1RLF 
 
THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
THE FIGURE OF A TALL KNIGHT STOOD BEFORE HIM. 
 
Stories of 
 
 ROBIN HOOD 
 
 it 
 
 And His Merry Outlaws 
 
 By 
 J. WALKER McSPADDEN 
 
 Author of " Shaksperian Synopses ," and " Synopses 
 of Dickens' s Novels." 
 
 NEW YORK 
 THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
1904, 
 
 BY THOMAS Y. CROWELL & COMPANY 
 
 GIFT 
 
To 
 
 I. M. M. and C. F. M. 
 
 This Book is 
 
 Dedicated 
 
 210 
 
Contents 
 
 Introduction ..... vii 
 
 I. How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw . i 
 
 II. How Robin Hood Met Little John . 23 
 
 III. How Robin Hood turned Butcher, and 
 
 Entered the Sheriff's Service . . 32 
 
 IV. How Little John Entered the Sheriff's 
 
 Service ...... 44 
 
 V. How the Sheriff Lost Three Good Serv- 
 ants and Found Them Again . . 56 
 VI. How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet . 69 
 VII. How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck . 81 
 VIII. How Allan-a-Dale's Wooing was Pros- 
 pered . . . . -94 
 
 IX. How the Widow's Three Sons were 
 
 Rescued . . . . .107 
 
 X. How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye . 1 1 8 
 XI. How Robin Hood Fought Guy of 
 
 Gisborne . . . . .128 
 
 XII. How Maid Marian Came Back to Sher- 
 wood Forest ; also, How Robin Hood 
 Came Before Queen Eleanor . . 145 
 V 
 
vi Contents 
 
 CHAP. PAGE 
 
 XIII. How the Outlaws Shot in King Harry's 
 
 Tourney . . . . .158 
 
 XIV. How Robin Hood was Sought of the 
 
 Tinker 182 
 
 XV. How Robin Hood was Tanned of the 
 
 Tanner . . . . .198 
 
 XVI. How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard of 
 
 the Lea 211 
 
 XVII. How the Bishop was Dined . .226 
 
 XVIII. How the Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting, 235 
 XIX. How the Sheriff Held Another Shooting 
 
 Match ...... 244 
 
 XX. How Will Stutely was Rescued . . 255 
 XXI. How Sir Richard of the Lea Repaid His 
 
 Debt 269 
 
 XXII. How King Richard Came to Sherwood 
 
 Forest ...... 277 
 
 XXIII. How Robin Hood and Maid Marian 
 
 were Wed ' . . 294 
 
 XXIV. How Robin Hood Met His Death . 305 
 
Introduction 
 
 SONGS and legends of Robin Hood and his 
 merry outlaws have charmed readers young 
 and old for more than five hundred years. 
 They are among the earliest heirlooms of the 
 Anglo-Saxon tongue, dating back to the time 
 when Chaucer wrote his " Canterbury Tales," 
 and the minstrel and scribe stood in the place of 
 the more prim and precise modern printing 
 block. The present stories, then, are but the re- 
 telling of old tales whose charm and interest, 
 nevertheless, make them ever new. The old 
 tales were in rhyme and ancient spelling ; they 
 were hid in out-of-the-way places ; and they 
 were more or less disconnected and obscure to 
 our modern thinking. For this reason the ad- 
 ventures are now put into a continuous prose 
 narrative, in the hope that they will make some 
 readers acquainted with one of the most attrac- 
 tive heroes in all story-land. 
 
 " Was Robin Hood a real person ? " will doubt- 
 less be the first question. It has been asked for 
 many, many years, just as a similar question 
 vii 
 
viii Introduction 
 
 is being asked about the great Swiss hero, Will- 
 iam Tell, and many others whom we would 
 much rather accept on faith. But this is an age 
 of skepticism and doubt, so one might as well 
 face the inquiry first as last. 
 
 The question of Robin Hood's flesh and blood 
 cannot be answered by a brief " yes" or " no," 
 although learned men have pored over ancient 
 records and have written books on the subject 
 some saying that he actually did live in the 
 greenwood and fight with bow and staff and 
 sword ; others claiming that his deeds were but 
 legendary stories relating to a group of men 
 rather than a single, historical person ; and still 
 others saying that he is but the embodiment of 
 May-time revels. 
 
 However that may be, Robin Hood has been 
 the one great popular hero in England for cen- 
 turies, and the accounts of his life are much more 
 clear and distinct than those of many early kings 
 and lords. His adventures are minutely related 
 in numerous ballads, and his name is cherished 
 as one of the first among those who stood out 
 for liberty and equal rights to high and low. If 
 ever a man has been loved by his country, it is 
 Robin Hood. " It is he," says an old historian, 
 " whom the common people delight to celebrate 
 
Introduction ix 
 
 in games and comedies, and whose history, sung 
 by fiddlers, interests them more than any other." 
 In the sixteenth century an annual holiday was 
 still set apart for him, and observed by all the 
 people in the countryside. Bishop Latimer once 
 visited a certain town and announced that he 
 would preach there the next day. But on the 
 morrow when he went to the church he found 
 the doors locked and no congregation in sight. 
 After waiting more than an hour for a key, a 
 man came up and said : " Sir, this is a busy day 
 with us ; we cannot hear you : it is Robin 
 Hood's day. The parish are gone abroad to 
 gather for Robin Hood. The Bishop himself 
 tells us of this incident and adds with hurt dig- 
 nity : " I was fain there to give place to Robin 
 Hood." So he took off his robe and went his 
 way, leaving his place to archers dressed in Lin- 
 coln green, who played on rude stages the parts 
 of Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, and 
 even Maid Marian. 
 
 There is more than one reason why Robin 
 has been a national hero. He was not simply a 
 robber and brawler. We must not emphasize 
 these traits, in the turbulence and lawlessness of 
 early days when king warred against noble and 
 noble against bishop and all three oppressed the 
 
x Introduction 
 
 common people whom the law gave no redress. 
 An outlaw, in those times, when/deprived of pro- 
 tection owed no man allegiance. His head was 
 forfeit, if he were ever captured ; so his hand 
 was against every man's, and every man's against 
 his. And how easy it was to become an outlaw ! 
 The shooting of a king's deer, or the incurring 
 of some lord's displeasure, was enough to put a 
 man's life in jeopardy. 
 
 This was the day not only of oppression by 
 church and state, but also of the struggle be- 
 tween the Saxon landholders and their Norman 
 conquerors. Robin Hood was, first of all, a 
 Saxon who stood out for the rights of the 
 people, waging war against knights, sheriffs, ab- 
 bots, and money-lenders, whose sway was so 
 heavy. But he was fair in war, a protector of 
 women and children ; courteous, moreover, to 
 noble and peasant alike ; kind to the poor and 
 oppressed, with whom he shared the goods ob- 
 tained from too-heavily-laden knight or bishop ; 
 generous, as well, giving to a bankrupt crusader 
 horse, clothing and money to recover his estate ; 
 a respecter of honest laboring men and trades- 
 folk whom his men were forbidden to molest; 
 brave to rashness, proud and adventurous ready 
 to get blows as quickly as take them, and to defy 
 
Introduction xi 
 
 the sheriff within his walled town ; skilled and 
 adroit and resourceful ; finally, a man of frank, 
 open countenance singing among the lights and 
 shadows of the good greenwood, and jesting in 
 the face of death itself. This is the picture 
 which all the singers and story-tellers give of 
 him. Is there any wonder that the common 
 people loved him ? 
 
 This love extended from him to all the mem- 
 bers of his hardy band. " God save Robin 
 Hood, and all his good yeomanry," is the way 
 many of the ballads end. The clever archer who 
 could outshoot his fellows, the brave yeoman 
 inured to blows, and the man who could be true 
 to his friends through thick and thin were favor- 
 ites for all time ; and they have been idealized in 
 the persons of Robin Hood and his merry out- 
 laws. Stories of their deeds are the epics of the 
 common people, just as the earlier stories of 
 King Arthur and his knights are the epics of the 
 courtly class. The striking contrast of these two 
 classes is shown in the forest scene where King 
 Richard meets the yeomen on equal terms. This 
 and other parallel portraits of Richard and Robin 
 Hood ( or Lockesley ) have been drawn in en- 
 during fashion by Sir Walter Scott in " Ivanhoe." 
 
 If Robin Hood really lived, it was probably 
 
xii Introduction 
 
 some time during the twelfth and thirteenth cen- 
 turies. Joseph Ritson, who is accounted the first 
 modern authority on this subject, found warrant 
 for the supposition that he was born at Lockes- 
 ley, County of Nottingham, about the year 1 160 
 during the reign of Henry II. His true name 
 was Robert Fitzooth, and he came of good 
 family. By some writers he was reputed to be 
 the rightful Earl of Huntingdon. He was a 
 wild, adventurous youth whose debts or other 
 follies drove him to the forests of Barnesdale, in 
 Yorkshire, and Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire. 
 Being declared an outlaw he had no recourse 
 but to remain in hiding until a new King should 
 come to the throne, or other public event work 
 in his favor. Meanwhile he mustered a picked 
 band of outlaws who became noted for their 
 prowess and daring. They successfully defied 
 the laws for many years, making other rough 
 and ready laws of their own. 
 
 King Henry died in 1189 and his son Richard 
 of the Lion Heart was hailed as King. But the 
 government was then in a poor state owing to 
 Richard's absence upon a crusade, and his brother 
 John's weak regency. A history of the period 
 by Mair has this passage: " About this time, as 
 I conjecture, the notorious robbers Robert Hood 
 
Introduction xiii 
 
 of England and Little John lurked in the woods, 
 spoiling the goods only of rich men. They slew 
 nobody but those who attacked them, or offered 
 resistance in defense of their property. Robert 
 maintained by his plunder a hundred archers, so 
 skilful in fight that four hundred brave men 
 feared to attack them. He suffered no woman 
 to be maltreated, and never robbed the poor, but 
 assisted them abundantly with the wealth which 
 he took from abbots." 
 
 When Richard returned to England it is said 
 that he forgave Robin Hood and attached his 
 yeomen to the Royal Guard. But on Richard's 
 death, his successor John drove Robin again into 
 outlawry which continued until Robin's death. 
 The ruins of a castle are still shown where the 
 outlaw defied the King's men ; but there are 
 also many hills, woods, rocks and caverns which 
 are spoken of as " Robin Hood's." The date of 
 his death has been set down, doubtfully, as 
 December 24, 1247, Dut tms would make him a 
 very old man too old to do the deeds of strength 
 ascribed up to the day of his death. One of the 
 earliest printed ballads gives Robin a later 
 period and asserts that it was not King Richard 
 but King Edward (one of the first three) who 
 pardoned him in Sherwood Forest. 
 
xiv Introduction 
 
 Maid Marian also has been variously identified 
 as a figure of history. She is said to have been 
 a Mistress Fitzwalter, daughter of an earl, and a 
 tomb is still pointed out as hers. 
 
 The earliest accounts of Robin Hood are found 
 in ballads and songs which go back to the thir- 
 teenth century. As this was before printing was 
 known, they came down from generation to gen- 
 eration by word of mouth. Ballads of this na- 
 ture were very popular at festivals and public 
 gatherings. They were usually improvised by 
 some chief singer who found his theme in a well- 
 known event, and all his listeners joined in the 
 chorus, keeping time to the rhythm of the lines 
 by patting their feet or dancing upon the village 
 green. The popularity of the Robin Hood 
 songs, and belief in this hero, are shown by the 
 numerous examples which have come down to 
 our own day while songs on many other subjects 
 were forgotten. 
 
 The first historical allusion to Robin Hood is 
 found in a book called " Piers Ploughman " 
 (written about 1 362), where his rhymes are men- 
 tioned as being well known. The next notice is 
 in Wyntown's " Scottish Chronicle " (about 1420), 
 where both Robin Hood and Little John are 
 ascribed to the year 1283. In Fordun and 
 
Introduction xv 
 
 Bower's " Scotichronicon," a fifteenth century 
 work, the two outlaws are said to have lived in 
 1266. Mair, the Scottish writer of the first 
 quarter of the sixteenth century who is quoted 
 above is the next to mention Robin Hood, 
 giving him, in the " History of Great Britain," a 
 period during the life of Richard I, which is now 
 generally accepted. 
 
 Caxton introduced the art of printing into 
 England in 1477, and one of the earliest books 
 published thereafter was a collection of Robin 
 Hood ballads (between 1489 and 1510) entitled: 
 " Here beginneth a little geste of Robin Hood 
 and his meiny : and of the proud sheriff of Not- 
 tingham." The book was printed by Wynken 
 de Worde. Toward the end of the sixteenth 
 century, Anthony Munday wrote his successful 
 play of " The Downfall of Robert, Earl of Hunt- 
 ingdon." This play and the doubtful epitaph 
 quoted in the last story are the chief grounds for 
 supposing that Robin Hood was ever anything 
 more than a simple yeoman. 
 
 In 1 832, the industrious scholar Joseph Ritson 
 made the first anthology of this material, in a 
 book entitled : " Robin Hood : a Collection of 
 Poems, Songs, and Ballads," which was prefaced 
 by a Life. Ritson's book has been largely fol- 
 
xvi Introduction 
 
 lowed by succeeding writers. In 1853, appeared 
 a collection of the ballads with " A Historical 
 Sketch of Robin Hood," by William W. Camp- 
 bell. A later library of " English and Scottish 
 Ballads," edited by Francis James Child, presents 
 a full collection of Robin Hood songs in connec- 
 tion with other subjects. Edward Arber's " Eng- 
 lish Garner " gives the " Little Geste," as also 
 does John M. Gutch's edition of these and other 
 ballads. 
 
 In the present prose stories, the old ballads 
 have been followed for their spirit and main 
 situations. The idea has been to weave them 
 together to form one continuous narrative, mak- 
 ing a complete, consistent picture of the great 
 outlaw's life in the forest. Every story is begun 
 by verses from the ballad upon which it is based, 
 and frequently throughout the pages the exact 
 language is used. Incidents are told more fully 
 than could be done in the rhymed original, but 
 always in line with what is naturally suggested 
 between the verses. And if any of the appeal 
 and charm of those original verses their bub- 
 bling humor, simple gaiety, dash, swing, and the 
 fragrance of growing things upon a fresh May 
 morning have passed into these lines of prose, 
 
Introduction xvii 
 
 the writer will feel more than repaid for a labor 
 which throughout was one of fascination and 
 deep interest. 
 
 J. W. M. 
 
 New York City, 
 July, 1904. 
 
Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD BECAME AN OUTLAW 
 
 List and hearken, gentlemen, 
 
 That be of free-born blood, 
 I shall you tell of a good yeoman, 
 
 His name was Robin Hood. 
 
 Robin was a proud outlaw, 
 While as he walked on the ground : 
 
 So courteous an outlaw as he was one 
 Was never none else found. 
 
 IN the days of good King Harry the Sec- 
 ond of England he of the warring sons 
 there were certain forests in the north 
 country set aside for the King's hunting, and no 
 man might shoot deer therein under penalty of 
 death. These forests were guarded by the King's 
 Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was 
 no mean man but equal in authority to the 
 Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord 
 Bishop in his abbey. 
 
2 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 One of the greatest of royal preserves was 
 Sherwood and Barnesdale forests near the two 
 towns of Nottingham and Barnesdale. Here for 
 some years dwelt one, Hugh Fitzooth as Head 
 Forester, with his good wife and little son Robert. 
 The boy had been born in Lockesley town in 
 the year 1160, stern records say, and was often 
 called Lockesley, or Rob of Lockesley. He was 
 a comely, well-knit stripling, and as soon as he 
 was strong enough to walk his chief delight was 
 to go with his father into the forest. As soon as 
 his right arm received thew and sinew he learned 
 to draw the long bow and speed a true arrow. 
 While on winter evenings his greatest joy was to 
 hear his father tell of bold Will o' the Green, the 
 outlaw, who for many summers defied the King's 
 Foresters and feasted with his men upon King's 
 deer. And on other stormy days the boy 
 learned to whittle out a straight shaft for the 
 long bow, and tip it with gray goose feathers. 
 
 The fond mother sighed when she saw the 
 boy's face light up at these woodland tales. She 
 was of gentle birth, and had hoped to see her 
 son famous at court or abbey. She taught him 
 to read and to write, to doff his cap without 
 awkwardness and to answer directly and truth- 
 fully both lord and peasant. But the boy, 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 3 
 
 although he took kindly to these lessons of 
 breeding, was yet happiest when he had his be- 
 loved bow in hand and strolled at will, listening 
 to the murmur of the trees. 
 
 Two playmates had Rob in these gladsome 
 early days. One was Will Gamewell, his father's 
 brother's son, who lived at Gamewell Lodge, 
 hard by Nottingham town. The other was 
 Marian Fitzwalter, only child of the Earl of 
 Huntingdon. The castle of Huntingdon could 
 be seen from the top of one of the tall trees in 
 Sherwood; and on more than one bright day 
 Rob's white signal from this tree told Marian 
 that he awaited her there : for you must know 
 that Rob did not visit her at the castle. His 
 father and her father were enemies. Some peo- 
 ple whispered that Hugh Fitzooth was the right- 
 ful Earl of Huntingdon, but that he had been 
 defrauded out of his lands by Fitzwalter, who 
 had won the King's favor by a crusade to the 
 Holy Land. But little cared Rob or Marian 
 for this enmity, however it had arisen. They 
 knew that the great greenwood was open to 
 them, and that the wide, wide world was full of 
 the scent of flowers and the song of birds. 
 
 Days of youth speed all too swiftly, and 
 troubled skies come all too soon. Rob's father 
 
4 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 had two other enemies besides Fitzvvalter, in the 
 persons of the lean Sheriff of Nottingham and 
 the fat Bishop of Hereford. These three enemies 
 one day got possession of the King's ear and 
 whispered therein to such good or evil pur- 
 pose that Hugh Fitzooth was removed from his 
 post of King's Forester. He and his wife and 
 Rob, then a youth of nineteen, were descended 
 upon, during a cold winter's evening, and dis- 
 possessed without warning. The Sheriff arrested 
 the Forester for treason, of which, poor man, 
 he was as guiltless as you or I, and carried him 
 to Nottingham jail. Rob and his mother were 
 sheltered over night in the jail, also, but next 
 morning were roughly bade to go about their 
 business. Thereupon they turned for succor to 
 their only kinsman, Squire George of Gamewell, 
 who sheltered them in all kindness. 
 
 But the shock, and the winter night's journey, 
 proved too much for Dame Fitzooth. She had 
 not been strong for some time before leaving the 
 forest. In less than two months she was no 
 more. Rob felt as though his heart was broken 
 at this loss. But scarcely had the first spring 
 flowers begun to blossom upon her grave, when 
 he met another crushing blow in the loss of his 
 father. That stern man had died in prison be- 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 5 
 
 fore his accusers could agree upon the charges 
 by which he was to be brought to trial. 
 
 Two years passed by. Rob's cousin Will was 
 away at school ; and Marian's father, who had 
 learned of her friendship with Rob, had sent his 
 daughter to the court of Queen Eleanor. So 
 these years were lonely ones to the orphaned lad. 
 The bluff old Squire was kind to him, but 
 secretly could make nothing of one who went 
 about brooding and as though seeking for some- 
 thing he had lost. The truth is that Rob missed 
 his old life in the forest no less than his mother's 
 gentleness, and his father's companionship. 
 Every time he twanged the string of the long 
 bow against his shoulder and heard the gray 
 goose shaft sing, it told him of happy days that 
 he could not recall. 
 
 One morning as Rob came in to breakfast, his 
 uncle greeted him with, " I have news for you, 
 Rob, my lad ! " and the hearty old Squire finished 
 his draught of ale and set his pewter tankard 
 down with a crash. 
 
 " What may that be, Uncle Gamewell ? " asked 
 the young man. 
 
 " Here is a chance to exercise your good long 
 bow and win a pretty prize. The Fair is on at 
 Nottingham, and the Sheriff proclaims an archer's 
 
6 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 tournament. The best fellows are to have places 
 with the King's Foresters, and the one who 
 shoots straightest of all will win for prize a golden 
 arrow a useless bauble enough, but just the 
 thing for your lady love, eh, Rob my boy?" 
 Here the Squire laughed and whacked the table 
 again with his tankard. 
 
 Rob's eyes sparkled. " 'Twere indeed worth 
 shooting for, uncle mine," he said. " I should 
 dearly love to let arrow fly alongside another man. 
 And a place among the Foresters is what I have 
 long desired. Will you let me try ? " 
 
 " To be sure," rejoined his uncle. " Well I 
 know that your good mother would have had me 
 make a clerk of you ; but well I see that the 
 greenwood is where you will pass your days. 
 So, here's luck to you in the bout ! " And the 
 huge tankard came a third time into play. 
 
 The young man thanked his uncle for his good 
 wishes, and set about making preparations for the 
 journey. He traveled lightly ; but his yew bow 
 must needs have a new string, and his cloth-yard 
 arrows must be of the straightest and soundest. 
 
 One fine morning, a few days after, Rob 
 might have been seen passing by way of Lockes- 
 ley through Sherwood Forest to Nottingham 
 town. Briskly walked he and gaily, for his hopes 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 7 
 
 were high and never an enemy had he in the wide 
 world. But 'twas the very last morning in all his 
 life when he was to lack an enemy ! For, as he 
 went his way through Sherwood, whistling a blithe 
 tune, he came suddenly upon a group of Fores- 
 ters, making merry beneath the spreading 
 branches of an oak-tree. They had a huge meat 
 pie before them and were washing down prodig- 
 ious slices of it with nut brown ale. 
 
 One glance at the leader and Rob knew at once 
 that he had found an enemy. 'Twas the man 
 who had usurped his father's place as Head Fores- 
 ter, and who had roughly turned his mother out 
 in the snow. But never a word said he for good 
 or bad, and would have passed on his way, had 
 not this man, clearing his throat with a huge gulp, 
 bellowed out : " By my troth, here is a pretty 
 little archer ! Where go you, my lad, with that 
 tupenny bow and toy arrows ? Belike he would 
 shoot at Nottingham Fair ! Ho ! Ho ! " 
 
 A roar of laughter greeted this sally. Rob 
 flushed, for he was mightily proud of his shooting. 
 
 " My bow is as good as yours," he retorted, 
 " and my shafts will carry as straight and as far. 
 So I'll not take lessons of any of ye ! " 
 
 They laughed again loudly at this, and the 
 leader said with a frown : 
 
8 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Show us some of your skill, and if you can 
 hit the mark here's twenty silver pennies for you. 
 But if you hit it not you are in for a sound drub- 
 bing for your pertness." 
 
 " Pick your own target," quoth Rob in a fine 
 rage. " I'll lay my head against that purse that 
 I can hit it." 
 
 " It shall be as you say," retorted the Forester 
 angrily, " your head for your sauciness that you hit 
 not my target." 
 
 Now at a little rise in the wood a herd of deer 
 came grazing by, distant full fivescore yards. 
 They were King's deer, but at that distance 
 seemed safe from any harm. The Head Forester 
 pointed to them. 
 
 " If your young arm could speed a shaft for 
 half that distance, I'd shoot with you." 
 
 " Done ! " cried Rob. " My head against 
 twenty pennies I'll cause yon fine fellow in the 
 lead of them to breathe his last." 
 
 And without more ado he tried the string of 
 his long bow, placed a shaft thereon, and drew it 
 to his ear. A moment, and the quivering string 
 sang death as the shaft whistled across the glade. 
 Another moment and the leader of the herd leaped 
 high in his tracks and fell prone, dyeing the 
 sward with his heart's blood. 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 9 
 
 A murmur of amazement swept through the 
 Foresters, and then a growl of rage. He that had 
 wagered was angriest of all. 
 
 " Know you what you have done, rash youth ? " 
 he said. " You have killed a King's deer, and by 
 the laws of King Harry your head remains for- 
 feit. Talk not to me of pennies but get ye gone 
 straight, and let me not look upon your face 
 again." 
 
 Rob's blood boiled within him, and he uttered 
 a rash speech. " I have looked upon your face 
 once too often already, my fine Forester. 'Tis 
 you who wear my father's shoes." 
 
 And with this he turned upon his heel and 
 strode away. 
 
 The Forester heard his parting thrust with an 
 oath. Red with rage he seized his bow, strung an 
 arrow, and without warning launched it full at 
 Rob. Well was it for the latter that the Forester's 
 foot turned on a twig at the critical instant, for as 
 it was the arrow whizzed by his ear so close as to 
 take a stray strand of his hair with it. 
 
 Rob turned upon his assailant, now twoscore 
 yards away. 
 
 " Ha!" said he. "You shoot not so straight 
 as I, for all your bravado. Take this from the 
 tupenny bow ! " 
 
lo Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Straight flew his answering shaft. The Head 
 Forester gave one cry then fell face downward and 
 lay still. His life had avenged Rob's father, but 
 the son was outlawed. Forward he ran through 
 the forest, before the band could gather their scat- 
 tered wits still forward into the great greenwood. 
 The swaying trees seemed to open their arms to 
 the wanderer, and to welcome him home. 
 
 Toward the close of that same day, Rob 
 paused hungry and weary at the cottage of a 
 poor widow who dwelt upon the outskirts of the 
 forest. Now this widow had often greeted him 
 kindly in his boyhood days, giving him to eat 
 and drink. So he boldly entered her door. 
 The old dame was right glad to see him, and 
 baked him cakes in the ashes, and had him rest 
 and tell her his story. Then she shook her 
 head. 
 
 " Tis an evil wind that blows through Sher- 
 wood," she said. " The poor are despoiled and 
 the rich ride over their bodies. My three sons 
 have been outlawed for shooting King's deer to 
 keep us from starving, and now hide in the 
 wood. And they tell me that twoscore of as 
 good men as ever drew bow are in hiding with 
 them." 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 1 1 
 
 " Where are they, good mother ? " cried Rob. 
 " By my faith, I will join them." 
 
 " Nay, nay," replied the old woman at first. 
 But when she saw that there was no other way, 
 she said : " My sons will visit me to-night. Stay 
 you here and see them if you must." 
 
 So Rob stayed willingly to see the widow's 
 sons that night, for they were men after his own 
 heart. And when they found that his mood was 
 with them, they made him swear an oath of 
 fealty, and told him the haunt of the band a 
 place he knew right well. Finally one of them 
 said: 
 
 " But the band lacks a leader, one who can 
 use his head as well as his hand. So we have 
 agreed that he who has skill enough to go to 
 Nottingham, an outlaw, and win the prize at 
 archery, shall be our chief." 
 
 Rob sprang to his feet. " Said in good time ! " 
 cried he, " for I had started to that self-same 
 Fair, and all the Foresters, and all the Sheriff's 
 men in Christendom shall not stand between me 
 and the centre of their target ! " 
 
 And though he was but barely grown he 
 stood so straight and his eye flashed with such 
 fire that the three brothers seized his hand and 
 shouted : 
 
12 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " A Lockesley ! a Lockesley ! if you win the 
 golden arrow you shall be chief of outlaws in 
 Sherwood Forest ! " 
 
 So Rob fell to planning how he could disguise 
 himself to go to Nottingham town ; for he knew 
 that the Foresters had even then set a price on 
 his head in the market-place. 
 
 It was even as Rob had surmised. The Sheriff 
 of Nottingham posted a reward of two hundred 
 pounds for the capture, dead or alive, of one 
 Robert Fitzooth, outlaw. And the crowds 
 thronging the streets upon that busy Fair day 
 often paused to read the notice and talk together 
 about the death of the Head Forester. 
 
 But what with wrestling bouts and bouts with 
 quarter-staves, and wandering minstrels, there 
 came up so many other things to talk about, that 
 the reward was forgotten for the nonce, and only 
 the Foresters and Sheriff's men watched the 
 gates with diligence, the Sheriff indeed spurring 
 them to effort by offers of largess. His hatred 
 of the father had descended to the son. 
 
 The great event of the day came in the after- 
 noon. It was the archer's contest for the golden 
 arrow, and twenty men stepped forth to shoot. 
 Among them was a beggar-man, a sorry looking 
 
Mow Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 13 
 
 fellow with leggings of different colors, and 
 brown scratched face and hands. Over a tawny 
 shock of hair he had a hood drawn, much like 
 that of a monk. Slowly he limped to his place 
 in the line, while the mob shouted in derision. 
 But the contest was open to all comers, so no 
 man said him nay. 
 
 Side by side with Rob for it was he stood a 
 muscular fellow of swarthy visage and with one 
 eye hid by a green bandage. Him also the 
 crowd jeered, but he passed them by with in- 
 difference while he tried his bow with practiced 
 hand. 
 
 A great crowd had assembled in the amphi- 
 theatre enclosing the lists. All the gentry and 
 populace of the surrounding country were gath- 
 ered there in eager expectancy. The central box 
 contained the lean, but pompous Sheriff, his be- 
 jeweled wife, and their daughter, a supercilious 
 young woman enough, who, it was openly hinted, 
 was hoping to receive the golden arrow from the 
 victor and thus be crowned queen of the day. 
 
 Next to the Sheriff's box was one occupied 
 by the fat Bishop of Hereford ; while on the other 
 side was a box wherein sat a girl whose dark hair, 
 dark eyes, and fair features caused Rob's heart 
 to leap. 'Twas Maid Marian ! She had come 
 
14 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 up for a visit from the Queen's court at London 
 town, and now sat demurely by her father, the 
 Earl of Huntingdon. If Rob had been grimly 
 resolved to win the arrow before, the sight of her 
 sweet face multiplied his determination an hun- 
 dredfold. He felt his muscles tightening into 
 bands of steel, tense and true. Yet withal his 
 heart would throb, making him quake in a most 
 unaccountable way. 
 
 Then the trumpet sounded, and the crowd be- 
 came silent while the herald announced the terms 
 of the contest. The lists were open to all comers. 
 The first target was to be placed at thirty ells 
 distance, and all those who hit its centre were 
 allowed to shoot at the second target, placed ten 
 ells farther off*. The third target was to be re- 
 moved yet farther, until the winner was proved. 
 The winner was to receive the golden arrow, and 
 a place with the King's Foresters. He it was 
 also who crowned the queen of the day. 
 
 The trumpet sounded again, and the archers 
 prepared to shoot. Rob looked to his string, 
 while the crowd smiled and whispered at the odd 
 figure he cut, with his van-colored legs and little 
 cape. But as the first man shot, they grew silent. 
 
 The target was not so far but that twelve out 
 of the twenty contestants reached its inner circle. 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 15 
 
 Rob shot sixth in the line and landed fairly, be- 
 ing rewarded by an approving grunt from the 
 man with the green blinder, who shot seventh, 
 and with apparent carelessness, yet true to the 
 bull's-eye. 
 
 The mob cheered and yelled themselves hoarse 
 at this even marksmanship. The trumpet 
 sounded again, and a new target was set up at 
 forty ells. 
 
 The first three archers again struck true, amid 
 the loud applause of the onlookers ; for they were 
 general favorites and expected to win. Indeed 
 'twas whispered that each was backed by one of 
 the three dignitaries of the day. The fourth 
 and fifth archers barely grazed the centre. Rob 
 fitted his arrow quietly and with some confidence 
 sped it unerringly toward the shining circle. 
 
 " The beggar ! the beggar ! " yelled the crowd ; 
 " another bull for the beggar ! " 
 
 In truth his shaft was nearer the centre than 
 any of the others. But it was not so near that 
 " Blinder/' as the mob had promptly christened 
 his neighbor, did not place his shaft just within 
 the mark. Again the crowd cheered wildly. 
 Such shooting as this was not seen every day in 
 Nottingham town. 
 
 The other archers in this round were discon- 
 
16 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 certed by the preceding shots, or unable to keep 
 the pace. They missed one after another and 
 dropped moodily back, while the trumpet 
 sounded for the third round, and the target was 
 set up fifty ells distant. 
 
 " By my halidom you draw a good bow, young 
 master," said Rob's queer comrade to him in the 
 interval allowed for rest. " Do you wish me to 
 shoot first on this trial ? " 
 
 " Nay," said Rob, " but you are a good fellow 
 by this token, and if I win not, I hope you may 
 keep the prize from yon strutters." And he 
 nodded scornfully to the three other archers who 
 were surrounded by their admirers, and were be- 
 ing made much of by retainers of the Sheriff, the 
 Bishop, and the Earl. From them his eye 
 wandered toward Maid Marian's booth. She 
 had been watching him, it seemed, for their eyes 
 met ; then hers were hastily averted. 
 
 " Blinder's " quick eye followed those of Rob. 
 " A fair maid, that," he said smilingly, " and one 
 more worthy the golden arrow than the Sheriff's 
 haughty miss." 
 
 Rob looked at him swiftly, and saw naught but 
 kindliness in his glance. 
 
 " You are a shrewd fellow and I like you well/' 
 was his only comment. 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 17 
 
 Now the archers prepared to shoot again, each 
 with some little care. The target seemed hardly 
 larger than the inner ring had looked, at the first 
 trial. The first three sped their shafts, and while 
 they were fair shots they did not more than graze 
 the inner circle. 
 
 Rob took his stand with some misgiving. 
 Some flecking clouds overhead made the light 
 uncertain, and a handful of wind frolicked across 
 the range in a way quite disturbing to a bow- 
 man's nerves. His eyes wandered for a brief 
 moment to the box wherein sat the dark-eyed 
 girl. His heart leaped ! she met his glance and 
 smiled at him reassuringly. And in that mo- 
 ment he felt that she knew him despite his dis- 
 guise and looked to him to keep the honor of old 
 Sherwood. He drew his bow firmly and, taking 
 advantage of a momentary lull in the breeze, 
 launched the arrow straight and true singing 
 across the range to the centre of the target. 
 
 " The beggar ! the beggar ! a bull ! a bull ! " 
 yelled the fickle mob, who from jeering him were 
 now his warm friends. " Can you beat that, 
 Blinder?" 
 
 The last archer smiled scornfully and made 
 ready. He drew his bow with ease and grace 
 and, without seeming to study the course, re- 
 
1 8 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 leased the winged arrow. Forward it leaped 
 toward the target, and all eyes followed its 
 flight. A loud uproar broke forth when it 
 alighted, just without the centre and grazing the 
 shaft sent by Rob. The stranger made a jesture 
 of surprise when his own eyes announced the re- 
 sult to him, but saw his error. He had not 
 allowed for the fickle gust of wind which seized 
 the arrow and carried it to one side. But for all 
 that he was the first to congratulate the victor. 
 
 " I hope we may shoot again," quoth he. " In 
 truth I care not for the golden bauble and wished 
 to win it in despite of the Sheriff for whom I 
 have no love. Now crown the lady of your 
 choice." And turning suddenly he was lost in 
 the crowd, before Rob could utter what it was 
 upon his lips to say, that he would shoot again 
 with him. 
 
 And now the herald summoned Rob to the 
 Sheriff's box to receive the prize. 
 
 " You are a curious fellow enough," said the 
 Sheriff biting his lip coldly ; " yet you shoot well. 
 What name go you by ? " 
 
 Marian sat near and was listening intently. 
 
 " I am called Rob the Stroller, my Lord 
 Sheriff," said the archer. 
 
 Marian leaned back and smiled. 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 19 
 
 " Well, Rob the Stroller, with a little attention 
 to your skin and clothes you would not be so 
 bad a man," said the Sheriff. " How like you 
 the idea of entering my service? " 
 
 " Rob the Stroller has ever been a free man, 
 my Lord, and desires no service." 
 
 The Sheriff's brow darkened, yet for the sake 
 of his daughter and the golden arrow, he dis- 
 sembled. 
 
 " Rob the Stroller," said he, " here is the 
 golden arrow which has been offered to the best 
 of archers this day. You are awarded the prize. 
 See that you bestow it worthily." 
 
 At this point the herald nudged Rob and half 
 inclined his head toward the Sheriff's daughter, 
 who sat with a thin smile upon her lips. But 
 Rob heeded him not. He took the arrow and 
 strode to the next box where sat Maid Marian. 
 
 " Lady," he said, " pray accept this little pledge 
 from a poor stroller who would devote the best 
 shafts in his quiver to serve you." 
 
 " My thanks to you, Rob in the Hood," re- 
 plied she with a roguish twinkle in her eye ; and 
 she placed the gleaming arrow in her head, while 
 the people shouted, " The Queen ! the Queen ! " 
 
 The Sheriff glowered furiously upon this rag- 
 ged archer who had refused his service, taken his 
 
2o Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 prize without a word of thanks, and snubbed his 
 daughter. He would have spoken, but his proud 
 daughter restrained him. He called to his guard 
 and bade them watch the beggar. But Rob had 
 already turned swiftly, lost himself in the throng, 
 and headed straight for the town gate. 
 
 That same evening within a forest glade a 
 group of men some twoscore clad in Lincoln 
 green sat round a fire roasting venison and 
 making merry. Suddenly a twig crackled and 
 they sprang to their feet and seized their weapons. 
 
 " I look for the widow's sons," a clear voice 
 said, " and I come alone." 
 
 Instantly the three men stepped forward. 
 
 " Tis Rob ! " they cried ; " welcome to Sher- 
 wood Forest, Rob ! " And all the men came and 
 greeted him ; for they had heard his story. 
 
 Then one of the widow's sons, Stout Will, 
 stepped forth and said : 
 
 " Comrades all, ye know that our band has 
 sadly lacked a leader one of birth, breeding, and 
 skill. Belike we have found that leader in this 
 young man. And I and my brothers have told 
 him that the band would choose that one who 
 should bring the Sheriff to shame this day and 
 capture his golden arrow. It is not so ? " 
 
How Robin Hood Became an Outlaw 21 
 
 The band gave assent 
 
 Will turned to Rob. " What news bring you 
 from Nottingham town ? " asked he. 
 
 Rob laughed. " In truth I brought the Sheriff 
 to shame for mine own pleasure, and won his 
 golden arrow to boot. But as to the prize ye 
 must e'en take my word, for I bestowed it upon 
 a maid." 
 
 And seeing the men stood in doubt at this, 
 he continued : " But I'll gladly join your band, 
 and you take me, as a common archer. For 
 there are others older and mayhap more skilled 
 than I." 
 
 Then stepped one forward from the rest, a 
 tall swarthy man. And Rob recognized him 
 as the man with the green blinder; only this 
 was now removed, and his freed eye gleamed as 
 stoutly as the other one. 
 
 " Rob in the Hood for such the lady called 
 you," said he, " I can vouch for your tale. You 
 shamed the Sheriff e'en as I had hoped to do ; 
 and we can forego the golden arrow since it is in 
 such fair hands. As to your shooting and mine, 
 we must let future days decide. But here I, 
 Will Stutely, declare that I will serve none other 
 chief save only you." 
 
 Then good Will Stutely told the outlaws of 
 
22 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Rob's deeds, and gave him his hand of fealty. And 
 the widow's sons did likewise, and the other 
 members every one, right gladly ; because Will 
 Stutely had heretofore been the truest bow in all 
 the company. And they toasted him in nut 
 brown ale, and hailed him as their leader, by the 
 name of Robin Hood. And he accepted that 
 name because Maid Marian had said it. 
 
 By the light of the camp-fire the band ex- 
 changed signs and passwords. They gave 
 Robin Hood a horn upon which he was to blow 
 to summon them. They swore, also, that while 
 they might take money and goods from the un- 
 just rich, they would aid and befriend the poor 
 and the helpless ; and that they would harm no 
 woman, be she maid, wife, or widow. They 
 swore all this with solemn oaths, while they 
 feasted about the ruddy blaze, under the green- 
 wood tree. 
 
 And that is how Robin Hood became an out- 
 law. 
 
CHAPTER II 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD MET LITTLE JOHN 
 
 " O here is my hand," the stranger reply'd, 
 
 " I'll serve you with all my whole heart : 
 My name is John Little, a man of good mettle ; 
 Ne'er doubt me for I'll play my part." 
 
 " His name shall be altered," quoth William Stutely, 
 
 " And I will his godfather be : 
 Prepare then a feast, and none of the least, 
 For we will be merry," quoth he. 
 
 ALL that summer Robin Hood and his 
 merry men roamed in Sherwood Forest 9 
 and the fame of their deeds ran abroad in 
 the land. The Sheriff of Nottingham waxed 
 wroth at the report, but all his traps and ex- 
 cursions failed to catch the outlaws. The poor 
 people began by fearing them, but when they 
 found that the men in Lincoln green who an- 
 swered Robin Hood's horn meant them no harm, 
 but despoiled the oppresser to relieve the op- 
 pressed, they 'gan to have great liking for them. 
 And the band increased by other stout hearts 
 23 
 
24 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 till by the end of the summer fourscore good 
 men and true had sworn fealty. 
 
 But the days of quiet which came on grew 
 irksome to Robin's adventurous spirit. Up 
 rose he, one gay morn, and slung his quiver over 
 his shoulders. 
 
 " This fresh breeze stirs the blood, my 
 lads," quoth he, " and I would be seeing what 
 the gay world looks like in the direction of 
 Nottingham town. But tarry ye behind in the 
 borders of the forest, within earshot of my bugle 
 call." 
 
 Thus saying he strode merrily forward to the 
 edge of the wood, and paused there a moment, 
 his agile form erect, his brown locks flowing and 
 his brown eyes watching the road ; and a goodly 
 sight he made, as the wind blew the ruddy color 
 into his cheeks. 
 
 The highway led clear in the direction of the 
 town, and thither he boldly directed his steps. 
 But at a bend in the road he knew of a by-path 
 leading across a brook which made the way 
 nearer and less open, into which he turned. As 
 he approached the stream he saw that it had be- 
 come swollen by recent rains into quite a pretty 
 torrent. The log foot-bridge was still there, but 
 at this end of it a puddle intervened which could 
 
How Robin Hood Met Little John 25 
 
 oe crossed only with a leap, if you would not 
 get your feet wet. 
 
 But Robin cared little for such a handicap. 
 Taking a running start, his nimble legs carried 
 him easily over and balanced neatly upon the 
 end of the broad log. But he was no sooner 
 started across than he saw a tall stranger coming 
 from the other side. Thereupon Robin quick- 
 ened his pace, and the stranger did likewise, 
 each thinking to cross first. Midway they met, 
 and neither would yield an inch. 
 
 "Give way, fellow!" roared Robin, whose 
 leadership of a band, I am afraid, had not tended 
 to mend his manners. 
 
 The stranger smiled. He was almost a head 
 taller than the other. 
 
 " Nay," he retorted, " fair and softly ! I give 
 way only to a better man than myself." 
 
 " Give way, I say," repeated Robin, " or I shall 
 have to show you a better man." 
 
 His opponent budged not an inch, but laughed 
 loudly. " Now by my halidom ! " he said good- 
 naturedly, " I would not move after hearing that 
 speech, even if minded to it before ; for this bet- 
 ter man I have sought my life long. Therefore 
 show him to me, an it please you." 
 
 " That will I right soon," quoth Robin. " Stay 
 
26 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 you here a little while, till I cut me a cudgel like 
 unto that you have been twiddling in your fin- 
 gers." So saying he sought his own bank again 
 with a leap, laid aside his long bow and arrows, 
 and cut him a stout staff of oak, straight, knot- 
 less, and a good six feet in length. But still it 
 was a full foot shorter than his opponent's. 
 Then back came he boldly. 
 
 " I mind not telling you, fellow," said he, " that 
 a bout with archery would have been an easier 
 way with me. But there are other tunes in 
 England besides that the arrow sings." Here he 
 whirred the staff about his head by way of prac- 
 tice. " So make you ready for the tune I am 
 about to play upon your ribs. Have at you ! 
 One, two " 
 
 " Three ! " roared the giant smiting at him in- 
 stantly. 
 
 Well was it for Robin that he was quick and 
 nimble of foot ; for the blow that grazed a hair's 
 breadth from his shoulder would have felled an 
 ox. Nevertheless while swerving to avoid this 
 stroke, Robin was poising for his own, and back 
 came he forthwith whack ! 
 
 Whack ! parried the other. 
 
 Whack ! whack ! whack ! whack ! 
 
 The fight waxed fast and furious. It was 
 
How Robin Hood Met Little John 27 
 
 strength pitted against subtlety and the match 
 was a merry one. The mighty blows of the 
 stranger went whistling around Robin's ducking 
 head, while his own swift undercuts were fain to 
 give the other an attack of indigestion. Yet 
 each stood firmly in his place not moving back- 
 ward or forward a foot for a good half hour, 
 nor thinking of crying " Enough ! " though some 
 chance blow seemed likely to knock one or the 
 other off the narrow foot-bridge. The giant's 
 face was getting red and his breath came snort- 
 ing forth like a bull's. He stepped forward with 
 a furious onslaught to finish this audacious fel- 
 low. Robin dodged his blows lightly, then 
 sprang in swiftly and unexpectedly and dealt the 
 stranger such a blow upon the short ribs that 
 you would have sworn the tanner was trimming 
 down his hides for market. 
 
 The stranger reeled and came within an ace of 
 falling, but regained his footing right quickly. 
 
 " By my life, you can hit hard ! 1> he gasped 
 forth, giving back a blow almost while he was 
 yet staggering. 
 
 This blow was a lucky one. It caught Robin 
 off his guard. His stick had rested a moment 
 while he looked to see the giant topple into the 
 water, when down came the other upon his 
 
28 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 head, whack ! Robin saw more stars in that one 
 moment than all the astronomers have since dis- 
 covered, and forthwith he dropped neatly into 
 the stream. 
 
 The cool rushing current quickly brought him 
 to his senses, howbeit he was still so dazed that 
 he groped blindly for the swaying reeds to pull 
 himself up on the bank. His assailant could not 
 forbear laughing heartily at his plight, but was 
 also quick to lend his aid. He thrust down his 
 long staff to Robin crying, " Lay hold of that, an 
 your fists whirl not so much as your head ! " 
 
 Robin laid hold and was hauled to dry land 
 for all the world like a fish, except that the fish 
 would never have come forth so wet and drip- 
 ping. He lay upon the warm bank for a space 
 to regain his senses. Then he sat up and 
 gravely rubbed his pate. 
 
