Robi 
 
 DUO 
 
 anfiHis 
 
THE LIBRARY OF THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 AT CHAPEL HILL 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 Betty Bell 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2012 with funding from 
 
 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 
 
 http://archive.org/details/robinhoodhismerrOOwarr 
 
Eofatn J|ooti 
 
 &nb 3|te Jflerrp Jfflen 
 
 By 
 
 JflauBe EaKforU barren 
 
 Author of 
 "King Arthur and his Knights" 
 
 Illustrated by 
 
 iftilo Winter 
 
 !Hanti ^tci^allp & <£ompanp 
 
 Chicago New York 
 
Copyright, 1014, 
 By Maude Radford Warren 
 
 «lje 3Etant»-lWr33aU8 JJree© 
 
 Chicago 
 
Chapter Page 
 
 The Preface 7 
 
 I. The Banishment of Robin Hood . . 11 
 II. Robin Hood and Little John ... 24 
 
 III. How Robin Gained Two More Men . 37 
 
 IV. The Adventure of Maid Marian . . 51 
 V. The Adventures of Robin Hood and 
 
 Sir Richard of the Lea .... 67 
 VI. Further Adventures of Robin Hood 
 
 and Sir Richard of the Lea . . 82 
 VII. Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar . 97 
 VIII. Robin Hood and the Widow's Three 
 
 Sons 109 
 
 IX. Robin Hood and the Potter . . .121 
 X. The Adventures of Little John and 
 
 the Sheriff 137 
 
 XI. A-Maying 152 
 
 XII. Robin Hood and the Stranger . .168 
 
 5 
 
&obm ?|oob 
 
 Chapter Page 
 
 XIII. The Adventure of Robin Hood and 
 
 ill Scarlett at Court . . .179 
 
 XIV. Robin Hood on the Sea 195 
 
 XV. Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale . . 209 
 
 XVI. Robin Hood's Adventure with the 
 
 King 221 
 
 XVII. The Death op Robin Hood .... 233 
 
 Robin Hood Ballads 243 
 
 Suggestions to Teachers 286 
 
 The Glossary 289 
 
i His fflmy jflten 
 
 HE following stories of the adventures of Robin 
 Hood and his merry men are intended for pupils 
 le fifth and sixth grades. The writer has consulted 
 he available sources but is under particular obli- 
 ms to Childs's great collection of ballads. There 
 o definite tale or ballad reproduced in the first 
 {, but it is built on the tradition that Robin Hood 
 once the Earl of Huntington, and was, for no good 
 e, deprived of his lands and title. The other 
 es follow well authenticated sources, but here and 
 3 strict proportion and accuracy have been neg- 
 :d in order that the great outlaw and his men may 
 however romantically disguised, appear as thieves 
 ruffians. That is, the emphasis is put on deeds 
 :scue or other such knightly prowess, while the rob- 
 which Robin Hood did is minimized, and where 
 )pears it is shown that it occurred in the way of 
 •mal justice against a high-placed thief in order to 
 >re lawful property to an unfortunate knight who 
 been robbed. But such deviation from the original 
 ces does not destroy the general effect of the robust 
 
 (7) 
 
£ol)tn l)oob 
 
 doings of the outlaw and his followers. An effort has 
 been made to discriminate among the main characters 
 in order that the readers may receive a well-defined 
 impression of each, and may mark the relation between 
 the action and the characters. 
 
 It has been the writer's object to preserve, so far as 
 might be, the spirit of the greenwood — of the ancient 
 Sherwood Forest. In this regard, the old-time songs 
 with their quaint music, and the Robin Hood ballads 
 in the appendix, will assist the text. The virtues of 
 courage, forbearance, gentleness, courtesy, justice, 
 and championship which go so well with an outdoor 
 background are illustrated in the deeds of Robin Hood 
 and his followers. In order that the resemblances 
 as well as the differences between life in the forest and 
 in the court may be brought out, an account has been 
 given, through the description of life in the castle of 
 Maid Marian's father, of some of the customs and 
 conventions of chivalry; it will be seen that each type 
 of life gives scope for practice of both the bold and the 
 gentle virtues. Contact with the old chivalric ideals 
 is of value to children living in a democratic age which 
 is still feeling after its own conventions, hampered, 
 it may be, by uncertainties of definition. Certainly, 
 the account of the days in the good greenwood can 
 scarcely fail to appeal to the perennial primitive instinct 
 of youth. 
 
