must alway make room for -young blood." Sir Stephen neither answered nor looked up, but passed -out from the church as though he had heard nought, his men following -him. - -Then the Bishop of Hereford spoke hastily, "I, too, have no business -here, and so will depart." And he made as though he would go. But Robin -Hood laid hold of his clothes and held him. "Stay, my Lord Bishop," said -he, "I have yet somewhat to say to thee." The Bishop's face fell, but he -stayed as Robin bade him, for he saw he could not go. - -Then Robin Hood turned to stout Edward of Deirwold, and said he, "Give -thy blessing on thy daughter's marriage to this yeoman, and all will be -well. Little John, give me the bags of gold. Look, farmer. Here are -two hundred bright golden angels; give thy blessing, as I say, and I -will count them out to thee as thy daughter's dower. Give not thy -blessing, and she shall be married all the same, but not so much as a -cracked farthing shall cross thy palm. Choose." - -Then Edward looked upon the ground with bent brows, turning the matter -over and over in his mind; but he was a shrewd man and one, withal, that -made the best use of a cracked pipkin; so at last he looked up and said, -but in no joyous tone, "If the wench will go her own gait, let her go. I -had thought to make a lady of her; yet if she chooses to be what she is -like to be, I have nought to do with her henceforth. Ne'ertheless I will -give her my blessing when she is duly wedded." - -"It may not be," spake up one of those of Emmet. "The banns have not -been duly published, neither is there any priest here to marry them." - -"How sayst thou?" roared Tuck from the choir loft. "No priest? Marry, -here stands as holy a man as thou art, any day of the week, a clerk in -orders, I would have thee know. As for the question of banns, stumble -not over that straw, brother, for I will publish them." So saying, he -called the banns; and, says the old ballad, lest three times should not -be enough, he published them nine times o'er. Then straightway he came -down from the loft and forthwith performed the marriage service; and so -Allan and Ellen were duly wedded. - -And now Robin counted out two hundred golden angels to Edward of -Deirwold, and he, upon his part, gave his blessing, yet not, I wot, as -though he meant it with overmuch good will. Then the stout yeomen -crowded around and grasped Allan's palm, and he, holding Ellen's hand -within his own, looked about him all dizzy with his happiness. - -Then at last jolly Robin turned to the Bishop of Hereford, who had been -looking on at all that passed with a grim look. "My Lord Bishop," quoth -he, "thou mayst bring to thy mind that thou didst promise me that did I -play in such wise as to cause this fair lass to love her husband, thou -wouldst give me whatsoever I asked in reason. I have played my play, -and she loveth her husband, which she would not have done but for me; so -now fulfill thy promise. Thou hast upon thee that which, methinks, thou -wouldst be the better without; therefore, I prythee, give me that golden -chain that hangeth about thy neck as a wedding present for this fair -bride." - -Then the Bishop's cheeks grew red with rage and his eyes flashed. He -looked at Robin with a fell look, but saw that in the yeoman's face -which bade him pause. Then slowly he took the chain from about his neck -and handed it to Robin, who flung it over Ellen's head so that it hung -glittering about her shoulders. Then said merry Robin, "I thank thee, on -the bride's part, for thy handsome gift, and truly thou thyself art more -seemly without it. Now, shouldst thou ever come nigh to Sherwood I much -hope that I shall give thee there such a feast as thou hast ne'er had in -all thy life before." - -"May Heaven forfend!" cried the Bishop earnestly; for he knew right well -what manner of feast it was that Robin Hood gave his guests in Sherwood -Forest. - -But now Robin Hood gathered his men together, and, with Allan and his -young bride in their midst, they all turned their footsteps toward the -woodlands. On the way thither Friar Tuck came close to Robin and -plucked him by the sleeve. "Thou dost lead a merry life, good master," -quoth he, "but dost thou not think that it would be for the welfare of -all your souls to have a good stout chaplain, such as I, to oversee holy -matters? Truly, I do love this life mightily." At this merry Robin Hood -laughed amain, and bade him stay and become one of their band if he -wished. - -That night there was such a feast held in the greenwood as -Nottinghamshire never saw before. To that feast you and I were not -bidden, and pity it is that we were not; so, lest we should both feel -the matter the more keenly, I will say no more about it. - - - - -Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight - -SO PASSED the gentle springtime away in budding beauty; its silver -showers and sunshine, its green meadows and its flowers. So, likewise, -passed the summer with its yellow sunlight, its quivering heat and deep, -bosky foliage, its long twilights and its mellow nights, through which -the frogs croaked and fairy folk were said to be out on the hillsides. -All this had passed and the time of fall had come, bringing with it its -own pleasures and joyousness; for now, when the harvest was gathered -home, merry bands of gleaners roamed the country about, singing along -the roads in the daytime, and sleeping beneath the hedgerows and the -hay-ricks at night. Now the hips burned red in the tangled thickets and -the hews waxed black in the hedgerows, the stubble lay all crisp and -naked to the sky, and the green leaves were fast turning russet and -brown. Also, at this merry season, good things of the year are gathered -in in great store. Brown ale lies ripening in the cellar, hams and bacon -hang in the smoke-shed, and crabs are stowed away in the straw for -roasting in the wintertime, when the north wind piles the snow in drifts -around the gables and the fire crackles warm upon the hearth. - -So passed the seasons then, so they pass now, and so they will pass in -time to come, while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall and -are soon forgotten. - -Quoth Robin Hood, snuffing the air, "Here is a fair day, Little John, -and one that we can ill waste in idleness. Choose such men as thou dost -need, and go thou east while I will wend to the west, and see that each -of us bringeth back some goodly guest to dine this day beneath the -greenwood tree." - -"Marry," cried Little John, clapping his palms together for joy, "thy -bidding fitteth my liking like heft to blade. I'll bring thee back a -guest this day, or come not back mine own self." - -Then they each chose such of the band as they wished, and so went forth -by different paths from the forest. - -Now, you and I cannot go two ways at the same time while we join in -these merry doings; so we will e'en let Little John follow his own path -while we tuck up our skirts and trudge after Robin Hood. And here is -good company, too; Robin Hood, Will Scarlet, Allan a Dale, Will -Scathelock, Midge, the Miller's son, and others. A score or more of -stout fellows had abided in the forest, with Friar Tuck, to make ready -for the homecoming, but all the rest were gone either with Robin Hood or -Little John. - -They traveled onward, Robin following his fancy and the others following -Robin. Now they wended their way through an open dale with cottage and -farm lying therein, and now again they entered woodlands once more. -Passing by fair Mansfield Town, with its towers and battlements and -spires all smiling in the sun, they came at last out of the forest -lands. Onward they journeyed, through highway and byway, through -villages where goodwives and merry lasses peeped through the casements -at the fine show of young men, until at last they came over beyond -Alverton in Derbyshire. By this time high noontide had come, yet they -had met no guest such as was worth their while to take back to Sherwood; -so, coming at last to a certain spot where a shrine stood at the -crossing of two roads, Robin called upon them to stop, for here on -either side was shelter of high hedgerows, behind which was good hiding, -whence they could watch the roads at their ease, while they ate their -midday meal. Quoth merry Robin, "Here, methinks, is good lodging, where -peaceful folk, such as we be, can eat in quietness; therefore we will -rest here, and see what may, perchance, fall into our luck-pot." So they -crossed a stile and came behind a hedgerow where the mellow sunlight was -bright and warm, and where the grass was soft, and there sat them down. -Then each man drew from the pouch that hung beside him that which he had -brought to eat, for a merry walk such as this had been sharpens the -appetite till it is as keen as a March wind. So no more words were -spoken, but each man saved his teeth for better use--munching at brown -crust and cold meat right lustily. - -In front of them, one of the highroads crawled up the steep hill and -then dipped suddenly over its crest, sharp-cut with hedgerow and shaggy -grass against the sky. Over the top of the windy hill peeped the eaves -of a few houses of the village that fell back into the valley behind; -there, also, showed the top of a windmill, the sails slowly rising and -dipping from behind the hill against the clear blue sky, as the light -wind moved them with creaking and labored swing. - -So the yeomen lay behind the hedge and finished their midday meal; but -still the time slipped along and no one came. At last, a man came -slowly riding over the hill and down the stony road toward the spot -where Robin and his band lay hidden. He was a good stout knight, but -sorrowful of face and downcast of mien. His clothes were plain and -rich, but no chain of gold, such as folk of his stand in life wore at -most times, hung around his neck, and no jewel was about him; yet no one -could mistake him for aught but one of proud and noble blood. His head -was bowed upon his breast and his hands drooped limp on either side; and -so he came slowly riding, as though sunk in sad thoughts, while even his -good horse, the reins loose upon his neck, walked with hanging head, as -though he shared his master's grief. - -Quoth Robin Hood, "Yon is verily a sorry-looking gallant, and doth seem -to have donned ill-content with his jerkin this morning; nevertheless, I -will out and talk with him, for there may be some pickings here for a -hungry daw. Methinks his dress is rich, though he himself is so -downcast. Bide ye here till I look into this matter." So saying, he -arose and left them, crossed the road to the shrine, and there stood, -waiting for the sorrowful knight to come near him. So, presently, when -the knight came riding slowly along, jolly Robin stepped forward and -laid his hand upon the bridle rein. "Hold, Sir Knight," quoth he. "I -prythee tarry for a short time, for I have a few words to say to thee." - -"What art thou, friend, who dost stop a traveler in this manner upon his -most gracious Majesty's highway?" said the Knight. - -"Marry," quoth Robin, "that is a question hard to answer. One man -calleth me kind, another calleth me cruel; this one calleth me good -honest fellow, and that one, vile thief. Truly, the world hath as many -eyes to look upon a man withal as there are spots on a toad; so, with -what pair of eyes thou regardest me lieth entirely with thine own self. -My name is Robin Hood." - -"Truly, good Robin," said the Knight, a smile twitching at the corners -of his mouth, "thou hast a quaint conceit. As for the pair of eyes with -which I regard thee, I would say that they are as favorable as may be, -for I hear much good of thee and little ill. What is thy will of me?" - -"Now, I make my vow, Sir Knight," quoth Robin, "thou hast surely learned -thy wisdom of good Gaffer Swanthold, for he sayeth, 'Fair words are as -easy spoke as foul, and bring good will in the stead of blows.' Now I -will show thee the truth of this saying; for, if thou wilt go with me -this day to Sherwood Forest, I will give thee as merry a feast as ever -thou hadst in all thy life." - -"Thou art indeed kind," said the Knight, "but methinks thou wilt find me -but an ill-seeming and sorrowful guest. Thou hadst best let me pass on -my way in peace." - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "thou mightst go thine own way but for one thing, -and that I will tell thee. We keep an inn, as it were, in the very -depths of Sherwood, but so far from highroads and beaten paths that -guests do not often come nigh us; so I and my friends set off merrily -and seek them when we grow dull of ourselves. Thus the matter stands, -Sir Knight; yet I will furthermore tell thee that we count upon our -guests paying a reckoning." - -"I take thy meaning, friend," said the Knight gravely, "but I am not thy -man, for I have no money by me." - -"Is it sooth?" said Robin, looking at the Knight keenly. "I can scarce -choose but believe thee; yet, Sir Knight, there be those of thy order -whose word is not to be trusted as much as they would have others -believe. Thou wilt think no ill if I look for myself in this matter." -Then, still holding the horse by the bridle rein, he put his fingers to -his lips and blew a shrill whistle, whereupon fourscore yeomen came -leaping over the stile and ran to where the Knight and Robin stood. -"These," said Robin, looking upon them proudly, "are some of my merry -men. They share and share alike with me all joys and troubles, gains and -losses. Sir Knight, I prythee tell me what money thou hast about thee." - -For a time the Knight said not a word, but a slow red arose into his -cheeks; at last he looked Robin in the face and said, "I know not why I -should be ashamed, for it should be no shame to me; but, friend, I tell -thee the truth, when I say that in my purse are ten shillings, and that -that is every groat that Sir Richard of the Lea hath in all the wide -world." - -When Sir Richard ended a silence fell, until at last Robin said, "And -dost thou pledge me thy knightly word that this is all thou hast with -thee?" - -"Yea," answered Sir Richard, "I do pledge thee my most solemn word, as a -true knight, that it is all the money I have in the world. Nay, here is -my purse, ye may find for yourselves the truth of what I say." And he -held his purse out to Robin. - -"Put up thy purse, Sir Richard," quoth Robin. "Far be it from me to -doubt the word of so gentle a knight. The proud I strive to bring low, -but those that walk in sorrow I would aid if I could. Come, Sir Richard, -cheer up thy heart and go with us into the greenwood. Even I may -perchance aid thee, for thou surely knowest how the good Athelstane was -saved by the little blind mole that digged a trench over which he that -sought the king's life stumbled." - -"Truly, friend," said Sir Richard, "methinks thou meanest kindness in -thine own way; nevertheless my troubles are such that it is not likely -that thou canst cure them. But I will go with thee this day into -Sherwood." Hereupon he turned his horse's head, and they all wended -their way to the woodlands, Robin walking on one side of the Knight and -Will Scarlet on the other, while the rest of the band trudged behind. - -After they had traveled thus for a time Robin Hood spake. "Sir Knight," -said he, "I would not trouble thee with idle questions; but dost thou -find it in thy heart to tell me thy sorrows?" - -"Truly, Robin," quoth the Knight, "I see no reason why I should not do -so. Thus it is: My castle and my lands are in pawn for a debt that I -owe. Three days hence the money must be paid or else all mine estate is -lost forever, for then it falls into the hands of the Priory of Emmet, -and what they swallow they never give forth again." - -Quoth Robin, "I understand not why those of thy kind live in such a -manner that all their wealth passeth from them like snow beneath the -springtide sun." - -"Thou wrongest me, Robin," said the Knight, "for listen: I have a son -but twenty winters old, nevertheless he has won his spurs as knight. -Last year, on a certain evil day, the jousts were held at Chester, and -thither my son went, as did I and my lady wife. I wot it was a proud -time for us, for he unhorsed each knight that he tilted against. At last -he ran a course with a certain great knight, Sir Walter of Lancaster, -yet, though my son was so youthful, he kept his seat, albeit both spears -were shivered to the heft; but it happened that a splinter of my boy's -lance ran through the visor of Sir Walter's helmet and pierced through -his eye into his brain, so that he died ere his esquire could unlace his -helm. Now, Robin, Sir Walter had great friends at court, therefore his -kinsmen stirred up things against my son so that, to save him from -prison, I had to pay a ransom of six hundred pounds in gold. All might -have gone well even yet, only that, by ins and outs and crookedness of -laws, I was shorn like a sheep that is clipped to the quick. So it came -that I had to pawn my lands to the Priory of Emmet for more money, and a -hard bargain they drove with me in my hour of need. Yet I would have -thee understand I grieve so for my lands only because of my dear lady -wife." - -"But where is thy son now?" asked Robin, who had listened closely to all -the Knight had said. - -"In Palestine," said Sir Richard, "battling like a brave Christian -soldier for the cross and the holy sepulcher. Truly, England was an ill -place for him because of Sir Walter's death and the hate of the -Lancastrian's kinsmen." - -"Truly," said Robin, much moved, "thine is a hard lot. But tell me, what -is owing to Emmet for thine estates?" - -"Only four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard. - -At this, Robin smote his thigh in anger. "O the bloodsuckers!" cried -he. "A noble estate to be forfeit for four hundred pounds! But what -will befall thee if thou dost lose thy lands, Sir Richard?" - -"It is not mine own lot that doth trouble me in that case," said the -Knight, "but my dear lady's; for should I lose my land she will have to -betake herself to some kinsman and there abide in charity, which, -methinks, would break her proud heart. As for me, I will over the salt -sea, and so to Palestine to join my son in fight for the holy -sepulcher." - -Then up spake Will Scarlet. "But hast thou no friend that will help -thee in thy dire need?" - -"Never a man," said Sir Richard. "While I was rich enow at home, and -had friends, they blew great boasts of how they loved me. But when the -oak falls in the forest the swine run from beneath it lest they should -be smitten down also. So my friends have left me; for not only am I -poor but I have great enemies." - -Then Robin said, "Thou sayst thou hast no friends, Sir Richard. I make -no boast, but many have found Robin Hood a friend in their troubles. -Cheer up, Sir Knight, I may help thee yet." - -The Knight shook his head with a faint smile, but for all that, Robin's -words made him more blithe of heart, for in truth hope, be it never so -faint, bringeth a gleam into darkness, like a little rushlight that -costeth but a groat. - -The day was well-nigh gone when they came near to the greenwood tree. -Even at a distance they saw by the number of men that Little John had -come back with some guest, but when they came near enough, whom should -they find but the Lord Bishop of Hereford! The good Bishop was in a -fine stew, I wot. Up and down he walked beneath the tree like a fox -caught in a hencoop. Behind him were three Black Friars standing close -together in a frightened group, like three black sheep in a tempest. -Hitched to the branches of the trees close at hand were six horses, one -of them a barb with gay trappings upon which the Bishop was wont to -ride, and the others laden with packs of divers shapes and kinds, one of -which made Robin's eyes glisten, for it was a box not overlarge, but -heavily bound with bands and ribs of iron. - -When the Bishop saw Robin and those with him come into the open he made -as though he would have run toward the yeoman, but the fellow that -guarded the Bishop and the three friars thrust his quarterstaff in -front, so that his lordship was fain to stand back, though with frowning -brow and angry speech. - -"Stay, my Lord Bishop," cried jolly Robin in a loud voice, when he saw -what had passed, "I will come to thee with all speed, for I would rather -see thee than any man in merry England." So saying, he quickened his -steps and soon came to where the Bishop stood fuming. - -"How now," quoth the Bishop in a loud and angry voice, when Robin had so -come to him, "is this the way that thou and thy band treat one so high -in the church as I am? I and these brethren were passing peacefully -along the highroad with our pack horses, and a half score of men to -guard them, when up comes a great strapping fellow full seven feet high, -with fourscore or more men back of him, and calls upon me to stop--me, -the Lord Bishop of Hereford, mark thou! Whereupon my armed guards-- -beshrew them for cowards!--straight ran away. But look ye; not only did -this fellow stop me, but he threatened me, saying that Robin Hood would -strip me as bare as a winter hedge. Then, besides all this, he called me -such vile names as 'fat priest,' 'man-eating bishop,' 'money-gorging -usurer,' and what not, as though I were no more than a strolling beggar -or tinker." - -At this, the Bishop glared like an angry cat, while even Sir Richard -laughed; only Robin kept a grave face. "Alas! my lord," said he, "that -thou hast been so ill-treated by my band! I tell thee truly that we -greatly reverence thy cloth. Little John, stand forth straightway." - -At these words Little John came forward, twisting his face into a -whimsical look, as though he would say, "Ha' mercy upon me, good -master." Then Robin turned to the Bishop of Hereford and said, "Was this -the man who spake so boldly to Your Lordship?" - -"Ay, truly it was the same," said the Bishop, "a naughty fellow, I wot. - -"And didst thou, Little John," said Robin in a sad voice, "call his -lordship a fat priest?" - -"Ay," said Little John sorrowfully. - -"And a man-eating bishop?" - -"Ay," said Little John, more sorrowfully than before. - -"And a money-gorging usurer?" - -"Ay," said Little John in so sorrowful a voice that it might have drawn -tears from the Dragon of Wentley. - -"Alas, that these things should be!" said jolly Robin, turning to the -Bishop, "for I have ever found Little John a truthful man." - -At this, a roar of laughter went up, whereat the blood rushed into the -Bishop's face till it was cherry red from crown to chin; but he said -nothing and only swallowed his words, though they well-nigh choked him. - -"Nay, my Lord Bishop," said Robin, "we are rough fellows, but I trust -not such ill men as thou thinkest, after all. There is not a man here -that would harm a hair of thy reverence's head. I know thou art galled -by our jesting, but we are all equal here in the greenwood, for there -are no bishops nor barons nor earls among us, but only men, so thou must -share our life with us while thou dost abide here. Come, busk ye, my -merry men, and get the feast ready. Meantime, we will show our guests -our woodland sports." - -So, while some went to kindle the fires for roasting meats, others ran -leaping to get their cudgels and longbows. Then Robin brought forward -Sir Richard of the Lea. "My Lord Bishop," said he, "here is another -guest that we have with us this day. I wish that thou mightest know him -better, for I and all my men will strive to honor you both at this -merrymaking." - -"Sir Richard," said the Bishop in a reproachful tone, "methinks thou and -I are companions and fellow sufferers in this den of--" He was about to -say "thieves," but he stopped suddenly and looked askance at Robin Hood. - -"Speak out, Bishop," quoth Robin, laughing. "We of Sherwood check not -an easy flow of words. 'Den of thieves' thou west about to say." - -Quoth the Bishop, "Mayhap that was what I meant to say, Sir Richard; but -this I will say, that I saw thee just now laugh at the scurrilous jests -of these fellows. It would have been more becoming of thee, methinks, -to have checked them with frowns instead of spurring them on by -laughter." - -"I meant no harm to thee," said Sir Richard, "but a merry jest is a -merry jest, and I may truly say I would have laughed at it had it been -against mine own self." - -But now Robin Hood called upon certain ones of his band who spread soft -moss upon the ground and laid deerskins thereon. Then Robin bade his -guests be seated, and so they all three sat down, some of the chief men, -such as Little John, Will Scarlet, Allan a Dale, and others, stretching -themselves upon the ground near by. Then a garland was set up at the far -end of the glade, and thereat the bowmen shot, and such shooting was -done that day as it would have made one's heart leap to see. And all the -while Robin talked so quaintly to the Bishop and the Knight that, the -one forgetting his vexation and the other his troubles, they both -laughed aloud again and again. - -Then Allan a Dale came forth and tuned his harp, and all was hushed -around, and he sang in his wondrous voice songs of love, of war, of -glory, and of sadness, and all listened without a movement or a sound. -So Allan sang till the great round silver moon gleamed with its clear -white light amid the upper tangle of the mazy branches of the trees. At -last two fellows came to say that the feast was ready spread, so Robin, -leading his guests with either hand, brought them to where great smoking -dishes that sent savory smells far and near stood along the white linen -cloth spread on the grass. All around was a glare of torches that lit -everything up with a red light. Then, straightway sitting down, all fell -to with noise and hubbub, the rattling of platters blending with the -sound of loud talking and laughter. A long time the feast lasted, but -at last all was over, and the bright wine and humming ale passed -briskly. Then Robin Hood called aloud for silence, and all was hushed -till he spoke. - -"I have a story to tell you all, so listen to what I have to say," quoth -he; whereupon, without more ado, he told them all about Sir Richard, and -how his lands were in pawn. But, as he went on, the Bishop's face, that -had erst been smiling and ruddy with merriment, waxed serious, and he -put aside the horn of wine he held in his hand, for he knew the story of -Sir Richard, and his heart sank within him with grim forebodings. Then, -when Robin Hood had done, he turned to the Bishop of Hereford. "Now, my -Lord Bishop," said he, "dost thou not think this is ill done of anyone, -much more of a churchman, who should live in humbleness and charity?" - -To this the Bishop answered not a word but looked upon the ground with -moody eyes. - -Quoth Robin, "Now, thou art the richest bishop in all England; canst -thou not help this needy brother?" But still the Bishop answered not a -word. - -Then Robin turned to Little John, and quoth he, "Go thou and Will -Stutely and bring forth those five pack horses yonder." Whereupon the -two yeomen did as they were bidden, those about the cloth making room on -the green, where the light was brightest, for the five horses which -Little John and Will Stutely presently led forward. - -"Who hath the score of the goods?" asked Robin Hood, looking at the -Black Friars. - -Then up spake the smallest of all, in a trembling voice--an old man he -was, with a gentle, wrinkled face. "That have I; but, I pray thee, harm -me not." - -"Nay," quoth Robin, "I have never harmed harmless man yet; but give it -to me, good father." So the old man did as he was bidden, and handed -Robin the tablet on which was marked down the account of the various -packages upon the horses. This Robin handed to Will Scarlet, bidding him -to read the same. So Will Scarlet, lifting his voice that all might -hear, began: - -"Three bales of silk to Quentin, the mercer at Ancaster." - -"That we touch not," quoth Robin, "for this Quentin is an honest fellow, -who hath risen by his own thrift." So the bales of silk were laid aside -unopened. - -"One bale of silk velvet for the Abbey of Beaumont." - -"What do these priests want of silk velvet?" quoth Robin. -"Nevertheless, though they need it not, I will not take all from them. -Measure it off into three lots, one to be sold for charity, one for us, -and one for the abbey." So this, too, was done as Robin Hood bade. - -"Twoscore of great wax candles for the Chapel of Saint Thomas." - -"That belongeth fairly to the chapel," quoth Robin, "so lay it to one -side. Far be it from us to take from the blessed Saint Thomas that which -belongeth to him." So this, also, was done according to Robin's -bidding, and the candles were laid to one side, along with honest -Quentin's unopened bales of silk. So the list was gone through with, -and the goods adjudged according to what Robin thought most fit. Some -things were laid aside untouched, and many were opened and divided into -three equal parts, for charity, for themselves, and for the owners. And -now all the ground in the torchlight was covered over with silks and -velvets and cloths of gold and cases of rich wines, and so they came to -the last line upon the tablet--"A box belonging to the Lord Bishop of -Hereford." - -At these words the Bishop shook as with a chill, and the box was set -upon the ground. - -"My Lord Bishop, hast thou the key of this box?" asked Robin. - -The Bishop shook his head. - -"Go, Will Scarlet," said Robin, "thou art the strongest man here--bring -a sword straightway, and cut this box open, if thou canst." Then up rose -Will Scarlet and left them, coming back in a short time, bearing a great -two-handed sword. Thrice he smote that strong, ironbound box, and at -the third blow it burst open and a great heap of gold came rolling -forth, gleaming red in the light of the torches. At this sight a murmur -went all around among the band, like the sound of the wind in distant -trees; but no man came forward nor touched the money. - -Quoth Robin, "Thou, Will Scarlet, thou, Allan a Dale, and thou, Little -John, count it over." - -A long time it took to count all the money, and when it had been duly -scored up, Will Scarlet called out that there were fifteen hundred -golden pounds in all. But in among the gold they found a paper, and -this Will Scarlet read in a loud voice, and all heard that this money -was the rental and fines and forfeits from certain estates belonging to -the Bishopric of Hereford. - -"My Lord Bishop," said Robin Hood, "I will not strip thee, as Little -John said, like a winter hedge, for thou shalt take back one third of -thy money. One third of it thou canst well spare to us for thy -entertainment and that of thy train, for thou art very rich; one third -of it thou canst better spare for charity, for, Bishop, I hear that thou -art a hard master to those beneath thee and a close hoarder of gains -that thou couldst better and with more credit to thyself give to charity -than spend upon thy own likings." - -At this the Bishop looked up, but he could say never a word; yet he was -thankful to keep some of his wealth. - -Then Robin turned to Sir Richard of the Lea, and quoth he, "Now, Sir -Richard, the church seemed like to despoil thee, therefore some of the -overplus of church gains may well be used in aiding thee. Thou shalt -take that five hundred pounds laid aside for people more in need than -the Bishop is, and shalt pay thy debts to Emmet therewith." - -Sir Richard looked at Robin until something arose in his eyes that made -all the lights and the faces blur together. At last he said, "I thank -thee, friend, from my heart, for what thou doest for me; yet, think not -ill if I cannot take thy gift freely. But this I will do: I will take -the money and pay my debts, and in a year and a day hence will return it -safe either to thee or to the Lord Bishop of Hereford. For this I -pledge my most solemn knightly word. I feel free to borrow, for I know -no man that should be more bound to aid me than one so high in that -church that hath driven such a hard bargain." "Truly, Sir Knight," -quoth Robin, "I do not understand those fine scruples that weigh with -those of thy kind; but, nevertheless, it shall all be as thou dost wish. -But thou hadst best bring the money to me at the end of the year, for -mayhap I may make better use of it than the Bishop." Thereupon, turning -to those near him, he gave his orders, and five hundred pounds were -counted out and tied up in a leathern bag for Sir Richard. The rest of -the treasure was divided, and part taken to the treasurehouse of the -band, and part put by with the other things for the Bishop. - -Then Sir Richard arose. "I cannot stay later, good friends," said he, -"for my lady will wax anxious if I come not home; so I crave leave to -depart." - -Then Robin Hood and all his merry men arose, and Robin said, "We cannot -let thee go hence unattended, Sir Richard." - -Then up spake Little John, "Good master, let me choose a score of stout -fellows from the band, and let us arm ourselves in a seemly manner and -so serve as retainers to Sir Richard till he can get others in our -stead." - -"Thou hast spoken well, Little John, and it shall be done," said Robin. - -Then up spake Will Scarlet, "Let us give him a golden chain to hang -about his neck, such as befits one of his blood, and also golden spurs -to wear at his heels." - -Then Robin Hood said, "Thou hast spoken well, Will Scarlet, and it shall -be done." - -Then up spake Will Stutely, "Let us give him yon bale of rich velvet and -yon roll of cloth of gold to take home to his noble lady wife as a -present from Robin Hood and his merry men all." - -At this all clapped their hands for joy, and Robin said: "Thou hast well -spoken, Will Stutely, and it shall be done." - -Then Sir Richard of the Lea looked all around and strove to speak, but -could scarcely do so for the feelings that choked him; at last he said -in a husky, trembling voice, "Ye shall all see, good friends, that Sir -Richard o' the Lea will ever remember your kindness this day. And if ye -be at any time in dire need or trouble, come to me and my lady, and the -walls of Castle Lea shall be battered down ere harm shall befall you. -I--" He could say nothing further, but turned hastily away. - -But now Little John and nineteen stout fellows whom he had chosen for -his band, came forth all ready for the journey. Each man wore upon his -breast a coat of linked mail, and on his head a cap of steel, and at his -side a good stout sword. A gallant show they made as they stood all in a -row. Then Robin came and threw a chain of gold about Sir Richard's neck, -and Will Scarlet knelt and buckled the golden spurs upon his heel; and -now Little John led forward Sir Richard's horse, and the Knight mounted. -He looked down at Robin for a little time, then of a sudden stooped and -kissed his cheek. All the forest glades rang with the shout that went up -as the Knight and the yeomen marched off through the woodland with glare -of torches and gleam of steel, and so were gone. - -Then up spake the Bishop of Hereford in a mournful voice, "I, too, must -be jogging, good fellow, for the night waxes late." - -But Robin laid his hand upon the Bishop's arm and stayed him. "Be not so -hasty, Lord Bishop," said he. "Three days hence Sir Richard must pay -his debts to Emmet; until that time thou must be content to abide with -me lest thou breed trouble for the Knight. I promise thee that thou -shalt have great sport, for I know that thou art fond of hunting the dun -deer. Lay by thy mantle of melancholy, and strive to lead a joyous -yeoman life for three stout days. I promise thee thou shalt be sorry to -go when the time has come." - -So the Bishop and his train abided with Robin for three days, and much -sport his lordship had in that time, so that, as Robin had said, when -the time had come for him to go he was sorry to leave the greenwood. At -the end of three days Robin set him free, and sent him forth from the -forest with a guard of yeomen to keep freebooters from taking what was -left of the packs and bundles. - -But, as the Bishop rode away, he vowed within himself that he would -sometime make Robin rue the day that he stopped him in Sherwood. - -But now we shall follow Sir Richard; so listen, and you shall hear what -befell him, and how he paid his debts at Emmet Priory, and likewise in -due season to Robin Hood. - - - - -How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts - -THE LONG HIGHWAY stretched straight on, gray and dusty in the sun. On -either side were dikes full of water bordered by osiers, and far away in -the distance stood the towers of Emmet Priory with tall poplar trees -around. - -Along the causeway rode a knight with a score of stout men-at-arms -behind him. The Knight was clad in a plain, long robe of gray serge, -gathered in at the waist with a broad leathern belt, from which hung a -long dagger and a stout sword. But though he was so plainly dressed -himself, the horse he rode was a noble barb, and its trappings were rich -with silk and silver bells. - -So thus the band journeyed along the causeway between the dikes, till at -last they reached the great gate of Emmet Priory. There the Knight -called to one of his men and bade him knock at the porter's lodge with -the heft of his sword. - -The porter was drowsing on his bench within the lodge, but at the knock -he roused himself and, opening the wicket, came hobbling forth and -greeted the Knight, while a tame starling that hung in a wicker cage -within piped out, "_In coelo quies! In coelo quies!