 " By all the saints ! " said he, " you hit full 
 stoutly. My head hums like a hive of bees on a 
 summer morning." 
 
 Then he seized his horn, which lay near, and 
 blew thereon three shrill notes that echoed against 
 the trees. A moment of silence ensued, and then 
 was heard the rustling of leaves and crackling of 
 twigs like the coming of many men ; and forth 
 from the glade burst a score or two of stalwart 
 
How Robin Hood Met Little John 29 
 
 yeomen, all clad in Lincoln green, like Robin, 
 with good Will Stutely and the widow's three 
 sons at their head. 
 
 " Good master," cried Will Stutely, " how is 
 this ? In sooth there is not a dry thread on your 
 body." 
 
 " Why, marry," replied Robin, " this fellow 
 would not let me pass the foot-bridge, and when 
 I tickled him in the ribs, he must needs answer 
 by a pat on the head which landed me over- 
 board." 
 
 " Then shall he taste some of his own por- 
 ridge," quoth Will. " Seize him, lads ! " 
 
 " Nay, let him go free," said Robin. " The 
 fight was a fair one and I abide by it. I surmise 
 you also are quits ? " he continued turning to the 
 stranger with a twinkling eye. 
 
 " I am content," said the other, " for verily you 
 now have the best end of the cudgel. Where- 
 fore, I like you well, and would fain know your 
 name." 
 
 " Why," said Robin, " my men and even the 
 Sheriff of Nottingham know me as Robin Hood, 
 the outlaw." 
 
 " Then am I right sorry that I beat you," ex- 
 claimed the man, " for I was on my way to seek 
 you and to try to join your merry company. But 
 
30 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 after my unmannerly use of the cudgel, I fear we 
 are still strangers." 
 
 " Nay, never say it ! " cried Robin, " I am glad 
 I fell in with you ; though, sooth to say, I did all 
 the falling ! " 
 
 And amid a general laugh the two men clasped 
 hands, and in that clasp the strong friendship of 
 a lifetime was begun. 
 
 " But you have not yet told us your name," 
 said Robin, bethinking himself. 
 
 " Whence I came, men call me John Little." 
 
 " Enter our company then, John Little ; enter 
 and welcome. The rites are few, the fee is large. 
 We ask your whole mind and body and heart 
 even unto death." 
 
 " I give the bond, upon my life," said the tall 
 man. 
 
 Thereupon Will Stutely, who loved a good jest, 
 spoke up and said : " The infant in our household 
 must be christened, and I'll stand godfather. 
 This fair little stranger is so small of bone and 
 sinew, that his old name is not to the purpose." 
 Here he paused long enough to fill a horn in the 
 stream. " Hark ye, my son," standing on tip- 
 toe to splash the water on the giant " take your 
 new name on entering the forest. I christen you 
 Little John." 
 
How Robin Hood Met Little John 31 
 
 At this jest the men roared long and loud. 
 
 " Give him a bow, and find a full sheath of ar- 
 rows for Little John," said Robin joyfully. " Can 
 you shoot as well as fence with the staff, my 
 friend ? " 
 
 " I have hit an ash twig at forty yards," said 
 Little John. 
 
 Thus chatting pleasantly the band turned back 
 into the woodland and sought their secluded dell, 
 where the trees were the thickest, the moss was 
 the softest, and a secret path led to a cave, at 
 once a retreat and a stronghold. Here under a 
 mighty oak they found the rest of the band, some 
 of whom had come in with a brace of fat does. 
 And here they built a ruddy fire and sat down to 
 the meat and ale, Robin Hood in the centre with 
 Will Stutely on the one hand and Little John on 
 the other. And Robin was right well pleased 
 with the day's adventure, even though he had got 
 a drubbing ; for sore ribs and heads will heal, and 
 'tis not every day that one can find a recruit as 
 stout of bone and true of soul as Little John. 
 
CHAPTER III 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD TURNED BUTCHER, 
 AND ENTERED THE SHERIFF'S SERVICE 
 
 The butcher he answered jolly Robin, 
 
 " No matter where I do dwell, 
 For a butcher arn I, and to Nottingham 
 
 Am I going, my flesh to sell." 
 
 THE next morning the weather had 
 turned ill, and Robin Hood's band 
 stayed close to their dry and friendly 
 cave. The third day brought a diversion in the 
 shape of a trap by a roving party of the Sheriff's 
 men. A fine stag had been struck down by one 
 of Will Stutely's fellows, and he and others had 
 stepped forth from the covert to seize it, when 
 twenty bowmen from Nottingham appeared at 
 the end of the glade. Down dropped Will's 
 men on all fours, barely in time to hear a shower 
 of arrows whistle above their heads. Then from 
 behind the friendly trees they sent back such a 
 welcome that the Sheriff's men deemed it pru- 
 32 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 33 
 
 dent not to tarry in their steps. Two of them, in 
 sooth, bore back unpleasant wounds in their 
 shoulders, from the encounter. 
 
 When they returned to town the Sheriff waxed 
 red with rage. 
 
 " What," he gasped, " do my men fear to fight 
 this Robin Hood, face to face ? Would that / 
 could get him within my reach, once. We should 
 see then ; we should see ! " 
 
 What it was the Sheriff would see, he did not 
 state. But he was to have his wish granted in 
 short space, and you and I will see how he prof- 
 ited by it. 
 
 The fourth day and the one following this 
 friendly bout, Little John was missing. One of 
 his men said that he saw him talking with a 
 beggar, but did not know whither they had gone. 
 Two more days passed. Robin grew uneasy. 
 He did not doubt the faith of Little John, but he 
 was fearful lest a roving band of Foresters had 
 captured him. 
 
 At last Robin could not remain quiet. Up 
 sprang he, with bow and arrows, and a short 
 sword at his side. 
 
 " I must away to Nottingham town, my men/' 
 he cried. " The goodly Sheriff has long de- 
 sired to see me ; and mayhap he can tell me 
 
34 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 tidings of the best quarter-staff in the shire " 
 meaning Little John. 
 
 Others of the band besought him to let them 
 go with him, but he would not. 
 
 " Nay," he said smilingly, " the Sheriff and I 
 are too good friends to put doubt upon our meet- 
 ing. But tarry ye in the edge of the wood op- 
 posite the west gate of the town, and ye may be 
 of service ere to-morrow night." 
 
 So saying he strode forward to the road lead- 
 ing to Nottingham, and stood as before looking 
 up and down to see if the way was clear. Back 
 at a bend in the road he heard a rumbling and a 
 lumbering, when up drove a stout butcher, whist- 
 ling gayly, and driving a mare that sped slowly 
 enough because of the weight of meat with which 
 the cart was loaded. 
 
 " A good morrow to you, friend," hailed 
 Robin. " Whence come you and where go you 
 with your load of meat ? " 
 
 4< A good morrow to you," returned the 
 butcher, civilly enough. " No matter where I 
 dwell. I am but a simple butcher, and to Notting- 
 ham am I going, my flesh to sell. Tis Fair week, 
 and my beef and mutton should fetch a fair 
 penny," and he laughed loudly at his jest. " But 
 whence come you ? " 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 35 
 
 " A yeoman am I, from Lockesley town. Men 
 call me Robin Hood." 
 
 " The saints forefend that you should treat me 
 ill ! " said the butcher in terror. " Oft have I 
 heard of you, and how you lighten the purses of 
 the fat priests and knights. But I am naught 
 but a poor butcher, selling this load of meat, 
 perchance, for enough to pay my quarter's 
 rent.'' 
 
 " Rest you, my friend, rest you," quoth Robin, 
 " not so much as a silver penny would I take 
 from you, for I love an honest Saxon face and a 
 fair name with my neighbors. But I would 
 strike a bargain with you." 
 
 Here he took from his girdle a well-filled 
 purse, and continued, " I would fain be a 
 butcher, this day, and sell meat at Nottingham 
 town. Could you sell me your meat, your cart, 
 your mare, and your good-will, without loss, for 
 five marks ? " 
 
 " Heaven bless ye, good Robin," cried the 
 butcher right joyfully, " that can I ! " And he 
 leaped down forthwith from the cart, and handed 
 Robin the reins in exchange for the purse. 
 
 " One moment more," laughed Robin, u we 
 must e'en change garments for the nonce. Take 
 mine and scurry home quickly lest the King's 
 
36 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Foresters try to put a hole through this Lincoln 
 green." 
 
 So saying he donned the butcher's blouse and 
 apron, and, climbing into the cart drove merrily 
 down the road to the town. 
 
 When he came to Nottingham he greeted the 
 scowling gate-keeper blithely and proceeded to 
 the market-place. Boldly he led his shuffling 
 horse to the place where the butchers had their 
 stalls. He had no notion of the price to ask for 
 his meat, but put on a foolish and simple air as 
 he called aloud his wares : 
 
 " Hark ye, lasses and dames, hark ye, 
 
 Good meat come buy, come buy, 
 Three pen'orths go for one penny, 
 And a kiss is good, say I ! " 
 
 Now when the folk found what a simple 
 butcher he was, they crowded around his cart ; 
 for he really did sell three times as much for one 
 penny as was sold by the other butchers. And 
 one or two serving-lasses with twinkling eyes 
 liked his comely face so well that they willingly 
 gave boot of a kiss. 
 
 But the other butchers were wroth when they 
 found how he was taking their trade ; and they 
 accordingly put their heads together. 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 37 
 
 One said, " He is a prodigal and has sold his 
 father's land, and this is his first venture in 
 trading." 
 
 Another said, " He is a thief who has mur- 
 dered a butcher, and stolen his horse and meat." 
 
 Robin heard these sayings, but only laughed 
 merrily and sang his song the louder. His good- 
 humor made the people laugh also and crowd 
 round his cart closely, shouting uproariously 
 when some buxom lass submitted to be kissed. 
 
 Then the butchers saw that they must meet 
 craft with craft ; and they said to him, " Come, 
 brother butcher, if you would sell meat with us, 
 you must e'en join our guild and stand by the 
 rules of our trade." 
 
 " We dine at the Sheriff's mansion to-day," 
 said another, " and you must make one of our 
 party." 
 
 " Accurst of his heart," said jolly Robin, 
 
 " That a butcher will deny. 
 I'll go with you, my brethren true, 
 And as fast as I can hie." 
 
 Whereupon, having sold all his meat, he left 
 his horse and cart in charge of a friendly hostler 
 and prepared to follow his mates to the Mansion 
 House. 
 
38 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 It was the Sheriff's custom to dine various 
 guilds of the trade, from time to time, on Fair 
 days, for he got a pretty profit out of the fees 
 they paid him for the right to trade in the 
 market-place. The Sheriff was already come 
 with great pomp into the banqueting room, 
 when Robin Hood and three or four butch- 
 ers entered, and he greeted them all with 
 great condescension ; and presently the whole of 
 a large company was seated at a table groaning 
 beneath the good cheer of the feast. 
 
 Now the Sheriff bade Robin sit by his right 
 hand, at the head of the board ; for one or two 
 butchers had whispered to the official, " That fel- 
 low is a right mad blade, who yet made us much 
 sport to-day. He sold more meat for one penny 
 than we could sell for three ; and he gave extra 
 weight to whatsoever lass would buss him." 
 And others said, " He is some prodigal who 
 knows not the value of goods, and may be 
 plucked by a shrewd man right closely." 
 
 The Sheriff was willing to pluck a prodigal 
 with the next man, and he was moreover glad to 
 have a guest who promised to enliven the feast. 
 So, as I have told you, he placed Robin by his 
 side, and he made much of him and laughed 
 boisterously at his jests ; though sooth to say, the 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 39 
 
 laugh were come by easily, for Robin had never 
 been in merrier mood, and his quips and jests 
 soon put the whole table at a roar. 
 
 Then my lord Bishop of Hereford came in, 
 last of all, to say a ponderous grace and take his 
 seat on the other side of the Sheriff the prel- 
 ate's fat body showing up in goodly contrast to 
 the other's lean bones. 
 
 After grace was said, and while the servants 
 clattered in with the meat platters, Robin stood 
 up and said : 
 
 " An amen say I to my lord Bishop's thanks ! 
 How, now, my fine fellows, be merry and drink 
 deep ; for the shot I'll pay ere I go my way, 
 though it cost me five pounds and more. So my 
 lords and gentlemen all, spare not the wine, but 
 fall to lustily." 
 
 " Hear ! hear ! " shouted the butchers. 
 
 " Now are you a right jolly soul," quoth the 
 Sheriff, " but this feast is mine own. Howbeit 
 you must have many a head of horned beasts, 
 and many an acre of broad land, to spend from 
 your purse so freely." 
 
 " Aye, that have I," returned Robin, his eyes all 
 a twinkle, " five hundred horned beasts have I 
 and my brothers, and none of them have we 
 been able to sell. That is why I have turned 
 
4-O Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 butcher. But I know not the trade, and would 
 gladly sell the whole herd, an I could find a 
 buyer." 
 
 At this, the Sheriff's greed 'gan to rise. 
 Since this fool would be plucked, thought he, 
 why should not he do the plucking? 
 
 " Five hundred beasts, say you ? " he queried 
 sharply. 
 
 " Five hundred and ten fat beasts by actual 
 count, that I would sell for a just figure. Aye, 
 to him who will pay me in right money, would 
 I sell them for twenty pieces of gold. Is that too 
 much to ask, lording ? " 
 
 Was there ever such an idiot butcher ? thought 
 the Sheriff; and he so far forgot his dignity as 
 to nudge the Bishop in the fat ribs. 
 
 " Nay, good fellow," quoth he chuckling, " I 
 am always ready to help any in my shire. An 
 you cannot find a buyer for your herd at this 
 just figure, I will e'en buy them myself." 
 
 At this generosity Robin was quite overcome, 
 and fell to praising the Sheriff to the skies, and 
 telling him that he should not have cause to for- 
 get the kindness. 
 
 " Tut, tut," said the Sheriff, " 'tis naught but a 
 tnide. Drive in your herd to-morrow to the 
 market-place and you shall have money down." 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 41 
 
 " Nay, excellence," said Robin, " that can I not 
 easily do, for they are grazing in scattered 
 fashion. But they are over near Gamewell, not 
 more than a mile therefrom at most. Will you 
 not come and choose your own beasts to- 
 morrow ? " 
 
 " Aye, that I will," said the Sheriff, his cupid- 
 ity casting his caution to the winds. " Tarry 
 with me over night, and I will go with you in 
 the morning." 
 
 This was a poser for Robin, since he liked not 
 the idea of staying over night at the Sheriff's 
 house. He had hoped to appoint a meeting-place 
 for the other, but now saw that this might excite 
 doubt. He looked around at the company. By 
 this time, you must know, the feast had pro- 
 gressed far, and the butchers were deep in their 
 cups. The Sheriff and Robin had talked in a 
 low voice, and my lord Bishop was almost asleep. 
 
 " Agreed," said Robin presently, and the words 
 were no sooner out of his mouth than the door 
 opened and a serving-man entered bearing a 
 tray of mulled wine. At sight of the fellow's 
 face, Robin gave an involuntary start of surprise 
 which was instantly checked. The other also 
 saw him, stood still a moment, and as if forget- 
 ting something turned about and left the hall. 
 
42 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 It was Little John. 
 
 A dozen questions flashed across Robin's 
 mind, and he could find answer for none of 
 them. What was Little John doing in the 
 Sheriff's house? Why had he not told the 
 band ? Was he true to them ? Would he be- 
 tray him ? 
 
 But these questions of distrust were dismissed 
 from Robin's open mind as soon as they had 
 entered. He knew that Little John was faithful 
 and true. 
 
 He recovered his spirits and began again upon 
 a vein of foolish banter, for the amusement of 
 the Sheriff and his guests, all being now merry 
 with wine. 
 
 " A song ! " one of them shouted, and the cry 
 was taken up round the table. Robin mounted 
 his chair and trolled forth : 
 
 " A lass and a butcher of Nottingham 
 
 Agreed 'twixt them for to wed : 
 Says he, I'll give ye the meat, fair dame, 
 And ye will give me the bread.' " 
 
 Then they joined in the chorus amid a pounding 
 of cups upon the board : 
 
 " With a hey and a ho 
 
 And a hey nonny no, 
 A butcher of Nottingham ! " 
 
How Robin Hood Turned Butcher 43 
 
 While the song was at its height, Little John 
 reappeared, with other servants, and refilled the 
 cups. He came up to Robin and, as if asking 
 him if he would have more wine, said softly, 
 " Meet me in the pantry to-night." 
 
 Robin nodded, and sang loudly. The day 
 was already far spent, and presently the company 
 broke up with many hiccupy bows to the Sheriff 
 and little notice of the drowsy Bishop. 
 
 When the company was dispersed, the Sheriff 
 bade a servant show Robin to his room, and 
 promised to see him at breakfast the next day. 
 
 Robin kept his word and met Little John that 
 night, and the Sheriff next day ; but Little John 
 has been doing so much in the meantime that 
 he must be allowed a chapter to himself. 
 
 So let us turn to another story that was sung 
 of, in the ballads of olden time, and find out 
 how Little John entered the Sheriff's service. 
 
CHAPTER IV 
 
 HOW LITTLE JOHN ENTERED THE 
 SHERIFF'S SERVICE 
 
 List and hearken, gentlemen, 
 
 All ye that now be here, 
 Of Little John, that was Knight's-man, 
 
 Good mirth ye now shall hear. 
 
 IT had come around another Fair day at 
 Nottingham town, and folk crowded there 
 by all the gates. Goods of many kinds 
 were displayed in gaily colored booths, and at 
 every cross-street a free show was in progress. 
 Here and there, stages had been erected for the 
 play at quarter-staff, a highly popular sport. 
 
 There was a fellow, one Eric of Lincoln, who 
 was thought to be the finest man with the staff 
 for miles around. His feats were sung about in 
 ballads through all the shire. A great boaster 
 was he withal, and to-day he strutted about on 
 one of these corner stages, and vaunted of his 
 prowess, and offered to crack any man's crown 
 for a shilling. Several had tried their skill with 
 44 
 
How Little John Entered Service 45 
 
 Eric, but he had soon sent them spinning in no 
 gentle manner, amid the jeers and laughter of the 
 onlookers. 
 
 A beggar-man sat over against Eric's stage 
 and grinned every time a pate was cracked. He 
 was an uncouth fellow, ragged and dirty and 
 unshaven. Eric caught sight of his leering 
 face at one of his boasts for there was a lull in 
 the game, because no man else wanted to come 
 within reach of Eric's blows. Eric, I say, noticed 
 the beggar-man grinning at him rather im- 
 pudently, and turned toward him sharply. 
 
 " How now, you dirty villain ! " quoth he, 
 " mend your manners to your betters, or, by our 
 Lady, I'll dust your rags for you." 
 
 The beggar-man still grinned. " I am always 
 ready to mend my manners to my betters" said 
 he, " but I am afraid you cannot teach me any 
 better than you can dust my jacket." 
 
 " Come up ! Come up ! " roared the other 
 flourishing his staff. 
 
 "That will I," said the beggar getting up 
 slowly and with difficulty. " It will pleasure me 
 hugely to take a braggart down a notch, an 
 some good man will lend me a stout quarter- 
 staff." 
 
 At this a score of idlers reached him their 
 
46 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 staves being ready enough to see another man 
 have his head cracked, even if they wished to 
 save their own and he took the stoutest and 
 heaviest of all. He made a sorry enough figure 
 as he climbed awkwardly upon the stage, but 
 when he had gained it, he towered full half a 
 head above the other, for all his awkwardness. 
 Nathless, he held his stick so clumsily that the 
 crowd laughed in great glee. 
 
 Now each man took his place and looked the 
 other up and down, watching warily for an 
 opening. Only a moment stood they thus, for 
 Eric, intent on teaching this rash beggar a lesson 
 and sweeping him speedily off the stage, 
 launched forth boldly and gave the other a 
 sounding crack on the shoulder. The beggar 
 danced about, and made as though he would 
 drop his staff from very pain, while the crowd 
 roared and Eric raised himself for another crush- 
 ing blow. But just then the awkward beggar 
 came to life. Straightening himself like a flash 
 he dealt Eric a back-handed blow, the like of 
 which he had never before seen. Down went the 
 boaster to the floor with a sounding thump, and 
 the fickle people yelled and laughed themselves 
 purple ; for it was a new sight to see Eric of 
 Lincoln eating dust. 
 
How Little John Entered Service 47 
 
 But he was up again almost as soon as he had 
 fallen, and right quickly retreated to his own 
 ringside to gather his wits and watch for an 
 opening. He saw instantly that he had no 
 easy antagonist, and he came in cautiously thi? 
 time. 
 
 And now those who stood around saw the 
 merriest game of quarter-staff that was ever 
 played inside the walls of Nottingham town. 
 Both men were on their guard and fenced with 
 fine skill, being well matched in prowess. Again 
 and again did Eric seek to force an opening 
 under the other's guard, and just as often were his 
 blows parried. The beggar stood sturdily in 
 his tracks contenting himself with beating off the 
 attack. For a long time their blows met like the 
 steady crackling of some huge forest fire, and 
 Eric strove to be wary, for he now knew that the 
 other had no mean wits or mettle. But he grew 
 right mad at last, and began to send down blows 
 so fierce and fast that you would have sworn a 
 great hail-storm was pounding on the shingles 
 over your head. Yet he never so much as en- 
 tered the tall beggar's guard. 
 
 Then at last the stranger saw his chance and 
 changed his tune of fighting. With one up- 
 ward stroke he sent Eric's staff whirling through 
 
48 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 the air. With another he tapped Eric on the 
 head ; and, with a third broad swing, ere the other 
 could recover himself, he swept him clear off the 
 stage, much as you would brush a fly off the 
 window pane. 
 
 Now the people danced and shouted and made 
 so much ado that the shop-keepers left their 
 stalls and others came running from every di- 
 rection. The victory of the queer beggar made 
 him immensely popular. Eric had been a great 
 bully, and many had suffered defeat and insult at 
 his hands. So the ragged stranger found money 
 and food and drink everywhere at his disposal, 
 and he feasted right comfortably till the after- 
 noon. 
 
 Then a long bow contest came on, and to 
 it the beggar went with some of his new friends. 
 It was held in the same arena that Robin had 
 formerly entered ; and again the Sheriff and lords 
 and ladies graced the scene with their presence, 
 while the people crowded to their places. 
 
 When the archers had stepped forward, the 
 herald rose and proclaimed the rules of the game : 
 how that each man should shoot three shots, and 
 to him who shot best the prize of a yoke of fat 
 steers should belong. A dozen keen-eyed bow- 
 men were there, and among them some of the 
 
How Little John Entered Service 49 
 
 best fellows in the Forester's and Sheriff's com- 
 panies. Down at the end of the line towered 
 the tall beggar-man, who must needs twang a 
 bow-string with the best of them. 
 
 The Sheriff noted his queer figure and asked : 
 " Who is that ragged fellow ? " 
 
 " Tis he that hath but now so soundly cracked 
 the crown of Eric of Lincoln," was the reply. 
 
 The shooting presently began, and the targets 
 soon showed a fine reckoning. Last of all came 
 the beggar's turn. 
 
 " By your leave," he said loudly, " I'd like it 
 well to shoot with any other man here present 
 at a mark of my own placing." And he strode 
 down the lists with a slender peeled sapling 
 which he stuck upright in the ground. " There," 
 said he, " is a right good mark. Will any man 
 try it? " 
 
 But not an archer would risk his reputation on 
 so small a target. Whereupon the beggar drew 
 his bow with seeming carelessness and split the 
 wand with his shaft. 
 
 " Long live the beggar ! " yelled the by- 
 standers. 
 
 The Sheriff swore a full great oath, and said : 
 " This man is the best archer that ever yet I saw." 
 And he beckoned to him, and asked him : " How 
 
50 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 now, good fellow, what is your name, and in 
 what country were you born ? " 
 
 " In Holderness I was born," the man replied; 
 " men call me Reynold Greenleaf." 
 
 " You are a sturdy fellow, Reynold Greenleaf, 
 and deserve better apparel than that you wear at 
 present. Will you enter my service ? I will give 
 you twenty marks a year, above your living, and 
 three good suits of clothes." 
 
 " Three good suits, say you ? Then right 
 gladly will I enter your service, for my back has 
 been bare this many a long day." 
 
 Then Reynold turned him about to the crowd 
 and shouted : " Hark ye, good people, I have 
 entered the Sheriff's service, and need not the 
 yoke of steers for prize. So take them for your- 
 selves, to feast withal." 
 
 At this the crowd shouted more merrily than 
 ever, and threw their caps high into the air. 
 And none so popular a man had come to Not- 
 tingham town in many a long day as this same 
 Reynold Greenleaf. 
 
 Now you may have guessed, by this time, who 
 Reynold Greenleaf really was ; so I shall tell you 
 that he was none other than Little John. And 
 forth went he to the Sheriff's house, and entered 
 his service. But it was a sorry day for the 
 
How Little John Entered Service 51 
 
 Sheriff when he got his new man. For Little 
 John winked his shrewd eye and said softly to 
 himself : " By my faith, I shall be the worst serv- 
 ant to him that ever yet had he ! " 
 
 Two days passed by. Little John, it must be 
 confessed, did not make a good servant. He in- 
 sisted upon eating the Sheriff's best bread and 
 drinking his best wine, so that the steward 
 waxed wroth. Nathless the Sheriff held him in 
 high esteem, and made great talk of taking him 
 along on the next hunting trip. 
 
 It was now the day of the banquet to the 
 butchers, about which we have already heard. 
 The banquet hall, you must know, was not in 
 the main house, but connected with it by a 
 corridor. All the servants were bustling about 
 making preparations for the feast, save only 
 Little John, who must needs lie abed the greater 
 part of the day. But he presented himself at last, 
 when the dinner was half over ; and being de- 
 sirous of seeing the guests for himself he went 
 into the hall with the other servants to pass the 
 wine. First, however, I am afraid that some of 
 the wine passed his own lips while he went 
 down the corridor. 
 
 When he entered the banqueting hall, whom 
 
52 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 should he see but Robin Hood himself. We can 
 imagine the start of surprise felt by each of these 
 bold fellows upon seeing the other in such strange 
 company. But they kept their secrets, as we have 
 seen, and arranged to meet each other that same 
 night. Meanwhile, the proud Sheriff little knew 
 that he harbored the two chief outlaws of the 
 whole countryside beneath his roof. 
 
 After the feast was over and night was begin- 
 ning to advance, Little John felt faint of stomach 
 and remembered him that he had eaten nothing 
 all that day. Back went he to the pantry to see 
 what eatables were laid by. But there, locking 
 up the stores for the night, stood the fat steward. 
 
 " Good Sir Steward," said Little John, " give me 
 to dine, for it is long for Greenleaf to be fasting." 
 
 The steward looked grimly at him and rattled 
 the keys at his girdle. 
 
 " Sirrah lie-abed," quoth he, " 'tis late in the 
 day to be talking of eating. Since you have 
 waited thus long to be hungry, you can e'en take 
 your appetite back to bed again." 
 
 " Now by mine appetite, that will I not do," 
 cried Little John. " Your own paunch of fat 
 would be enough for any bear to sleep on through 
 the winter. But my stomach craves food, and 
 food it shall have!" 
 
How Little John Entered Service 53 
 
 Saying this he brushed past the steward and 
 tried the door, but it was locked fast ; whereat 
 the fat steward chuckled and jangled his keys 
 again. 
 
 Then was Little John right mad, and he 
 brought down his huge fist on the door-panel 
 with a sledge-hammer blow that shivered an open- 
 ing you could thrust your hand into. Little John 
 stooped and peered through the hole to see what 
 food lay within reach, when crack ! went the 
 steward's keys upon his crown, and that worthy 
 danced around him playing a tattoo that made 
 Little John's ears ring. At this he turned upon 
 the steward and gave him such a rap that his 
 back went nigh in two, and over went the fat fel- 
 low rolling on the floor. 
 
 " Lie there," quoth Little John, " till ye find 
 strength to go to bed. Meanwhile, I must be 
 about my dinner." And he kicked open the 
 buttery door without ceremony and brought to 
 light a venison pasty and cold roast pheasant 
 goodly sights to a hungry man. Placing these 
 down on a convenient shelf he fell to with right 
 good will. So Little John ate and drank as much 
 as he would. 
 
 Now the Sheriff had in his kitchen a cook, 
 a stout man and bold, who heard the rumpus and 
 
54 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 came in to see how the land lay. There sat 
 Little John eating away for dear life, while the 
 fat steward was rolled under the table like a 
 bundle of rags. 
 
 " I make my vow ! " said the cook, " you are 
 a shrewd hind to dwell thus in a household, and 
 ask thus to dine." So saying he laid aside his 
 spit and drew a good sword that hung at his side. 
 
 " I make my vow ! " said Little John, " you 
 are a bold man and hardy to come thus between 
 me and my meat. So defend yourself and see 
 that you prove the better man." And he drew 
 his own sword and crossed weapons with the 
 cook. 
 
 Then back and forth they clashed with sullen 
 sound. The old ballad which tells of their fight 
 says that they thought nothing for to flee, but 
 stiffly for to stand. There they fought sore to- 
 gether, two miles away and more, but neither 
 might the other harm for the space of a full hour. 
 
 " I make my vow ! " cried Little John, " you 
 are the best swordsman that ever yet I saw. 
 What say you to resting a space and eating and 
 drinking good health with me. Then we may 
 fall to again with the swords." 
 
 " Agreed ! " said the cook, who loved good 
 fare as well as a good fight ; and they both laid 
 
How Little John Entered Service J5 
 
 by their swords and fell to the food with hearty 
 will. The venison pasty soon disappeared, and 
 the roast pheasant flew at as lively a rate as ever 
 the bird itself had sped. Then the warriors rested 
 a space and patted their stomachs, and smiled 
 across at each other like bosom friends ; for a 
 man when he has dined looks out pleasantly upon 
 the world. 
 
 " And now good Reynold Greenleaf," said the 
 cook, " we may as well settle this brave fight we 
 have in hand." 
 
 " A true saying," rejoined the other, " but first 
 tell me, friend, for I protest you are my friend 
 henceforth what is the score we have to settle ? " 
 
 " Naught save who can handle the sword best," 
 said the cook. " By my troth I had thought to 
 carve you like a capon ere now." 
 
 " And I had long since thought to shave your 
 ears," replied Little John. " This bout we can 
 settle in right good time. But just now I and my 
 master have need of you, and you can turn your 
 stout blade to better service than that of the 
 Sheriff." 
 
 " Whose service would that be ? " asked the 
 cook. 
 
 " Mine," answered a would-be butcher enter- 
 ing the room, " and I am Robin Hood." 
 
CHAPTER V 
 
 HOW THE SHERIFF LOST THREE GOOD 
 SERVANTS AND FOUND THEM AGAIN 
 
 " Make good cheer," said Robin Hood. 
 " Sheriff! for chanty! 
 And for the love of Little John 
 Thy life is granted thee ! " 
 
 THE cook gasped in amazement. This 
 Robin Hood ! and under the Sheriff's 
 very roof! 
 
 " Now by my troth you are a brave fellow," 
 he said. " I have heard great tales of your 
 prowess, and the half has not been told. But 
 who might this tall slasher be ? " 
 
 " Men do call me Little John, good fellow." 
 
 " Then Little John, or Reynold Greenleaf, I 
 like you well, on my honor as Much the miller's 
 son ; and you too, bold Robin Hood. An you 
 take me, I will enter your service right gladly." 
 
 " Spoken like a stout man ! " said Robin, seiz- 
 ing him by the hand. " But I must back to my 
 own bed, lest some sleepy warden stumble upon 
 
 56 
 
Three Good Servants 57 
 
 me, and I be forced to run him through. Lucky 
 for you twain that wine flowed so freely in this 
 house to-day ; else the noise of your combat 
 would have brought other onlookers besides 
 Robin Hood. Now if ye would flee the house 
 to-night, I will join you in the good greenwood 
 to-morrow." 
 
 " But, good master," said the cook, " you 
 would not stay here over night ! Verily, it is 
 running your head into a noose. Come with us. 
 The Sheriff has set strict watch on all the gates, 
 since 'tis Fair week, but I know the warden at 
 the west gate and could bring us through safely. 
 To-morrow you will be stayed." 
 
 " Nay, that will I not," laughed Robin, " for I 
 shall go through with no less escort than the 
 Sheriff himself. Now do you, Little John, and 
 do you, Much the miller's son, go right speedily. 
 In the borders of the wood you will find my 
 merry men. Tell them to kill two fine harts 
 against to-morrow eve, for we shall have great 
 company and lordly sport." 
 
 And Robin left them as suddenly as he had 
 come. 
 
 " Comrade," then said Little John, " we may 
 as well bid the Sheriff's roof farewell. But ere 
 we go, it would seem a true pity to fail to take 
 
58 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 such of the Sheriff's silver plate as will cause us to 
 remember him, and also grace our special feasts." 
 
 " Tis well said indeed/' quoth the cook. 
 
 Thereupon they got a great sack and filled it 
 with silver plate from the shelves where it would 
 not at once be missed, and they swung the sack 
 between them, and away they went, out of the 
 house, out of the town, and into the friendly 
 shelter of Sherwood Forest. 
 
 The next morning the servants were late astir 
 in the Sheriff's house. The steward awoke from 
 a heavy sleep, but his cracked head was still in 
 such a whirl that he could not have sworn 
 whether the Sheriff had ever owned so much as 
 one silver dish. So the theft went undiscovered 
 for the nonce. 
 
 Robin Hood met the Sheriff at breakfast, when 
 his host soon spoke of what was uppermost in 
 his heart the purchase of that fine herd of cat- 
 tle near Gamewell. 'Twas clear that a vision of 
 them, purchased for twenty paltry gold pieces, 
 had been with him all through the night, in his 
 dreams. And Robin again appeared such a 
 silly fellow that the Sheriff saw no need of dis- 
 sembling, but said that he was ready to start at 
 once to look at the herd. 
 
Three Good Servants 59 
 
 Accordingly they set forth, Robin in his little 
 butcher's cart, behind the lean mare, and the 
 Sheriff mounted on a horse. Out of Notting- 
 ham town, through gates open wide, they pro- 
 ceeded, and took the hill road leading through 
 Sherwood Forest. And as they went on and 
 plunged deeper among the trees, Robin whistled 
 blithely and sang snatches of tunes. 
 
 " Why are you so gay, fellow ? " said the Sher- 
 iff, for, sooth to say, the silence of the woods was 
 making him uneasy. 
 
 " I am whistling to keep my courage up," re- 
 plied Robin. 
 
 " What is there to fear, when you have the 
 Sheriff of Nottingham beside you ? " quoth the 
 other pompously. 
 
 Robin scratched his head. 
 
 " They do say that Robin Hood and his men 
 care little for the Sheriff," he said. 
 
 " Pooh ! " said the Sheriff. " I would not give 
 that for their lives, if I could once lay hands 
 upon them." And he snapped his fingers an- 
 grily. 
 
 " But Robin Hood himself was on this very 
 road the last time I came to town," said the other. 
 
 The Sheriff started at the crackling of a twig 
 under his horse's feet, and looked around. 
 
60 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Did you see him ? " he asked. 
 
 " Aye, that did I ! He wanted the use of this 
 mare and cart to drive to Nottingham. He said 
 he would fain turn butcher. But see ! " 
 
 As he spoke he came to a turn in the road, 
 and there before them stood a herd of the King's 
 deer, feeding. Robin pointed to them and con- 
 tinued : 
 
 " There is my herd of cattle, good Master 
 Sheriff! How do you like them? Are they 
 not fat and fair to see ? " 
 
 The Sheriff drew rein quickly. " Now fellow," 
 quoth he, " I would I were well out of this forest, 
 for I care not to see such herds as these, or such 
 faces as yours. Choose your own way, there- 
 fore, whoever you be, and let me go mine." 
 
 " Nay," laughed Robin, seizing the Sheriff's 
 bridle, " I have been at too much pains to culti- 
 vate your company to forego it now so easily. 
 Besides I wish you to meet some of my friends 
 and dine with me, since you have so lately en- 
 tertained me at your board." 
 
 So saying he clapped a horn to his lips and 
 winded three merry notes. The deer bounded 
 away ; and before the last of them was seen, 
 there came a running and a rustling, and out 
 from behind covert and tree came full twoscore 
 
Three Good Servants 6l 
 
 of men, clad in Lincoln green, and bearing good 
 yew bows in their hands and short swords at 
 their sides. Up they ran to Robin Hood and 
 doffed their caps to him respectfully, while the 
 Sheriff sat still from very amazement. 
 
 " Welcome to the greenwood!" said one of 
 the leaders, bending the knee with mock rever- 
 ence before the Sheriff. 
 
 The Sheriff glared. It was Little John. 
 
 " Woe the worth, Reynold Greenleaf," he 
 said, " you have betrayed me ! " 
 
 u I make my vow," said Little John, " that 
 you are to blame, master. I was misserved of 
 my dinner, when I was at your house. But we 
 shall set you down to a feast we hope you will 
 enjoy." 
 
 " Well spoken, Little John," said Robin Hood. 
 " Take you his bridle and let us do honor to the 
 guest who has come to feast with us." 
 
 Then turning abruptly the whole company 
 plunged into the heart of the forest. 
 
 After twisting and turning till the Sheriff's be- 
 wildered head sat dizzily upon his shoulders, the 
 greenwood men passed through a narrow alley 
 amid the trees which led to a goodly open space 
 flanked by wide-spreading oaks. Under the 
 largest of these a pleasant fire was crackling, and 
 
62 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 near it two fine harts lay ready for cooking. 
 Around the blaze were gathered another com- 
 pany of yeomen quite as large as that which 
 came with Robin Hood. Up sprang they as the 
 latter advanced and saluted their leader with def- 
 erence, but with hearty gladness to see him back 
 again. 
 
 That merry wag Will Stutely was in command ; 
 and when he saw the pale-faced Sheriff being led 
 in like any culprit, he took his cloak and laid it 
 humbly upon the ground and besought the 
 Sheriff to alight upon it, as the ground of Sher- 
 wood was unused to such dignitaries. 
 
 " Bestir yourselves, good fellows ! " cried Robin 
 Hood ; " and while our new cook, whom I see 
 with us, is preparing a feast worthy of our high 
 guest, let us have a few games to do him honor ! " 
 
 Then while the whole glade was filled with the 
 savory smell of roasting venison and fat capons, 
 and brown pasties warmed beside the blaze, and 
 mulled wine sent forth a cordial fragrance, Robin 
 Hood placed the Sheriff upon a knoll beneath 
 the largest oak and sat himself down by him. 
 
 First stepped forward several pairs of men 
 armed with the quarter-staff, the widow's sons 
 among them, and so skilfully did they thrust and 
 parry and beat down guards, that the Sheriff, 
 
Three Good Servants 63 
 
 who loved a good game as well as any man, 
 clapped his hands, forgetting where he was, and 
 shouted, " Well struck ! well struck ! Never 
 have I seen such blows at all the Fairs of Not- 
 tingham ! " 
 
 Then the best archers of the band set up a 
 small wand at eightscore paces distant, and 
 thereon they affixed a wreath of green. And the 
 archers began to shoot ; and he who shot not 
 through the garland without disturbing its leaves 
 and tendrils was fain to submit to a good sound 
 buffet from Little John. But right cunning was 
 the shooting, for the men had spent a certain 
 time in daily practice, and many were the shafts 
 which sped daintily through the circle. Nath- 
 less now and again some luckless fellow would 
 shoot awry and would be sent winding from a 
 long arm blow from the tall lieutenant while the 
 glade roared with laughter. And none more 
 hearty a guffaw was given than came from the 
 Sheriff's own throat, for the spirit of the green- 
 wood was upon him. 
 
 But presently his high mood was dashed. 
 The company sat down to meat, and the guest 
 was treated to two more disturbing surprises. 
 The cook came forward to serve the food, when 
 the Sheriff beheld in him his own former servant, 
 
64 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 and one whom he supposed was at that moment 
 in the scullery at Nottingham. 
 
 Much the miller's son grinned by way of an- 
 swer to the Sheriff's amazement, and served the 
 plates, and placed them before the party. Then 
 did the Sheriff gasp and fairly choke with rage. 
 The service was his own silverware from the 
 Mansion House ! 
 
 " You rascals ! you rogues ! " he spluttered. 
 " Was it not enough to defraud me out of three 
 of my servants, that you must also rob me of my 
 best silver service ? Nay, by my life, but I will 
 not touch your food ! " 
 
 But Robin Hood bade him pause. 
 
 " Gramercy ! " quoth he, " servants come and 
 go, in merry England, and so does service. The 
 platters are but used to do your worship honor. 
 And as for your life, it is forfeit to your eager- 
 ness to buy my herd of cattle so cheaply. Now 
 sit you down again and make good cheer, Sheriff, 
 for charity ! And for the love of Little John 
 your life is granted you ! " 
 
 So the Sheriff sat him down again with the 
 best face he could assume, and soon the cook's 
 viands were disappearing down his gullet as rap- 
 idly as the next man's. And they feasted roy- 
 ally and clinked each other's cups until the sun 
 
Three Good Servants 65 
 
 had ceased to print the pattern of the leaves upon 
 the forest carpet. 
 
 Then the Sheriff arose and said : " I thank 
 you, Robin Hood, one-time butcher, and you, 
 Little John, one-time beggar, and you, Much, 
 one-time cook, and all you good men who have 
 entertained me in Sherwood so well. Promises 
 I make not as to how I shall requite you when next 
 you come to Nottingham, for I am in the King's 
 service. So for the present the score rests with 
 you. But the shadows grow long and I must 
 away, if you will be pleased to pilot me to the 
 road." 
 
 Then Robin Hood and all his men arose and 
 drank the Sheriff's health, and Robin said : " If 
 you must needs go at once we will not detain 
 you except that you have forgotten two things." 
 
 " What may they be ? " asked the Sheriff, while 
 his heart sank within him. 
 
 " You forget that you came with me to-day to 
 buy a herd of horned beasts ; likewise that he 
 who dines at the Greenwood Inn must pay the 
 landlord." 
 
 The Sheriff fidgetted like a small boy who has 
 forgotten his lesson. 
 
 " Nay, I have but a small sum with me," he 
 began apologetically. 
 
66 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " What is that sum, gossip ? " questioned Lit- 
 tle John, " for my own wage should also come 
 out of it!" 
 
 " And mine ! " said Much. 
 
 " And mine ! " smiled Robin. 
 
 The Sheriff caught his breath. " By my 
 troth, are all these silver dishes worth any- 
 thing ? " 
 
 The outlaws roared heartily at this. 
 
 " I'll tell you what it is, worship," said Robin, 
 " we three rascally servants will compound our 
 back wages for those plates. And we will keep 
 the herd of cattle free for our own use and the 
 King's. But this little tavern bill should be set- 
 tled ! Now, what sum have you about you ? " 
 
 " I have only those twenty pieces of gold, and 
 twenty others," said the Sheriff: and well it was 
 that he told the truth for once, for Robin said : 
 
 " Count it, Little John." 
 
 Little John turned the Sheriff's wallet inside 
 out. " 'Tis true enough," he said. 
 
 " Then you shall pay no more than twenty 
 pieces for your entertainment, excellence," de- 
 creed Robin. " Speak I soothly, men of green- 
 wood ? " 
 
 " Good ! " echoed the others. 
 
 " The Sheriff should swear by his patron saint 
 
Three Good Servants 67 
 
 that he will not molest us," said Will Stutely ; 
 and this addition was carried unanimously. 
 
 " So be it, then," cried Little John approach- 
 ing the Sheriff. " Now swear by your life and 
 your patron saint " 
 
 " I will swear it by St. George, who is patron 
 of us all," said the Sheriff vigorously, " that I 
 will never disturb or distress the outlaws in 
 Sherwood." 
 
 " But let me catch any of you out of Sher- 
 wood ! " thought he to himself. 
 
 Then the twenty pieces of gold were paid 
 over, and the Sheriff once more prepared to 
 depart. 
 
 " Never had we so worshipful a guest before," 
 said Robin ; " and as the new moon is begin- 
 ning to silver the leaves, I shall bear you com- 
 pany myself for part of the way. 'Twas I who 
 brought you into the wood." 
 
 " Nay, I protest against your going needlessly 
 far," said the Sheriff. 
 
 " But I protest that I am loath to lose your 
 ompany," replied Robin. " The next time I 
 may not be so pleased." 
 
 And he took the Sheriff's horse by the bridle 
 rein, and led him through the lane and by many 
 a thicket till the main road was reached. 
 
68 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Now fare you well, good Sheriff/' he said, 
 " and when next you think to despoil a poor 
 prodigal, remember the herd you would have 
 bought over against Gamewell. And when next 
 you employ a servant, make certain that he is 
 not employing you." 
 
 So saying he smote the nag's haunch, and off 
 went the Sheriff upon the road to Nottingham. 
 
 And that is how you will find from many 
 ballads that came to be sung at the Sheriff's ex- 
 pense, and which are known even to the present 
 day, that, I say, is how the Sheriff lost three 
 good servants and found them again. 
 
CHAPTER VI 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD MET WILL SCARLET 
 
 The youngster was clothed in scarlet red, 
 
 In scarlet fine and gay ; 
 And he did frisk it o'er the plain, 
 
 And chanted a roundelay. 
 
 ONE fine morning, soon after the proud 
 Sheriff had been brought to grief, 
 Robin Hood and Little John went 
 strolling down a path through the wood. It 
 was not far from the foot-bridge where they had 
 fought their memorable battle ; and by common 
 impulse they directed their steps to the brook 
 to quench their thirst and rest them in the 
 cool bushes. The morning gave promise of a 
 hot day. The road even by the brook was 
 dusty. So the cooling stream was very pleasing 
 and grateful to their senses. 
 