 Maude Radford Warren 
 
To my niece and nephews, 
 MAUDE, PAUL, and JACK STANLEY 
 
3&obm Jtoob 
 
 It was 
 spring- 
 time in 
 England 
 
anb ?|t£ ffltvvp jdett 
 
 Chapter I 
 
 ROBERT, Earl of Huntington, stood on 
 the drawbridge of his square gray castle. 
 It was springtime in England, toward the 
 end of the twelfth century. He looked past 
 the broad green lawns, on which gold and 
 purple crocuses lifted their gay heads, to the 
 meadows where the yellow cowslips grew. 
 Beyond them lay the fields already planted 
 and, in the distance, great Sherwood Forest. 
 The earl's face was grave and perplexed. 
 He was about to give a dinner to the few 
 retainers who were still faithful to him. His 
 money was almost gone, but they loved him 
 for himself and not for what he could give 
 them. Now he was spending the last few shil- 
 lings he had for their entertainment. When 
 the dinner was over, he intended to tell them 
 
i2 &oftm 3|oob 
 
 The that he could no longer provide for them, and 
 
 Banish- , 1 . , 
 
 ment of that they must seek a richer master. 
 HoTd His look grew tender as he gazed down the 
 , broad road leading to the castle and saw his 
 friends riding and walking toward him. First 
 rode two or three knights on white horses, 
 their bridles hung with silver bells which 
 made pretty music. If they had been coming 
 on a warlike errand they would have worn 
 coats of mail and leg-pieces, but as they were 
 coming to dine they wore doublets of silk, 
 long silk stockings, and shoes of embroidered 
 leather. Their wide hats were decorated with 
 large plumes. 
 
 Behind them walked two score men at 
 arms. Each wore a wide hat, a belted cloth 
 tunic, close-fitting breeches, long woolen stock- 
 ings, and boots of leather reaching halfway to 
 the knee. For arms, they carried triangular 
 shields two feet in length, swords, and spears 
 with long pennants. After them came two 
 score archers, dressed in much the same 
 fashion. Some of them wore mantles, fas- 
 tened at the shoulder with brooches. For 
 weapons, each had a short sword, a long bow, 
 and a sheaf of arrows. Last of all walked a 
 few men poorly clad in woolen tunics, loose 
 
anb %Ha fflttty Mm 13 
 
 woolen breeches, and rough woolen stockings, The 
 and bearing no arms except clubs. These ment <?/ 
 were the cottagers, who tilled as well as they Hood 
 could the fields of their dear lord, Robert, 
 Earl of Huntington. 
 
 All looked at him with great love as he 
 stood on the drawbridge. His hair was like 
 the gold of the crocuses that grew on his 
 lawns; his eyes were as blue as the water in 
 the moat which his drawbridge spanned. He 
 was so tall that he made an ordinary door 
 seem small, and his body looked as if he had 
 the strength of two men. He wore long silk 
 hose of his favorite color, green, and a doublet 
 of dark brocaded silk slashed with gold. 
 
 When the guests reached him the earl 
 bowed courteously and led the way across 
 the drawbridge into the court of his castle. 
 This was a paved square around which the 
 castle was built. As soon as he had entered, 
 servants came running to take the horses of 
 the knights and the weapons of the other 
 men. 
 
 When all were inside, the earl was about 
 to order his gatewarder to raise the draw- 
 bridge. Whenever this was done, the castle 
 was like a little island, protected by the moat, 
 
h &obm j|oob 
 
 The which could be crossed only by swimming. 
 
 mentof "Nay," the earl said to the warder; "let 
 
 Hold it stay down in case more guests arrive. If 
 
 an enemy come, he dare not hurt me in the 
 
 presence of these, my friends." 
 