_" such being the -words that the poor old lame porter had taught him to speak. - -"Where is thy prior?" asked the Knight of the old porter. - -"He is at meat, good knight, and he looketh for thy coming," quoth the -porter, "for, if I mistake not, thou art Sir Richard of the Lea." - -"I am Sir Richard of the Lea; then I will go seek him forthwith," said -the Knight. - -"But shall I not send thy horse to stable?" said the porter. "By Our -Lady, it is the noblest nag, and the best harnessed, that e'er I saw in -all my life before." And he stroked the horse's flank with his palm. - -"Nay," quoth Sir Richard, "the stables of this place are not for me, so -make way, I prythee." So saying, he pushed forward, and, the gates -being opened, he entered the stony courtyard of the Priory, his men -behind him. In they came with rattle of steel and clashing of swords, -and ring of horses' feet on cobblestones, whereat a flock of pigeons -that strutted in the sun flew with flapping wings to the high eaves of -the round towers. - -While the Knight was riding along the causeway to Emmet, a merry feast -was toward in the refectory there. The afternoon sun streamed in -through the great arched windows and lay in broad squares of light upon -the stone floor and across the board covered with a snowy linen cloth, -whereon was spread a princely feast. At the head of the table sat Prior -Vincent of Emmet all clad in soft robes of fine cloth and silk; on his -head was a black velvet cap picked out with gold, and around his neck -hung a heavy chain of gold, with a great locket pendant therefrom. -Beside him, on the arm of his great chair, roosted his favorite falcon, -for the Prior was fond of the gentle craft of hawking. On his right hand -sat the Sheriff of Nottingham in rich robes of purple all trimmed about -with fur, and on his left a famous doctor of law in dark and sober garb. -Below these sat the high cellarer of Emmet, and others chief among the -brethren. - -Jest and laughter passed around, and all was as merry as merry could be. -The wizened face of the man of law was twisted into a wrinkled smile, -for in his pouch were fourscore golden angels that the Prior had paid -him in fee for the case betwixt him and Sir Richard of the Lea. The -learned doctor had been paid beforehand, for he had not overmuch trust -in the holy Vincent of Emmet. - -Quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham, "But art thou sure, Sir Prior, that -thou hast the lands so safe?" - -"Ay, marry," said Prior Vincent, smacking his lips after a deep draught -of wine, "I have kept a close watch upon him, albeit he was unawares of -the same, and I know right well that he hath no money to pay me withal." - -"Ay, true," said the man of law in a dry, husky voice, "his land is -surely forfeit if he cometh not to pay; but, Sir Prior, thou must get a -release beneath his sign manual, or else thou canst not hope to hold the -land without trouble from him." - -"Yea," said the Prior, "so thou hast told me ere now, but I know that -this knight is so poor that he will gladly sign away his lands for two -hundred pounds of hard money." - -Then up spake the high cellarer, "Methinks it is a shame to so drive a -misfortunate knight to the ditch. I think it sorrow that the noblest -estate in Derbyshire should so pass away from him for a paltry five -hundred pounds. Truly, I--" - -"How now," broke in the Prior in a quivering voice, his eyes glistening -and his cheeks red with anger, "dost thou prate to my very beard, -sirrah? By Saint Hubert, thou hadst best save thy breath to cool thy -pottage, else it may scald thy mouth." - -"Nay," said the man of law smoothly, "I dare swear this same knight -will never come to settlement this day, but will prove recreant. -Nevertheless, we will seek some means to gain his lands from him, -so never fear." - -But even as the doctor spoke, there came a sudden clatter of horses' -hoofs and a jingle of iron mail in the courtyard below. Then up spake -the Prior and called upon one of the brethren that sat below the salt, -and bade him look out of the window and see who was below, albeit he -knew right well it could be none but Sir Richard. - -So the brother arose and went and looked, and he said, "I see below a -score of stout men-at-arms and a knight just dismounting from his horse. -He is dressed in long robes of gray which, methinks, are of poor -seeming; but the horse he rideth upon hath the richest coursing that -ever I saw. The Knight dismounts and they come this way, and are even -now below in the great hall." - -"Lo, see ye there now," quoth Prior Vincent. "Here ye have a knight -with so lean a purse as scarce to buy him a crust of bread to munch, yet -he keeps a band of retainers and puts rich trappings upon his horse's -hide, while his own back goeth bare. Is it not well that such men should -be brought low?" - -"But art thou sure," said the little doctor tremulously, "that this -knight will do us no harm? Such as he are fierce when crossed, and he -hath a band of naughty men at his heels. Mayhap thou hadst better give -an extension of his debt." Thus he spake, for he was afraid Sir Richard -might do him a harm. - -"Thou needst not fear," said the Prior, looking down at the little man -beside him. "This knight is gentle and would as soon think of harming -an old woman as thee." - -As the Prior finished, a door at the lower end of the refectory swung -open, and in came Sir Richard, with folded hands and head bowed upon his -breast. Thus humbly he walked slowly up the hall, while his men-at-arms -stood about the door. When he had come to where the Prior sat, he knelt -upon one knee. "Save and keep thee, Sir Prior," said he, "I am come to -keep my day." - -Then the first word that the Prior said to him was "Hast thou brought my -money?" - -"Alas! I have not so much as one penny upon my body," said the Knight; -whereat the Prior's eyes sparkled. - -"Now, thou art a shrewd debtor, I wot," said he. Then, "Sir Sheriff, I -drink to thee." - -But still the Knight kneeled upon the hard stones, so the Prior turned -to him again. "What wouldst thou have?" quoth he sharply. - -At these words, a slow red mounted into the Knight's cheeks; but still -he knelt. "I would crave thy mercy," said he. "As thou hopest for -Heaven's mercy, show mercy to me. Strip me not of my lands and so reduce -a true knight to poverty." - -"Thy day is broken and thy lands forfeit," said the man of law, plucking -up his spirits at the Knight's humble speech. - -Quoth Sir Richard, "Thou man of law, wilt thou not befriend me in mine -hour of need?" - -"Nay," said the other, "I hold with this holy Prior, who hath paid me my -fees in hard gold, so that I am bounder to him." - -"Wilt thou not be my friend, Sir Sheriff?" said Sir Richard. - -"Nay, 'fore Heaven," quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham, "this is no -business of mine, yet I will do what I may," and he nudged the Prior -beneath the cloth with his knee. "Wilt thou not ease him of some of his -debts, Sir Prior?" - -At this the Prior smiled grimly. "Pay me three hundred pounds, Sir -Richard," said he, "and I will give thee quittance of thy debt." - -"Thou knowest, Sir Prior, that it is as easy for me to pay four hundred -pounds as three hundred," said Sir Richard. "But wilt thou not give me -another twelvemonth to pay my debt?" - -"Not another day," said the Prior sternly. - -"And is this all thou wilt do for me?" asked the Knight. - -"Now, out upon thee, false knight!" cried the Prior, bursting forth in -anger. "Either pay thy debt as I have said, or release thy land and get -thee gone from out my hall." - -Then Sir Richard arose to his feet. "Thou false, lying priest!" said he -in so stern a voice that the man of law shrunk affrighted, "I am no -false knight, as thou knowest full well, but have even held my place in -the press and the tourney. Hast thou so little courtesy that thou -wouldst see a true knight kneel for all this time, or see him come into -thy hall and never offer him meat or drink?" - -Then quoth the man of law in a trembling voice, "This is surely an ill -way to talk of matters appertaining to business; let us be mild in -speech. What wilt thou pay this knight, Sir Prior, to give thee release -of his land?" - -"I would have given him two hundred pounds," quoth the Prior, "but since -he hath spoken so vilely to my teeth, not one groat over one hundred -pounds will he get." - -"Hadst thou offered me a thousand pounds, false prior," said the Knight, -"thou wouldst not have got an inch of my land." Then turning to where -his men-at-arms stood near the door, he called, "Come hither," and -beckoned with his finger; whereupon the tallest of them all came forward -and handed him a long leathern bag. Sir Richard took the bag and shot -from it upon the table a glittering stream of golden money. "Bear in -mind, Sir Prior," said he, "that thou hast promised me quittance for -three hundred pounds. Not one farthing above that shalt thou get." So -saying, he counted out three hundred pounds and pushed it toward the -Prior. - -But now the Prior's hands dropped at his sides and the Prior's head hung -upon his shoulder, for not only had he lost all hopes of the land, but -he had forgiven the Knight one hundred pounds of his debt and had -needlessly paid the man of law fourscore angels. To him he turned, and -quoth he, "Give me back my money that thou hast." - -"Nay," cried the other shrilly, "it is but my fee that thou didst pay -me, and thou gettest it not back again." And he hugged his gown about -him. - -"Now, Sir Prior," quoth Sir Richard, "I have held my day and paid all -the dues demanded of me; so, as there is no more betwixt us, I leave -this vile place straightway." So saying, he turned upon his heel and -strode away. - -All this time the Sheriff had been staring with wide-open eyes and mouth -agape at the tall man-at-arms, who stood as though carved out of stone. -At last he gasped out, "Reynold Greenleaf!" - -At this, the tall man-at-arms, who was no other than Little John, -turned, grinning, to the Sheriff. "I give thee good den, fair gossip," -quoth he. "I would say, sweet Sheriff, that I have heard all thy pretty -talk this day, and it shall be duly told unto Robin Hood. So, farewell -for the nonce, till we meet again in Sherwood Forest." Then he, also, -turned and followed Sir Richard down the hall, leaving the Sheriff, all -pale and amazed, shrunk together upon his chair. - -A merry feast it was to which Sir Richard came, but a sorry lot he left -behind him, and little hunger had they for the princely food spread -before them. Only the learned doctor was happy, for he had his fee. - -Now a twelvemonth and a day passed since Prior Vincent of Emmet sat at -feast, and once more the mellow fall of another year had come. But the -year had brought great change, I wot, to the lands of Sir Richard of the -Lea; for, where before shaggy wild grasses grew upon the meadow lands, -now all stretch away in golden stubble, betokening that a rich and -plentiful crop had been gathered therefrom. A year had made a great -change in the castle, also, for, where were empty moats and the -crumbling of neglect, all was now orderly and well kept. - -Bright shone the sun on battlement and tower, and in the blue air -overhead a Hock of clattering jackdaws flew around the gilded weather -vane and spire. Then, in the brightness of the morning, the drawbridge -fell across the moat with a rattle and clank of chains, the gate of the -castle swung slowly open, and a goodly array of steel-clad men-at-arms, -with a knight all clothed in chain mail, as white as frost on brier and -thorn of a winter morning, came flashing out from the castle courtyard. -In his hand the Knight held a great spear, from the point of which -fluttered a blood-red pennant as broad as the palm of one's hand. So -this troop came forth from the castle, and in the midst of them walked -three pack horses laden with parcels of divers shapes and kinds. - -Thus rode forth good Sir Richard of the Lea to pay his debt to Robin -Hood this bright and merry morn. Along the highway they wended their -way, with measured tramp of feet and rattle and jingle of sword and -harness. Onward they marched till they came nigh to Denby, where, from -the top of a hill, they saw, over beyond the town, many gay flags and -streamers floating in the bright air. Then Sir Richard turned to the -man-at-arms nearest to him. "What is toward yonder at Denby today?" -quoth he. - -"Please Your Worship," answered the man-at-arms, "a merry fair is held -there today, and a great wrestling match, to which many folk have come, -for a prize hath been offered of a pipe of red wine, a fair golden ring, -and a pair of gloves, all of which go to the best wrestler." - -"Now, by my faith," quoth Sir Richard, who loved good manly sports right -well, "this will be a goodly thing to see. Methinks we have to stay a -little while on our journey, and see this merry sport." So he turned his -horse's head aside toward Denby and the fair, and thither he and his men -made their way. - -There they found a great hubbub of merriment. Flags and streamers were -floating, tumblers were tumbling on the green, bagpipes were playing, -and lads and lasses were dancing to the music. But the crowd were -gathered most of all around a ring where the wrestling was going -forward, and thither Sir Richard and his men turned their steps. - -Now when the judges of the wrestling saw Sir Richard coming and knew who -he was, the chief of them came down from the bench where he and the -others sat, and went to the Knight and took him by the hand, beseeching -him to come and sit with them and judge the sport. So Sir Richard got -down from his horse and went with the others to the bench raised beside -the ring. - -Now there had been great doings that morning, for a certain yeoman named -Egbert, who came from Stoke over in Staffordshire, had thrown with ease -all those that came against him; but a man of Denby, well known through -all the countryside as William of the Scar, had been biding his time -with the Stoke man; so, when Egbert had thrown everyone else, stout -William leaped into the ring. Then a tough bout followed, and at last he -threw Egbert heavily, whereat there was a great shouting and shaking of -hands, for all the Denby men were proud of their wrestler. - -When Sir Richard came, he found stout William, puffed up by the shouts -of his friends, walking up and down the ring, daring anyone to come and -try a throw with him. "Come one, come all!" quoth he. "Here stand I, -William of the Scar, against any man. If there is none in Derbyshire to -come against me, come all who will, from Nottingham, Stafford, or York, -and if I do not make them one and all root the ground with their noses -like swine in the forests, call me no more brave William the wrestler." - -At this all laughed; but above all the laughter a loud voice was heard -to cry out, "Sin' thou talkest so big, here cometh one from -Nottinghamshire to try a fall with thee, fellow"; and straightway a tall -youth with a tough quarterstaff in his hand came pushing his way through -the crowd and at last leaped lightly over the rope into the ring. He was -not as heavy as stout William, but he was taller and broader in the -shoulders, and all his joints were well knit. Sir Richard looked upon -him keenly, then, turning to one of the judges, he said, "Knowest thou -who this youth is? Methinks I have seen him before." - -"Nay," said the judge, "he is a stranger to me." - -Meantime, without a word, the young man, laying aside his quarterstaff, -began to take off his jerkin and body clothing until he presently stood -with naked arms and body; and a comely sight he was when so bared to the -view, for his muscles were cut round and smooth and sharp like swift- -running water. - -And now each man spat upon his hands and, clapping them upon his knees, -squatted down, watching the other keenly, so as to take the vantage of -him in the grip. Then like a flash they leaped together, and a great -shout went up, for William had gotten the better hold of the two. For a -short time they strained and struggled and writhed, and then stout -William gave his most cunning trip and throw, but the stranger met it -with greater skill than his, and so the trip came to nought. Then, of a -sudden, with a twist and a wrench, the stranger loosed himself, and he -of the scar found himself locked in a pair of arms that fairly made his -ribs crack. So, with heavy, hot breathing, they stood for a while -straining, their bodies all glistening with sweat, and great drops of -sweat trickling down their faces. But the stranger's hug was so close -that at last stout William's muscles softened under his grip, and he -gave a sob. Then the youth put forth all his strength and gave a sudden -trip with his heel and a cast over his right hip, and down stout William -went, with a sickening thud, and lay as though he would never move hand -nor foot again. - -But now no shout went up for the stranger, but an angry murmur was heard -among the crowd, so easily had he won the match. Then one of the judges, -a kinsman to William of the Scar, rose with trembling lip and baleful -look. Quoth he, "If thou hath slain that man it will go ill with thee, -let me tell thee, fellow." But the stranger answered boldly, "He took -his chance with me as I took mine with him. No law can touch me to harm -me, even if I slew him, so that it was fairly done in the wrestling -ring." - -"That we shall see," said the judge, scowling upon the youth, while once -more an angry murmur ran around the crowd; for, as I have said, the men -of Denby were proud of stout William of the Scar. - -Then up spoke Sir Richard gently. "Nay," said he, "the youth is right; -if the other dieth, he dieth in the wrestling ring, where he took his -chance, and was cast fairly enow." - -But in the meantime three men had come forward and lifted stout William -from the ground and found that he was not dead, though badly shaken by -his heavy fall. Then the chief judge rose and said, "Young man, the -prize is duly thine. Here is the red-gold ring, and here the gloves, and -yonder stands the pipe of wine to do with whatsoever thou dost list." - -At this, the youth, who had donned his clothes and taken up his staff -again, bowed without a word, then, taking the gloves and the ring, and -thrusting the one into his girdle and slipping the other upon his thumb, -he turned and, leaping lightly over the ropes again, made his way -through the crowd, and was gone. - -"Now, I wonder who yon youth may be," said the judge, turning to Sir -Richard, "he seemeth like a stout Saxon from his red cheeks and fair -hair. This William of ours is a stout man, too, and never have I seen -him cast in the ring before, albeit he hath not yet striven with such -great wrestlers as Thomas of Cornwall, Diccon of York, and young David -of Doncaster. Hath he not a firm foot in the ring, thinkest thou, Sir -Richard?" - -"Ay, truly, and yet this youth threw him fairly, and with wondrous ease. -I much wonder who he can be." Thus said Sir Richard in a thoughtful -voice. - -For a time the Knight stood talking to those about him, but at last he -arose and made ready to depart, so he called his men about him and, -tightening the girths of his saddle, he mounted his horse once more. - -Meanwhile the young stranger had made his way through the crowd, but, as -he passed, he heard all around him such words muttered as "Look at the -cockerel!" "Behold how he plumeth himself!" "I dare swear he cast good -William unfairly!" "Yea, truly, saw ye not birdlime upon his hands?" -"It would be well to cut his cock's comb!" To all this the stranger -paid no heed, but strode proudly about as though he heard it not. So he -walked slowly across the green to where the booth stood wherein was -dancing, and standing at the door he looked in on the sport. As he stood -thus, a stone struck his arm of a sudden with a sharp jar, and, turning, -he saw that an angry crowd of men had followed him from the wrestling -ring. Then, when they saw him turn so, a great hooting and yelling -arose from all, so that the folk came running out from the dancing booth -to see what was to do. At last a tall, broad-shouldered, burly -blacksmith strode forward from the crowd swinging a mighty blackthorn -club in his hand. - -"Wouldst thou come here to our fair town of Denby, thou Jack in the Box, -to overcome a good honest lad with vile, juggling tricks?" growled he in -a deep voice like the bellow of an angry bull. "Take that, then!" And -of a sudden he struck a blow at the youth that might have felled an ox. -But the other turned the blow deftly aside, and gave back another so -terrible that the Denby man went down with a groan, as though he had -been smitten by lightning. When they saw their leader fall, the crowd -gave another angry shout; but the stranger placed his back against the -tent near which he stood, swinging his terrible staff, and so fell had -been the blow that he struck the stout smith that none dared to come -within the measure of his cudgel, so the press crowded back, like a pack -of dogs from a bear at bay. But now some coward hand from behind threw a -sharp jagged stone that smote the stranger on the crown, so that he -staggered back, and the red blood gushed from the cut and ran down his -face and over his jerkin. Then, seeing him dazed with this vile blow, -the crowd rushed upon him, so that they overbore him and he fell beneath -their feet. - -Now it might have gone ill with the youth, even to the losing of his -young life, had not Sir Richard come to this fair; for of a sudden, -shouts were heard, and steel flashed in the air, and blows were given -with the flat of swords, while through the midst of the crowd Sir -Richard of the Lea came spurring on his white horse. Then the crowd, -seeing the steel-clad knight and the armed men, melted away like snow on -the warm hearth, leaving the young man all bloody and dusty upon the -ground. - -Finding himself free, the youth arose and, wiping the blood from his -face, looked up. Quoth he, "Sir Richard of the Lea, mayhap thou hast -saved my life this day." - -"Who art thou that knowest Sir Richard of the Lea so well?" quoth the -Knight. "Methinks I have seen thy face before, young man." - -"Yea, thou hast," said the youth, "for men call me David of Doncaster." - -"Ha!" said Sir Richard, "I wonder that I knew thee not, David; but thy -beard hath grown longer, and thou thyself art more set in manhood since -this day twelvemonth. Come hither into the tent, David, and wash the -blood from thy face. And thou, Ralph, bring him straightway a clean -jerkin. Now I am sorry for thee, yet I am right glad that I have had a -chance to pay a part of my debt of kindness to thy good master Robin -Hood, for it might have gone ill with thee had I not come, young man." - -So saying, the Knight led David into the tent, and there the youth -washed the blood from his face and put on the clean jerkin. - -In the meantime a whisper had gone around from those that stood nearest -that this was none other than the great David of Doncaster, the best -wrestler in all the mid-country, who only last spring had cast stout -Adam o' Lincoln in the ring at Selby, in Yorkshire, and now held the -mid-country champion belt, Thus it happened that when young David came -forth from the tent along with Sir Richard, the blood all washed from -his face, and his soiled jerkin changed for a clean one, no sounds of -anger were heard, but all pressed forward to see the young man, feeling -proud that one of the great wrestlers of England should have entered the -ring at Denby fair. For thus fickle is a mass of men. - -Then Sir Richard called aloud, "Friends, this is David of Doncaster; so -think it no shame that your Denby man was cast by such a wrestler. He -beareth you no ill will for what hath passed, but let it be a warning to -you how ye treat strangers henceforth. Had ye slain him it would have -been an ill day for you, for Robin Hood would have harried your town as -the kestrel harries the dovecote. I have bought the pipe of wine from -him, and now I give it freely to you to drink as ye list. But never -hereafterward fall upon a man for being a stout yeoman." - -At this all shouted amain; but in truth they thought more of the wine -than of the Knight's words. Then Sir Richard, with David beside him and -his men-at-arms around, turned about and left the fair. - -But in after days, when the men that saw that wrestling bout were bent -with age, they would shake their heads when they heard of any stalwart -game, and say, "Ay, ay; but thou shouldst have seen the great David of -Doncaster cast stout William of the Scar at Denby fair." - -Robin Hood stood in the merry greenwood with Little John and most of his -stout yeomen around him, awaiting Sir Richard's coming. At last a glint -of steel was seen through the brown forest leaves, and forth from the -covert into the open rode Sir Richard at the head of his men. He came -straight forward to Robin Hood and leaping from off his horse, clasped -the yeoman in his arms. - -"Why, how now," said Robin, after a time, holding Sir Richard off and -looking at him from top to toe, "methinks thou art a gayer bird than -when I saw thee last." - -"Yes, thanks to thee, Robin," said the Knight, laying his hand upon the -yeoman's shoulder. "But for thee I would have been wandering in misery -in a far country by this time. But I have kept my word, Robin, and have -brought back the money that thou didst lend me, and which I have doubled -four times over again, and so become rich once more. Along with this -money I have brought a little gift to thee and thy brave men from my -dear lady and myself." Then, turning to his men, he called aloud, -"Bring forth the pack horses." - -But Robin stopped him. "Nay, Sir Richard," said he, "think it not bold -of me to cross thy bidding, but we of Sherwood do no business till after -we have eaten and drunk." Whereupon, taking Sir Richard by the hand, he -led him to the seat beneath the greenwood tree, while others of the -chief men of the band came and seated themselves around. Then quoth -Robin, "How cometh it that I saw young David of Doncaster with thee and -thy men, Sir Knight?" - -Then straightway the Knight told all about his stay at Denby and of the -happening at the fair, and how it was like to go hard with young David; -so he told his tale, and quoth he, "It was this, good Robin, that kept -me so late on the way, otherwise I would have been here an hour agone." - -Then, when he had done speaking, Robin stretched out his hand and -grasped the Knight's palm. Quoth he in a trembling voice, "I owe thee a -debt I can never hope to repay, Sir Richard, for let me tell thee, I -would rather lose my right hand than have such ill befall young David of -Doncaster as seemed like to come upon him at Denby." - -So they talked until after a while one came forward to say that the -feast was spread; whereupon all arose and went thereto. When at last it -was done, the Knight called upon his men to bring the pack horses -forward, which they did according to his bidding. Then one of the men -brought the Knight a strongbox, which he opened and took from it a bag -and counted out five hundred pounds, the sum he had gotten from Robin. - -"Sir Richard," quoth Robin, "thou wilt pleasure us all if thou wilt keep -that money as a gift from us of Sherwood. Is it not so, my lads?" - -Then all shouted "Ay" with a mighty voice. - -"I thank you all deeply," said the Knight earnestly, "but think it not -ill of me if I cannot take it. Gladly have I borrowed it from you, but -it may not be that I can take it as a gift." - -Then Robin Hood said no more but gave the money to Little John to put -away in the treasury, for he had shrewdness enough to know that nought -breeds ill will and heart bitterness like gifts forced upon one that -cannot choose but take them. - -Then Sir Richard had the packs laid upon the ground and opened, -whereupon a great shout went up that made the forest ring again, for lo, -there were tenscore bows of finest Spanish yew, all burnished till they -shone again, and each bow inlaid with fanciful figures in silver, yet -not inlaid so as to mar their strength. Beside these were tenscore -quivers of leather embroidered with golden thread, and in each quiver -were a score of shafts with burnished heads that shone like silver; each -shaft was feathered with peacock's plumes, innocked with silver. - -Sir Richard gave to each yeoman a bow and a quiver of arrows, but to -Robin he gave a stout bow inlaid with the cunningest workmanship in -gold, while each arrow in his quiver was innocked with gold. - -Then all shouted again for joy of the fair gift, and all swore among -themselves that they would die if need be for Sir Richard and his lady. - -At last the time came when Sir Richard must go, whereupon Robin Hood -called his band around him, and each man of the yeomen took a torch in -his hand to light the way through the woodlands. So they came to the -edge of Sherwood, and there the Knight kissed Robin upon the cheeks and -left him and was gone. - -Thus Robin Hood helped a noble knight out of his dire misfortunes, that -else would have smothered the happiness from his life. - - - - -Little John Turns Barefoot Friar - -COLD WINTER had passed and spring had come. No leafy thickness had yet -clad the woodlands, but the budding leaves hung like a tender mist about -the trees. In the open country the meadow lands lay a sheeny green, the -cornfields a dark velvety color, for they were thick and soft with the -growing blades. The plowboy shouted in the sun, and in the purple new- -turned furrows flocks of birds hunted for fat worms. All the broad -moist earth smiled in the warm light, and each little green hill clapped -its hand for joy. - -On a deer's hide, stretched on the ground in the open in front of the -greenwood tree, sat Robin Hood basking in the sun like an old dog fox. -Leaning back with his hands clasped about his knees, he lazily watched -Little John rolling a stout bowstring from long strands of hempen -thread, wetting the palms of his hands ever and anon, and rolling the -cord upon his thigh. Near by sat Allan a Dale fitting a new string to -his harp. - -Quoth Robin at last, "Methinks I would rather roam this forest in the -gentle springtime than be King of all merry England. What palace in the -broad world is as fair as this sweet woodland just now, and what king in -all the world hath such appetite for plover's eggs and lampreys as I for -juicy venison and sparkling ale? Gaffer Swanthold speaks truly when he -saith, 'Better a crust with content than honey with a sour heart.'" - -"Yea," quoth Little John, as he rubbed his new-made bowstring with -yellow beeswax, "the life we lead is the life for me. Thou speakest of -the springtime, but methinks even the winter hath its own joys. Thou -and I, good master, have had more than one merry day, this winter past, -at the Blue Boar. Dost thou not remember that night thou and Will -Stutely and Friar Tuck and I passed at that same hostelry with the two -beggars and the strolling friar?" - -"Yea," quoth merry Robin, laughing, "that was the night that Will -Stutely must needs snatch a kiss from the stout hostess, and got a -canakin of ale emptied over his head for his pains." - -"Truly, it was the same," said Little John, laughing also. "Methinks -that was a goodly song that the strolling friar sang. Friar Tuck, thou -hast a quick ear for a tune, dost thou not remember it?" - -"I did have the catch of it one time," said Tuck. "Let me see," and he -touched his forefinger to his forehead in thought, humming to himself, -and stopping ever and anon to fit what he had got to what he searched -for in his mind. At last he found it all and clearing his throat, sang -merrily: - - "_In the blossoming hedge the robin cock sings, - For the sun it is merry and bright, - And he joyfully hops and he flutters his wings, - For his heart is all full of delight. - For the May bloometh fair, - And there's little of care, - And plenty to eat in the Maytime rare. - When the flowers all die, - Then off he will fly, - To keep himself warm - In some jolly old barn - Where the snow and the wind neither chill him nor harm. - - "And such is the life of the strolling friar, - With aplenty to eat and to drink; - For the goodwife will keep him a seat by the fire, - And the pretty girls smile at his wink. - Then he lustily trolls - As he onward strolls, - A rollicking song for the saving of souls. - When the wind doth blow, - With the coming of snow, - There's a place by the fire - For the fatherly friar, - And a crab in the bowl for his heart's desire_." - -Thus Friar Tuck sang in a rich and mellow voice, rolling his head from -side to side in time with the music, and when he had done, all clapped -their hands and shouted with laughter, for the song fitted him well. - -"In very sooth," quoth Little John, "it is a goodly song, and, were I -not a yeoman of Sherwood Forest, I had rather be a strolling friar than -aught else in the world." - -"Yea, it is a goodly song," said Robin Hood, "but methought those two -burly beggars told the merrier tales and led the merrier life. Dost thou -not remember what that great black-bearded fellow told of his begging at -the fair in York?" - -"Yea," said Little John, "but what told the friar of the harvest home in -Kentshire? I hold that he led a merrier life than the other two." - -"Truly, for the honor of the cloth," quoth Friar Tuck, "I hold with my -good gossip, Little John." - -"Now," quoth Robin, "I hold to mine own mind. But what sayst thou, -Little John, to a merry adventure this fair day? Take thou a friar's -gown from our chest of strange garments, and don the same, and I will -stop the first beggar I meet and change clothes with him. Then let us -wander the country about, this sweet day, and see what befalls each of -us." - -"That fitteth my mind," quoth Little John, "so let us forth, say I." - -Thereupon Little John and Friar Tuck went to the storehouse of the band, -and there chose for the yeoman the robe of a Gray Friar. Then they came -forth again, and a mighty roar of laughter went up, for not only had the -band never seen Little John in such guise before, but the robe was too -short for him by a good palm's-breadth. But Little John's hands were -folded in his loose sleeves, and Little John's eyes were cast upon the -ground, and at his girdle hung a great, long string of beads. - -And now Little John took up his stout staff, at the end of which hung a -chubby little leathern pottle, such as palmers carry at the tips of -their staves; but in it was something, I wot, more like good Malmsey -than cold spring water, such as godly pilgrims carry. Then up rose -Robin and took his stout staff in his hand, likewise, and slipped ten -golden angels into his pouch; for no beggar's garb was among the stores -of the band, so he was fain to run his chance of meeting a beggar and -buying his clothes of him. - -So, all being made ready, the two yeomen set forth on their way, -striding lustily along all in the misty morning. Thus they walked down -the forest path until they came to the highway, and then along the -highway till it split in twain, leading on one hand to Blyth and on the -other to Gainsborough. Here the yeomen stopped. - -Quoth jolly Robin, "Take thou the road to Gainsborough, and I will take -that to Blyth. So, fare thee well, holy father, and mayst thou not ha' -cause to count thy beads in earnest ere we meet again." - -"Good den, good beggar that is to be," quoth Little John, "and mayst -thou have no cause to beg for mercy ere I see thee next." - -So each stepped sturdily upon his way until a green hill rose between -them, and the one was hid from the sight of the other. - -Little John walked along, whistling, for no one was nigh upon all the -road. In the budding hedges the little birds twittered merrily, and on -either hand the green hills swept up to the sky, the great white clouds -of springtime sailing slowly over their crowns in lazy flight. Up hill -and down dale walked Little John, the fresh wind blowing in his face and -his robes fluttering behind him, and so at last he came to a crossroad -that led to Tuxford. Here he met three pretty lasses, each bearing a -basket of eggs to market. Quoth he, "Whither away, fair maids?" And he -stood in their path, holding his staff in front of them, to stop them. - -Then they huddled together and nudged one another, and one presently -spake up and said, "We are going to the Tuxford market, holy friar, to -sell our eggs." - -"Now out upon it!" quoth Little John, looking upon them with his head on -one side. "Surely, it is a pity that such fair lasses should be forced -to carry eggs to market. Let me tell you, an I had the shaping of things -in this world, ye should all three have been clothed in the finest -silks, and ride upon milk-white horses, with pages at your side, and -feed upon nothing but whipped cream and strawberries; for such a life -would surely befit your looks." - -At this speech all three of the pretty maids looked down, blushing and -simpering. One said, "La!" another, "Marry, a' maketh sport of us!" and -the third, "Listen, now, to the holy man!" But at the same time they -looked at Little John from out the corners of their eyes. - -"Now, look you," said Little John, "I cannot see such dainty damsels as -ye are carrying baskets along a highroad. Let me take them mine own -self, and one of you, if ye will, may carry my staff for me." - -"Nay," said one of the lasses, "but thou canst not carry three baskets -all at one time." - -"Yea, but I can," said Little John, "and that I will show you presently. -I thank the good Saint Wilfred that he hath given me a pretty wit. Look -ye, now. Here I take this great basket, so; here I tie my rosary around -the handle, thus; and here I slip the rosary over my head and sling the -basket upon my back, in this wise." And Little John did according to his -words, the basket hanging down behind him like a peddler's pack; then, -giving his staff to one of the maids, and taking a basket upon either -arm, he turned his