 On each side of them, beyond the dusty high- 
 way, stretched out broad fields of tender young 
 corn. On the yon side of the fields uprose the 
 sturdy oaks and beeches and ashes of the forest ; 
 69 
 
70 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 while at their feet modest violets peeped out 
 shyly and greeted the loiterers with an odor 
 which made the heart glad. Over on the far 
 side of the brook in a tiny bay floated three 
 lily-pads ; and from amid some clover blossoms 
 on the bank an industrious bee rose with the 
 hum of busy contentment. It was a day so 
 brimful of quiet joy that the two friends lay flat 
 on their backs gazing up at the scurrying clouds, 
 and neither caring to break the silence. 
 
 Presently they heard some one coming up the 
 road whistling gayly, as though he owned the 
 whole world and 'twas but made to whistle in. 
 Anon he chanted a roundelay with a merry 
 note. 
 
 " By my troth, a gay bird ! " quoth Robin, 
 raising up on his elbow. " Let us lie still, and 
 trust that his purse is not as light as his heart." 
 
 So they lay still, and in a minute more up 
 came a smart stranger dressed in scarlet and silk 
 and wearing a jaunty hat with a curling cock 
 feather in it. His whole costume was of scarlet, 
 from the feather to the silk hosen on his 
 legs. A goodly sword hung at his side, its 
 scabbard all embossed with tilting knights and 
 weeping ladies. His hair was long and yellow 
 and hung clustering about his shoulders, for 
 
How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet 71 
 
 all the world like a schoolgirl's ; and he bore 
 himself with as mincing a gait as the pertest of 
 them. 
 
 Little John clucked his teeth drolly at this 
 sight. " By my troth, a gay bird ! " he said 
 echoing the other's words then added, " But 
 not so bad a build for all his prettiness. Look 
 you, those calves and thighs are well rounded 
 and straight. The arms, for all that gold- 
 wrought cloak, hang stoutly from full shoulders. 
 I warrant you the fop can use his dainty sword 
 right well on occasion." 
 
 " Nay," retorted Robin, " he is naught but a 
 ladies' man from court. My long-bow 'gainst a 
 plugged shilling that he would run and bellow 
 lustily at sight of a quarter-staff. Stay you be- 
 hind this bush and I will soon get some rare 
 sport out of him. Belike his silk purse may 
 contain more pennies than the law allows to one 
 man in Sherwood or Barnesdale." 
 
 So saying Robin Hood stepped forth briskly 
 from the covert and planted himself in the way 
 of the scarlet stranger. The latter had walked 
 so slowly that he was scarce come to their rest- 
 ing-place ; and now on beholding Robin he 
 neither slackened nor quickened his pace but 
 sauntered idly straight ahead, looking to the 
 
72 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 right and to the left, with the finest air in the 
 world, but never once at Robin. 
 
 " Hold ! " quoth the outlaw. " What mean ye 
 by running thus over a wayfarer, rough shod ? " 
 
 " Wherefore should I hold, good fellow ? " said 
 the stranger in a smooth voice, and looking at 
 Robin for the first time. 
 
 " Because I bid you to," replied Robin. 
 
 " And who may you be ? " asked the other as 
 coolly as you please. 
 
 " What my name is matters not," said Robin ; 
 " but know that I am a public tax-gatherer and 
 equalizer of shillings. If your purse have more 
 than a just number of shillings or pence, I must 
 e'en lighten it somewhat ; for there are many 
 worthy people round about these borders who 
 have less than the just amount. Wherefore, 
 sweet gentleman, I pray you hand over your 
 purse without more ado, that I may judge of its 
 weight in proper fashion." 
 
 The other smiled as sweetly as though a lady 
 were paying him a compliment. 
 
 " You are a droll fellow," he said calmly. 
 " Your speech amuses me mightily. Pray 
 continue, if you have not done, for I am in 
 no hurry this morning." 
 
 " I have said all with my tongue that is 
 
How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet 73 
 
 needful," retorted Robin beginning to grow red 
 under the collar. " Nathless, I have other argu- 
 ments which may not be so pleasing to your 
 dainty skin. Prithee, stand and deliver. I 
 promise to deal fairly with the purse." 
 
 " Alack-a-day ! " said the stranger with a little 
 shrug of his shoulders ; " I am deeply sorrowful 
 that I cannot show my purse to every rough lout 
 that asks to see it. But I really could not, as I 
 have further need of it myself and every farthing 
 it contains. Wherefore, pray stand aside." 
 
 " Nay that will I not ! and 'twill go the harder 
 with you if you do not yield at once." 
 
 " Good fellow," said the other gently, " have 
 I not heard all your speech with patience ? Now 
 that is all I promised to do. My conscience is 
 salved and I must go on my way. < To-rol-o- 
 rol-e-loo ! ' " he caroled making as though to 
 depart. 
 
 " Hold, I say ! " quoth Robin hotly ; for he 
 knew how Little John must be chuckling at this 
 from behind the bushes. " Hold I say, else I 
 shall have to bloody those fair locks of yours !" 
 And he swung his quarter-staff threateningly. 
 
 " Alas ! " moaned the stranger shaking his 
 head. " The pity of it all ! Now I shall have 
 to run this fellow through with my sword ! And 
 
74 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 I had hoped to be a peaceable man henceforth ! " 
 And sighing deeply he drew his shining blade 
 and stood on guard. 
 
 " Put by your weapon," said Robin. " It is too 
 pretty a piece of steel to get cracked with a 
 common oak cudgel; and that is what would 
 happen on the first pass I made at you. Get you 
 a stick like mine out of yon undergrowth, and 
 we will fight fairly, man to man." 
 
 The stranger thought a moment with his usual 
 slowness, and eyed Robin from head to foot. 
 Then he unbuckled his scabbard, laid it and the 
 sword aside, and walked deliberately over to the 
 oak thicket. Choosing from among the shoots 
 and saplings he found a stout little tree to his 
 liking, when he laid hold of it, without stopping 
 to cut it, and gave a tug. Up it came root and 
 all, as though it were a stalk of corn, and the 
 stranger walked back trimming it as quietly as 
 though pulling up trees were the easiest thing in 
 the world. 
 
 Little John from his hiding-place saw the feat, 
 and could hardly restrain a long whistle. " By 
 our Lady ! " he muttered to himself, " I would 
 not be in Master Robin's boots ! " 
 
 Whatever Robin thought upon seeing the 
 stranger's strength, he uttered not a word and 
 
How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet 75 
 
 budged not an inch. He only put his oak staff 
 at parry as the other took his stand. 
 
 There was a threefold surprise that day, by 
 the brookside. The stranger and Robin and 
 Little John in the bushes all found a combat that 
 upset all reckoning. The stranger for all his easy 
 strength and cool nerve found an antagonist who 
 met his blows with the skill of a woodman. 
 Robin found the stranger as hard to hit as though 
 fenced in by an oak hedge. While Little John 
 rolled over and over in silent joy. 
 
 Back and forth swayed the fighters, their cud- 
 gels pounding this way and that, knocking off 
 splinters and bark, and threatening direst dam- 
 age to bone and muscle and skin. Back and forth 
 they pranced kicking up a cloud of dust and 
 gasping for fresh air. From a little way off you 
 would have vowed that these two men were try- 
 ing to put out a fire, so thickly hung the cloud of 
 battle over them. Thrice did Robin smite the 
 scarlet man with such blows that a less stout 
 fellow must have bowled over. Only twice did 
 the scarlet man smite Robin, but the second blow 
 was like to finish him. The first had been deliv- 
 ered over the knuckles, and though 'twas a glanc- 
 ing stroke it well nigh broke Robin's fingers, so 
 that he could not easily raise his staff again. 
 
76 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 And while he was dancing about in pain and 
 muttering a dust-covered oath, the other's staff 
 came swinging through the cloud at one side 
 zip ! and struck him under the arm. Down 
 went Robin as though he were a nine-pin flat 
 down into the dust of the road. But despite the 
 pain he was bounding up again like an India- 
 rubber man to renew the attack, when Little 
 John interfered. 
 
 " Hold ! " said he bursting out of the bushes 
 and seizing the stranger's weapon. " Hold, I say ! " 
 
 " Nay," retorted the stranger quietly, " I was 
 not offering to smite him while he was down. 
 But if there be a whole nest of you hatching here 
 by the waterside, cluck out the other chicks and 
 I'll make shift to fight them all." 
 
 " Not for all the deer in Sherwood ! " cried 
 Robin. " You are a good fellow and a gentle- 
 man. I'll fight no more with you, for verily I 
 feel sore in wrist and body. Nor shall any of 
 mine molest you henceforth." 
 
 Sooth to say, Robin did not look in good fight- 
 ing trim. His clothes were coated with dirt, 
 one of his hosen had slipped halfway down from 
 his knee, the sleeve of his jerkin was split, and his 
 face was streaked with sweat and dirt. Little 
 John eyed him drolly. 
 
How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet 77 
 
 " How now, good master," quoth he, " the 
 sport you were to kick up has left you in sorry 
 plight. Let me dust your coat for you." 
 
 " Marry, it has been dusted enough already," 
 replied Robin ; " and I now believe the Scripture 
 saying that all men are but dust, for it has sifted 
 me through and through and lined my gullet an 
 inch deep. By your leave" and he went to the 
 brookside and drank deep and laved his face and 
 hands. 
 
 All this while the stranger had been eyeing 
 Robin attentively and listening to his voice as 
 though striving to recall it. 
 
 " If I mistake not," he said slowly at last, " you 
 are that famous outlaw, Robin Hood of Barnes- 
 dale." 
 
 " You say right," replied Robin ; " but my 
 fame has been tumbling sadly about in the dust 
 to-day." 
 
 " Now why did I not know you at once ? " 
 continued the stranger. " This battle need not 
 have happened, for I came abroad to find you 
 to-day, and thought to have remembered your 
 face and speech. Know you not me, Rob, my 
 lad ? Hast ever been to Gamewell Lodge ? " 
 
 " Ha ! Will Gamewell ! my dear old chum, 
 Will Gamewell ! " shouted Robin throwing his 
 
78 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 arms about the other in sheer affection. " What 
 an ass I was not to recognize you ! But it has 
 been years since we parted, and your gentle 
 schooling has polished you off mightily/' 
 
 Will embraced his cousin no less heartily. 
 " We are quits on not knowing kinsmen," he said, 
 " for you have changed and strengthened much 
 from the stripling with whom I used to run foot 
 races in old Sherwood/' 
 
 " But why seek you me ? " asked Robin. " You 
 know I am an outlaw and dangerous company. 
 And how left you mine uncle? and have you 
 heard aught of late of of Maid Marian ? " 
 
 "Your last question first/' answered Will, 
 laughing, " for I perceive that it lies nearest your 
 heart. I saw Maid Marian not many weeks after 
 the great shooting at Nottingham, when you won 
 her the golden arrow. She prizes the bauble 
 among her dearest possessions, though it has 
 made her an enemy in the Sheriff's proud daugh- 
 ter. Maid Marian bade me tell you, if I ever 
 saw you, that she must return to Queen Eleanor's 
 court, but she could never forget the happy days 
 in the greenwood. As for the old Squire he is 
 still hale and hearty, though rheumatic withal. 
 He speaks of you as a sad young dog, but for all 
 that is secretly proud of your skill at the bow and 
 
How Robin Hood Met Will Scarlet 79 
 
 of the way you are pestering the Sheriff, whom he 
 likes not. 'Twas for my father's sake that I am 
 now in the open, an outlaw like yourself. He 
 has had a steward, a surly fellow enough, who, 
 while I was away at school, boot-licked his way 
 to favor until he lorded it over the whole house. 
 Then he grew right saucy and impudent, but my 
 father minded it not, deeming the fellow indis- 
 pensable in managing the estate. But when I 
 came back it irked me sorely to see the fellow 
 strut about as though he owned the place. He 
 was sly enough with me at first, and would brow- 
 beat the Squire only while I was out of earshot. 
 It chanced one day, however, that I heard loud 
 voices through an open window and paused to 
 hearken. That vile servant called my father * a 
 meddling old fool.' < Fool and meddler art thou 
 thyself, varlet,' I shouted springing through the 
 window, ' that for thy impudence ! ' and in my 
 heat I smote him a blow mightier than I in- 
 tended, for I have some strength in mine arm. 
 The fellow rolled over and never breathed after- 
 wards. I think I broke his neck or something 
 the like. Then I knew that the Sheriff would use 
 this as a pretext to hound my father, if I tarried. 
 So I bade the Squire farewell and told him I 
 would seek you in Sherwood." 
 
80 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Now by my halidom ! " said Robin Hood ; 
 " for a man escaping the law, you took it about as 
 coolly as one could wish. To see you come trip- 
 ping along decked out in all your gay plumage 
 and trolling forth a roundelay, one would think 
 you had not a care in all the world. Indeed I 
 remarked to Little John here that I hoped your 
 purse was not as light as your heart." 
 
 " Belike you meant head" laughed Will ; " and 
 is this Little John the Great? Shake hands with 
 me, an you will, and promise me to cross a staff 
 with me in friendly bout some day in the forest ! " 
 
 " That will I ! " quoth Little John heartily. 
 " Here's my hand on it. What is your last 
 name again, say you ? " 
 
 " Tis to be changed," interposed Robin ; " then 
 shall the men armed with warrants go hang for 
 all of us. Let me bethink myself. Ah ! I 
 have it ! In scarlet he came to us, and that shall 
 be his name henceforth. Welcome to the green- 
 wood, Will Scarlet ! " 
 
 "Aye, welcome, Will Scarlet!" said Little 
 John ; and they all clasped hands again and 
 swore to be true each to the other and to Robin 
 Hood's men in Sherwood Forest. 
 
CHAPTER VII 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD MET FRIAR TUCK 
 
 The friar took Robin Hood on his back, 
 
 Deep water he did bestride, 
 And spake neither good word nor bad, 
 
 Till he came at the other side. 
 
 IN summer time when leaves grow green, 
 and flowers are fresh and gay, Robin Hood 
 and his merry men were all disposed to play. 
 Thus runs a quaint old ballad which begins the 
 next adventure. Then some would leap and 
 some would run and some try archery and some 
 ply the quarter-staff and some fall to with the 
 good broad sword. Some again would try a 
 round at buffet and fisticuff; and thus by every 
 variety of sport and exercise they perfected 
 themselves in skill and made the band and its 
 prowess well known throughout all England. 
 
 It had been a custom of Robin Hood's to pick 
 out the best men in all the countryside. When- 
 ever he heard of one more than usually skilled in 
 any feat of arms he would seek the man and test 
 81 
 
82 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 him in personal encounter which did not al- 
 ways end happily for Robin. And when he had 
 found a man to his liking he offered him serv- 
 ice with the bold fellows of Sherwood Forest. 
 
 Thus it came about that one day after a 
 practice at shooting, in which Little John struck 
 down a hart at five hundred feet distance, Robin 
 Hood was fain to boast. 
 
 " God's blessing on your heart ! " he cried, 
 clapping the burly fellow on the shoulder ; " I 
 would travel an hundred miles to find one who 
 could match you ! " 
 
 At this Will Scarlet laughed full roundly. 
 
 " There lives a curtail friar in Fountain's Abbey 
 Tuck, by name who can beat both him and 
 you," he said. 
 
 Robin pricked up his ears at this free speech. 
 
 " By our Lady," he said, " I'll neither eat nor 
 drink till I see this same friar." 
 
 And with his usual impetuosity he at once 
 set about arming himself for the adventure. On 
 his head he placed a cap of steel. Underneath 
 his Lincoln green he wore a coat of chain metal. 
 Then with sword and buckler girded at his side 
 he made a goodly show. But he also took with 
 him his stout yew bow and a sheaf of chosen 
 arrows. 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 83 
 
 So he set forth upon his way with blithe heart ; 
 for it was a day when the whole face of the 
 earth seemed glad and rejoicing in pulsing life. 
 Steadily he pressed forward by winding ways till 
 he came to a green broad pasture land at 
 whose edge flowed a stream dipping in and out 
 among the willows and rushes on the banks. A 
 pleasant stream it was, but it flowed calmly as 
 though of some depth in the middle. Robin did 
 not fancy getting his feet wet, or his fine suit of 
 mail rusted, so he paused on the hither bank to 
 rest and take his bearings. 
 
 As he sat down quietly under the shade of a 
 drooping willow he heard snatches of a jovial 
 song floating to him from the farther side ; then 
 came a sound of two men's voices arguing. One 
 was upholding the merits of hasty pudding and 
 the other stood out stoutly for meat pie, "es- 
 pecially " quoth this one " when flavored 
 with young onions ! " 
 
 " Gramercy ! " muttered Robin to himself, 
 " that is a tantalizing speech to a hungry man ! 
 But, odds boddikins ! did ever two men talk 
 more alike than those two fellows yonder ! " 
 
 In truth Robin could well marvel at the speech, 
 for the voices were curiously alike. 
 
 Presently the willows parted on the other bank, 
 
84 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 and Robin could hardly forebear laughing out- 
 right. His mystery was explained. It was not 
 two men who had done all this singing and talk- 
 ing, but one and that one a stout curtail friar 
 who wore a long cloak over his portly framt, 
 tied with a cord in the middle. On his head was 
 a knight's helmet, and in his hand was a no more 
 warlike weapon than a huge pasty pie, with 
 which he sat down by the water's edge. His 
 twofold argument was finished. The meat pie 
 had triumphed ; and no wonder ! for it was the 
 present witness, soon to give its own testimony. 
 But first the friar took off his helmet to cool 
 his head, and a droll picture he made. His head 
 was as round as an apple, and eke as smooth in 
 spots. A fringe of close curling black hair grew 
 round the base of his skull, but his crown was 
 bare and shiny as an egg. His cheeks also 
 were smooth and red and shiny ; and his little 
 gray eyes danced about with the funniest air imag- 
 inable. You would not have blamed Robin Hood 
 for wanting to laugh, had you heard this serious 
 two-faced talk and then seen this jovial one-faced 
 man. Good humor and fat living stood out all 
 over him ; yet for all that he looked stout enough 
 and able to take care of himself with any man. 
 His short neck was thick like that of a Berkshire 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 85 
 
 bull ; his shoulders were set far back, and his 
 arms sprouted therefrom like two oak limbs. As 
 he sat him down, the cloak fell apart disclosing a 
 sword and buckler as stout as Robin's own. 
 
 Nathless, Robin was not dismayed at sight of 
 the weapons. Instead, his heart fell within him 
 when he saw the meat pie which was now in fair 
 way to be devoured before his very eyes ; for the 
 friar lost no time in thrusting one hand deep 
 into the pie, while he crossed himself with the 
 other. 
 
 Thereupon Robin seized his bow and fitted a 
 shaft. 
 
 " Hey, friar!" he sang out, " carry me over 
 the water, or else I cannot answer for your 
 safety." 
 
 The other started at the unexpected greeting, 
 and laid his hand upon his sword. Then he 
 looked up and beheld Robin's arrow pointing 
 full upon him. 
 
 " Put down your bow, fellow," he shouted 
 back, " and I will bring you over the brook. 
 Tis our duty in life to help each other, and your 
 keen shaft shows me that you are a man worthy 
 of some attention." 
 
 So the friar knight got him up gravely, though 
 his eyes twinkled with a cunning light, and laid 
 
86 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 aside his beloved pie and his cloak and his sword 
 and his buckler, and waded across the stream 
 with waddling dignity. Then he took Robin 
 Hood upon his back and spoke neither good 
 word nor bad till he came to the other side. 
 
 Lightly leaped Robin off his back, and said, 
 " I am much beholden to you, good father." 
 
 " Beholden, say you ! " rejoined the other 
 drawing his sword ; " then by my faith you shall 
 e'en repay your score. Now mine own affairs, 
 which are of a spiritual kind and much more im- 
 portant than yours which are carnal, lie on the 
 other side of this stream. I see that you are a 
 likely man and one, moreover, who would not 
 refuse to serve the church. I must therefore 
 pray of you that whatsoever I have done unto 
 you, you will do also unto me. In short, my 
 son, you must e'en carry me back again." 
 
 Courteously enough was this said ; but so sud- 
 denly had the friar drawn his sword that Robin 
 had no time to unsling his bow from his back, 
 whither he had placed it to avoid getting it wet, 
 or to unfasten his scabbard. So he was fain to 
 temporize. 
 
 " Nay, good father, but I shall get my feet 
 wet," he commenced. 
 
 " Are your feet any better than mine ? " re- 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 87 
 
 torted the other. " I fear me now that I have 
 already wetted myself so sadly as to lay in a store 
 of rheumatic pains by way of penance." 
 
 " I am not so strong as you," continued Robin ; 
 " that helmet and sword and buckler would be 
 my undoing on the uncertain footing amidstream, 
 to say nothing of your holy flesh and bones." 
 
 " Then I will lighten up, somewhat," replied 
 the other calmly. " Promise to carry me across 
 and I will lay aside my war gear." 
 
 " Agreed," said Robin ; and the friar thereupon 
 stripped himself; and Robin bent his stout back 
 and took him up even as he had promised. 
 
 Now the stones at the bottom of the stream 
 were round and slippery, and the current swept 
 along strongly, waist-deep, in the middle. More- 
 ever Robin had a heavier load than the other 
 had borne, nor did he know the ford. So he 
 went stumbling along now stepping into a deep 
 hole, now stumbling over a bowlder in a manner 
 that threatened to unseat his rider or plunge 
 them both clear under current. But the fat friar 
 hung on and dug his heels into his steed's ribs 
 in as gallant manner as if he were riding in a 
 tournament ; while as for poor Robin the sweat 
 ran down him in torrents and he gasped like the 
 winded horse he was. But at last he managed 
 
88 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 to stagger out on the bank and deposit his un- 
 wieldy load. 
 
 No sooner had he set the friar down than he 
 seized his own sword. 
 
 " Now, holy friar," quoth he, panting and wip- 
 ing the sweat from his brow, " what say the 
 Scriptures that you quote so glibly ? Be not 
 weary of well doing. You must carry me back 
 again or I swear that I will make a cheese-cloth 
 out of your jacket ! " 
 
 The friar's gray eyes once more twinkled with 
 a cunning gleam that boded no good to Robin ; 
 but his voice was as calm and courteous as ever. 
 
 " Your wits are keen, my son," he said ; " and 
 I see that the waters of the stream have not 
 quenched your spirit. Once more will I bend 
 my back to the oppressor and carry the weight 
 of the haughty." 
 
 So Robin mounted again in high glee, and 
 carried his sword in his hand, and went prepared 
 to tarry upon the other side. But while he was be- 
 thinking himself what great words to use, when 
 he should arrive thither, he felt himself slipping 
 from the friar's broad back. He clutched fran- 
 tically to save himself but had too round a sur- 
 face to grasp, besides being hampered by his 
 weapon. So down went he with a loud splash 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 89 
 
 into the middle of the stream, where the crafty 
 friar had conveyed him. 
 
 " There ! " quoth the holy man ; " choose you, 
 choose you, my fine fellow, whether you will 
 sink or swim ! " And he gained his own bank 
 without more ado, while Robin thrashed and splut- 
 tered about until he made shift to grasp a willow 
 wand and thus haul himself ashore on the other 
 side. 
 
 Then Robin's rage waxed furious, despite his 
 wetting, and he took his bow and his arrows and 
 let fly one shaft after another at the worthy friar. 
 But they rattled harmlessly off his steel buckler, 
 while he laughed and minded them no more 
 than if they had been hail-stones. 
 
 " Shoot on, shoot on, good fellow," he sang 
 out ; " shoot as you have begun ; if you shoot here 
 a summer's day, your mark I will not shun ! " 
 
 So Robin shot, and passing well, till all his ar- 
 rows were gone, when from very rage he began 
 to revile him. 
 
 " You bloody villain ! " shouted he, " you 
 psalm-singing hypocrite ! You reviler of good 
 hasty pudding ! Come but within reach of my 
 sword arm, and, friar or no friar, I'll shave your 
 tonsure closer than ever bald-pated monk was 
 shaven before ! " 
 
go Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Soft you and fair ! " said the friar uncon- 
 cernedly ; " hard words are cheap, and you may 
 need your wind presently. An you would like a 
 bout with swords, meet me halfway i' the stream." 
 
 And with this speech the friar waded into the 
 brook, sword in hand, where he was met half 
 way by the impetuous outlaw. 
 
 Thereupon began a fierce and mighty battle. 
 Up and down, in and out, back and forth they 
 fought. The swords flashed in the rays of the 
 declining sun and then met with a clash that 
 would have shivered less sturdy weapons or dis- 
 armed less sturdy wielders. Many a smart blow 
 was landed, but each perceived that the other 
 wore an undercoat of linked mail which might 
 not be pierced. Nathless, their ribs ached at the 
 force of the blows. Once and again they paused 
 by mutual consent and caught breath and looked 
 hard each at the other ; for never had either met 
 so stout a fellow. 
 
 Finally in a furious onset of lunge and parry 
 Robin's foot stepped on a rolling stone, and he 
 went down upon his knees. But his antagonist 
 would not take this advantage : he paused until 
 Robin should get upon his feet. 
 
 " Now by our Lady ! " cried the outlaw, using 
 his favorite oath, " you are the fairest swordsman 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 91 
 
 that I have met in many a long day. I would 
 beg a boon of you/* 
 
 " What is it ? " said the other. 
 
 " Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth 
 and blow three blasts thereon." 
 
 " That will I do," said the curtail friar, " blow 
 till your breath fails, an it please you." 
 
 Then says the old ballad Robin Hood set his 
 horn to his mouth and blew three mighty blasts ; 
 and half a hundred yeomen, with bows bent, 
 came raking over the lee. 
 
 " Whose men are these," said the friar, " that 
 come so hastily ? " 
 
 " These men are mine," said Robin Hood, 
 feeling that his time to laugh was come at last. 
 
 Then said the friar in his turn, " A boon, a 
 boon, the like I gave to you. Give me leave to 
 set my fist to my mouth and whistle three blasts 
 thereon." 
 
 " That will I do," said Robin, " or else I were 
 lacking in courtesy." 
 
 The friar set his fist to his mouth and put the 
 horn to shame by the piercing whistles he blew ; 
 whereupon half a hundred great dogs came run- 
 ning and jumping so swiftly that they had 
 reached their bank as soon as Robin Hood's 
 men had reached his side. 
 
92 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Then followed a rare foolish conflict. Stutely, 
 Much, Little John and the other outlaws began 
 sending their arrows whizzing toward the op- 
 posite bank ; but the dogs, which were taught 
 of the friar, dodged the missiles cleverly and ran 
 and fetched them back again in their mouths, 
 just as the dogs of to-day catch sticks. 
 
 " I have never seen the like of this in my 
 days ! " cried Little John, amazed. " Tis rank 
 sorcery and witchcraft." 
 
 " Take off your dogs, Friar Tuck ! " shouted 
 Will Scarlet, who had but then run up, and who 
 now stood laughing heartily at the scene. 
 
 " Friar Tuck ! " exclaimed Robin, astounded. 
 " Are you Friar Tuck ? Then am I your friend, 
 for you are he I came to seek." 
 
 " I am but a poor anchorite, a curtail friar," 
 said the other, whistling to his pack, " by name 
 Friar Tuck of Fountain's Dale. For seven years 
 have I tended the Abbey here, preached o' Sun- 
 days, and married and christened and buried folk 
 aye and fought too, if need were ; and if it 
 smacks not too much of boasting, I have not yet 
 met the knight or trooper or yeoman that I 
 would yield before. But yours is a stout blade. 
 I would fain know you." 
 
 " Tis Robin Hood, the outlaw, who has been 
 
How Robin Hood Met Friar Tuck 93 
 
 assisting you at this christening," said Will 
 Scarlet glancing roguishly at the two opponents' 
 dripping garments. And at this sally the whole 
 band burst into a shout of laughter, in which 
 Robin and Friar Tuck joined. 
 
 " Robin Hood ! " cried the good friar presently, 
 holding his sides ; " are you indeed that famous 
 yeoman? Then I like you well; and had I 
 known you earlier, I would have both carried 
 you across and shared my pasty pie with you." 
 
 " To speak soothly," replied Robin gaily, 
 " 'twas that same pie that led me to be rude. 
 Now, therefore, bring it and your dogs and 
 repair with us to the greenwood. We have 
 need of you, with this message came I to-day 
 to seek you. We will build you a hermitage in 
 Sherwood Forest, and you shall keep us from 
 evil ways. Will you not join our band ? " 
 
 " Marry, that will I ! " cried Friar Tuck 
 jovially. " Once more will I cross this much be- 
 forded stream, and go with you to the good 
 greenwood! " 
 
CHAPTER VIII 
 
 HOW ALLAN-A-DALE'S WOOING WAS PROS- 
 PERED 
 
 " What is thy name ? " then said Robin Hood, 
 
 " Come tell me, without any fail." 
 " By the faith o' my body," then said the young man, 
 
 " My name it is Allan-a-Dale." 
 
 FRIAR TUCK and Much the miller's son 
 soon became right good friends over the 
 steaming stew they jointly prepared for 
 the merry men that evening. Tuck was mightily 
 pleased when he found a man in the forest who 
 could make pasties and who had cooked for no 
 less person than the High Sheriff himself. While 
 Much marveled at the friar's knowledge of herbs 
 and simples and woodland things which savored 
 a stew greatly. So they gabbled together like 
 two old gossips and, between them, made such a 
 tasty mess that Robin Hood and his stout fol- 
 lowers were like never to leave off eating. And 
 the friar said grace too, with great unction, over 
 the food ; and Robin said Amen ! and that hence- 
 94 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing 95 
 
 forth they were always to have mass of Sun- 
 days. 
 
 So Robin walked forth into the wood that 
 evening with his stomach full and his heart, 
 therefore, in great contentment and love for 
 other men. He did not stop the first passer-by, 
 as his manner often was, and desire a fight. 
 Instead, he stepped behind a tree, when he heard 
 a man's voice in song, and waited to behold the 
 singer. Perhaps he remembered, also, the merry 
 chanting of Will Scarlet, and how he had tried to 
 give it pause a few days before. 
 
 Like Will, this fellow was clad in scarlet, 
 though he did not look quite as fine a gentleman. 
 Nathless, he was a sturdy yoeman of honest face 
 and a voice far sweeter than Will's. He seemed 
 to be a strolling minstrel, for he bore a harp in 
 his hand, which he thrummed, while his lusty 
 tenor voice rang out with 
 
 " Hey down, and a down, and a down ! 
 I've a lassie back i' the town ; 
 Come day, come night, 
 Come dark or light, 
 She will wed me, back i' the town ! " 
 
 Robin let the singer pass, caroling on his way. 
 
 " 'Tis not in me to disturb a light-hearted 
 
 lover, this night/' he muttered, a memory of 
 
96 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Marian coming back to him. " Pray heaven she 
 may be true to him and the wedding be a gay 
 one ' back i' the town ! ' ' 
 
 So Robin went back to his camp, where he 
 told of the minstrel. 
 
 " If any of ye set eyes on him after this," 
 quoth he in ending, " bring him to me, for I 
 would have speech with him." 
 
 The very next day his wish was gratified. 
 Little John and Much the miller's son were out 
 together on a foraging expedition when they 
 espied the same young man ; at least, they 
 thought it must be he, for he was clad in scarlet 
 and carried a harp in his hand. But now he 
 came drooping along the way ; his scarlet was 
 all in tatters ; and at every step he fetched a 
 sigh, " Alack and a well-a-day ! " 
 
 Then stepped forth Little John and Much the 
 miller's son. 
 
 " Ho ! do not wet the earth with your weep- 
 ing," said Little John, " else we shall all have 
 lumbago." 
 
 No sooner did the young man catch sight of 
 them than he bent his bow, and held an arrow 
 back to his ear. 
 
 " Stand off! stand off! " he said ; " what is your 
 will with me?" 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing 97 
 
 " Put by your weapon," said Much, " we will 
 not harm you. But you must come before our 
 master straight, under yon greenwood tree. 1 ' 
 
 So the minstrel put by his bow and suffered 
 himself to be led before Robin Hood. 
 
 " How now ! " quoth Robin, when he beheld 
 his sorry countenance, " are you not he whom I 
 heard no longer ago than yesternight caroling so 
 blithely about ' a lassie back i' the town ' ? " 
 
 " The same in body, good sir," replied the other 
 sadly ; " but my spirit is grievously changed. 
 
 " Tell me your tale," said Robin courteously. 
 " Belike I can help you." 
 
 " That can no man on earth, I fear," said the 
 stranger ; " nathless, I'll tell you the tale. Yes- 
 terday I stood pledged to a maid, and thought 
 soon to wed her. But she has been taken from 
 me and is to become an old knight's bride this 
 very day ; and as for me, I care not what ending 
 comes to my days, or how soon, without her." 
 
 " Marry, come up ! " said Robin ; " how got 
 the old knight so sudden vantage ? " 
 
 " Look you, worship, 'tis this way. The 
 Normans overrun us, and are in such great favor 
 that none may say them nay. This old returned 
 Crusader coveted the land whereon my lady 
 dwells. The estate is not large, but all in her 
 
98 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 own right ; whereupon her brother says she 
 shall wed a title, and he and the old knight have 
 fixed it up for to-day." 
 
 " Nay, but surely " began Robin. 
 
 " Hear me out, worship," said the other. 
 " Belike you think me a sorry dog not to make 
 fight of this. But the old knight, look you, is not 
 come-at-able. I threw one of his varlets into a 
 thorn hedge, and another into a water-butt, and 
 a third landed head-first into a ditch. But I 
 couldn't do any fighting at all." 
 
 " Tis a pity ! " quoth Little John gravely. 
 He had been sitting cross-legged listening to 
 this tale of woe. " What think you, Friar 
 Tuck, doth not a bit of fighting ease a man's 
 mind?" 
 
 " Blood-letting is ofttimes recommended of 
 the leeches," replied Tuck. 
 
 " Does the maid love you ? " asked Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 " By our troth, she loved me right well," said 
 the minstrel. " I have a little ring of hers by 
 me which I have kept for seven long years." 
 
 "What is your name?" then said Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 " By the faith of my body," replied the young 
 man, " my name is Allan-a-Dale." 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing 99 
 
 " What will you give me Allan-a-Dale," said 
 Robin Hood, " in ready gold or fee, to help you 
 to your true love again, and deliver her back unto 
 you ? " 
 
 " I have no money, save only five shillings," 
 quoth Allan ; " but are you not Robin Hood ? " 
 
 Robin nodded. 
 
 " Then you, if any one, can aid me ! " said 
 Allan-a-Dale eagerly. " And if you give me 
 back my love, I swear upon a book that I 
 will be your true servant forever after." 
 
 " Where is this wedding to take place, and 
 when ? " asked Robin. 
 
 " At Plympton Church, scarce five miles from 
 here ; and at three o' the afternoon." 
 
 " Then to Plympton we will go ! " cried Robin 
 suddenly springing into action ; and he gave out 
 orders like a general : " Will Stutely, do you 
 have four-and-twenty good men over against 
 Plympton Church 'gainst three o' the afternoon. 
 Much, good fellow, do you cook up some por- 
 ridge for this youth, for he must have a good 
 round stomach aye, and a better gear ! Will 
 Scarlet, you will see to decking him out bravely 
 for the nonce. And Friar Tuck, hold yourself in 
 readiness, good book in hand, at the church. 
 Mayhap you had best go ahead of us all." 
 
loo Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The fat Bishop of Hereford was full of pomp 
 and importance that day at Plympton Church. 
 He was to celebrate the marriage of an old 
 knight a returned Crusader and a landed 
 young woman ; and all the gentry thereabout 
 were to grace the occasion with their presence. 
 The church itself was gaily festooned with flow- 
 ers for the ceremony, while out in the church- 
 yard at one side brown ale flowed freely for all 
 the servitors. 
 
 Already were the guests beginning to as- 
 semble, when the Bishop, back in the vestry, saw 
 a minstrel clad in green walk up boldly to the 
 door and peer within. It was Robin Hood, who 
 had borrowed Allan's be-ribboned harp for the 
 time. 
 
 " Now who are you, fellow ? " quoth the 
 Bishop, " and what do you here at the church- 
 door with your harp and saucy air? " 
 
 " May it please your Reverence," returned 
 Robin bowing very humbly, " I am but a stroll- 
 ing harper, yet likened the best in the whole 
 North Countree. And I had hope that my 
 thrumming might add zest to the wedding 
 to-day." 
 
 " What tune can you harp ? " demanded the 
 Bishop. 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing iqi t 
 
 " I can harp a tune so . merry that a forlorn 
 lover will forget he is jilted/' said Robin. " i 
 can harp another tune that will make a bride 
 forsake her lord at the altar. I can harp another 
 tune that will bring loving souls together though 
 they were up hill and down dale five good miles 
 away from each other." 
 
 " Then welcome, good minstrel," said the 
 Bishop, " music pleases me right well, and if you 
 can play up to your prattle, 'twill indeed grace 
 our ceremony. Let us have a sample of your 
 wares." 
 
 " Nay, I must not put finger to string until 
 the bride and groom have come. Such a thing 
 would ill fortune both us and them." 
 
 " Have it as you will," said the Bishop, " but 
 here comes the party now." 
 
 Then up the lane to the church came the old 
 knight, preceded by ten archers liveried in scar- 
 let and gold. A brave sight the archers made, 
 but their master walked slowly leaning upon a 
 cane and shaking as though in a palsy. 
 
 And after them came a sweet lass leaning upon 
 her brother's arm. Her hair did shine like 
 glistering gold, and her eyes were like blue 
 violets that peep out shyly at the sun. The 
 color came and went in her cheeks like the tint- 
 
1O2 Storiejs of Robin Hood 
 
 ing of a sea-sheli, and her face was flushed as 
 vhough .she. had been weeping. But now she 
 walked with a proud air, as though she defied 
 the world to crush her spirit. She had but two 
 maids with her, finikin lasses, with black eyes 
 and broad bosoms, who set off their lady's more 
 delicate beauty well. One held up the bride's 
 gown from the ground ; the other carried flowers 
 in plenty. 
 
 " Now by all the wedding bells that ever were 
 rung ! " quoth Robin boldly, " this is the worst 
 matched pair that ever mine eyes beheld ! " 
 
 " Silence, miscreant ! " said a man who stood 
 near. 
 
 The Bishop had hurriedly donned his gown 
 and now stood ready to meet the couple at the 
 chancel. 
 
 But Robin paid no heed to him. He let the 
 knight and his ten archers pass by, then he 
 strode up to the bride, and placed himself on the 
 other side from her brother. 
 
 " Courage, lady ! " he whispered, " there is 
 another minstrel near, who mayhap may play 
 more to your liking." 
 
 The lady glanced at him with a frightened air, 
 but read such honesty and kindness in his glance 
 that she brightened and gave him a grateful look. 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing 103 
 
 " Stand aside, fool ! " cried the brother wrath- 
 fully. 
 
 " Nay, but I am to bring good fortune to the 
 bride by accompanying her through the church- 
 doors," said Robin laughing. 
 
 Thereupon he was allowed to walk by her side 
 unmolested, up to the chancel with the party. 
 
 " Now strike up your music, fellow ! " ordered 
 the Bishop. 
 
 " Right gladly will I," quoth Robin, " an you 
 will let me choose my instrument. For some- 
 times I like the harp, and other times I think 
 the horn makes the merriest music in all the 
 world." 
 
 And he drew forth his bugle from underneath 
 his green cloak and blew three winding notes 
 that made the church-rafters ring again. 
 
 " Seize him ! " yelled the Bishop ; " there's 
 mischief afoot ! These are the tricks of Robin 
 Hood ! " 
 
 The ten liveried archers rushed forward from 
 the rear of the church, where they had been 
 stationed. But their rush was blocked by the 
 onlookers who now rose from their pews in 
 alarm and crowded the aisles. Meanwhile 
 Robin had leaped lightly over the chancel rail 
 and stationed himself in a nook by the altar. 
 
104 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Stand where you are!" he shouted, drawing 
 his bow, " the first man to pass the rail dies the 
 death. And all ye who have come to witness a 
 wedding stay in your seats. We shall e'en have 
 one, since we are come into a church. But the 
 bride shall choose her own swain !" 
 
 Then up rose another great commotion at the 
 door, and four-and-twenty good bowmen came 
 marching in with Will Stutely at their head. 
 And they seized the ten liveried archers and 
 the bride's scowling brother and the other men 
 on guard and bound them prisoners. 
 
 Then in came Allan-a-Dale, decked out gayly, 
 with Will Scarlet for best man. And they walked 
 gravely down the aisle and stood over against 
 the chancel. 
 
 " Before a maiden weds she chooses an the 
 laws of good King Harry be just ones," said 
 Robin. " Now, maiden, before this wedding 
 continues, whom will you have to husband ? " 
 
 The maiden answered not in words, but 
 smiled with a glad light in her eyes, and walked 
 over to Allan and clasped her arms about his 
 neck. 
 
 " That is her true love," said Robin. " Young 
 Allan instead of the gouty knight. And the 
 true lovers shall be married at this time before 
 
Allan-a-Dale's Wooing 105 
 
 we depart away. Now my lord Bishop, proceed 
 with the ceremony ! " 
 
 " Nay, that shall not be," protested the Bishop ; 
 " the bans must be cried three times in the 
 church. Such is the law of our land." 
 
 " Come here, Little John," called Robin im- 
 patiently ; and he plucked off the Bishop's frock 
 from his back and put it on the yeomen. 
 
 Now the Bishop was short and fat, and Little 
 John was long and lean. The gown hung 
 loosely over Little John's shoulders and came 
 only to his waist. He was a fine comical sight, 
 and the people began to laugh consumedly at 
 him. 
 
 " By the faith o' my body," said Robin, " this 
 cloth makes you a man. You're the finest 
 Bishop that ever I saw in my life. Now cry the 
 bans." 
 
 So Little John clambered awkwardly into the 
 quire, his short gown fluttering gayly ; and he 
 called the bans for the marriage of the maid and 
 Allan-a-Dale once, twice, and thrice. 
 
 " That's not enough," said Robin ; " your 
 gown is so short that you must talk longer." 
 
 Then Little John asked them in the church 
 four, five, six, and seven times. 
 
 " Good enough ! " said Robin. " Now belike 
 
1 06 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 I see a worthy friar in the back of this church 
 who can say a better service than ever my lord 
 Bishop of Hereford. My lord Bishop shall be 
 witness and seal the papers, but do you, good 
 friar, bless this pair with book and candle." 
 
 So Friar Tuck, who all along had been back 
 in one corner of the church, came forward ; and 
 Allan and his maid kneeled before him, while 
 the old knight, held an unwilling witness, gnashed 
 his teeth in impotent rage ; and the friar began 
 with the ceremony. 
 
 When he asked, " Who giveth this woman ? " 
 Robin stepped up and answered in a clear voice : 
 
 "I do ! I, Robin Hood of Barnesdale and 
 Sherwood ! And he who takes her from Allan- 
 a-Dale shall buy her full dearly." 
 
 So the twain were declared man and wife and 
 duly blessed ; and the bride was kissed by each 
 sturdy yeoman beginning with Robin Hood. 
 
 Now I cannot end this jolly tale better than 
 in the words of the ballad which came out of 
 the happening and which has been sung in the 
 villages and countryside ever since : 
 
 " And thus having end of this merry wedding, 
 
 The bride lookt like a queen ; 
 And so they returned to the merry greenwood, 
 Amongst the leaves so green." 
 
CHAPTER IX 
 
 HOW THE WIDOW'S THREE SONS WERE 
 RESCUED 
 
 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, 
 
 With a link a down and a down, 
 And there he met with the proud Sheriff, 
 
 Was walking along the town. 
 
 THE wedding-party was a merry one that 
 left Plympton Church, I ween ; but not so 
 merry were the ones left behind. My 
 lord Bishop of Hereford was stuck up in the or- 
 gan-loft and left, gownless and fuming. The ten 
 liveried archers were variously disposed about the 
 church to keep him company ; two of them be- 
 ing locked in a tiny crypt, three in the belfry, 
 " to ring us a wedding peal," as Robin said ; and 
 the others under quire seats or in the vestry. 
 The bride's brother at her entreaty was released, 
 but bidden not to return to the church that day 
 or interfere with his sister again on pain of death. 
 While the rusty old knight was forced to climb a 
 high tree, where he sat insecurely perched among 
 
 107 
 
108 Stones of Robin Hood 
 
 the branches, feebly cursing the party as it de- 
 parted. 
 
 It was then approaching sundown, but none of 
 the retainers or villagers dared rescue the im- 
 prisoned ones that night, for fear of Robin Hood's 
 men. So it was not until sunup the next day, 
 that they were released. The Bishop and the old 
 knight, stiff as they were, did not delay longer 
 than for breakfast, but so great was their rage 
 and shame made straight to Nottingham and 
 levied the Sheriff's forces. The Sheriff himself 
 was not anxious to try conclusions again with 
 Robin in the open. Perhaps he had some slight 
 scruples regarding his oath. But the others swore 
 that they would go straight to the King, if he did 
 not help them, so he was fain to consent. 
 
 A force of an hundred picked men from the 
 Royal Foresters and swordsmen of the shire was 
 gathered together and marched straightway into 
 the greenwood. There, as fortune would have it, 
 they surprised some score of outlaws hunting, 
 and instantly gave chase. But they could not 
 surround the outlaws, who kept well in the lead, 
 ever and anon dropping behind a log or boulder 
 to speed back a shaft which meant mischief to 
 the pursuers. One shaft indeed carried off the 
 Sheriff's hat and caused that worthy man to fall 
 
The Widow's Three Sons 109 
 
 forward upon his horse's neck from sheer terror ; 
 while five other arrows landed in the fleshy parts 
 of Foresters' arms. 
 
 But the attacking party was not wholly unsuc- 
 cessful. One outlaw in his flight stumbled and 
 fell ; when two others instantly stopped and helped 
 to put him on his feet again. They were the 
 widow's three sons, Stout Will, and Lester, and 
 John. The pause was an unlucky one for them, 
 as a party of Sheriff's men got above them and 
 cut them off from their fellows. Swordsmen 
 came up in the rear, and they were soon hemmed 
 in on every side. But they gave good account 
 of themselves, and before they had been over- 
 borne by force of numbers they had killed two 
 and disabled three more. 
 