 Then he conducted his guests through a 
 wide entrance at one side of the court into 
 his main hall, which was the chief room of 
 the castle. It had once been hung with rich 
 tapestries, but these had been sold for money 
 to buy food. The floors were strewn with 
 rushes. The table consisted of boards laid 
 across trestles and covered with white linen. 
 A few gold drinking bowls and jugs were 
 set here and there, but most of the dishes 
 were pewter. 
 
 The earl took the head of the table. Next 
 him came the knights. On the table, just 
 below the place where the knight farthest 
 from the earl sat, was placed a golden salt- 
 cellar. This showed the distinction in rank 
 between the knights and those who had no 
 titles. The men at arms came next below 
 the knights, and then the archers, while the 
 cottagers sat humbly at the foot of the table. 
 
 When all were seated a door at the back 
 of the hall opened, and a sturdy, rosy-faced 
 
anb 3|fe ffltvvy Mm 15 
 
 friar entered, followed by a tall veiled lady. The 
 
 Banish- 
 
 The earl rose. ment of 
 
 "Welcome, Friar Tuck," he said. "Whom Hood 
 have we here?" 
 
 "Faith! a lady, unbidden, but none has a 
 better right to come," said Friar Tuck in a 
 hearty voice. " 'Tis your betrothed, Maid 
 Marian." 
 
 At that the earl's face grew graver, but he 
 stepped forward, and took her hand. 
 
 "Welcome, dear lady," he said. "Sit at 
 my right, and share this poor meal with us." 
 
 The dinner was far from poor, but it was 
 not a magnificent feast such as Robert, Earl 
 of Huntington, had been wont to give when 
 he was rich. There were no boars' heads, 
 no peacocks and swans dressed in their 
 own beautiful feathers, no tiny larks served 
 with delicate sauces. After Friar Tuck had 
 asked a blessing, servants came in with 
 venison pies, stewed geese, tiny roasted pigs, 
 clouted cream, and plum tarts. The men 
 in attendance hurried to and fro with such 
 good will that no one was kept waiting more 
 than a moment for food or drink. 
 
 The earl ate very little. He bent his head 
 often to talk to dark, beautiful Maid Marian, 
 
i6 Robin l)oob 
 
 r*« or to the knights. But always his face was 
 
 Banish- 
 ment of grave. When the dinner was over he rose, 
 
 Robin j • j 
 
 Hood and said: 
 
 "My friends, you all know that my estate 
 has dwindled, and that I am poor. But you 
 do not know that I am in debt. I am going 
 to offer my castle and lands to the king, 
 that he may have them sold. They will pay 
 all I owe. I have enemies at the king's 
 court, but they will surely see by this deed 
 that I am honest." 
 
 They were all listening attentively, and 
 Maid Marian was leaning forward eagerly. 
 
 "As you know," Robert went on in a low 
 voice, "I was soon to have married the lovely 
 Lady Marian, daughter of Lord Fitzwalter. 
 This marriage must be deferred until I can 
 find some way of again getting money. 
 Maid Marian is so dear to me that I cannot 
 let her suffer want." 
 
 Marian grew very pale, and sank back in 
 her seat. 
 
 "Oh," she whispered to Friar Tuck, "what 
 does it matter to me that he must give up 
 his castle? I could be happy with him if we 
 had no shelter for our heads but the green 
 trees of the forest." 
 
anb %Hs jHerrp jfflen 17 
 
 The earl looked at her with great love ; The 
 
 B (tft'tSrl- 
 
 then he continued : ment of 
 
 "What I shall do, I do not know as yet." H °J^ 
 At that moment he was interrupted by the 
 loud clatter of a horse's hoofs, and the con- 
 fused murmur of voices outside. Then the 
 door was dashed open, and the king's herald 
 appeared. He was mounted on a white 
 horse, which he boldly rode across the thresh- 
 old into the great hall. His coat and hose 
 were of scarlet, and he carried in his hand a 
 long brass trumpet. 
 
 He blew a loud blast on this which made 
 the room ring. Then he said: "Robert, 
 Earl of Huntington, come into the king's 
 court. Robert, Earl of Huntington, come 
 into the king's court. Robert, Earl of Hunt- 
 ington, come into the king's court." 
 