face toward Tuxford Town and stepped forth merrily, a -laughing maid on either side, and one walking ahead, carrying the staff. -In this wise they journeyed along, and everyone they met stopped and -looked after them, laughing, for never had anybody seen such a merry -sight as this tall, strapping Gray Friar, with robes all too short for -him, laden with eggs, and tramping the road with three pretty lasses. -For this Little John cared not a whit, but when such folks gave jesting -words to him he answered back as merrily, speech for speech. - -So they stepped along toward Tuxford, chatting and laughing, until they -came nigh to the town. Here Little John stopped and set down the -baskets, for he did not care to go into the town lest he should, -perchance, meet some of the Sheriff's men. "Alas! sweet chucks," quoth -he, "here I must leave you. I had not thought to come this way, but I am -glad that I did so. Now, ere we part, we must drink sweet friendship." -So saying, he unslung the leathern pottle from the end of his staff, -and, drawing the stopper therefrom, he handed it to the lass who had -carried his staff, first wiping the mouth of the pottle upon his sleeve. -Then each lass took a fair drink of what was within, and when it had -passed all around, Little John finished what was left, so that not -another drop could be squeezed from it. Then, kissing each lass -sweetly, he wished them all good den, and left them. But the maids stood -looking after him as he walked away whistling. "What a pity," quoth one, -"that such a stout, lusty lad should be in holy orders." - -"Marry," quoth Little John to himself, as he strode along, "yon was no -such ill happening; Saint Dunstan send me more of the like." - -After he had trudged along for a time he began to wax thirsty again in -the warmth of the day. He shook his leathern pottle beside his ear, but -not a sound came therefrom. Then he placed it to his lips and tilted it -high aloft, but not a drop was there. "Little John! Little John!" said -he sadly to himself, shaking his head the while, "woman will be thy ruin -yet, if thou dost not take better care of thyself." - -But at last he reached the crest of a certain hill, and saw below a -sweet little thatched inn lying snugly in the dale beneath him, toward -which the road dipped sharply. At the sight of this, a voice within him -cried aloud, "I give thee joy, good friend, for yonder is thy heart's -delight, to wit, a sweet rest and a cup of brown beer." So he quickened -his pace down the hill and so came to the little inn, from which hung a -sign with a stag's head painted upon it. In front of the door a clucking -hen was scratching in the dust with a brood of chickens about her heels, -the sparrows were chattering of household affairs under the eaves, and -all was so sweet and peaceful that Little John's heart laughed within -him. Beside the door stood two stout cobs with broad soft-padded -saddles, well fitted for easy traveling, and speaking of rich guests in -the parlor. In front of the door three merry fellows, a tinker, a -peddler, and a beggar, were seated on a bench in the sun quaffing stout -ale. - -"I give you good den, sweet friends," quoth Little John, striding up to -where they sat. - -"Give thee good den, holy father," quoth the merry Beggar with a grin. -"But look thee, thy gown is too short. Thou hadst best cut a piece off -the top and tack it to the bottom, so that it may be long enough. But -come, sit beside us here and take a taste of ale, if thy vows forbid -thee not." - -"Nay," quoth Little John, also grinning, "the blessed Saint Dunstan hath -given me a free dispensation for all indulgence in that line." And he -thrust his hand into his pouch for money to pay his score. - -"Truly," quoth the Tinker, "without thy looks belie thee, holy friar, -the good Saint Dunstan was wise, for without such dispensation his -votary is like to ha' many a penance to make. Nay, take thy hand from -out thy pouch, brother, for thou shalt not pay this shot. Ho, landlord, -a pot of ale!" - -So the ale was brought and given to Little John. Then, blowing the -froth a little way to make room for his lips, he tilted the bottom of -the pot higher and higher, till it pointed to the sky, and he had to -shut his eyes to keep the dazzle of the sunshine out of them. Then he -took the pot away, for there was nothing in it, and heaved a full deep -sigh, looking at the others with moist eyes and shaking his head -solemnly. - -"Ho, landlord!" cried the Peddler, "bring this good fellow another pot -of ale, for truly it is a credit to us all to have one among us who can -empty a canakin so lustily." - -So they talked among themselves merrily, until after a while quoth -Little John, "Who rideth those two nags yonder?" - -"Two holy men like thee, brother," quoth the Beggar. "They are now -having a goodly feast within, for I smelled the steam of a boiled pullet -just now. The landlady sayeth they come from Fountain Abbey, in -Yorkshire, and go to Lincoln on matters of business." - -"They are a merry couple," said the Tinker, "for one is as lean as an -old wife's spindle, and the other as fat as a suet pudding." - -"Talking of fatness," said the Peddler, "thou thyself lookest none too -ill-fed, holy friar." - -"Nay, truly," said Little John, "thou seest in me what the holy Saint -Dunstan can do for them that serve him upon a handful of parched peas -and a trickle of cold water." - -At this a great shout of laughter went up. "Truly, it is a wondrous -thing," quoth the Beggar, "I would have made my vow, to see the masterly -manner in which thou didst tuck away yon pot of ale, that thou hadst not -tasted clear water for a brace of months. Has not this same holy Saint -Dunstan taught thee a goodly song or two?" - -"Why, as for that," quoth Little John, grinning, "mayhap he hath lent me -aid to learn a ditty or so." - -"Then, prythee, let us hear how he hath taught thee," quoth the Tinker. - -At this Little John cleared his throat and, after a word or two about a -certain hoarseness that troubled him, sang thus: - - "_Ah, pretty, pretty maid, whither dost thou go? - I prythee, prythee, wait for thy lover also, - And we'll gather the rose - As it sweetly blows, - For the merry, merry winds are blo-o-o-wing_." - -Now it seemed as though Little John's songs were never to get sung, for -he had got no farther than this when the door of the inn opened and out -came the two brothers of Fountain Abbey, the landlord following them, -and, as the saying is, washing his hands with humble soap. But when the -brothers of Fountain Abbey saw who it was that sang, and how he was clad -in the robes of a Gray Friar, they stopped suddenly, the fat little -Brother drawing his heavy eyebrows together in a mighty frown, and the -thin Brother twisting up his face as though he had sour beer in his -mouth. Then, as Little John gathered his breath for a new verse, "How, -now," roared forth the fat Brother, his voice coming from him like loud -thunder from a little cloud, "thou naughty fellow, is this a fit place -for one in thy garb to tipple and sing profane songs?" - -"Nay," quoth Little John, "sin' I cannot tipple and sing, like Your -Worship's reverence, in such a goodly place as Fountain Abbey, I must -e'en tipple and sing where I can." - -"Now, out upon thee," cried the tall lean Brother in a harsh voice, -"now, out upon thee, that thou shouldst so disgrace thy cloth by this -talk and bearing." - -"Marry, come up!" quoth Little John. "Disgrace, sayest thou? Methinks -it is more disgrace for one of our garb to wring hard-earned farthings -out of the gripe of poor lean peasants. It is not so, brother?" - -At this the Tinker and the Peddler and the Beggar nudged one another, -and all grinned, and the friars scowled blackly at Little John; but they -could think of nothing further to say, so they turned to their horses. -Then Little John arose of a sudden from the bench where he sat, and ran -to where the brothers of Fountain Abbey were mounting. Quoth he, "Let me -hold your horses' bridles for you. Truly, your words have smitten my -sinful heart, so that I will abide no longer in this den of evil, but -will go forward with you. No vile temptation, I wot, will fall upon me -in such holy company." - -"Nay, fellow," said the lean Brother harshly, for he saw that Little -John made sport of them, "we want none of thy company, so get thee -gone." - -"Alas," quoth Little John, "I am truly sorry that ye like me not nor my -company, but as for leaving you, it may not be, for my heart is so -moved, that, willy-nilly, I must go with you for the sake of your holy -company." - -Now, at this talk all the good fellows on the bench grinned till their -teeth glistened, and even the landlord could not forbear to smile. As -for the friars, they looked at one another with a puzzled look, and knew -not what to do in the matter. They were so proud that it made them feel -sick with shame to think of riding along the highroad with a strolling -friar, in robes all too short for him, running beside them, but yet they -could not make Little John stay against his will, for they knew he could -crack the bones of both of them in a twinkling were he so minded. Then -up spake the fat Brother more mildly than he had done before. "Nay, good -brother," said he, "we will ride fast, and thou wilt tire to death at -the pace." - -"Truly, I am grateful to thee for the thought of me," quoth Little John, -"but have no fear, brother; my limbs are stout, and I could run like a -hare from here to Gainsborough." - -At these words a sound of laughing came from the bench, whereat the lean -Brother's wrath boiled over, like water into the fire, with great fuss -and noise. "Now, out upon thee, thou naughty fellow!" he cried. "Art -thou not ashamed to bring disgrace so upon our cloth? Bide thee here, -thou sot, with these porkers. Thou art no fit company for us." - -"La, ye there now!" quoth Little John. "Thou hearest, landlord; thou -art not fit company for these holy men; go back to thine alehouse. Nay, -if these most holy brothers of mine do but give me the word, I'll beat -thy head with this stout staff till it is as soft as whipped eggs." - -At these words a great shout of laughter went up from those on the -bench, and the landlord's face grew red as a cherry from smothering his -laugh in his stomach; but he kept his merriment down, for he wished not -to bring the ill-will of the brothers of Fountain Abbey upon him by -unseemly mirth. So the two brethren, as they could do nought else, -having mounted their nags, turned their noses toward Lincoln and rode -away. - -"I cannot stay longer, sweet friends," quoth Little John, as he pushed -in betwixt the two cobs, "therefore I wish you good den. Off we go, we -three." So saying, he swung his stout staff over his shoulder and -trudged off, measuring his pace with that of the two nags. - -The two brothers glowered at Little John when he so pushed himself -betwixt them, then they drew as far away from him as they could, so that -the yeoman walked in the middle of the road, while they rode on the -footpath on either side of the way. As they so went away, the Tinker, -the Peddler, and the Beggar ran skipping out into the middle of the -highway, each with a pot in his hand, and looked after them laughing. - -While they were in sight of those at the inn, the brothers walked their -horses soberly, not caring to make ill matters worse by seeming to run -away from Little John, for they could not but think how it would sound -in folks' ears when they heard how the brethren of Fountain Abbey -scampered away from a strolling friar, like the Ugly One, when the -blessed Saint Dunstan loosed his nose from the red-hot tongs where he -had held it fast; but when they had crossed the crest of the hill and -the inn was lost to sight, quoth the fat Brother to the thin Brother, -"Brother Ambrose, had we not better mend our pace?" - -"Why truly, gossip," spoke up Little John, "methinks it would be well to -boil our pot a little faster, for the day is passing on. So it will not -jolt thy fat too much, onward, say I." - -At this the two friars said nothing, but they glared again on Little -John with baleful looks; then, without another word, they clucked to -their horses, and both broke into a canter. So they galloped for a mile -and more, and Little John ran betwixt them as lightly as a stag and -never turned a hair with the running. At last the fat Brother drew his -horse's rein with a groan, for he could stand the shaking no longer. -"Alas," said Little John, with not so much as a catch in his breath, "I -did sadly fear that the roughness of this pace would shake thy poor old -fat paunch." - -To this the fat Friar said never a word, but he stared straight before -him, and he gnawed his nether lip. And now they traveled forward more -quietly, Little John in the middle of the road whistling merrily to -himself, and the two friars in the footpath on either side saying never -a word. - -Then presently they met three merry minstrels, all clad in red, who -stared amain to see a Gray Friar with such short robes walking in the -middle of the road, and two brothers with heads bowed with shame, -riding upon richly caparisoned cobs on the footpaths. When they had -come near to the minstrels, Little John waved his staff like an usher -clearing the way. "Make way!" he cried in a loud voice. "Make way! make -way! For here we go, we three!" Then how the minstrels stared, and how -they laughed! But the fat Friar shook as with an ague, and the lean -Friar bowed his head over his horse's neck. - -Then next they met two noble knights in rich array, with hawk on wrist, -and likewise two fair ladies clad in silks and velvets, all a-riding on -noble steeds. These all made room, staring, as Little John and the two -friars came along the road. To them Little John bowed humbly. "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. "Methought we were such a merry -company, and here thou dost blaze up like fat in the pan. But truly, I -ha' had enow of you today, though I can ill spare your company. I know -ye will miss me, but gin ye want me again, whisper to Goodman Wind, and -he will bring news thereof to me. But ye see I am a poor man and ye are -rich. I pray you give me a penny or two to buy me bread and cheese at -the next inn." - -"We have no money, fellow," said the lean Friar harshly. "Come, Brother -Thomas, let us forward." - -But Little John caught the horses by the bridle reins, one in either -hand. "Ha' ye in truth no money about you whatsoever?" said he. "Now, I -pray you, brothers, for charity's sake, give me somewhat to buy a crust -of bread, e'en though it be only a penny." - -"I tell thee, fellow, we have no money," thundered the fat little Friar -with the great voice. - -"Ha' ye, in holy truth, no money?" asked Little John. - -"Not a farthing," said the lean Friar sourly. - -"Not a groat," said the fat Friar loudly. - -"Nay," quoth Little John, "this must not be. Far be it from me to see -such holy men as ye are depart from me with no money. Get both of you -down straightway from off your horses, and we will kneel here in the -middle of the crossroads and pray the blessed Saint Dunstan to send us -some money to carry us on our journey." - -"What sayest thou, thou limb of evil!" cried the lean Friar, fairly -gnashing his teeth with rage. "Doss thou bid me, the high cellarer of -Fountain Abbey, to get down from my horse and kneel in the dirty road to -pray to some beggarly Saxon saint?" - -"Now," quoth Little John, "I ha' a great part of a mind to crack thy -head for thee for speaking thus of the good Saint Dunstan! But get down -straightway, for my patience will not last much longer, and I may forget -that ye are both in holy orders." So saying, he twirled his stout staff -till it whistled again. - -At this speech both friars grew as pale as dough. Down slipped the fat -Brother from off his horse on one side, and down slipped the lean -Brother on the other. - -"Now, brothers, down on your knees and pray," said Little John; -thereupon, putting his heavy hands upon the shoulder of each, he forced -them to their knees, he kneeling also. Then Little John began to -beseech Saint Dunstan for money, which he did in a great loud voice. -After he had so besought the Saint for a time, he bade the friars feel -in their pouches and see if the Saint had sent them anything; so each -put his hand slowly in the pouch that hung beside him, but brought -nothing thence. - -"Ha!" quoth Little John, "have your prayers so little virtue? Then let -us at it again." Then straightway he began calling on Saint Dunstan -again, somewhat in this wise: "O gracious Saint Dunstan! Send some -money straightway to these poor folk, lest the fat one waste away and -grow as lean as the lean one, and the lean one waste away to nothing at -all, ere they get to Lincoln Town; but send them only ten shillings -apiece, lest they grow puffed up with pride, Any more than that that -thou sendest, send to me. - -"Now," quoth he, rising, "let us see what each man hath." Then he thrust -his hand into his pouch and drew thence four golden angels. "What have -ye, brothers?" said he. - -Then once again each friar slowly thrust his hand into his pouch, and -once again brought it out with nothing in it. - -"Have ye nothing?" quoth Little John. "Nay, I warrant there is somewhat -that hath crept into the seams of your pouches, and so ye ha' missed it. -Let me look." - -So he went first to the lean Friar, and, thrusting his hand into the -pouch, he drew forth a leathern bag and counted therefrom one hundred -and ten pounds of golden money. "I thought," quoth Little John, "that -thou hadst missed, in some odd corner of thy pouch, the money that the -blessed Saint had sent thee. And now let me see whether thou hast not -some, also, brother." Thereupon he thrust his hand into the pouch of the -fat Friar and drew thence a bag like the other and counted out from it -threescore and ten pounds. "Look ye now," quoth he, "I knew the good -Saint had sent thee some pittance that thou, also, hadst missed." - -Then, giving them one pound between them, he slipped the rest of the -money into his own pouch, saying, "Ye pledged me your holy word that ye -had no money. Being holy men, I trust that ye would not belie your word -so pledged, therefore I know the good Saint Dunstan hath sent this in -answer to my prayers. But as I only prayed for ten shillings to be sent -to each of you, all over and above that belongeth by rights to me, and -so I take it. I give you good den, brothers, and may ye have a pleasant -journey henceforth." So saying, he turned and left them, striding away. -The friars looked at one another with a woeful look, and slowly and -sadly they mounted their horses again and rode away with never a word. - -But Little John turned his footsteps back again to Sherwood Forest, and -merrily he whistled as he strode along. - -And now we will see what befell Robin Hood in his venture as beggar. - - - - -Robin Hood Turns Beggar - -AFTER JOLLY ROBIN had left Little John at the forking of the roads, he -walked merrily onward in the mellow sunshine that shone about him. Ever -and anon he would skip and leap or sing a snatch of song, for pure -joyousness of the day; for, because of the sweetness of the springtide, -his heart was as lusty within him as that of a colt newly turned out to -grass. Sometimes he would walk a long distance, gazing aloft at the -great white swelling clouds that moved slowly across the deep blue sky; -anon he would stop and drink in the fullness of life of all things, for -the hedgerows were budding tenderly and the grass of the meadows was -waxing long and green; again he would stand still and listen to the -pretty song of the little birds in the thickets or hearken to the clear -crow of the cock daring the sky to rain, whereat he would laugh, for it -took but little to tickle Robin's heart into merriment. So he trudged -manfully along, ever willing to stop for this reason or for that, and -ever ready to chat with such merry lasses as he met now and then. So -the morning slipped along, but yet he met no beggar with whom he could -change clothes. Quoth he, "If I do not change my luck in haste, I am -like to have an empty day of it, for it is well nigh half gone already, -and, although I have had a merry walk through the countryside, I know -nought of a beggar's life." - -Then, after a while, he began to grow hungry, whereupon his mind turned -from thoughts of springtime and flowers and birds and dwelled upon -boiled capons, Malmsey, white bread, and the like, with great -tenderness. Quoth he to himself, "I would I had Willie Wynkin's wishing -coat; I know right well what I should wish for, and this it should be." -Here he marked upon the fingers of his left hand with the forefinger of -his right hand those things which he wished for. "Firstly, I would have -a sweet brown pie of tender larks; mark ye, not dry cooked, but with a -good sop of gravy to moisten it withal. Next, I would have a pretty -pullet, fairly boiled, with tender pigeons' eggs, cunningly sliced, -garnishing the platter around. With these I would have a long, slim loaf -of wheaten bread that hath been baked upon the hearth; it should be warm -from the fire, with glossy brown crust, the color of the hair of mine -own Maid Marian, and this same crust should be as crisp and brittle as -the thin white ice that lies across the furrows in the early winter's -morning. These will do for the more solid things; but with these I must -have three potties, fat and round, one full of Malmsey, one of Canary, -and one brimming full of mine own dear lusty sack." Thus spoke Robin to -himself, his mouth growing moist at the corners with the thoughts of the -good things he had raised in his own mind. - -So, talking to himself, he came to where the dusty road turned sharply -around the hedge, all tender with the green of the coming leaf, and -there he saw before him a stout fellow sitting upon a stile, swinging -his legs in idleness. All about this lusty rogue dangled divers pouches -and bags of different sizes and kinds, a dozen or more, with great, -wide, gaping mouths, like a brood of hungry daws. His coat was gathered -in at his waist, and was patched with as many colors as there are -stripes upon a Maypole in the springtide. On his head he wore a great -tall leathern cap, and across his knees rested a stout quarterstaff of -blackthorn, full as long and heavy as Robin's. As jolly a beggar was he -as ever trod the lanes and byways of Nottinghamshire, for his eyes were -as gray as slate, and snapped and twinkled and danced with merriment, -and his black hair curled close all over his head in little rings of -kinkiness. - -"Halloa, good fellow," quoth Robin, when he had come nigh to the other, -"what art thou doing here this merry day, when the flowers are peeping -and the buds are swelling?" - -Then the other winked one eye and straightway trolled forth in a merry -voice: - - "_I sit upon the stile, - And I sing a little while - As I wait for my own true dear, O, - For the sun is shining bright, - And the leaves are dancing light, - And the little fowl sings she is near, O_. - -"And so it is with me, bully boy, saving that my doxy cometh not." - -"Now that is a right sweet song," quoth Robin, "and, were I in the right -mind to listen to thee, I could bear well to hear more; but I have two -things of seriousness to ask of thee; so listen, I prythee." - -At this the jolly Beggar cocked his head on one side, like a rogue of a -magpie. Quoth he, "I am an ill jug to pour heavy things into, good -friend, and, if I mistake not, thou hast few serious words to spare at -any time." - -"Nay," quoth jolly Robin, "what I would say first is the most serious of -all thoughts to me, to wit, 'Where shall I get somewhat to eat and -drink?'" - -"Sayst thou so?" quoth the Beggar. "Marry, I make no such serious -thoughts upon the matter. I eat when I can get it, and munch my crust -when I can get no crumb; likewise, when there is no ale to be had I wash -the dust from out my throat with a trickle of cold water. I was sitting -here, as thou camest upon me, bethinking myself whether I should break -my fast or no. I do love to let my hunger grow mightily keen ere I eat, -for then a dry crust is as good to me as a venison pasty with suet and -raisins is to stout King Harry. I have a sharp hunger upon me now, but -methinks in a short while it will ripen to a right mellow appetite." - -"Now, in good sooth," quoth merry Robin, laughing, "thou hast a quaint -tongue betwixt thy teeth. But hast thou truly nought but a dry crust -about thee? Methinks thy bags and pouches are fat and lusty for such -thin fare." - -"Why, mayhap there is some other cold fare therein," said the Beggar -slyly. - -"And hast thou nought to drink but cold water?" said Robin. - -"Never so much as a drop," quoth the Beggar. "Over beyond yon clump of -trees is as sweet a little inn as ever thou hast lifted eyelid upon; but -I go not thither, for they have a nasty way with me. Once, when the good -Prior of Emmet was dining there, the landlady set a dear little tart of -stewed crabs and barley sugar upon the window sill to cool, and, seeing -it there, and fearing it might be lost, I took it with me till that I -could find the owner thereof. Ever since then they have acted very ill -toward me; yet truth bids me say that they have the best ale there that -ever rolled over my tongue." - -At this Robin laughed aloud. "Marry," quoth he, "they did ill toward -thee for thy kindness. But tell me truly, what hast thou in thy -pouches?" - -"Why," quoth the Beggar, peeping into the mouths of his bags, "I find -here a goodly piece of pigeon pie, wrapped in a cabbage leaf to hold the -gravy. Here I behold a dainty streaked piece of brawn, and here a fair -lump of white bread. Here I find four oaten cakes and a cold knuckle of -ham. Ha! In sooth, 'tis strange; but here I behold six eggs that must -have come by accident from some poultry yard hereabouts. They are raw, -but roasted upon the coals and spread with a piece of butter that I see--" - -"Peace, good friend!" cried Robin, holding up his hand. "Thou makest my -poor stomach quake with joy for what thou tellest me so sweetly. If thou -wilt give me to eat, I will straightway hie me to that little inn thou -didst tell of but now, and will bring a skin of ale for thy drinking and -mine." - -"Friend, thou hast said enough," said the Beggar, getting down from the -stile. "I will feast thee with the best that I have and bless Saint -Cedric for thy company. But, sweet chuck, I prythee bring three quarts -of ale at least, one for thy drinking and two for mine, for my thirst is -such that methinks I can drink ale as the sands of the River Dee drink -salt water." - -So Robin straightway left the Beggar, who, upon his part, went to a -budding lime bush back of the hedge, and there spread his feast upon the -grass and roasted his eggs upon a little fagot fire, with a deftness -gained by long labor in that line. After a while back came Robin bearing -a goodly skin of ale upon his shoulder, which he laid upon the grass. -Then, looking upon the feast spread upon the ground--and a fair sight it -was to look upon--he slowly rubbed his hand over his stomach, for to his -hungry eyes it seemed the fairest sight that he had beheld in all his -life. - -"Friend," said the Beggar, "let me feel the weight of that skin. - -"Yea, truly," quoth Robin, "help thyself, sweet chuck, and meantime let -me see whether thy pigeon pie is fresh or no." - -So the one seized upon the ale and the other upon the pigeon pie, and -nothing was heard for a while but the munching of food and the gurgle of -ale as it left the skin. - -At last, after a long time had passed thus, Robin pushed the food from -him and heaved a great sigh of deep content, for he felt as though he -had been made all over anew. - -"And now, good friend," quoth he, leaning upon one elbow, "I would have -at thee about that other matter of seriousness of which I spoke not long -since." - -"How!" said the Beggar reproachfully, "thou wouldst surely not talk of -things appertaining to serious affairs upon such ale as this!" - -"Nay," quoth Robin, laughing. "I would not check thy thirst, sweet -friend; drink while I talk to thee. Thus it is: I would have thee know -that I have taken a liking to thy craft and would fain have a taste of a -beggar's life mine own self." - -Said the Beggar, "I marvel not that thou hast taken a liking to my -manner of life, good fellow, but 'to like' and 'to do' are two matters -of different sorts. I tell thee, friend, one must serve a long -apprenticeship ere one can learn to be even so much as a clapper- -dudgeon, much less a crank or an Abraham-man.[3] I tell thee, lad, thou -art too old to enter upon that which it may take thee years to catch the -hang of." - - [3] Classes of traveling mendicants that infested England as late as the - middle of the seventeenth century. VIDE Dakkar's ENGLISH VILLAINIES, - etc. - -"Mayhap that may be so," quoth Robin, "for I bring to mind that Gaffer -Swanthold sayeth Jack Shoemaker maketh ill bread; Tom Baker maketh ill -shoon. Nevertheless, I have a mind to taste a beggar's life, and need -but the clothing to be as good as any." - -"I tell thee, fellow," said the Beggar, "if thou wert clad as sweetly as -good Saint Wynten, the patron of our craft, thou wouldst never make a -beggar. Marry, the first jolly traveler that thou wouldst meet would -beat thee to a pudding for thrusting thy nose into a craft that -belongeth not to thee." - -"Nevertheless," quoth Robin, "I would have a try at it; and methinks I -shall change clothes with thee, for thy garb seemeth to be pretty, not -to say gay. So not only will I change clothes, but I will give thee two -golden angels to boot. I have brought my stout staff with me, thinking -that I might have to rap some one of the brethren of thy cloth over the -head by way of argument in this matter, but I love thee so much for the -feast thou hast given me that I would not lift even my little finger -against thee, so thou needst not have a crumb of fear." - -To this the Beggar listened with his knuckles resting against his hips, -and when Robin had ended he cocked his head on one side and thrust his -tongue into his cheek. - -"Marry, come up," quoth he at last. "Lift thy finger against me, -forsooth! Art thou out of thy wits, man? My name is Riccon Hazel, and I -come from Holywell, in Flintshire, over by the River Dee. I tell thee, -knave, I have cracked the head of many a better man than thou art, and -even now I would scald thy crown for thee but for the ale thou hast -given me. Now thou shalt not have so much as one tag-rag of my coat, -even could it save thee from hanging." - -"Now, fellow," said Robin, "it would ill suit me to spoil thy pretty -head for thee, but I tell thee plainly, that but for this feast I would -do that to thee would stop thy traveling the country for many a day to -come. Keep thy lips shut, lad, or thy luck will tumble out of thy mouth -with thy speech!" - -"Now out, and alas for thee, man, for thou hast bred thyself ill this -day!" cried the Beggar, rising and taking up his staff. "Take up thy -club and defend thyself, fellow, for I will not only beat thee but I -will take from thee thy money and leave thee not so much as a clipped -groat to buy thyself a lump of goose grease to rub thy cracked crown -withal. So defend thyself, I say." - -Then up leaped merry Robin and snatched up his staff also. "Take my -money, if thou canst," quoth he. "I promise freely to give thee every -farthing if thou dost touch me." And he twirled his staff in his fingers -till it whistled again. - -Then the Beggar swung his staff also, and struck a mighty blow at Robin, -which the yeoman turned. Three blows the Beggar struck, yet never one -touched so much as a hair of Robin's head. Then stout Robin saw his -chance, and, ere you could count three, Riccon's staff was over the -hedge, and Riccon himself lay upon the green grass with no more motion -than you could find in an empty pudding bag. - -"How now!" quoth merry Robin, laughing. "Wilt thou have my hide or my -money, sweet chuck?" But to this the other answered never a word. Then -Robin, seeing his plight, and that he was stunned with the blow, ran, -still laughing, and brought the skin of ale and poured some of it on the -Beggar's head and some down his throat, so that presently he opened his -eyes and looked around as though wondering why he lay upon his back. - -Then Robin, seeing that he had somewhat gathered the wits that had just -been rapped out of his head, said, "Now, good fellow, wilt thou change -clothes with me, or shall I have to tap thee again? Here are two golden -angels if thou wilt give me freely all thy rags and bags and thy cap and -things. If thou givest them not freely, I much fear me I shall have to-- -" and he looked up and down his staff. - -Then Riccon sat up and rubbed the bump on his crown. "Now, out upon -it!" quoth he. "I did think to drub thee sweetly, fellow. I know not -how it is, but I seem, as it were, to have bought more beer than I can -drink. If I must give up my clothes, I must, but first promise me, by -thy word as a true yeoman, that thou wilt take nought from me but my -clothes." - -"I promise on the word of a true yeoman," quoth Robin, thinking that the -fellow had a few pennies that he would save. - -Thereupon the Beggar drew a little knife that hung at his side and, -ripping up the lining of his coat, drew thence ten bright golden pounds, -which he laid upon the ground beside him with a cunning wink at Robin. -"Now thou mayst have my clothes and welcome," said he, "and thou -mightest have had them in exchange for thine without the cost of a -single farthing, far less two golden angels." - -"Marry," quoth Robin, laughing, "thou art a sly fellow, and I tell thee -truly, had I known thou hadst so much money by thee maybe thou mightst -not have carried it away, for I warrant thou didst not come honestly by -it." - -Then each stripped off his clothes and put on those of the other, and as -lusty a beggar was Robin Hood as e'er you could find of a summer's day. -But stout Riccon of Holywell skipped and leaped and danced for joy of -the fair suit of Lincoln green that he had so gotten. Quoth he, "I am a -gay-feathered bird now. Truly, my dear Moll Peascod would never know me -in this dress. Thou mayst keep the cold pieces of the feast, friend, for -I mean to live well and lustily while my money lasts and my clothes are -gay." - -So he turned and left Robin and, crossing the stile, was gone, but Robin -heard him singing from beyond the hedge as he strode away: - - "_For Polly is smiling and Molly is glad - When the beggar comes in at the door, - And Jack and Dick call him a fine lusty lad, - And the hostess runs up a great score. - - Then hey, Willy Waddykin, - Stay, Billy Waddykin, - And let the brown ale flow free, flow free, - The beggar's the man for me_." - -Robin listened till the song ended in the distance, then he also crossed -the stile into the road, but turned his toes away from where the Beggar -had gone. The road led up a gentle hill and up the hill Robin walked, a -half score or more of bags dangling about his legs. Onward he strolled -for a long time, but other adventure he found not. The road was bare of -all else but himself, as he went kicking up little clouds of dust at -each footstep; for it was noontide, the most peaceful time of all the -day, next to twilight. All the earth was silent in the restfulness of -eating time; the plowhorses stood in the furrow munching, with great -bags over their noses holding sweet food, the plowman sat under the -hedge and the plowboy also, and they, too, were munching, each one -holding a great piece of bread in one fist and a great piece of cheese -in the other. - -So Robin, with all the empty road to himself, strode along whistling -merrily, his bags and pouches bobbing and dangling at his thighs. At -last he came to where a little grass-grown path left the road and, -passing through a stile and down a hill, led into a little dell and on -across a rill in the valley and up the hill on the other side, till it -reached a windmill that stood on the cap of the rise where the wind bent -the trees in swaying motion. Robin looked at the spot and liked it, and, -for no reason but that his fancy led him, he took the little path and -walked down the grassy sunny slope of the open meadow, and so came to -the little dingle and, ere he knew it, upon four lusty fellows that sat -with legs outstretched around a goodly feast spread upon the ground. - -Four merry beggars were they, and each had slung about his neck a little -board that rested upon his breast. One board had written upon it, "I am -blind," another, "I am deaf," another, "I am dumb," and the fourth, -"Pity the lame one." But although all these troubles written upon the -boards seemed so grievous, the four stout fellows sat around feasting as -merrily as though Cain's wife had never opened the pottle that held -misfortunes and let them forth like a cloud of flies to pester us. - -The deaf man was the first to hear Robin, for he said, "Hark, brothers, -I hear someone coming." And the blind man was the first to see him, for -he said, "He is an honest man, brothers, and one of like craft to -ourselves." Then the dumb man called to him in a great voice and said, -"Welcome, brother; come and sit while there is still some of the feast -left and a little Malmsey in the pottle." At this, the lame man, who -had taken off his wooden leg and unstrapped his own leg, and was sitting -with it stretched out upon the grass so as to rest it, made room for -Robin among them. "We are glad to see thee, brother," said he, holding -out the flask of Malmsey. - -"Marry," quoth Robin, laughing, and weighing the flask in his hands ere -he drank, "methinks it is no more than seemly of you all to be glad to -see me, seeing that I bring sight to the blind, speech to the dumb, -hearing to the deaf, and such a lusty leg to a lame man. I drink to your -happiness, brothers, as I may not drink to your health, seeing ye are -already hale, wind and limb." - -At this all grinned, and the Blind beggar, who was the chief man among -them, and was the broadest shouldered and most lusty rascal of all, -smote Robin upon the shoulder, swearing he was a right merry wag. - -"Whence comest thou, lad?" asked the Dumb man. - -"Why," quoth Robin, "I came this morning from sleeping overnight in -Sherwood." - -"Is it even so?" said the Deaf man. "I would not for all the money we -four are carrying to Lincoln Town sleep one night in Sherwood. If Robin -Hood caught one of our trade in his woodlands he would, methinks, clip -his ears." - -"Methinks he would, too," quoth Robin, laughing. "But what money is -this that ye speak of?" - -Then up spake the Lame man. "Our king, Peter of York," said he, "hath -sent us to Lincoln with those moneys that--" - -"Stay, brother Hodge," quoth the Blind man, breaking into the talk, "I -would not doubt our brother here, but bear in mind we know him not. What -art thou, brother? Upright-man, Jurkman, Clapper-dudgeon, Dommerer, or -Abraham-man?" - -At these words Robin looked from one man to the other with mouth agape. -"Truly," quoth he, "I trust I am an upright man, at least, I strive to -be; but I know not what thou meanest by such jargon, brother. It were -much more seemly, methinks, if yon Dumb man, who hath a sweet voice, -would give us a song." - -At these words a silence fell on all, and after a while the Blind man -spoke again. Quoth he, "Thou dost surely jest when thou sayest that -thou dost not understand such words. Answer me this: Hast thou ever -fibbed a chouse quarrons in the Rome pad for the loure in his bung?"