 The infuriated attackers were almost on the 
 point of hewing the stout outlaws to pieces, when 
 the Sheriff cried : 
 
 " Hold ! Bind the villains ! We will follow 
 the law in this and take them to the town jail. 
 But I promise ye the biggest public hanging that 
 has been seen in this shire for many changes of 
 the moon ! " 
 
 So they bound the widow's three sons and car- 
 ried them back speedily to Nottingham. 
 
 Now Robin Hood had not chanced to be near 
 
l io Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 the scene of the fight, or with his men ; so for a 
 time he heard nothing of the happening. But 
 that evening while returning to the camp he was 
 met by the widow herself, who came weeping 
 along the way. 
 
 " What news, what news, good woman ? " said 
 Robin hastily but courteously ; for he liked her 
 well. 
 
 " God save ye, Master Robin ! " said the dame 
 wildly. " God keep ye from the fate that has 
 met my three sons ! The Sheriff has laid hands 
 on them and they are condemned to die." 
 
 " Now, by our Lady ! that cuts me to the heart ! 
 Stout Will, and Lester, and merry John ! The 
 earliest friends I had in the band, and still among 
 the bravest ! It must not be ! When is this 
 hanging set ? " 
 
 " Middle the tinker tells me that it is for to- 
 morrow noon," replied the dame. 
 
 " By the truth o' my body," quoth Robin, 
 " you could not tell me in better time. The 
 memory of the old days when you freely bade 
 me sup and dine would spur me on, even if three 
 of the bravest lads in all the shire were not im- 
 periled. Trust to me, good woman ! " 
 
 The old widow threw herself on the ground 
 and embraced his knees. 
 
The Widow's Three Sons ] 1 1 
 
 " Tis dire danger I am asking ye to face/' 
 she said weeping; " and yet I knew your brave, 
 true heart would answer me. Heaven help ye, 
 good Master Robin, to answer a poor widow's 
 payers ! " 
 
 Then Robin Hood sped straightway to the 
 forest- camp, where he heard the details of the 
 skirmish how that his men had been out- 
 numbered five to one, but got off safely, as they 
 thought, until a count of their members had 
 shown the loss of the widow's three sons. 
 
 " We must rescue them, my men ! " quoth 
 Robin, " even from out the shadow of the rope 
 itself!" 
 
 Whereupon the band set to work to devise 
 ways and means. 
 
 Robin walked apart a little way with his head 
 leaned thoughtfully upon his breast for he was 
 sore troubled when whom should he meet but 
 an old begging palmer, one of a devout order 
 which made pilgrimages and wandered from 
 place to place, supported by charity. 
 
 This old fellow walked boldly up to Robin and 
 asked alms of him ; since Robin had been wont 
 to aid members of his order. 
 
 " What news, what news, thou foolish old 
 man ? " said Robin, " what news, I do thee pray ? " 
 
1 1 2 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Three squires in Nottingham town," quoth 
 the palmer, " are condemned to die. Belike that 
 is greater news than the shire has had in some 
 Sundays.' 1 
 
 Then Robin's long-sought idea came to him like 
 a flash. 
 
 " Come, change thine apparel with me, old 
 man," he said, " and I'll give thee forty shillings 
 in good silver to spend in beer or wine." 
 
 " O, thine apparel is good," the palmer pro- 
 tested, " and mine is ragged and torn. The holy 
 church teaches that thou should'st ne'er laugh an 
 old man to scorn." 
 
 " I am in simple earnest, I say. Come, 
 change thine apparel with mine. Here are 
 twenty pieces of good broad gold to feast thy 
 brethren right royally." 
 
 So the palmer was persuaded ; and Robin put 
 on the old man's hat, which stood full high in 
 the crown ; and his cloak, patched with black and 
 blue and red, like Joseph's coat of many colors 
 in its old age ; and his breeches, which had been 
 sewed over with so many patterns that the orig- 
 inal was scarce discernible ; and his tattered hose; 
 and his shoes, cobbled above and below. And 
 while as he made the change in dress he made so 
 many whimsical comments also about a man's 
 
The Widow's Three Sons 113 
 
 pride and the dress that makes a man, that the 
 palmer was like to choke with cackling laughter. 
 I warrant you, the two were comical sights 
 when they parted company that day. Nathless, 
 Robin's own mother would not have known 
 him, had she been living. 
 
 The next morning the whole town of Notting- 
 ham was early astir, and as soon as the gates 
 were open country-folk began to pour in ; for a 
 triple hanging was not held there every day in the 
 week, and the bustle almost equaled a Fair day. 
 
 Robin Hood in his palmer's disguise was one 
 of the first ones to enter the gates, and he strolled 
 up and down and around the town as though he 
 had never been there before in all his life. Pres- 
 ently he came to the market-place, and beheld 
 thereon three gallows erected. 
 
 " Who are these builded for, my son ? " asked 
 he of a rough soldier standing by. 
 
 " For three of Robin Hood's men," answered 
 the other. " And it were Robin himself, 'twould 
 be thrice as high I warrant ye. But Robin is too 
 smart to get within the Sheriff's clutches again/' 
 
 The palmer crossed himself. 
 
 " They say that he is a bold fellow," he 
 whined. 
 
1 1 4 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Ha ! " said the soldier, " he may be bold 
 enough out behind stumps i' the forest, but the 
 open market-place is another matter." 
 
 " Who is to hang these three poor wretches ? " 
 asked the palmer. 
 
 " That hath the Sheriff not decided. But here 
 he comes now to answer his own questions.' 1 
 And the soldier came to stiff attention as the 
 Sheriff and his body-guard stalked pompously up 
 to inspect the gallows. 
 
 " O, Heaven save you, worshipful Sheriff! " 
 said the palmer. " Heaven protect you ! What 
 will you give a silly old man to-day to be your 
 hangman ? " 
 
 " Who are you, fellow ? " asked the Sheriff 
 sharply. 
 
 " Naught save a poor old palmer. But I can 
 shrive their souls and hang their bodies most 
 devoutly." 
 
 " Very good," replied the other. " The fee to- 
 day is thirteen pence ; and I will add thereunto 
 some suits of clothing for that ragged back of 
 yours." 
 
 "God bless ye! "said the palmer. And he 
 went with the soldier to the jail to prepare his 
 three men for execution. 
 
 Just before the stroke of noon the doors of 
 
The Widow's Three Sons 115 
 
 the prison opened and the procession of the con- 
 demned came forth. Down through the long 
 lines of packed people they walked to the market- 
 place, the palmer in the lead, and the widow's 
 three sons marching firmly erect between 
 soldiers. 
 
 At the gallows foot they halted. The palmer 
 whispered to them, as though offering last words 
 of consolation ; and the three men, with arms 
 bound tightly behind their backs, ascended the 
 scaffold, followed by their confessor. 
 
 Then Robin stepped to the edge of the scaf- 
 fold, while the people grew still as death ; for 
 they desired to hear the last words uttered to 
 the victims. But Robin's voice did not quaver 
 forth weakly, as formerly, and his figure had stiff- 
 ened bolt upright beneath the black robe that 
 covered his rags. 
 
 " Hark ye, proud Sheriff! " he cried. " I was 
 ne'er a hangman in all my life, nor do I now in- 
 tend to begin that trade. Accurst be he who 
 first set the fashion of hanging ! I have but 
 three more words to say. Listen to them ! " 
 
 And forth from his robe he drew his horn and 
 blew three loud blasts thereon. Then his keen 
 hunting-knife flew forth and in a trice, Stout 
 Will, Lester, and merry John were free men and 
 
i 16 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 had sprung forward and seized the halberds from 
 the nearest soldiers guarding the gallows. 
 
 " Seize them ! Tis Robin Hood ! " screamed 
 the Sheriff, " an hundred pounds if ye hold them, 
 dead or alive ! " 
 
 " I make it two hundred ! " roared the fat 
 Bishop. 
 
 But their voices were drowned in the uproar 
 that ensued immediately after Robin blew his 
 horn. He himself had drawn his sword and 
 leaped down the stairs from the scaffold, followed 
 by his three men. The guard had closed around 
 them in vain effort to disarm them, when " A 
 rescue ! " shouted Will Stutely's clear voice on 
 one side of them, and " A rescue ! " bellowed Lit- 
 tle John's on the other ; and down through the 
 terror-stricken crowd rushed fourscore men in 
 Lincoln green, their force seeming twice that 
 number in the confusion. With swords drawn 
 they fell upon the guard from every side at once. 
 There was a brief clash of hot weapons, then the 
 guard scattered wildly, and Robin Hood's men 
 formed in a compact mass around their leader 
 and forced their way slowly down the market- 
 place. 
 
 " Seize them ! In the King's name ! " shrieked 
 the Sheriff. " Close the gates ! " 
 
The Widow's Three Sons 117 
 
 In truth, the peril would have been even 
 greater, had this last order been carried out. 
 But Will Scarlet and Allan-a-Dale had foreseen 
 that event, and had already overpowered the two 
 warders. So the gates stood wide open, and 
 toward them the band of outlaws headed. 
 
 The soldiers rallied a force of twice their num- 
 ber and tried resolutely to pierce their centre. 
 But the retreating force turned thrice and sent 
 such volleys of keen arrows from their good yew 
 bows, that they kept a distance between the two 
 forces. 
 
 And thus the gate was reached, and the long 
 road leading up the hill, and at last the protecting 
 greenwood itself. The soldiers dared come no 
 farther. And the widow's three sons, I warrant 
 you, supped more heartily that night than ever 
 before in their whole lives. 
 
CHAPTER X 
 HOW A BEGGAR FILLED THE PUBLIC EYE 
 
 Good Robin accost him in his way, 
 
 To see what he might be ; 
 If any beggar had money, 
 
 He thought some part had he. 
 
 ONE bright morning, soon after the stir- 
 ring events told in the last chapter, 
 Robin wandered forth alone down the 
 road to Barnesdale, to see if aught had come of 
 the Sheriff's pursuit. But all was still and serene 
 and peaceful. No one was in sight save a soli- 
 tary beggar who came sturdily along his way in 
 Robin's direction. The beggar caught sight of 
 Robin, at the same moment, as he emerged from 
 the trees, but gave no sign of having seen him. 
 He neither slackened nor quickened his pace, 
 but jogged forward merrily, whistling as he came, 
 and beating time by punching holes in the dusty 
 road with the stout pike-staff in his hand. 
 
 The curious look of the fellow arrested Robin's 
 attention, and he decided to stop and talk with 
 118 
 
How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye 1 1 9 
 
 him. The fellow was bare-legged and bare- 
 armed, and wore a long shift of a shirt, fastened 
 with a belt. About his neck hung a stout, bulg- 
 ing bag, which was buckled by a good piece of 
 leather thong. 
 
 He had three hats upon his head, 
 
 Together sticked fast ; 
 He cared neither for the wind nor wet, 
 
 In lands where'er he past. 
 
 The fellow looked so fat and hearty, and the 
 wallet on his shoulder seemed so well filled, that 
 Robin thought within himself, 
 
 " Ha ! this is a lucky beggar for me ! If any 
 of them have money, this is the chap, and, marry, 
 he should share it with us poorer bodies/' 
 
 So he flourished his own stick and planted him- 
 self in the traveler's path. 
 
 " Sirrah, fellow ! " quoth he ; " whither away so 
 fast ? Tarry, for I would have speech with ye ! " 
 
 The beggar made as though he heard him not, 
 and kept straight on with his faring. 
 
 " Tarry, I say, fellow ! " said Robin again ; " for 
 there's a way to make folks obey ! " 
 
 " Nay, 'tis not so," answered the beggar, speak- 
 ing for the first time ; " I obey no man in all 
 England, not even the King himself. So let me 
 
j 20 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 pass on my way, for 'tis growing late, and I have 
 still far to go before I can care for my stomach'* 
 good." 
 
 " Now, by my troth," said Robin, once more 
 getting in front of the other, " I see well by your 
 fat countenance, that you lack not for good food, 
 while I go hungry. Therefore you must lend 
 me of your means till we meet again, so that I 
 may hie to the nearest tavern." 
 
 " I have no money to lend," said the beggar 
 crossly. " Methinks you are as young a man as 
 I, and as well able to earn a supper. So go your 
 way, and I'll go mine. If you fast till you get 
 aught out of me, you'll go hungry for the next 
 twelvemonth." 
 
 " Not while I have a stout stick to thwack 
 your saucy bones ! " cried Robin. " Stand and 
 deliver, I say, or I'll dust your shirt for you ; and 
 if that will not teach you manners, then we'll see 
 what a broad arrow can do with a beggar's 
 skin ! " 
 
 The beggar smiled, and answered boast with 
 boast. " Come on with your staff, fellow ! 
 I care no more for it than for a pudding stick. 
 And as for your pretty bow that for it ! " 
 
 And with amazing quickness, he swung his 
 pike-staff around and knocked Robin's bow clean 
 
How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye 121 
 
 out of his hand, so that his fingers smarted with 
 pain. Robin danced and tried to bring his own 
 staff into action ; but the beggar never gave him 
 a chance. Biff! whack! came the pike-staff, 
 smiting him soundly and beating down his 
 guard. 
 
 There were but two things to do ; either stand 
 there and take a sound drubbing, or beat a hasty 
 retreat. Robin chose the latter as you or I 
 would probably have done and scurried back 
 into the wood, blowing his horn as he went. 
 
 " Fie, for shame, man ! " jeered the bold beg- 
 gar after him. " What is your haste ? We had 
 but just begun. Stay and take your money, else 
 you will never be able to pay your reckoning at 
 the tavern ! " 
 
 But Robin answered him never a word. He 
 fled up hill and down dale till he met three of his 
 men who were running up in answer to his sum- 
 mons. 
 
 " What is wrong ? " they asked, 
 
 " 'Tis a saucy beggar," said Robin, catching 
 his breath. " He is back there on the highroad 
 with the hardest stick I've met in a good many 
 days. He gave me no chance to reason with him, 
 the dirty scamp ! " 
 
 The men Much and two of the widow's sons 
 
i 22 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 could scarce conceal their mirth at the thought 
 of Robin Hood running from a beggar. Nath- 
 less, they kept grave faces, and asked their leader 
 if he was hurt. 
 
 " Nay," he replied, " but I shall speedily feel 
 better if you will fetch me that same beggar and 
 let me have a fair chance at him." 
 
 So the three yeomen made haste and came out 
 upon the highroad and followed after the beggar, 
 who was going smoothly along his way again, 
 as though he were at peace with all the world. 
 
 " The easiest way to settle this beggar," said 
 Much, " is to surprise him. Let us cut through 
 yon neck of woods and come upon him before he 
 is aware." 
 
 The others agreed to this, and the three were 
 soon close upon their prey. 
 
 " Now ! " quoth Much ; and the other two 
 sprang quickly upon the beggar's back and 
 wrested his pike-staff from his hand. At the 
 same moment Much drew his dagger and flashed 
 it before the fellow's breast. 
 
 " Yield you, my man ! " cried he ; " for a friend 
 of ours awaits you in the wood, to teach you how 
 to fight properly." 
 
 " Give me a fair chance," said the beggar 
 valiantly, " and I'll fight you all at once." 
 
How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye 123 
 
 But they would not listen to him. Instead, 
 they turned him about and began to march him 
 toward the forest. Seeing that it was useless to 
 struggle, the beggar began to parley. 
 
 " Good my masters/' quoth he, " why use this 
 violence ? I will go with ye safe and quietly, if ye 
 insist, but if ye will set me free I'll make it worth 
 your while. I've a hundred pounds in my bag 
 here. Let me go my way, and ye shall have all 
 that's in the bag." 
 
 The three outlaws took council together at this. 
 
 " What say you ? " asked Much of the others. 
 " Our master will be more glad to see this beg- 
 gar's wallet than his sorry face." 
 
 The other two agreed, and the little party 
 came to a halt and loosed hold of the beggar. 
 
 " Count out your gold speedily, friend," said 
 Much. 
 
 There was a brisk wind blowing, and the beg- 
 gar turned about to face it, directly they had 
 unhanded him. 
 
 " It shall be done, gossips," said he. " One of 
 you lend me your cloak and we will spread it 
 upon the ground and put the wealth upon it." 
 
 The cloak was handed him, and he placed his 
 wallet upon it as though it were very heavy in- 
 deed. Then he crouched down and fumbled with 
 
1 24 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 the leather fastenings. The outlaws also bent 
 over and watched the proceeding closely, lest he 
 should hide some of the money on his person. 
 Presently he got the bag unfastened and plunged 
 his hands into it. Forth from it he drew not 
 shining gold but handfuls of fine meal which he 
 dashed into the eager faces of the men around 
 him. The wind aided him in this, and soon there 
 arose a blinding cloud which filled the eyes, 
 noses, and mouths of the three outlaws till they 
 could scarcely see or breathe. 
 
 While they gasped and choked and sputtered 
 and felt around wildly for that rogue of a beggar, 
 he finished the job by picking up the cloak by 
 its corners and shaking it vigorously in the faces 
 of his suffering victims. Then he seized a stick 
 which lay conveniently near, and began to rain 
 blows down upon their heads, shoulders, and 
 sides, all the time dancing first on one leg, then 
 on the other, and crying, 
 
 " Villains ! rascals ! here are the hundred 
 pounds I promised. How do you like them ? 
 I' faith, you'll get all that's in the bag." 
 
 Whack ! whack ! whack ! whack ! went the 
 stick, emphasizing each word. Howls of pain 
 might have gone up from the sufferers, but they 
 had too much meal in their throats for that. 
 
How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye 125 
 
 Their one thought was to flee, and they stumbled 
 off blindly down the road, the beggar following 
 them a little way to give them a few parting love- 
 taps. 
 
 " Fare ye well, my masters," he said finally 
 turning the other way ; " and when next I come 
 along the Barnesdale road, I hope you will be 
 able to tell gold from meal dust ! " 
 
 With this he departed, an easy victor, and 
 again went whistling on his way, while the three 
 outlaws rubbed the meal out of their eyes and 
 began to catch their breath again. 
 
 As soon as they could look around them 
 clearly, they beheld Robin Hood leaning against 
 a tree trunk and surveying them smilingly. He 
 had recovered his own spirits in full measure, on 
 seeing their plight. 
 
 " God save ye, gossips ! " he said, " ye must, in 
 sooth, have gone the wrong way and been to the 
 mill, from the looks of your clothes." 
 
 Then when they looked shamefaced and 
 answered never a word, he went on, in a soft 
 voice, 
 
 " Did ye see aught of that bold beggar, I sent 
 you for, lately ? " 
 
 " In sooth, master," responded Much the 
 miller's son, " we heard more of him than we saw 
 
1 26 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 him. He filled us so full of meal that I shall 
 sweat meal for a week. I was born in a mill, and 
 had the smell of meal in my nostrils from my 
 very birth, you might say, and yet never before 
 did I see such a quantity of the stuff in so small 
 space." 
 
 And he sneezed violently. 
 
 " How was that?" asked Robin demurely. 
 
 " Why we laid hold of the beggar, as you did 
 order, when he offered to pay for his release out 
 of the bag he carried upon his back." 
 
 " The same I coveted," quoth Robin as if to 
 himself. 
 
 " So we agreed to this," went on Much, " and 
 spread a cloak down, and he opened his bag and 
 shook it thereon. Instantly a great cloud of meal 
 filled the air, whereby we could neither see nor 
 breathe ; and in the midst of this cloud he van- 
 ished like a wizard." 
 
 " But not before he left certain black and blue 
 spots, to be remembered by, I see," commented 
 Robin. 
 
 " He was in league with the evil one," said one 
 of the widow's sons, rubbing himself ruefully. 
 
 Then Robin laughed outright, and sat him 
 down upon the gnarled root of a tree, to finish 
 his merriment. 
 
How a Beggar Filled the Public Eye 127 
 
 " Four bold outlaws, put to rout by a sorry 
 beggar ! " cried he. " I can laugh at ye my men, 
 for I am in the same boat with ye. But 'twould 
 never do to have this tale get abroad even in the 
 greenwood how that we could not hold our own 
 with the odds in our favor. So let us have this 
 little laugh all to ourselves, and no one else need 
 be the wiser ! " 
 
 The others saw the point of this, and felt better 
 directly, despite their itching desire to get hold 
 of the beggar again. And none of the four ever 
 told of the adventure. 
 
 But the beggar must have boasted of it at the 
 next tavern ; or a little bird perched among the 
 branches of a neighboring oak must have sung 
 of it. For it got abroad, as such tales will, and 
 was put into a right droll ballad which, I warrant 
 you, the four outlaws did not like to hear. 
 
CHAPTER XI 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD FOUGHT GUY OF 
 GISBORNE 
 
 " I dwell by dale and down," quoth he, 
 
 " And Robin to take I'm sworn ; 
 And when I am called by my right name, 
 I am Guy of good Gisborne." 
 
 SOME weeks passed after the rescue of the 
 widow's three sons ; weeks spent by the 
 Sheriff in the vain effort to entrap Robin 
 Hood and his men. For Robin's name and deeds 
 had come to the King's ears, in London town, 
 and he sent word to the Sheriff to capture the 
 outlaw, under penalty of losing his office. So 
 the Sheriff tried every manner of means to sur- 
 prise Robin Hood in the forest, but always with- 
 out success. And he increased the price put 
 upon Robin's head, in the hope that the best men 
 of the kingdom could be induced to try their 
 skill at a capture. 
 
 Now there was a certain Guy of Gisborne, a 
 hireling knight of the King's army, who heard 
 128 
 
Guy of Gisborne 129 
 
 of Robin and of the price upon his head. Sir 
 Guy was one of the best men at the bow and the 
 sword in all the King's service. But his heart 
 was black and treacherous. He obtained the 
 King's leave forthwith to seek out the forester ; 
 and armed with the King's scroll he came before 
 the Sheriff at Nottingham. 
 
 " I have come to capture Robin Hood," quoth 
 he, " and mean to have him, dead or alive." 
 
 " Right gladly would I aid you," answered the 
 Sheriff, " even if the King's seal were not suf- 
 ficient warrant. How many men need you ? " 
 
 " None," replied Sir Guy, " for I am convinced 
 that forces of men can never come at the bold 
 robber. I must needs go alone. But do you 
 hold your men in readiness at Barnesdale, and 
 when you hear a blast from this silver bugle, 
 come quickly, for I shall have the sly Robin 
 within my clutches." 
 
 " Very good," said the Sheriff. " Marry, it 
 shall be done." And he set about giving orders, 
 while Guy of Gisborne sallied forth disguised. 
 
 Now as luck would have it, Will Scarlet and 
 Little John had gone to Barnesdale that very day 
 to buy suits of Lincoln green for certain of the 
 yeomen who had come out at the knees and 
 elbows. But not deeming it best for both of 
 
130 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 them to run their necks into a noose, together, 
 they parted just outside the town, and Will went 
 within the gates, while John tarried and watched 
 at the brow of the hill on the outside. 
 
 Presently whom should he see but this same 
 Will flying madly forth from the gates again, 
 closely pursued by the Sheriff and threescore 
 men. Over the moat Will sprang, through the 
 bushes and briars, across the swamp, over stocks 
 and stones, up the woodland roads in long leaps 
 like a scared jack rabbit. And after him puffed 
 the Sheriff and his men, their force scattering out 
 in the flight as one man would tumble head- 
 first into a ditch, another mire up in the swamp, 
 another trip over a rolling stone, and still others 
 sit down on the roadside and gasp for wind like 
 fish out of water. 
 
 Little John could not forbear laughing heartily 
 at the scene, though he knew that 'twould be 
 anything but a laughing matter if Will should 
 stumble. And in truth one man was like to 
 come upon him. It was William-a-Trent, the 
 best runner among the Sheriff's men. He had 
 come within twenty feet of Scarlet and was leap- 
 ing upon him with long bounds like a greyhound, 
 when John rose up quickly, drew his bow and 
 let fly one of his fatal shafts. It would have been 
 
Guy of Gisborne 1 3 1 
 
 better for William-a-Trent to have been abed 
 with sorrow says the ballad than to be that 
 day in the greenwood slade to meet with Little 
 John's arrow. He had run his last race. 
 
 The others halted a moment in consternation, 
 when the shaft came hurtling down from the hill ; 
 but looking up they beheld none save Little John, 
 and with a cry of fierce joy they turned upon 
 him. Meanwhile Will Scarlet had reached the 
 brow of the hill and sped down the other side. 
 
 " I'll just send one more little message of re- 
 gret to the Sheriff," said Little John, " before I 
 join Will." 
 
 But this foolhardy deed was his undoing, for 
 just as the arrow left the string, the good yew 
 bow that had never before failed him snapped in 
 twain. 
 
 " Woe worth, woe worth thee, wicked wood, 
 that ere thou grew on a tree ! " cursed Little 
 John, and planted his feet resolutely in the earth 
 resolved to sell the path dearly ; for the soldiers 
 were now so close upon him that he dared not 
 turn. 
 
 And a right good account of himself he gave 
 that day, dealing with each man as he came up 
 according to his merit. And so winded were the 
 pursuers when they reached the top of the hill 
 
132 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 that he laid out the first ten of them right and 
 left with huge blows of his brawny fist. 
 
 But if five men can do more than three, a score 
 can overcome one. A body of archers stood off 
 at a prudent distance and covered Little John 
 with their arrows. 
 
 " Now yield you ! " panted the Sheriff. " Yield 
 you, Little John, or Reynold Greenleaf, or what- 
 ever else name you carry this day ! Yield you, 
 or some few of these shafts will reach your 
 heart ! " 
 
 " Marry, my heart has been touched by your 
 words ere now," said Little John; " and I yield 
 me." 
 
 So the Sheriff's men laid hold of Little John 
 and bound him fast with many cords, so fearful 
 were they lest he should escape. And the Sheriff 
 laughed aloud in glee, and thought of how he 
 should avenge his stolen plate, and determined to 
 make a good day's work of it. 
 
 " By the Saints ! " he said, " you shall be drawn 
 by dale and down, and hanged high on a hill in 
 Barnesdale this very day." 
 
 " Hang and be hanged ! " retorted the prisoner. 
 " You may fail of your purpose if it be Heaven's 
 will." 
 
 Back down the hill and across the moor went 
 
Guy of Gisborne 133 
 
 the company speedily, for they feared a rescue. 
 And as they went the stragglers joined them. 
 Here a man got up feebly out of the ditch and 
 rubbed his pate and fell in like a chicken with 
 the pip going for its dinner. Yonder came hob- 
 bling a man with a lame ankle, or another with 
 his shins torn by the briars or another with his 
 jacket all muddy from the marsh. So in truth it 
 was a tatterdemalion crew that limped and strag- 
 gled and wandered back into Barnesdale that 
 day. Yet all were merry, for the Sheriff had 
 promised them flagons of wine, and moreover 
 they were to hang speedily the boldest outlaw in 
 England, next to Robin Hood himself. 
 
 The gallows was quickly put up and a new 
 rope provided. 
 
 " Now up with you ! " commanded the Sheriff, 
 44 and let us see if your greenwood tricks will 
 avail you to-morrow." 
 
 " I would that I had bold Robin's horn," 
 muttered poor John ; " methinks 'tis all up with 
 me even as the Sheriff hath spoken." 
 
 In good sooth the time was dire and pressing. 
 The rope was placed around the prisoner's neck 
 and the men prepared to haul away. 
 
 " Are you ready ? " called the Sheriff. " One 
 _two " 
 
134 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 But before the " three " left his lips the faint 
 sound of a silver bugle came floating over the 
 hill. 
 
 " By my troth, that is Sir Guy of Gisborne's 
 horn," quoth the Sheriff; " and he bade me not 
 to delay answering its summons. He has caught 
 Robin Hood." 
 
 " Pardon, Excellency," said one of his men ; 
 " but if he has caught Robin Hood, this is a 
 merry day indeed. And let us save this fellow 
 and build another gallows and hang them both 
 together." 
 
 " That's a brave thought ! " said the Sheriff 
 slapping his knee. " Take the rascal down and 
 bind him fast to the gallows-tree against our 
 return." 
 
 So Little John was made fast to the gallows- 
 tree, while the Sheriff and all his men who could 
 march or hobble went out to get Robin Hood 
 and bring him in for the double hanging. 
 
 Let us leave talking of Little John and the 
 Sheriff, and see what has become of Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 In the first place, he and Little John had 
 come near having a quarrel that self-same morn- 
 ing because both had seen a curious looking 
 
Guy of Gisborne 
 
 yeoman, and each wanted to challenge him 
 singly. But Robin would not give way to his 
 lieutenant, and that is why John, in a huff, had 
 gone with Will to Barnesdale. 
 
 Meanwhile Robin approached the curious 
 looking stranger. He seemed to be a three- 
 legged creature at first sight, but on coming 
 nearer you would have seen that 'twas really 
 naught but a poorly clad man, who for a freak 
 had covered up his rags with a capul-hide, noth- 
 ing more nor less than the sun-dried skin of a 
 horse, complete with head, tail, and mane. The 
 skin of the head made a helmet ; while the tail 
 gave the curious three-legged appearance. 
 
 " Good-morrow, good fellow," said Robin 
 cheerily, " methinks by the bow you bear in your 
 hand that you should be a good archer." 
 
 " Indifferent good," said the other returning 
 his greeting ; " but 'tis not of archery that I am 
 thinking this morning, for I have lost my way 
 and would fain find it again." 
 
 " By my faith, I could have believed 'twas 
 your wits you'd lost ! " thought Robin smiling. 
 Then aloud : " I'll lead you through the wood," 
 quoth he, " an you will tell me your business. 
 For belike your speech is much gentler than 
 your attire." 
 
1 36 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 44 Who are you to ask me my business ? " 
 asked the other roughly. 
 
 " I am one of the King's Rangers," replied 
 Robin, " set here to guard his deer 'gainst curi- 
 ous looking strollers." 
 
 " Curious looking I may be," returned the 
 other, " but no stroller. Hark ye, since you are 
 a Ranger, I must e'en demand your service. I 
 am on the King's business and seek an outlaw. 
 Men call him Robin Hood. Are you one of his 
 men ? " eyeing him keenly. 
 
 " Nay, God forbid ! " said Robin ; " but what 
 want you with him ? " 
 
 " That is another tale. But I'd rather meet 
 with that proud outlaw than forty good pounds 
 of the King's money." 
 
 Robin now saw how the land lay. 
 
 " Come with me, good yeoman," said he, " and 
 belike, a little later in the day, I can show you 
 Robin's haunts when he is at home. Meanwhile 
 let us have some pastime under the greenwood 
 tree. Let us first try the mastery at shooting 
 arrows." 
 
 The other agreed, and they cut down two wil- 
 low wands of a summer's growth that grew be- 
 neath a brier, and set them up at a distance of 
 threescore yards. 
 
Guy of Gisborne 137 
 
 " Lead on, good fellow," quoth Robin. " The 
 first shot to you." 
 
 " Nay, by my faith," said the other, " I will 
 follow your lead." 
 
 So Robin stepped forth and bent his bow care- 
 lessly and sent his shaft whizzing toward the 
 wand, missing it by a scant inch. He of the 
 horse-hide followed with more care yet was a 
 good three-fingers' breadth away. 
 
 On the second round, the stranger led off and 
 landed cleverly within the small garland at the 
 top of the wand ; but Robin shot far better and 
 clave the wand itself, clean at the middle. 
 
 " A blessing on your heart ! " shouted Capul- 
 Hide ; " never saw I such shooting as that ! Be- 
 like you are better than Robin Hood himself. 
 But you have not yet told me your name." 
 
 " Nay, by my faith," quoth Robin, " I must 
 keep it secret till you have told me your own." 
 
 " I do not disdain to tell it," said the other. 
 " I dwell by dale and down, and to take bold 
 Robin am I sworn. This would I tell him to his 
 face, were he not so great a craven. When I am 
 called by my right name, I am Guy of Gisborne." 
 
 This he said with a great show of pride, and 
 he strutted back and forth forgetful that he 
 had just been beaten at archery. 
 
138 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Robin eyed him quietly. " Methinks I have 
 heard of you elsewhere. Do you not bring men 
 to the gallows for a living ? " 
 
 " Aye, but only outlaws such as Robin Hood." 
 
 " But pray what harm has Robin Hood done 
 you ? " 
 
 " He is a highway robber," said Sir Guy, evad- 
 ing the question. 
 
 " Has he ever taken from the rich that he did 
 not give again to the poor ? Does he not pro- 
 tect the women and children and side with the 
 weak and helpless ? Is not his greatest crime the 
 shooting of a few King's deer ? " 
 
 " Have done with your sophistry," said Sir 
 Guy impatiently. " I am more than ever of opin- 
 ion that you are one of Robin's men yourself." 
 
 " I have told you I am not," quoth Robin 
 briefly. " But if I am to help you catch him, 
 what is your plan?" 
 
 " Do you see this silver bugle ? " said the other. 
 " A long blast upon it will summon the Sheriff 
 and all his men, when once I have Robin within 
 my grasp. And if you show him to me, I'll 
 give you the half of my forty pounds reward." 
 
 " I would not help hang a man for ten times 
 forty pounds," said the outlaw. " Yet will I 
 point out Robin to you for the reward I find at 
 
Guy of Gisborne 139 
 
 my sword's point. I myself am Robin Hood of 
 Sherwood and Barnesdale." 
 
 " Then have at you ! " cried the other springing 
 swiftly into action. His sword leaped forth from 
 beneath the horse's hide with the speed born of 
 long practice, and before Robin had come to 
 guard, the other had smitten at him full and foul. 
 Robin eluded the lunge and drew his own 
 weapon. 
 
 " A scurvy trick ! " quoth he grimly, " to strike 
 at a man unprepared." 
 
 Then neither spoke more, but fell sternly to 
 work lunge and thrust and ward and parry for 
 two full hours the weapons smote together sul- 
 lenly, and neither Robin Hood nor Sir Guy 
 would yield an inch. I promise you that if you 
 could have looked forth on the fight from behind 
 the trunk of some friendly tree, you would have 
 seen deadly sport such as few men beheld in 
 Sherwood Forest. For the fighters glared sul- 
 lenly at each other, the fires of hatred burning in 
 their eyes. One was fighting for his life ; the 
 other for a reward and the King's favor. 
 
 Still circled the bright blades swiftly in the air 
 now gleaming in the peaceful sunlight again 
 hissing like maddened serpents. Neither had 
 yet touched the other, until Robin, in an unlucky 
 
140 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 moment, stumbled over the projecting root of a 
 tree ; when Sir Guy, instead of giving him the 
 chance to recover himself, as any courteous 
 knight would have done, struck quickly at the 
 falling man and wounded him in the left side. 
 
 " Ah, dear Lady in Heaven," gasped Robin, 
 uttering his favorite prayer, " shield me now ! 
 'Twas never a man's destiny to die before his 
 day." 
 
 And adroitly he sprang up again, and came 
 straight at the other with an awkward but unex- 
 pected stroke. The knight had raised his 
 weapon high to give a final blow, when Robin 
 reached beneath and across his guard. One 
 swift lunge, and Sir Guy of Gisborne staggered 
 backward with a deep groan, Robin's sword 
 through his throat. 
 
 Robin looked at the slain man regretfully. 
 
 " You did bring it upon yourself," said he ; 
 " and traitor and hireling though you were, I 
 would not willingly have killed you." 
 
 He looked to his own wound. It was not seri- 
 ous, and he soon staunched the blood and bound 
 up the cut. Then he dragged the dead body into 
 the bushes, and took off the horse's hide and put 
 it upon himself. He placed his own cloak upon 
 Sir Guy, and marked his face so none might tell 
 
Guy of Gisborne 141 
 
 who had been slain. Robin's own figure and face 
 were not unlike the other's. 
 
 Pulling the capul-hide well over himself, so 
 that the helmet hid most of his face, Robin 
 seized the silver bugle and blew a long blast. It 
 was the blast that saved the life of Little John, 
 over in Barnesdale, for you and I have already 
 seen how it caused the fond Sheriff to prick up 
 his ears and stay the hanging, and go scurrying 
 up over the hill and into the wood with his men 
 in search of another victim. 
 
 In five-and-twenty minutes up came running a 
 score of the Sheriff's best archers. 
 
 " Did you signal us, lording ? " they asked, ap- 
 proaching Robin. 
 
 " Aye," said he, going to meet the puffing 
 Sheriff. 
 
 " What news, what news, Sir Guy ? " said that 
 officer. 
 
 " Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne had a 
 fight; and he that wears Robin's cloak lies under 
 the covert yonder." 
 
 " The best news I have heard in all my life ! " 
 exclaimed the Sheriff rubbing his hands. " I 
 would that we could have saved him for the hang- 
 ing though I cannot now complain." 
 
 *' The hanging? " repeated Robin. 
 
142 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 11 Yes. This is our lucky day on the calendar. 
 After you left me we narrowly missed running 
 one of the fellows I believe 'twas Will Scarlet 
 to earth ; and another who came to his relief 
 we were just about to hang, when your horn 
 blew." 
 
 "Who was the other?" asked the disguised 
 outlaw. 
 
 " Whom do you suppose ? " laughed the 
 Sheriff. "The best man in the greenwood, 
 next to Robin Hood himself Little John, Rey- 
 nold Greenleaf ! " For the Sheriff could not for- 
 get the name Little John had borne under 
 his own roof at Nottingham. 
 
 " Little John ! " thought Robin with a start. 
 Verily that was a lucky blast of the bugle ! 
 
 " But I see you have not escaped without a 
 scratch," continued the Sheriff, becoming talka- 
 tive through pure glee. " Here, one of you men ! 
 Give Sir Guy of Gisborne your horse ; while 
 others of you bury that dog of an outlaw where 
 he lies. And let us hasten back to Barnesdale 
 and finish hanging the other." 
 
 So they put spurs to their horses, and as they 
 rode Robin forced himself to talk merrily, while 
 all the time he was planning the best way to suc- 
 cor Little John. 
 
Guy of Gisborne 143 
 
 " A boon, Sheriff," he said as they reached the 
 gates of the town. 
 
 " What is it, worthy sir ? You have but to 
 speak/' 
 
 " I do not want any of your gold, for I have had 
 a brave fight. But now that I have slain the mas- 
 ter, let me put an end to the man ; so it shall be 
 said that Guy of Gisborne dispatched the two 
 greatest outlaws of England in one day." 
 
 " Have it as you will," said the Sheriff, " but 
 you should have asked a knight's fee and double 
 your reward, and it would have been yours. 
 It isn't every man that can take Robin Hood." 
 
 " No, Excellency," answered Robin. c< I say it 
 without boasting, that no man took Robin Hood 
 yesterday and none shall take him to-morrow." 
 
 Then he approached Little John, who was still 
 tied to the gallows'-tree ; and he said to the 
 Sheriff's men, " Now stand you back here till I 
 see if the prisoner has been shrived." And he 
 stooped swiftly, and cut Little John's bonds, and 
 thrust into his hands Sir Guy's bow and arrows, 
 which he had been careful to take. 
 
 " Tis I, Robin ! " he whispered. But in truth, 
 Little John knew it already, and had decided 
 there was to be no hanging that day. 
 
 Then Robin blew three loud blasts upon his 
 
144 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 own horn, and drew forth his own bow ; and be- 
 fore the astonished Sheriff and his men could 
 come to arms the arrows were whistling in their 
 midst in no uncertain fashion. 
 
 And look ! Through the gates and over the 
 walls came pouring another flight of arrows ! 
 Will Scarlet and Will Stutely had watched and 
 planned a rescue ever since the Sheriff and Robin 
 rode back down the hill. Now in good time 
 they came ; and the Sheriff's demoralized force 
 turned tail and ran, while Robin and Little John 
 stood under the harmless gallows, and sped 
 swift arrows after them, and laughed to see them 
 go. 
 
 Then they joined their comrades and hasted 
 back to the good greenwood, and there rested, 
 They had got enough sport for one day. 
 
CHAPTER XII 
 
 HOW MAID MARIAN CAME BACK TO 
 SHERWOOD FOREST ; ALSO, HOW 
 ROBIN HOOD CAME BE- 
 FORE QUEEN ELEANOR 
 
 But Robin Hood, he himself had disguis'd, 
 
 And Marian was strangely attir'd, 
 That they proved foes, and so fell to blows, 
 
 Whose valor bold Robin admir'd. 
 * * * * -x- * 
 
 And when he came at London's court, 
 
 He fell down on his knee. 
 
 " Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the Queen, 
 " And all thy good yeomandree." 
 
 NOW it fell out that one day not 
 long thereafter, Robin was minded 
 to try his skill at hunting. And 
 not knowing whom he might meet in his 
 rambles, he stained his face and put on a sorry- 
 looking jacket and a long cloak before he sallied 
 forth. As he walked, the peacefulness of the 
 morning came upon him, and brought back to 
 his memory the early days so long ago when he 
 had roamed these same glades with Marian. 
 MS 
 
146 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 How sweet they seemed to him now, and how fai 
 away ! Marian, too, the dainty friend of his 
 youth would he ever see her again ? He had 
 thought of her very often of late, and each time 
 with increasing desire to hear her clear voice and 
 musical laugh, and see her eyes light up at his 
 coming. 
 
 Perhaps the happiness of Allan-a-Dale and his 
 lady had caused Robin's heart-strings to vibrate 
 more strongly ; perhaps, too, the coming of Will 
 Scarlet. But, certes, Robin was anything but a 
 hunter this bright morning as he walked along 
 with head drooping in a most love-lorn way. 
 
 Presently a hart entered the glade in full view 
 of him, grazing peacefully, and instantly the man 
 of action awoke. His bow was drawn and a 
 shaft all but loosed, when the beast fell suddenly, 
 pierced by a clever arrow from the far side of 
 the glade. 
 
 Then a handsome little page sprang gleefully 
 from the covert and ran toward the dying ani- 
 mal. This was plainly the archer, for he 
 flourished his bow aloft, and likewise bore a 
 sword at his side, though for all that he looked a 
 mere lad. 
 
 Robin approached the hart from the other 
 side. 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 147 
 
 " How dare you shoot the King's beasts, strip- 
 ling ? " he asked severely. 
 
 " I have as much right to shoot them as the 
 King himself," answered the page haughtily. 
 " How dare you question me ? " 
 
 The voice stirred Robin strongly. It seemed 
 to chime into his memories of the old days. He 
 looked at the page sharply, and the other re- 
 turned the glance, straight and unafraid. 
 
 "Who are you, my lad?" Robin said more 
 civilly. 
 
 " No lad of yours, and my name's my own," 
 retorted the other with spirit. 
 
 " Softly ! Fair and softly, sweet page, or we of 
 the forest will have to teach you manners ! " said 
 Robin. 
 
 " Not if you stand for the forest ! " cried the 
 page whipping out his sword. " Come, draw, 
 and defend yourself! " 
 
 He swung his blade valiantly ; and Robin saw 
 nothing for it but to draw likewise. The page 
 thereupon engaged him quite fiercely, and Robin 
 found that he had many pretty little tricks at 
 fencing. Nathless, Robin contented himself 
 with parrying, and was loth to exert all his supe- 
 rior strength upon the lad. So the fight lasted 
 for above a quarter of an hour, at the end of 
 
148 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 which time the page was almost spent and the 
 hot blood flushed his cheeks in a most charming 
 manner. 
 
 The outlaw saw his distress, and to end the 
 fight allowed himself to be pricked slightly on 
 the wrist. 
 
 " Are you satisfied, fellow ? " asked the page, 
 wincing a little at sight of the blood. 
 
 " Aye, honestly/' replied Robin ; " and now 
 perhaps you will grant me the honor of knowing 
 to whom I owe this scratch ? " 
 
 " I am Richard Partington, page to Her Maj- 
 esty, Queen Eleanor," answered the lad with 
 dignity ; and again the sound of his voice troubled 
 Robin sorely. 
 
 " Why come you to the greenwood alone, 
 Master Partington ? " 
 
 The lad considered his answer while wiping his 
 sword with a small lace kerchief. The action 
 brought a dim confused memory to Robin. The 
 lad finally looked him again in the eye. 
 
 " Forester, whether or no you be a King's 
 man, know that I seek one Robin Hood, an 
 outlaw, to whom I bring amnesty from the 
 Queen. Can you tell me aught of him ? " 
 And while awaiting his answer, he replaced 
 the kerchief in his shirt. As he did so, the 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 149 
 
 gleam of a golden trophy caught the outlaw's 
 eye. 
 
 Robin started forward with a joyful cry. 
 
 " Ah ! I know you now ! By the sight of 
 yon golden arrow won at the Sheriff's tourney, 
 you are she on whom I bestowed it, and none 
 other than Maid Marian ! " 
 
 "You are ?" gasped Marian, for it was 
 
 she ; " not Robin ! " 
 
 "Robin's self!" said he gayly ; and forthwith, 
 clad as he was in rags, and stained of face, he 
 clasped the dainty page close to his breast, and 
 she forsooth yielded right willingly. 
 
 " But Robin ! " she exclaimed presently, " I 
 knew you not, and was rude, and wounded 
 you ! " 
 
 " 'Twas nothing," he replied laughingly, " so 
 long as it brought me you." 
 
 But she made more ado over the sore wrist 
 than Robin had received for all his former hurts 
 put together. And she bound it with the little 
 kerchief, and said, " Now 'twill get well ! " and 
 Robin was convinced she spoke the truth, for he 
 never felt better in all his life. The whole woods 
 seemed tinged with a roseate hue, since Marian 
 had come again. 
 
 But she, while happy also, was ill at ease ; and 
 
150 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Robin with a man's slow discernment at last saw 
 that it was because of her boy's attire. He 
 thought bluntly that there was naught to be 
 ashamed of, yet smilingly handed her his tattered 
 long cloak, which she blushingly put on, and 
 forthwith recovered her spirits directly. 
 