 The earl started to his feet, and all his men 
 rose. 
 
 "Know all here," said the herald, "that 
 Robert, Earl of Huntington, is hereby de- 
 barred from all rights to this castle and estate, 
 and is summoned to the king's court to answer 
 for debt and treason. If »he does not appear 
 within six days, he is to be made an outlaw 
 with a price on his head; and a rich reward 
 
is &obm %oob 
 
 The offered to any who will bring him to the kins:, 
 
 Banish- . 
 
 ment of dead or alive." 
 Hood Then he blew another blast, and shouted: 
 "In the king's name, Robert, no longer Earl 
 of Huntington, come into the king's court." 
 
 Some of the earl's men looked threaten- 
 ingly at the herald, but Robert made them 
 a sign to be still. When the herald had ridden 
 away, the earl raised his hand to quiet the 
 loud talk that was bursting from the lips of 
 his followers. He cast a reassuring look at 
 poor frightened Maid Marian. Then he said: 
 
 "My friends and people, you have heard. 
 If I go to the king's court, I shall be executed 
 on a false charge of treason. If I stay here, 
 I shall be an outlaw, hunted like a wild beast. 
 What, then, must be my choice?" 
 
 His listeners began to answer loudly, but 
 again the earl held up his hand. 
 
 "Shall we not leave the decision to the 
 one I love best on this great earth — to the 
 Lady Marian?" 
 
 Marian rose, pale but steady. 
 
 "My lord," she said, firmly, "never can I 
 consent that you be tried for treason, for 
 never was man less a traitor than you. An 
 outlaw owes no allegiance to king or duke. 
 
anb j|ig Mtvty jftlen 19 
 
 He is his own master. Therefore, my good The 
 lord, I beg you to be an outlaw. They will ment of 
 hunt you, but Robert, Earl of Huntington, ff ^f 
 will outwit them. Go, and seek your own 
 kingdom." 
 
 The earl smiled at her; he glanced out 
 of the window at the trees of great Sher- 
 wood Forest; then he looked at his stout 
 archers. 
 
 "Well spoken!" he said. "I, no longer 
 Robert, Earl of Huntington, will seek a new 
 kingdom. And some day, when the king sees 
 how he has wronged me, I shall come back to 
 claim my Lady Marian." 
 
 Friar Tuck rubbed his plump hands to- 
 gether. 
 
 "In faith, my lord," he said, "I, your 
 chaplain and friar, will follow wherever you 
 go. Your food will need blessing, and your 
 men will need the consolation of religion, 
 wherever your kingdom may be." 
 
 "I thank you, friar," said Robert; "but 
 I am not sure that I shall have any men." 
 
 At this, a loud shout rose from his followers. 
 
 "Long live our lord!" they cried, — "our 
 lord, whom we will follow forever!" 
 
 Robert's face grew bright. 
 
20 
 
 fooftm Hooti 
 
 "My 
 
 good lord, 
 
 I beg you 
 
 to be 
 
 an 
 
 outlaw ' ' 
 
attb gig Jflerrp JBen 21 
 
 "I thank you, my friends," he said; "but The 
 bethink you, I can offer you nothing." memo) 
 
 At this the knights rose. Hood 
 
 "My lord," said one of them, "we have 
 wives and children. We must seek an over- 
 lord who will help us to lands and gold. 
 Therefore, we take our leave." 
 
 "Sirs," said Robert, "I blame you not." 
 
 He followed them into the courtyard, and 
 called to his servants to bring their horses. 
 When they had departed, he returned to the 
 great hall. 
 
 "Since I am an outlaw," he said, "no 
 longer Robert the earl, you are to think of 
 me as plain Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest. 
 For there I shall live under the greenwood 
 tree, and hunt deer for food. Those who 
 follow me will have to share potluck. I give 
 you all leave to go." 
 
 But not a man made a movement to depart. 
 They all rose to their feet, and shouted 
 allegiance to their lord, Robin Hood. 
 
 "Call me not lord," he said. "In the 
 forest there shall be no distinctions of rank, 
 but only the distinction of bravery and good- 
 ness. I am your friend, not your lord." 
 