[4] - - [4] I.E., in old beggar's cant, "beaten a man or gallant upon the - highway for the money in his purse." Dakkar's ENGLISH VILLAINIES. - -"Now out upon it," quoth Robin Hood testily, "an ye make sport of me by -pattering such gibberish, it will be ill for you all, I tell you. I have -the best part of a mind to crack the heads of all four of you, and would -do so, too, but for the sweet Malmsey ye have given me. Brother, pass -the pottle lest it grow cold." - -But all the four beggars leaped to their feet when Robin had done -speaking, and the Blind man snatched up a heavy knotted cudgel that lay -beside him on the grass, as did the others likewise. Then Robin, seeing -that things were like to go ill with him, albeit he knew not what all -the coil was about, leaped to his feet also and, catching up his trusty -staff, clapped his back against the tree and stood upon his guard -against them. "How, now!" cried he, twirling his staff betwixt his -fingers, "would you four stout fellows set upon one man? Stand back, ye -rascals, or I will score your pates till they have as many marks upon -them as a pothouse door! Are ye mad? I have done you no harm." - -"Thou liest!" quoth the one who pretended to be blind and who, being the -lustiest villain, was the leader of the others, "thou liest! For thou -hast come among us as a vile spy. But thine ears have heard too much for -thy body's good, and thou goest not forth from this place unless thou -goest feet foremost, for this day thou shalt die! Come, brothers, all -together! Down with him!" Then, whirling up his cudgel, he rushed upon -Robin as an angry bull rushes upon a red rag. But Robin was ready for -any happening. "Crick! Crack!" he struck two blows as quick as a wink, -and down went the Blind man, rolling over and over upon the grass. - -At this the others bore back and stood at a little distance scowling -upon Robin. "Come on, ye scum!" cried he merrily. "Here be cakes and -ale for all. Now, who will be next served?" - -To this speech the beggars answered never a word, but they looked at -Robin as great Blunderbore looked upon stout Jack the slayer of giants, -as though they would fain eat him, body and bones; nevertheless, they -did not care to come nigher to him and his terrible staff. Then, seeing -them so hesitate, Robin of a sudden leaped upon them, striking even as -he leaped. Down went the Dumb man, and away flew his cudgel from his -hand as he fell. At this the others ducked to avoid another blow, then, -taking to their heels, scampered, the one one way and the other the -other, as though they had the west wind's boots upon their feet. Robin -looked after them, laughing, and thought that never had he seen so fleet -a runner as the Lame man; but neither of the beggars stopped nor turned -around, for each felt in his mind the wind of Robin's cudgel about his -ears. - -Then Robin turned to the two stout knaves lying upon the ground. Quoth -he, "These fellows spake somewhat about certain moneys they were taking -to Lincoln; methinks I may find it upon this stout blind fellow, who -hath as keen sight as e'er a trained woodsman in Nottingham or -Yorkshire. It were a pity to let sound money stay in the pockets of -such thieving knaves." So saying, he stooped over the burly rascal and -searched among his rags and tatters, till presently his fingers felt a -leathern pouch slung around his body beneath his patched and tattered -coat. This he stripped away and, weighing it in his hands, bethought -himself that it was mighty heavy. "It were a sweet thing," said he to -himself, "if this were filled with gold instead of copper pence." Then, -sitting down upon the grass, he opened the pocket and looked into it. -There he found four round rolls wrapped up in dressed sheepskin; one of -these rolls he opened; then his mouth gaped and his eyes stared, I wot, -as though they would never close again, for what did he see but fifty -pounds of bright golden money? He opened the other pockets and found in -each one the same, fifty bright new-stamped golden pounds. Quoth Robin, -"I have oft heard that the Beggars' Guild was over-rich, but never did I -think that they sent such sums as this to their treasury. I shall take -it with me, for it will be better used for charity and the good of my -merry band than in the enriching of such knaves as these." So saying, he -rolled up the money in the sheepskin again, and putting it back in the -purse, he thrust the pouch into his own bosom. Then taking up the flask -of Malmsey, he held it toward the two fellows lying on the grass, and -quoth he, "Sweet friends, I drink your health and thank you dearly for -what ye have so kindly given me this day, and so I wish you good den." -Then, taking up his staff, he left the spot and went merrily on his way. - -But when the two stout beggars that had been rapped upon the head roused -themselves and sat up, and when the others had gotten over their fright -and come back, they were as sad and woebegone as four frogs in dry -weather, for two of them had cracked crowns, their Malmsey was all gone, -and they had not so much as a farthing to cross their palms withal. - -But after Robin left the little dell he strode along merrily, singing as -he went; and so blithe was he and such a stout beggar, and, withal, so -fresh and clean, that every merry lass he met had a sweet word for him -and felt no fear, while the very dogs, that most times hate the sight of -a beggar, snuffed at his legs in friendly wise and wagged their tails -pleasantly; for dogs know an honest man by his smell, and an honest man -Robin was--in his own way. - -Thus he went along till at last he had come to the wayside cross nigh -Ollerton, and, being somewhat tired, he sat him down to rest upon the -grassy bank in front of it. "It groweth nigh time," quoth he to -himself, "that I were getting back again to Sherwood; yet it would -please me well to have one more merry adventure ere I go back again to -my jolly band." - -So he looked up the road and down the road to see who might come, until -at last he saw someone drawing near, riding upon a horse. When the -traveler came nigh enough for him to see him well, Robin laughed, for a -strange enough figure he cut. He was a thin, wizened man, and, to look -upon him, you could not tell whether he was thirty years old or sixty, -so dried up was he even to skin and bone. As for the nag, it was as thin -as the rider, and both looked as though they had been baked in Mother -Huddle's Oven, where folk are dried up so that they live forever. - -But although Robin laughed at the droll sight, he knew the wayfarer to -be a certain rich corn engrosser of Worksop, who more than once had -bought all the grain in the countryside and held it till it reached even -famine prices, thus making much money from the needs of poor people, and -for this he was hated far and near by everyone that knew aught of him. - -So, after a while, the Corn Engrosser came riding up to where Robin sat; -whereupon merry Robin stepped straightway forth, in all his rags and -tatters, his bags and pouches dangling about him, and laid his hand upon -the horse's bridle rein, calling upon the other to stop. - -"Who art thou, fellow, that doth dare to stop me thus upon the King's -highway?" said the lean man, in a dry, sour voice. - -"Pity a poor beggar," quoth Robin. "Give me but a farthing to buy me a -piece of bread." - -"Now, out upon thee!" snarled the other. "Such sturdy rogues as thou -art are better safe in the prisons or dancing upon nothing, with a -hempen collar about the neck, than strolling the highways so freely." - -"Tut," quoth Robin, "how thou talkest! Thou and I are brothers, man. Do -we not both take from the poor people that which they can ill spare? Do -we not make our livings by doing nought of any good? Do we not both live -without touching palm to honest work? Have we either of us ever rubbed -thumbs over honestly gained farthings? Go to! We are brothers, I say; -only thou art rich and I am poor; wherefore, I prythee once more, give -me a penny." - -"Doss thou prate so to me, sirrah?" cried the Corn Engrosser in a rage. -"Now I will have thee soundly whipped if ever I catch thee in any town -where the law can lay hold of thee! As for giving thee a penny, I swear -to thee that I have not so much as a single groat in my purse. Were -Robin Hood himself to take me, he might search me from crown to heel -without finding the smallest piece of money upon me. I trust I am too -sly to travel so nigh to Sherwood with money in my pouch, and that thief -at large in the woods." - -Then merry Robin looked up and down, as if to see that there was no one -nigh, and then, coming close to the Corn Engrosser, he stood on tiptoe -and spake in his ear, "Thinkest thou in sooth that I am a beggar, as I -seem to be? Look upon me. There is not a grain of dirt upon my hands -or my face or my body. Didst thou ever see a beggar so? I tell thee I -am as honest a man as thou art. Look, friend." Here he took the purse -of money from his breast and showed to the dazzled eyes of the Corn -Engrosser the bright golden pieces. "Friend, these rags serve but to -hide an honest rich man from the eyes of Robin Hood." - -"Put up thy money, lad," cried the other quickly. "Art thou a fool, to -trust to beggar's rags to shield thee from Robin Hood? If he caught -thee, he would strip thee to the skin, for he hates a lusty beggar as he -doth a fat priest or those of my kind." - -"Is it indeed so?" quoth Robin. "Had I known this, mayhap I had not -come hereabouts in this garb. But I must go forward now, as much depends -upon my journeying. Where goest thou, friend?" - -"I go to Grantham," said the Corn Engrosser, "but I shall lodge tonight -at Newark, if I can get so far upon my way." - -"Why, I myself am on the way to Newark," quoth merry Robin, "so that, as -two honest men are better than one in roads beset by such a fellow as -this Robin Hood, I will jog along with thee, if thou hast no dislike to -my company." - -"Why, as thou art an honest fellow and a rich fellow," said the Corn -Engrosser, "I mind not thy company; but, in sooth, I have no great -fondness for beggars." - -"Then forward," quoth Robin, "for the day wanes and it will be dark ere -we reach Newark." So off they went, the lean horse hobbling along as -before, and Robin running beside, albeit he was so quaking with laughter -within him that he could hardly stand; yet he dared not laugh aloud, -lest the Corn Engrosser should suspect something. So they traveled along -till they reached a hill just on the outskirts of Sherwood. Here the -lean man checked his lean horse into a walk, for the road was steep, and -he wished to save his nag's strength, having far to go ere he reached -Newark. Then he turned in his saddle and spake to Robin again, for the -first time since they had left the cross. "Here is thy greatest danger, -friend," said he, "for here we are nighest to that vile thief Robin -Hood, and the place where he dwells. Beyond this we come again to the -open honest country, and so are more safe in our journeying." - -"Alas!" quoth Robin, "I would that I had as little money by me as thou -hast, for this day I fear that Robin Hood will get every groat of my -wealth." - -Then the other looked at Robin and winked cunningly. Quoth he, "I tell -thee, friend, that I have nigh as much by me as thou hast, but it is -hidden so that never a knave in Sherwood could find it." - -"Thou dost surely jest," quoth Robin. "How could one hide so much as -two hundred pounds upon his person?" - -"Now, as thou art so honest a fellow, and, withal, so much younger than -I am, I will tell thee that which I have told to no man in all the world -before, and thus thou mayst learn never again to do such a foolish thing -as to trust to beggar's garb to guard thee against Robin Hood. Seest -thou these clogs upon my feet?" - -"Yea," quoth Robin, laughing, "truly, they are large enough for any man -to see, even were his sight as foggy as that of Peter Patter, who never -could see when it was time to go to work." - -"Peace, friend," said the Corn Engrosser, "for this is no matter for -jesting. The soles of these clogs are not what they seem to be, for each -one is a sweet little box; and by twisting the second nail from the toe, -the upper of the shoe and part of the sole lifts up like a lid, and in -the spaces within are fourscore and ten bright golden pounds in each -shoe, all wrapped in hair, to keep them from clinking and so telling -tales of themselves." - -When the Corn Engrosser had told this, Robin broke into a roar of -laughter and, laying his hands upon the bridle rein, stopped the sad- -looking nag. "Stay, good friend," quoth he, between bursts of -merriment, "thou art the slyest old fox that e'er I saw in all my life! ---In the soles of his shoon, quotha!--If ever I trust a poor-seeming man -again, shave my head and paint it blue! A corn factor, a horse jockey, -an estate agent, and a jackdaw for cunningness, say I!" And he laughed -again till he shook in his shoes with mirth. - -All this time the Corn Engrosser had been staring at Robin, his mouth -agape with wonder. "Art thou mad," quoth he, "to talk in this way, so -loud and in such a place? Let us forward, and save thy mirth till we -are safe and sound at Newark." - -"Nay," quoth Robin, the tears of merriment wet on his cheeks, "on second -thoughts I go no farther than here, for I have good friends hereabouts. -Thou mayst go forward if thou dost list, thou sweet pretty fellow, but -thou must go forward barefoot, for I am afraid that thy shoon must be -left behind. Off with them, friend, for I tell thee I have taken a great -fancy to them." - -At these words the corn factor grew pale as a linen napkin. "Who art -thou that talkest so?" said he. - -Then merry Robin laughed again, and quoth he, "Men hereabouts call me -Robin Hood; so, sweet friend, thou hadst best do my bidding and give me -thy shoes, wherefore hasten, I prythee, or else thou wilt not get to -fair Newark Town till after dark." - -At the sound of the name of Robin Hood, the corn factor quaked with -fear, so that he had to seize his horse by the mane to save himself from -falling off its back. Then straightway, and without more words, he -stripped off his clogs and let them fall upon the road. Robin, still -holding the bridle rein, stooped and picked them up. Then he said, -"Sweet friend, I am used to ask those that I have dealings with to come -and feast at Sherwood with me. I will not ask thee, because of our -pleasant journey together; for I tell thee there be those in Sherwood -that would not be so gentle with thee as I have been. The name of Corn -Engrosser leaves a nasty taste upon the tongue of all honest men. Take a -fool's advice of me and come no more so nigh to Sherwood, or mayhap some -day thou mayst of a sudden find a clothyard shaft betwixt thy ribs. So, -with this, I give thee good den." Hereupon he clapped his hand to the -horse's flank and off went nag and rider. But the man's face was all -bedewed with the sweat of fright, and never again, I wot, was he found -so close to Sherwood Forest as he had been this day. - -Robin stood and looked after him, and, when he was fairly gone, turned, -laughing, and entered the forest carrying the shoes in his hand. - -That night in sweet Sherwood the red fires glowed brightly in wavering -light on tree and bush, and all around sat or lay the stout fellows of -the band to hear Robin Hood and Little John tell their adventures. All -listened closely, and again and again the woods rang with shouts of -laughter. - -When all was told, Friar Tuck spoke up. "Good master," said he, "thou -hast had a pretty time, but still I hold to my saying, that the life of -the barefoot friar is the merrier of the two." - -"Nay," quoth Will Stutely, "I hold with our master, that he hath had the -pleasanter doings of the two, for he hath had two stout bouts at -quarterstaff this day." - -So some of the band held with Robin Hood and some with Little John. As -for me, I think--But I leave it with you to say for yourselves which you -hold with. - - - - -Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor - -THE HIGHROAD stretched white and dusty in the hot summer afternoon sun, -and the trees stood motionless along the roadside. All across the meadow -lands the hot air danced and quivered, and in the limpid waters of the -lowland brook, spanned by a little stone bridge, the fish hung -motionless above the yellow gravel, and the dragonfly sat quite still, -perched upon the sharp tip of a spike of the rushes, with its wings -glistening in the sun. - -Along the road a youth came riding upon a fair milk-white barb, and the -folk that he passed stopped and turned and looked after him, for never -had so lovely a lad or one so gaily clad been seen in Nottingham before. -He could not have been more than sixteen years of age, and was as fair -as any maiden. His long yellow hair flowed behind him as he rode along, -all clad in silk and velvet, with jewels flashing and dagger jingling -against the pommel of the saddle. Thus came the Queen's Page, young -Richard Partington, from famous London Town down into Nottinghamshire, -upon Her Majesty's bidding, to seek Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. - -The road was hot and dusty and his journey had been long, for that day -he had come all the way from Leicester Town, a good twenty miles and -more; wherefore young Partington was right glad when he saw before him a -sweet little inn, all shady and cool beneath the trees, in front of the -door of which a sign hung pendant, bearing the picture of a blue boar. -Here he drew rein and called loudly for a pottle of Rhenish wine to be -brought him, for stout country ale was too coarse a drink for this young -gentleman. Five lusty fellows sat upon the bench beneath the pleasant -shade of the wide-spreading oak in front of the inn door, drinking ale -and beer, and all stared amain at this fair and gallant lad. Two of the -stoutest of them were clothed in Lincoln green, and a great heavy oaken -staff leaned against the gnarled oak tree trunk beside each fellow. - -The landlord came and brought a pottle of wine and a long narrow glass -upon a salver, which he held up to the Page as he sat upon his horse. -Young Partington poured forth the bright yellow wine and holding the -glass aloft, cried, "Here is to the health and long happiness of my -royal mistress, the noble Queen Eleanor; and may my journey and her -desirings soon have end, and I find a certain stout yeoman men call -Robin Hood." - -At these words all stared, but presently the two stout yeomen in Lincoln -green began whispering together. Then one of the two, whom Partington -thought to be the tallest and stoutest fellow he had ever beheld, spoke -up and said, "What seekest thou of Robin Hood, Sir Page? And what does -our good Queen Eleanor wish of him? I ask this of thee, not foolishly, -but with reason, for I know somewhat of this stout yeoman." - -"An thou knowest aught of him, good fellow," said young Partington, -"thou wilt do great service to him and great pleasure to our royal Queen -by aiding me to find him." - -Then up spake the other yeoman, who was a handsome fellow with sunburned -face and nut-brown, curling hair, "Thou hast an honest look, Sir Page, -and our Queen is kind and true to all stout yeomen. Methinks I and my -friend here might safely guide thee to Robin Hood, for we know where he -may be found. Yet I tell thee plainly, we would not for all merry -England have aught of harm befall him." - -"Set thy mind at ease; I bring nought of ill with me," quoth Richard -Partington. "I bring a kind message to him from our Queen, therefore an -ye know where he is to be found, I pray you to guide me thither." - -Then the two yeomen looked at one another again, and the tall man said, -"Surely it were safe to do this thing, Will"; whereat the other nodded. -Thereupon both arose, and the tall yeoman said, "We think thou art true, -Sir Page, and meanest no harm, therefore we will guide thee to Robin -Hood as thou dost wish." - -Then Partington paid his score, and the yeomen coming forward, they all -straightway departed upon their way. - -Under the greenwood tree, in the cool shade that spread all around upon -the sward, with flickering lights here and there, Robin Hood and many of -his band lay upon the soft green grass, while Allan a Dale sang and -played upon his sweetly sounding harp. All listened in silence, for -young Allan's singing was one of the greatest joys in all the world to -them; but as they so listened there came of a sudden the sound of a -horse's feet, and presently Little John and Will Stutely came forth from -the forest path into the open glade, young Richard Partington riding -between them upon his milk-white horse. The three came toward where -Robin Hood sat, all the band staring with might and main, for never had -they seen so gay a sight as this young Page, nor one so richly clad in -silks and velvets and gold and jewels. Then Robin arose and stepped -forth to meet him, and Partington leaped from his horse and doffing his -cap of crimson velvet, met Robin as he came. "Now, welcome!" cried -Robin. "Now, welcome, fair youth, and tell me, I prythee, what bringeth -one of so fair a presence and clad in such noble garb to our poor forest -of Sherwood?" - -Then young Partington said, "If I err not, thou art the famous Robin -Hood, and these thy stout band of outlawed yeomen. To thee I bring -greetings from our noble Queen Eleanor. Oft hath she heard thee spoken -of and thy merry doings hereabouts, and fain would she behold thy face; -therefore she bids me tell thee that if thou wilt presently come to -London Town, she will do all in her power to guard thee against harm, -and will send thee back safe to Sherwood Forest again. Four days hence, -in Finsbury Fields, our good King Henry, of great renown, holdeth a -grand shooting match, and all the most famous archers of merry England -will be thereat. Our Queen would fain see thee strive with these, -knowing that if thou wilt come thou wilt, with little doubt, carry off -the prize. Therefore she hath sent me with this greeting, and -furthermore sends thee, as a sign of great good will, this golden ring -from off her own fair thumb, which I give herewith into thy hands." - -Then Robin Hood bowed his head and taking the ring, kissed it right -loyally, and then slipped it upon his little finger. Quoth he, "Sooner -would I lose my life than this ring; and ere it departs from me, my hand -shall be cold in death or stricken off at the wrist. Fair Sir Page, I -will do our Queen's bidding, and will presently hie with thee to London; -but, ere we go, I will feast thee here in the woodlands with the very -best we have." - -"It may not be," said the Page; "we have no time to tarry, therefore get -thyself ready straightway; and if there be any of thy band that thou -wouldst take with thee, our Queen bids me say that she will make them -right welcome likewise." - -"Truly, thou art right," quoth Robin, "and we have but short time to -stay; therefore I will get me ready presently. I will choose three of my -men, only, to go with me, and these three shall be Little John, mine own -true right-hand man, Will Scarlet, my cousin, and Allan a Dale, my -minstrel. Go, lads, and get ye ready straightway, and we will presently -off with all speed that we may. Thou, Will Stutely, shall be the chief -of the band while I am gone." - -Then Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale ran leaping, full of -joy, to make themselves ready, while Robin also prepared himself for the -journey. After a while they all four came forth, and a right fair sight -they made, for Robin was clad in blue from head to foot, and Little John -and Will Scarlet in good Lincoln green, and as for Allan a Dale, he was -dressed in scarlet from the crown of his head to the toes of his pointed -shoes. Each man wore beneath his cap a little head covering of burnished -steel set with rivets of gold, and underneath his jerkin a coat of -linked mail, as fine as carded wool, yet so tough that no arrow could -pierce it. Then, seeing all were ready, young Partington mounted his -horse again, and the yeomen having shaken hands all around, the five -departed upon their way. - -That night they took up their inn in Melton Mowbray, in Leicestershire, -and the next night they lodged at Kettering, in Northamptonshire; and -the next at Bedford Town; and the next at St. Albans, in Hertfordshire. -This place they left not long after the middle of the night, and -traveling fast through the tender dawning of the summer day, when the -dews lay shining on the meadows and faint mists hung in the dales, when -the birds sang their sweetest and the cobwebs beneath the hedges -glimmered like fairy cloth of silver, they came at last to the towers -and walls of famous London Town, while the morn was still young and all -golden toward the east. - -Queen Eleanor sat in her royal bower, through the open casements of -which poured the sweet yellow sunshine in great floods of golden light. -All about her stood her ladies-in-waiting chatting in low voices, while -she herself sat dreamily where the mild air came softly drifting into -the room laden with the fresh perfumes of the sweet red roses that -bloomed in the great garden beneath the wall. To her came one who said -that her page, Richard Partington, and four stout yeomen waited her -pleasure in the court below. Then Queen Eleanor arose joyously and bade -them be straightway shown into her presence. - -Thus Robin Hood and Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale came -before the Queen into her own royal bower. Then Robin kneeled before -the Queen with his hands folded upon his breast, saying in simple -phrase, "Here am I, Robin Hood. Thou didst bid me come, and lo, I do -thy bidding. I give myself to thee as thy true servant, and will do thy -commanding, even if it be to the shedding of the last drop of my life's -blood." - -But good Queen Eleanor smiled pleasantly upon him, bidding him to arise. -Then she made them all be seated to rest themselves after their long -journey. Rich food was brought them and noble wines, and she had her own -pages to wait upon the wants of the yeomen. At last, after they had -eaten all they could, she began questioning them of their merry -adventures. Then they told her all of the lusty doings herein spoken of, -and among others that concerning the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Richard -of the Lea, and how the Bishop had abided three days in Sherwood Forest. -At this, the Queen and the ladies about her laughed again and again, for -they pictured to themselves the stout Bishop abiding in the forest and -ranging the woods in lusty sport with Robin and his band. Then, when -they had told all that they could bring to mind, the Queen asked Allan -to sing to her, for his fame as a minstrel had reached even to the court -at London Town. So straightway Allan took up his harp in his hand, and, -without more asking, touched the strings lightly till they all rang -sweetly, then he sang thus: - - "_Gentle river, gentle river, - Bright thy crystal waters flow, - Sliding where the aspens shiver, - Gliding where the lilies blow, - - "Singing over pebbled shallows, - Kissing blossoms bending low, - Breaking 'neath the dipping swallows, - Purpling where the breezes blow. - - "Floating on thy breast forever - Down thy current I could glide; - Grief and pain should reach me never - On thy bright and gentle tide. - - "So my aching heart seeks thine, love, - There to find its rest and peace, - For, through loving, bliss is mine, love, - And my many troubles cease_." - -Thus Allan sang, and as he sang all eyes dwelled upon him and not a -sound broke the stillness, and even after he had done the silence hung -for a short space. So the time passed till the hour drew nigh for the -holding of the great archery match in Finsbury Fields. - -A gay sight were famous Finsbury Fields on that bright and sunny morning -of lusty summertime. Along the end of the meadow stood the booths for -the different bands of archers, for the King's yeomen were divided into -companies of fourscore men, and each company had a captain over it; so -on the bright greensward stood ten booths of striped canvas, a booth for -each band of the royal archers, and at the peak of each fluttered a flag -in the mellow air, and the flag was the color that belonged to the -captain of each band. From the center booth hung the yellow flag of -Tepus, the famous bow bearer of the King; next to it, on one hand, was -the blue flag of Gilbert of the White Hand, and on the other the blood- -red pennant of stout young Clifton of Buckinghamshire. The seven other -archer captains were also men of great renown; among them were Egbert of -Kent and William of Southampton; but those first named were most famous -of all. The noise of many voices in talk and laughter came from within -the booths, and in and out ran the attendants like ants about an ant-hill. -Some bore ale and beer, and some bundles of bowstrings or sheaves -of arrows. On each side of the archery range were rows upon rows of -seats reaching high aloft, and in the center of the north side was a -raised dais for the King and Queen, shaded by canvas of gay colors, and -hung about with streaming silken pennants of red and blue and green and -white. As yet the King and Queen had not come, but all the other -benches were full of people, rising head above head high aloft till it -made the eye dizzy to look upon them. Eightscore yards distant from the -mark from which the archers were to shoot stood ten fair targets, each -target marked by a flag of the color belonging to the band that was to -shoot thereat. So all was ready for the coming of the King and Queen. - -At last a great blast of bugles sounded, and into the meadow came riding -six trumpeters with silver trumpets, from which hung velvet banners -heavy with rich workings of silver and gold thread. Behind these came -stout King Henry upon a dapple-gray stallion, with his Queen beside him -upon a milk-white palfrey. On either side of them walked the yeomen of -the guard, the bright sunlight flashing from the polished blades of the -steel halberds they carried. Behind these came the Court in a great -crowd, so that presently all the lawn was alive with bright colors, with -silk and velvet, with waving plumes and gleaming gold, with flashing -jewels and sword hilts; a gallant sight on that bright summer day. - -Then all the people arose and shouted, so that their voices sounded like -the storm upon the Cornish coast, when the dark waves run upon the shore -and leap and break, surging amid the rocks; so, amid the roaring and the -surging of the people, and the waving of scarfs and kerchiefs, the King -and Queen came to their place, and, getting down from their horses, -mounted the broad stairs that led to the raised platform, and there took -their seats on two thrones bedecked with purple silks and cloths of -silver and of gold. - -When all was quiet a bugle sounded, and straightway the archers came -marching in order from their tents. Fortyscore they were in all, as -stalwart a band of yeomen as could be found in all the wide world. So -they came in orderly fashion and stood in front of the dais where King -Henry and his Queen sat. King Henry looked up and down their ranks -right proudly, for his heart warmed within him at the sight of such a -gallant band of yeomen. Then he bade his herald Sir Hugh de Mowbray -stand forth and proclaim the rules governing the game. So Sir Hugh -stepped to the edge of the platform and spoke in a loud clear voice, and -thus he said: - -That each man should shoot seven arrows at the target that belonged to -his band, and, of the fourscore yeomen of each band, the three that shot -the best should be chosen. These three should shoot three arrows -apiece, and the one that shot the best should again be chosen. Then each -of these should again shoot three arrows apiece, and the one that shot -the best should have the first prize, the one that shot the next best -should have the second, and the one that shot the next best should have -the third prize. Each of the others should have fourscore silver pennies -for his shooting. The first prize was to be twoscore and ten golden -pounds, a silver bugle horn inlaid with gold, and a quiver with ten -white arrows tipped with gold and feathered with the white swan's-wing -therein. The second prize was to be fivescore of the fattest bucks that -run on Dallen Lea, to be shot when the yeoman that won them chose. The -third prize was to be two tuns of good Rhenish wine. - -So Sir Hugh spoke, and when he had done all the archers waved their bows -aloft and shouted. Then each band turned and marched in order back to -its place. - -And now the shooting began, the captains first taking stand and speeding -their shafts and then making room for the men who shot, each in turn, -after them. Two hundred and eighty score shafts were shot in all, and -so deftly were they sped that when the shooting was done each target -looked like the back of a hedgehog when the farm dog snuffs at it. A -long time was taken in this shooting, and when it was over the judges -came forward, looked carefully at the targets, and proclaimed in a loud -voice which three had shot the best from the separate bands. Then a -great hubbub of voices arose, each man among the crowd that looked on -calling for his favorite archer. Then ten fresh targets were brought -forward, and every sound was hushed as the archers took their places -once more. - -This time the shooting was more speedily done, for only nine shafts were -shot by each band. Not an arrow missed the targets, but in that of -Gilbert of the White Hand five arrows were in the small white spot that -marked the center; of these five three were sped by Gilbert. Then the -judges came forward again, and looking at the targets, called aloud the -names of the archer chosen as the best bowman of each band. Of these -Gilbert of the White Hand led, for six of the ten arrows he had shot had -lodged in the center; but stout Tepus and young Clifton trod close upon -his heels; yet the others stood a fair chance for the second or third -place. - -And now, amid the roaring of the crowd, those ten stout fellows that -were left went back to their tents to rest for a while and change their -bowstrings, for nought must fail at this next round, and no hand must -tremble or eye grow dim because of weariness. - -Then while the deep buzz and hum of talking sounded all around like the -noise of the wind in the leafy forest, Queen Eleanor turned to the King, -and quoth she, "Thinkest thou that these yeomen so chosen are the very -best archers in all merry England?" - -"Yea, truly," said the King, smiling, for he was well pleased with the -sport that he had seen; "and I tell thee, that not only are they the -best archers in all merry England, but in all the wide world beside." - -"But what wouldst thou say," quoth Queen Eleanor, "if I were to find -three archers to match the best three yeomen of all thy guard?" - -"I would say thou hast done what I could not do," said the King, -laughing, "for I tell thee there lives not in all the world three -archers to match Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton of Buckinghamshire." - -"Now," said the Queen, "I know of three yeomen, and in truth I have seen -them not long since, that I would not fear to match against any three -that thou canst choose from among all thy fortyscore archers; and, -moreover, I will match them here this very day. But I will only match -them with thy archers providing that thou wilt grant a free pardon to -all that may come in my behalf." - -At this, the King laughed loud and long. "Truly," said he, "thou art -taking up with strange matters for a queen. If thou wilt bring those -three fellows that thou speakest of, I will promise faithfully to give -them free pardon for forty days, to come or to go wheresoever they -please, nor will