 Then they began to talk of each other's varied 
 fortunes, and of the many things which had 
 parted them ; and so much did they find to tell 
 that the sun had begun to decline well into the 
 afternoon before they realized how the hours 
 sped. 
 
 " I am but a sorry host ! " exclaimed Robin, 
 springing to his feet. " I have not once invited 
 you to my wild roof.' 1 
 
 " And I am but a sorry page," replied Marian ; 
 " for I had clean forgot that I was Richard Part- 
 ington, and really did bring you a message from 
 Queen Eleanor ! " 
 
 " Tell me on our way home, and there you 
 shall be entrusted to Mistress Dale. While the 
 first of my men we meet will I send back for 
 your deer." 
 
 So she told him, as they walked back through 
 the glade, how that the fame of his prowess had 
 reached Queen Eleanor's ears, in London town. 
 And the Queen had said, " Fain would I see this 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 151 
 
 bold yoeman, and behold his skill at the long- 
 bow." And the Queen had promised him am- 
 nesty if he and four of his archers would repair 
 to London against the next tournament the week 
 following, there to shoot against King Henry's 
 picked men, of whom the King was right vain. 
 All this Marian told in detail, and added : 
 
 " When I heard Her Majesty say she desired 
 to see you, I asked leave to go in search of you, 
 saying I had known you once. And the Queen 
 was right glad, and bade me go, and sent this 
 gold ring to you from off her finger, in token of 
 her faith." 
 
 Then Robin took the ring and bowed his head 
 and kissed it loyally. " By this token will I go 
 to London town," quoth he, " and ere I part with 
 the Queen's pledge, may the hand that bears it 
 be stricken off at the wrist ! " 
 
 By this time they were come to the grove be- 
 fore the cave, and Robin presented Maid Marian 
 to the band, who treated her with the greatest re- 
 spect. Will Scarlet was especially delighted to 
 greet again his old time friend, while Allan-a- 
 Dale and his good wife bustled about to make 
 her welcome in their tiny thatched cottage. 
 
 That evening after they had supped royally 
 upon the very hart that Marian had slain ] Allan 
 
152 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 sang sweet songs of Northern minstrelsy to the 
 fair guest as she sat by Robin's side, the golden 
 arrow gleaming in her dark hair. The others all 
 joined in the chorus, from Will Scarlet's baritone 
 to Friar Tuck's heavy bass. Even Little John 
 essayed to sing, although looked at threateningly 
 by Much the miller's son. 
 
 Then Robin bade Marian repeat her message 
 from the Queen, which Marian did in a way be- 
 fitting the dignity of her royal mistress. After 
 which the yeomen gave three cheers for the 
 Queen and three more for her page, and drank 
 toasts to them both, rising to their feet. 
 
 " Ye have heard," quoth Robin standing 
 forth, " how that Her Majesty whom God pre- 
 serve ! wishes but four men to go with me. 
 Wherefore, I choose Little John and Will 
 Stutely, my two lieutenants, Will Scarlet, my 
 cousin, and Allan-a-Dale, my minstrel. Mistress 
 Dale, also, can go with her husband and be com- 
 pany for the Queen's page. We will depart with 
 early morning, decked in our finest. So stir ye, 
 my lads ! and see that not only your tunics are 
 fresh, but your swords bright and your bows and 
 arrows fit. For we must be a credit to the 
 Queen as well as to the good greenwood. You, 
 Much, with Stout Will, Lester, and John, the 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 153 
 
 widow's three sons, shall have command of the 
 band while we are away ; and Friar Tuck shall 
 preside over the needs of your souls and stom- 
 achs." 
 
 The orders were received with shouts of ap- 
 proval, and toasts all around were drunk again in 
 nut-brown ale, ere the company dispersed to rest 
 after making ready for the journey. 
 
 The next morning was as fine a summer's day 
 as ever you want to see, and the green leaves of 
 the forest made a pleasing background for the 
 gay picture of the yeomen setting forth. Says 
 the old ballad it was a seemly sight to see how 
 Robin Hood himself had dressed, and all his 
 yeomanry. He clothed his men in Lincoln 
 green, and himself in scarlet red, with hats of 
 black and feathers white to bravely deck each 
 head. Nor were the two ladies behindhand, I 
 ween, at the bedecking. 
 
 Thus the chosen party of seven sallied forth 
 being accompanied to the edge of the wood by 
 the whole band, who gave them a merry parting 
 and Godspeed ! 
 
 The journey to London town was made with- 
 out incident. The party proceeded boldly along 
 the King's highroad, and no man met them who 
 
154 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 was disposed to say them nay. Besides, the good 
 Queen's warrant and ring would have answered 
 for them, as indeed it did at the gates of London. 
 So on they sped and in due course came to the 
 palace itself and awaited audience with the 
 Queen. 
 
 Now the King had gone that day to Finsbury 
 Field, where the tourney was soon to be held, 
 in order to look over the lists and see some of 
 his picked men whom he expected to win against 
 all comers. So much had he boasted of these 
 men, that the Queen had secretly resolved to win 
 a wager of him. She had heard of the fame of 
 Robin Hood and his yeomen, as Marian had 
 said ; and Marian on her part had been overjoyed 
 to be able to add a word in their favor and to set 
 out in search of them. 
 
 To-day the Queen sat in her private audience- 
 room chatting pleasantly with her ladies, when 
 in came Mistress Marian Fitzwalter attired again 
 as befitted her rank of lady-in-waiting. She 
 courtesied low to the Queen and awaited per- 
 mission to speak. 
 
 " How now ! " said the Queen smiling ; " is this 
 my lady Marian, or the page, Richard Parting- 
 ton ? " 
 
 " Both, an it please Your Majesty. Richard 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 153 
 
 found the man you sought, while Marian brought 
 him to you." 
 
 " Where is he ? " asked Queen Eleanor eagerly. 
 
 " Awaiting your audience he and four of his 
 men, likewise a lady of whose wooing and wedding 
 I can tell you a pretty story at another time." 
 
 " Have them admitted." 
 
 So Marian gave orders to a herald, and pres- 
 ently Robin Hood and his little party entered 
 the room. 
 
 Now the Queen had half-expected the men to 
 be rude and uncouth in appearance, because of 
 their wild life in the forest ; but she was delight- 
 fully disappointed. Indeed she started back in 
 surprise and almost clapped her hands. For, 
 sooth to say, the yeomen made a brave sight, 
 and in all the court no more gallant men could be 
 found. Marian felt her cheeks glow with pride, 
 at sight of the half-hidden looks of admiration 
 sent forth by the other ladies-in-waiting. 
 
 Robin had not forgot the gentle arts taught by 
 his mother, and he wore his fine red velvet tunic 
 and breeches with the grace of a courtier. We 
 have seen, before, what a dandified gentleman 
 Will Scarlet was ; and Allan-a-Dale, the minstrel, 
 was scarcely less goodly to look upon. While 
 the giant Little John and broad-shouldered Will 
 
1 56 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Stutely made up in stature what little they lacked 
 in outward polish. Mistress Dale, on her part, 
 looked even more charming, if possible, than on 
 the momentous day when she went to Plympton 
 Church to marry one man and found another. 
 
 Thus came the people of the greenwood before 
 Queen Eleanor, in her own private audience 
 room. And Robin advanced and knelt down be- 
 fore her, and said : 
 
 " Here I am, Robin Hood, I and my chosen 
 men ! At Your Majesty's bidding am I come, 
 bearing the ring of amnesty which I will protect 
 as I would protect Your Majesty's honor 
 with my life ! " 
 
 " Thou art welcome, Lockesley," said the 
 Queen smiling graciously. " Thou art come in 
 good time, thou and all thy brave yeomanry." 
 
 Then Robin presented each of his men in turn, 
 and each fell on his knee and was greeted with 
 most kindly words. And the Queen kissed fair 
 Mistress Dale upon the cheek, and bade her re- 
 main in the palace with her ladies while she was 
 in the city. And she made all the party be 
 seated to rest themselves after their long journey. 
 Fine wines were brought, and cake, and rich 
 food, for their refreshment. And as they ate 
 and drank, the Queen told them further of the 
 
How Maid Marian Came Back 157 
 
 tourney to be held at Finsbury Field, and of 
 how she desired them to wear her colors and 
 shoot for her. Meantime, she concluded, they 
 were to lie by quietly and be known of no man. 
 
 To do all this, Robin and his men pledged 
 themselves full heartily. Then at the Queen's re- 
 quest, they related to her and her ladies some of 
 their merry adventures ; whereat the listeners 
 were vastly entertained, and laughed heartily. 
 Then Marian, who had heard of the wedding at 
 Plympton Church, told it so drolly that tears 
 stood in the Queen's eyes from merriment. 
 
 " My lord Bishop of Hereford ! " she said. 
 " Twas indeed a comical business for him ! I 
 shall keep that to twit his bones, I promise you ! 
 So this is our minstrel ? " she added presently 
 turning to Allan-a-Dale. " Methinks I have al- 
 ready heard of him. Will he not harp awhile 
 for us to-day ? " 
 
 Allan bowed low, and took a harp which was 
 brought to him, and he thrummed the strings and 
 sang full sweetly the border songs of the North 
 Countree. And the Queen and all her ladies 
 listened in rapt silence till all the songs were 
 ended. 
 
CHAPTER XIII 
 
 HOW THE OUTLAWS SHOT IN KING 
 HARRY'S TOURNEY 
 
 The King is into Finsbury Field 
 
 Marching in battle 'ray ; 
 And after follows bold Robin Hood, 
 
 And all his yeomen gay. 
 
 THE morning of the great archery con- 
 test dawned fair and bright, bringing 
 with it a fever of impatience to ever}' 
 citizen of London town, from the proudest court- 
 ier to the lowest kitchen wench. Aye, and all 
 the surrounding country was early awake, too, 
 and began to wend their way to Finsbury 
 Field, a fine broad stretch of practice ground near 
 Moorfields. Around three sides of the Field were 
 erected tier upon tier of seats, for the spectators, 
 with the royal boxes and booths for the nobility 
 and gentry in the centre. Down along one end 
 were pitched gayly colored tents for the different 
 bands of King's archers. There were ten of these 
 bands, each containing a score of men headed by 
 
 158 
 
King Harry's Tourney 159 
 
 a captain of great renown ; so to-day there were 
 ten of the pavilions, each bearing aloft the Royal 
 Arms and vari-colored pennants which fluttered 
 lightly in the fresh morning breeze. 
 
 Each captain's flag was of peculiar color and 
 device. First came the royal purple streamer of 
 Tepus, own bow-bearer to the King, and esteemed 
 the finest archer in all the land. Then came the 
 yellow of Clifton of Buckinghamshire ; and the 
 blue of Gilbert of the White Hand, he who was 
 renowned in Nottinghamshire ; and the green of 
 Elwyn the Welshman ; and the white of Robert 
 of Cloudesdale ; and, after them, five other cap- 
 tains of bands, each a man of proved prowess. 
 As the Queen had said aforetime, the King was 
 mightily proud of his archers, and now held this 
 tourney to show their skill and, mayhap, to re- 
 cruit their forces. 
 
 The uprising tiers of seats filled early, upon this 
 summer morning, and the merry chatter of the 
 people went abroad like the hum of bees in a 
 hive. The royal party had not yet put in an ap- 
 pearance, nor were any of the King's archers vis- 
 ible. So the crowd was content to hide its im- 
 patience by laughing jibes passed from one sec- 
 tion to another, and crying the colors of their 
 favorite archers. In and out among the seats 
 
160 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 went hawkers, their arms laden with small pen- 
 nants to correspond with the rival tents. Other 
 vendors of pie and small cakes and cider also 
 did a thrifty business, for so eager had some of 
 the people been to get good seats, that they had 
 rushed away from home without their breakfast. 
 
 Suddenly the gates at the far end, next the 
 tents, opened wide, and a courier in scarlet and 
 gold, mounted upon a white horse, rode in blow- 
 ing lustily upon the trumpet at his lips ; and be- 
 hind him came six standard-bearers riding abreast. 
 The populace arose with a mighty cheer. King 
 Harry had entered the arena. He bestrode a fine 
 white charger and was clad in a rich dark suit of 
 slashed velvet with satin and gold facings. His 
 hat bore a long curling ostrich plume of pure 
 white, and he doffed it graciously in answer to 
 the shouts of the people. By his side rode Queen 
 Eleanor, looking regal and charming in her long 
 brocade riding-habit ; while immediately behind 
 them came Prince Richard and Prince John each 
 attired in knightly coats of mail and helmets. 
 Lords and ladies of the realm followed ; and, 
 finally, the ten companies of archers, whose prog- 
 ress round the field was greeted with hardly less 
 applause than that given the King himself. 
 
 The King and Queen dismounted from their 
 
King Harry's Tourney 161 
 
 steeds, ascended the steps of the royal box, and 
 seated themselves upon two thrones, decked with 
 purple and gold trappings, upon a dais sheltered 
 by striped canvas. In the booths at each side 
 the members of the Court took their places ; 
 while comely pages ran hither and thither bear- 
 ing the royal commands. 'Twas a lordly sight, I 
 ween, this shifting of proud courtiers, flashing of 
 jeweled fans, and commingling of bright colors 
 with costly gems ! 
 
 Now the herald arose to command peace, and 
 soon the clear note of his bugle rose above the 
 roar of the crowd and hushed it to silence. The 
 tenscore archers ranged themselves in two long 
 rows on each side of the lists a gallant array 
 while their captains, as a special mark of favor, 
 stood near the royal box. 
 
 " Come hither, Tepus," said the King to his 
 bow-bearer. " Come, measure me out this line, 
 how long our mark must be." 
 
 " What is the reward ? " then asked the Queen. 
 
 " That will the herald presently proclaim/' an- 
 swered the King. " For first prize we have offered 
 a purse containing twoscore golden pounds ; for 
 second, a purse containing twoscore silver pen- 
 nies ; and for third a silver bugle, inlaid with 
 gold. Moreover, if the King's companies keep 
 
1 62 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 these prizes, the winning companies shall have, 
 first, two tuns of Rhenish wine ; second, two tuns 
 of English beer; and, third, five of the fattest 
 harts that run on Dallom Lea. Methinks that is 
 a princely wager," added King Harry laughingly. 
 
 Up spake bold Clifton, secure in the King's, 
 favor. " Measure no marks for us, most sovereign 
 liege," quoth he ; " for such largess as that, we'll 
 shoot at the sun and the moon." 
 
 " 'Twill not be so far as that," said the King. 
 " But get a line of good length, Tepus, and set up 
 the targets at tenscore paces." 
 
 Forthwith, Tepus bowed low, and set up ten 
 targets, each bearing the pennant of a different 
 company, while the herald stood forth again and 
 proclaimed the rules and prizes. The entries 
 were open to all comers. Each man, also, of the 
 King's archers should shoot three arrows at the 
 target bearing the colors of his band, until the 
 best bowman in each band should be chosen. 
 These ten chosen archers should then enter a 
 contest for an open target three shots apiece 
 and here any other bowman whatsoever was 
 asked to try his skill. The result at the open 
 targets should decide the tourney. 
 
 Then all the people shouted again, in token 
 that the terms of the contest pleased them ; and 
 
King Harry's Tourney 163 
 
 the archers waved their bows aloft, and wheeled 
 into position facing their respective targets. 
 
 The shooting now began, upon all the targets 
 at once, and the multitude had so much ado to 
 watch them, that they forgot to shout. Besides, 
 silence was commanded during the shooting. Of 
 all the fine shooting that morning, I have not 
 now space to tell you. The full score of men 
 shot three times at each target, and then three 
 times again to decide a tie. For, more than 
 once, the arrow shot by one man would be split 
 wide open by his successor. Every man's shaft 
 bore his number to ease the counting; and so 
 close would they stick at the end of a round, 
 that the target looked like a big bristle hair- 
 brush. Then must the spectators relieve their 
 tense spirits by great cheering ; while the King 
 looked mighty proud of his skilled bowmen. 
 
 At last the company targets were decided, and 
 Tepus, as was expected, led the score, having 
 made six exact centres in succession. Gilbert of 
 the White Hand followed with five, and Clifton 
 with four. Two other captains had touched 
 their centre four times, but not roundly. While 
 in the other companies it so chanced that the 
 captains had been out-shot by some of the men 
 under them. 
 
164 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The winners then saluted the King and Queen, 
 and withdrew for a space to rest and renew their 
 bow-strings for the keenest contest of all ; while 
 the lists were cleared and a new target the open 
 one was set up at twelvescore paces. At the 
 bidding of the King, the herald announced that 
 the open target was to be shot at, to decide 
 the title of the best archer in all England ; 
 and any man there present was privileged to 
 try for it. But so keen had been the previous 
 shooting, that many yeomen who had come to 
 enter the lists now would not do so; and only 
 a dozen men stepped forth to give in their 
 names. 
 
 " By my halidom ! " said the King, " these 
 must be hardy men to pit themselves against my 
 archers ! " 
 
 " Think you that your ten chosen fellows are 
 the best bowmen in all England?" asked the 
 Queen. 
 
 " Aye, and in all the world beside," answered 
 the King ; " and thereunto I would stake five hun- 
 dred pounds." 
 
 " I am minded to take your wager," said the 
 Queen musingly, " and will e'en do so if you 
 grant me a boon." 
 
 " What is it ? " asked the King. 
 
King Harry's Tourney 165 
 
 " If I produce five archers who can out-shoot 
 your ten, will you grant my men full grace and 
 amnesty ? " 
 
 "Assuredly!" quoth the King in right good 
 humor. " Nathless, I tell you now, your wager 
 is in jeopardy, for there never were such bowmen 
 as Tepus and Clifton and Gilbert ! " 
 
 " Hum ! " said the Queen puckering her brow, 
 still as though lost in thought. " I must see if 
 there be none present to aid me in my wager. 
 Boy, call hither Sir Richard of the Lea and my 
 lord Bishop of Hereford ! " 
 
 The two summoned ones, who had been wit- 
 nessing the sport, came forward. 
 
 " Sir Richard," said she, " thou art a full 
 knight and good. Would'st advise me to meet a 
 wager of the King's, that I can produce other 
 archers as good as Tepus and Gilbert and Clif- 
 ton ? " 
 
 " Nay, Your Majesty," he said, bending his 
 knee. " There be none present that can match 
 them. Howbeit," he added dropping his voice 
 " I have heard of some who lie hid in Sher- 
 wood Forest who could show them strange tar- 
 gets." 
 
 The Queen smiled and dismissed him. 
 
 " Come hither, my lord Bishop of Hereford/ 1 
 
i66 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 quoth she, " would'st thou advance a sum to 
 support my wager 'gainst the King ? " 
 
 " Nay, Your Majesty," said the fat Bishop, " an 
 you pardon me, I'd not lay down a penny on such 
 a bet. For by my silver mitre, the King's archers 
 are men who have no peers." 
 
 " But suppose I found men whom thou knew- 
 est to be masters at the bow," she insisted 
 roguishly, " would'st thou not back them ? Be- 
 like, I have heard that there be men round about 
 Nottingham and Plympton who carry such mat- 
 ters with a high hand ! " 
 
 The Bishop glanced nervously around, as if 
 half expecting to see Robin Hood's men stand- 
 ing near ; then turned to find the Queen looking 
 at him with much amusement lurking in her eyes. 
 
 " Odds bodikins ! The story of my mis- 
 adventure must have preceded me! " he thought, 
 ruefully. Aloud he said, resolved to face it out, 
 
 " Your Majesty, such tales are idle and ex- 
 aggerated. An you pardon me, I would add to 
 the King's wager that his men are invincible." 
 
 " As it pleases thee," replied the Queen im- 
 perturbably. " How much ? " 
 
 " Here is my purse," said the Bishop uneasily. 
 " It contains fifteen score nobles, or near an hun- 
 dred pounds." 
 
King Harry's Tourney 167 
 
 " I'll take it at even money," she said, dis- 
 missing him ; " and Your Majesty " turning to 
 the King who had been conversing with the two 
 princes and certain of the nobles " I accept 
 your wager of five hundred pounds." 
 
 " Very good," said the King, laughing as 
 though it were a great jest. " But what has 
 minded you to take such interest in the sport, of 
 a sudden ? " 
 
 " It is as I have said. I have found five men 
 whom I will pit against any you may produce." 
 
 " Then we will try their skill speedily," quoth 
 the King. " How say you, if first we decide this 
 open target and then match the five best thereat 
 against your unknown champions ? " 
 
 " Agreed," said the Queen. Thereupon she 
 signed to Maid Marian to step forward, from a 
 near-by booth where she sat with other ladies-in- 
 waiting, and whispered something in her ear. 
 Marian courtesied and withdrew. 
 
 Now the ten chosen archers from the King's 
 bands came forth again and took their stand ; and 
 with them stood forth the twelve untried men 
 from the open lists. Again the crowd was stilled, 
 and every eye hung upon the speeding of the 
 shafts. Slowly but skilfully each man shot, and 
 as his shaft struck within the inner ring a deep 
 
i68 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 breath broke from the multitude like the sound 
 of the wind upon the seashore. And now Gil- 
 bert of the White Hand led the shooting, and 
 'twas only by the space of a hair's-breadth upon 
 the line that Tepus tied his score. Stout 
 Elwyn, the Welshman, took third place ; one of 
 the private archers, named Geoffrey, came fourth; 
 while Clifton must needs content himself with 
 fifth. The men from the open lists shot fairly 
 true, but nervousness and fear of ridicule wrought 
 their undoing. 
 
 The herald then came forward again, and, in- 
 stead of announcing the prize-winners, pro- 
 claimed that there was to be a final contest. 
 Two men had tied for first place, declared His 
 Majesty the King, and three others were entitled 
 to honors. Now all these five were to shoot 
 again, and they were to be pitted against five 
 others of the Queen's choosing men who had not 
 yet shot upon that day. 
 
 A thrill of astonishment and excitement swept 
 around the arena. " Who were these men of the 
 Queen's choosing ? " was upon every lip. The 
 hubbub of eager voices grew intense ; and in the 
 midst of it ll, the gate at the far end of the field 
 opened and five men entered and escorted a lady 
 upon horseback across the arena to the royal box. 
 
King Harry's Tourney 169 
 
 The lady was instantly recognized as Mistress 
 Marian of the Queen's household, but no one 
 seemed to know the faces of her escort. Four 
 were clad in Lincoln green, while the fifth who 
 seemed to be the leader, was dressed in a brave 
 suit of scarlet red. Each man wore a close 
 fitting cap of black, decked with a curling white 
 feather. For arms, they carried simply a stout 
 bow, a sheaf of new arrows, and a short hunting- 
 knife. 
 
 When the little party came before the dais on 
 which the King and. Queen sat, the yeomen doffed 
 their caps humbly, while Maid Marian was as- 
 sisted to dismount. 
 
 " Your Gracious Majesty," she said, addressing 
 the Queen, " these be the men for whom you sent 
 me, and who are now come to wear your colors 
 and serve you in the tourney." 
 
 The Queen leaned forward and handed them 
 each a scarf of green and gold. 
 
 " Lockesley," she said in a clear voice, " I 
 thank thee and thy men for this service. Know 
 that I have laid a wager with the King that ye 
 can outshoot the best five whom he has found in 
 all his bowmen." 
 
 The five men pressed the scarfs to their lips in 
 token of fealty. 
 
170 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The King turned to the Queen inquiringly. 
 
 " Who are these men you have brought before 
 us ? " asked he. 
 
 Up came the worthy Bishop of Hereford, 
 growing red and pale by turns. 
 
 " Your pardon, my liege lord ! " cried he ; 
 " but I must denounce these fellows as outlaws. 
 Yon man in scarlet is none other than Robin 
 Hood himself. The others are Little John and 
 Will Stutely and Will Scarlet and Allan-a-Dale 
 all famous in the North Countree for their deeds 
 of violence/' 
 
 " As my lord Bishop personally knows ! " 
 added the Queen significantly. 
 
 The King's brows grew dark. The name of 
 Robin Hood was well known to him, as to every 
 man there present. 
 
 " Is this true ? " he demanded sternly. 
 
 " Aye, my lord," responded the Queen de- 
 murely. " But, bethink you I have your royal 
 promise of grace and amnesty." 
 
 " That will I keep," said the King, holding in 
 check his ire by a mighty effort. " But, look 
 you ! Only forty days do I grant of respite. 
 When this time has elapsed, let these bold outlaws 
 look to their safety ! " 
 
 Then turning to his five victorious archers, who 
 
King Harry's Tourney 171 
 
 had drawn near, he added, " Ye have heard, my 
 men, how that I have a wager with the Queen 
 upon your prowess. Now here be men of her 
 choosing certain free shafts of Sherwood and 
 Barnesdale. Wherefore look well to it, Gilbert 
 and Tepus and Geoffrey and Ehvyn and Clifton ! 
 If ye outshoot these knaves, I wfll fill your caps 
 with silver pennies aye, and knight the man 
 who stands first. But if ye lose, I give the prizes, 
 for which ye have just striven, to Robin Hood 
 and his men, according to my royal word." 
 
 " Robin Hood and his men ! " the saying flew 
 round the arena with the speed of wild-fire, and 
 every neck craned forward to see the famous fel- 
 lows who had dared to brave the King's anger, 
 because of the Queen. 
 
 Another target was now set up, at the same 
 distance as the last, and it was decided that the 
 ten archers should shoot three arrows in turn. 
 Gilbert and Robin tossed up a penny for the lead, 
 and it fell to the King's men. So Clifton was 
 bidden to shoot first. Forth he stood, planting his 
 feet firmly, and wetting his fingers before pluck- 
 ing the string. For he was resolved to better his 
 losing score of that day. And in truth he did so, 
 for the shaft he loosed sped true, and landed 
 on the black bull's-eye, though not in the 
 
172 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 exact centre. Again he shot, and again he 
 hit the black, on the opposite rim. The third 
 shaft swerved downward and came within the 
 second ring, some two fingers' breadths away. 
 Nathless, a general cry went up, as this was the 
 best shooting Clifton had done that day. 
 
 Will Scarlet was chosen to follow him, and now 
 took his place and carefully chose three round 
 and full-feathered arrows. 
 
 " Careful, my sweet coz ! " quoth Robin in a 
 low tone. " The knave has left wide space at the 
 centre for all of your darts." 
 
 But Robin gave Will the wrong caution, for 
 over-much care spoiled his aim. His first shaft 
 flew wide and lodged in the second ring even fur- 
 ther away than the worst shot of Clifton. 
 
 "Your pardon, coz!" quoth Robin hastily. 
 " Bid care go to the bottom of the sea, and do 
 you loose your string before it sticks to your 
 fingers ! " 
 
 And Will profited by this hint, and loosed his 
 next two shafts as freely as though they flew 
 along a Sherwood glade. Each struck upon the 
 bull's-eye, and one even nearer the centre than 
 his rival's mark. Yet the total score was ad- 
 judged in favor of Clifton. At this Will Scarlet 
 bit his lip, but said no word, while the crowd 
 
King Harry's Tourney 173 
 
 shouted and waved yellow flags for very joy that 
 the King's man had overcome the outlaw. They 
 knew, also, that this demonstration would please 
 the King. 
 
 The target was now cleared for the next 
 two contestants Geoffrey and Allan-a-Dale. 
 Whereat, it was noticed that many ladies in the 
 Queen's booths boldly flaunted Allan's colors, 
 much to the honest pride which glowed in the 
 cheeks of one who sat in their midst. 
 
 " In good truth," said more than one lady 
 to Mistress Dale, " if thy husband can handle the 
 longbow as skilfully as the harp, his rival has 
 little show of winning ! " 
 
 The saying augured well. Geoffrey had shot 
 many good shafts that day ; and indeed had risen 
 from the ranks by virtue of them. But now each 
 of his three shots, though well placed in triangu- 
 lar fashion around the rim of the bull's-eye, yel 
 allowed an easy space for Allan to graze within, 
 His shooting, moreover, was so prettily done^ 
 that he was right heartily applauded the 
 ladies and their gallants leading in the hand- 
 clapping. 
 
 Now you must know that there had long been 
 a friendly rivalry in Robin Hood's band as to 
 who was the best shot, next after Robin himself. 
 
174 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 He and Will Stutely had lately decided their 
 marksmanship, and Will had found that Robin's 
 skill was now so great as to place the leader at 
 the head of all good bowmen in the forest. But 
 the second place lay between Little John and 
 Stutely, and neither wished to yield to the other. 
 So to-day they looked narrowly at their leader to 
 see who should shoot third. Robin read their 
 faces at a glance, and laughing merrily broke off 
 two straws and held them out. 
 
 " The long straw goes next ! " he decided ; and 
 it fell to Stutely. 
 
 Elwyn the Welshman was to precede him ; and 
 his score was no whit better than Geoffrey's. 
 But Stutely failed to profit by it. His besetting 
 sin at archery had ever been an undue haste and 
 carelessness. To-day these were increased by a 
 certain moodiness, that Little John had outranked 
 him. So his first two shafts flew swiftly, one 
 after the other, to lodging places outside the 
 Welshman's mark. 
 
 " Man ! man ! " cried Robin entreatingly, " yoic 
 do forget the honor of the Queen, and the credit 
 of Sherwood ! " 
 
 " I ask your pardon, master ! " quoth Will 
 humbly enough, and loosing as he spoke his last 
 shaft. It whistled down the course unerringly 
 
King Harry's Tourney 175 
 
 and struck in the exact centre the best shot yet 
 made. 
 
 Now some shouted for Stutely and some 
 shouted for Elwyn ; but Elwyn's total mark was 
 declared the better. Whereupon the King turned 
 to the Queen. 
 
 " What say you now ? " quoth he in some tri- 
 umph. " Two out of the three first rounds have 
 gone to my men. Your outlaws will have to 
 shoot better than that in order to save your 
 wager ! " 
 
 The Queen smiled gently. 
 
 " Yea, my lord," she said. " But the twain 
 who are left are able to do the shooting. You 
 forget that I still have Little John and Robin 
 Hood." 
 
 " And you forget, my lady, that I still have 
 Tepus and Gilbert." 
 
 So each turned again to the lists and awaited 
 the next rounds in silent eagerness. I ween that 
 King Harry had never watched the invasion of 
 an enemy with more anxiety than he now 
 felt. 
 
 Tepus was chosen to go next and he fell into 
 the same error with Will Scarlet. He held the 
 string a moment too long, and both his first 
 and second arrows came to grief. One of them, 
 
176 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 however, came within the black rim, and he fol- 
 lowed it up by placing his third in the full centre, 
 just as Stutely had done in his last. These two 
 centres were the fairest shots that had been made 
 that day ; and loud was the applause which greeted 
 this second one. But the shouting was as noth- 
 ing to the uproar which followed Little John's 
 shooting. That good-natured giant seemed de- 
 termined to outdo Tepus by a tiny margin in 
 each separate shot ; for the first and the second 
 shafts grazed his rival's on the inner side, while for 
 the third Little John did the old trick of the 
 forest : he shot his own arrow in a graceful curve 
 which descended from above upon Tepus's 
 final centre shaft with a glancing blow that 
 drove the other out and left the outlaw's in its 
 place. 
 
 The King could scarce believe his eyes. " By 
 my halidom ! " quoth he, " that fellow deserves 
 either a dukedom or a hanging ! He must be in 
 league with Satan himself! Never saw I such 
 shooting." 
 
 " The score is tied, my lord," said the Queen, 
 " we have still to see Gilbert and Robin Hood." 
 
 Gilbert now took his stand and slowly shot his 
 arrows, one after another, into the bull's-eye. 
 Twas the best shooting he had yet done, but 
 
King Harry's Tourney 177 
 
 there was still the smallest of spaces left if you 
 looked closely at the very centre. 
 
 " Well done, Gilbert ! " spoke up Robin Hood. 
 ' You are a foeman worthy of being shot against." 
 He took his own place as he spoke. " Now if 
 you had placed one of your shafts there " loos- 
 ing one of his own " and another there " out 
 sped the second " and another there " the third 
 was launched " mayhap the King would have 
 declared you the best bowman in ail England ! " 
 
 But the last part of his merry speech was 
 drowned in the wild tumult of applause which 
 followed his exploit. His first two shafts had 
 packed themselves into the small space left at the 
 bull's-eye ; while his third had split down between 
 them, taking half of each, and making all three 
 appear from a distance, as one immense arrow. 
 
 Up rose the King in amazement and anger. 
 
 " Gilbert is not yet beaten ! " he cried. " Did 
 he not shoot within the mark thrice? And that 
 is allowed a best in all the rules of archery." 
 
 Robin bowed low. 
 
 " As it please Your Majesty ! " quoth he. 
 " But may I be allowed to place the mark for the 
 second shooting ? " 
 
 The King waved his hand sullenly. There- 
 upon Robin prepared another old trick of the 
 
1 78 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 greenwood, and got him a light, peeled willow 
 wand which he set in the ground in place of the 
 target. 
 
 " There, friend Gilbert," called he gayly ; " be- 
 like you can hit that ! " 
 
 " I can scarce see it from here," said Gilbert, 
 " much less hit it. Nathless, for the King's 
 honor, I will try." 
 
 But this final shot proved his undoing, and his 
 shaft flew harmlessly by the thin white streak. 
 Then came Robin to his stand again, and picked 
 his arrow with exceeding care, and tried his 
 string. Amid a breathless pause he drew the 
 good yew bow back to his ear, glanced along the 
 shaft, and let the feathered missile fly. Straight 
 it sped, singing a keen note of triumph as it went. 
 The willow wand was split in twain, as though it 
 had met a hunter's knife. 
 
 " Verily, I think your bow is armed with witch- 
 craft ! " cried Gilbert. " For I did not believe such 
 shooting possible." 
 
 " You should come to see our merry lads in 
 the greenwood," retorted Robin lightly. " For 
 willow wands do not grow upon the cobble- 
 stones of London town." 
 
 Meanwhile the King in great wrath had risen 
 to depart, first signing to the judges to distribute 
 
King Harry's Tourney 179 
 
 the prizes. Never a word said he, of good or ill, 
 to the Queen, but mounted his horse and, fol- 
 lowed by his sons and knights, rode off the field. 
 The archers dropped upon one knee as he passed, 
 but he gave them a single baleful look and was 
 gone. 
 
 Then the Queen beckoned the outlaws to ap- 
 proach, and they did so and knelt at her feet. 
 
 " Right well have ye served me," she said, 
 " and sorry am I that the King's anger is aroused 
 thereby. But fear ye not. His word and grace 
 hold true. As to these prizes ye have gained, I 
 add others of mine own the wagers I have won 
 from His Majesty the King and from the lord 
 Bishop of Hereford. Buy with some of these 
 moneys the best swords ye can find in London, 
 for all your band, and call them the swords of 
 the Queen. And swear with them to protect all 
 the poor and the helpless and the women-kind 
 who come your way." 
 
 " We swear," said the five yeomen solemnly. 
 
 Then the Queen gave each of them her hand 
 to kiss, and arose and departed with all her ladies. 
 And after they were gone, the King's archers 
 came crowding around Robin and his men, eager 
 to get a glimpse of the fellows about whom they 
 had heard so much. And back of them came a 
 
180 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 great crowd of the spectators pushing and jos- 
 tling in their efforts to come nearer. 
 
 "Verily!" laughed Little John, "they must 
 take us for a Merry Andrew show ! " 
 
 Now the judges came up, and announced to 
 each man his prize, according to the King's com- 
 mand. To Robin was given the purse contain- 
 ing twoscore golden pounds ; to Little John the 
 twoscore silver pennies ; and to Allan-a-Dale the 
 fine inlaid bugle, much to his delight, for he was 
 skilled at blowing sweet tunes upon the horn 
 hardly less than handling the harp strings. But 
 when the Rhenish wine and English beer and 
 harts of Dallom Lea were spoken of, Robin said : 
 
 " Nay, what need we of wine or beer, so far 
 from the greenwood? And 'twould be like 
 carrying coals to Newcastle, to drive those harts 
 to Sherwood ! Now Gilbert and Tepus and their 
 men have shot passing well. Wherefore, the 
 meat and drink must go to them, an they will 
 accept it of us." 
 
 " Right gladly," replied Gilbert grasping his 
 hand. " Ye are good men all, and we will toast 
 you every one, in memory of the greatest day at 
 archery that England has ever seen, or ever will 
 see ! " 
 
 Thus said all the King's archers, and the hand 
 
King Harry's Tourney 181 
 
 of good-fellowship was given amid much shout- 
 ing and clapping on the shoulder-blades. 
 
 And so ended King Harry's tourney, whose 
 story has been handed down from sire to son, 
 even unto the present day. 
 
CHAPTER XIV 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD WAS SOUGHT OF THE 
 
 TINKER 
 
 And while the tinker fell asleep, 
 
 Robin made haste away, 
 And left the tinker in the lurch, 
 
 For the great shot to pay. 
 
 KING HARRY was as good as his word. 
 Robin Hood and his party were suffered 
 to depart from London the parting 
 bringing keen sorrow to Marian and for forty 
 days no hand was raised against them. But at 
 the end of that time, the royal word was sent to 
 the worthy Sheriff at Nottingham that he must 
 lay hold upon the outlaws without further delay, 
 as he valued his office. 
 
 Indeed, the exploits of Robin and his band, 
 ending with the great tourney in Finsbury Field, 
 had made a mighty stir through all England, and 
 many there were to laugh boldly at the Notting- 
 ham official for his failures to capture the outlaws. 
 The Sheriff thereupon planned three new ex- 
 182 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 183 
 
 peditions into the greenwood, and was even 
 brave enough to lead them, since he had fifteen- 
 score men at his beck and call each time. But 
 never the shadow of an outlaw did he see, for 
 Robin's men lay close, and the Sheriff's men 
 knew not how to come at their chief hiding-place 
 in the cove before the cavern. 
 
 Now the Sheriff's daughter had hated Robin 
 Hood bitterly in her heart ever since the 
 day he refused to bestow upon her the golden 
 arrow, and shamed her before all the company. 
 His tricks, also, upon her father were not calcu- 
 lated to lessen her hatred, and so she sought about 
 for means to aid the Sheriff in catching the enemy. 
 
 " There is no need to go against this man with 
 force of arms," she said. " We must meet his 
 tricks with other tricks of our own." 
 
 " Would that we could ! " groaned the Sheriff. 
 " The fellow is becoming a nightmare unto me." 
 
 " Let me plan a while," she replied. " Belike 
 I can cook up some scheme for his undoing." 
 
 " Agreed," said the Sheriff, " and if anything 
 comes of your planning, I will e'en give you an 
 hundred silver pennies for a new gown, and a 
 double reward to the man who catches the 
 outlaw." 
 
 Now upon that same day, while the Sheriff's 
 
1 84 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 daughter was racking her brains for a scheme, 
 there came to the Mansion House a strolling 
 tinker named Middle, a great gossip and brag- 
 gart. And as he pounded away upon some pots 
 and pans in the scullery, he talked loudly about 
 what he would do, if he once came within reach 
 of that rascal Robin Hood. 
 
 " It might be that this simple fellow could do 
 something through his very simplicity," mused 
 the Sheriff's daughter, overhearing his prattle. 
 " Odds bodikins ! 'twill do no harm to try his 
 service, while I bethink myself of some better 
 plan." 
 
 And she called him to her, and looked him 
 over a big brawny fellow enough, with an hon- 
 est look about the eye, and a countenance so 
 open that when he smiled his mouth seemed the 
 only country on the map. 
 
 " I am minded to try your skill at outlaw 
 catching," she said, " and will add goodly meas- 
 ure to the stated reward if you succeed. Do 
 you wish to make good your boasted prowess?" 
 
 The tinker grinned broadly. 
 
 " Yes, your ladyship," he said. 
 
 " Then here is a warrant made out this morn- 
 ing by the Sheriff himself. See that you keep it 
 safely and use it to good advantage." 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 185 
 
 And she dismissed him. 
 
 Middle departed from the house mightily 
 pleased with himself, and proud of his commis- 
 sion. He swung his crab-tree-staff recklessly in 
 his glee so recklessly that he imperiled the 
 shins of more than one angry passer-by and 
 vowed he'd crack the ribs of Robin Hood with 
 it, though he was surrounded by every outlaw in 
 the whole greenwood. 
 
 Spurred on by the thoughts of his own com- 
 ing bravery, he left the town and proceeded 
 toward Barnesdale. The day was hot and 
 dusty and at noon-time he paused at a way- 
 side inn to refresh himself. He began by eating 
 and drinking and dozing, in turn, then sought to 
 do all at once. 
 
 Mine host of the " Seven Does " stood by, dis- 
 cussing the eternal Robin with a drover. 
 
 " Folk do say that my lord Sheriff has sent 
 into Lincoln for more men-at-arms and horses, 
 and that when he has these behind him, he'll 
 soon rid the forest of these fellows." 
 
 " Of whom speak you ? " asked the tinker 
 sitting up. 
 
 " Of Robin Hood and his men," said the 
 host ; " but go to sleep again. You will never 
 get the reward ! " 
 
1 86 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " And why not ? " asked the tinker rising 
 with great show of dignity. 
 
 " Where our Sheriff has failed, and the stout 
 Guy of Gisborne, and many more beside, it be- 
 hoves not a mere tinker to succeed." 
 
 The tinker laid a heavy hand upon the inn- 
 keeper's fat shoulder, and tried to look impress- 
 ive. 
 
 " There is your reckoning, host, upon the ta- 
 ble. I must e'en go upon my way, because I have 
 more important business than to stand here gos- 
 siping with you. But be not surprised, if, the 
 next time you see me, I shall have with me no 
 less person than Robin Hood himself ! " 
 
 And he strode loftily out the door and walked 
 up the hot white road toward Barnesdale. 
 
 He had not gone above a quarter of a mile when 
 he met a young man with curling brown hair and 
 merry eyes. The young man carried his light 
 cloak over his arm, because of the heat, and was un- 
 armed save for a light sword at his side. The 
 newcomer eyed the perspiring tinker in a 
 friendly way, and seeing he was a stout fellow 
 accosted him. 
 
 " Good -day to you ! " said he. 
 
 " Good-day to you ! " said the tinker ; " and 
 a morrow less heating." 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 187 
 
 " Aye," laughed the other. " Whence come 
 you ? And know you the news ? " 
 
 " What is the news ? " said the gossipy tinker, 
 pricking up his ear ; " I am a tinker by trade, 
 Middle by name, and come from over against 
 Banbury." 
 
 " Why as for the news," laughed the stranger, 
 " I hear that two tinkers were set i' the stocks 
 for drinking too much ale and beer." 
 
 " If that be all your news," retorted Mid- 
 dle, " I can beat you clear to the end of the 
 lane." 
 
 " What news have you ? Seeing that you go 
 from town to town, I ween you can outdo a 
 poor country yokel at tidings." 
 
 "All I have to tell," said the other, " is that I 
 am especially commissioned " he felt mightily 
 proud of these big words " especially commis- 
 sioned to seek a bold outlaw which they call 
 Robin Hood." 
 
 "So?" said the other arching his brows. 
 " How * especially commissioned ' ? " 
 
 " I have a warrant from the Sheriff, sealed with 
 the King's own seal, to take him where I can ; 
 and if you can tell me where he is, I will e'en 
 make a man of you." 
 
 " Let me see the warrant," said the other, " to 
 
i88 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 satisfy myself if it be right ; and I will do the 
 best I can to bring him to you." 
 
 " That will I not," replied the tinker ; " I will 
 trust none with it. And if you'll not help me to 
 come at him I must forsooth catch him by my- 
 self." 
 
 And he made his crab-tree-staff whistle shrill 
 circles in the air. 
 
 The other smiled at the tinker's simplicity, and 
 said : 
 
 " The middle of the road on a hot July day is 
 not a good place to talk things over. Now if 
 you're the man for me and I'm the man for you, 
 let's go back to the inn, just beyond the bend of 
 road, and quench our thirst and cool our heads 
 for thinking." ' 
 
 " Marry come up ! " quoth the tinker. " That 
 will I ! For though I've just come from there, 
 my thirst rises mightily at the sound of your 
 voice." 
 
 So back he turned with the stranger and pro- 
 ceeded to the " Seven Does." 
 
 The landlord arched his eyebrows silently 
 when he saw the two come in, but served them 
 willingly. 
 
 The tinker asked for wine, and Robin for ale. 
 The wine was not the most cooling drink in the 
 
How Robin -Hood was Sought 189 
 
 cellars, nor the clearest headed. Nathless, the 
 tinker asked for it, since it was expensive and 
 the other man had invited him to drink. They 
 lingered long over their cups, Master Mid- 
 dle emptying one after another while the stranger 
 expounded at great length on the best plans 
 for coming at and capturing Robin Hood. 
 
 In the end the tinker fell sound asleep while in 
 the act of trying to get a tankard to his lips. 
 Then the stranger deftly opened the snoring man's 
 pouch, took out the warrant, read it, and put it in 
 his own wallet. Calling mine host to him, he 
 winked at him with a half smile and told him that 
 the tinker would pay the whole score when he 
 awoke. Thus was Master Middle left in the lurch 
 " for the great shot to pay." 
 
 Nathless, the stranger seemed in no great hurry. 
 He had the whim to stay awhile and see what 
 the droll tinker might do when he awoke. So 
 he hid behind a window shutter, on the outside, 
 and awaited events. 
 
 Presently the tinker came to himself with a 
 prodigious yawn, and reached at once for another 
 drink. 
 
 " What were you saying, friend, about the best 
 plan ( ya-a-a-ah ! ) for catching this fellow ? 
 Hello ! where's the man gone ? " 
 
1 90 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 He had looked around and saw no one with 
 him at the table. 
 
 14 Host ! host ! " he shouted, " where is that 
 fellow who was to pay my reckoning ? " 
 
 " I know not," answered the landlord sharply. 
 " Mayhap he left the money in your purse." 
 