 Again they cheered him. 
 
^ &otun j|oob 
 
 The < ' You shall learn to be the greatest archers 
 
 Banish- . . 
 
 ment of in the land," he said, 'and shall be clad in 
 Hold Lincoln green, the color of the grass." 
 
 Once more his followers raised their voices. 
 Every man's face showed loyalty and enthu- 
 siasm. All were ready to leave the shelter 
 of a roof for the open woods, the safe tilling 
 of fields for the uncertain hunting of deer. 
 They welcomed the chance of adventure. 
 But Marian's face showed no joy, only a 
 sad courage. Robin's eyes were full of sorrow 
 as they rested upon her. 
 
 1 ' Farewell, Marian, ' ' he said. ' ' If you love 
 me, go back to your father, Lord Fitzwalter, 
 under the care of good Friar Tuck." 
 
 Marian bent her head. 
 
 "Robin," she said, "I go, but I shall come 
 again." 
 
 He watched her until she was out of the 
 hall. Then he looked again at his men. 
 
 "Now," he said, "who loves me, follows 
 me!" 
 
 He strode out of the hall with never a look 
 at his gold and silver plate. He went into 
 the courtyard, and over the drawbridge, and 
 down the broad road with never a look back 
 at his gray castle. Behind him walked the 
 
anb j|ig ffltvty jWen 
 
 23 
 
 men, and as they went, one of his singers T ^ e . 
 sang this song : ment of 
 
 Robin 
 Hood 
 
 -0- 
 
 1. My Rob -in is to the greenwood gone; And 
 
 2. I'll sit at his side by the greenwood tree, And 
 
 1 N * 
 
 ,N > 
 
 -N— N 
 
 HS-- 
 
 *— * 
 
 :^: 
 
 H 1- 
 
 n-A-A- 
 
 *:=>*->-& — 0^0- 
 
 there he will hunt from the pink of the dawn, Till the 
 loy - al in serv - ice to him I'll be. No 
 
 4=2=±fJ 
 
 *£3fc-«.+ 
 
 
 -(S»- 
 
 t=3t=t 
 
 -?'-*- 
 
 gray of the night comes down from the sky, For 
 sher - iff nor king's man my lord shall an - noy, For 
 
 Rob - in's a hun - ter, as none can de - ny. 
 bon - ny sweet Rob - in is all my joy. 
 
 And it was to this music that they all went 
 into green Sherwood Forest. 
 
&otun ?|oob 
 
 Chapter II 
 
 WHEN Robin Hood entered Sherwood 
 Forest he had about a hundred men. 
 Many of these, chiefly the cottagers, soon 
 showed they were not fitted for woodland life. 
 They could not learn to shoot well, and they 
 could not sleep comfortably in the open, 
 under the trees. So Robin Hood advised 
 them to go back to the estate and till the 
 land for the master to whom the king might 
 give it. Those who were left were all strong 
 men, but Robin Hood felt that there should 
 be more of them. 
 
 "Since I am an outlaw," he said to Friar 
 Tuck, as he sat in the good man's little her- 
 mitage, "there is no doubt that I shall soon 
 be hunted. News has been brought me that 
 the king has sent word to the Sheriff of 
 
 24 
 
anb %fo ffltxty jfflen . 25 
 
 Nottingham town to take me if he can, alive Robin 
 or dead. I am certainly not' going living." and 
 
 "And you do not want to go dead," inter- /Jl* 
 rupted the friar. Friar Tuck had a sturdy, 
 round figure, rosy face, and such a habit of 
 merry laughter that he sometimes made his 
 ribs ache. He was truly religious, neverthe- 
 less, and always kind and just. 
 
 "Therefore, we must get more men," 
 Robin said. 
 
 "That we must," agreed Friar Tuck, "but 
 the question is, how? Meantime, it would be 
 well if we made the most of the men we have." 
 
 "I have thought of that," Robin said, "and 
 
 to that end I have arranged that they shall 
 
 practice archery for several hours each day. 
 
 Will you go and see the sport this morning?" 
 
 ■ "That will I," answered the friar. 
 