I harm a hair of their heads in all that time. -Moreover, if these that thou bringest shoot better than my yeomen, man -for man, they shall have the prizes for themselves according to their -shooting. But as thou hast so taken up of a sudden with sports of this -kind, hast thou a mind for a wager?" - -"Why, in sooth," said Queen Eleanor, laughing, "I know nought of such -matters, but if thou hast a mind to do somewhat in that way, I will -strive to pleasure thee. What wilt thou wager upon thy men?" - -Then the merry King laughed again, for he dearly loved goodly jest; so -he said, amidst his laughter, "I will wager thee ten tuns of Rhenish -wine, ten tuns of the stoutest ale, and tenscore bows of tempered -Spanish yew, with quivers and arrows to match." - -All that stood around smiled at this, for it seemed a merry wager for a -king to give to a queen; but Queen Eleanor bowed her head quietly. "I -will take thy wager," said she, "for I know right well where to place -those things that thou hast spoken of. Now, who will be on my side in -this matter?" And she looked around upon them that stood about; but no -one spake or cared to wager upon the Queen's side against such archers -as Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton. Then the Queen spoke again, "Now, who -will back me in this wager? Wilt thou, my Lord Bishop of Hereford?" - -"Nay," quoth the Bishop hastily, "it ill befits one of my cloth to deal -in such matters. Moreover, there are no such archers as His Majesty's -in all the world; therefore I would but lose my money. - -"Methinks the thought of thy gold weigheth more heavily with thee than -the wrong to thy cloth," said the Queen, smiling, and at this a ripple -of laughter went around, for everyone knew how fond the Bishop was of -his money. Then the Queen turned to a knight who stood near, whose name -was Sir Robert Lee. "Wilt thou back me in this manner?" said she. "Thou -art surely rich enough to risk so much for the sake of a lady." - -"To pleasure my Queen I will do it," said Sir Robert Lee, "but for the -sake of no other in all the world would I wager a groat, for no man can -stand against Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton." - -Then turning to the King, Queen Eleanor said, "I want no such aid as Sir -Robert giveth me; but against thy wine and beer and stout bows of yew I -wager this girdle all set with jewels from around my waist; and surely -that is worth more than thine." - -"Now, I take thy wager," quoth the King. "Send for thy archers -straightway. But here come forth the others; let them shoot, and then I -will match those that win against all the world." - -"So be it," said the Queen. Thereupon, beckoning to young Richard -Partington, she whispered something in his ear, and straightway the Page -bowed and left the place, crossing the meadow to the other side of the -range, where he was presently lost in the crowd. At this, all that stood -around whispered to one another, wondering what it all meant, and what -three men the Queen was about to set against those famous archers of the -King's guard. - -And now the ten archers of the King's guard took their stand again, and -all the great crowd was hushed to the stillness of death. Slowly and -carefully each man shot his shafts, and so deep was the silence that you -could hear every arrow rap against the target as it struck it. Then, -when the last shaft had sped, a great roar went up; and the shooting, I -wot, was well worthy of the sound. Once again Gilbert had lodged three -arrows in the white; Tepus came second with two in the white and one in -the black ring next to it; but stout Clifton had gone down and Hubert of -Suffolk had taken the third place, for, while both those two good yeomen -had lodged two in the white, Clifton had lost one shot upon the fourth -ring, and Hubert came in with one in the third. - -All the archers around Gilbert's booth shouted for joy till their -throats were hoarse, tossing their caps aloft, and shaking hands with -one another. - -In the midst of all the noise and hubbub five men came walking across -the lawn toward the King's pavilion. The first was Richard Partington, -and was known to most folk there, but the others were strange to -everybody. Beside young Partington walked a yeoman clad in blue, and -behind came three others, two in Lincoln green and one in scarlet. This -last yeoman carried three stout bows of yew tree, two fancifully inlaid -with silver and one with gold. While these five men came walking across -the meadow, a messenger came running from the King's booth and summoned -Gilbert and Tepus and Hubert to go with him. And now the shouting -quickly ceased, for all saw that something unwonted was toward, so the -folk stood up in their places and leaned forward to see what was the -ado. - -When Partington and the others came before the spot where the King and -Queen sat, the four yeomen bent their knees and doffed their caps unto -her. King Henry leaned far forward and stared at them closely, but the -Bishop of Hereford, when he saw their faces, started as though stung by -a wasp. He opened his mouth as though about to speak, but, looking up, -he saw the Queen gazing at him with a smile upon her lips, so he said -nothing, but bit his nether lip, while his face was as red as a cherry. - -Then the Queen leaned forward and spake in a clear voice. "Locksley," -said she, "I have made a wager with the King that thou and two of thy -men can outshoot any three that he can send against you. Wilt thou do -thy best for my sake?" - -"Yea," quoth Robin Hood, to whom she spake, "I will do my best for thy -sake, and, if I fail, I make my vow never to finger bowstring more." - -Now, although Little John had been somewhat abashed in the Queen's -bower, he felt himself the sturdy fellow he was when the soles of his -feet pressed green grass again; so he said boldly, "Now, blessings on -thy sweet face, say I. An there lived a man that would not do his best -for thee--I will say nought, only I would like to have the cracking of -his knave's pate! - -"Peace, Little John!" said Robin Hood hastily, in a low voice; but good -Queen Eleanor laughed aloud, and a ripple of merriment sounded all over -the booth. - -The Bishop of Hereford did not laugh, neither did the King, but he -turned to the Queen, and quoth he, "Who are these men that thou hast -brought before us?" - -Then up spoke the Bishop hastily, for he could hold his peace no longer: -"Your Majesty," quoth he, "yon fellow in blue is a certain outlawed -thief of the mid-country, named Robin Hood; yon tall, strapping villain -goeth by the name of Little John; the other fellow in green is a certain -backsliding gentleman, known as Will Scarlet; the man in red is a rogue -of a northern minstrel, named Allan a Dale." - -At this speech the King's brows drew together blackly, and he turned to -the Queen. "Is this true?" said he sternly. - -"Yea," said the Queen, smiling, "the Bishop hath told the truth; and -truly he should know them well, for he and two of his friars spent three -days in merry sport with Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. I did little -think that the good Bishop would so betray his friends. But bear in mind -that thou hast pledged thy promise for the safety of these good yeomen -for forty days." - -"I will keep my promise," said the King, in a deep voice that showed the -anger in his heart, "but when these forty days are gone let this outlaw -look to himself, for mayhap things will not go so smoothly with him as -he would like." Then he turned to his archers, who stood near the -Sherwood yeomen, listening and wondering at all that passed. Quoth he, -"Gilbert, and thou, Tepus, and thou, Hubert, I have pledged myself that -ye shall shoot against these three fellows. If ye outshoot the knaves I -will fill your caps with silver pennies; if ye fail ye shall lose your -prizes that ye have won so fairly, and they go to them that shoot -against you, man to man. Do your best, lads, and if ye win this bout ye -shall be glad of it to the last days of your life. Go, now, and get you -gone to the butts." - -Then the three archers of the King turned and went back to their booths, -and Robin and his men went to their places at the mark from which they -were to shoot. Then they strung their bows and made themselves ready, -looking over their quivers of arrows, and picking out the roundest and -the best feathered. - -But when the King's archers went to their tents, they told their friends -all that had passed, and how that these four men were the famous Robin -Hood and three of his band, to wit, Little John, Will Scarlet, and Allan -a Dale. The news of this buzzed around among the archers in the booths, -for there was not a man there that had not heard of these great -mid-country yeomen. From the archers the news was taken up by the crowd -that looked on at the shooting, so that at last everybody stood up, -craning their necks to catch sight of the famous outlaws. - -Six fresh targets were now set up, one for each man that was to shoot; -whereupon Gilbert and Tepus and Hubert came straightway forth from the -booths. Then Robin Hood and Gilbert of the White Hand tossed a farthing -aloft to see who should lead in the shooting, and the lot fell to -Gilbert's side; thereupon he called upon Hubert of Suffolk to lead. - -Hubert took his place, planted his foot firmly, and fitted a fair, -smooth arrow; then, breathing upon his fingertips, he drew the string -slowly and carefully. The arrow sped true, and lodged in the white; -again he shot, and again he hit the clout; a third shaft he sped, but -this time failed of the center, and but struck the black, yet not more -than a finger's-breadth from the white. At this a shout went up, for it -was the best shooting that Hubert had yet done that day. - -Merry Robin laughed, and quoth he, "Thou wilt have an ill time bettering -that round, Will, for it is thy turn next. Brace thy thews, lad, and -bring not shame upon Sherwood." - -Then Will Scarlet took his place; but, because of overcaution, he -spoiled his target with the very first arrow that he sped, for he hit -the next ring to the black, the second from the center. At this Robin -bit his lips. "Lad, lad," quoth he, "hold not the string so long! Have -I not often told thee what Gaffer Swanthold sayeth, that 'overcaution -spilleth the milk'?" To this Will Scarlet took heed, so the next arrow -he shot lodged fairly in the center ring; again he shot, and again he -smote the center; but, for all that, stout Hubert had outshot him, and -showed the better target. Then all those that looked on clapped their -hands for joy because that Hubert had overcome the stranger. - -Quoth the King grimly, to the Queen, "If thy archers shoot no better -than that, thou art like to lose thy wager, lady." But Queen Eleanor -smiled, for she looked for better things from Robin Hood and Little -John. - -And now Tepus took his place to shoot. He, also, took overheed to what -he was about, and so he fell into Will Scarlet's error. The first arrow -he struck into the center ring, but the second missed its mark, and -smote the black; the last arrow was tipped with luck, for it smote the -very center of the clout, upon the black spot that marked it. Quoth -Robin Hood, "That is the sweetest shot that hath been sped this day; -but, nevertheless, friend Tepus, thy cake is burned, methinks. Little -John, it is thy turn next." - -So Little John took his place as bidden, and shot his three arrows -quickly. He never lowered his bow arm in all the shooting, but fitted -each shaft with his longbow raised; yet all three of his arrows smote -the center within easy distance of the black. At this no sound of -shouting was heard, for, although it was the best shooting that had been -done that day, the folk of London Town did not like to see the stout -Tepus overcome by a fellow from the countryside, even were he as famous -as Little John. - -And now stout Gilbert of the White Hand took his place and shot with the -greatest care; and again, for the third time in one day, he struck all -three shafts into the clout. - -"Well done, Gilbert!" quoth Robin Hood, smiting him upon the shoulder. -"I make my vow, thou art one of the best archers that ever mine eyes -beheld. Thou shouldst be a free and merry ranger like us, lad, for thou -art better fitted for the greenwood than for the cobblestones and gray -walls of London Town." So saying, he took his place, and drew a fair, -round arrow from his quiver, which he turned over and over ere he fitted -it to his bowstring. - -Then the King muttered in his beard, "Now, blessed Saint Hubert, if thou -wilt but jog that rogue's elbow so as to make him smite even the second -ring, I will give eightscore waxen candles three fingers'-breadth in -thickness to thy chapel nigh Matching." But it may be Saint Hubert's -ears were stuffed with tow, for he seemed not to hear the King's prayer -this day. - -Having gotten three shafts to his liking, merry Robin looked carefully -to his bowstring ere he shot. "Yea," quoth he to Gilbert, who stood -nigh him to watch his shooting, "thou shouldst pay us a visit at merry -Sherwood." Here he drew the bowstring to his ear. "In London"--here he -loosed his shaft--"thou canst find nought to shoot at but rooks and -daws; there one can tickle the ribs of the noblest stags in England." -So he shot even while he talked, yet the shaft lodged not more than half -an inch from the very center. - -"By my soul!" cried Gilbert. "Art thou the devil in blue, to shoot in -that wise?" - -"Nay," quoth Robin, laughing, "not quite so ill as that, I trust." And -he took up another shaft and fitted it to the string. Again he shot, and -again he smote his arrow close beside the center; a third time he loosed -his bowstring and dropped his arrow just betwixt the other two and into -the very center, so that the feathers of all three were ruffled -together, seeming from a distance to be one thick shaft. - -And now a low murmur ran all among that great crowd, for never before -had London seen such shooting as this; and never again would it see it -after Robin Hood's day had gone. All saw that the King's archers were -fairly beaten, and stout Gilbert clapped his palm to Robin's, owning -that he could never hope to draw such a bowstring as Robin Hood or -Little John. But the King, full of wrath, would not have it so, though -he knew in his mind that his men could not stand against those fellows. -"Nay!" cried he, clenching his hands upon the arms of his seat, "Gilbert -is not yet beaten! Did he not strike the clout thrice? Although I have -lost my wager, he hath not yet lost the first prize. They shall shoot -again, and still again, till either he or that knave Robin Hood cometh -off the best. Go thou, Sir Hugh, and bid them shoot another round, and -another, until one or the other is overcome." Then Sir Hugh, seeing how -wroth the King was, said never a word, but went straightway to do his -bidding; so he came to where Robin Hood and the other stood, and told -them what the King had said. - -"With all my heart," quoth merry Robin, "I will shoot from this time -till tomorrow day if it can pleasure my most gracious lord and King. -Take thy place, Gilbert lad, and shoot." - -So Gilbert took his place once more, but this time he failed, for, a -sudden little wind arising, his shaft missed the center ring, but by not -more than the breadth of a barley straw. - -"Thy eggs are cracked, Gilbert," quoth Robin, laughing; and straightway -he loosed a shaft, and once more smote the white circle of the center. - -Then the King arose from his place, and not a word said he, but he -looked around with a baleful look, and it would have been an ill day for -anyone that he saw with a joyous or a merry look upon his face. Then he -and his Queen and all the court left the place, but the King's heart was -brimming full of wrath. - -After the King had gone, all the yeomen of the archer guard came -crowding around Robin, and Little John, and Will, and Allan, to snatch a -look at these famous fellows from the mid-country; and with them came -many that had been onlookers at the sport, for the same purpose. Thus -it happened presently that the yeomen, to whom Gilbert stood talking, -were all surrounded by a crowd of people that formed a ring about them. - -After a while the three judges that had the giving away of the prizes -came forward, and the chief of them all spake to Robin and said, -"According to agreement, the first prize belongeth rightly to thee; so -here I give thee the silver bugle, here the quiver of ten golden arrows, -and here a purse of twoscore and ten golden pounds." And as he spake he -handed those things to Robin, and then turned to Little John. "To -thee," he said, "belongeth the second prize, to wit, fivescore of the -finest harts that run on Dallen Lea. Thou mayest shoot them whensoever -thou dost list." Last of all he turned to stout Hubert. "Thou," said -he, "hast held thine own against the yeomen with whom thou didst shoot, -and so thou hast kept the prize duly thine, to wit, two tuns of good -Rhenish wine. These shall be delivered to thee whensoever thou dost -list." Then he called upon the other seven of the King's archers who had -last shot, and gave each fourscore silver pennies. - -Then up spake Robin, and quoth he, "This silver bugle I keep in honor of -this shooting match; but thou, Gilbert, art the best archer of all the -King's guard, and to thee I freely give this purse of gold. Take it, -man, and would it were ten times as much, for thou art a right yeoman, -good and true. Furthermore, to each of the ten that last shot I give -one of these golden shafts apiece. Keep them always by you, so that ye -may tell your grandchildren, an ye are ever blessed with them, that ye -are the very stoutest yeomen in all the wide world." - -At this all shouted aloud, for it pleased them to hear Robin speak so of -them. - -Then up spake Little John. "Good friend Tepus," said he, "I want not -those harts of Dallen Lea that yon stout judge spoke of but now, for in -truth we have enow and more than enow in our own country. Twoscore and -ten I give to thee for thine own shooting, and five I give to each band -for their pleasure." - -At this another great shout went up, and many tossed their caps aloft, -and swore among themselves that no better fellows ever walked the sod -than Robin Hood and his stout yeomen. - -While they so shouted with loud voices, a tall burly yeoman of the -King's guard came forward and plucked Robin by the sleeve. "Good -master," quoth he, "I have somewhat to tell thee in thine ear; a silly -thing, God wot, for one stout yeoman to tell another; but a young -peacock of a page, one Richard Partington, was seeking thee without -avail in the crowd, and, not being able to find thee, told me that he -bore a message to thee from a certain lady that thou wottest of. This -message he bade me tell thee privily, word for word, and thus it was. -Let me see--I trust I have forgot it not--yea, thus it was: 'The lion -growls. Beware thy head.'" - -"Is it so?" quoth Robin, starting; for he knew right well that it was -the Queen sent the message, and that she spake of the King's wrath. -"Now, I thank thee, good fellow, for thou hast done me greater service -than thou knowest of this day." Then he called his three yeomen -together and told them privately that they had best be jogging, as it -was like to be ill for them so nigh merry London Town. So, without -tarrying longer, they made their way through the crowd until they had -come out from the press. Then, without stopping, they left London Town -and started away northward. - - - - -The Chase of Robin Hood - -SO ROBIN HOOD and the others left the archery range at Finsbury Fields, -and, tarrying not, set forth straightway upon their homeward journey. It -was well for them that they did so, for they had not gone more than -three or four miles upon their way when six of the yeomen of the King's -guard came bustling among the crowd that still lingered, seeking for -Robin and his men, to seize upon them and make them prisoners. Truly, it -was an ill-done thing in the King to break his promise, but it all came -about through the Bishop of Hereford's doing, for thus it happened: - -After the King left the archery ground, he went straightway to his -cabinet, and with him went the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Robert Lee; -but the King said never a word to these two, but sat gnawing his nether -lip, for his heart was galled within him by what had happened. At last -the Bishop of Hereford spoke, in a low, sorrowful voice: "It is a sad -thing, Your Majesty, that this knavish outlaw should be let to escape in -this wise; for, let him but get back to Sherwood Forest safe and sound, -and he may snap his fingers at king and king's men." - -At these words the King raised his eyes and looked grimly upon the -Bishop. "Sayst thou so?" quoth he. "Now, I will show thee, in good -time, how much thou dost err, for, when the forty days are past and -gone, I will seize upon this thieving outlaw, if I have to tear down all -of Sherwood to find him. Thinkest thou that the laws of the King of -England are to be so evaded by one poor knave without friends or money?" - -Then the Bishop spoke again, in his soft, smooth voice: - -"Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, and believe that I have nought but -the good of England and Your Majesty's desirings at heart; but what -would it boot though my gracious lord did root up every tree of -Sherwood? Are there not other places for Robin Hood's hiding? Cannock -Chase is not far from Sherwood, and the great Forest of Arden is not far -from Cannock Chase. Beside these are many other woodlands in Nottingham -and Derby, Lincoln and York, amid any of which Your Majesty might as -well think to seize upon Robin Hood as to lay finger upon a rat among -the dust and broken things of a garret. Nay, my gracious lord, if he -doth once plant foot in the woodland, he is lost to the law forever." - -At these words the King tapped his fingertips upon the table beside him -with vexation. "What wouldst thou have me do, Bishop?" quoth he. "Didst -thou not hear me pledge my word to the Queen? Thy talk is as barren as -the wind from the bellows upon dead coals." - -"Far be it from me," said the cunning Bishop, "to point the way to one -so clear-sighted as Your Majesty; but, were I the King of England, I -should look upon the matter in this wise: I have promised my Queen, let -us say, that for forty days the cunningest rogue in all England shall -have freedom to come and go; but, lo! I find this outlaw in my grasp; -shall I, then, foolishly cling to a promise so hastily given? Suppose -that I had promised to do Her Majesty's bidding, whereupon she bade me -to slay myself; should I, then, shut mine eyes and run blindly upon my -sword? Thus would I argue within myself. Moreover, I would say unto -myself, a woman knoweth nought of the great things appertaining to state -government; and, likewise, I know a woman is ever prone to take up a -fancy, even as she would pluck a daisy from the roadside, and then throw -it away when the savor is gone; therefore, though she hath taken a fancy -to this outlaw, it will soon wane away and be forgotten. As for me, I -have the greatest villain in all England in my grasp; shall I, then, -open my hand and let him slip betwixt my fingers? Thus, Your Majesty, -would I say to myself, were I the King of England." So the Bishop -talked, and the King lent his ear to his evil counsel, until, after a -while, he turned to Sir Robert Lee and bade him send six of the yeomen -of the guard to take Robin Hood and his three men prisoners. - -Now Sir Robert Lee was a gentle and noble knight, and he felt grieved to -the heart to see the King so break his promise; nevertheless, he said -nothing, for he saw how bitterly the King was set against Robin Hood; -but he did not send the yeomen of the guard at once, but went first to -the Queen, and told her all that had passed, and bade her send word to -Robin of his danger. This he did not for the well-being of Robin Hood, -but because he would save his lord's honor if he could. Thus it came -about that when, after a while, the yeomen of the guard went to the -archery field, they found not Robin and the others, and so got no cakes -at that fair. - -The afternoon was already well-nigh gone when Robin Hood, Little John, -Will, and Allan set forth upon their homeward way, trudging along -merrily through the yellow slanting light, which speedily changed to -rosy red as the sun sank low in the heavens. The shadows grew long, and -finally merged into the grayness of the mellow twilight. The dusty -highway lay all white betwixt the dark hedgerows, and along it walked -four fellows like four shadows, the pat of their feet sounding loud, and -their voices, as they talked, ringing clear upon the silence of the air. -The great round moon was floating breathlessly up in the eastern sky -when they saw before them the twinkling lights of Barnet Town, some ten -or twelve miles from London. Down they walked through the stony streets -and past the cosy houses with overhanging gables, before the doors of -which sat the burghers and craftsmen in the mellow moonlight, with their -families about them, and so came at last, on the other side of the -hamlet, to a little inn, all shaded with roses and woodbines. Before -this inn Robin Hood stopped, for the spot pleased him well. Quoth he, -"Here will we take up our inn and rest for the night, for we are well -away from London Town and our King's wrath. Moreover, if I mistake not, -we will find sweet faring within. What say ye, lads?" - -"In sooth, good master," quoth Little John, "thy bidding and my doing -ever fit together like cakes and ale. Let us in, I say also." - -Then up spake Will Scarlet: "I am ever ready to do what thou sayest, -uncle, yet I could wish that we were farther upon our way ere we rest -for the night. Nevertheless, if thou thinkest best, let us in for the -night, say I also." - -So in they went and called for the best that the place afforded. Then a -right good feast was set before them, with two stout bottles of old sack -to wash it down withal. These things were served by as plump and buxom -a lass as you could find in all the land, so that Little John, who -always had an eye for a fair lass, even when meat and drink were by, -stuck his arms akimbo and fixed his eyes upon her, winking sweetly -whenever he saw her looking toward him. Then you should have seen how -the lass twittered with laughter, and how she looked at Little John out -of the corners of her eyes, a dimple coming in either cheek; for the -fellow had always a taking way with the womenfolk. - -So the feast passed merrily, and never had that inn seen such lusty -feeders as these four stout fellows; but at last they were done their -eating, though it seemed as though they never would have ended, and sat -loitering over the sack. As they so sat, the landlord came in of a -sudden, and said that there was one at the door, a certain young -esquire, Richard Partington, of the Queen's household, who wished to see -the lad in blue, and speak with him, without loss of time. So Robin -arose quickly, and, bidding the landlord not to follow him, left the -others gazing at one another, and wondering what was about to happen. - -When Robin came out of the inn, he found young Richard Partington -sitting upon his horse in the white moonlight, awaiting his coming. - -"What news bearest thou, Sir Page?" said Robin. "I trust that it is not -of an ill nature." - -"Why," said young Partington, "for the matter of that, it is ill enow. -The King hath been bitterly stirred up against thee by that vile Bishop -of Hereford. He sent to arrest thee at the archery butts at Finsbury -Fields, but not finding thee there, he hath gathered together his armed -men, fiftyscore and more, and is sending them in haste along this very -road to Sherwood, either to take thee on the way or to prevent thy -getting back to the woodlands again. He hath given the Bishop of -Hereford command over all these men, and thou knowest what thou hast to -expect of the Bishop of Hereford--short shrift and a long rope. Two -bands of horsemen are already upon the road, not far behind me, so thou -hadst best get thee gone from this place straightway, for, if thou -tarriest longer, thou art like to sleep this night in a cold dungeon. -This word the Queen hath bidden me bring to thee." - -"Now, Richard Partington," quoth Robin, "this is the second time that -thou hast saved my life, and if the proper time ever cometh I will show -thee that Robin Hood never forgets these things. As for that Bishop of -Hereford, if I ever catch him nigh to Sherwood again, things will be -like to go ill with him. Thou mayst tell the good Queen that I will -leave this place without delay, and will let the landlord think that we -are going to Saint Albans; but when we are upon the highroad again, I -will go one way through the country and will send my men the other, so -that if one falleth into the King's hands the others may haply escape. -We will go by devious ways, and so, I hope, will reach Sherwood in -safety. And now, Sir Page, I wish thee farewell." - -"Farewell, thou bold yeoman," said young Partington, "and mayst thou -reach thy hiding in safety." So each shook the other's hand, and the -lad, turning his horse's head, rode back toward London, while Robin -entered the inn once more. - -There he found his yeomen sitting in silence, waiting his coming; -likewise the landlord was there, for he was curious to know what Master -Partington had to do with the fellow in blue. "Up, my merry men!" quoth -Robin, "this is no place for us, for those are after us with whom we -will stand but an ill chance an we fall into their hands. So we will go -forward once more, nor will we stop this night till we reach Saint -Albans." Hereupon, taking out his purse, he paid the landlord his -score, and so they left the inn. - -When they had come to the highroad without the town, Robin stopped and -told them all that had passed between young Partington and himself, and -how that the King's men were after them with hot heels. Then he told -them that here they should part company; they three going to the -eastward and he to the westward, and so, skirting the main highroads, -would come by devious paths to Sherwood. "So, be ye wily," said Robin -Hood, "and keep well away from the northward roads till ye have gotten -well to the eastward. And thou, Will Scarlet, take the lead of the -others, for thou hast a cunning turn to thy wits." Then Robin kissed the -three upon the cheeks, and they kissed him, and so they parted company. - -Not long after this, a score or more of the King's men came clattering -up to the door of the inn at Barnet Town. Here they leaped from their -horses and quickly surrounded the place, the leader of the band and four -others entering the room where the yeomen had been. But they found that -their birds had flown again, and that the King had been balked a second -time. - -"Methought that they were naughty fellows," said the host, when he heard -whom the men-at-arms sought. "But I heard that blue-clad knave say that -they would go straight forward to Saint Albans; so, an ye hurry forward, -ye may, perchance, catch them on the highroad betwixt here and there." -For this news the leader of the band thanked mine host right heartily, -and, calling his men together, mounted and set forth again, galloping -forward to Saint Albans upon a wild goose chase. - -After Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale had left the highway -near garnet, they traveled toward the eastward, without stopping, as -long as their legs could carry them, until they came to Chelmsford, in -Essex. Thence they turned northward, and came through Cambridge and -Lincolnshire, to the good town of Gainsborough. Then, striking to the -westward and the south, they came at last to the northern borders of -Sherwood Forest, without in all that time having met so much as a single -band of the King's men. Eight days they journeyed thus ere they reached -the woodlands in safety, but when they got to the greenwood glade, they -found that Robin had not yet returned. - -For Robin was not as lucky in getting back as his men had been, as you -shall presently hear. - -After having left the great northern road, he turned his face to the -westward, and so came past Aylesbury, to fair Woodstock, in Oxfordshire. -Thence he turned his footsteps northward, traveling for a great distance -by way of Warwick Town, till he came to Dudley, in Staffordshire. Seven -days it took him to journey thus far, and then he thought he had gotten -far enough to the north, so, turning toward the eastward, shunning the -main roads, and choosing byways and grassy lanes, he went, by way of -Litchfield and Ashby de la Zouch, toward Sherwood, until he came to a -place called Stanton. And now Robin's heart began to laugh aloud, for -he thought that his danger had gone by, and that his nostrils would soon -snuff the spicy air of the woodlands once again. But there is many a -slip betwixt the cup and the lip, and this Robin was to find. For thus -it was: - -When the King's men found themselves foiled at Saint Albans, and that -Robin and his men were not to be found high nor low, they knew not what -to do. Presently another band of horsemen came, and another, until all -the moonlit streets were full of armed men. Betwixt midnight and dawn -another band came to the town, and with them came the Bishop of -Hereford. When he heard that Robin Hood had once more slipped out of -the trap, he stayed not a minute, but, gathering his bands together, he -pushed forward to the northward with speed, leaving orders for all the -troops that came to Saint Albans to follow after him without tarrying. -On the evening of the fourth day he reached Nottingham Town, and there -straightway divided his men into bands of six or seven, and sent them -all through the countryside, blocking every highway and byway to the -eastward and the southward and the westward of Sherwood. The Sheriff of -Nottingham called forth all his men likewise, and joined with the -Bishop, for he saw that this was the best chance that had ever befallen -of paying back his score in full to Robin Hood. Will Scarlet and Little -John and Allan a Dale had just missed the King's men to the eastward, -for the very next day after they had passed the line and entered -Sherwood the roads through which they had traveled were blocked, so -that, had they tarried in their journeying, they would surely have -fallen into the Bishop's hands. - -But of all this Robin knew not a whit; so he whistled merrily as he -trudged along the road beyond Stanton, with his heart as free from care -as the yolk of an egg is from cobwebs. At last he came to where a -little stream spread across the road in a shallow sheet, tinkling and -sparkling as it fretted over its bed of golden gravel. Here Robin -stopped, being athirst, and, kneeling down, he made a cup of the palms -of his hands, and began to drink. On either side of the road, for a long -distance, stood tangled thickets of bushes and young trees, and it -pleased Robin's heart to hear the little birds singing therein, for it -made him think of Sherwood, and it seemed as though it had been a -lifetime since he had breathed the air of the woodlands. But of a -sudden, as he thus stooped, drinking, something hissed past his ear, and -struck with a splash into the gravel and water beside him. Quick as a -wink Robin sprang to his feet, and, at one bound, crossed the stream and -the roadside, and plunged headlong into the thicket, without looking -around, for he knew right well that that which had hissed so venomously -beside his ear was a gray goose shaft, and that to tarry so much as a -moment meant death. Even as he leaped into the thicket six more arrows -rattled among the branches after him, one of which pierced his doublet, -and would have struck deeply into his side but for the tough coat of -steel that he wore. Then up the road came riding some of the King's men -at headlong speed. They leaped from their horses and plunged -straightway into the thicket after Robin. But Robin knew the ground -better than they did, so crawling here, stooping there, and, anon, -running across some little open, he soon left them far behind, coming -out, at last, upon another road about eight hundred paces distant from -the one he had left. Here he stood for a moment, listening to the -distant shouts of the seven men as they beat up and down in the thickets -like hounds that had lost the scent of the quarry. Then, buckling his -belt more tightly around his waist, he ran fleetly down the road toward -the eastward and Sherwood. - -But Robin had not gone more than three furlongs in that direction when -he came suddenly to the brow of a hill, and saw beneath him another band -of the King's men seated in the shade along the roadside in the valley -beneath. Then he paused not a moment, but, seeing that they had not -caught sight of him, he turned and ran back whence he had come, knowing -that it was better to run the chance of escaping those fellows that were -yet in the thickets than to rush into the arms of those in the valley. -So back he ran with all speed, and had gotten safely past the thickets, -when the seven men came forth into the open road. They raised a great -shout when they saw him, such as the hunter gives when the deer breaks -cover, but Robin was then a quarter of a mile and more away from them, -coursing over the ground like a greyhound. He never slackened his pace, -but ran along, mile after mile, till he had come nigh to Mackworth, over -beyond the Derwent River, nigh to Derby Town. Here, seeing that he was -out of present danger, he slackened in his running, and at last sat him -down beneath a hedge where the grass was the