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diff --git a/964-h/964-h.htm b/964-h/964-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8148bb1 --- /dev/null +++ b/964-h/964-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,13322 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"> +<title> + The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle +</title> + +<style type="text/css"> + <!-- + body {text-align:justify} + P { margin:10%; + text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + hr { width: 50%; } + hr.full { width: 100%; } + .foot { margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 95%; } + img {border: 0;} + HR { width: 33%; text-align: center; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 1%;} + .toc { margin-left: 15%; margin-bottom: 0em;} + CENTER { padding: 10px;} + PRE { font-size: 96%; margin-left: 30%;} + // --> +</style> + +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +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: February 5, 2006 [EBook #964] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<h1> + THE MERRY ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD +</h1><br /> + +<h2> +by Howard Pyle +</h2><br /> +<br /> + +<br /> +<hr> + +<a name="2H_PREF"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h2> + PREFACE +</h2> +<h3> + FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE READER +</h3> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> + + + + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h2>Contents</h2> +<center> +<table summary=""> +<tr><td> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_PREF"> +PREFACE +</a></p> + +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0002"> +How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0003"> +Robin Hood and the Tinker +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0004"> +The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0005"> +Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0006"> +Robin Hood Turns Butcher +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0007"> +Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0008"> +How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0009"> +Little John and the Tanner of Blyth +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0010"> +Robin Hood and Will Scarlet +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0011"> +The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0012"> +Robin Hood and Allan a Dale +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0013"> +Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0014"> +Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0015"> +Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0016"> +How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0017"> +Little John Turns Barefoot Friar +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0018"> +Robin Hood Turns Beggar +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0019"> +Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0020"> +The Chase of Robin Hood +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0021"> +Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_4_0022"> +King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest +</a></p> +<p class="toc"><a href="#2H_EPIL"> +Epilogue +</a></p> + + +</td></tr> +</table> +</center> + + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr> + +<a name="2H_4_0002"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<br /> +<br /> + + + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + How Robin Hood Came to Be an Outlaw +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +And now I will tell how it came about that Robin Hood fell afoul of the +law. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +Then Robin grew angry, for no stripling likes to be taunted with his +green years. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +And another cried, "He will be taking ale with his milk next." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Ha!" cried Robin, "how likest thou that shot, good fellow? I wot the +wager were mine, an it were three hundred pounds." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Catch him!" cried a third. +</p> +<p> +"Nay," said a fourth, "let him e'en go because of his tender years." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Ye said I was no archer," cried he aloud, "but say so now again!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Now stand thou back," quoth Robin, "and let the better man cross +first." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," answered the stranger, "then stand back shine own self, for the +better man, I wet, am I." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Ay, marry, that will I abide thy coming, and joyously, too," quoth the +stranger; whereupon he leaned sturdily upon his staff to await Robin. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Marry, that meeteth my whole heart!" cried the stranger, twirling his +staff above his head, betwixt his fingers and thumb, until it whistled +again. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"And where art thou now, my good lad?" shouted the stranger, roaring +with laughter. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"And thou," quoth the stranger, laughing, "takest thy cudgeling like a +brave heart and a stout yeoman." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Good master," cried Will, "how is this? Truly thou art all wet from +head to foot, and that to the very skin." +</p> +<p> +"Why, marry," answered jolly Robin, "yon stout fellow hath tumbled me +neck and crop into the water and hath given me a drubbing beside." +</p> +<p> +"Then shall he not go without a ducking and eke a drubbing himself!" +cried Will Stutely. "Have at him, lads!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"That is a keen shot indeed," quoth Robin. "Mend it I cannot, but mar it +I may, perhaps." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<pre> + (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. +</pre> +<p> +"Then have I gained a right good man this day," quoth jolly Robin. "What +name goest thou by, good fellow?" +</p> +<p> +"Men call me John Little whence I came," answered the stranger. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then Robin Hood and all his band laughed aloud until the stranger began +to grow angry. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Then seven sponsors shall we have," quoth Will Stutely, and hunting +among all the band, he chose the seven stoutest men of them all. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"That do I," answered Will Stutely. +</p> +<p> +"And what name callest thou him?" +</p> +<p> +"Little John call I him." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0003"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood and the Tinker +</h2> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Now what news bearest thou so fast?" quoth one, "and whither ridest +thou today?" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Now art thou the man for my farthing," cried the messenger. "And back +thou goest with me to Nottingham Town." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, nay," said the messenger, "no man is there in Nottinghamshire +could make thee go against thy will, thou brave fellow." +</p> +<p> +"Ay, that be I brave," said the Tinker. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>In peascod time, when hound to horn + Gives ear till buck be killed, + And little lads with pipes of corn + Sit keeping beasts afield</i>—" +</pre> +<p> +"Halloa, good friend!" cried Robin. +</p> +<center> +"I WENT TO GATHER STRAWBERRIES—" +</center> +<p> +"Halloa!" cried Robin again. +</p> +<center> +"BY WOODS AND GROVES FULL FAIR—" +</center> +<p> +"Halloa! Art thou deaf, man? Good friend, say I!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"And whence comest thou, my lusty blade?" quoth Robin. +</p> +<p> +"I come from Banbury," answered the Tinker. +</p> +<p> +"Alas!" quoth Robin, "I hear there is sad news this merry morn." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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? +</p> +<p> +"Much like myself," said Robin, laughing, "and in height and build and +age nigh the same; and he hath blue eyes, too." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," quoth the Tinker, "thou art but a green youth. I thought him to +be a great bearded man. Nottingham men feared him so." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Ay, that will I," quoth Robin, "but show me thy warrant, man, until I +see whether it be good or no." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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(2) 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. +</p> +<pre> + (2) Small sour apples. +</pre> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +At this the host smiled slyly, as though saying to himself the rustic +saw, "Teach a magpie to suck eggs." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Ho, landlord!" cried he, "whither hath that knave gone that was with me +but now?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, yon same is a right stout fellow whom men hereabouts do call Robin +Hood, which same—" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Nay," cried the host, throwing up his elbow, for he feared the blow, +"how knew I that thou knewest him not?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"But did not he pay thee?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"But nought have I to pay thee with, good fellow," quoth the Tinker. +</p> +<p> +"'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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Robin and I stripped yon ass of his pack main neatly," quoth the +landlord. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +"Halloa, my sweet bird," said he, laughing merrily, "how likest thou +thine ale? Wilt not sing to me another song?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Now yield thee," quoth the Tinker, "for thou art my captive; and if +thou do not, I will beat thy pate to a pudding." +</p> +<p> +To this Robin Hood made no answer, but, clapping his horn to his lips, +he blew three blasts, loud and clear. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +Then from out the forest leaped Little John and six stout yeomen clad in +Lincoln green. +</p> +<p> +"How now, good master," cried Little John, "what need hast thou that +thou dost wind thy horn so loudly?" +</p> +<p> +"There stands a tinker," quoth Robin, "that would fain take me to +Nottingham, there to hang upon the gallows tree." +</p> +<p> +"Then shall he himself hang forthwith," cried Little John, and he and +the others made at the Tinker, to seize him. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0004"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town +</h2> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then he bade all his servants and retainers to make ready to go to +London Town, to see and speak with the King. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Thither came the Sheriff and was shown into the King's presence. +</p> +<p> +"A boon, a boon," quoth he, as he knelt upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +"Now what wouldst thou have?" said the King. "Let us hear what may be +thy desires." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +But what was the Sheriff's plan? +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +Then "Good, good!" cried all the band right heartily. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Then the herald stood forth and loudly proclaimed the rules of the game +as follows: +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Now," quoth the Sheriff to a man-at-arms who stood near him, "seest +thou Robin Hood among those ten?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Now by all the saints in Paradise!" cried the Sheriff, "that is a +lovely shaft in very truth!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Men do call me Jock o' Teviotdale, and thence am I come," said the +stranger. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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,(1) 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. +</p> +<pre> + (1) Bond-servants. +</pre> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>Now Heaven bless Thy Grace this day + Say all in sweet Sherwood + For thou didst give the prize away + To merry Robin Hood</i>." +</pre> +<p> +"Whence came this?" cried the Sheriff in a mighty voice. +</p> +<p> +"Even through the window, Your Worship," quoth the man who had handed +the shaft to him. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0005"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions +</h2> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +But Stutely shook his head silently, for he said to himself, "Maybe +there be those here who know my voice." +</p> +<p> +Then the constable said again, "Whither goest thou, holy friar, upon +this hot summer's day?" +</p> +<p> +"I go a pilgrim to Canterbury Town," answered Will Stutely, speaking +gruffly, so that none might know his voice. +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Will Stutely hath been taken," cried they, when they had come to where +he stood. +</p> +<p> +"And is it thou that hast brought such doleful news?" said Robin to the +lass. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Now stand thou back!" cried one of the men-at-arms whom Little John +pushed with his elbows. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0006"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Turns Butcher +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Good morrow to thee, jolly fellow," quoth Robin, "thou seemest happy +this merry morn." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"A yeoman am I, and men do call me Robin Hood." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +When he came to Nottingham, he entered that part of the market where +butchers stood, and took up his inn(2) 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: +</p> +<pre> + (2) Stand for selling. + + "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." +</pre> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Well," quoth Robin, "they are worth at least five hundred pounds." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"I will bring the money," said the Sheriff. "But what is thy name, good +youth?" +</p> +<p> +"Men call me Robert o' Locksley," quoth bold Robin. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"What wouldst thou have, good master?" quoth Little John. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, I forgot nought," said the Sheriff; yet all the same his heart +sank within him. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +Then "Ay!" cried all, in a loud voice. +</p> +<p> +"Three hundred devils!" roared the Sheriff. "Think ye that your beggarly +feast was worth three pounds, let alone three hundred?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, Heaven forbid!" cried the Sheriff hastily. "I can find mine own +way, good man, without aid." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0007"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So Little John clad himself all in scarlet and started off to the Fair +at Nottingham Town. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0008"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + How Little John Lived at the Sheriff's +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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'?" +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"Thy breakfast, Master Fireblaze, is in the pantry," answered the +Steward. +</p> +<p> +"Then fetch it hither!" cried Little John, who waxed angry by this time. +</p> +<p> +"Go thou and fetch it thine own self," quoth the Steward. "Am I thy +slave, to fetch and carry for thee?" +</p> +<p> +"I say, go thou, bring it me!" +</p> +<p> +"I say, go thou, fetch it for thyself!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Lion or no lion," quoth the valorous Cook, "come thou straight forth, +else thou art a coward heart as well as a knavish thief." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Truly, I have trolled one now and then," quoth the Cook, "yet I would +not sing alone." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"So be it, pretty boy," quoth the Cook. "And hast thou e'er heard the +song of the Deserted Shepherdess?" +</p> +<p> +"Truly, I know not," answered Little John, "but sing thou and let me +hear." +</p> +<p> +Then the Cook took another draught from the pottle, and, clearing his +throat, sang right sweetly: +</p> +<center> +THE SONG OF THE DESERTED SHEPHERDESS +</center> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>.'" +</pre> +<p> +"Now, by my faith," cried Little John, "that same is a right good song, +and hath truth in it, also." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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:" +</p> +<center> +THE GOOD KNIGHT AND HIS LOVE +</center> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Now thou art a man of shrewd opinions," quoth Little John, "and I love +thee truly as thou wert my brother." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"And I had thought to do the same by thee," quoth the Cook, "but I have +missed the mark somehow." +</p> +<p> +"Now I have been thinking within myself," quoth Little John, "what we +are fighting for; but albeit I do not rightly know." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Men do call me Little John, good fellow." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Why, Reynold Greenleaf!" cried the Sheriff, "whence comest thou and +where hast thou been?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Why, how now, Reynold Greenleaf," cried the Sheriff, "art thou dreaming +or art thou mad, that thou dost bring me such, a tale?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So the party all rode forward, and Little John led them downward into +the forest. +</p> +<p> +"Now, good master," quoth he at last, "we are nigh where I saw this +herd." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, Heaven forbid!" said the Sheriff in tones of deep earnest. "I care +for no feast and have no hunger today." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Then he led the Sheriff, willy-nilly, to the seat he knew so well +beneath the greenwood tree. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0009"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Little John and the Tanner of Blyth +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Suddenly Robin Hood smote his knee. +</p> +<p> +"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 twenty-score 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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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.'" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So, without more ado, each gripped his staff in the middle, and, with +fell and angry looks, they came slowly together. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Hold!" roared Little John. "Wouldst thou strike a man when he is down?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay, marry would I," quoth the Tanner, giving him another thwack with +his staff. +</p> +<p> +"Stop!" roared Little John. "Help! Hold, I say! I yield me! I yield me, +I say, good fellow!" +</p> +<p> +"Hast thou had enough?" asked the Tanner grimly, holding his staff +aloft. +</p> +<p> +"Ay, marry, and more than enough." +</p> +<p> +"And thou dost own that I am the better man of the two?" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, truly, and a murrain seize thee!" said Little John, the first +aloud and the last to his beard. +</p> +<p> +"Then thou mayst go thy ways; and thank thy patron saint that I am a +merciful man," said the Tanner. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Men do call me Arthur a Bland," spoke up the Tanner boldly, "and now +what may be thy name?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0010"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood and Will Scarlet +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +So saying, they all stepped out once more, with the right foot foremost, +as the saying is. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Heyday!" quoth he, "yon is a gaily feathered bird, I take my vow." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"By my life!" quoth Robin Hood, laughing, "saw ye e'er such a pretty, +mincing fellow?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Some great baron's son, I doubt not," answered Little John, "with good +and true men's money lining his purse." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Hold!" cried Robin, when at last the other had come close to him. +"Hold! Stand where thou art!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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.'" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, thou goest not," quoth Robin, "till thou hast shown me thy purse." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Whatever Robin Hood thought, he stood his ground, and now he and the +stranger in scarlet stood face to face. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Hold!" cried Robin Hood, when he saw the stranger raising his staff +once more. "I yield me!" +</p> +<p> +"Hold!" cried Little John, bursting from his cover, with the Tanner at +his heels. "Hold! give over, I say!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"A plague on thy aid!" cried Robin angrily. "I can get to my feet +without thy help, good fellow." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"My name is Gamwell," answered the other. +</p> +<p> +"Ha!" cried Robin, "is it even so? I have near kin of that name. Whence +camest thou, fair friend?" +</p> +<p> +"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—" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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—" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, good Little John," said Robin hastily, "I do bethink me I have +said full enough on that score." +</p> +<p> +"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—" +</p> +<p> +"Nay, then," said Robin Hood testily, "I was mistaken. I remember me now +it did seem to threaten rain." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0011"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + The Adventure with Midge the Miller's Son +</h2> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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!'" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"For the matter of that, thou knowest I have money by me, good master," +quoth Little John. +</p> +<p> +"Why, so thou hast, Little John," said Robin. "How much money will it +take, good Arthur, to buy us meat and drink?" +</p> +<p> +"I think that six broad pennies will buy food enow for a dozen men," +said the Tanner. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So Little John gave Arthur the money, and the others stepped to the +thicket, there to await the return of the Tanner. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Truly, I do not mind turning a tune," answered Will Scarlet, "but I +would not sing alone." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, others will follow. Strike up, lad," quoth Robin. +</p> +<p> +"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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>. + + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +"'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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Thereupon, clearing his throat, the Tanner, without more ado, began to +sing: +</p> +<center> +THE WOOING OF SIR KEITH +</center> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>?' + + "<i>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</i>?' + + "'<i>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</i>.' + + "<i>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</i>.'" +</pre> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>—" +</pre> +<p> +"Who may yon fellow be coming along the road?" said Robin, breaking into +the song. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Thou art right; that is the man," said Little John. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Truly, it is a merry thought," said Will Scarlet. +</p> +<p> +"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—" +</p> +<p> +"Prythee peace, Little John," quoth Robin. "Thy foolish tongue will get +us both well laughed at yet." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Who bids me stay?" said the Miller in a voice deep and gruff, like the +growl of a great dog. +</p> +<p> +"Marry, that do I," quoth Robin; "and let me tell thee, friend, thou +hadst best mind my bidding." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"We be four good Christian men," quoth Robin, "and would fain help thee +by carrying part of thy heavy load." +</p> +<p> +"I give you all thanks," said the Miller, "but my bag is none that heavy +that I cannot carry it e'en by myself." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Stop!" roared Robin at last. "Give over, good friend, I am Robin Hood!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"What is thy need, master?" cried Will Stutely. "And what doth all this +mean?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"What is thy name, good fellow?" said Robin at last to the Miller, who +stood gaping and as though he were in amaze. +</p> +<p> +"Alas, sir, I am Midge, the Miller's son," said he in a frightened +voice. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0012"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood and Allan a Dale +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Ha!" quoth Will Scarlet, "this must be looked into. There is someone in +distress nigh to us here." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Good even, fair friend," said Robin Hood, rising as the other drew +near. "And hast thou come to feast with me this day?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, good master," answered Will Stutely, grinning, "he is no guest of +mine; it was Will Scarlet that brought him thither." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Allen a Dale is my name, good master." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, truly," answered Allan, "I do come thence." +</p> +<p> +"How old art thou, Allan?" said Robin. +</p> +<p> +"I am but twenty years of age." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay, marry would she," cried Allan eagerly. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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: +</p> +<center> +MAY ELLEN'S WEDDING +</center> +<p> +(Giving an account of how she was beloved by a fairy prince, who took +her to his own home.) +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0013"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"'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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then, singing first with a voice deep and gruff, and anon in one high +and squeaking, he blithely trolled the merry catch of +</p> +<center> +THE LOVING YOUTH AND THE SCORNFUL MAID +</center> +<pre> + "<i>Ah, it's wilt thou come with me, my love? + And it's wilt thou, love, be 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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Doss thou know the country hereabouts, thou good and holy man?" asked +Robin, laughing. +</p> +<p> +"Yea, somewhat," answered the other dryly. +</p> +<p> +"And dost thou know of a certain spot called Fountain Abbey?" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, somewhat." +</p> +<p> +"Then perchance thou knowest also of a certain one who goeth by the name +of the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey." +</p> +<p> +"Yea, somewhat." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"I do wish much," quoth Robin, looking thoughtfully at the stout priest, +"to cross yon ford and strive to find this same good Friar." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, good father," said Robin, "I would not burden thee with aught of +mine but myself." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So Robin took his sword again and buckled it at his side; then he bent +his stout back and took the Friar upon it. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Look to thyself," cried Robin, drawing his good sword. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"What wouldst thou have of me?" asked the Friar. +</p> +<p> +"Only this," quoth Robin; "that thou wilt let me blow thrice upon my +bugle horn." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Thou mayst indeed be thankful, friend," said the Friar gravely. "But, +Master Will, how cometh it that thou dost now abide in Sherwood?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, Tuck, dost thou not know of my ill happening with my father's +steward?" answered Scarlet. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"But we are losing time," quoth Robin, "and I have yet to find that same +Curtal Friar." +</p> +<p> +"Why, uncle, thou hast not far to go," said Will Scarlet, pointing to +the Friar, "for there he stands beside thee." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, truly, thou didst not ask me, good master," quoth stout Tuck; "but +what didst thou desire of me?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0014"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +All the band stared and many laughed, for never had they seen their +master in such a fantastic guise before. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Why, master," quoth Little John, taking the bags and weighing them in +his hand, "here is the chink of gold." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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? +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Truly," quoth Robin, when he could speak for laughter, "I should say +that thy sorrows were about equal to thy goodliness." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Then up spoke Robin, "Now tell us, young David of Doncaster, what dost +thou see?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Why dost thou not play, fellow?" quoth the Bishop, looking sternly at +Robin. +</p> +<p> +"Marry," said Robin calmly, "I will play in greater wise than Your +Lordship thinks, but not till the right time hath come." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Down with the villains!" cried Sir Stephen, and felt for his sword, but +it hung not beside him on his wedding day. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Nay," quoth merry Robin, "that have I done, and I care not who knoweth +it, for my name is Robin Hood." +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0015"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Then they each chose such of the band as they wished, and so went forth +by different paths from the forest. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"What art thou, friend, who dost stop a traveler in this manner upon his +most gracious Majesty's highway?" said the Knight. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"I take thy meaning, friend," said the Knight gravely, "but I am not thy +man, for I have no money by me." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"But where is thy son now?" asked Robin, who had listened closely to all +the Knight had said. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Truly," said Robin, much moved, "thine is a hard lot. But tell me, what +is owing to Emmet for thine estates?" +</p> +<p> +"Only four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Then up spake Will Scarlet. "But hast thou no friend that will help thee +in thy dire need?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay, truly it was the same," said the Bishop, "a naughty fellow, I wot. +</p> +<p> +"And didst thou, Little John," said Robin in a sad voice, "call his +lordship a fat priest?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay," said Little John sorrowfully. +</p> +<p> +"And a man-eating bishop?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay," said Little John, more sorrowfully than before. +</p> +<p> +"And a money-gorging usurer?" +</p> +<p> +"Ay," said Little John in so sorrowful a voice that it might have drawn +tears from the Dragon of Wentley. +</p> +<p> +"Alas, that these things should be!" said jolly Robin, turning to the +Bishop, "for I have ever found Little John a truthful man." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Speak out, Bishop," quoth Robin, laughing. "We of Sherwood check not an +easy flow of words. 'Den of thieves' thou west about to say." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +To this the Bishop answered not a word but looked upon the ground with +moody eyes. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Who hath the score of the goods?" asked Robin Hood, looking at the +Black Friars. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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: +</p> +<p> +"Three bales of silk to Quentin, the mercer at Ancaster." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"One bale of silk velvet for the Abbey of Beaumont." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Twoscore of great wax candles for the Chapel of Saint Thomas." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +At these words the Bishop shook as with a chill, and the box was set +upon the ground. +</p> +<p> +"My Lord Bishop, hast thou the key of this box?" asked Robin. +</p> +<p> +The Bishop shook his head. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +Quoth Robin, "Thou, Will Scarlet, thou, Allan a Dale, and thou, Little +John, count it over." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +At this the Bishop looked up, but he could say never a word; yet he was +thankful to keep some of his wealth. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then Robin Hood and all his merry men arose, and Robin said, "We cannot +let thee go hence unattended, Sir Richard." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Thou hast spoken well, Little John, and it shall be done," said Robin. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then Robin Hood said, "Thou hast spoken well, Will Scarlet, and it shall +be done." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +At this all clapped their hands for joy, and Robin said: "Thou hast well +spoken, Will Stutely, and it shall be done." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Then up spake the Bishop of Hereford in a mournful voice, "I, too, must +be jogging, good fellow, for the night waxes late." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0016"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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, "<i>In coelo quies! In coelo quies!</i>" such being the +words that the poor old lame porter had taught him to speak. +</p> +<p> +"Where is thy prior?" asked the Knight of the old porter. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"I am Sir Richard of the Lea; then I will go seek him forthwith," said +the Knight. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham, "But art thou sure, Sir Prior, that +thou hast the lands so safe?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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—" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then the first word that the Prior said to him was "Hast thou brought my +money?" +</p> +<p> +"Alas! I have not so much as one penny upon my body," said the Knight; +whereat the Prior's eyes sparkled. +</p> +<p> +"Now, thou art a shrewd debtor, I wot," said he. Then, "Sir Sheriff, I +drink to thee." +</p> +<p> +But still the Knight kneeled upon the hard stones, so the Prior turned +to him again. "What wouldst thou have?" quoth he sharply. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Thy day is broken and thy lands forfeit," said the man of law, plucking +up his spirits at the Knight's humble speech. +</p> +<p> +Quoth Sir Richard, "Thou man of law, wilt thou not befriend me in mine +hour of need?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Wilt thou not be my friend, Sir Sheriff?" said Sir Richard. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +At this the Prior smiled grimly. "Pay me three hundred pounds, Sir +Richard," said he, "and I will give thee quittance of thy debt." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Not another day," said the Prior sternly. +</p> +<p> +"And is this all thou wilt do for me?" asked the Knight. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," said the judge, "he is a stranger to me." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Who art thou that knowest Sir Richard of the Lea so well?" quoth the +Knight. "Methinks I have seen thy face before, young man." +</p> +<p> +"Yea, thou hast," said the youth, "for men call me David of Doncaster." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +Then all shouted "Ay" with a mighty voice. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Thus Robin Hood helped a noble knight out of his dire misfortunes, that +else would have smothered the happiness from his life. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0017"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Little John Turns Barefoot Friar +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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.'" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Truly, for the honor of the cloth," quoth Friar Tuck, "I hold with my +good gossip, Little John." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"That fitteth my mind," quoth Little John, "so let us forth, say I." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," said one of the lasses, "but thou canst not carry three baskets +all at one time." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Marry," quoth Little John to himself, as he strode along, "yon was no +such ill happening; Saint Dunstan send me more of the like." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"I give you good den, sweet friends," quoth Little John, striding up to +where they sat. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +So they talked among themselves merrily, until after a while quoth +Little John, "Who rideth those two nags yonder?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Talking of fatness," said the Peddler, "thou thyself lookest none too +ill-fed, holy friar." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"Why, as for that," quoth Little John, grinning, "mayhap he hath lent me +aid to learn a ditty or so." +</p> +<p> +"Then, prythee, let us hear how he hath taught thee," quoth the Tinker. +</p> +<p> +At this Little John cleared his throat and, after a word or two about a +certain hoarseness that troubled him, sang thus: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then all laughed, and one of the fair ladies cried out, "What three +meanest thou, merry friend?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"We have no money, fellow," said the lean Friar harshly. "Come, Brother +Thomas, let us forward." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"I tell thee, fellow, we have no money," thundered the fat little Friar +with the great voice. +</p> +<p> +"Ha' ye, in holy truth, no money?" asked Little John. +</p> +<p> +"Not a farthing," said the lean Friar sourly. +</p> +<p> +"Not a groat," said the fat Friar loudly. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +Then once again each friar slowly thrust his hand into his pouch, and +once again brought it out with nothing in it. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +But Little John turned his footsteps back again to Sherwood Forest, and +merrily he whistled as he strode along. +</p> +<p> +And now we will see what befell Robin Hood in his venture as beggar. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0018"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Turns Beggar +</h2> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +Then the other winked one eye and straightway trolled forth in a merry +voice: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>. +</pre> +<p> +"And so it is with me, bully boy, saving that my doxy cometh not." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?'" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Why, mayhap there is some other cold fare therein," said the Beggar +slyly. +</p> +<p> +"And hast thou nought to drink but cold water?" said Robin. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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—" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Friend," said the Beggar, "let me feel the weight of that skin. +</p> +<p> +"Yea, truly," quoth Robin, "help thyself, sweet chuck, and meantime let +me see whether thy pigeon pie is fresh or no." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"How!" said the Beggar reproachfully, "thou wouldst surely not talk of +things appertaining to serious affairs upon such ale as this!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<pre> + (3) Classes of traveling mendicants that infested England as + late as the middle of the seventeenth century. VIDE Dakkar's + ENGLISH VILLAINIES, etc. +</pre> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"I promise on the word of a true yeoman," quoth Robin, thinking that the +fellow had a few pennies that he would save. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Whence comest thou, lad?" asked the Dumb man. +</p> +<p> +"Why," quoth Robin, "I came this morning from sleeping overnight in +Sherwood." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Methinks he would, too," quoth Robin, laughing. "But what money is this +that ye speak of?" +</p> +<p> +Then up spake the Lame man. "Our king, Peter of York," said he, "hath +sent us to Lincoln with those moneys that—" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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) +</p> +<pre> + (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. +</pre> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"Pity a poor beggar," quoth Robin. "Give me but a farthing to buy me a +piece of bread." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"I go to Grantham," said the Corn Engrosser, "but I shall lodge tonight +at Newark, if I can get so far upon my way." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Thou dost surely jest," quoth Robin. "How could one hide so much as two +hundred pounds upon his person?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +At these words the corn factor grew pale as a linen napkin. "Who art +thou that talkest so?" said he. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +Robin stood and looked after him, and, when he was fairly gone, turned, +laughing, and entered the forest carrying the shoes in his hand. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0019"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood Shoots Before Queen Eleanor +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then Partington paid his score, and the yeomen coming forward, they all +straightway departed upon their way. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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! +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +At this speech the King's brows drew together blackly, and he turned to +the Queen. "Is this true?" said he sternly. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"By my soul!" cried Gilbert. "Art thou the devil in blue, to shoot in +that wise?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Thy eggs are cracked, Gilbert," quoth Robin, laughing; and straightway +he loosed a shaft, and once more smote the white circle of the center. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +At this all shouted aloud, for it pleased them to hear Robin speak so of +them. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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.'" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0020"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + The Chase of Robin Hood +</h2> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +Then the Bishop spoke again, in his soft, smooth voice: +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +When Robin came out of the inn, he found young Richard Partington +sitting upon his horse in the white moonlight, awaiting his coming. +</p> +<p> +"What news bearest thou, Sir Page?" said Robin. "I trust that it is not +of an ill nature." +</p> +<p> +"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, fifty-score 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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +For Robin was not as lucky in getting back as his men had been, as you +shall presently hear. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Halloa, good friend," quoth Robin, from beneath the hedge, when the +other had gotten nigh enough, "whither away so merrily this bright day?" +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Ay, truly," quoth Robin, "they are as thick here as fresh herring in +Cannock Chase." +</p> +<p> +"Look ye, now!" said the Cobbler, all drowned in wonder. "And dost thou +in sooth catch them by dropping salt on their pretty tails?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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: +</p> +<pre> + "<i>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</i>—" +</pre> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"'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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0021"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Who art thou, rascal?" said he at last, in a loud, harsh voice. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"An thou likest not my words," said the other fiercely, "thou hadst best +be jogging, for I tell thee plainly, my deeds match them." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Then Guy of Gisbourne arose. "Now out upon it!" cried he. "The Devil +himself could not hit such a mark as that." +</p> +<p> +"Mayhap he could and mayhap he could not," quoth merry Robin, "but that +we shall never know till thou hast shot thereat." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +And now let us see what befell Little John while these things were +happening. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"With all my heart," said the Sheriff, "only, as I said before, make +thou haste in thy doings." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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!" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_4_0022"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest +</h2> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"How now," said the King hastily, "art thou ill, Sheriff, that thou +growest so white?" +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"Marry, Sir Hubert," quoth the King, "this pleaseth me well. But how +wilt thou cause me to meet Robin Hood?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"I like thy plan, Sir Hubert," quoth the King merrily, "and tomorrow we +will try it and see whether there be virtue in it." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"Yea, Your Majesty," said the Sheriff, "you have heard aright. +Nevertheless—" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay," quoth the Sheriff hastily, "Heaven forbid!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"How now, fellow," quoth the King, "who art thou, thou naughty rogue? +Hast thou no regard for such holy men as we are?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Nay, use no force," said the King sternly. "Here is my purse, but lay +not thy lawless hands upon our person." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"Then keep them covered in peace," said Robin, "and far be it from me to +make you break your vows." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"Who art thou, mad priest?" said the King in a serious voice, albeit he +smiled beneath his cowl. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +Then all drank the King's health, even the King himself. "Methinks, good +fellow," said he, "thou hast drunk to thine own confusion." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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?" +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +Then Allan touched his harp lightly, and all words were hushed while he +sang thus: +</p> +<pre> + "'<i>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</i>." +</pre> +<p> +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?" +</p> +<p> +"I know not, Your Majesty," said Allan, shaking his head, "for ofttimes +I sing that which I do not clearly understand mine own self." +</p> +<p> +"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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<a name="2H_EPIL"><!-- H2 anchor --></a> + +<div style="height: 4em;"><br><br><br><br></div> + +<h2> + Epilogue +</h2> +<p> +THUS END the Merry Adventures of Robin Hood; for, in spite of his +promise, it was many a year ere he saw Sherwood again. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +"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!" +</p> +<p> +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." +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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: +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> +<p> +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. +</p> + + +<div style="height: 6em;"><br><br><br><br><br><br></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +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 964-h.htm or 964-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/6/964/ + +Produced by Charles Keller and David Widger + +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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