 They left the hermitage, which was just 
 a little open hut with a roof of boughs and 
 a cushion of moss on which the friar knelt 
 to say his prayers. Then they walked 
 through an avenue of trees into the clearing 
 which Robin Hood had chosen for his own. 
 It was a great grassy oval, edged with oak 
 trees. The underbrush was very thick for 
 yards around, so that the spot would be hard 
 
26 &obm j|oob 
 
 Robin to find unless the seeker knew the forest well. 
 and Some of Robin's men had built themselves 
 j*^ tiny huts like the friar's; a few had made 
 little clearings under the oaks in which they 
 had piled beds of grass and moss. One or 
 two had made beds for themselves in the 
 branches of the trees. Robin Hood himself 
 slept under the tallest oak, with a heap of 
 leaves for a pillow and his green mantle for 
 a covering. 
 
 In the morning the soft chirp of the birds 
 awakened him, and he would lie watching 
 the gray dawn change slowly to pink and 
 then to crimson, while the cheep of the birds 
 turned to sweet, loud singing. Meantime, two 
 or three of the archers chosen as cooks would 
 come to a corner of the clearing and build the 
 fire. Soon sticks would be blazing cheerfully, 
 and over them, black kettles bubbling. 
 
 Robin thought of all this as he stood with 
 Friar Tuck, looking at the soft green grass 
 in which the pink-tipped daisies were thickly 
 scattered. 
 
 "Ah, we are happy here, Friar Tuck!" he 
 said. ''And I should be wholly happy if only 
 I had my dear Maid Marian." 
 
 "Have hope, Robin," said Friar Tuck, 
 
anb %|te Mtvvy Jfflen 27 
 
 heartily; "you and she will doubtless live Robin 
 
 ., 1 >» Hood 
 
 here some day. and 
 
 Robin sighed, and then he said: "Come, /Jl* 
 now, and see the men at their archery." 
 
 "But why do they not practice on this 
 broad sward of green?" asked Friar Tuck. 
 
 Robin Hood laughed. 
 
 "In faith, you know more of preaching 
 than you do of archery, good friar!" he said. 
 "This place of three hundred yards' square 
 is too small. If my men shot here, their 
 arrows would be buried in the underbrush. 
 Truly, they are noble marksmen! " 
 
 "I may not be able to shoot well," said the 
 friar, a little sulkily, "but I can fight very well 
 with a staff. Besides, I can learn to shoot." 
 
 "You have a greater work than that," said 
 Robin Hood. "You are a good fighter, but 
 a better priest." 
 
 Yet Friar Tuck was not entirely pleased. 
 He frowned, pursed his lips, and walked so 
 heavily that his fat cheeks quivered with 
 every step. Just then they reached a splendid 
 straight road, made centuries before by the 
 Ro'mans. Across the road, some five hun- 
 dred yards from where they stood, were set 
 the targets — rough, shield-shaped boards on 
 
28 &obm goojj 
 
 Robin which were painted black circles around the 
 and bull's-eye. Half a dozen of Robin's good 
 j l Xn archers stood holding their long bows, ready 
 to shoot. 
 
 These long bows were beginning to super- 
 sede the crossbows in England. A crossbow 
 was about four feet long, and consisted of a 
 bow fixed crosswise on a stock, and discharged 
 with a trigger. Almost any person could dis- 
 charge one, but not always with certain aim. 
 
 The long bow could be used only by a 
 strong man. It was six feet long, and carried 
 an arrow three feet in length. When prop- 
 erly shot, the arrow had such force that it 
 could penetrate a four-inch door. The usual 
 range was from three hundred to five hundred 
 yards. All of Robin's men, however, could 
 shoot from five hundred to six hundred yards, 
 and he himself could hit a mark at eight 
 hundred yards. 
 
 One of the archers, who had been called 
 on to shoot when Robin Hood and Friar 
 Tuck came up, stepped to the middle of the 
 road. He put his left foot a little forward, 
 set his arrow into his right hand, lifted the 
 bow, took careful aim, stretched his arm, 
 and drew the arrow. With a loud whirring 
 
■ 
 
 noise it sailed to its mark, and a shout from Robin 
 the archers near the target proclaimed that and 
 he had come close to the bull's-eye. /^ 
 
 "Good shooting, indeed!" said Robin. 
 "Each of my men is worth four; and yet I 
 need more." 
 