longest and the shade the -coolest, there to rest and catch his wind. "By my soul, Robin," quoth -he to himself, "that was the narrowest miss that e'er thou hadst in all -thy life. I do say most solemnly that the feather of that wicked shaft -tickled mine ear as it whizzed past. This same running hath given me a -most craving appetite for victuals and drink. Now I pray Saint Dunstan -that he send me speedily some meat and beer." - -It seemed as though Saint Dunstan was like to answer his prayer, for -along the road came plodding a certain cobbler, one Quince, of Derby, -who had been to take a pair of shoes to a farmer nigh Kirk Langly, and -was now coming back home again, with a fair boiled capon in his pouch -and a stout pottle of beer by his side, which same the farmer had given -him for joy of such a stout pair of shoon. Good Quince was an honest -fellow, but his wits were somewhat of the heavy sort, like unbaked -dough, so that the only thing that was in his mind was, "Three shillings -sixpence ha'penny for thy shoon, good Quince--three shillings sixpence -ha'penny for thy shoon," and this traveled round and round inside of his -head, without another thought getting into his noddle, as a pea rolls -round and round inside an empty quart pot. - -"Halloa, good friend," quoth Robin, from beneath the hedge, when the -other had gotten nigh enough, "whither away so merrily this bright day?" - -Hearing himself so called upon, the Cobbler stopped, and, seeing a well- -clad stranger in blue, he spoke to him in seemly wise. "Give ye good -den, fair sir, and I would say that I come from Kirk Langly, where I ha' -sold my shoon and got three shillings sixpence ha'penny for them in as -sweet money as ever thou sawest, and honestly earned too, I would ha' -thee know. But an I may be so bold, thou pretty fellow, what dost thou -there beneath the hedge?" - -"Marry," quoth merry Robin, "I sit beneath the hedge here to drop salt -on the tails of golden birds; but in sooth thou art the first chick of -any worth I ha' seen this blessed day." - -At these words the Cobbler's eyes opened big and wide, and his mouth -grew round with wonder, like a knothole in a board fence. "Slack-a-day," -quoth he, "look ye, now! I ha' never seen those same golden birds. And -dost thou in sooth find them in these hedges, good fellow? Prythee, -tell me, are there many of them? I would fain find them mine own self." - -"Ay, truly," quoth Robin, "they are as thick here as fresh herring in -Cannock Chase." - -"Look ye, now!" said the Cobbler, all drowned in wonder. "And dost thou -in sooth catch them by dropping salt on their pretty tails?" - -"Yea," quoth Robin, "but this salt is of an odd kind, let me tell thee, -for it can only be gotten by boiling down a quart of moonbeams in a -wooden platter, and then one hath but a pinch. But tell me, now, thou -witty man, what hast thou gotten there in that pouch by thy side and in -that pottle?" - -At these words the Cobbler looked down at those things of which merry -Robin spoke, for the thoughts of the golden bird had driven them from -his mind, and it took him some time to scrape the memory of them back -again. "Why," said he at last, "in the one is good March beer, and in -the other is a fat capon. Truly, Quince the Cobbler will ha' a fine -feast this day an I mistake not." - -"But tell me, good Quince," said Robin, "hast thou a mind to sell those -things to me? For the hearing of them sounds sweet in mine ears. I -will give thee these gay clothes of blue that I have upon my body and -ten shillings to boot for thy clothes and thy leather apron and thy beer -and thy capon. What sayst thou, bully boy?" - -"Nay, thou dost jest with me," said the Cobbler, "for my clothes are -coarse and patched, and thine are of fine stuff and very pretty." - -"Never a jest do I speak," quoth Robin. "Come, strip thy jacket off and -I will show thee, for I tell thee I like thy clothes well. Moreover, I -will be kind to thee, for I will feast straightway upon the good things -thou hast with thee, and thou shalt be bidden to the eating." At these -words he began slipping off his doublet, and the Cobbler, seeing him so -in earnest, began pulling off his clothes also, for Robin Hood's garb -tickled his eye. So each put on the other fellow's clothes, and Robin -gave the honest Cobbler ten bright new shillings. Quoth merry Robin, "I -ha' been a many things in my life before, but never have I been an -honest cobbler. Come, friend, let us fall to and eat, for something -within me cackles aloud for that good fat capon." So both sat down and -began to feast right lustily, so that when they were done the bones of -the capon were picked as bare as charity. - -Then Robin stretched his legs out with a sweet feeling of comfort within -him. Quoth he, "By the turn of thy voice, good Quince, I know that thou -hast a fair song or two running loose in thy head like colts in a -meadow. I prythee, turn one of them out for me." - -"A song or two I ha'," quoth the Cobbler, "poor things, poor things, but -such as they are thou art welcome to one of them." So, moistening his -throat with a swallow of beer, he sang: - - "_Of all the joys, the best I love, - Sing hey my frisking Nan, O, - And that which most my soul doth move, - It is the clinking can, O. - - "All other bliss I'd throw away, - Sing hey my frisking Nan, O, - But this_--" - -The stout Cobbler got no further in his song, for of a sudden six -horsemen burst upon them where they sat, and seized roughly upon the -honest craftsman, hauling him to his feet, and nearly plucking the -clothes from him as they did so. "Ha!" roared the leader of the band in -a great big voice of joy, "have we then caught thee at last, thou blue- -clad knave? Now, blessed be the name of Saint Hubert, for we are -fourscore pounds richer this minute than we were before, for the good -Bishop of Hereford hath promised that much to the band that shall bring -thee to him. Oho! thou cunning rascal! thou wouldst look so innocent, -forsooth! We know thee, thou old fox. But off thou goest with us to -have thy brush clipped forthwith." At these words the poor Cobbler gazed -all around him with his great blue eyes as round as those of a dead -fish, while his mouth gaped as though he had swallowed all his words and -so lost his speech. - -Robin also gaped and stared in a wondering way, just as the Cobbler -would have done in his place. "Alack-a-daisy, me," quoth he. "I know -not whether I be sitting here or in No-man's-land! What meaneth all this -stir i' th' pot, dear good gentlemen? Surely this is a sweet, honest -fellow." - -"'Honest fellow,' sayst thou, clown?" quoth one of the men "Why, I tell -thee that this is that same rogue that men call Robin Hood." - -At this speech the Cobbler stared and gaped more than ever, for there -was such a threshing of thoughts going on within his poor head that his -wits were all befogged with the dust and chaff thereof. Moreover, as he -looked at Robin Hood, and saw the yeoman look so like what he knew -himself to be, he began to doubt and to think that mayhap he was the -great outlaw in real sooth. Said he in a slow, wondering voice, "Am I in -very truth that fellow?--Now I had thought--but nay, Quince, thou art -mistook--yet--am I?--Nay, I must indeed be Robin Hood! Yet, truly, I -had never thought to pass from an honest craftsman to such a great -yeoman." - -"Alas!" quoth Robin Hood, "look ye there, now! See how your ill- -treatment hath curdled the wits of this poor lad and turned them all -sour! I, myself, am Quince, the Cobbler of Derby Town." - -"Is it so?" said Quince. "Then, indeed, I am somebody else, and can be -none other than Robin Hood. Take me, fellows; but let me tell you that -ye ha' laid hand upon the stoutest yeoman that ever trod the woodlands." - -"Thou wilt play madman, wilt thou?" said the leader of the band. "Here, -Giles, fetch a cord and bind this knave's hands behind him. I warrant we -will bring his wits back to him again when we get him safe before our -good Bishop at Tutbury Town." Thereupon they tied the Cobbler's hands -behind him, and led him off with a rope, as the farmer leads off the -calf he hath brought from the fair. Robin stood looking after them, and -when they were gone he laughed till the tears rolled down his cheeks; -for he knew that no harm would befall the honest fellow, and he pictured -to himself the Bishop's face when good Quince was brought before him as -Robin Hood. Then, turning his steps once more to the eastward, he -stepped out right foot foremost toward Nottinghamshire and Sherwood -Forest. - -But Robin Hood had gone through more than he wotted of. His journey from -London had been hard and long, and in a se'ennight he had traveled -sevenscore and more of miles. He thought now to travel on without -stopping until he had come to Sherwood, but ere he had gone a half a -score of miles he felt his strength giving way beneath him like a river -bank which the waters have undermined. He sat him down and rested, but -he knew within himself that he could go no farther that day, for his -feet felt like lumps of lead, so heavy were they with weariness. Once -more he arose and went forward, but after traveling a couple of miles he -was fain to give the matter up, so, coming to an inn just then, he -entered and calling the landlord, bade him show him to a room, although -the sun was only then just sinking in the western sky. There were but -three bedrooms in the place, and to the meanest of these the landlord -showed Robin Hood, but little Robin cared for the looks of the place, -for he could have slept that night upon a bed of broken stones. So, -stripping off his clothes without more ado, he rolled into the bed and -was asleep almost ere his head touched the pillow. - -Not long after Robin had so gone to his rest a great cloud peeped -blackly over the hills to the westward. Higher and higher it arose -until it piled up into the night like a mountain of darkness. All around -beneath it came ever and anon a dull red flash, and presently a short -grim mutter of the coming thunder was heard. Then up rode four stout -burghers of Nottingham Town, for this was the only inn within five -miles' distance, and they did not care to be caught in such a -thunderstorm as this that was coming upon them. Leaving their nags to -the stableman, they entered the best room of the inn, where fresh green -rushes lay all spread upon the floor, and there called for the goodliest -fare that the place afforded. After having eaten heartily they bade the -landlord show them to their rooms, for they were aweary, having ridden -all the way from Dronfield that day. So off they went, grumbling at -having to sleep two in a bed, but their troubles on this score, as well -as all others, were soon lost in the quietness of sleep. - -And now came the first gust of wind, rushing past the place, clapping -and banging the doors and shutters, smelling of the coming rain, and all -wrapped in a cloud of dust and leaves. As though the wind had brought a -guest along with it, the door opened of a sudden and in came a friar of -Emmet Priory, and one in high degree, as was shown by the softness and -sleekness of his robes and the richness of his rosary. He called to the -landlord, and bade him first have his mule well fed and bedded in the -stable, and then to bring him the very best there was in the house. So -presently a savory stew of tripe and onions, with sweet little fat -dumplings, was set before him, likewise a good stout pottle of Malmsey, -and straightway the holy friar fell to with great courage and -heartiness, so that in a short time nought was left but a little pool of -gravy in the center of the platter, not large enow to keep the life in a -starving mouse. - -In the meantime the storm broke. Another gust of wind went rushing by, -and with it fell a few heavy drops of rain, which presently came -rattling down in showers, beating against the casements like a hundred -little hands. Bright flashes of lightning lit up every raindrop, and -with them came cracks of thunder that went away rumbling and bumping as -though Saint Swithin were busy rolling great casks of water across rough -ground overhead. The womenfolks screamed, and the merry wags in the -taproom put their arms around their waists to soothe them into -quietness. - -At last the holy friar bade the landlord show him to his room; but when -he heard that he was to bed with a cobbler, he was as ill contented a -fellow as you could find in all England, nevertheless there was nothing -for it, and he must sleep there or nowhere; so, taking up his candle, he -went off, grumbling like the now distant thunder. When he came to the -room where he was to sleep he held the light over Robin and looked at -him from top to toe; then he felt better pleased, for, instead, of a -rough, dirty-bearded fellow, he beheld as fresh and clean a lad as one -could find in a week of Sundays; so, slipping off his clothes, he also -huddled into the bed, where Robin, grunting and grumbling in his sleep, -made room for him. Robin was more sound asleep, I wot, than he had been -for many a day, else he would never have rested so quietly with one of -the friar's sort so close beside him. As for the friar, had he known -who Robin Hood was, you may well believe he would almost as soon have -slept with an adder as with the man he had for a bedfellow. - -So the night passed comfortably enough, but at the first dawn of day -Robin opened his eyes and turned his head upon the pillow. Then how he -gaped and how he stared, for there beside him lay one all shaven and -shorn, so that he knew that it must be a fellow in holy orders. He -pinched himself sharply, but, finding he was awake, sat up in bed, while -the other slumbered as peacefully as though he were safe and sound at -home in Emmet Priory. "Now," quoth Robin to himself, "I wonder how this -thing hath dropped into my bed during the night." So saying, he arose -softly, so as not to waken the other, and looking about the room he -espied the friar's clothes lying upon a bench near the wall. First he -looked at the clothes, with his head on one side, and then he looked at -the friar and slowly winked one eye. Quoth he, "Good Brother What-e'er- -thy-name-may-be, as thou hast borrowed my bed so freely I'll e'en borrow -thy clothes in return." So saying, he straightway donned the holy man's -garb, but kindly left the cobbler's clothes in the place of it. Then he -went forth into the freshness of the morning, and the stableman that was -up and about the stables opened his eyes as though he saw a green mouse -before him, for such men as the friars of Emmet were not wont to be -early risers; but the man bottled his thoughts, and only asked Robin -whether he wanted his mule brought from the stable. - -"Yea, my son," quoth Robin--albeit he knew nought of the mule--"and -bring it forth quickly, I prythee, for I am late and must be jogging." -So presently the stableman brought forth the mule, and Robin mounted it -and went on his way rejoicing. - -As for the holy friar, when he arose he was in as pretty a stew as any -man in all the world, for his rich, soft robes were gone, likewise his -purse with ten golden pounds in it, and nought was left but patched -clothes and a leathern apron. He raged and swore like any layman, but -as his swearing mended nothing and the landlord could not aid him, and -as, moreover, he was forced to be at Emmet Priory that very morning upon -matters of business, he was fain either to don the cobbler's clothes or -travel the road in nakedness. So he put on the clothes, and, still -raging and swearing vengeance against all the cobblers in Derbyshire, he -set forth upon his way afoot; but his ills had not yet done with him, -for he had not gone far ere he fell into the hands of the King's men, -who marched him off, willy-nilly, to Tutbury Town and the Bishop of -Hereford. In vain he swore he was a holy man, and showed his shaven -crown; off he must go, for nothing would do but that he was Robin Hood. - -Meanwhile merry Robin rode along contentedly, passing safely by two -bands of the King's men, until his heart began to dance within him -because of the nearness of Sherwood; so he traveled ever on to the -eastward, till, of a sudden, he met a noble knight in a shady lane. Then -Robin checked his mule quickly and leaped from off its back. "Now, well -met, Sir Richard of the Lea," cried he, "for rather than any other man -in England would I see thy good face this day!" Then he told Sir Richard -all the happenings that had befallen him, and that now at last he felt -himself safe, being so nigh to Sherwood again. But when Robin had done, -Sir Richard shook his head sadly. "Thou art in greater danger now, -Robin, than thou hast yet been," said he, "for before thee lie bands of -the Sheriff's men blocking every road and letting none pass through the -lines without examining them closely. I myself know this, having passed -them but now. Before thee lie the Sheriffs men and behind thee the -King's men, and thou canst not hope to pass either way, for by this time -they will know of thy disguise and will be in waiting to seize upon -thee. My castle and everything within it are thine, but nought could be -gained there, for I could not hope to hold it against such a force as is -now in Nottingham of the King's and the Sheriffs men." Having so spoken, -Sir Richard bent his head in thought, and Robin felt his heart sink -within him like that of the fox that hears the hounds at his heels and -finds his den blocked with earth so that there is no hiding for him. -But presently Sir Richard spoke again, saying, "One thing thou canst do, -Robin, and one only. Go back to London and throw thyself upon the mercy -of our good Queen Eleanor. Come with me straightway to my castle. Doff -these clothes and put on such as my retainers wear. Then I will hie me -to London Town with a troop of men behind me, and thou shalt mingle with -them, and thus will I bring thee to where thou mayst see and speak with -the Queen. Thy only hope is to get to Sherwood, for there none can -reach thee, and thou wilt never get to Sherwood but in this way." - -So Robin went with Sir Richard of the Lea, and did as he said, for he -saw the wisdom of that which the knight advised, and that this was his -only chance of safety. - -Queen Eleanor walked in her royal garden, amid the roses that bloomed -sweetly, and with her walked six of her ladies-in-waiting, chattering -blithely together. Of a sudden a man leaped up to the top of the wall -from the other side, and then, hanging for a moment, dropped lightly -upon the grass within. All the ladies-in-waiting shrieked at the -suddenness of his coming, but the man ran to the Queen and kneeled at -her feet, and she saw that it was Robin Hood. - -"Why, how now, Robin!" cried she, "dost thou dare to come into the very -jaws of the raging lion? Alas, poor fellow! Thou art lost indeed if the -King finds thee here. Dost thou not know that he is seeking thee through -all the land?" - -"Yea," quoth Robin, "I do know right well that the King seeks me, and -therefore I have come; for, surely, no ill can befall me when he hath -pledged his royal word to Your Majesty for my safety. Moreover, I know -Your Majesty's kindness and gentleness of heart, and so I lay my life -freely in your gracious hands." - -"I take thy meaning, Robin Hood," said the Queen, "and that thou dost -convey reproach to me, as well thou mayst, for I know that I have not -done by thee as I ought to have done. I know right well that thou must -have been hard pressed by peril to leap so boldly into one danger to -escape another. Once more I promise thee mine aid, and will do all I can -to send thee back in safety to Sherwood Forest. Bide thou here till I -return." So saying, she left Robin in the garden of roses, and was gone -a long time. - -When she came back Sir Robert Lee was with her, and the Queen's cheeks -were hot and the Queen's eyes were bright, as though she had been -talking with high words. Then Sir Robert came straight forward to where -Robin Hood stood, and he spoke to the yeoman in a cold, stern voice. -Quoth he, "Our gracious Sovereign the King hath mitigated his wrath -toward thee, fellow, and hath once more promised that thou shalt depart -in peace and safety. Not only hath he promised this, but in three days -he will send one of his pages to go with thee and see that none arrest -thy journey back again. Thou mayst thank thy patron saint that thou -hast such a good friend in our noble Queen, for, but for her persuasion -and arguments, thou hadst been a dead man, I can tell thee. Let this -peril that thou hast passed through teach thee two lessons. First, be -more honest. Second, be not so bold in thy comings and goings. A man -that walketh in the darkness as thou dost may escape for a time, but in -the end he will surely fall into the pit. Thou hast put thy head in the -angry lion's mouth, and yet thou hast escaped by a miracle. Try it not -again." So saying, he turned and left Robin and was gone. - -For three days Robin abided in London in the Queen's household, and at -the end of that time the King's head Page, Edward Cunningham, came, and -taking Robin with him, departed northward upon his way to Sherwood. Now -and then they passed bands of the King's men coming back again to -London, but none of those bands stopped them, and so, at last, they -reached the sweet, leafy woodlands. - - - - -Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne - -A LONG TIME passed after the great shooting match, and during that time -Robin followed one part of the advice of Sir Robert Lee, to wit, that of -being less bold in his comings and his goings; for though mayhap he may -not have been more honest (as most folks regard honesty), he took good -care not to travel so far from Sherwood that he could not reach it both -easily and quickly. - -Great changes had fallen in this time; for King Henry had died and King -Richard had come to the crown that fitted him so well through many hard -trials, and through adventures as stirring as any that ever befell Robin -Hood. But though great changes came, they did not reach to Sherwood's -shades, for there Robin Hood and his men dwelled as merrily as they had -ever done, with hunting and feasting and singing and blithe woodland -sports; for it was little the outside striving of the world troubled -them. - -The dawning of a summer's day was fresh and bright, and the birds sang -sweetly in a great tumult of sound. So loud was their singing that it -awakened Robin Hood where he lay sleeping, so that he stirred, and -turned, and arose. Up rose Little John also, and all the merry men; -then, after they had broken their fast, they set forth hither and -thither upon the doings of the day. - -Robin Hood and Little John walked down a forest path where all around -the leaves danced and twinkled as the breeze trembled through them and -the sunlight came flickering down. Quoth Robin Hood, "I make my vow, -Little John, my blood tickles my veins as it flows through them this gay -morn. What sayst thou to our seeking adventures, each one upon his own -account?" - -"With all my heart," said Little John. "We have had more than one -pleasant doing in that way, good master. Here are two paths; take thou -the one to the right hand, and I will take the one to the left, and then -let us each walk straight ahead till he tumble into some merry doing or -other." - -"I like thy plan," quoth Robin, "therefore we will part here. But look -thee, Little John, keep thyself out of mischief, for I would not have -ill befall thee for all the world." - -"Marry, come up," quoth Little John, "how thou talkest! Methinks thou -art wont to get thyself into tighter coils than I am like to do." - -At this Robin Hood laughed. "Why, in sooth, Little John," said he, -"thou hast a blundering hard-headed way that seemeth to bring thee right -side uppermost in all thy troubles; but let us see who cometh out best -this day." So saying, he clapped his palm to Little John's and each -departed upon his way, the trees quickly shutting the one from the -other's sight. - -Robin Hood strolled onward till he came to where a broad woodland road -stretched before him. Overhead the branches of the trees laced together -in flickering foliage, all golden where it grew thin to the sunlight; -beneath his feet the ground was soft and moist from the sheltering -shade. Here in this pleasant spot the sharpest adventure that ever -befell Robin Hood came upon him; for, as he walked down the woodland -path thinking of nought but the songs of the birds, he came of a sudden -to where a man was seated upon the mossy roots beneath the shade of a -broad-spreading oak tree. Robin Hood saw that the stranger had not -caught sight of him, so he stopped and stood quite still, looking at the -other a long time before he came forward. And the stranger, I wot, was -well worth looking at, for never had Robin seen a figure like that -sitting beneath the tree. From his head to his feet he was clad in a -horse's hide, dressed with the hair upon it. Upon his head was a cowl -that hid his face from sight, and which was made of the horse's skin, -the ears whereof stuck up like those of a rabbit. His body was clad in -a jacket made of the hide, and his legs were covered with the hairy skin -likewise. By his side was a heavy broadsword and a sharp, double-edged -dagger. A quiver of smooth round arrows hung across his shoulders, and -his stout bow of yew leaned against the tree beside him. - -"Halloa, friend," cried Robin, coming forward at last, "who art thou -that sittest there? And what is that that thou hast upon thy body? I -make my vow I ha' never seen such a sight in all my life before. Had I -done an evil thing, or did my conscience trouble me, I would be afraid -of thee, thinking that thou wast someone from down below bringing a -message bidding me come straightway to King Nicholas." - -To this speech the other answered not a word, but he pushed the cowl -back from his head and showed a knit brow, a hooked nose, and a pair of -fierce, restless black eyes, which altogether made Robin think of a hawk -as he looked on his face. But beside this there was something about the -lines on the stranger's face, and his thin cruel mouth, and the hard -glare of his eyes, that made one's flesh creep to look upon. - -"Who art thou, rascal?" said he at last, in a loud, harsh voice. - -"Tut, tut," quoth merry Robin, "speak not so sourly, brother. Hast thou -fed upon vinegar and nettles this morning that thy speech is so -stinging?" - -"An thou likest not my words," said the other fiercely, "thou hadst best -be jogging, for I tell thee plainly, my deeds match them." - -"Nay, but I do like thy words, thou sweet, pretty thing," quoth Robin, -squatting down upon the grass in front of the other. "Moreover, I tell -thee thy speech is witty and gamesome as any I ever heard in all my -life." - -The other said not a word, but he glared upon Robin with a wicked and -baleful look, such as a fierce dog bestows upon a man ere it springs at -his throat. Robin returned the gaze with one of wide-eyed innocence, not -a shadow of a smile twinkling in his eyes or twitching at the corners of -his mouth. So they sat staring at one another for a long time, until the -stranger broke the silence suddenly. "What is thy name, fellow?" said -he. - -"Now," quoth Robin, "I am right glad to hear thee speak, for I began to -fear the sight of me had stricken thee dumb. As for my name, it may be -this or it may be that; but methinks it is more meet for thee to tell me -thine, seeing that thou art the greater stranger in these parts. -Prythee, tell me, sweet chuck, why wearest thou that dainty garb upon -thy pretty body?" At these words the other broke into a short, harsh -roar of laughter. "By the bones of the Daemon Odin," said he, "thou art -the boldest-spoken man that ever I have seen in all my life. I know not -why I do not smite thee down where thou sittest, for only two days ago I -skewered a man over back of Nottingham Town for saying not half so much -to me as thou hast done. I wear this garb, thou fool, to keep my body -warm; likewise it is near as good as a coat of steel against a common -sword-thrust. As for my name, I care not who knoweth it. It is Guy of -Gisbourne, and thou mayst have heard it before. I come from the -woodlands over in Herefordshire, upon the lands of the Bishop of that -ilk. I am an outlaw, and get my living by hook and by crook in a manner -it boots not now to tell of. Not long since the Bishop sent for me, and -said that if I would do a certain thing that the Sheriff of Nottingham -would ask of me, he would get me a free pardon, and give me tenscore -pounds to boot. So straightway I came to Nottingham Town and found my -sweet Sheriff; and what thinkest thou he wanted of me? Why, forsooth, to -come here to Sherwood to hunt up one Robin Hood, also an outlaw, and to -take him alive or dead. It seemeth that they have no one here to face -that bold fellow, and so sent all the way to Herefordshire, and to me, -for thou knowest the old saying, 'Set a thief to catch a thief.' As for -the slaying of this fellow, it galleth me not a whit, for I would shed -the blood of my own brother for the half of two hundred pounds." - -To all this Robin listened, and as he listened his gorge rose. Well he -knew of this Guy of Gisbourne, and of all the bloody and murderous deeds -that he had done in Herefordshire, for his doings were famous throughout -all the land. Yet, although he loathed the very presence of the man, he -held his peace, for he had an end to serve. "Truly," quoth he, "I have -heard of thy gentle doings. Methinks there is no one in all the world -that Robin Hood would rather meet than thee." - -At this Guy of Gisbourne gave another harsh laugh. "Why," quoth he, "it -is a merry thing to think of one stout outlaw like Robin Hood meeting -another stout outlaw like Guy of Gisbourne. Only in this case it will -be an ill happening for Robin Hood, for the day he meets Guy of -Gisbourne he shall die." - -"But thou gentle, merry spirit," quoth Robin, "dost thou not think that -mayhap this same Robin Hood may be the better man of the two? I know him -right well, and many think that he is one of the stoutest men -hereabouts." - -"He may be the stoutest of men hereabouts," quoth Guy of Gisbourne, -"yet, I tell thee, fellow, this sty of yours is not the wide world. I -lay my life upon it I am the better man of the two. He an outlaw, -forsooth! Why, I hear that he hath never let blood in all his life, -saving when he first came to the forest. Some call him a great archer; -marry, I would not be afraid to stand against him all the days of the -year with a bow in my hand." - -"Why, truly, some folk do call him a great archer," said Robin Hood, -"but we of Nottinghamshire are famous hands with the longbow. Even I, -though but a simple hand at the craft, would not fear to try a bout with -thee." - -At these words Guy of Gisbourne looked upon Robin with wondering eyes, -and then gave another roar of laughter till the woods rang. "Now," quoth -he, "thou art a bold fellow to talk to me in this way. I like thy spirit -in so speaking up to me, for few men have dared to do so. Put up a -garland, lad, and I will try a bout with thee." - -"Tut, tut," quoth Robin, "only babes shoot at garlands hereabouts. I -will put up a good Nottingham mark for thee." So saying, he arose, and -going to a hazel thicket not far off, he cut a wand about twice the -thickness of a man's thumb. From this he peeled the bark, and, -sharpening the point, stuck it up in the ground in front of a great oak -tree. Thence he measured off fourscore paces, which brought him beside -the tree where the other sat. "There," quoth he, "is the kind of mark -that Nottingham yeomen shoot at. Now let me see thee split that wand if -thou art an archer." - -Then Guy of Gisbourne arose. "Now out upon it!" cried he. "The Devil -himself could not hit such a mark as that." - -"Mayhap he could and mayhap he could not," quoth merry Robin, "but that -we shall never know till thou hast shot thereat." - -At these words Guy of Gisbourne looked upon Robin with knit brows, but, -as the yeoman still looked innocent of any ill meaning, he bottled his -words and strung his bow in silence. Twice he shot, but neither time -did he hit the wand, missing it the first time by a span and the second -time by a good palm's-breadth. Robin laughed and laughed. "I see now," -quoth he, "that the Devil himself could not hit that mark. Good fellow, -if thou art no better with the broadsword than thou art with the bow and -arrow, thou wilt never overcome Robin Hood." - -At these words Guy of Gisbourne glared savagely upon Robin. Quoth he, -"Thou hast a merry tongue, thou villain; but take care that thou makest -not too free with it, or I may cut it out from thy throat for thee." - -Robin Hood strung his bow and took his place with never a word, albeit -his heartstrings quivered with anger and loathing. Twice he shot, the -first time hitting within an inch of the wand, the second time splitting -it fairly in the middle. Then, without giving the other a chance for -speech, he flung his bow upon the ground. "There, thou bloody villain!" -cried he fiercely, "let that show thee how little thou knowest of manly -sports. And now look thy last upon the daylight, for the good earth hath -been befouled long enough by thee, thou vile beast! This day, Our Lady -willing, thou diest--I am Robin Hood." So saying, he flashed forth his -bright sword in the sunlight. - -For a time Guy of Gisbourne stared upon Robin as though bereft of wits; -but his wonder quickly passed to a wild rage. "Art thou indeed Robin -Hood?" cried he. "Now I am glad to meet thee, thou poor wretch! Shrive -thyself, for thou wilt have no time for shriving when I am done with -thee." So saying, he also drew his sword. - -And now came the fiercest fight that ever Sherwood saw; for each man -knew that either he or the other must die, and that no mercy was to be -had in this battle. Up and down they fought, till all the sweet green -grass was crushed and ground beneath the trampling of their heels. More -than once the point of Robin Hood's sword felt the softness of flesh, -and presently the ground began to be sprinkled with bright red drops, -albeit not one of them came from Robin's veins. At last Guy of Gisbourne -made a fierce and deadly thrust at Robin Hood, from which he leaped back -lightly, but in so leaping he caught his heel in a root and fell heavily -upon his back. "Now, Holy Mary aid me!" muttered he, as the other leaped -at him, with a grin of rage upon his face. Fiercely Guy of Gisbourne -stabbed at the other with his great sword, but Robin caught the blade in -his naked hand, and, though it cut his palm, he turned the point away so -that it plunged deep into the ground close beside him; then, ere a blow -could be struck again, he leaped to his feet, with his good sword in his -hand. And now despair fell upon Guy of Gisbourne's heart in a black -cloud, and he looked around him wildly, like a wounded hawk. Seeing that -his strength was going from him, Robin leaped forward, and, quick as a -flash, struck a back-handed blow beneath the sword arm. Down fell the -sword from Guy of Gisbourne's grasp, and back he staggered at the -stroke, and, ere he could regain himself, Robin's sword passed through -and through his body. Round he spun upon his heel, and, flinging his -hands aloft with a shrill, wild cry, fell prone upon his face upon the -green sod. - -Then Robin Hood wiped his sword and thrust it back into the scabbard, -and, coming to where Guy of Gisbourne lay, he stood over him with folded -arms, talking to himself the while. "This is the first man I have slain -since I shot the Kings forester in the hot days of my youth. I ofttimes -think bitterly, even yet, of that first life I took, but of this I am as -glad as though I had slain a wild boar that laid waste a fair country. -Since the Sheriff of Nottingham hath sent such a one as this against me, -I will put on the fellow's garb and go forth to see whether I may not -find his worship, and perchance pay him back some of the debt I owe him -upon this score." - -So saying, Robin Hood stripped the hairy garments from off the dead man, -and put them on himself, all bloody as they were. Then, strapping the -other's sword and dagger around his body and carrying his own in his -hand, together with the two bows of yew, he drew the cowl of horse's -hide over his face, so that none could tell who he was, and set forth -from the forest, turning his steps toward the eastward and Nottingham -Town. As he strode along the country roads, men, women, and children -hid away from him, for the terror of Guy of Gisbourne's name and of his -doings had spread far and near. - -And now let us see what befell Little John while these things were -happening. - -Little John walked on his way through the forest paths until he had come -to the outskirts of the woodlands, where, here and there, fields of -barley, corn, or green meadow lands lay smiling in the sun. So he came -to the highroad and to where a little thatched cottage stood back of a -cluster of twisted crab trees, with flowers in front of it. Here he -stopped of a sudden, for he thought that he heard the sound of someone -in sorrow. He listened, and found that it came from the cottage; so, -turning his footsteps thither, he pushed open the wicket and entered the -place. There he saw a gray-haired dame sitting beside a cold -hearthstone, rocking herself to and fro and weeping bitterly. - -Now Little John had a tender heart for the sorrows of other folk, so, -coming to the old woman and patting her kindly upon the shoulder, he -spoke comforting words to her, bidding her cheer up and tell him her -troubles, for that mayhap he might do something to ease them. At all -this the good dame shook her head; but all the