 " No he didn't ! " roared Middle, looking 
 therein. " Help ! help ! I've been robbed ! 
 Look you, host, you are liable to arrest for high 
 treason ! I am here upon the King's business, as I 
 told you earlier in the day. And yet while I did 
 rest under your roof, thinking you were an honest 
 man (hie!) and one loving of the King, my 
 pouch has been opened and many matters of state 
 taken from it." 
 
 " Cease your bellowing ! " said the landlord. 
 " What did you lose ? " 
 
 " Oh, many weighty matters, I do assure 
 you. I had with me, item, a warrant, granted 
 under the hand of my lord High Sheriff of 
 Nottingham, and sealed with the King's own 
 seal, for the capture ( hie ! ) and arrest and 
 overcoming of a notorious rascal, one Robin 
 Hood of Barnesdale. Item, one crust of bread. 
 Item, one lump ( hie ! ) of solder. Item, three 
 pieces of twine. Item, six single keys ( hie ! ), 
 useful withal. Item, twelve silver pennies, the 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 191 
 
 which I earned this week ( hie ! ) in fair labor. 
 I tern - 
 
 " Have done with your items ! " said the host. 
 " And I marvel greatly to hear you speak in such 
 fashion of your friend, Robin Hood of Barnes- 
 dale. For was he not with you just now ? and 
 did he not drink with you in all good-fellow- 
 ship ? " 
 
 " Wh-a-at ? That Robin Hood ? " gasped 
 Middle with staring eyes. " Why did you not 
 tell me?" 
 
 " Faith, / saw no need o' telling you ! Did 
 you not tell me the first time you were here to- 
 day, that I need not be surprised if you came 
 back with no less person than Robin Hood him- 
 self?" 
 
 " Jesu give me pardon ! " moaned the tinker. 
 " I see it all now. He got me to drinking, and 
 then took my warrant, and my pennies, and my 
 crust " 
 
 " Yes, yes," interrupted the host. " I know all 
 about that. But pay me the score for both of 
 you." 
 
 " But I have no money, gossip. Let me go 
 after that vile bag-o'-bones, and I'll soon get it 
 out of him." 
 
 " Not so," replied the other. " If I waited for 
 
192 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 you to collect from Robin Hood, I would soon 
 close up shop." 
 
 " What is the account ? " asked Middle. 
 
 " Ten shillings, just." 
 
 " Then take here my working-bag and my 
 good hammer too ; and if I light upon that knave, 
 I will soon come back after them." 
 
 " Give me your leathern coat as well," said 
 mine host ; " the hammer and bag of tools are as 
 naught to me." 
 
 " Gramercy ! " cried Master Middle, losing 
 what was left of his temper. " It seems that I 
 have escaped one thief only to fall into the hands 
 of another. If you will but walk with me out 
 into the middle of the road, I'll give you such a 
 crack as shall drive some honesty into your 
 thick skull." 
 
 " You are wasting your breath and my time," 
 retorted the landlord. " Give me your things, 
 and get you gone after your man, speedily." 
 
 Middle thought this to be good advice ; so he 
 strode forth from the " Seven Does " in a black 
 mood. 
 
 Ere he had gone half a mile, he saw Robin 
 Hood walking demurely among the trees a little 
 in front of him. 
 
 " Ho there, you villain ! " roared the tinker, 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 193 
 
 " Stay your steps ! I am desperately in need of 
 you this day ! " 
 
 Robin turned about with a surprised face. 
 
 " What knave is this ? " he asked gently, " who 
 comes shouting after me? " 
 
 " No knave ! no knave at all ! " panted the other 
 rushing up. " But an honest man who would 
 have that warrant and the money for drink ! " 
 
 " Why, as I live, it is our honest tinker who 
 was seeking Robin Hood ! Did you find him, 
 gossip ? " 
 
 " Marry, that did I ! and I'm now going to 
 pay him my respects ! " 
 
 And he plunged at him, making a sweeping 
 stroke with his crab-tree-cudgel. 
 
 Robin tried to draw his sword, but could not 
 do it for a moment through dodging the other's 
 furious blows. When he did get it in hand, the 
 tinker had reached him thrice with resounding 
 thwacks. Then the tables were turned, for he 
 dashed in right manfully with his shining blade 
 and made the tinker give back again. 
 
 The greenwood rang with the noise of the fray. 
 Twas steel against wood, and they made a ter- 
 rible clattering when they came together. Robin 
 thought at first that he could hack the cudgel to 
 pieces, for his blade was one of Toledo finely 
 
194 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 tempered steel which the Queen had given him. 
 But the crab-tree-staff had been fired and hard- 
 ened and seasoned by the tinker's arts until it 
 was like a bar of iron no pleasant neighbor for 
 one's ribs. 
 
 Robin presently found this out to his sorrow. 
 The long reach and long stick got to him when 
 'twas impossible for him to touch his antagonist. 
 So his sides began to ache sorely. 
 
 " Hold your hand, tinker," he said at length. 
 " I cry a boon of you." 
 
 " Before I do it," said the tinker, " I'd hang 
 you on this tree." 
 
 But even as he spoke, Robin found the mo- 
 ment's grace for which he longed ; and imme- 
 diately grasped his horn and blew the three well- 
 known blasts of the greenwood. 
 
 " A murrain seize you ! " roared the tinker 
 commencing afresh. " Up to your old tricks 
 again, are you ? Well, I'll have time to finish 
 my job, if I hurry." 
 
 But Robin was quite able to hold his own at a 
 pinch, and they had not exchanged many lunges 
 and passes when up came Little John and 
 Will Scarlet and a score of yeomen at their heels. 
 Middle was seized without ceremony, while Robin 
 sat himself down to breathe. 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 195 
 
 " What is the matter ? " quoth Little John, 
 " that you should sit so weariedly upon the high- 
 way side ? " 
 
 " Faith, that rascally tinker yonder has paid 
 his score well upon my hide," answered Robin 
 ruefully. 
 
 " That tinker, then," said Little John, " must 
 be itching for more work. Fain would I try if 
 he can do as much for me." 
 
 " Or me," said Will Scarlet, who like Little 
 John was always willing to swing a cudgel. 
 
 " Nay," laughed Robin. " Belike I could have 
 done better, an he had given me time to pull a 
 young tree up by the roots. But I hated to 
 spoil the Queen's blade upon his tough stick or 
 no less tough hide. Besides, he had a good 
 quarrel with me. He had a warrant for my ar- 
 rest which I stole from him." 
 
 " Also, item, twelve silver pennies," interposed 
 the tinker, unsubdued ; " item, one crust of 
 bread, 'gainst my supper. Item, one lump of 
 solder. Item, three pieces of twine. Item, six 
 single keys. Item " 
 
 " Yes, I know," quoth the merry Robin ; " I 
 stood outside the landlord's window and heard 
 you count over your losses. Here they are 
 again ; and the twelve silver pennies are turned 
 
196 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 by magic into gold. Here also, if you will, is my 
 hand." 
 
 " I take it heartily, with the pence ! " cried 
 Middle. " By my leathern coat and tools, which 
 I shall presently have out of that sly host, I 
 swear that I never yet met a man 1 liked as well 
 as you ! An you and your men here will take me, 
 I swear I'll serve you honestly. Do you want a 
 tinker ? Nay, but verily you must ! Who else 
 can mend and grind your swords and patch your 
 pannikins and fight, too, when occasion serve ? 
 Mend your pots ! mend your pa-a-ans ! " 
 
 And he ended his speech with the sonorous 
 cry of his craft. 
 
 By this time the whole band was laughing up- 
 roariously at the tinker's talk. 
 
 "What say you, fellows?" asked Robin. 
 " Would not this tinker be a good recruit? " 
 
 " That he would ! " answered Will Scarlet, 
 clapping the new man on the back. " He will 
 keep Friar Tuck and Much the miller's son from 
 having the blues." 
 
 So amid great merriment and right good fel- 
 lowship the outlaws shook Middle by the hand, 
 and he took oath of fealty, and thought no more 
 of the Sheriff's daughter. 
 
 The words of the old ballad which tells of this 
 
How Robin Hood was Sought 197 
 
 adventure may interest you here at the last. 
 Robin is ending his speech, after Master Middle 
 has sworn in : 
 
 " In manhood he's a mettled man 
 
 And a metal-man by trade ; 
 Never thought I that any man 
 Should have made me so afraid. 
 
 " And if he will be one of us, 
 
 We will take all one fare ; 
 And whatsoever we do get, 
 
 He shall have his rightful share." 
 
 So the tinker was content 
 
 With them to go along, 
 And with them a part to take : 
 
 And so I end my song. 
 
CHAPTER XV 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD WAS TANNED OF THE 
 TANNER 
 
 In Nottingham there lived a jolly tanner, 
 
 With a hey down, down, a down down ! 
 
 His name was Arthur-a- Bland ; 
 There was ne'er a squire in Nottinghamshire 
 
 Dare bid bold Arthur stand. 
 
 And as he went forth, in a summer's morning, 
 With a hey down, down, a down down ! 
 
 To the forest of merrie Sherwood, 
 To view the red deer, that range here and there, 
 
 There met he with bold Robin Hood. 
 
 THE Sheriff's daughter bided for several 
 days in the faint hope that she might 
 hear tidings of the prattling tinker. 
 But never a word heard she, and she was forced 
 to the conclusion that her messenger had not so 
 much as laid eyes upon the outlaw. Little recked 
 she that he was, even then, grinding sword-points 
 and sharpening arrows out in the good green- 
 wood, while whistling blithely or chatting merrily 
 with the good Friar Tuck. 
 198 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 199 
 
 Then she bethought herself of another good 
 man, one Arthur-a-Bland, a tanner who dwelt in 
 Nottingham town and was 'far-famed in the 
 tourneys round about. He had done some 
 pretty tricks at archery, but was strongest at 
 wrestling and the quarter-staff. For three years 
 he had cast all comers to the earth in wrestling 
 until the famous Eric o' Lincoln broke a rib for 
 him in a mighty tussle. Howsoever, at quarter- 
 staff he had never yet met his match ; so that 
 there was never a squire in Nottinghamshire dare 
 bid bold Arthur stand. 
 
 With a long pike-staff on his shoulder, 
 
 So well he could clear his way 
 That by two and three he made men flee 
 
 And none of them could stay. 
 
 Thus at least runs the old song which tells of 
 his might. 
 
 " This is just the man for me ! " thought the 
 Sheriff's daughter to herself ; and she forthwith 
 summoned him to the Mansion House and com- 
 missioned him to seek out Robin Hood. 
 
 The warrant was quite to Arthur's liking, for 
 he was happiest when out in the forest taking a 
 sly peep at the King's deer ; and now he reck- 
 oned that he could look at them boldly, instead 
 
2OO Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 of by the rays of the moon. He could say to 
 any King's Forester who made bold to stop him : 
 " I am here on the King's business !" 
 
 " Gramercy ! No more oak-bark and ditch- 
 water and the smell of half-tanned hides to-day ! " 
 quoth he, gaily. " I shall e'en see what the free 
 air of heaven tastes like, when it sweeps through 
 the open wood." 
 
 So the tanner departed joyfully upon his er- 
 rand, but much more interested in the dun deer 
 of the forest than in any two-legged rovers 
 therein. This interest had, in fact, caused the 
 Foresters to keep a shrewd eye upon him in the 
 past, for his tannery was apt to have plenty of 
 meat in it that was more like venison than the 
 law allowed. As for the outlaws, Arthur bore 
 them no ill-will ; indeed he had felt a secret envy 
 in his heart at their free life ; but he was not 
 afraid to meet any two men who might come 
 against him. Nathless, the Sheriff's daughter 
 did not choose a very good messenger, as you 
 shall presently see. 
 
 Away sped the tanner, a piece of bread and 
 some wine in his wallet, a good longbow and ar- 
 rows slung across his shoulder, his stout quarter- 
 staff in his hand, and on his head a cap of trebled 
 raw-hide so tough that it would turn the edge of 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 201 
 
 a broadsword. He lost no time in getting out of 
 the hot sun and into the welcome shade of the 
 forest, where he stalked cautiously about seeking 
 some sign of the dun deer. 
 
 Now it so chanced that upon that very morn- 
 ing Robin Hood had sent Little John to a neigh- 
 boring village to buy some cloth of Lincoln 
 green for new suits for all the band. Some of 
 the money recently won of the King was being 
 spent in this fashion, 'gainst the approach of 
 winter. Will Scarlet had been sent on a similar 
 errand to Barnesdale some time before, if you re- 
 member, only to be chased up the hill without 
 his purchase. So to-day Little John was chosen, 
 and for sweet company's sake Robin went with 
 him a part of the way until they came to the 
 " Seven Does," the inn where Robin had recently 
 played his prank upon Middle the tinker. Here 
 they drank a glass of ale to refresh themselves 
 withal, and for good luck ; and Robin tarried a 
 bit while Little John went on his errand. 
 
 Presently Robin entered the edge of the wood, 
 when whom should he see but Arthur-a-Bland, 
 busily creeping after a graceful deer that browsed 
 alone down the glade. 
 
 " Now by Saint George and the Dragon ! " 
 quoth Robin to himself. " I much fear that yon 
 
202 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 same fellow is a rascally poacher come after our 
 own and the King's meat ! " 
 
 For you must know, by a curious process of 
 reasoning, Robin and his men had hunted in the 
 royal preserves so long that they had come to 
 consider themselves joint owners to every animal 
 which roamed therein. 
 
 " Nay ! " he added, " this must be looked into ! 
 That cow-skin cap in sooth must hide a scurvy 
 varlet ! " 
 
 And forthwith he crept behind a tree, and 
 thence to another, stalking our friend Arthur as 
 busily as Arthur was stalking the deer. 
 
 This went on for quite a space, until the tanner 
 began to come upon the deer and to draw his 
 bow in order to tickle the victim's ribs with a 
 cloth-yard shaft. But just at this moment Robin 
 unluckily trod upon a twig which snapped and 
 caused the tanner to turn suddenly. 
 
 Robin saw that he was discovered, so he 
 determined to put a bold face on the matter, 
 and went forward with some smart show of 
 authority. 
 
 " Hold ! " he cried ; " stay your hand ! Why, 
 who are you, bold fellow, to range so boldly 
 here? In sooth, to be brief, ye look like a thief 
 that has come to steal the King's deer." 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 203 
 
 " Marry, it is scant concern of yours, what I 
 look like ! " retorted Arthur-a- Bland. " Who are 
 you, who speak so bravely ? " 
 
 " You shall soon find out who I am ! " quoth 
 Robin, determining to find some sport in the 
 matter. " I am a keeper of this forest. The 
 King knows that I am looking after his deer for 
 him ; and therefore we must stay you." 
 
 " Have you any assistants, friend ? " asked the 
 tanner calmly. " For it is not one man alone 
 who can stop me." 
 
 " Nay truly, gossip," replied Robin. " I have 
 a good yew bow, also a right sharp blade at my 
 side. Nathless I need no better assistant than a 
 good oak-graff like unto yours. Give me a 
 baker's dozen of minutes with it and it shall 
 pleasure me to crack that pate of yours for your 
 sauciness ! " 
 
 " Softly, my man ! Fair and softly ! Big 
 words never killed so much as a mouse least of 
 all yon deer which has got away while you were 
 filling all the woods with your noisy breath. So 
 choose your own playthings. For your sword 
 and your bow I care not a straw ; nor for all 
 your arrows to boot. If I get but a knock at 
 you, 'twill be as much as you'll need." 
 
 " Now by our Lady ! Will you listen to the 
 
204 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 braggart ? " cried Robin in a fine rage. " Marry, 
 but I'll teach ye to be more mannerly ! " 
 
 So saying he unbuckled his belt ; and, flinging 
 his bow upon the ground he seized hold of a 
 young sapling that was growing near by. His 
 hunting knife soon had it severed and lopped into 
 shape. 
 
 " Now come on, fellow ! " said Arthur-a-Bland, 
 seeing that he was ready. " And if I do not tan 
 your hide for you in better shape than ever calf- 
 skin was turned into top-boots, may a murrain 
 seize me ! " 
 
 " Stay," said Robin, " methinks my cudgel is 
 half a foot longer than yours. I would have them 
 of even length before you begin your tanning." 
 
 " I pass not for length," bold Arthur replied ; 
 " my staff is long enough, as you will shortly find 
 out. Eight foot and a-half, and 'twill knock 
 down a calf " here he made it whistle in the air 
 " and I hope it will knock down you." 
 
 Forthwith the two men spat on their hands, 
 laid firm hold upon their cudgels and began 
 slowly circling round each other, looking for an 
 opening. 
 
 Now it so chanced that Little John had fared 
 expeditiously with his errand. He'had met the 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 205 
 
 merchant, from whom he was wont to buy Lin- 
 coln green, coming along the road ; and had made 
 known his wants in few words. The merchant 
 readily undertook to deliver the suits by a certain 
 day in the following month. So Little John, 
 glad to get back to the cool shelter of the green- 
 wood, hasted along the road lately taken by 
 Robin. 
 
 Presently he heard the sound of angry voices, 
 one of which he recognized as his captain's. 
 
 " Now, Heaven forfend," quoth he, " that 
 Robin Hood has fallen into the clutches of a 
 King's man ! I must take a peep at this fray." 
 
 So he cautiously made his way from tree to 
 tree, as Robin had done, till he came to the little 
 open space where Robin and Arthur were cir- 
 cling about each other with angry looks, like two 
 dogs at bay. 
 
 " Ha ! this looks interesting ! " muttered Little 
 John to himself, for he loved a good quarter-staff 
 bout above anything else in the world, and was 
 the best man at it in all the greenwood. And he 
 crawled quietly underneath a friendly bush 
 much as he had done when Robin undertook to 
 teach Will Scarlet a lesson and chuckled softly 
 to himself and slapped his thigh and prepared to 
 watch the fight at his ease. 
 
206 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Indeed it was both exciting and laughable. 
 You would have chuckled one moment and 
 caught your breath the next, to see those two 
 stout fellows swinging their sticks each half as 
 long again as the men were, and thick as their 
 arm and edging along sidewise, neither wish- 
 ing to strike the first blow. 
 
 At last Robin could no longer forbear, and his 
 good right arm swung round like a flash. Ping ! 
 went the stick on the back of the other's head, 
 raising such a welt that the blood came. But the 
 tanner did not seem to mind it at all, for bing ! 
 went his own staff in return, giving Robin as 
 good as he had sent. Then the battle was on, 
 and furiously it waged. Fast fell the blows, but 
 few save the first ones landed, being met in mid- 
 air by a counter-blow till the thwacking sticks 
 sounded like the steady roll of a kettle-drum and 
 the oak-bark flew as fine as it had ever done in 
 Arthur-a-Bland's tannery. 
 
 Round and round they fought, digging their 
 heels into the ground to keep from slipping, so 
 that you would have vowed there had been a 
 yoke of oxen ploughing a potato-patch. Round 
 and round, up and down, in and out, their arms 
 working like threshing-machines, went the yeo- 
 man and the tanner, for a full hour, each becoming 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 207 
 
 more astonished every minute that the other was 
 such a good fellow. While Little John from un- 
 derneath his bushy covert had much ado to keep 
 from roaring aloud in pure joy. 
 
 Finally Robin saw his chance and brought a 
 full arm blow straight down upon the other's 
 head with a force that would have felled a bul- 
 lock. But Arthur's trebled cow-skin cap here 
 stood him in good stead : the blow glanced off 
 without doing more than stunning him. Nath- 
 less, he reeled and had much ado to keep from 
 falling ; seeing which Robin stayed his hand to 
 his own sorrow, for the tanner recovered his wits 
 in a marvelous quick space and sent back a side- 
 long blow which fairly lifted Robin off his feet 
 and sent him tumbling on to the grass. 
 
 " Hold your hand ! hold your hand ! " roared 
 Robin with what little breath he had left. 
 " Hold, I say, and I will give you the freedom of 
 the greenwood." 
 
 " Why, God-a-mercy," said Arthur ; " I may 
 thank my staff for that not you." 
 
 " Well, well, gossip ! let be as it may. But 
 prithee tell me your name and trade. I like to 
 know fellows who can hit a blow like that same 
 last." 
 
 " I am a tanner," replied Arthur-a-Bland. 
 
2c8 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " In Nottingham long have I wrought. And if 
 you'll come to me I swear I'll tan your hides for 
 naught." 
 
 " Odds bodikins ! " quoth Robin ruefully 
 " Mine own hide is tanned enough for the pres- 
 ent. Howsoever, there be others in this wood I 
 would fain see you tackle. Harkee, if you will 
 leave your tan-pots and come with me, as sure as 
 my name is Robin Hood, you shan't want gold 
 or fee." 
 
 " By the breath o' my body ! " said Arthur, 
 " that will I do ! " and he gripped him gladly by 
 the hand. 4< But I am minded that I clean forgot 
 the errand that brought me to Sherwood. I was 
 commissioned by some, under the Sheriff's roof, 
 to capture you." 
 
 " So was a certain tinker, now in our service," 
 said Robin smilingly. 
 
 " Verily 'tis a new way to recruit forces ! " said 
 the tanner laughing loudly. " But tell me, good 
 Robin Hood, where is Little John ? I fain would 
 see him, for he is a kinsman on my mother's side." 
 
 " Here am I, good Arthur-a-Bland ! " said a 
 voice ; and Little John literally rolled out from 
 under the bush to the sward. His eyes were full 
 of tears from much laughter which had well-nigh 
 left him powerless to get on his feet. 
 
How Robin Hood was Tanned 209 
 
 As soon as the astonished tanner saw who it 
 was, he gave Little John a mighty hug around 
 the neck, and lifted him up on his feet, and the 
 two pounded each other on the back soundly, so 
 glad were they to meet again. 
 
 " O, man, man ! " said Little John as soon as he 
 had got his breath. " Never saw I so fine a sight 
 in all my born days. You did knock him over 
 like as he were a ninepin ! " 
 
 " And you do joy to see me thwacked about 
 on the ribs?" asked Robin with some choler. 
 
 " Nay, not that, master ! " said Little John. 
 " But 'tis the second time I have had special tick- 
 ets to a show from beneath the bushes, and I 
 cannot forbear my delight. Howsoever, take no 
 shame unto yourself, for this same Arthur-a- 
 Bland is the best man at the quarter-staff in all 
 Nottinghamshire. It commonly takes two or 
 three men to hold him." 
 
 " Unless it be Eric o' Lincoln," said Arthur 
 modestly ; " and I well know how you paid him 
 out at the Fair." 
 
 " Say no more ! " said Robin springing to his 
 feet ; " for well I know that I have done good 
 business this day, and a few bruises are easy pay- 
 ment for the stout cudgel I am getting into the 
 band. Your hand again, good Arthur-a-Bland ! 
 
2lo Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Come ! let us after the deer of which I spoiled 
 your stalking." 
 
 " Right gladly ! " quoth Arthur. " Come, 
 Cousin Little John ! Away with vats and tan- 
 bark and vile-smelling cowhides ! I'll follow you 
 two in the sweet open air to the very ends of the 
 earth ! " 
 
CHAPTER XVI 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD MET SIR RICHARD OF 
 THE LEA 
 
 Then answered him the gentle knight 
 
 With words both fair and free : 
 " God save thee, my good Robin, 
 
 And all thy company ! " 
 
 NOW you must know that some months 
 passed by. The winter dragged its 
 weary length through Sherwood Forest, 
 and Robin Hood and his merry men found what 
 cheer they could in the big crackling fires before 
 their woodland cave. Friar Tuck had built him 
 a little hermitage not far away, where he lived 
 comfortably with his numerous dogs. 
 
 The winter, I say, reached an end at last, and 
 the blessed spring came and went. Another 
 summer passed on apace, and still neither King 
 nor Sheriff nor Bishop could catch the outlaws, 
 who, meanwhile, thrived and prospered mightily 
 in their outlawry. The band had been increased 
 from time to time by picked men such as Arthur- 
 
 211 
 
212 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 a-Bland and David of Doncaster he who was 
 the jolliest cobbler for miles around until it now 
 numbered a full sevenscore of men ; seven com- 
 panies each with its stout lieutenant serving under 
 Robin Hood. And still they relieved the purses 
 of the rich, and aided the poor, and feasted upon 
 King's deer, until the lank Sheriff of Nottingham 
 was well-nigh distracted. 
 
 Indeed, that official would probably have lost 
 his office entirely, had it not been for the fact of 
 the King's death. Henry passed away, as all 
 kings will, in common with ordinary men, and 
 Richard of the Lion Heart was proclaimed as his 
 successor. 
 
 Then Robin and his men, after earnest debate, 
 resolved to throw themselves upon the mercy of 
 the new King, swear allegiance, and ask to be 
 organized into Royal Foresters. So Will Scar- 
 let and Will Stutely and Little John were sent to 
 London with this message, which they were first 
 to entrust privately to Maid Marian. But they 
 soon returned with bad tidings. The new King 
 had formerly set forth upon a crusade to the 
 Holy Land, and Prince John, his brother, was 
 impossible to deal with being crafty, cruel and 
 treacherous. He was laying his hands upon all 
 the property which could easily be seized ; among 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 213 
 
 other estates, that of the Earl of Huntingdon, 
 Robin's old enemy and Marian's father, who had 
 lately died. 
 
 Marian herself was in sore straits. Not only 
 had her estates been taken away, and the maid 
 been deprived of the former protection of the 
 Queen, but the evil Prince John had persecuted 
 her with his attentions. He thought that since 
 the maid was defenseless he could carry her away 
 to one of his castles and none could gainsay 
 him. 
 
 No word of this peril reached Robin's ears, 
 although his men brought him word of the seizure 
 of the Huntingdon lands. Nathless, he was 
 greatly alarmed for the safety of Maid Marian, 
 and his heart cried out for her strongly. She 
 had been continually in his thoughts ever since 
 the memorable shooting at London town. 
 
 One morning in early autumn when the leaves 
 were beginning to turn gold at the edges, the 
 chestnut-pods to swell with promise of fatness, 
 and the whole wide woodland was redolent with 
 the ripe fragrance of fruit and flower, Robin was 
 walking along the edge of a small open glade 
 busy with his thoughts. The peace of the woods 
 was upon him, despite his broodings of Marian, 
 and he paid little heed to a group of does quietly 
 
214 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 feeding among the trees at the far edge of the 
 glade. 
 
 But presently this sylvan picture was rudely 
 disturbed for him. A stag, wild and furious, 
 dashed suddenly forth from among the trees, 
 scattering the does in swift alarm. The vicious 
 beast eyed the green-and-gold tunic of Robin, 
 and, lowering its head, charged at him impet- 
 uously. So sudden was its attack that Robin had 
 no time to bend his bow. He sprang behind a 
 tree while he seized his weapon. 
 
 A moment later the wild stag crashed blindly 
 into the tree-trunk with a shock which sent the 
 beast reeling backwards, while the dislodged 
 leaves from the shivering tree fell in a small 
 shower over Robin's head. 
 
 " By my halidom, I am glad it was not me you 
 struck, my gentle friend!" quoth Robin, fixing 
 an arrow upon the string. " Sorry indeed would 
 be any one's plight who should encounter you in 
 this black humor." 
 
 Scarcely had he spoken when he saw the stag 
 veer about and fix its glances rigidly on the 
 bushes to the left side of the glade. These were 
 parted by a delicate hand, and through the open- 
 ing appeared the slight figure of a page. It was 
 Maid Marian, come back again to the greenwood ! 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 215 
 
 She advanced, unconscious alike of Robin's 
 horrified gaze and the evil fury of the stag. 
 
 She was directly in line with the animal, so 
 Robin dared not launch an arrow. Her own 
 bow was slung across her shoulder, and her small 
 sword would be useless against the beast's charge. 
 But now as she caught sight of the stag she 
 pursed her lips as though she would whistle to it. 
 
 " For the love of God, dear lady ! " cried Robin ; 
 and then the words died in his throat. 
 
 With a savage snort of rage, the beast rushed 
 at this new and inviting target rushed so swiftly 
 and from so short a distance that she could not 
 defend herself. She sprang to one side as it 
 charged down upon her, but a side blow from its 
 antlers stretched her upon the ground. The stag 
 stopped, turned, and lowered its head preparing 
 to gore her to death. 
 
 Already its cruel horns were coming straight 
 for her, while she, white of face and bewildered 
 by the sudden attack, was struggling to rise and 
 draw her sword. A moment more and the end 
 would come. But the sharp voice of Robin had 
 already spoken. 
 
 " Down, Marian ! " he cried, and the girl in- 
 stinctively obeyed, just as the shaft from Robin's 
 bow went whizzing close above her head and 
 
216 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 struck with terrific force full in the centre of the 
 stag's forehead. 
 
 The beast stumbled in its charge and fell dead, 
 across the body of the fainting maid. 
 
 Robin was quickly by her side, and dragged 
 the beast from off the girl. Picking her up in 
 his strong arms, he bore her swiftly to the side 
 of one of the many brooks which watered the 
 vale. 
 
 He dashed cool water upon her face, roughly 
 almost, in his agony of fear that she was already 
 dead, and he could have shed tears of joy to see 
 those poor, closed eyelids tremble. He redoub- 
 led his efforts ; and presently she gave a little 
 gasp. 
 
 " Where am I ? What is't ? " 
 
 " You are in Sherwood, dear maid, tho', i' faith, 
 we gave you a rude reception ! " 
 
 She opened her eyes and sat up. " Methinks 
 you have rescued me from sudden danger, sir/' 
 she said. 
 
 Then she recognized Robin for the first time, 
 and a radiant smile came over her face, together 
 with the rare blush of returned vitality, and her 
 head sank upon his shoulder with a little tremble 
 and sigh of relief. 
 
 " Oh, Robin, it is you ! " she murmured. 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 217 
 
 " Aye, 'tis I. Thank heaven, I was at hand to 
 do you service ! " Robin's tones were deep and 
 full of feeling. " I swear, dear Marian, that I 
 will not let you from my care henceforth." 
 
 Not another word was spoken for some mo- 
 ments, while her head still rested confidingly 
 upon his breast. Then recollecting, he suddenly 
 cried : 
 
 " Gramercy, I make but a poor nurse ! I have 
 not even asked if any of your bones are 
 broken." 
 
 " No, not any," she answered springing lightly 
 to her feet to show him. " That foolish dizziness 
 o'ercame me for the nonce, but we can now pro- 
 ceed on our way." 
 
 " Nay, I meant not that," he protested ; " why 
 should we haste ? First tell me of the news in 
 London town, and of yourself." 
 
 So she told him how that the Prince had seized 
 upon her father's lands, and had promised to re- 
 store them to her if she would listen to his suit; 
 and how that she knew he meant her no good, 
 for he was even then suing for a Princess's 
 hand. 
 
 " That is all, Robin," she ended simply ; " and 
 that is why I donned again my page's costume 
 and came to you in the greenwood." 
 
2l8 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Robin's brow had grown fiercely black at the 
 recital of her wrongs ; and he had laid stern 
 hand upon the hilt of his sword. 
 
 " By this sword which Queen Eleanor gave 
 me ! " he said impetuously ; " and which was de- 
 voted to the service of all womankind, I take 
 oath that Prince John and all his armies shall not 
 harm you ! " 
 
 So that is how Maid Marian came to take up 
 her abode in the greenwood, where the whole 
 band of yeomen welcomed her gladly and swore 
 fealty ; and where the sweet lady of Allan-a-Dale 
 made her fully at home. 
 
 But this was a day of deeds in Sherwood For- 
 est, and we 'gan to tell you of another happen- 
 ing which led to later events. 
 
 While Robin and Marian were having their 
 encounter with the stag, Little John, Much the 
 miller's son, and Will Scarlet had sallied forth to 
 watch the highroad leading to Barnesdale, if per- 
 chance they might find some haughty knight or 
 fat priest whose wallet needed lightening. 
 
 They had scarcely watched the great road 
 known as Watling Street which runs from 
 Dover in Kent to Chester town for many 
 minutes, when they espied a knight riding by in 
 a very forlorn and careless manner. 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 219 
 
 All dreary was his semblance, 
 
 And little was his pride ; 
 His one foot in the stirrup stood, 
 
 His other waved beside. 
 
 His visor hung down o'er his eyes, 
 
 He rode in single array, 
 A sorrier man than he was one 
 
 Rode never in summer's day. 
 
 Little John came up to the knight and bade 
 him stay ; for who can judge of a man's wealth 
 by his looks ? The outlaw bent his knee in all 
 courtesy, and prayed him to accept the hospi- 
 tality of the forest. 
 
 " My master expects you to dine with him, to- 
 day," quoth he, " and indeed has been fasting, < 
 while awaiting your coming, these three hours." 
 
 " Who is your master ? " asked the knight. 
 
 " None other than Robin Hood/' replied Little 
 John, laying his hand upon the knight's bridle. 
 
 Seeing the other two outlaws approaching, the 
 knight shrugged his shoulders, and replied in- 
 differently. 
 
 " Tis clear that your invitation is too urgent to 
 admit of refusal," quoth he, " and I go with you 
 right willingly, my friends. My purpose was to 
 have dined to-day at Blyth or Doncaster ; but 
 nothing matters greatly." 
 
22O Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 So in the same lackadaisical fashion which had 
 marked all his actions that day, the knight 
 suffered his horse to be led to the rendezvous of 
 the band in the greenwood. 
 
 Marian had not yet had time to change her 
 page's attire, when the three escorts of the knight 
 hove in sight. She recognized their captive as 
 Sir Richard of the Lea, whom she had often seen 
 at court ; and fearing lest he might recognize her, 
 she would have fled. But Robin asked her, with 
 a twinkle, if she would not like to play page that 
 day, and she in roguish mood consented to 
 do so. 
 
 " Welcome, Sir Knight," said Robin, cour- 
 teously. " You are come in good time, for we 
 were just preparing to sit down to meat." 
 
 " God save and thank you, good master Robin," 
 returned the knight ; " and all your company. 
 It likes me well to break the fast with you." 
 
 So while his horse was cared for, the knight 
 laid aside his own heavy gear, and laved his face 
 and hands, and sat down with Robin and all his 
 men to a most plentiful repast of venison, swans, 
 pheasants, various small birds, cakes and ale. 
 And Marian stood behind Robin and filled his 
 cup and that of the guest. 
 
 After eating right heartily of the good cheer, 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 221 
 
 the knight brightened up greatly and vowed that 
 he had not enjoyed so good a dinner for nigh 
 three weeks. He also said that if ever Robin and 
 his fellows should come to his domains, he would 
 strive to set them down to as good a dinner on 
 his own behalf. 
 
 But this was not exactly the sort of payment 
 which Robin had expected to receive. He 
 thanked the knight, therefore, in set phrase, but 
 reminded him that a yeoman like himself might 
 hardly offer such a dinner to a knight as a gift 
 of charity. 
 
 " I have no money, Master Robin," answered 
 the knight frankly. " I have so little of the 
 world's goods, in sooth, that I should be ashamed 
 to offer you the whole of it." 
 
 " Money, however little, always jingles merrily 
 in our pockets," said Robin, smiling. " Pray you 
 tell me what you deem a little sum." 
 
 " I have of my own ten silver pennies," said 
 the knight. " Here they are, and I wish they 
 were ten times as many." 
 
 He handed -Little John his pouch, and Robin 
 nodded carelessly. 
 
 " What say you to the total, Little John ? " he 
 asked as though in jest. 
 
 " 'Tis true enough, as the worthy knight hath 
 
222 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 said,' 1 responded the big fellow gravely emptying 
 the contents on his cloak. 
 
 Robin signed to Marian, who filled a bumper 
 of wine for himself and his guest. 
 
 " Pledge me, Sir Knight ! " cried the merry out- 
 law ; " and pledge me heartily, for these sorry 
 times. I see that your armor is bent and that 
 your clothes are torn. Yet methinks I saw you 
 at court, once upon a day, and in more prosper- 
 ous guise. Tell me now, were you a yeoman 
 and made a knight by force? Or, have you 
 been a bad steward to yourself, and wasted your 
 property in lawsuits and the like? Be not 
 bashful with us. We shall not betray your 
 secrets." 
 
 "I am a Saxon knight in my own right ; 
 and I have always lived a sober and quiet life," 
 the sorrowful guest replied. " 'Tis true you have 
 seen me at court, mayhap, for I was an excited 
 witness at your shooting before King Harry 
 God rest his bones ! My name is Sir Richard of 
 the Lea, and I dwell in a castle, not a league from 
 one of the gates of Nottingham, which has be- 
 longed to my father, and his father, and his father's 
 father before him. Within two or three years ago 
 my neighbors might have told you that a matter of 
 four hundred pounds one way or the other was as 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 223 
 
 naught to me. But now I have only these ten 
 pennies of silver, and my wife and son." 
 
 " In what manner have you lost your riches ? " 
 asked Robin. 
 
 " Through folly and kindness," said the knight, 
 sighing. " I went with King Richard upon a 
 crusade, from which I am but lately returned, in 
 time to find my son a goodly youth grown 
 up. He was but twenty, yet he had achieved a 
 squire's training and could play prettily in jousts 
 and tournaments and other knightly games. 
 But about this time he had the ill luck to push 
 his sports too far, and did accidentally kill a 
 knight in the open lists. To save the boy, I had 
 to sell my lands and mortgage my ancestral 
 castle ; and this not being enough, in the end I 
 have had to borrow money, at a ruinous interest, 
 from my lord of Hereford." 
 
 " A most worthy Bishop," said Robin iron- 
 ically. " What is the sum of your debt ? " 
 
 " Four hundred pounds," said Sir Richard, " and 
 the Bishop swears he will foreclose the mortgage 
 if they are not paid promptly." 
 
 " Have you any friends who would become 
 surety for you ? " 
 
 " Not one. If good King Richard were here, 
 the tale might be otherwise." 
 
224 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Fill your goblet again, Sir Knight," said 
 Robin ; and he turned to whisper a word in 
 Marian's ear. She nodded and drew Little John 
 and Will Scarlet aside and talked earnestly with 
 them, in a low tone. 
 
 " Here is health and prosperity to you, gallant 
 Robin," said Sir Richard, tilting his goblet. " I 
 hope I may pay your cheer more worthily, the 
 next time I ride by." 
 
 Will Scarlet and Little John had meanwhile 
 fallen in with Marian's idea, for they consulted 
 the other outlaws, who nodded their heads. 
 Thereupon Little John and Will Scarlet went into 
 the cave near by and presently returned bearing a 
 bag of gold. This they counted out before the 
 astonished knight ; and there were four times one 
 hundred gold pieces in it. 
 
 " Take this loan from us, Sir Knight, and pay 
 your debt to the Bishop," then said Robin. 
 " Nay, no thanks ; you are but exchanging cred- 
 itors. Mayhap we shall not be so hard upon 
 you as the Christian Bishop ; yet, again we may 
 be harder. Who can tell ? " 
 
 There were actual tears in Sir Richard's eyes, 
 as he essayed to thank the foresters. But at this 
 juncture, Much, the miller's son came from the 
 cave dragging a bale of cloth. 
 
How Robin Hood Met Sir Richard 225 
 
 " The knight should have a suit worthy of his 
 rank, master think you not so ? " 
 
 " Measure him twenty ells of it," ordered Robin. 
 
 " Give him a good horse, also," whispered 
 Marian. " Tis a gift which will come back four- 
 fold, for this is a worthy man. I know him well." 
 
 So the horse was given, also, and Robin bade 
 Arthur-a-Bland ride with the knight as far as his 
 castle, as esquire. 
 
 The knight was sorrowful no longer; yet he 
 could hardly voice his thanks through his broken 
 utterance. And having spent the night in rest, 
 after listening to Allan-a-Dale's singing, he 
 mounted his new steed the following morning an 
 altogether different man. 
 
 " God save you, comrades, and keep you all ! " 
 said he, with deep feeling in his tones ; " and give 
 me a grateful heart ! " 
 
 " We shall wait for you twelve months from 
 to-day, here in this place," said Robin, shaking 
 him by the hand ; " and then you will repay us 
 the loan, if you have been prospered." 
 
 " I shall return it to you within the year, upon 
 my honor as Sir Richard of the Lea. And for 
 all time, pray count on me as a steadfast friend." 
 
 So saying the knight and his esquire rode 
 down the forest glade till they were lost to view. 
 
CHAPTER XVII 
 HOW THE BISHOP WAS DINED 
 
 " O what is the matter ? " then said the Bishop, 
 
 "Or foi whom do you make this a-do? 
 Or why do you kill the King's venison, 
 When your company is so few ? " 
 
 " We are shepherds," quoth bold Robin Hood, 
 
 " And we keep sheep all the year, 
 And we are disposed to be merrie this day, 
 And to kill of the King's fat deer." 
 
 NOT many days after Sir Richard of the 
 Lea came to Sherwood Forest, word 
 reached Robin Hood's ears that my 
 lord Bishop of Hereford would be riding that 
 way betimes on that morning. 'Twas Arthur-a- 
 Bland, the knight's quondam esquire, who 
 brought the tidings, and Robin's face brightened 
 as he heard it. 
 
 " Now, by our Lady ! " quoth he, " I have 
 long desired to entertain my lord in the green- 
 wood, and this is too fair a chance to let slip. 
 Come, my men, kill me a venison ; kill me a 
 good fat deer. The Bishop of Hereford is to 
 226 
 
How the Bishop was Dined 227 
 
 dine with me to-day, and he shall pay well for 
 his cheer." 
 
 " Shall we dress it here, as usual ? " asked 
 Much, the miller's son. 
 
 " Nay, we will play a droll game on the 
 churchman. We will dress it by the highway 
 side, and watch for the Bishop narrowly, lest he 
 should ride some other way." 
 
 So Robin gave his orders, and the main body 
 of his men dispersed to different parts of the 
 forest, under Will Stutely and Little John, to 
 watch other roads ; while Robin Hood himself 
 took six of his men, including Will Scarlet, and 
 Much, and posted himself in full view of the 
 main road. This little company appeared funny 
 enough, I assure you, for they had disguised 
 themselves as shepherds. Robin had an old 
 wool cap, with a tail to it, hanging over his ear, 
 and a shock of hair stood straight up through a 
 hole in the top. Besides there was so much dirt 
 on his face that you would never have known 
 him. An old tattered cloak over his hunter's 
 garb completed his make-up. The others were 
 no less ragged and unkempt, even the foppish 
 Will Scarlet being so badly run down at the heel 
 that the court ladies would hardly have had 
 speech with him. 
 
228 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 They quickly provided themselves with a deer 
 and made great preparations to cook it over a 
 small fire, when a little dust was seen blowing 
 along the highway, and out of it came the portly 
 Bishop cantering along with ten men-at-arms at 
 his heels. As soon as he saw the fancied shep- 
 herds he spurred up his horse, and came straight 
 toward them. 
 
 " Who are ye, fellows, who make so free with 
 the King's deer ? " he asked sharply. 
 
 " We are shepherds," answered Robin Hood, 
 pulling at his forelock awkwardly. 
 
 " Heaven have mercy ! Ye seem a sorry lot 
 of shepherds. But who gave you leave to cease 
 eating mutton ? " 
 
 " Tis one of our feast days, lording, and we were 
 disposed to be merry this day, and make free 
 with a deer, out here where they are so many." 
 
 " By my faith, the King shall hear of this. 
 Who killed yon beast ? " 
 
 " Give me first your name, excellence, so that 
 I may speak where 'tis fitting," replied Robin 
 stubbornly. 
 
 " Tis my lord Bishop of Hereford, fellow ! " 
 interposed one of the guards fiercely. " See 
 that you keep a civil tongue in your head." 
 
 " If 'tis a churchman," retorted Will Scarlet, 
 
How the Bishop was Dined 229 
 
 " he would do better to mind his own flocks rather 
 than concern himself with ours." 
 
 " Ye are saucy fellows, in sooth," cried the 
 Bishop, " and we will see if your heads will pay 
 for your manners. Come ! quit your stolen 
 roast and march along with me, for you shall be 
 brought before the Sheriff of Nottingham forth- 
 with." 
 
 " Pardon, excellence ! " said Robin, dropping 
 on his knees. " Pardon, I pray you. It be- 
 comes not your lordship's coat to take so many 
 lives away." 
 
 " Faith, I'll pardon you ! " said the Bishop. 
 " I'll pardon you, when I see you hanged ! Seize 
 upon them, my men ! " 
 
 But Robin had already sprung away with his 
 back against a tree. And from underneath his 
 ragged cloak he drew his trusty horn and winded 
 the piercing notes which were wont to summon 
 the band. 
 
 The Bishop no sooner saw this action than he 
 knew his man, and that there was a trap set ; and 
 being an arrant coward, he wheeled his horse 
 sharply and would have made off down the road ; 
 but his own men, spurred on the charge, blocked 
 his way. At almost the same instant the bushes 
 round about seemed literally to become alive 
 
230 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 with outlaws. Little John's men came from one 
 side and Will Stutely's from the other. In less 
 time than it takes to tell it, the worthy Bishop 
 found himself a prisoner, and began to crave 
 mercy from the men he had so lately been ready 
 to sentence. 
 
 " O pardon, O pardon," said the Bishop, 
 
 " O pardon, I you pray. 
 For if I had known it had been you, 
 I'd have gone some other way." 
 
 " I owe you no pardon," retorted Robin," but 
 I will e'en treat you better than you would have 
 treated me. Come, make haste, and go along 
 with me. I have already planned that you shall 
 dine with me this day." 
 
 So the unwilling prelate was dragged away, 
 cheek by jowl, with the half-cooked venison upon 
 the back of his own horse ; and Robin and his 
 band took charge of the whole company and led 
 them through the forest glades till they came to 
 an open space near Barnesdale. 
 
 Here they rested, and Robin gave the Bishop 
 a seat full courteously. Much the miller's son 
 fell to roasting the deer afresh, while another and 
 fatter beast was set to frizzle on the other side of 
 the fire. Presently the appetizing odor of the 
 cooking reached the Bishop's nostrils, and he 
 
How the Bishop was Dined 231 
 
 sniffed it eagerly. The morning's ride had made 
 him hungry ; and he was nothing loath when 
 they bade him come to the dinner. Robin gave 
 him the best place beside himself, and the Bishop 
 prepared to fall to. 
 