 "What is your pleasure, good Robin?" 
 asked Friar Tuck. "I am sure you have a 
 plan." 
 
 "Faith, friar," replied Robin, "I know of 
 nothing better than to go forth and speak to 
 every big man I meet, and invite him to join 
 us. And truly, I am going this very day." 
 
 "Shall we not go with you, master?" 
 asked one of the archers. "Suppose you 
 were met by enemies? You might overcome 
 four or five, but hardly more." 
 
 "Never fear," said Robin Hood. "I will 
 take my silver horn, and if I need help, I will 
 blow it." 
 
 He set off down the Roman road, humming 
 a merry tune. Presently he stepped aside 
 to listen to the sound of a rippling brook. . 
 He wandered along it for a time, his head 
 down, for he was thinking of Maid Marian, 
 and of the old days when he was Robert, 
 Earl of Huntington. Soon he came to a 
 
30 &obm %oob 
 
 Robin narrow bridge spanning the stream, and 
 and started across it. As he took the first steps 
 John forward, he heard a clatter, and, looking up, 
 saw another man about to cross. Robin Hood 
 stared in amazement. The man was almost 
 seven feet tall; his shoulders were as wide as 
 a doorway, and his arm as thick as a beam. 
 He was clothed in brown leather doublet 
 and breeches, and thick woolen stockings, and 
 he carried a heavy oaken stick. 
 
 "Good morning, friend," said Robin. 
 
 "Friend ! " repeated the young man, shaking 
 his tangled black hair, and frowning. "I do 
 not make friends of strangers." 
 
 "We may not always be strangers," said 
 Robin, pleasantly. 
 
 "Then, if you are a friend, give way," said 
 the man, rudely. "This bridge is not wide 
 enough for two to pass at the same time." 
 
 "That is true," agreed Robin, "but as I 
 started to cross first, and as I am the older, 
 I think you should give way to me." 
 
 "Nay, I will not," said the other. 
 
 He rushed forward, and with his club tried 
 to strike Robin's bow to the ground. 
 
 "Not so fast!" said Robin, sternly. "Why 
 do you attack a peaceable traveler?" 
 
anb %fo fflttvy Mm 31 
 
 "Fight with me, then," said the young Robin 
 man. " Unless you are a coward, take a and 
 staff and fight with me." Y£i 
 
 "No one has ever called me coward!" 
 cried Robin Hood. "Stand you there till I 
 return." 
 
 He went to the bank of the stream, and 
 cut a staff from a young oak tree. 
 
 "Now, friend," he said, — "for I will still 
 call you so, — let us see which is the better 
 man." 
 
 The stranger thought that because he was 
 so large he had the advantage of Robin, but 
 for a long time Robin parried his blows. 
 Stroke after stroke each made, but all the 
 strokes fell on their staffs and not on their 
 bodies. Presently, however, the stranger 
 struck Robin on the shoulder. Hurt by the 
 blow, Robin pressed him furiously. Blow 
 after blow he rained on shoulders and arms, 
 until the young man was almost exhausted. 
 Suddenly, seizing his chance, the stranger 
 tripped Robin Hood, who fell backward 
 into the stream. But in falling, Robin seized 
 him, and they struggled together in the water. 
 Almost immediately they scrambled to their 
 feet, gasping, and trying to shake the water 
 
32 
 
 ftotnn goob 
 
 The 
 
 stranger 
 
 tripped 
 
 Robin 
 
 Hood, 
 
 but in 
 
 falling 
 
 Robin 
 
 seized 
 
 him 
 
 
anb %fo ffltvvy JWen 33 
 
 from their eyes and hair, and clinging to R° b ™ 
 each other in the middle of the current. and 
 
 Little 
 
 "That was a trick you played, sir," Robin j hn 
 said; "it was not fair fighting." 
 
 The stranger looked a little ashamed. 
 
 "I never yet was beaten in a fight," he 
 muttered. 
 