same his kind words did -soothe her somewhat, so after a while she told him all that bore upon -her mind. That that morning she had three as fair, tall sons beside her -as one could find in all Nottinghamshire, but that they were now taken -from her, and were like to be hanged straightway; that, want having come -upon them, her eldest boy had gone out, the night before, into the -forest, and had slain a hind in the moonlight; that the King's rangers -had followed the blood upon the grass until they had come to her -cottage, and had there found the deer's meat in the cupboard; that, as -neither of the younger sons would betray their brother, the foresters -had taken all three away, in spite of the oldest saying that he alone -had slain the deer; that, as they went, she had heard the rangers -talking among themselves, saying that the Sheriff had sworn that he -would put a check upon the great slaughter of deer that had been going -on of late by hanging the very first rogue caught thereat upon the -nearest tree, and that they would take the three youths to the King's -Head Inn, near Nottingham Town, where the Sheriff was abiding that day, -there to await the return of a certain fellow he had sent into Sherwood -to seek for Robin Hood. - -To all this Little John listened, shaking his head sadly now and then. -"Alas," quoth he, when the good dame had finished her speech, "this is -indeed an ill case. But who is this that goeth into Sherwood after -Robin Hood, and why doth he go to seek him? But no matter for that now; -only that I would that Robin Hood were here to advise us. Nevertheless, -no time may be lost in sending for him at this hour, if we would save -the lives of thy three sons. Tell me, hast thou any clothes hereabouts -that I may put on in place of these of Lincoln green? Marry, if our -stout Sheriff catcheth me without disguise, I am like to be run up more -quickly than thy sons, let me tell thee, dame." - -Then the old woman told him that she had in the house some of the -clothes of her good husband, who had died only two years before. These -she brought to Little John, who, doffing his garb of Lincoln green, put -them on in its stead. Then, making a wig and false beard of uncarded -wool, he covered his own brown hair and beard, and, putting on a great, -tall hat that had belonged to the old peasant, he took his staff in one -hand and his bow in the other, and set forth with all speed to where the -Sheriff had taken up his inn. - -A mile or more from Nottingham Town, and not far from the southern -borders of Sherwood Forest, stood the cosy inn bearing the sign of the -King's Head. Here was a great bustle and stir on this bright morning, -for the Sheriff and a score of his men had come to stop there and await -Guy of Gisbourne's return from the forest. Great hiss and fuss of -cooking was going on in the kitchen, and great rapping and tapping of -wine kegs and beer barrels was going on in the cellar. The Sheriff sat -within, feasting merrily of the best the place afforded, and the -Sheriff's men sat upon the bench before the door, quaffing ale, or lay -beneath the shade of the broad-spreading oak trees, talking and jesting -and laughing. All around stood the horses of the band, with a great -noise of stamping feet and a great switching of tails. To this inn came -the King's rangers, driving the widow's three sons before them. The -hands of the three youths were tied tightly behind their backs, and a -cord from neck to neck fastened them all together. So they were marched -to the room where the Sheriff sat at meat, and stood trembling before -him as he scowled sternly upon them. - -"So," quoth he, in a great, loud, angry voice, "ye have been poaching -upon the King's deer, have you? Now I will make short work of you this -day, for I will hang up all three of you as a farmer would hang up three -crows to scare others of the kind from the field. Our fair county of -Nottingham hath been too long a breeding place for such naughty knaves -as ye are. I have put up with these things for many years, but now I -will stamp them out once for all, and with you I will begin." - -Then one of the poor fellows opened his mouth to speak, but the Sheriff -roared at him in a loud voice to be silent, and bade the rangers to take -them away till he had done his eating and could attend to the matters -concerning them. So the three poor youths were marched outside, where -they stood with bowed heads and despairing hearts, till after a while -the Sheriff came forth. Then he called his men about him, and quoth he, -"These three villains shall be hanged straightway, but not here, lest -they breed ill luck to this goodly inn. We will take them over yonder to -that belt of woodlands, for I would fain hang them upon the very trees -of Sherwood itself, to show those vile outlaws therein what they may -expect of me if I ever have the good luck to lay hands upon them." So -saying, he mounted his horse, as did his men-at-arms likewise, and all -together they set forth for the belt of woodlands he had spoken of, the -poor youths walking in their midst guarded by the rangers. So they came -at last to the spot, and here nooses were fastened around the necks of -the three, and the ends of the cords flung over the branch of a great -oak tree that stood there. Then the three youths fell upon their knees -and loudly besought mercy of the Sheriff; but the Sheriff of Nottingham -laughed scornfully. "Now," quoth he, "I would that I had a priest here -to shrive you; but, as none is nigh, you must e'en travel your road with -all your sins packed upon your backs, and trust to Saint Peter to let -you in through the gates of Paradise like three peddlers into the town." - -In the meantime, while all this had been going forward, an old man had -drawn near and stood leaning on his staff, looking on. His hair and -beard were all curly and white, and across his back was a bow of yew -that looked much too strong for him to draw. As the Sheriff looked -around ere he ordered his men to string the three youths up to the oak -tree, his eyes fell upon this strange old man. Then his worship -beckoned to him, saying, "Come hither, father, I have a few words to say -to thee." So Little John, for it was none other than he, came forward, -and the Sheriff looked upon him, thinking that there was something -strangely familiar in the face before him. "How, now," said he, -"methinks I have seen thee before. What may thy name be, father?" - -"Please Your Worship," said Little John, in a cracked voice like that of -an old man, "my name is Giles Hobble, at Your Worship's service." - -"Giles Hobble, Giles Hobble," muttered the Sheriff to himself, turning -over the names that he had in his mind to try to find one to fit to -this. "I remember not thy name," said he at last, "but it matters not. -Hast thou a mind to earn sixpence this bright morn?" - -"Ay, marry," quoth Little John, "for money is not so plenty with me that -I should cast sixpence away an I could earn it by an honest turn. What -is it Your Worship would have me do?" - -"Why, this," said the Sheriff. "Here are three men that need hanging as -badly as any e'er I saw. If thou wilt string them up I will pay thee -twopence apiece for them. I like not that my men-at-arms should turn -hangmen. Wilt thou try thy hand?" - -"In sooth," said Little John, still in the old man's voice, "I ha' never -done such a thing before; but an a sixpence is to be earned so easily I -might as well ha' it as anybody. But, Your Worship, are these naughty -fellows shrived?" - -"Nay," said the Sheriff, laughing, "never a whit; but thou mayst turn -thy hand to that also if thou art so minded. But hasten, I prythee, for -I would get back to mine inn betimes." - -So Little John came to where the three youths stood trembling, and, -putting his face to the first fellow's cheek as though he were listening -to him, he whispered softly into his ear, "Stand still, brother, when -thou feelest thy bonds cut, but when thou seest me throw my woolen wig -and beard from my head and face, cast the noose from thy neck and run -for the woodlands." Then he slyly cut the cord that bound the youth's -hands; who, upon his part, stood still as though he were yet bound. Then -he went to the second fellow, and spoke to him in the same way, and also -cut his bonds. This he did to the third likewise, but all so slyly that -the Sheriff, who sat upon his horse laughing, wotted not what was being -done, nor his men either. - -Then Little John turned to the Sheriff. "Please Your Worship," said he, -"will you give me leave to string my bow? For I would fain help these -fellows along the way, when they are swinging, with an arrow beneath the -ribs." - -"With all my heart," said the Sheriff, "only, as I said before, make -thou haste in thy doings." - -Little John put the tip of his bow to his instep, and strung the weapon -so deftly that all wondered to see an old man so strong. Next he drew a -good smooth arrow from his quiver and fitted it to the string; then, -looking all around to see that the way was clear behind him, he suddenly -cast away the wool from his head and face, shouting in a mighty voice, -"Run!" Quick as a flash the three youths flung the nooses from their -necks and sped across the open to the woodlands as the arrow speeds from -the bow. Little John also flew toward the covert like a greyhound, -while the Sheriff and his men gazed after him all bewildered with the -sudden doing. But ere the yeoman had gone far the Sheriff roused -himself. "After him!" he roared in a mighty voice; for he knew now who -it was with whom he had been talking, and wondered that he had not known -him before. - -Little John heard the Sheriff's words, and seeing that he could not hope -to reach the woodlands before they would be upon him, he stopped and -turned suddenly, holding his bow as though he were about to shoot. -"Stand back!" cried he fiercely. "The first man that cometh a foot -forward, or toucheth finger to bowstring, dieth!" - -At these words the Sheriff's men stood as still as stocks, for they knew -right well that Little John would be as good as his word, and that to -disobey him meant death. In vain the Sheriff roared at them, calling -them cowards, and urging them forward in a body; they would not budge an -inch, but stood and watched Little John as he moved slowly away toward -the forest, keeping his gaze fixed upon them. But when the Sheriff saw -his enemy thus slipping betwixt his fingers he grew mad with his rage, -so that his head swam and he knew not what he did. Then of a sudden he -turned his horse's head, and plunging his spurs into its sides he gave a -great shout, and, rising in his stirrups, came down upon Little John -like the wind. Then Little John raised his deadly bow and drew the gray -goose feather to his cheek. But alas for him! For, ere he could loose -the shaft, the good bow that had served him so long, split in his hands, -and the arrow fell harmless at his feet. Seeing what had happened, the -Sheriff's men raised a shout, and, following their master, came rushing -down upon Little John. But the Sheriff was ahead of the others, and so -caught up with the yeoman before he reached the shelter of the -woodlands, then leaning forward he struck a mighty blow. Little John -ducked and the Sheriff's sword turned in his hand, but the flat of the -blade struck the other upon the head and smote him down, stunned and -senseless. - -"Now, I am right glad," said the Sheriff, when the men came up and found -that Little John was not dead, "that I have not slain this man in my -haste! I would rather lose five hundred pounds than have him die thus -instead of hanging, as such a vile thief should do. Go, get some water -from yonder fountain, William, and pour it over his head." - -The man did as he was bidden, and presently Little John opened his eyes -and looked around him, all dazed and bewildered with the stun of the -blow. Then they tied his hands behind him, and lifting him up set him -upon the back of one of the horses, with his face to its tail and his -feet strapped beneath its belly. So they took him back to the King's -Head Inn, laughing and rejoicing as they went along. But in the meantime -the widow's three sons had gotten safely away, and were hidden in the -woodlands. - -Once more the Sheriff of Nottingham sat within the King's Head Inn. His -heart rejoiced within him, for he had at last done that which he had -sought to do for years, taken Little John prisoner. Quoth he to himself, -"This time tomorrow the rogue shall hang upon the gallows tree in front -of the great gate of Nottingham Town, and thus shall I make my long -score with him even." So saying, he took a deep draught of Canary. But -it seemed as if the Sheriff had swallowed a thought with his wine, for -he shook his head and put the cup down hastily. "Now," he muttered to -himself, "I would not for a thousand pounds have this fellow slip -through my fingers; yet, should his master escape that foul Guy of -Gisbourne, there is no knowing what he may do, for he is the cunningest -knave in all the world--this same Robin Hood. Belike I had better not -wait until tomorrow to hang the fellow." So saying, he pushed his chair -back hastily, and going forth from the inn called his men together. -Quoth he, "I will wait no longer for the hanging of this rogue, but it -shall be done forthwith, and that from the very tree whence he saved -those three young villains by stepping betwixt them and the law. So get -ye ready straightway." - -Then once more they sat Little John upon the horse, with his face to the -tail, and so, one leading the horse whereon he sat and the others riding -around him, they went forward to that tree from the branches of which -they had thought to hang the poachers. On they went, rattling and -jingling along the road till they came to the tree. Here one of the men -spake to the Sheriff of a sudden. "Your Worship," cried he, "is not yon -fellow coming along toward us that same Guy of Gisbourne whom thou didst -send into the forest to seek Robin Hood?" At these words the Sheriff -shaded his eyes and looked eagerly. "Why, certes," quoth he, "yon -fellow is the same. Now, Heaven send that he hath slain the master -thief, as we will presently slay the man!" - -When Little John heard this speech he looked up, and straightway his -heart crumbled away within him, for not only were the man's garments all -covered with blood, but he wore Robin Hood's bugle horn and carried his -bow and broadsword. - -"How now!" cried the Sheriff, when Robin Hood, in Guy of Gisbourne's -clothes, had come nigh to them. "What luck hath befallen thee in the -forest? Why, man, thy clothes are all over blood!" - -"An thou likest not my clothes," said Robin in a harsh voice like that -of Guy of Gisbourne, "thou mayst shut thine eyes. Marry, the blood upon -me is that of the vilest outlaw that ever trod the woodlands, and one -whom I have slain this day, albeit not without wound to myself." - -Then out spake Little John, for the first time since he had fallen into -the Sheriff's hands. "O thou vile, bloody wretch! I know thee, Guy of -Gisbourne, for who is there that hath not heard of thee and cursed thee -for thy vile deeds of blood and rapine? Is it by such a hand as thine -that the gentlest heart that ever beat is stilled in death? Truly, thou -art a fit tool for this coward Sheriff of Nottingham. Now I die -joyfully, nor do I care how I die, for life is nought to me!" So spake -Little John, the salt tears rolling down his brown cheeks. - -But the Sheriff of Nottingham clapped his hands for joy. "Now, Guy of -Gisbourne," cried he, "if what thou tellest me is true, it will be the -best day's doings for thee that ever thou hast done in all thy life." - -"What I have told thee is sooth, and I lie not," said Robin, still in -Guy of Gisbourne's voice. "Look, is not this Robin Hood's sword, and is -not this his good bow of yew, and is not this his bugle horn? Thinkest -thou he would have given them to Guy of Gisbourne of his own free will?" - -Then the Sheriff laughed aloud for joy. "This is a good day!" cried he. -"The great outlaw dead and his right-hand man in my hands! Ask what thou -wilt of me, Guy of Gisbourne, and it is thine!" - -"Then this I ask of thee," said Robin. "As I have slain the master I -would now kill the man. Give this fellow's life into my hands, Sir -Sheriff." - -"Now thou art a fool!" cried the Sheriff. "Thou mightst have had money -enough for a knight's ransom if thou hadst asked for it. I like ill to -let this fellow pass from my hands, but as I have promised, thou shalt -have him." - -"I thank thee right heartily for thy gift," cried Robin. "Take the -rogue down from the horse, men, and lean him against yonder tree, while -I show you how we stick a porker whence I come!" - -At these words some of the Sheriff's men shook their heads; for, though -they cared not a whit whether Little John were hanged or not, they hated -to see him butchered in cold blood. But the Sheriff called to them in a -loud voice, ordering them to take the yeoman down from the horse and -lean him against the tree, as the other bade. - -While they were doing this Robin Hood strung both his bow and that of -Guy of Gisbourne, albeit none of them took notice of his doing so. -Then, when Little John stood against the tree, he drew Guy of -Gisbourne's sharp, double-edged dagger. "Fall back! fall back!" cried -he. "Would ye crowd so on my pleasure, ye unmannerly knaves? Back, I -say! Farther yet!" So they crowded back, as he ordered, many of them -turning their faces away, that they might not see what was about to -happen. - -"Come!" cried Little John. "Here is my breast. It is meet that the -same hand that slew my dear master should butcher me also! I know thee, -Guy of Gisbourne!" - -"Peace, Little John!" said Robin in a low voice. "Twice thou hast said -thou knowest me, and yet thou knowest me not at all. Couldst thou not -tell me beneath this wild beast's hide? Yonder, just in front of thee, -lie my bow and arrows, likewise my broadsword. Take them when I cut thy -bonds. Now! Get them quickly!" So saying, he cut the bonds, and Little -John, quick as a wink, leaped forward and caught up the bow and arrows -and the broadsword. At the same time Robin Hood threw back the cowl of -horse's hide from his face and bent Guy of Gisbourne's bow, with a keen, -barbed arrow fitted to the string. "Stand back!" cried he sternly. "The -first man that toucheth finger to bowstring dieth! I have slain thy man, -Sheriff; take heed that it is not thy turn next." Then, seeing that -Little John had armed himself, he clapped his bugle horn to his lips and -blew three blasts both loud and shrill. - -Now when the Sheriff of Nottingham saw whose face it was beneath Guy of -Gisbourne's hood, and when he heard those bugle notes ring in his ear, -he felt as if his hour had come. "Robin Hood!" roared he, and without -another word he wheeled his horse in the road and went off in a cloud of -dust. The Sheriff's men, seeing their master thus fleeing for his life, -thought that it was not their business to tarry longer, so, clapping -spurs to their horses, they also dashed away after him. But though the -Sheriff of Nottingham went fast, he could not outstrip a clothyard -arrow. Little John twanged his bowstring with a shout, and when the -Sheriff dashed in through the gates of Nottingham Town at full speed, a -gray goose shaft stuck out behind him like a moulting sparrow with one -feather in its tail. For a month afterward the poor Sheriff could sit -upon nought but the softest cushions that could be gotten for him. - -Thus the Sheriff and a score of men ran away from Robin Hood and Little -John; so that when Will Stutely and a dozen or more of stout yeomen -burst from out the covert, they saw nought of their master's enemies, -for the Sheriff and his men were scurrying away in the distance, hidden -within a cloud of dust like a little thunderstorm. - -Then they all went back into the forest once more, where they found the -widow's three sons, who ran to Little John and kissed his hands. But it -would not do for them to roam the forest at large any more; so they -promised that, after they had gone and told their mother of their -escape, they would come that night to the greenwood tree, and -thenceforth become men of the band. - - - - -King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest - -NOT MORE than two months had passed and gone since these stirring -adventures befell Robin Hood and Little John, when all Nottinghamshire -was a mighty stir and tumult, for King Richard of the Lion's Heart was -making a royal progress through merry England, and everyone expected him -to come to Nottingham Town in his journeying. Messengers went riding -back and forth between the Sheriff and the King, until at last the time -was fixed upon when His Majesty was to stop in Nottingham, as the guest -of his worship. - -And now came more bustle than ever; a great running hither and thither, -a rapping of hammers and a babble of voices sounded everywhere through -the place, for the folk were building great arches across the streets, -beneath which the King was to pass, and were draping these arches with -silken banners and streamers of many colors. Great hubbub was going on -in the Guild Hall of the town, also, for here a grand banquet was to be -given to the King and the nobles of his train, and the best master -carpenters were busy building a throne where the King and the Sheriff -were to sit at the head of the table, side by side. - -It seemed to many of the good folk of the place as if the day that -should bring the King into the town would never come; but all the same -it did come in its own season, and bright shone the sun down into the -stony streets, which were all alive with a restless sea of people. On -either side of the way great crowds of town and country folk stood -packed as close together as dried herring in a box, so that the Sheriffs -men, halberds in hands, could hardly press them back to leave space for -the King's riding. - -"Take care whom thou pushest against!" cried a great, burly friar to one -of these men. "Wouldst thou dig thine elbows into me, sirrah? By'r Lady -of the Fountain, an thou dost not treat me with more deference I will -crack thy knave's pate for thee, even though thou be one of the mighty -Sheriff's men." - -At this a great shout of laughter arose from a number of tall yeomen in -Lincoln green that were scattered through the crowd thereabouts; but one -that seemed of more authority than the others nudged the holy man with -his elbow. "Peace, Tuck," said he, "didst thou not promise me, ere thou -camest here, that thou wouldst put a check upon thy tongue?" - -"Ay, marry," grumbled the other, "but 'a did not think to have a hard- -footed knave trample all over my poor toes as though they were no more -than so many acorns in the forest." - -But of a sudden all this bickering ceased, for a clear sound of many -bugle horns came winding down the street. Then all the people craned -their necks and gazed in the direction whence the sound came, and the -crowding and the pushing and the swaying grew greater than ever. And now -a gallant array of men came gleaming into sight, and the cheering of the -people ran down the crowd as the fire runs in dry grass. - -Eight and twenty heralds in velvet and cloth of gold came riding -forward. Over their heads fluttered a cloud of snow-white feathers, and -each herald bore in his hand a long silver trumpet, which he blew -musically. From each trumpet hung a heavy banner of velvet and cloth of -gold, with the royal arms of England emblazoned thereon. After these -came riding fivescore noble knights, two by two, all fully armed, saving -that their heads were uncovered. In their hands they bore tall lances, -from the tops of which fluttered pennons of many colors and devices. By -the side of each knight walked a page clad in rich clothes of silk and -velvet, and each page bore in his hands his master's helmet, from which -waved long, floating plumes of feathers. Never had Nottingham seen a -fairer sight than those fivescore noble knights, from whose armor the -sun blazed in dazzling light as they came riding on their great war -horses, with clashing of arms and jingling of chains. Behind the -knights came the barons and the nobles of the mid-country, in robes of -silk and cloth of gold, with golden chains about their necks and jewels -at their girdles. Behind these again came a great array of men-at-arms, -with spears and halberds in their hands, and, in the midst of these, two -riders side by side. One of the horsemen was the Sheriff of Nottingham -in his robes of office. The other, who was a head taller than the -Sheriff, was clad in a rich but simple garb, with a broad, heavy chain -about his neck. His hair and beard were like threads of gold, and his -eyes were as blue as the summer sky. As he rode along he bowed to the -right hand and the left, and a mighty roar of voices followed him as he -passed; for this was King Richard. - -Then, above all the tumult and the shouting a great voice was heard -roaring, "Heaven, its saints bless thee, our gracious King Richard! and -likewise Our Lady of the Fountain, bless thee!" Then King Richard, -looking toward the spot whence the sound came, saw a tall, burly, -strapping priest standing in front of all the crowd with his legs wide -apart as he backed against those behind. - -"By my soul, Sheriff," said the King, laughing, "ye have the tallest -priests in Nottinghamshire that e'er I saw in all my life. If Heaven -never answered prayers because of deafness, methinks I would -nevertheless have blessings bestowed upon me, for that man yonder would -make the great stone image of Saint Peter rub its ears and hearken unto -him. I would that I had an army of such as he." - -To this the Sheriff answered never a word, but all the blood left his -cheeks, and he caught at the pommel of his saddle to keep himself from -falling; for he also saw the fellow that so shouted, and knew him to be -Friar Tuck; and, moreover, behind Friar Tuck he saw the faces of Robin -Hood and Little John and Will Scarlet and Will Stutely and Allan a Dale -and others of the band. - -"How now," said the King hastily, "art thou ill, Sheriff, that thou -growest so white?" - -"Nay, Your Majesty," said the Sheriff, "it was nought but a sudden pain -that will soon pass by." Thus he spake, for he was ashamed that the -King should know that Robin Hood feared him so little that he thus dared -to come within the very gates of Nottingham Town. - -Thus rode the King into Nottingham Town on that bright afternoon in the -early fall season; and none rejoiced more than Robin Hood and his merry -men to see him come so royally unto his own. - -Eventide had come; the great feast in the Guild Hall at Nottingham Town -was done, and the wine passed freely. A thousand waxen lights gleamed -along the board, at which sat lord and noble and knight and squire in -goodly array. At the head of the table, upon a throne all hung with -cloth of gold, sat King Richard with the Sheriff of Nottingham beside -him. - -Quoth the King to the Sheriff, laughing as he spoke, "I have heard much -spoken concerning the doings of certain fellows hereabouts, one Robin -Hood and his band, who are outlaws and abide in Sherwood Forest. Canst -thou not tell me somewhat of them, Sir Sheriff? For I hear that thou -hast had dealings with them more than once." - -At these words the Sheriff of Nottingham looked down gloomily, and the -Bishop of Hereford, who was present, gnawed his nether lip. Quoth the -Sheriff, "I can tell Your Majesty but little concerning the doings of -those naughty fellows, saving that they are the boldest lawbreakers in -all the land." - -Then up spake young Sir Henry of the Lea, a great favorite with the -King, under whom he had fought in Palestine. "May it please Your -Majesty," said he, "when I was away in Palestine I heard ofttimes from -my father, and in most cases I heard of this very fellow, Robin Hood. -If Your Majesty would like I will tell you a certain adventure of this -outlaw." - -Then the King laughingly bade him tell his tale, whereupon he told how -Robin Hood had aided Sir Richard of the Lea with money that he had -borrowed from the Bishop of Hereford. Again and again the King and -those present roared with laughter, while the poor Bishop waxed cherry -red in the face with vexation, for the matter was a sore thing with him. -When Sir Henry of the Lea was done, others of those present, seeing how -the King enjoyed this merry tale, told other tales concerning Robin and -his merry men. - -"By the hilt of my sword," said stout King Richard, "this is as bold and -merry a knave as ever I heard tell of. Marry, I must take this matter -in hand and do what thou couldst not do, Sheriff, to wit, clear the -forest of him and his band." - -That night the King sat in the place that was set apart for his lodging -while in Nottingham Town. With him were young Sir Henry of the Lea and -two other knights and three barons of Nottinghamshire; but the King's -mind still dwelled upon Robin Hood. "Now," quoth he, "I would freely -give a hundred pounds to meet this roguish fellow, Robin Hood, and to -see somewhat of his doings in Sherwood Forest." - -Then up spake Sir Hubert of gingham, laughing: "If Your Majesty hath -such a desire upon you it is not so hard to satisfy. If Your Majesty is -willing to lose one hundred pounds, I will engage to cause you not only -to meet this fellow, but to feast with him in Sherwood." - -"Marry, Sir Hubert," quoth the King, "this pleaseth me well. But how -wilt thou cause me to meet Robin Hood?" - -"Why, thus," said Sir Hubert, "let Your Majesty and us here present put -on the robes of seven of the Order of Black Friars, and let Your Majesty -hang a purse of one hundred pounds beneath your gown; then let us -undertake to ride from here to Mansfield Town tomorrow, and, without I -am much mistaken, we will both meet with Robin Hood and dine with him -before the day be passed." - -"I like thy plan, Sir Hubert," quoth the King merrily, "and tomorrow we -will try it and see whether there be virtue in it." - -So it happened that when early the next morning the Sheriff came to -where his liege lord was abiding, to pay his duty to him, the King told -him what they had talked of the night before, and what merry adventure -they were set upon undertaking that morning. But when the Sheriff heard -this he smote his forehead with his fist. "Alas!" said he, "what evil -counsel is this that hath been given thee! O my gracious lord and King, -you know not what you do! This villain that you thus go to seek hath no -reverence either for king or king's laws." - -"But did I not hear aright when I was told that this Robin Hood hath -shed no blood since he was outlawed, saving only that of that vile Guy -of Gisbourne, for whose death all honest men should thank him?" - -"Yea, Your Majesty," said the Sheriff, "you have heard aright. -Nevertheless--" - -"Then," quoth the King, breaking in on the Sheriffs speech, "what have I -to fear in meeting him, having done him no harm? Truly, there is no -danger in this. But mayhap thou wilt go with us, Sir Sheriff." - -"Nay," quoth the Sheriff hastily, "Heaven forbid!" - -But now seven habits such as Black Friars wear were brought, and the -King and those about him having clad themselves therein, and His Majesty -having hung a purse with a hundred golden pounds in it beneath his -robes, they all went forth and mounted the mules that had been brought -to the door for them. Then the King bade the Sheriff be silent as to -their doings, and so they set forth upon their way. Onward they -traveled, laughing and jesting, until they passed through the open -country; between bare harvest fields whence the harvest had been -gathered home; through scattered glades that began to thicken as they -went farther along, till they came within the heavy shade of the forest -itself. They traveled in the forest for several miles without meeting -anyone such as they sought, until they had come to that part of the road -that lay nearest to Newstead Abbey. - -"By the holy Saint Martin," quoth the King, "I would that I had a better -head for remembering things of great need. Here have we come away and -brought never so much as a drop of anything to drink with us. Now I -would give half a hundred pounds for somewhat to quench my thirst -withal." - -No sooner had the King so spoken, than out from the covert at the -roadside stepped a tall fellow with yellow beard and hair and a pair of -merry blue eyes. "Truly, holy brother," said he, laying his hand upon -the King's bridle rein, "it were an unchristian thing to not give -fitting answer to so fair a bargain. We keep an inn hereabouts, and for -fifty pounds we will not only give thee a good draught of wine, but will -give thee as noble a feast as ever thou didst tickle thy gullet withal." -So saying, he put his fingers to his lips and blew a shrill whistle. -Then straightway the bushes and branches on either side of the road -swayed and crackled, and threescore broad-shouldered yeomen in Lincoln -green burst out of the covert. - -"How now, fellow," quoth the King, "who art thou, thou naughty rogue? -Hast thou no regard for such holy men as we are?" - -"Not a whit," quoth merry Robin Hood, for the fellow was he, "for in -sooth all the holiness belonging to rich friars, such as ye are, one -could drop into a thimble and the goodwife would never feel it with the -tip of her finger. As for my name, it is Robin Hood, and thou mayst have -heard it before." - -"Now out upon thee!" quoth King Richard. "Thou art a bold and naughty -fellow and a lawless one withal, as I have often heard tell. Now, -prythee, let me, and these brethren of mine, travel forward in peace and -quietness." - -"It may not be," said Robin, "for it would look but ill of us to let -such holy men travel onward with empty stomachs. But I doubt not that -thou hast a fat purse to pay thy score at our inn since thou offerest -freely so much for a poor draught of wine. Show me thy purse, reverend -brother, or I may perchance have to strip thy robes from thee to search -for it myself." - -"Nay, use no force," said the King sternly. "Here is my purse, but lay -not thy lawless hands upon our person." - -"Hut, tut," quoth merry Robin, "what proud words are these? Art thou the -King of England, to talk so to me? Here, Will, take this purse and see -what there is within." - -Will Scarlet took the purse and counted out the money. Then Robin bade -him keep fifty pounds for themselves, and put fifty back into the purse. -This he handed to the King. "Here, brother," quoth he, "take this half -of thy money, and thank Saint Martin, on whom thou didst call before, -that thou hast fallen into the hands of such gentle rogues that they -will not strip thee bare, as they might do. But wilt thou not put back -thy cowl? For I would fain see thy face." - -"Nay," said the King, drawing back, "I may not put back my cowl, for we -seven have vowed that we will not show our faces for four and twenty -hours." - -"Then keep them covered in peace," said Robin, "and far be it from me to -make you break your vows." - -So he called seven of his yeomen and bade them each one take a mule by -the bridle; then, turning their faces toward the depths of the -woodlands, they journeyed onward until they came to the open glade and -the greenwood tree. - -Little John, with threescore yeomen at his heels, had also gone forth -that morning to wait along the roads and bring a rich guest to Sherwood -glade, if such might be his luck, for many with fat purses must travel -the roads at this time, when such great doings were going on in -Nottinghamshire, but though Little John and so many others were gone, -Friar Tuck and twoscore or more stout yeomen were seated or lying around -beneath the great tree, and when Robin and the others came they leaped -to their feet to meet him. - -"By my soul," quoth merry King Richard, when he had gotten down from his -mule and stood looking about him, "thou hast in very truth a fine lot of -young men about thee, Robin. Methinks King Richard himself would be -glad of such a bodyguard." - -"These are not all of my fellows," said Robin proudly, "for threescore -more of them are away on business with my good right-hand man, Little -John. But, as for King Richard, I tell thee, brother, there is not a -man of us all but would pour out our blood like water for him. Ye -churchmen cannot rightly understand our King; but we yeomen love him -right loyally for the sake of his brave doings which are so like our -own." - -But now Friar Tuck came bustling up. "Gi' ye good den, brothers," said -he. "I am right glad to welcome some of my cloth in this naughty place. -Truly, methinks these rogues of outlaws would stand but an ill chance -were it not for the prayers of Holy Tuck, who laboreth so hard for their -well-being." Here he winked one eye slyly and stuck his tongue into his -cheek. - -"Who art thou, mad priest?" said the King in a serious voice, albeit he -smiled beneath his cowl. - -At this Friar Tuck looked all around with a slow gaze. "Look you now," -quoth he, "never let me hear you say again that I am no patient man. -Here is a knave of a friar calleth me a mad priest, and yet I smite him -not. My name is Friar Tuck, fellow--the holy Friar Tuck." - -"There, Tuck," said Robin, "thou hast said enow. Prythee, cease thy -talk and bring some wine. These reverend men are athirst, and sin' they -have paid so richly for their score they must e'en have the best." - -Friar Tuck bridled at being so checked in his speech, nevertheless he -went straightway to do Robin's bidding; so presently a great crock was -brought, and wine was poured out for all the guests and for Robin Hood. -Then Robin held his cup aloft. "Stay!" cried he. "Tarry in your -drinking till I give you a pledge. Here