 " Nay, my lord, craving your pardon, but we 
 are accustomed to have grace before meat," said 
 Robin decorously. " And as our own chaplain 
 is not with us to-day, will you be good enough 
 to say it for us ? " 
 
 The Bishop reddened, but pro'nounced grace in 
 the Latin tongue hastily, and then settled him- 
 self to make the best of his lot. Red wines and 
 ale were brought forth and poured out, each man 
 having a horn tankard from which to drink. 
 
 Laughter bubbled among the diners, and the 
 Bishop caught himself smiling at more than one 
 jest. But who, in sooth, could resist a freshly 
 broiled venison steak eaten out in the open air to 
 the tune of jest and good fellowship ? Stutely 
 filled the Bishop's beaker with wine each time he 
 emptied it, and the Bishop got mellower and 
 mellower as the afternoon shades lengthened on 
 toward sunset. Then the approaching dusk 
 warned him of his position. 
 
 " I wish, mine host," quoth he gravely to 
 Robin, who had soberly drunk but one cup of 
 
232 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 ale, " that you would now call a reckoning. Tis 
 late, and I fear the cost of this entertainment may 
 be more than my poor purse can stand/'" 
 
 For he bethought himself of his friend, the 
 Sheriff's former experience. 
 
 " Verily, your lordship," said Robin, scratch- 
 ing his head, " I have enjoyed your company 
 so much, that I scarce know how to charge 
 for it." 
 
 " Lend me your purse, my lord," said Little 
 John, interposing, " and I'll give you the reckon- 
 ing by and by." 
 
 The Bishop shuddered. He had collected Sir 
 Richard's debt only that morning, and was even 
 then carrying it home. 
 
 " I have but a few silver pennies of my own," 
 he whined ; " and as for the gold in my saddle- 
 bags, 'tis for the church. Ye surely would not 
 levy upon the church, good friends." 
 
 But Little John was already gone to the sad- 
 dle-bags, and returning he laid the Bishop's cloak 
 upon the ground, and poured out of the port- 
 mantua a matter of four hundred glittering gold 
 pieces. Twas the identical money which Robin 
 had lent Sir Richard a short while before ! 
 
 " Ah ! " said Robin, as though an idea had but 
 just then come to him. " The church is always 
 
How the Bishop was Dined 233 
 
 willing to aid in chanty. And seeing this goodly 
 sum reminds me that I have a friend who is in- 
 debted to a churchman for this exact amount. 
 Now we shall charge you nothing on our own 
 account ; but suffer us to make use of this in aid- 
 ing my good friend." 
 
 " Nay, nay," began the Bishop with a wry face, 
 " this is requiting me ill indeed. Was this not 
 the King's meat, after all, that we feasted upon ? 
 Furthermore, I am a poor man." 
 
 " Poor forsooth ! " answered Robin in scorn. 
 " You are the Bishop of Hereford, and does not 
 the whole countryside speak of your oppression ? 
 Who does not know of your cruelty to the poor 
 and ignorant you who should use your great 
 office to aid them, instead of oppress ? Have 
 you not been guilty of far greater robbery than 
 this, even though less open ? Of myself, and 
 how you have pursued me, I say nothing ; nor 
 of your unjust enmity against my father. But 
 on account of those you have despoiled and op- 
 pressed, I take this money, and will use it far 
 more worthily than you would. God be my wit- 
 ness in this ! There is an end of the matter, un- 
 less you will lead us in a song or dance to show 
 that your body has a better spirit than your mind. 
 Come, strike up the harp, Allan ! " 
 
234 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Neither the one nor the other will I do," 
 snarled the Bishop. 
 
 " Faith, then we must help you," said Little 
 John ; and he and Arthur-a-Bland seized the fat, 
 struggling churchman and commenced to hop 
 up and down. The Bishop being shorter must 
 perforce accompany them in their gyrations ; 
 while the whole company sat and rolled about 
 over the ground, and roared to see my lord of 
 Hereford's queer capers. At last he sank in a 
 heap, fuddled with wine and quite exhausted. 
 
 Little John picked him up as though he were 
 a log of wood and carrying him to his horse, set 
 him astride facing the animal's tail ; and thus 
 fastened him, leading the animal toward the high- 
 road and, starting the Bishop, more dead than 
 alive, toward Nottingham. 
 
CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 HOW THE BISHOP WENT OUTLAW- 
 HUNTING 
 
 The Bishop he came to the old woman's house, 
 
 And called with furious mood, 
 " Come let me soon see, and bring unto me 
 
 That traitor, Robin Hood." 
 
 THE easy success with which they had 
 got the better of the good Bishop led 
 Robin to be a little careless. He thought 
 that his guest was too great a coward to venture 
 back into the greenwood for many a long day ; 
 and so after lying quiet for one day, the outlaw 
 ventured boldly upon the highway, the morning 
 of the second. But he had gone only half a 
 mile when, turning a sharp bend in the road, he 
 plunged full upon the prelate himself. 
 
 My lord of Hereford had been so deeply smit- 
 ten in his pride, that he had lost no time in sum- 
 moning a considerable body of the Sheriff's men, 
 offering to double the reward if Robin Hood 
 could be come upon. This company was now at 
 235 
 
236 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 his heels, and after the first shock of mutual sur- 
 prise, the Bishop gave an exultant shout and 
 spurred upon the outlaw. 
 
 It was too late for Robin to retreat by the way 
 he had come, but quick as a flash he sprang to 
 one side of the road, dodged under some bushes, 
 and disappeared so suddenly that his pursuers 
 thought he had truly been swallowed up by 
 magic. 
 
 " After him ! " yelled the Bishop ; " some of 
 you beat up the woods around him, while the 
 rest of us will keep on the main road and head 
 him off on the other side ! " 
 
 For, truth to tell, the Bishop did not care to 
 trust his bones away from the highroad. 
 
 About a mile away, on the other side of this 
 neck of woods, wherein Robin had been trapped, 
 was a little tumbledown cottage. 'Twas where 
 the widow lived, whose three sons had been res- 
 cued. Robin remembered the cottage and saw his 
 one chance to escape. 
 
 Doubling in and out among the underbrush and 
 heather with the agility of a hare, he soon came 
 out of the wood in the rear of the cottage, and 
 thrust his head through a tiny window. 
 
 The widow, who had been at her spinning- 
 wheel, rose up with a cry of alarm. 
 
The Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting 237 
 
 " Quiet, good mother ! 'Tis I, Robin Hood. 
 Where are your three sons ? " 
 
 " They should be with you, Robin. Well do 
 you know that. Do they not owe their lives to 
 you ? " 
 
 " If that be so, I come to seek payment of the 
 debt," said Robin in a breath. " The Bishop is 
 on my heels with many of his men." 
 
 " I'll cheat the Bishop and all ! " cried the 
 woman quickly. " Here, Robin, change your rai- 
 ment with me, and we will see if my lord knows 
 an old woman when he sees her." 
 
 " Good ! " said Robin. " Pass your gray cloak 
 out the window, and also your spindle and twine ; 
 and I will give you my green mantle and every- 
 thing else down to my bow and arrows." 
 
 While they were talking, Robin had been 
 nimbly changing clothes with the old woman, 
 through the window, and in a jiffy he stood forth 
 complete, even to the spindle and twine. 
 
 Presently up dashed the Bishop and his men, 
 and, at sight of the cottage and the old woman, 
 gave pause. The crone was hobbling along with 
 difficulty, leaning heavily upon a gnarled stick 
 and bearing the spindle on her other arm. She 
 would have gone by the Bishop's company, 
 while muttering to herself, but the Bishop ordered 
 
238 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 one of his men to question her. The soldier laid 
 his hand upon her shoulder. 
 
 41 Mind your business ! " croaked the woman, 
 " or I'll curse ye ! " 
 
 " Come, come, my good woman," said the sol- 
 dier, who really was afraid of her curses. " I'll not 
 molest you. But my lord Bishop of Hereford 
 wants to know if you have seen aught of the out- 
 law, Robin Hood ? " 
 
 " And why shouldn't I see him ? "she whined. 
 " Where's the King or law to prevent good 
 Robin from coming to see me and bring me food 
 and raiment ? That's more than my lord Bishop 
 will do, I warrant ye -! " 
 
 " Peace, woman ! " said the Bishop harshly. 
 " We want none of your opinions. But we'll 
 take you to Barnesdale and burn you for a witch 
 if you do not instantly tell us when you last saw 
 Robin Hood." 
 
 " Mercy, good my lord ! " chattered the crone, 
 falling on her knees. " Robin is there in my cot- 
 tage now, but you'll never take him alive." 
 
 " We'll see about that," cried the Bishop tri- 
 umphantly. " Enter the cottage, my men. Fire 
 it, if need be. But I'll give a purse of gold pieces, 
 above the reward, to the man who captures the 
 outlaw alive." 
 
The Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting 239 
 
 The old woman, being released, went on her 
 way slowly. But it might have been noticed 
 that the farther she got away from the company 
 and the nearer to the edge of the woods, the 
 swifter and straighter grew her pace. Once inside 
 the shelter of the forest she broke into a run of 
 surprising swiftness. 
 
 " Gadzooks ! " exclaimed Little John who 
 presently spied her. " Who comes here ? 
 Never saw I witch or woman run so fast. Me- 
 thinks I'll send an arrow close over her head to 
 see which it is." 
 
 " O hold your hand ! hold your hand ! " panted 
 the supposed woman. " Tis I, Robin Hood. 
 Summon the yeomen and return with me speedily. 
 We have still another score to settle with my lord 
 of Hereford." 
 
 When Little John could catch his breath from 
 laughing, he winded his horn. 
 
 " Now, mistress Robin," quoth he, grinning. 
 " Lead on ! We'll be close to your heels." 
 
 Meanwhile, back at the widow's cottage the 
 Bishop was growing more furious every moment. 
 For all his bold words, he dared not fire the 
 house, and the sturdy door had thus far resisted 
 all his men's efforts. 
 
 " Break it down ! Break it down ! " he shouted, 
 
240 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " and let me soon see who will fetch out that 
 traitor, Robin Hood ! " 
 
 At last the door crashed in and the men stood 
 guard on the threshold. But not one dared en- 
 ter for fear a sharp arrow should meet him half- 
 way. 
 
 " Here he is ! " cried one keen-eyed fellow, 
 peering in. " I see him in the corner by the 
 cupboard. Shall we slay him with our pikes ? " 
 
 " Nay," said the Bishop, " take him alive if you 
 can. We'll make the biggest public hanging of 
 this that the shire ever beheld." 
 
 But the joy of the Bishop over his capture was 
 short lived. Down the road came striding the 
 shabby figure of the old woman who had helped 
 him set the trap ; and very wrathy was she when 
 she saw that the cottage door had been battered 
 in. 
 
 " Stand by, you lazy rascals ! " she called to the 
 soldiers. " May all the devils catch ye for hurt- 
 ing an old woman's hut. Stand by, I say ! " 
 
 " Hold your tongue ! " ordered the Bishop. 
 " These are my men and carrying out my 
 orders." 
 
 " God-a-mercy ! " swore the beldame harshly. 
 " Things have come to a pretty pass when our 
 homes may be treated like common gaols. 
 
The Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting 241 
 
 Couldn't all your men catch one poor forester 
 without this ado? Come! clear out, you and 
 your robber, on the instant, or I'll curse every 
 mother's son of ye, eating and drinking and 
 sleeping ! " 
 
 " Seize on the hag ! " shouted the Bishop, as 
 soon as he could get in a word. " We'll see about 
 a witch's cursing. Back to town she shall go, 
 alongside of Robin Hood." 
 
 " Not so fast, your worship ! " she retorted, 
 clapping her hands. 
 
 And at the signal a goodly array of greenwood 
 men sprang forth from all sides of the cottage, 
 with bows drawn back threateningly. The Bishop 
 saw that his men were trapped again, for they 
 dared not stir. Nathless, he determined to make 
 a fight for it. 
 
 " If one of you but budge an inch toward me, 
 you rascals," he cried, " it shall sound the death 
 of your master, Robin Hood ! My men have 
 him here under their pikes, and I shall command 
 them to kill him without mercy." 
 
 " Faith, I should like to see the Robin you have 
 caught," said a clear voice from under the widow's 
 cape; and the outlaw chief stood forth with bared 
 head, smilingly. " Here am I, my lord, in no 
 wise imperiled by your men's fierce pikes. So 
 
242 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 let us see whom you have been guarding so 
 well" 
 
 The old woman who, in the garb of Robin 
 Hood, had been lying quiet in the cottage through 
 all the uproar, jumped up nimbly at this. In the 
 bald absurdity of her disguise she came to the 
 doorway and bowed to the Bishop. 
 
 " Give you good-den, my lord Bishop," she 
 piped in a shrill voice ; " and what does your 
 Grace at my humble door? Do you come to 
 bless me and give me alms ? " 
 
 "Aye, that does he," answered Robin. " We 
 shall see if his saddle-bags contain enough to pay 
 you for that battered door." 
 
 " Now by all the saints " began the Bishop. 
 
 " Take care ; they are all watching you," inter- 
 rupted Robin ; " so name them not upon your 
 unchurchly lips. But I will trouble you to hand 
 over that purse of gold you had saved to pay for 
 my head. " 
 
 " I'll see you hanged first ! " raged the Bishop, 
 stating no more than what would have been so, 
 if he could do the ordering of things. " Have 
 at them, my men, and hew them down in their 
 tracks ! " 
 
 " Hold ! " retorted Robin. " See how we have 
 you at our mercy." And aiming a sudden shaft 
 
The Bishop Went Outlaw-Hunting 243 
 
 he shot so close to the Bishop's head that it car- 
 ried away both his hat and the skull-cap which 
 he always wore, leaving him quite bald. 
 
 The prelate turned as white as his shiny head 
 and clutched wildly at his ears. He thought 
 himself dead almost. 
 
 " Help ! murder ! " he gasped. " Do not shoot 
 again ! Here's your purse of gold ! " 
 
 And without waiting for further parley he 
 fairly bolted down the road. 
 
 His men being left leaderless had nothing for 
 it but to retreat after him, which they did in 
 sullen order, covered by the bows of the yeomen. 
 And thus ended the Bishop of Hereford's great 
 outlaw-hunt in the forest. 
 
CHAPTER XIX 
 
 HOW THE SHERIFF HELD ANOTHER 
 SHOOTING MATCH 
 
 " To tell the truth, I'm well informed 
 
 Yon match it is a wile ; 
 The Sheriff, I wis, devises this 
 Us archers to beguile." 
 
 NOW the Sheriff was so greatly troubled 
 in heart over the growing power of 
 Robin Hood, that he did a very foolish 
 thing. He went to London town to lay his 
 troubles before the King and get another force of 
 troops to cope with the outlaws. King Richard 
 was not yet returned from the Holy Land, but 
 Prince John heard him with scorn. 
 
 " Pooh ! " said he, shrugging his shoulders. 
 "What have I to do with all this ? Art thou not 
 sheriff for me ? The law is in force to take thy 
 course of them that injure thee. Go, get thee 
 gone, and by thyself devise some tricking game 
 to trap these rebels ; and never let me see thy 
 244 
 
Another Shooting Match 245 
 
 face at court again until thou hast a better tale to 
 tell." 
 
 So away went the Sheriff in sorrier pass than 
 ever, and cudgeled his brain, on the way home, 
 for some plan of action. 
 
 His daughter met him on his return and saw at 
 once that he had been on a poor mission. She 
 was minded to upbraid him when she learned 
 what he had told the Prince. But the words of 
 the latter started her to thinking afresh. 
 
 " I have it ! " she exclaimed at length. " Why 
 should we not hold another shooting-match ? 
 'Tis Fair year, as you know, and another tourney 
 will be expected. Now we will proclaim a gen- 
 eral amnesty, as did King Harry himself, and say 
 that the field is open and unmolested to all 
 comers. Belike Robin Hood's men will be 
 tempted to twang the bow, and then " 
 
 " And then," said the Sheriff jumping up with 
 alacrity, " we shall see on which side of the gate 
 they stop over-night ! " 
 
 So the Sheriff lost no time in proclaiming a 
 tourney, to be held that same Fall at the Fair. 
 It was open to all comers, said the proclamation, 
 and none should be molested in their going and 
 coming. Furthermore, an arrow with a golden 
 head and shaft of silver-white should be given to the 
 
246 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 winner, who would be heralded abroad as the 
 finest archer in all the North Countree. Also, 
 many rich prizes were to be given to other clever 
 archers. 
 
 These tidings came in due course to Robin 
 Hood, under the greenwood tree, and fired his 
 impetuous spirit. 
 
 " Come, prepare ye, my merry men all," quoth 
 he, " and we'll go to the Fair and take some part 
 in this sport." 
 
 With that stepped forth the merry cobbler, 
 David of Doncaster. 
 
 " Master," quoth he, " be ruled by me and stir 
 not from the greenwood. To tell the truth, I'm 
 well informed yon match is naught but a trap. I 
 wis the Sheriff has devised it to beguile us 
 archers into some treachery." 
 
 " That word savors of the coward," replied 
 Robin, " and pleases me not. Let come what 
 will, I'll try my skill at that same archery." 
 
 Then up spoke Little John and said : " Come, 
 listen to me how it shall be that we will not be 
 discovered. 
 
 " Our mantles all of Lincoln-green 
 
 Behind us we will leave j 
 We'll dress us all so several, 
 They shaU not us perceive. 
 
Another Shooting Match 247 
 
 " One shall wear white, anotner red. 
 
 One yellow, another blue ; 
 
 Thus in disguise to the exercise 
 
 We'll go, whate'er ensue." 
 
 This advice met with general favor from the 
 adventurous fellows, and they lost no time in put- 
 ting it into practice. Maid Marian and Mistress 
 Dale, assisted by Friar Tuck, prepared some vari- 
 colored costumes, and 'gainst the Fair day had 
 fitted out the sevenscore men till you would 
 never have taken them for other than villagers 
 decked for the holiday. 
 
 And forth went they from the greenwood, 
 with hearts all firm and stout, resolved to meet 
 the Sheriff's men and have a merry bout. Along 
 the highway they fell in with many other bold fel- 
 lows from the countryside, going with their 
 ruddy-cheeked lasses toward the wide-open gates 
 of Nottingham. 
 
 So in through the gates trooped the whole gay 
 company, Robin's men behaving as awkwardly 
 and laughing and talking as noisily as the rest ; 
 while the Sheriff's scowling men-at-arms stood 
 round about and sought to find one who looked 
 like a forester, but without avail. 
 
 The herald now set forth the terms of the con- 
 test, as on former occasions, and the shooting 
 
248 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 presently began. Robin had chosen five of his 
 men to shoot with him, and the rest were to 
 mingle with the crowd and also watch the gates. 
 These five were Little John, Will Scarlet, Will 
 Stutely, Much, and Allan-a-Dale. 
 
 The other competitors made a brave showing 
 on the first round, especially Gilbert of the White 
 Hand, who was present and never shot better. 
 The contest later narrowed down between Gil- 
 bert and Robin. But at the first lead, when the 
 butts were struck so truly by various well known 
 archers, the Sheriff was in doubt whether to feel 
 glad or sorry. He was glad to see such skill, but 
 sorry that the outlaws were not in it. 
 
 Some said, " If Robin Hood were here, 
 
 And all his men to boot, 
 Sure none of them could pass these men, 
 
 So bravely do they shoot." 
 
 " Aye," quoth the Sheriff, and scratched his head, 
 
 " I thought he would be here ; 
 I thought he would, but tho' he's bold, 
 He durst not now appear." 
 
 This word was privately brought to Robin by 
 David of Doncaster, and the saying vexed him 
 sorely. But he bit his lip in silence. 
 
 " Ere long," he thought to himself, " we shall 
 see whether Robin Hood be here or not ! " 
 
Another Shooting Match 249 
 
 Meantime the shooting had been going for- 
 ward, and Robin's men had done so well that the 
 air was filled with shouts. 
 
 One cried, " Blue jacket ! " another cried, " Brown ! " 
 And a third cried, " Brave Yellow ! " 
 
 But the fourth man said, " Yon man in red 
 In this place has no fellow." 
 
 For that was Robin Hood himself, 
 
 For he was clothed in red ; 
 At every shot the prize he got, 
 
 For he was both sure and dead. 
 
 Thus went the second round of the shooting, 
 and thus the third and last, till even Gilbert of 
 the White Hand was fairly beaten. During all 
 this shooting, Robin exchanged no word with his 
 men, each treating the other as a perfect stranger. 
 Nathless, such great shooting could not pass 
 without revealing the archers. 
 
 The Sheriff thought he discovered, in the win- 
 ner of the golden arrow, the person of Robin 
 Hood without peradventure. So he sent word 
 privately for his men-at-arms to close round the 
 group. But Robin's men also got wind of the 
 plan. 
 
 To keep up appearances, the Sheriff sum- 
 moned the crowd to form in a circle ; and after as 
 much delay as possible the arrow was presented. 
 
250 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The delay gave time enough for the soldiers to 
 close in. As Robin received his prize, bowed 
 awkwardly and turned away, the Sheriff, letting 
 his zeal get the better of his discretion, grasped 
 him about the neck and called upon his men to 
 arrest the traitor. 
 
 But the moment the Sheriff touched Robin, he 
 received such a buffet on the side of his head 
 that he let go instantly and fell back several 
 paces. Turning to see who had struck him, he 
 recognized Little John. 
 
 " Ah, rascal Greenleaf, I have you now ! " he 
 exclaimed springing at him. Just then, however, 
 he met a new check. 
 
 " This is from another of your devoted serv- 
 ants ! " said a voice which he knew to be that of 
 Much the miller's son ; and " Thwack ! " went his 
 open palm upon the Sheriff's cheek sending that 
 worthy rolling over and over upon the ground. 
 
 By this time the conflict had become general, 
 but the Sheriff's men suffered the disadvantage 
 of being hampered by the crowd of innocent on- 
 lookers, whom they could not tell from the out- 
 laws and so dared not attack ; while the other 
 outlaws in the rear fell upon them and put them 
 in confusion. 
 
 For a moment a fierce rain of blows ensued ; 
 
Another Shooting Match 251 
 
 then the clear bugle-note from Robin ordered a 
 retreat. The two warders at the nearest gate 
 tried to close it, but were shot dead in their 
 tracks. David of Doncaster threw a third soldier 
 into the moat ; and out through the gate went 
 the foresters in good order, keeping a respectful 
 distance between themselves and the advancing 
 soldiery, by means of their well-directed shafts. 
 
 But the fight was not to go easily this day, for 
 the soldiery, smarting from their recent dis- 
 comfiture at the widow's cottage, and knowing 
 that the eyes of the whole shire were upon them, 
 fought well, and pressed closely after the retreat- 
 ing outlaws. More than one ugly wound was 
 given and received. No less than five of the 
 Sheriff's men were killed outright, and a dozen 
 others injured ; while four of Robin's men were 
 bleeding from severe flesh cuts. 
 
 Then Little John, who had fought by the side 
 of his chief, suddenly fell forward with a slight 
 moan. An arrow had pierced his knee. Robin 
 seized the big fellow with almost superhuman 
 strength. 
 
 Up he took him on his back, 
 
 And bare him well a mile ; 
 Many a time he laid him down, 
 
 And shot another while. 
 
252 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Meanwhile Little John grew weaker and closed 
 his eyes ; at last he sank to the ground, and 
 feebly motioned Robin to let him lie. 
 
 " Master Robin," said he, " have I not served 
 you well, ever since we met upon the bridge ? " 
 
 " Truer servant never man had," answered 
 Robin. 
 
 " Then if ever you loved me, and for the sake 
 of that service, draw your bright brown sword 
 and strike off my head ; never let me fall alive 
 into the hand of the Sheriff of Nottingham." 
 
 " Not for all the gold in England would I do 
 either of the things you suggest." 
 
 " God forbid ! " cried Arthur-a-Bland, hurrying 
 to the rescue. And packing his wounded kins- 
 man upon his own broad shoulders, he soon 
 brought him within the shelter of the forest. 
 
 Once there, the Sheriff's men did not follow ; 
 and Robin caused litters of boughs to be made 
 for Little John and the other four wounded men. 
 Quickly were they carried through the wood un- 
 til the hermitage of Friar Tuck was reached, 
 where their wounds were dresssd. Little John's 
 hurt was pronounced to be the most serious of 
 any, but he was assured that in two or three 
 weeks' time he could get about again ; whereat 
 the active giant groaned mightily. 
 
Another Shooting Match 253 
 
 That evening consternation came upon the 
 hearts of the band. A careful roll-call was taken 
 to see if all the yeomen had escaped, when it 
 was found that Will Stutely was missing, and 
 Maid Marian also was nowhere to be found. 
 Robin was seized with dread. He knew that 
 Marian had gone to the Fair, but felt that she 
 would hardly come to grief. Her absence, how- 
 ever, portended some danger, and he feared that 
 it was connected with Will Stutely. The Sheriff 
 would hang him speedily and without mercy, if 
 he were captured. 
 
 The rest of the band shared their leader's un- 
 easiness, though they said no word. They knew 
 that if Will were captured, the battle must be 
 fought over again the next day, and Will must 
 be saved at any cost. But no man flinched from 
 the prospect. 
 
 That evening, while the Sheriff and his wife 
 and daughter sat at meat in the Mansion House, 
 the Sheriff boasted of how he would make an 
 example of the captured outlaw ; for Stutely had 
 indeed fallen into his hands. 
 
 " He shall be strung high," he said, in a loud 
 voice ; " and none shall dare lift a finger. I now 
 have Robin Hood's men on the run, and we 
 
254 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 shall soon see who is master in this shire. I am 
 only sorry that we let them have the golden 
 arrow." 
 
 As he spoke a missive sped through a win- 
 dow and fell clattering upon his plate, causing 
 him to spring back in alarm. 
 
 It was the golden arrow, and on its feathered 
 shaft was sewed a little note which read : 
 
 " This from one who will take no gifts from 
 liars; and who henceforth will show no mercy. 
 Look well to yourself. R. H." 
 
CHAPTER XX 
 HOW WILL STUTELY WAS RESCUED 
 
 Forth of the greenwood are they gone, 
 
 Yea, all courageously, 
 Resolving to bring Stutely home, 
 
 Or every man to die. 
 
 THE next day dawned bright and sunny. 
 The whole face of nature seemed gay as 
 in despite of the tragedy which was 
 soon to take place in the walls of Nottingham 
 town. The gates were not opened upon this 
 day, for the Sheriff was determined to carry 
 through the hanging of Will Stutely undis- 
 turbed. No man, therefore, was to be allowed 
 entrance from without, all that morning and un- 
 til after the fatal hour of noon, when Will's soul 
 was to be launched into eternity. 
 
 Early in the day Robin had drawn his men to 
 a point, as near as he dared, in the woods where 
 he could watch the road leading to the East gate. 
 He himself was clad in a bright scarlet dress, 
 while his men, a goodly array, wore their suits of 
 255 
 
256 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 sober Lincoln green. They were armed with 
 broadswords, and each man carried his bow and 
 a full quiver of new arrows, straightened and 
 sharpened cunningly by Middle, the tinker. 
 Over their greenwood dress, each man had 
 thrown a rough mantle, making him look not 
 unlike a friar. 
 
 " I hold it good, comrades," then said Robin 
 Hood, " to tarry here in hiding for a season while 
 we send some one forth to obtain tidings. For, 
 in sooth, 'twill work no good to march upon the 
 gates if they be closed." 
 
 " Look, master," quoth one of the widow's sons. 
 " There comes a palmer along the road from the 
 town. Belike he can tell us how the land lies, 
 and if Stutely be really in jeopardy. Shall I go 
 out and engage him in speech ? " 
 
 " Go," answered Robin. 
 
 So Stout Will went out from the band while 
 the others hid themselves and waited. When he 
 had come close to the palmer, who seemed a 
 slight, youngish man, he doffed his hat full 
 courteously and said, 
 
 " I crave your pardon, holy man, but can you 
 tell me tidings of Nottingham town? Do they 
 intend to put an outlaw to death this day ? " 
 
 " Yea," answered the palmer sadly. " Tis true 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 257 
 
 enough, sorry be the day. I have passed the 
 very spot where the gallows-tree is going up. 
 Tis out upon the roadway near the Sheriff's cas- 
 tle. One, Will Stutely, is to be hung thereon at 
 noon, and I could not bear the sight, so came 
 away." 
 
 The palmer spoke in a muffled voice ; and as 
 his hood was "pulled well over his head, Stout 
 Will could not discern what manner of man he 
 was. Over his shoulder he carried a long staff, 
 with the fashion of a little cross at one end ; and 
 he had sandaled feet like any monk. Stout Will 
 noticed idly that the feet were very small and 
 white, but gave no second thought to the 
 matter. 
 
 " Who will shrive the poor wretch, if you have 
 come away from him ? " he asked reproach- 
 fully. 
 
 The question seemed to put a new idea into 
 the palmer's head. He turned so quickly that he 
 almost dropped his hood. 
 
 " Do you think that I should undertake this 
 holy office?" 
 
 " By Saint Peter and the Blessed Virgin, I do 
 indeed ! Else, who will do it ? The Bishop and 
 all his whining clerks may be there, but not one 
 would say a prayer for his soul." 
 
258 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " But I am only a poor palmer," the other be- 
 gan hesitatingly. 
 
 u Nathless, your prayers are as good as any and 
 better than some," replied Will. 
 
 " Right gladly would I go," then said the 
 palmer ; " but I fear me I cannot get into the 
 city. You may know that the gates are fast 
 locked, for this morning, to all who would come 
 in, although they let any pass out who will." 
 
 " Come with me," said Stout Will, " and my 
 master will see that you pass through the gates." 
 
 So the palmer pulled his cloak still closer 
 about him and was brought before Robin Hood, 
 to whom he told all he knew of the situation. 
 He ended with, 
 
 " If I may make so bold, I would not try to 
 enter the city from this gate, as 'tis closely 
 guarded since yesterday. But on the far side, no 
 attack is looked for." 
 
 " My thanks, gentle palmer," quoth Robin, 
 " your suggestion is good, and we will deploy to 
 the gate upon the far side." 
 
 So the men marched silently but quickly until 
 they were near to the western gate. Then Arthur- 
 a-Bland asked leave to go ahead as a scout, and 
 quietly made his way to a point under the tower 
 by the gate. The moat was dry on this side, as 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 259 
 
 these were times of peace, and Arthur was further 
 favored by a stout ivy vine which grew out from 
 an upper window. 
 
 Swinging himself up boldly by means of this 
 friendly vine, he crept through the window and 
 in a moment more had sprung upon the warder 
 from behind and gripped him hard about the 
 throat. The warder had no chance to utter the 
 slightest sound, and soon lay bound and gagged 
 upon the floor; while Arthur-a-Bland slipped 
 himself into his uniform and got hold of his 
 keys. 
 
 'Twas the work of but a few moments more to 
 open the gates, let down the bridge, and admit 
 the rest of the band; and they got inside the 
 town so quietly that none knew of their coming. 
 Fortune also favored them in the fact that just at 
 this moment the prison doors had been opened 
 for the march of the condemned man, and every 
 soldier and idle lout in the market-place had 
 trooped thither to see him pass along. 
 
 Presently out came Will Stutely with firm step 
 but dejected air. He looked eagerly to the right 
 hand and to the left, but saw none of the band. 
 And though more than one curious face betrayed 
 friendship in it, he knew there could be no aid 
 from such source. 
 
260 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 Will's hands were tied behind his back. He 
 marched between rows of soldiery, and the Sheriff 
 and the Bishop brought up the rear on horses, 
 looking mightily puffed up and important over 
 the whole proceeding. He would show these 
 sturdy rebels would the Sheriff whose word 
 was law ! He knew that the gates were tightly 
 fastened ; and further he believed that the out- 
 laws would hardly venture again within the walls, 
 even if the gates were open. And as he looked 
 around at the fivescore archers and pikemen who 
 lined the way to the gallows, he smiled with grim 
 satisfaction. 
 
 Seeing that no help was nigh, the prisoner 
 paused at the foot of the scaffold and spoke in a 
 firm tone to the Sheriff. 
 
 " My lord Sheriff," quoth he, " since I must 
 needs die, grant me one boon ; for my noble 
 master ne'er yet had a man that was hanged on 
 a tree : 
 
 " Give me a sword all in my hand, 
 
 And let me be unbound, 
 And with thee and thy men will T fight 
 
 Till I lie dead on the ground." 
 
 But the Sheriff would by no means listen to his 
 request ; but swore that he should be hanged a 
 shameful death, and not die by the sword valiantly. 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 261 
 
 " O no, no, no," the Sheriff said, 
 
 "Thou shalt on the gallows die, 
 Aye, and so shall thy master too, 
 
 If ever it in me lie." 
 
 " O dastard coward ! " Stutely cried, 
 
 " Faint-hearted peasant slave ! 
 If ever my master do thee meet, 
 
 Thou shalt thy payment have. 
 
 " My noble master thee doth scorn, 
 
 And all thy cowardly crew; 
 Such silly imps unable are 
 
 Bold Robin to subdue." 
 
 This brave speech was not calculated to soothe 
 the Sheriff. " To the gallows with him ! " he 
 roared, giving a sign to the hangman ; and 
 Stutely was pushed into the rude cart which was 
 to bear him under the gallows until his neck was 
 leashed. Then the cart would be drawn roughly 
 away and the unhappy man would swing out 
 over the tail of it into another world. 
 
 But at this moment came a slight interruption. 
 A boyish-looking palmer stepped forth, and said : 
 
 " Your Excellency, let me at least shrive this 
 poor wretch's soul ere it be hurled into eternity." 
 
 " No ! " shouted the Sheriff, " let him die a 
 dog's death ! " 
 
 " Then his damnation will rest upon you," said 
 
262 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 the monk firmly. " You, my lord Bishop, can- 
 not stand by and see this wrong done." 
 
 The Bishop hesitated. Like the Sheriff, he 
 wanted no delay ; but the people were beginning 
 to mutter among themselves and move about 
 uneasily. He said a few words to the Sheriff, and 
 the latter nodded to the monk ungraciously. 
 
 " Perform your duty, Sir Priest," quoth he, 
 " and be quick about it ! " Then turning to his 
 soldiers. " Watch this palmer narrowly," he com- 
 manded. " Belike he is in league with those ras- 
 cally outlaws." 
 
 But the palmer paid no heed to his last words. 
 He began to tell his beads quickly, and to speak 
 in a low voice to the condemned man. But he 
 did not touch his bonds. 
 
 Then came another stir in the crowd, and one 
 came pushing through the press of people and 
 soldiery to come near to the scaffold. 
 
 " I pray you, Will, before you die, take leave 
 of all your friends ! " cried out the well-known 
 voice of Much, the miller's son. 
 
 At the word the palmer stepped back suddenly 
 and looked to one side. The Sheriff also knew 
 the speaker. 
 
 " Seize him ! " he shouted. " 'Tis another of the 
 crew. He is the villain cook who once did rob 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 263 
 
 me of my silver plate. We'll make a double 
 hanging of this ! " 
 
 " Not so fast, good master Sheriff," retorted 
 Much. " First catch your man and then hang 
 him. But meanwhile I would like to borrow my 
 friend of you awhile." 
 
 And with one stroke of his keen hunting-knife 
 he cut the bonds which fastened the prisoner's 
 arms, and Stutely leaped lightly from the cart. 
 
 " Treason ! " screamed the Sheriff, getting black 
 with rage. " Catch the varlets ! " 
 
 So saying he spurred his horse fiercely forward, 
 and rising in his stirrups brought down his sword 
 with might and main at Much's head. But his 
 former cook dodged nimbly underneath the horse 
 and came up on the other side, while the weapon 
 whistled harmlessly in the air. 
 
 " Nay, Sir Sheriff! " he cried, " I must e'en bor- 
 row your sword for the friend I have borrowed." 
 
 Thereupon he snatched the weapon deftly from 
 the Sheriff's hand. 
 
 " Here, Stutely ! " said he, " the Sheriff has lent 
 you his own sword. Back to back with me, man, 
 and we'll teach these knaves a trick or two ! " 
 
 Meanwhile the soldiers had recovered from 
 cheir momentary surprise and had flung them- 
 selves into the fray. A clear bugle-note had also 
 
264 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 sounded the same which the soldiers had learned 
 to dread. 'Twas the rallying note of the green- 
 wood men. Clothyard shafts began to hurtle 
 through the air, and Robin and his men cast 
 aside their cloaks and sprang forward crying : 
 
 " Lockesley ! Lockesley ! A rescue ! A 
 rescue ! " 
 
 On the instant, a terrible scene of hand to hand 
 fighting followed. The Sheriff's men, though 
 once more taken by surprise, were determined to 
 sell this rescue dearly. They packed in closely 
 and stubbornly about the condemned man and 
 Much and the palmer, and it was only by des- 
 perate rushes that the foresters made an opening 
 in the square. Ugly cuts and bruises were ex- 
 changed freely ; and lucky was the man who es- 
 caped with only these. Many of the onlookers, 
 who had long hated the Sheriff and felt sympathy 
 for Robin's men, also plunged into the conflict 
 although they could not well keep out of it, in 
 sooth ! and aided the rescuers no little. 
 
 At last with a mighty onrush, Robin cleaved a 
 way through the press to the scaffold itself, and 
 not a second too soon ; for two men with pikes 
 had leaped upon the cart, and were in the act of 
 thrusting down upon the palmer and Will Stutely. 
 A mighty upward blow from Robin's good blade 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 265 
 
 sent the pike flying from the hand of one, while 
 a well-directed arrow from the outskirt pierced 
 the other fellow's throat. 
 
 " God save you, master ! " cried Will Stutely 
 joyfully. " I had begun to fear that I would never 
 see your face again/' 
 
 " A rescue!" shouted the outlaws afresh, 
 and the soldiery became faint-hearted and 
 'gan to give back. But the field was not 
 yet won, for they retreated in close order to- 
 ward the East gate, resolved to hem the at- 
 tackers within the city walls. Here again, how- 
 ever, they were in error, since the outlaws did 
 not go out by their nearest gate. They made a 
 sally in that direction, in order to mislead the 
 soldiery, then abruptly turned and headed for the 
 West gate, which was still guarded by Arthur-a- 
 Bland. 
 
 The Sheriff 's men raised an exultant shout at 
 this, thinking they had the enemy trapped. 
 Down they charged after them, but the outlaws 
 made good their lead, and soon got through the 
 gate and over the bridge which had been let 
 down by Arthur-a-Bland. 
 
 Close upon their heels came the soldiers so 
 close, that Arthur had no time to close the gate 
 again or raise the bridge. So he threw away his 
 
266 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 key and fell in with the yeomen, who now began 
 their retreat up the long hill to the woods. 
 
 On this side the town, the road leading to the 
 forest was long and almost unprotected. The 
 greenwood men were therefore in some distress, 
 for the archers shot at them from loop-holes in 
 the walls, and the pikemen were reinforced by a 
 company of mounted men from the castle. But 
 the outlaws retreated stubbornly and now and 
 again turned to hold their pursuers at bay by a 
 volley of arrows. Stutely was in their midst, 
 fighting with the energy of two ; and the little 
 palmer was there also, but took no part save to 
 keep close to Robin's side and mutter silent 
 words as though in prayer. 
 
 Robin put his horn to his lips to sound a rally, 
 when a flying arrow from the enemy pierced 
 his hand. The palmer gave a little cry and 
 sprang forward. The Sheriff, who followed close 
 with his men on horseback, also saw the wound 
 and gave a great huzza. 
 
 " Ha ! you will shoot no more bows for a sea- 
 son, master outlaw ! " he shouted. 
 
 " You lie ! " retorted Robin fiercely, wrenching 
 the shaft from his hand despite the streaming 
 blood ; " I have saved one shot for you all this 
 day. Here take it ! " 
 
How Will Stutely was Rescued 267 
 
 And he fitted the same arrow, which had 
 wounded him, upon the string of his bow and let 
 it fly toward the Sheriff's head. The Sheriff fell 
 forward upon his horse in mortal terror, but not 
 so quickly as to escape unhurt. The sharp point 
 laid bare a deep gash upon his scalp and must 
 certainly have killed him if it had come closer. 
 
 The fall of the Sheriff discomfited his follow- 
 ers for the moment, and Robin's men took this 
 chance to speed on up the hill. The palmer had 
 whipped out a small white handkerchief and 
 tried to staunch Robin's wound as they went. 
 At sight of the palmer's hand, Robin turned with 
 a start, and pushed back the other's hood. 
 
 " Marian ! " he exclaimed, " you here ! " 
 
 It was indeed Maid Marian, who had helped 
 save Will, and been in the stress of battle from 
 the first. Now she hung her head as though 
 caught in wrong. 
 
 " I had to come, Robin," she said simply, " and 
 I knew you would not let me come, else." 
 
 Their further talk was interrupted by an ex- 
 clamation from Will Scarlet. 
 
 " By the saints, we are trapped ! " he said, and 
 pointed to the top of the hill, toward which they 
 were pressing. 
 
 There from out a gray castle poured a troop of 
 
268 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 men, armed with pikes and axes, who shouted 
 and came running down upon them. At the 
 same instant, the Sheriff's men also renewed 
 their pursuit. 
 
 " Alas ! " cried poor Marian, " we are undone ! 
 There is no way of escape ! " 
 
 " Courage, clear heart ! " said Robin, drawing 
 her close to him. But his own spirit sank as he 
 looked about for some outlet. 
 
 Then oh, joyful sight ! he recognized among 
 the foremost of those coming from the castle the 
 once doleful knight, Sir Richard of the Lea. He 
 was smiling now, and greatly excited. 
 
 " A Hood ! a Hood ! " he cried ; " a rescue ! a 
 rescue ! " 
 
 Never were there more welcome sights and 
 sounds than these. With a great cheer the 
 outlaws raced up the hill to meet their new 
 friends ; and soon the whole force had gained the 
 shelter of the castle. Bang ! went the bridge as 
 it swung back up, with great clanking of chains. 
 Clash ! went one great door upon the other, as 
 they shut in the outlaw band, and shut out the 
 Sheriff, who dashed up at the head of his men, 
 his bandaged face streaked with blood and in- 
 flamed with rage. 
 
CHAPTER XXI 
 
 HOW SIR RICHARD OF THE LEA REPAID 
 HIS DEBT 
 
 The proud Sheriff loud 'gan cry 
 And said, " Thou traitor knight, 
 
 Thou keepest here the King's enemy 
 Against the laws and right." 
 
 OPEN the gates ! " shouted the Sheriff 
 hoarsely, to the sentinel upon the walls. 
 " Open, I say, in the King's name ! " 
 " Why who are you to come thus brawling 
 upon my premises ? " asked a haughty voice ; 
 and Sir Richard himself stepped forth upon the 
 turret. 
 
 " You know me well, traitor knight ! " said the 
 Sheriff, " now give up into my hands the enemy 
 of the King whom you have sheltered against 
 the laws and right." 
 
 " Fair and softly, sir," quoth the knight 
 smoothly. " I well avow that I have done cer- 
 tain deeds this day. But I have done them upon 
 mine own land, which you now trespass upon ; 
 269 
 
2jo Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 and I shall answer only to the King whom 
 God preserve! for my actions." 
 
 " Thou soft-spoken villain ! " said the Sheriff, 
 still in a towering passion. " I, also, serve the 
 King ; and if these outlaws are not given up to me 
 at once, I shall lay siege to the castle and burn it 
 with fire." 
 
 " First show me your warrants," said Sir Rich- 
 ard curtly. 
 
 " My word is enough ! Am I not Sheriff of 
 Nottingham ? " 
 
 " If you are, in sooth," retorted the knight, 
 " you should know that you have no authority 
 within my lands unless you bear the King's 
 order. In the meantime, go mend your manners, 
 lording." 
 
 And Sir Richard snapped his fingers and dis- 
 appeared from the walls. The Sheriff, after lin- 
 gering a few moments longer in hope of further 
 parley, was forced to withdraw, swearing fiercely. 
 
 "The King's order!" muttered he. "That 
 shall I have without delay, as well as this upstart 
 knight's estates; for King Richard is lately re- 
 turned, I hear, from the Holy Land." 
 
 Meanwhile the knight had gone back to Robin 
 Hood, and the two men greeted each other 
 right gladly. 
 
How Sir Richard Repaid His Debt 271 
 
 " Well met, bold Robin ! " cried he, taking him 
 in his arms. " Well met, indeed ! The Lord has 
 lately prospered me, and I was minded this day 
 to ride forth and repay my debt to you." 
 
 " And so you have," answered Robin gayly. 
 
 "Nay, 'twas nothing this small service!" 
 said the knight. "I meant the moneys coming 
 to you." 
 
 " They have all been repaid," said Robin ; " my 
 lord of Hereford himself gave them to me." 
 
 " The exact sum ? " asked the knight. 
 
 " The exact sum," answered Robin, winking 
 solemnly. 
 
 Sir Richard smiled, but said no more at the 
 time. Robin was made to rest until dinner 
 should be served. Meanwhile a leech bound up 
 his hand with ointment, promising him that he 
 should soon have its use again. Some half-score 
 others of the yeomen had been hurt in the fight, 
 but luckily none of grave moment. They were 
 all bandaged and made happy by bumpers of 
 ale. 
 
 At dinner Sir Richard presented Robin to his 
 wife and son. The lady was stately and gracious, 
 and made much of Marian, whom she had known 
 as a little girl and who was now clothed more 
 seemly for a dinner than in monkish garments. 
 
272 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The young esquire was a goodly youth and bade 
 fair to make as stout a knight as his father. 
 
 The feast was a joyous event. There were 
 two long tables, and two hundred men sat down 
 at them, and ate and drank and afterward sang 
 songs. An hundred and forty of these men 
 wore Lincoln green and called Robin Hood their 
 chief. Never, I ween, had there been a more 
 gallant company at table in Lea Castle ! 
 