is to good King Richard of great -renown, and may all enemies to him be confounded." - -Then all drank the King's health, even the King himself. "Methinks, good -fellow," said he, "thou hast drunk to thine own confusion." - -"Never a whit," quoth merry Robin, "for I tell thee that we of Sherwood -are more loyal to our lord the King than those of thine order. We would -give up our lives for his benefiting, while ye are content to lie snug -in your abbeys and priories let reign who will." - -At this the King laughed. Quoth he, "Perhaps King Richard's welfare is -more to me than thou wottest of, fellow. But enough of that matter. We -have paid well for our fare, so canst thou not show us some merry -entertainment? I have oft heard that ye are wondrous archers; wilt thou -not show us somewhat of your skill?" - -"With all my heart," said Robin, "we are always pleased to show our -guests all the sport that is to be seen. As Gaffer Swanthold sayeth, -'Tis a hard heart that will not give a caged starling of the best'; and -caged starlings ye are with us. Ho, lads! Set up a garland at the end -of the glade." - -Then, as the yeomen ran to do their master's bidding, Tuck turned to one -of the mock friars. "Hearest thou our master?" quoth he, with a sly -wink. "Whenever he cometh across some poor piece of wit he straightway -layeth it on the shoulders of this Gaffer Swanthold--whoever he may be-- -so that the poor goodman goeth traveling about with all the odds and -ends and tags and rags of our master's brain packed on his back." Thus -spake Friar Tuck, but in a low voice so that Robin could not hear him, -for he felt somewhat nettled at Robin's cutting his talk so short. - -In the meantime the mark at which they were to shoot was set up at -sixscore paces distance. It was a garland of leaves and flowers two -spans in width, which same was hung upon a stake in front of a broad -tree trunk. "There," quoth Robin, "yon is a fair mark, lads. Each of -you shoot three arrows thereat; and if any fellow misseth by so much as -one arrow, he shall have a buffet of Will Scarlet's fist." - -"Hearken to him!" quoth Friar Tuck. "Why, master, thou dost bestow -buffets from thy strapping nephew as though they were love taps from -some bouncing lass. I warrant thou art safe to hit the garland thyself, -or thou wouldst not be so free of his cuffing." - -First David of Doncaster shot, and lodged all three of his arrows within -the garland. "Well done, David!" cried Robin, "thou hast saved thine -ears from a warming this day." Next Midge, the Miller, shot, and he, -also, lodged his arrows in the garland. Then followed Wat, the Tinker, -but alas for him! For one of his shafts missed the mark by the breadth -of two fingers. - -"Come hither, fellow," said Will Scarlet, in his soft, gentle voice, "I -owe thee somewhat that I would pay forthwith." Then Wat, the Tinker, -came forward and stood in front of Will Scarlet, screwing up his face -and shutting his eyes tightly, as though he already felt his ears -ringing with the buffet. Will Scarlet rolled up his sleeve, and, -standing on tiptoe to give the greater swing to his arm, he struck with -might and main. "WHOOF!" came his palm against the Tinker's head, and -down went stout Wat to the grass, heels over head, as the wooden image -at the fair goes down when the skillful player throws a cudgel at it. -Then, as the Tinker sat up upon the grass, rubbing his ear and winking -and blinking at the bright stars that danced before his eyes, the yeomen -roared with mirth till the forest rang. As for King Richard, he laughed -till the tears ran down his cheeks. Thus the band shot, each in turn, -some getting off scot free, and some winning a buffet that always sent -them to the grass. And now, last of all, Robin took his place, and all -was hushed as he shot. The first shaft he shot split a piece from the -stake on which the garland was hung; the second lodged within an inch of -the other. "By my halidom," said King Richard to himself, "I would give -a thousand pounds for this fellow to be one of my guard!" And now, for -the third time Robin shot; but, alas for him! The arrow was ill- -feathered, and, wavering to one side, it smote an inch outside the -garland. - -At this a great roar went up, those of the yeomen who sat upon the grass -rolling over and over and shouting with laughter, for never before had -they seen their master so miss his mark; but Robin flung his bow upon -the ground with vexation. "Now, out upon it!" cried he. "That shaft had -an ill feather to it, for I felt it as it left my fingers. Give me a -clean arrow, and I will engage to split the wand with it." - -At these words the yeomen laughed louder than ever. "Nay, good uncle," -said Will Scarlet in his soft, sweet voice, "thou hast had thy fair -chance and hast missed thine aim out and out. I swear the arrow was as -good as any that hath been loosed this day. Come hither; I owe thee -somewhat, and would fain pay it." - -"Go, good master," roared Friar Tuck, "and may my blessing go with thee. -Thou hast bestowed these love taps of Will Scarlet's with great freedom. -It were pity an thou gottest not thine own share." - -"It may not be," said merry Robin. "I am king here, and no subject may -raise hand against the king. But even our great King Richard may yield -to the holy Pope without shame, and even take a tap from him by way of -penance; therefore I will yield myself to this holy friar, who seemeth -to be one in authority, and will take my punishment from him." Thus -saying, he turned to the King, "I prythee, brother, wilt thou take my -punishing into thy holy hands?" - -"With all my heart," quoth merry King Richard, rising from where he was -sitting. "I owe thee somewhat for having lifted a heavy weight of fifty -pounds from my purse. So make room for him on the green, lads." - -"An thou makest me tumble," quoth Robin, "I will freely give thee back -thy fifty pounds; but I tell thee, brother, if thou makest me not feel -grass all along my back, I will take every farthing thou hast for thy -boastful speech." - -"So be it," said the King, "I am willing to venture it." Thereupon he -rolled up his sleeve and showed an arm that made the yeomen stare. But -Robin, with his feet wide apart, stood firmly planted, waiting the -other, smiling. Then the King swung back his arm, and, balancing himself -a moment, he delivered a buffet at Robin that fell like a thunderbolt. -Down went Robin headlong upon the grass, for the stroke would have -felled a stone wall. Then how the yeomen shouted with laughter till -their sides ached, for never had they seen such a buffet given in all -their lives. As for Robin, he presently sat up and looked all around -him, as though he had dropped from a cloud and had lit in a place he had -never seen before. After a while, still gazing about him at his laughing -yeomen, he put his fingertips softly to his ear and felt all around it -tenderly. "Will Scarlet," said he, "count this fellow out his fifty -pounds; I want nothing more either of his money or of him. A murrain -seize him and his buffeting! I would that I had taken my dues from -thee, for I verily believe he hath deafened mine ear from ever hearing -again." - -Then, while gusts of laughter still broke from the band, Will Scarlet -counted out the fifty pounds, and the King dropped it back into his -purse again. "I give thee thanks, fellow," said he, "and if ever thou -shouldst wish for another box of the ear to match the one thou hast, -come to me and I will fit thee with it for nought." - -So spake the merry King; but, even as he ended, there came suddenly the -sound of many voices, and out from the covert burst Little John and -threescore men, with Sir Richard of the Lea in the midst. Across the -glade they came running, and, as they came, Sir Richard shouted to -Robin: "Make haste, dear friend, gather thy band together and come with -me! King Richard left Nottingham Town this very morning, and cometh to -seek thee in the woodlands. I know not how he cometh, for it was but a -rumor of this that reached me; nevertheless, I know that it is the -truth. Therefore hasten with all thy men, and come to Castle Lea, for -there thou mayst lie hidden till thy present danger passeth. Who are -these strangers that thou hast with thee?" - -"Why," quoth merry Robin, rising from the grass, "these are certain -gentle guests that came with us from the highroad over by Newstead -Abbey. I know not their names, but I have become right well acquaint -with this lusty rogue's palm this morning. Marry, the pleasure of this -acquaintance hath dost me a deaf ear and fifty pounds to boot!" - -Sir Richard looked keenly at the tall friar, who, drawing himself up to -his full height, looked fixedly back at the knight. Then of a sudden Sir -Richard's cheeks grew pale, for he knew who it was that he looked upon. -Quickly he leaped from off his horse's back and flung himself upon his -knees before the other. At this, the King, seeing that Sir Richard knew -him, threw back his cowl, and all the yeomen saw his face and knew him -also, for there was not one of them but had been in the crowd in the -good town of Nottingham, and had seen him riding side by side with the -Sheriff. Down they fell upon their knees, nor could they say a word. -Then the King looked all around right grimly, and, last of all, his -glance came back and rested again upon Sir Richard of the Lea. - -"How is this, Sir Richard?" said he sternly. "How darest thou step -between me and these fellows? And how darest thou offer thy knightly -Castle of the Lea for a refuge to them? Wilt thou make it a hiding place -for the most renowned outlaws in England?" - -Then Sir Richard of the Lea raised his eyes to the King's face. "Far be -it from me," said he, "to do aught that could bring Your Majesty's anger -upon me. Yet, sooner would I face Your Majesty's wrath than suffer -aught of harm that I could stay to fall upon Robin Hood and his band; -for to them I owe life, honor, everything. Should I, then, desert him -in his hour of need?" - -Ere the knight had done speaking, one of the mock friars that stood near -the King came forward and knelt beside Sir Richard, and throwing back -his cowl showed the face of young Sir Henry of the Lea. Then Sir Henry -grasped his father's hand and said, "Here kneels one who hath served -thee well, King Richard, and, as thou knowest, hath stepped between thee -and death in Palestine; yet do I abide by my dear father, and here I say -also, that I would freely give shelter to this noble outlaw, Robin Hood, -even though it brought thy wrath upon me, for my father's honor and my -father's welfare are as dear to me as mine own." - -King Richard looked from one to the other of the kneeling knights, and -at last the frown faded from his brow and a smile twitched at the -corners of his lips. "Marry, Sir Richard," quoth the King, "thou art a -bold-spoken knight, and thy freedom of speech weigheth not heavily -against thee with me. This young son of thine taketh after his sire both -in boldness of speech and of deed, for, as he sayeth, he stepped one -time betwixt me and death; wherefore I would pardon thee for his sake -even if thou hadst done more than thou hast. Rise all of you, for ye -shall suffer no harm through me this day, for it were pity that a merry -time should end in a manner as to mar its joyousness." - -Then all arose and the King beckoned Robin Hood to come to him. "How -now," quoth he, "is thine ear still too deaf to hear me speak?" - -"Mine ears would be deafened in death ere they would cease to hear Your -Majesty's voice," said Robin. "As for the blow that Your Majesty struck -me, I would say that though my sins are haply many, methinks they have -been paid up in full thereby." - -"Thinkest thou so?" said the King with somewhat of sternness in his -voice. "Now I tell thee that but for three things, to wit, my -mercifulness, my love for a stout woodsman, and the loyalty thou hast -avowed for me, thine ears, mayhap, might have been more tightly closed -than ever a buffet from me could have shut them. Talk not lightly of thy -sins, good Robin. But come, look up. Thy danger is past, for hereby I -give thee and all thy band free pardon. But, in sooth, I cannot let you -roam the forest as ye have done in the past; therefore I will take thee -at thy word, when thou didst say thou wouldst give thy service to me, -and thou shalt go back to London with me. We will take that bold knave -Little John also, and likewise thy cousin, Will Scarlet, and thy -minstrel, Allan a Dale. As for the rest of thy band, we will take their -names and have them duly recorded as royal rangers; for methinks it were -wiser to have them changed to law-abiding caretakers of our deer in -Sherwood than to leave them to run at large as outlawed slayers thereof. -But now get a feast ready; I would see how ye live in the woodlands." - -So Robin bade his men make ready a grand feast. Straightway great fires -were kindled and burned brightly, at which savory things roasted -sweetly. While this was going forward, the King bade Robin call Allan a -Dale, for he would hear him sing. So word was passed for Allan, and -presently he came, bringing his harp. - -"Marry," said King Richard, "if thy singing match thy looks it is fair -enough. Prythee, strike up a ditty and let us have a taste of thy -skill." - -Then Allan touched his harp lightly, and all words were hushed while he -sang thus: - - "'_Oh, where has thou been, my daughter? - Oh, where hast thou been this day - Daughter, my daughter?' - 'Oh, I have been to the river's side, - Where the waters lie all gray and wide, - And the gray sky broods o'er the leaden tide, - And the shrill wind sighs a straining.' - - "'What sawest thou there, my daughter? - What sawest thou there this day, - Daughter, my daughter?' - 'Oh, I saw a boat come drifting nigh, - Where the quivering rushes hiss and sigh, - And the water soughs as it gurgles by, - And the shrill wind sighs a straining.' - - "'What sailed in the boat, my daughter? - What sailed in the boat this day, - Daughter, my daughter?' - 'Oh, there was one all clad in white, - And about his face hung a pallid light, - And his eyes gleamed sharp like the stars at night, - And the shrill wind sighed a straining.' - - "'And what said he, my daughter? - What said he to thee this day, - Daughter, my daughter?' - 'Oh, said he nought, but did he this: - Thrice on my lips did he press a kiss, - And my heartstrings shrunk with an awful bliss, - And the shrill wind sighed a straining.' - - "'Why growest thou so cold, my daughter? - Why growest thou so cold and white, - Daughter, my daughter?' - Oh, never a word the daughter said, - But she sat all straight with a drooping head, - For her heart was stilled and her face was dead: - And the shrill wind sighed a straining_." - -All listened in silence; and when Allan a Dale had done King Richard -heaved a sigh. "By the breath of my body, Allan," quoth he, "thou hast -such a wondrous sweet voice that it strangely moves my heart. But what -doleful ditty is this for the lips of a stout yeoman? I would rather -hear thee sing a song of love and battle than a sad thing like that. -Moreover, I understand it not; what meanest thou by the words?" - -"I know not, Your Majesty," said Allan, shaking his head, "for ofttimes -I sing that which I do not clearly understand mine own self." - -"Well, well," quoth the King, "let it pass; only I tell thee this, -Allan, thou shouldst turn thy songs to such matters as I spoke of, to -wit, love or war; for in sooth thou hast a sweeter voice than Blondell, -and methought he was the best minstrel that ever I heard." - -But now one came forward and said that the feast was ready; so Robin -Hood brought King Richard and those with him to where it lay all spread -out on fair white linen cloths which lay upon the soft green grass. Then -King Richard sat him down and feasted and drank, and when he was done he -swore roundly that he had never sat at such a lusty repast in all his -life before. - -That night he lay in Sherwood Forest upon a bed of sweet green leaves, -and early the next morning he set forth from the woodlands for -Nottingham Town, Robin Hood and all of his band going with him. You may -guess what a stir there was in the good town when all these famous -outlaws came marching into the streets. As for the Sheriff, he knew not -what to say nor where to look when he saw Robin Hood in such high favor -with the King, while all his heart was filled with gall because of the -vexation that lay upon him. - -The next day the King took leave of Nottingham Town; so Robin Hood and -Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale shook hands with all the -rest of the band, kissing the cheeks of each man, and swearing that they -would often come to Sherwood and see them. Then each mounted his horse -and rode away in the train of the King. - - - - -Epilogue - -THUS END the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood; for, in spite of his -promise, it was many a year ere he saw Sherwood again. - -After a year or two at court Little John came back to Nottinghamshire, -where he lived in an orderly way, though within sight of Sherwood, and -where he achieved great fame as the champion of all England with the -quarterstaff. Will Scarlet after a time came back to his own home, -whence he had been driven by his unlucky killing of his father's -steward. The rest of the band did their duty as royal rangers right -well. But Robin Hood and Allan a Dale did not come again to Sherwood so -quickly, for thus it was: - -Robin, through his great fame as an archer, became a favorite with the -King, so that he speedily rose in rank to be the chief of all the -yeomen. At last the King, seeing how faithful and how loyal he was, -created him Earl of Huntingdon; so Robin followed the King to the wars, -and found his time so full that he had no chance to come back to -Sherwood for even so much as a day. As for Allan a Dale and his wife, -the fair Ellen, they followed Robin Hood and shared in all his ups and -downs of life. - -And now, dear friend, you who have journeyed with me in all these merry -doings, I will not bid you follow me further, but will drop your hand -here with a "good den," if you wish it; for that which cometh hereafter -speaks of the breaking up of things, and shows how joys and pleasures -that are dead and gone can never be set upon their feet to walk again. I -will not dwell upon the matter overlong, but will tell as speedily as -may be of how that stout fellow, Robin Hood, died as he had lived, not -at court as Earl of Huntingdon, but with bow in hand, his heart in the -greenwood, and he himself a right yeoman. - -King Richard died upon the battlefield, in such a way as properly became -a lion-hearted king, as you yourself, no doubt, know; so, after a time, -the Earl of Huntingdon--or Robin Hood, as we still call him as of old-- -finding nothing for his doing abroad, came back to merry England again. -With him came Allan a Dale and his wife, the fair Ellen, for these two -had been chief of Robin's household ever since he had left Sherwood -Forest. - -It was in the springtime when they landed once more on the shores of -England. The leaves were green and the small birds sang blithely, just -as they used to do in fair Sherwood when Robin Hood roamed the woodland -shades with a free heart and a light heel. All the sweetness of the time -and the joyousness of everything brought back to Robin's mind his forest -life, so that a great longing came upon him to behold the woodlands once -more. So he went straightway to King John and besought leave of him to -visit Nottingham for a short season. The King gave him leave to come -and to go, but bade him not stay longer than three days at Sherwood. So -Robin Hood and Allan a Dale set forth without delay to Nottinghamshire -and Sherwood Forest. - -The first night they took up their inn at Nottingham Town, yet they did -not go to pay their duty to the Sheriff, for his worship bore many a -bitter grudge against Robin Hood, which grudges had not been lessened by -Robin's rise in the world. The next day at an early hour they mounted -their horses and set forth for the woodlands. As they passed along the -road it seemed to Robin that he knew every stick and stone that his eyes -looked upon. Yonder was a path that he had ofttimes trod of a mellow -evening, with Little John beside him; here was one, now nigh choked with -brambles, along which he and a little band had walked when they went -forth to seek a certain curtal friar. - -Thus they rode slowly onward, talking about these old, familiar things; -old and yet new, for they found more in them than they had ever thought -of before. Thus at last they came to the open glade, and the broad, -wide-spreading greenwood tree which was their home for so many years. -Neither of the two spoke when they stood beneath that tree. Robin looked -all about him at the well-known things, so like what they used to be and -yet so different; for, where once was the bustle of many busy fellows -was now the quietness of solitude; and, as he looked, the woodlands, the -greensward, and the sky all blurred together in his sight through salt -tears, for such a great yearning came upon him as he looked on these -things (as well known to him as the fingers of his right hand) that he -could not keep back the water from his eyes. - -That morning he had slung his good old bugle horn over his shoulder, and -now, with the yearning, came a great longing to sound his bugle once -more. He raised it to his lips; he blew a blast. "Tirila, lirila," the -sweet, clear notes went winding down the forest paths, coming back again -from the more distant bosky shades in faint echoes of sound, "Tirila, -lirila, tirila, lirila," until it faded away and was lost. - -Now it chanced that on that very morn Little John was walking through a -spur of the forest upon certain matters of business, and as he paced -along, sunk in meditation, the faint, clear notes of a distant bugle -horn came to his ear. As leaps the stag when it feels the arrow at its -heart, so leaped Little John when that distant sound met his ear. All -the blood in his body seemed to rush like a flame into his cheeks as he -bent his head and listened. Again came the bugle note, thin and clear, -and yet again it sounded. Then Little John gave a great, wild cry of -yearning, of joy, and yet of grief, and, putting down his head, he -dashed into the thicket. Onward he plunged, crackling and rending, as -the wild boar rushes through the underbrush. Little recked he of thorns -and briers that scratched his flesh and tore his clothing, for all he -thought of was to get, by the shortest way, to the greenwood glade -whence he knew the sound of the bugle horn came. Out he burst from the -covert, at last, a shower of little broken twigs falling about him, and, -without pausing a moment, rushed forward and flung himself at Robin's -feet. Then he clasped his arms around the master's knees, and all his -body was shaken with great sobs; neither could Robin nor Allan a Dale -speak, but stood looking down at Little John, the tears rolling down -their cheeks. - -While they thus stood, seven royal rangers rushed into the open glade -and raised a great shout of joy at the sight of Robin; and at their head -was Will Stutely. Then, after a while, came four more, panting with -their running, and two of these four were Will Scathelock and Midge, the -Miller; for all of these had heard the sound of Robin Hood's horn. All -these ran to Robin and kissed his hands and his clothing, with great -sound of weeping. - -After a while Robin looked around him with tear-dimmed eyes and said, in -a husky voice, "Now, I swear that never again will I leave these dear -woodlands. I have been away from them and from you too long. Now do I -lay by the name of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, and take upon me once -again that nobler title, Robin Hood, the Yeoman." At this a great shout -went up, and all the yeomen shook one another's hands for joy. - -The news that Robin Hood had come back again to dwell in Sherwood as of -old spread like wildfire all over the countryside, so that ere a -se'ennight had passed nearly all of his old yeomen had gathered about -him again. But when the news of all this reached the ears of King John, -he swore both loud and deep, and took a solemn vow that he would not -rest until he had Robin Hood in his power, dead or alive. Now there was -present at court a certain knight, Sir William Dale, as gallant a -soldier as ever donned harness. Sir William Dale was well acquainted -with Sherwood Forest, for he was head keeper over that part of it that -lay nigh to good Mansfield Town; so to him the King turned, and bade him -take an army of men and go straightway to seek Robin Hood. Likewise the -King gave Sir William his signet ring to show to the Sheriff, that he -might raise all his armed men to aid the others in their chase of Robin. -So Sir William and the Sheriff set forth to do the King's bidding and to -search for Robin Hood; and for seven days they hunted up and down, yet -found him not. - -Now, had Robin Hood been as peaceful as of old, everything might have -ended in smoke, as other such ventures had always done before; but he -had fought for years under King Richard, and was changed from what he -used to be. It galled his pride to thus flee away before those sent -against him, as a chased fox flees from the hounds; so thus it came -about, at last, that Robin Hood and his yeomen met Sir William and the -Sheriff and their men in the forest, and a bloody fight followed. The -first man slain in that fight was the Sheriff of Nottingham, for he fell -from his horse with an arrow in his brain ere half a score of shafts had -been sped. Many a better man than the Sheriff kissed the sod that day, -but at last, Sir William Dale being wounded and most of his men slain, -he withdrew, beaten, and left the forest. But scores of good fellows -were left behind him, stretched out all stiff beneath the sweet green -boughs. - -But though Robin Hood had beaten off his enemies in fair fight, all this -lay heavily upon his mind, so that he brooded over it until a fever -seized upon him. For three days it held him, and though he strove to -fight it off, he was forced to yield at last. Thus it came that, on the -morning of the fourth day, he called Little John to him, and told him -that he could not shake the fever from him, and that he would go to his -cousin, the prioress of the nunnery near Kirklees, in Yorkshire, who was -a skillful leech, and he would have her open a vein in his arm and take -a little blood from him, for the bettering of his health. Then he bade -Little John make ready to go also, for he might perchance need aid in -his journeying. So Little John and he took their leave of the others, -and Robin Hood bade Will Stutely be the captain of the band until they -should come back. Thus they came by easy stages and slow journeying -until they reached the Nunnery of Kirklees. - -Now Robin had done much to aid this cousin of his; for it was through -King Richard's love of him that she had been made prioress of the place. -But there is nought in the world so easily forgot as gratitude; so, when -the Prioress of Kirklees had heard how her cousin, the Earl of -Huntingdon, had thrown away his earldom and gone back again to Sherwood, -she was vexed to the soul, and feared lest her cousinship with him -should bring the King's wrath upon her also. Thus it happened that when -Robin came to her and told her how he wished her services as leech, she -began plotting ill against him in her mind, thinking that by doing evil -to him she might find favor with his enemies. Nevertheless, she kept -this well to herself and received Robin with seeming kindness. She led -him up the winding stone stair to a room which was just beneath the -eaves of a high, round tower; but she would not let Little John come -with him. - -So the poor yeoman turned his feet away from the door of the nunnery, -and left his master in the hands of the women. But, though he did not -come in, neither did he go far away; for he laid him down in a little -glade near by, where he could watch the place that Robin abided, like -some great, faithful dog turned away from the door where his master has -entered. - -After the women had gotten Robin Hood to the room beneath the eaves, the -Prioress sent all of the others away; then, taking a little cord, she -tied it tightly about Robin's arm, as though she were about to bleed -him. And so she did bleed him, but the vein she opened was not one of -those that lie close and blue beneath the skin; deeper she cut than -that, for she opened one of those veins through which the bright red -blood runs leaping from the heart. Of this Robin knew not; for, though -he saw the blood flow, it did not come fast enough to make him think -that there was anything ill in it. - -Having done this vile deed, the Prioress turned and left her cousin, -locking the door behind her. All that livelong day the blood ran from -Robin Hood's arm, nor could he check it, though he strove in every way -to do so. Again and again he called for help, but no help came, for his -cousin had betrayed him, and Little John was too far away to hear his -voice. So he bled and bled until he felt his strength slipping away from -him. Then he arose, tottering, and bearing himself up by the palms of -his hands against the wall, he reached his bugle horn at last. Thrice he -sounded it, but weakly and faintly, for his breath was fluttering -through sickness and loss of strength; nevertheless, Little John heard -it where he lay in the glade, and, with a heart all sick with dread, he -came running and leaping toward the nunnery. Loudly he knocked at the -door, and in a loud voice shouted for them to let him in, but the door -was of massive oak, strongly barred, and studded with spikes, so they -felt safe, and bade Little John begone. - -Then Little John's heart was mad with grief and fear for his master's -life. Wildly he looked about him, and his sight fell upon a heavy stone -mortar, such as three men could not lift nowadays. Little John took -three steps forward, and, bending his back, heaved the stone mortar up -from where it stood deeply rooted. Staggering under its weight, he came -forward and hurled it crashing against the door. In burst the door, and -away fled the frightened nuns, shrieking, at his coming. Then Little -John strode in, and never a word said he, but up the winding stone steps -he ran till he reached the room wherein his master was. Here he found -the door locked also, but, putting his shoulder against it, he burst the -locks as though they were made of brittle ice. - -There he saw his own dear master leaning against the gray stone wall, -his face all white and drawn, and his head swaying to and fro with -weakness. Then, with a great, wild cry of love and grief and pity, -Little John leaped forward and caught Robin Hood in his arms. Up he -lifted him as a mother lifts her child, and carrying him to the bed, -laid him tenderly thereon. - -And now the Prioress came in hastily, for she was frightened at what she -had done, and dreaded the vengeance of Little John and the others of the -band; then she stanched the blood by cunning bandages, so that it flowed -no more. All the while Little John stood grimly by, and after she had -done he sternly bade her to begone, and she obeyed, pale and trembling. -Then, after she had departed, Little John spake cheering words, laughing -loudly, and saying that all this was a child's fright, and that no stout -yeoman would die at the loss of a few drops of blood. "Why," quoth he, -"give thee a se'ennight and thou wilt be roaming the woodlands as boldly -as ever." - -But Robin shook his head and smiled faintly where he lay. "Mine own dear -Little John," whispered he, "Heaven bless thy kind, rough heart. But, -dear friend, we will never roam the woodlands together again." - -"Ay, but we will!" quoth Little John loudly. "I say again, ay--out upon -it--who dares say that any more harm shall come upon thee? Am I not by? -Let me see who dares touch"--Here he stopped of a sudden, for his words -choked him. At last he said, in a deep, husky voice, "Now, if aught of -harm befalls thee because of this day's doings, I swear by Saint George -that the red cock shall crow over the rooftree of this house, for the -hot flames shall lick every crack and cranny thereof. As for these -women"--here he ground his teeth--"it will be an ill day for them!" - -But Robin Hood took Little John's rough, brown fist in his white hands, -and chid him softly in his low, weak voice, asking him since what time -Little John had thought of doing harm to women, even in vengeance. Thus -he talked till, at last, the other promised, in a choking voice, that no -ill should fall upon the place, no matter what happened. Then a silence -fell, and Little John sat with Robin Hood's hand in his, gazing out of -the open window, ever and anon swallowing a great lump that came in his -throat. Meantime the sun dropped slowly to the west, till all the sky -was ablaze with a red glory. Then Robin Hood, in a weak, faltering -voice, bade Little John raise him that he might look out once more upon -the woodlands; so the yeoman lifted him in his arms, as he bade, and -Robin Hood's head lay on his friend's shoulder. Long he gazed, with a -wide, lingering look, while the other sat with bowed head, the hot tears -rolling one after another from his eyes, and dripping upon his bosom, -for he felt that the time of parting was near at hand. Then, presently, -Robin Hood bade him string his stout bow for him, and choose a smooth -fair arrow from his quiver. This Little John did, though without -disturbing his master or rising from where he sat. Robin Hood's fingers -wrapped lovingly around his good bow, and he smiled faintly when he felt -it in his grasp, then he nocked the arrow on that part of the string -that the tips of his fingers knew so well. "Little John," said he, -"Little John, mine own dear friend, and him I love better than all -others in the world, mark, I prythee, where this arrow lodges, and there -let my grave be digged. Lay me with my face toward the East, Little -John, and see that my resting place be kept green, and that my weary -bones be not disturbed." - -As he finished speaking, he raised himself of a sudden and sat upright. -His old strength seemed to come back to him, and, drawing the bowstring -to his ear, he sped the arrow out of the open casement. As the shaft -flew, his hand sank slowly with the bow till it lay across his knees, -and his body likewise sank back again into Little John's loving arms; -but something had sped from that body, even as the winged arrow sped -from the bow. - -For some minutes Little John sat motionless, but presently he laid that -which he held gently down, then, folding the hands upon the breast and -covering up the face, he turned upon his heel and left the room without -a word or a sound. - -Upon the steep stairway he met the Prioress and some of the chief among -the sisters. To them he spoke in a deep, quivering voice, and said he, -"An ye go within a score of feet of yonder room, I will tear down your -rookery over your heads so that not one stone shall be left upon -another. Bear my words well in mind, for I mean them." So saying, he -turned and left them, and they presently saw him running rapidly across -the open, through the falling of the dusk, until he was swallowed up by -the forest. - -The early gray of the coming morn was just beginning to lighten the -black sky toward the eastward when Little John and six more of the band -came rapidly across the open toward the nunnery. They saw no one, for -the sisters were all hidden away from sight, having been frightened by -Little John's words. Up the stone stair they ran, and a great sound of -weeping was presently heard. After a while this ceased, and then came -the scuffling and shuffling of men's feet as they carried a heavy weight -down the steep and winding stairs. So they went forth from the nunnery, -and, as they passed through the doors thereof, a great, loud sound of -wailing arose from the glade that lay all dark in the dawning, as though -many men, hidden in the shadows, had lifted up their voices in sorrow. - -Thus died Robin Hood, at Kirklees Nunnery, in fair Yorkshire, with mercy -in his heart toward those that had been his undoing; for thus he showed -mercy for the erring and pity for the weak through all the time of his -living. - -His yeomen were scattered henceforth, but no great ill befell them -thereafter, for a more merciful sheriff and one who knew them not so -well succeeding the one that had gone, and they being separated here and -there throughout the countryside, they abided in peace and quietness, so -that many lived to hand down these tales to their children and their -children's children. - -A certain one sayeth that upon a stone at Kirklees is an old -inscription. This I give in the ancient English in which it was written, -and thus it runs: - -HEAR UNDERNEAD DIS LAITL STEAN LAIS ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTUN NEA ARCIR -VER AS HIE SAE GEUD AN PIPL KAULD IM ROBIN HEUD SICK UTLAWS AS HI AN IS -MEN VIL ENGLAND NIDIR SI AGEN OBIIT 24 KAL. DEKEMBRIS 1247. - -And now, dear friend, we also must part, for our merry journeyings have -ended, and here, at the grave of Robin Hood, we turn, each going his own -way. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD *** - -***** This file should be named 10148.txt or 10148.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/1/4/10148/ - -Produced by David Widger, Ted Garvin and PG Distributed Proofreaders - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions -will be renamed. - -Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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