 That night the foresters tarried within the 
 friendly walls, and the next day took leave; 
 though Sir Richard protested that they should 
 have made a longer stay. And he took Robin 
 aside to his strong room and pressed him again 
 to take the four hundred golden pounds. But 
 his guest was firm. 
 
 " Keep the money, for it is your own," said 
 Robin ; " I have but made the Bishop return that 
 which he extorted unjustly." 
 
 Sir Richard thanked him in a few earnest 
 words, and asked him and all his men to visit 
 the armory, before they departed. And therein 
 they saw, placed apart, an hundred and forty 
 stout yew bows of cunning make, with fine 
 waxen silk strings ; and an hundred and forty 
 sheaves of arrows. Every shaft was a just ell 
 long, set with peacock's feathers, and notched 
 
How Sir Richard Repaid His Debt 273 
 
 with silver. And Sir Richard's fair lady came 
 forward and with her own hands gave each yeo- 
 man a bow and a sheaf. 
 
 " In sooth, these are poor presents we have 
 made you, good Robin Hood," said Sir Richard ; 
 " but they carry with them a thousand times 
 their weight in gratitude." 
 
 The Sheriff made good his threat to inform 
 the King. Forth rode he to London town upon 
 the week following, his scalp wound having 
 healed sufficiently to permit him to travel. This 
 time he did not seek out Prince John, but asked 
 audience with King Richard of the Lion Heart 
 himself. His Majesty had but lately returned 
 from the crusades, and was just then looking into 
 the state of his kingdom. So the Sheriff found 
 ready audience. 
 
 Then to him the Sheriff spoke at length con- 
 cerning Robin Hood ; how that for many months 
 the outlaws had defied the King, and slain the 
 King's deer; how Robin had gathered about 
 him the best archers in all the countryside ; and, 
 finally, how the traitorous knight Sir Richard of 
 the Lea had rescued the band when capture 
 seemed certain, and refused to deliver them up 
 to justice. 
 
274 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The King heard him through with attention, 
 and quoth he : 
 
 " Meseems I have heard of this same Robin 
 Hood, and his men, and also seen somewhat of 
 their prowess. Did not these same outlaws shoot 
 in a royal tourney at Finsbury Field ? " 
 
 " They did, Your Majesty, under a royal am- 
 nesty." 
 
 In this speech the Sheriff erred, for the King 
 asked quickly, 
 
 " How came they last to the Fair at Notting- 
 ham by stealth ? " 
 
 " Yes, Your Majesty." 
 
 " Did you forbid them to come ? " 
 
 " No, Your Majesty. That is 
 
 " Speak out ! " 
 
 For the good of the shire," began the Sheriff 1 
 again, falteringly, " we did proclaim an amnesty ; 
 but 'twas because these men had proved a 
 menace " 
 
 " Now by my halidom ! " quoth the King, 
 while his brow grew black. " Such treachery 
 would be unknown in the camp of the Saracen ; 
 and yet we call ourselves a Christian people ! " 
 
 The Sheriff kept silence through very fear 
 and shame; then the King began speech 
 again : 
 
How Sir Richard Repaid His Debt 275 
 
 " Nathless, my lord Sheriff, we promise to look 
 into this matter. Those outlaws must be taught 
 that there is but one King in England, and that 
 he stands for the law." 
 
 So the Sheriff was dismissed, with very mixed 
 feelings, and went his way home to Nottingham 
 town. 
 
 A fortnight later the King began to make 
 good his word, by riding with a small party of 
 knights to Lea Castle. Sir Richard was advised 
 of the cavalcade's approach, and quickly recog- 
 nized his royal master in the tall knight who rode 
 in advance. Hasting to open wide his castle 
 gates he went forth to meet the King and fell on 
 one knee and kissed his stirrup. For Sir Richard, 
 also, had been with the King to the Holy Land, 
 and they had gone on many adventurous quests 
 together. 
 
 The King bade him rise, and dismounted from 
 his own horse to greet him as a brother in arms ; 
 and arm-in-arm they went into the castle, while 
 bugles and trumpets sounded forth joyous wel- 
 come in honor of the great occasion. 
 
 After the King had rested and supped, he 
 turned upon the knight and with grave face in- 
 quired : 
 
276 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " What is this I hear about your castle's be 
 coming a nest and harbor for outlaws ? " 
 
 Then Sir Richard of the Lea, divining that the 
 Sheriff had been at the King's ear with his story, 
 made a clean breast of all he knew : how that the 
 outlaws had befriended him in sore need as 
 they had befriended others and how that he 
 had given them only knightly protection in re- 
 turn. 
 
 The King liked the story well, for his own soul 
 was one of chivalry. And he asked other ques- 
 tions about Robin Hood, and heard of the 
 ancient wrong done his father before him, and of 
 Robin's own enemies, and of his manner of liv- 
 ing. 
 
 " In sooth," cried King Richard, springing up, 
 ."I must see this bold fellow for myself! An 
 you will entertain my little company, and be 
 ready to sally forth, upon the second day, in 
 quest of me if need were, I shall e'en fare alone 
 into the greenwood to seek an adventure with 
 him." 
 
 But of this adventure you shall be told in the 
 next tale ; for I have already shown you how Sir 
 Richard of the Lea repaid his debt, with interest. 
 
CHAPTER XXII 
 
 HOW KING RICHARD CAME TO SHER- 
 WOOD FOREST 
 
 King Richard hearing of the pranks 
 
 Of Robin Hood and his men, 
 He much admired and more desired 
 
 To see both him and them. 
 
 Then Robin takes a can of ale : 
 
 " Come let us now begin ; 
 And every man shall have his can ; 
 
 Here's a health unto the King ! " 
 
 FRIAR TUCK had nursed Little John's 
 wounded knee so skilfully that it was now 
 healed. In sooth, the last part of the nurs- 
 ing depended more upon strength than skill ; for 
 it consisted chiefly of holding down the patient, 
 by main force, to his cot. Little John had felt 
 so well that he had insisted upon getting up be- 
 fore the wound was healed ; and he would have 
 done so, if the friar had not piled some holy 
 books upon his legs and sat upon his stomach. 
 Under this vigorous treatment Little John was 
 277 
 
278 Stones of Robin Hood 
 
 constrained to lie quiet until the friar gave him 
 leave to get up. At last he had this leave, and 
 he and the friar went forth to join the rest of 
 the band, who were right glad to see them, you 
 may be sure. They sat around a big fire, for 
 'twas a chilly evening, and feasted and made 
 merry, in great content. 
 
 A cold rain set in, later, but the friar wended 
 his way back, nathless, to his little hermitage. 
 There he made himself a cheerful blaze, and 
 changed his dripping robe, and had sat himself 
 down, with a sigh of satisfaction, before a tankard 
 of hot mulled wine and a pasty, when suddenly 
 a voice was heard on the outside, demanding ad- 
 mission. His kennel of dogs set up furious up- 
 roar, on the instant, by way of proving the fact of 
 a stranger's presence. 
 
 " Now by Saint Peter ! " growled the friar, 
 " who comes here at this unseemly hour ? Does 
 he take this for a hostelry ? Move on, friend, else 
 my mulled wine will get cold ! " 
 
 So saying he put the tankard to his lips, when 
 a thundering rap sounded upon the door-panel, 
 making it to quiver, and causing Tuck almost 
 to drop his tankard ; while an angry voice 
 shouted, 
 
 " Ho ! Within there ! Open, I say ! " 
 
How King Richard Came 279 
 
 " Go your way in peace ! " roared back the 
 friar ; " I can do nothing for you. 'Tis but a few 
 miles to Gamewell, if you know the road." 
 
 " But I do not know the road, and if I did I 
 would not budge another foot. 'Tis wet without 
 and dry within. So, open, without further par- 
 ley ! " 
 
 " A murrain seize you for disturbing a holy 
 man in his prayers ! " muttered Tuck savagely. 
 Nathless, he was fain to unbar the door in order 
 to keep it from being battered down. Then 
 lighting a torch at his fire and whistling for one 
 of his dogs, he strode forth to see who his visitor 
 might be. 
 
 The figure of a tall knight clad in a black coat 
 of mail, with plumed helmet, stood before him. 
 By his side stood his horse, also caparisoned in 
 rich armor. 
 
 " Have you no supper, brother ?" asked the 
 Black Knight curtly. " I must beg of you a bed 
 and a bit of roof, for this night, and fain would 
 refresh my body ere I sleep." 
 
 " I have no room that even your steed would 
 deign to accept, Sir Knight ; and naught save a 
 crust of bread and pitcher of water." 
 
 " F faith, I can smell better fare than that, 
 brother, and must e'en force my company upon 
 
280 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 you, though I shall recompense it for gold in the 
 name of the church. As for my horse, let him 
 but be blanketed and put on the sheltered side 
 of the house." 
 
 And without further parley the knight boldly 
 strode past Tuck and his dog and entered the 
 hermitage. Something about his masterful air 
 pleased Tuck, in spite of his churlishness. 
 
 " Sit you down, Sir Knight," quoth he, " and I 
 will fasten up your steed, and find him somewhat 
 in the shape of grain. Half, also, of my bed and 
 board is yours, this night ; but we shall see later 
 who is the better man, and is to give the orders ! " 
 
 " With all my soul ! " said the knight, laugh- 
 ing. " I can pay my keeping in blows or gold 
 as you prefer." 
 
 The friar presently returned and drew up a 
 small table near the fire. 
 
 " Now, Sir Knight," quoth he, " put off your 
 sword and helm and such other war-gear as it 
 pleases you, and help me lay this table, for I am 
 passing hungry." 
 
 The knight did as he was told, and put aside 
 the visor which had hid his face. He was a 
 bronzed and bearded man with blue eyes, and 
 hair shot with gold, haughty but handsome 
 withal. 
 
How King Richard Came 281 
 
 Then once again the priest sat him down to 
 his pasty and mulled wine, right hopefully. He 
 spoke his grace with some haste, and was sur- 
 prised to hear his guest respond fittingly in the 
 Latin tongue. Then they attacked the wine and 
 pasty valiantly, and the Black Knight made good 
 his word of being in need of refreshment. Tuck 
 looked ruefully at the rapidly disappearing food, 
 but came to grudge it not, by reason of the 
 stories with which his guest enlivened the meal. 
 The wine and warmth of the room had cheered 
 them both, and they were soon laughing uproar- 
 iously as the best of comrades in the world. The 
 Black Knight, it seemed, had traveled every- 
 where. He had been on crusades, had fought 
 the courteous Saladin, had been in prison, and 
 often in peril. But now he spoke of it lightly, 
 and laughed it off, and made himself so friendly 
 that Friar Tuck was like to choke with merri- 
 ment. So passed the time till late ; and the two 
 fell asleep together, one on each side of the table 
 which they had cleared to the platters. 
 
 In the morning Friar Tuck awoke disposed to 
 be surly, but was speedily mollified by the sight 
 of the Black Knight who had already risen gay 
 as a lark, washed his face and hands, and was 
 now stirring a hot gruel over the fire. 
 
282 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " By my faith, I make a sorry host ! " cried 
 Tuck springing to his feet. And later as they 
 sat at breakfast, he added, " I want not your 
 gold, of which you spoke last night ; but instead 
 I will do what I can to speed you on your way 
 whenever you wish to depart." 
 
 " Then tell me," said the knight, " how I may 
 find Robin Hood the outlaw ; for I have a mes- 
 sage to him from the King. All day yesterday 
 I sought him, but found him not." 
 
 Friar Tuck lifted up his hands in holy horror. 
 " I am a lover of peace, Sir Knight, and do not 
 consort with Robin's bold fellows." 
 
 " Nay, I think no harm of Master Hood," said 
 the knight; " but much I yearn to have speech 
 with him in mine own person." 
 
 " If that be all, mayhap I can guide you to his 
 haunts," said Tuck, who foresaw in this knight a 
 possible gold-bag for Robin. " In sooth, I could 
 not well live in these woods without hearing 
 somewhat of the outlaws ; but matters of re- 
 ligion are my chief joy and occupation." 
 
 " I will go with you, brother, " said the Black 
 Knight. 
 
 So without more ado they went their way into 
 the forest, the knight riding upon his charger, 
 and Tuck pacing along demurely by his side. 
 
How King Richard Came 283 
 
 The day had dawned clear and bright, and now 
 with the sun a good three hours high a sweet 
 autumn fragrance was in the air. The wind had 
 just that touch of coolness in it which sets the 
 hunter's blood to tingling ; and every creature of 
 nature seemed bounding with joyous life. 
 
 The knight sniffed the fresh air in delight. 
 
 " By my halidom ! " quoth he ; " but the good 
 greenwood is the best place to live in, after all ! 
 What court or capital can equal this, for full- 
 blooded men ? " 
 
 " None of this earth," replied Tuck smilingly. 
 And once more his heart warmed toward this 
 courteous stranger. 
 
 They had not proceeded more than three or 
 four miles along the way from Fountain Abbey to 
 Barnesdale, when of a sudden the bushes just 
 ahead of them parted and a well-knit man with 
 curling brown hair stepped into the road and laid 
 his hand upon the knight's bridle. 
 
 It was Robin Hood. He had seen Friar Tuck, 
 a little way back, and shrewdly suspected his plan. 
 Tuck, however, feigned not to know him at all. 
 
 " Hold ! " cried Robin ; " I am in charge of the 
 highway this day, and must exact an accounting 
 from all passers-by." 
 
 " Who is it bids me hold ? " asked the knight 
 
284 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 quietly. " I am not i' the habit of yielding to one 
 man." 
 
 " Then here are others to keep me company," 
 said Robin clapping his hands. And instantly a 
 half-score other stalwart fellows came out of the 
 bushes and stood beside him. 
 
 " We be yeomen of the forest, Sir Knight," 
 continued Robin/' and live under the green wood 
 tree. We have no means of support thanks to 
 the tyranny of our over-lords other than the 
 aid which fat churchmen, and goodly knights like 
 yourselves can give. And as ye have churches 
 and rents, both, and gold in great plenty, we be- 
 seech ye for Saint Chanty to give us some of 
 your spending." 
 
 " I am but a poor monk, good sir ! " said Friar 
 Tuck in a whining voice, " and am on my way 
 to the shrine of Saint Dunstan, if your worshipful- 
 ness will permit." 
 
 " Tarry a space with us," answered Robin, 
 biting back a smile, " and we will speed you on 
 your way." 
 
 The Black Knight now spoke again. " But 
 we are messengers of the King," quoth he ; " His 
 Majesty himself tarries near here and would have 
 speech with Robin Hood." 
 
 " God save the King ! " said Robin doffing 
 
How King Richard Came 285 
 
 his cap loyally ; " and all that wish him well ! I 
 am Robin Hood, but I say cursed be the man 
 who denies our liege King's sovereignty ! " 
 
 " Have a care ! " said the knight, " or you 
 shall curse yourself ! " 
 
 " Nay, not so," replied Robin curtly ; " the 
 King has no more devoted subject than I. Nor 
 have I despoiled aught of his save, mayhap, a 
 few deer for my hunger. My chief war is against 
 the clergy and barons of the land who bear down 
 upon the poor. But I am glad," he continued, 
 " that I have met you here ; and before we end 
 you shall be my friend and taste of our green- 
 wood cheer." 
 
 " But what is the reckoning ? " asked the 
 knight. u For I am told that some of your 
 feasts are costly." 
 
 " Nay," responded Robin waving his hands, 
 " you are from the King. Nathless how much 
 money is in your purse ? " 
 
 " I have no more than forty gold pieces, see- 
 ing that I have lain a fortnight at Nottingham 
 with the King, and have spent some goodly 
 amounts upon other lordings," replied the 
 knight. 
 
 Robin took the forty pounds and gravely 
 counted it. One-half he gave to his men and 
 
286 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 bade them drink the King's health with it. The 
 other half he handed back to the knight. 
 
 " Sir," said he courteously, " have this for your 
 spending. If you lie with kings and lordings 
 overmuch, you are like to need it." 
 
 " Gramercy ! " replied the other smiling. " And 
 now lead on to your greenwood hostelry." 
 
 So Robin went on one side of the knight's 
 steed, and Friar Tuck on the other, and the men 
 went before and behind till they came to the 
 open glade before the caves of Barnesdale. Then 
 Robin drew forth his bugle and winded the three 
 signal blasts of the band. Soon there came a 
 company of yeomen with its leader, and another, 
 and a third, and a fourth, till there were seven- 
 score yeomen in sight. All were dressed in new 
 livery of Lincoln green, and carried new bows in 
 their hands and bright short swords at their belts. 
 And every man bent his knee to Robin Hood ere 
 taking his place before the board, which was al- 
 ready set. 
 
 A handsome dark-haired page stood at Robin's 
 right hand to pour his wine and that of the 
 knightly guest ; while the knight marveled much 
 at all he saw, and said within himself: 
 
 " These men of Robin Hood's give him more 
 obedience than my fellows give to me." 
 
How King Richard Came 287 
 
 At the signal from Robin the dinner began. 
 There was venison and fowl and fish and wheaten 
 cake and ale and red wine in great plenty, and 
 'twas a goodly sight to see the smiles upon the 
 hungry yeomen's faces. 
 
 First they listened to an unctuous grace from 
 Friar Tuck, and then Robin lifted high a tankard 
 of ale. 
 
 " Come, let us now begin," quoth he, " and 
 every man shall have his can. In honor of our 
 guest who comes with royal word, here's a health 
 unto the King ! " 
 
 The guest responded heartily to this toast, and 
 round about the board it went, the men cheer- 
 ing noisily for King Richard ! 
 
 After the feast was over, Robin turned to his 
 guest and said, " Now you shall see what life we 
 lead, so that you may report faithfully, for good 
 or bad, unto the King." 
 
 So at a signal from him, the men rose up and 
 smartly bent their bows for practice, while the 
 knight was greatly astonished at the smallness of 
 their targets. A wand was set up, far down the 
 glade, and thereon was balanced a garland of 
 roses. Whosoever failed to speed his shaft 
 through the garland, without knocking it off the 
 
288 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 wand, was to submit to a buffet from the hand of 
 Friar Tuck. 
 
 u Ho, ho ! " cried the knight, as his late travel- 
 ing companion rose up and bared his brawny arm 
 ready for service ; " so you, my friend, are Friar 
 Tuck ! " 
 
 " I have not gainsaid it," replied Tuck growl- 
 ing at having betrayed himself. " But chastise- 
 ment is a rule of the church, and I am seeking 
 the good of these stray sheep." 
 
 The knight said no more, though his eyes 
 twinkled ; and the shooting began. 
 
 David of Doncaster shot first and landed safely 
 through the rose garland. Then came Allan-a- 
 Dale and Little John and Stutely and Scarlet and 
 many of the rest, while the knight held his breath 
 from very amazement. Each fellow shot truly 
 through the garland, until Middle the tinker not 
 to be outdone stepped up for a trial. But alas ! 
 while he made a fair shot for a townsman, the ar- 
 row never came within a hand-breath of the outer 
 rim of the garland. 
 
 4< Come hither, fellow," said Little John coax- 
 ingly. " The priest would bless thee with his 
 open hand." 
 
 Then because Middle made a wry face, as 
 though he had already received the buffet, and 
 
How King Richard Came 289 
 
 loitered in his steps, Arthur-a-Bland and Will 
 Stutely seized him by the arms and stood him be- 
 fore the friar. Tuck's big arm flashed through 
 the air " whoof ! " and stopped suddenly against 
 the tinker's ear ; while Middle himself went roll- 
 ing over and over on the grass. He was stopped 
 by a small bush, and up he sat, thrusting his head 
 through it, rubbing his ear and blinking up at the 
 sky as though the stars had fallen and struck him. 
 The yeomen roared with merriment, and as for 
 the knight he laughed till the tears came out of 
 his blue eyes and rolled down his face. 
 
 After Middle's mishap, others of the band 
 seemed to lose their balance, and fared in the 
 same fashion. The garland would topple over in 
 a most impish way at every breath, although the 
 arrows went through it. So Middle 'gan to feel 
 better when he saw this one and that one tumbling 
 on the sward. 
 
 At last came Robin's turn. He shot carefully, 
 but as ill luck would have it the shaft was ill- 
 feathered and swerved sidewise so that it missed 
 the garland by full three fingers. Then a great 
 roar went up from the whole company ; for 'twas 
 rare that they saw their leader miss his mark. 
 Robin flung his bow upon the ground from very 
 vexation. 
 
290 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " A murrain take it! " quoth he. " The arrow 
 ivas sadly winged. I felt the poor feather upon 
 it as it left my fingers ! " 
 
 Then suddenly seizing his bow again, he sped 
 three shafts as fast as he could send them, and 
 every one went clean through the garland. 
 
 " By Saint George ! " muttered the knight. 
 " Never before saw I such shooting in all Chris- 
 tendom ! " 
 
 The band cheered heartily at these last shots ; 
 but Will Scarlet came up gravely to Robin. 
 
 " Pretty shooting, master ! " quoth he, " but 
 'twill not save you from paying for the bad ar- 
 row. So walk up and take your medicine ! " 
 
 " Nay, that may not be ! " protested Robin. 
 " The good friar belongs to my company and 
 has no authority to lift hands against me. But 
 you, Sir Knight, stand as it were for the King. 
 I pray you, serve out my blow." 
 
 " Not so ! " said Friar Tuck. " My son, you 
 forget I stand for the church, which is greater 
 even than the King." 
 
 " Not in merry England," said the knight in a 
 deep voice. Then rising to his feet, he added, 
 " I stand ready to serve you, Master Hood." 
 
 " Now out upon ye for an upstart knight ! " 
 cried Friar Tuck. " I told you last night, sirrah, 
 
How King Richard Came 291 
 
 that we should yet see who was the better man ! 
 So we will e'en prove it now, and thus settle who 
 is to pay Robin Hood." 
 
 " Good ! " said Robin, " for I want not to start 
 a dispute between church and state." 
 
 " Good ! " also said the knight. " Tis an easy 
 way to end prattling. Come, friar, strike and ye 
 dare. I will give you first blow." 
 
 " You have the advantage of an iron pot on 
 your head and gloves on your hands," said the 
 friar ; " but have at ye ! Down you shall go, if 
 you were Goliath of Gath." 
 
 Once more the priest's brawny arm flashed 
 through the air, and struck with a "whoof!" 
 But to the amazement of all, the knight did not 
 budge from his tracks, though the upper half of 
 his body swerved slightly to ease the force of the 
 blow. A loud shout burst from the yeomen at 
 this, for the friar's fist was proverbial, and few of 
 those present had not felt the force of it in times 
 past. 
 
 " Now 'tis my turn," said his antagonist coolly, 
 casting aside his gauntlet. And with one blow 
 of his fist the knight sent the friar spinning to 
 the ground. 
 
 If there had been uproar and shouting before, 
 it was as naught to the noise which now broke 
 
292 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 forth. Every fellow held his sides or rolled upon 
 the ground from laughter; every fellow, save 
 one, and that was Robin Hood. 
 
 " Out of the frying-pan into the fire ! " thought 
 he. " I wish I had let the friar box my ears, 
 after all ! " 
 
 Robin's plight did, indeed, seem a sorry one, 
 before the steel muscles of this stranger. But 
 he was saved from a tumble heels over head by 
 an unlooked-for diversion. A horn winded in 
 the glade, and a party of knights were seen ap- 
 proaching. 
 
 " To your arms ! " cried Robin, hurriedly seiz- 
 ing his sword and bow. 
 
 " Tis Sir Richard of the Lea ! " cried another, 
 as the troop came nearer. 
 
 And so it was. Sir Richard spurred forward 
 his horse and dashed up to the camp while the 
 outlaws stood at stiff attention. When he 
 had come near the spot where the Black 
 Knight stood, he dismounted and knelt before 
 him. 
 
 " I trust Your Majesty has not needed our 
 arms before," he said humbly. 
 
 " It is the King ! " cried Will Scarlet, falling 
 upon his knees. 
 
 " The King ! " echoed Robin Hood after a 
 
How King Richard Came 293 
 
 moment of dumb wonderment; and he and all 
 his men bent reverently upon their knees, as one 
 man. 
 
CHAPTER XXIII 
 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN 
 WERE WED 
 
 " Stand up again," then said the King, 
 
 " I'll thee thy pardon give ; 
 Stand up, my friend ; who can contend, 
 When I give leave to live ? " 
 
 Then Robin Hood began a health 
 
 To Marian, his only dear; 
 And his yeomen all, both comely and tall, 
 
 Did quickly bring up the rear. 
 
 "^K" T~OUR pardon, sire!" exclaimed Robin 
 ^f Hood. " Pardon, from your royal 
 ~M. bounty, for these my men who stand 
 ready to serve you all your days ! " 
 
 Richard of the Lion Heart looked grimly 
 about over the kneeling band. 
 
 " Is it as your leader says ? " he asked. 
 " Aye, my lord King ! " burst from sevenscore 
 throats at once. 
 
 " We be not outlaws from choice alone," con- 
 tinued Robin ; " but have been driven to outlawry 
 294 
 
Robin Hood and Maid Marian 295 
 
 through oppression. Grant us grace and royal 
 protection, and we will forsake the greenwood 
 and follow the King." 
 
 Richard's eyes sparkled as he looked from one 
 to another of this stalwart band, and he thought 
 within himself that here, indeed, was a royal 
 body-guard worth the while. 
 
 " Swear ! " he said in his full rich voice ; 
 " swear that you, Robin Hood, and all your men 
 from this day henceforth will serve the King ! " 
 
 " We swear ! " came once more the answering 
 shout from the yeomen. 
 
 " Arise, then," said King Richard. " I give 
 you all free pardon, and will speedily put your 
 service to the test. For I love such archers as 
 you have shown yourselves to be, and it were a 
 sad pity to decree such men to death. England 
 could not produce the like again, for many a day. 
 But, in sooth, I cannot allow you to roam in the 
 forest and shoot my deer ; nor to take the law of 
 the land into your own hands. Therefore, I now 
 appoint you to be Royal Archers and mine own 
 especial body-guard. There be one or two civil 
 matters to settle with certain Norman noblemen, 
 in which I crave your aid. Thereafter, the half 
 of your number, as may later be determined, shall 
 come back to these woodlands as Royal For- 
 
296 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 esters. Mayhap you will show as much zeal in 
 protecting my preserves as you have formerly 
 shown in hunting them. Where, now, is that 
 outlaw known as Little John ? Stand forth ! " 
 
 " Here, sire," quoth the giant, doffing his 
 cap. 
 
 " Good master Little John," said the King, 
 looking him over approvingly. " Could your 
 weak sinews stand the strain of an office in the 
 shire ? If so, you are this day Sheriff of Notting- 
 ham ; and I trust you will make a better official 
 than the man you relieve." 
 
 " I shall do my best, sire," said Little John, 
 great astonishment and gladness in his heart. 
 
 " Master Scarlet, stand forth," said the King ; 
 and then addressing him : " I have heard some- 
 what of your tale," quoth he, "and that your 
 father was the friend of my father. Now, there- 
 fore, accept the royal pardon and resume the care 
 of your family estates ; for your father must be 
 growing old. And come you to London next 
 Court day and we shall see if there be a knight- 
 hood vacant." 
 
 Likewise the King called for Will Stutely and 
 made him Chief of the Royal Archers. Then he 
 summoned Friar Tuck to draw near. 
 
 " I crave my King's pardon," said the priest, 
 
Robin Hood and Maid Marian 297 
 
 humbly enough ; " for who am I to lift my hand 
 against the Lord's anointed ? " 
 
 " Nay, the Lord sent the smiter to thee with- 
 out delay," returned Richard smiling ; " and 'tis 
 not for me to continue a quarrel between church 
 and state. So what can I do for you in pay- 
 ment of last night's hospitality ? Can I find 
 some fat living where there are no wicked to 
 chastise, and where the work is easy and com- 
 fortable ? " 
 
 " Not so, my lord," replied Tuck. " I wish 
 only for peace in this life. Mine is a simple 
 nature and I care not for the fripperies and follies 
 of court life. Give me a good meal and a cup of 
 right brew, health, and enough for the day, and I 
 ask no more." 
 
 Richard sighed. " You ask the greatest thing 
 in the world, brother contentment. It is not 
 mine to give or to deny. But ask your God for 
 it, and if belike he grant it, then ask it also in 
 behalf of your King." He glanced around once 
 more at the foresters. " Which one of you is 
 Allan-a-Dale ? " he asked; and when Allan had 
 come forward. " So," said the King with sober 
 face, " you are that errant minstrel who stole a 
 bride at Plympton, despite her would-be groom 
 and attending Bishop. I heard something of this 
 
298 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 in former days. Now what excuse have you to 
 make ? " 
 
 " Only that I loved her, sire, and she loved me," 
 said Allan, simply ; " and the Norman lord would 
 have married her perforce, because of her lands." 
 
 " Which have since been forfeited by the 
 Bishop of Hereford," added Richard. " But my 
 lord Bishop must disgorge them ; and from to- 
 morrow you and Mistress Dale are to return to 
 them and live in peace and loyalty. And if ever 
 I need your harp at Court, stand ready to attend 
 me, and bring also the lady. Speaking of ladies," 
 he continued, turning to Robin Hood, who had 
 stood silent, wondering if a special punishment 
 was being reserved for him, " did you not have a 
 sweetheart who was once at Court one, Mistress 
 Marian ? What has become of her, that you 
 should have forgotten her ? " 
 
 " Nay, Your Majesty," said the black-eyed page 
 coming forward blushingly ; " Robin has not for- 
 gotten me ! " 
 
 " So ! " said the King, bending to kiss her small 
 hand in all gallantry. " Verily, as I have already 
 thought within myself, this Master Hood is bet- 
 ter served than the King in his palace ! But are 
 you not the only child of the late Earl of Hunt- 
 ingdon ? " 
 
Robin Hood and Maid Marian 299 
 
 " I am, sire, though there be some who say 
 that Robin Hood's father was formerly the right- 
 ful Earl of Huntingdon. Nathless, neither he is 
 advantaged nor I, for the estates are confiscate." 
 
 " Then they shall be restored forthwith ! " cried 
 the King ; " and lest you two should revive the 
 ancient quarrel over them, I bestow them upon 
 you jointly. Come forward, Robin Hood." 
 
 Robin came and knelt before his king. Rich- 
 ard drew his sword and touched him upon the 
 shoulder. 
 
 " Rise, Robin Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon ! " 
 he exclaimed, while a mighty cheer arose from 
 the band and rent the air of the forest. " The 
 first command I give you, my lord Earl," contin- 
 ued the King when quiet was restored, " is to 
 marry Mistress Marian without delay." 
 
 " May I obey all Your Majesty's commands as 
 willingly ! " cried the new Earl of Huntingdon, 
 drawing the old Earl's daughter close to him. 
 " The ceremony shall take place to-morrow, an 
 this maid is willing." 
 
 " She makes little protest," said the King ; " so 
 I shall e'en give away the bride myself ! " 
 
 Then the King chatted with others of the for- 
 esters, and made himself as one of them for the 
 evening, rejoicing that he could have this careless 
 
300 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 freedom of the woods. And Much, the miller's 
 son, and Arthur-a-Bland, and Middle, and Stutely 
 and Scarlet and Little John and others played at 
 the quarter-staff, giving and getting many lusty 
 blows. Then as the shades of night drew on, the 
 whole company knights and foresters supped 
 and drank around a blazing fire, while Allan 
 sang sweetly to the thrumming of the harp, and 
 the others joined in the chorus. 
 
 'Twas a happy, care-free night this last one 
 together under the greenwood tree. Robin could 
 not help feeling an undertone of sadness that it 
 was to be the last ; for the charm of the wood- 
 land was still upon him. But he knew 'twas bet- 
 ter so, and that the new life with Marian and in 
 the service of his King would bring its own joys. 
 
 Then the night deepened, the fire sank, but 
 was replenished and the company lay down to 
 rest. The King, at his own request, spent the 
 night in the open. Thus they slept King and 
 subject alike out under the stars, cared for lov- 
 ingly by Nature, kind mother of us all. 
 
 In the morning the company was early astir 
 and on their way to Nottingham. It was a 
 goodly cavalcade. First rode King Richard of 
 the Lion Heart, with his tall figure set forth by 
 
Robin Hood and Maid Marian 301 
 
 the black armor and waving plume in his helm. 
 Then came Sir Richard of the Lea with four- 
 score knights and men-at-arms. And after them 
 came Robin Hood and Maid Marian riding upon 
 milk-white steeds. Allan-a-Dale also escorted 
 Mistress Dale on horseback, for she was to be 
 matron-of-honor at the wedding. These were 
 followed by sevenscore archers clad in their 
 bravest Lincoln green, and with their new bows 
 unstrung in token of peace. 
 
 Outside the gates of Nottingham town they 
 were halted. 
 
 " Who comes here?" asked the warder's surly 
 voice. 
 
 " Open to the King of England ! " came back 
 the clear answer, and the gates were opened and 
 the bridge let down without delay. 
 
 Almost before the company had crossed the 
 moat the news spread through the town like wild- 
 fire. 
 
 " The King is here ! The King is here, and 
 hath taken Robin Hood ! " 
 
 From every corner flocked the people to see 
 the company pass ; and wildly did they cheer for 
 the King, who rode smilingly with bared head 
 down through the market-place. 
 
 At the far end of it, he was met by the Sheriff 
 
302 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 who came up puffing in his haste to do the King 
 honor. He fairly turned green with rage when 
 he saw Sir Richard of the Lea and Robin Hood 
 in the royal company, but made low obeisance to 
 his master. 
 
 " Sir Sheriff," quoth the King, " I have come 
 to rid the shire of outlaws, according to my 
 promise. There be none left, for all have now 
 taken service with their King. And lest there 
 should be further outbreak, I have determined to 
 place in charge of this shire a man who fears no 
 other man in it. Master Little John is hereby 
 created Sheriff of Nottingham, and you will turn 
 over the keys to him forthwith." 
 
 The Sheriff bowed, but dared utter no word. 
 Then the King turned to the Bishop of Here- 
 ford, who had also come up to pay his respects. 
 
 " Harkee, my lord Bishop," quoth he, " the 
 stench of your evil actions has reached our nos- 
 trils. We shall demand strict accounting for cer- 
 tain seizures of lands and certain acts of oppres- 
 sion which ill become a churchman. But of this, 
 later. This afternoon you must officiate at the 
 wedding of two of our company, in Nottingham 
 Church. So make you ready." 
 
 The Bishop also bowed and departed, glad to 
 escape a severer censure for the time. 
 
Robin Hood and Maid Marian 303 
 
 The company then rode on to the Mansion 
 House, where the King held high levee through 
 all the noon hours, and the whole town made a 
 holiday. 
 
 In the afternoon the way from the Mansion 
 House to Nottingham Church was lined with 
 cheering people, as the wedding party passed by. 
 The famous bowmen were gazed at as curiously 
 as though they had been wild animals, but were 
 cheered none the less. Robin who had long been 
 held in secret liking was now doubly popular 
 since he. had the King's favor. 
 
 Along the way ahead of the King and the 
 smiling bride and groom to be ran little maids 
 strewing flowers ; while streamers floated in 
 greeting from the windows. I ween, the only 
 hearts that were not glad this day were those of 
 the old Sheriff, and of his proud daughter, who 
 peered between the shutters of her window and was 
 like to eat out her heart from envy and hatred. 
 
 At last the party reached the church, where 
 the King dismounted lightly from his horse and 
 helped the bride to alight ; while Will Scarlet, 
 the best man, assisted Mistress Dale. Within the 
 church they found the Bishop robed in state, and 
 by his side Friar Tuck who had been especially 
 deputed to assist. 
 
304 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 The service was said in Latin, while the organ 
 pealed forth softly. The King gave away the 
 bride, as he had said, and afterwards claimed first 
 kiss for his pains. Then the happy party dis- 
 persed, and Robin and Marian passed out again 
 through the portal, man and wife. 
 
 Out through the cheering streets they fared, 
 while the greenwood men ran ahead and flung 
 gold pennies right and left in their joy, and bade 
 the people drink the health of the young couple 
 and the King. Then the whole party took horse 
 at Will Scarlet's earnest wish, and went. down to 
 Gamewell Lodge, where the old Squire George 
 wept for joy at seeing his son and the King and 
 the wedding-party. That night they spent there, 
 and feasted, and the next day, Sir Richard of the 
 Lea claimed them. 
 
 And thus, amid feasting and rejoicing and 
 kingly favor, Robin Hood, the new Earl of Hunt- 
 ingdon, and his bride began their wedded life. 
 
CHAPTER XXIV 
 HOW ROBIN HOOD MET HIS DEATH 
 
 " Give me my bent bow in my hand, 
 
 And a broad arrow I'll let flee ; 
 And where this arrow is taken up, 
 There shall my grave digg'd be." 
 
 NOW by good rights this story should 
 end with the wedding of Robin Hood 
 and Maid Marian ; for do t not many 
 pleasant tales end with a wedding and the saying, 
 -' and they lived happy ever after " ? But this is 
 a true account in so far as we can find the 
 quaint old ballads which tell of it and so we 
 must follow one more of these songs and learn 
 how Robin, after living many years longer, at 
 last came to seek his grave. And the story of it 
 runs in this wise. 
 
 Robin Hood and his men, now the Royal Arch- 
 ers, went with King Richard of the Lion Heart 
 through England settling certain private disputes 
 which had arisen among the Norman barons 
 while the King was gone to the Holy Land. 
 Then the King proceeded amid great pomp and 
 35 
 
306 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 rejoicing to the palace at London, and Robin, the 
 new Earl of Huntingdon, brought his Countess 
 thither where she became one of the finest ladies 
 of the Court. 
 
 The Royal Archers were now divided into two 
 bands, and one-half of them were retained in 
 London, while the other half returned to Sher- 
 wood and Barnesdale, there to guard the King's 
 preserves. 
 
 Several months passed by, and Robin began 
 to chafe under the restraint of city life. He 
 longed for the fresh pure air of the greenwood, 
 and the rollicking society of his yeomen. One 
 day, upon seeing some lads at archery practice 
 upon a green, he could not help but lament, say- 
 ing, " Woe is me ! I fear my hand is fast losing 
 its old time cunning at the bow-string ! " 
 
 Finally he became so distraught that he asked 
 leave to travel in foreign lands, and this was 
 granted him. He took Maid Marian with him, 
 and together they went through many strange 
 countries. Finally in an Eastern land a great 
 grief came upon Robin. Marian sickened of a 
 plague and died. They had been married but 
 five years, and Robin felt as though all the light 
 had gone out of his life. 
 
 He wandered about the world for a few months 
 
How Robin Hood Met His Death 307 
 
 longer, trying to forget his grief, then came back 
 to the court, at London, and sought some com- 
 mission in active service. But, unluckily, Richard 
 was gone again upon his adventures, and Prince 
 John, who acted as Regent, had never been fond 
 of Robin. He received him with a sarcastic 
 smile. 
 
 " Go forth into the greenwood," said he, coldly, 
 11 and kill some more of the King's deer. Belike, 
 then, the King will make you Prime Minister, at 
 the very least, upon his return." 
 
 The taunt fired Robin's blood. He had been 
 in a morose mood, ever since his dear wife's 
 death. He answered Prince John hotly, and the 
 Prince bade his guards seize him and cast him 
 into the Tower. 
 
 After lying there for a few weeks, he was re- 
 leased by the faithful Stutely and the remnant 
 of the Royal Archers, and all together they fled 
 the city and made their way to the greenwood. 
 There Robin blew the old familiar call, which all 
 had known and loved so well. Up came running 
 the remainder of the band, who had been Royal 
 Foresters, and when they saw their old master 
 they embraced his knees and kissed his hands, 
 and fairly cried for joy that he had come again to 
 them. And one and all forswore fealty to Prince 
 
308 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 John, and lived quietly with Robin in the green- 
 wood, doing harm to none and only awaiting the 
 time when King Richard should come again. 
 
 But King Richard came not again, and would 
 never need his Royal Guard more. Tidings 
 presently reached them, of how he had met his 
 death in a foreign land, and how John reigned as 
 King in his stead. The proof of these events 
 followed soon after, when there came striding 
 through the glade the big, familiar form of Little 
 John. 
 
 " Art come to arrest us ? " called out Robin, as 
 he ran forward and embraced his old comrade. 
 
 "Nay, I am not come as the Sheriff of Not- 
 tingham, thanks be," answered Little John. 
 " The new King has deposed me, and 'tis greatly 
 to my liking, for I have long desired to join you 
 here again in the greenwood." 
 
 Then were the rest of the band right glad at 
 this news, and toasted Little John royally. 
 
 The new King waged fierce war upon the out- 
 laws, soon after this, and sent so many scouting 
 parties into Sherwood and Barnesdale that Robin 
 and his men left these woods for a time and 
 went into Derbyshire, near Haddon Hall. A 
 curious pile of stone is shown to this day as the 
 ruins of Robin's Castle, where the bold outlaw is 
 
How Robin Hood Met His Death 309 
 
 believed to have defied his enemies for a year or 
 more. At any rate King John found so many 
 troubles of his own, after a time, that he ceased 
 troubling the outlaws. 
 
 But in one of the last sorties Robin was 
 wounded. The cut did not seem serious, and 
 healed over the top ; but it left a lurking fever. 
 Daily his strength ebbed away from him, until he 
 was in sore distress. 
 
 One day as he rode along on horseback, near 
 Kirklees Abbey, he was seized with so violent a 
 rush of blood to the head that he reeled and came 
 near falling from his saddle. He dismounted 
 weakly and knocked at the Abbey gate. A 
 woman shrouded in black peered forth. 
 
 " Who are you that knock here ? For we 
 allow no man within these walls," she said. 
 
 " Open, for the love of Heaven ! " he begged. 
 " I am Robin Hood, ill of a fever and in sore 
 straits." 
 
 At the name of Robin Hood the woman 
 started back, and then, as though bethinking her- 
 self, unbarred the door and admitted him. As- 
 sisting his fainting frame up a flight of stairs and 
 into a front room, she loosed his collar and 
 bathed his face until he was revived. Then she 
 spoke hurriedly in a low voice : 
 
310 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 " Your fever will sink, if you are bled. See, I 
 have provided a lancet and will open your veins, 
 while you lie quiet." 
 
 So she bled him, and he fell into a stupor 
 which lasted nearly all that day, so that he awoke 
 weak and exhausted from loss of blood. 
 
 Now there is a dispute as to this abbess who 
 bled him. Some say that she did it in all kind- 
 ness of heart ; while others aver that she was 
 none other than the former Sheriff's daughter, 
 and found her revenge at last in this cruel deed. 
 
 Be that as it may, Robin's eyes swam from 
 very weakness when he awoke. He called 
 wearily for help, but there was no response. He 
 looked longingly through the window at the 
 green of the forest ; but he was too weak to make 
 the leap that would be needed to reach the 
 ground. 
 
 He then bethought him of his horn, 
 
 Which hung down at his knee ; 
 He set his horn unto his mouth, 
 
 And blew out weak blasts three. 
 
 Little John was out in the forest near by, or 
 the blasts would never have been heard. At 
 their sound he sprang to his feet. 
 
 " Woe ! woe ! " he cried, " I fear my master is 
 near dead, he blows so wearily ! " 
 
How Robin Hood Met His Death 311 
 
 So he made haste and came running up to the 
 door of the abbey, and knocked loudly for ad- 
 mittance. Failing to get reply he burst in the 
 door with frenzied blows of his mighty fist, and 
 soon came running up to the room where Robin 
 lay, white and faint. 
 
 " Alas, dear master ! " cried Little John in great 
 distress ; " I fear you have met with treachery ! 
 If that be so, grant me one last boon, I pray." 
 
 " What is it? " asked Robin. 
 
 " Let me burn Kirkley-Hall with fire, and all 
 its nunnery." 
 
 " Nay, good comrade," answered Robin Hood 
 gently, " I cannot grant such a boon. The dear 
 Christ bade us forgive all our enemies. More- 
 over, you know I never hurt woman in all my 
 life ; nor man when in woman's company." 
 
 He closed his eyes and fell back, so that his 
 friend thought him dying. The great tears fell 
 from the giant's eyes and wet his master's hand. 
 Robin slowly rallied and seized his comrade's 
 outstretched arm. 
 
 " Lift me up, good Little John," he said 
 brokenly, " I want to smell the air from the good 
 greenwood once again. Give me my good yew 
 bow here here and fix a broad arrow upon 
 the string. Out yonder among the oaks 
 
312 Stories of Robin Hood 
 
 where this arrow shall fall let them dig my 
 grave." 
 
 And with one last mighty effort he sped his 
 shaft out of the open window, straight and true, 
 as in the days of old, till it struck the largest oak 
 of them all and dropped in the shadow of the 
 trees. Then he fell back upon the sobbing 
 breast of his devoted friend. 
 
 " Tis the last ! " he murmured, " tell the brave 
 hearts to lay me there with the green sod under 
 my head and feet. And let them lay my bent 
 bow at my side, for it has made sweet music in 
 mine ears/' 
 
 He rested a moment, and Little John scarce 
 knew that he was alive. But on a sudden 
 Robin's eye brightened, and he seemed to think 
 himself back once more with the band in the 
 open forest glade. He struggled to rise. 
 
 " Ha ! 'tis a fine stag, Will ! And Allan, thou 
 never didst thrum the harp more sweetly. How 
 the light blazes ! And Marian ! 'tis my Marian 
 come at last ! " 
 
 So died the body of Robin Hood ; but his spirit 
 lives on through the centuries in the deathless 
 ballads which are sung of him, and in the hearts 
 of men who love freedom and chivalry. 
 
How Robin Hood Met His Death 313 
 
 They buried him where his last arrow had 
 fallen, and they set up a stone to mark the spot. 
 And on the stone were graven these words : 
 
 " Here underneath his little stone 
 Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon ; 
 Never archer as he so good, 
 And people called him Robin Hood. 
 Such outlaws as he and his men 
 Will England never see again." 
 
 THE END 
 
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