 Robin made no reply. He waded to shore, 
 and raising his silver bugle to his lips, blew 
 a loud, sweet blast. Meantime, the stranger 
 also waded ashore out of the water. No 
 sooner was he standing on the bank than 
 Robin's bowmen, clad in green, rushed up 
 to the little bridge, Friar Tuck, breathless, 
 in the rear. 
 
 "Master," cried some of his men, "why 
 are you wet?" 
 
 "This man, here, tumbled me into the 
 stream," said Robin. 
 
 A tall archer rushed forward. 
 
 "Come," he said, "let us put him back 
 into the water for daring to duck you." 
 
 "Not so fast," said Robin. "This is a 
 good man and true. Rather, let us make 
 a brother of him. Friend," he added, turn- 
 ing to the stranger, "do you follow any lord? " 
 
 "Not I!" said the man. 
 
34 foobtn %toob 
 
 R ° bin "Then will you live with us, a simple life 
 and here in the woods, shooting deer and fight- 
 John ing when it is necessary to look after our 
 rights and the rights of the poor?" 
 
 "Gladly, sir," replied the huge stranger; 
 "I love to shoot, and I like to eat veni- 
 son. I see now that you are the great 
 outlaw, Robin Hood. I am glad to be your 
 man." 
 
 "What is your name, friend? " asked Robin. 
 
 "John Little, sir." 
 
 At this Friar Tuck burst into loud laughter. 
 
 "I pray you, good master," he said, "look 
 on this newcomer as a new infant. We shall 
 have a feast, and name him — shall we not, 
 master? Not John Little, but Little John, 
 we shall call our big new baby." 
 
 The bowmen laughed loud and long, and 
 John himself did not resent the jest. 
 
 "Little John if you like," he said, "but 
 you will find that the new infant can strike 
 many a lusty stroke for his new master, 
 Robin Hood." 
 
 Then they all turned homeward to Robin 
 Hood's clearing, where a great feast was 
 prepared in honor of Little John; and that 
 day there was no more work, only the playing 
 
anb jM$ Mtvty Mm 
 
 of games, and the singii 
 
 Little John taught his new friends: 
 
 35 
 
 of games, and the singing of a song which R° b ™ 
 
 and 
 
 Little 
 
 John 
 
 fe 
 
 :s: 
 
 S 
 
 ^5 
 
 
 
 1. The hunt is up, the hunt is up, 
 
 and 
 
 "S 
 
 S=S=^ 
 
 it is well nigh day; And Har-ry our king is 
 
 
 N-H- 
 
 « 
 
 ^ 
 
 --+J— F- L # ^-F— 9 — J-*- h M— d— 
 
 ' ' ^ I I 
 
 gone hunt-ing, to bring his deer to bay. 
 
 The east is bright with morning light, and darkness it is 
 
 fled, 
 And the merry horn wakes up the morn to leave his 
 
 idle bed. 
 
 Behold the skies with golden dyes are glowing all 
 
 around, 
 The grass is green, and so are the treen, all laughing 
 
 at the sound. 
 
 The horses snort to be at the sport, the dogs are 
 
 running free, 
 The woods rejoice at the merry noise of hey tantara tee 
 
 ree! 
 
36 Robin l)oob 
 
 Robin The sun is glad to see us clad all in our lusty green, 
 
 an( l And smiles in the sky as he riseth high, to see and to 
 
 Little be seen. 
 
 John 
 
 Awake, all men, I say again, be merry as you may, 
 For Harry our king is gone hunting, to bring his deer 
 to bay. 
 
anb W* JMerrp Jlten 
 
 &s& 
 
 How Robin gained 
 
 TVomoremen 
 
 ^^r-'zH 
 
 Chapter III 
 
 AFTER Little John became a member of 
 his band Robin Hood searched for other 
 powerful recruits. Two of them he won 
 the week after Little John had joined him. 
 
 He and Little John were walking together 
 along the Roman road. They were clad 
 in homespun, and instead of bows and arrows 
 they carried heavy quarterstaves. As they 
 talked together, they heard, far away, the 
 sound of singing. They looked down the road , 
 and saw approaching them a tall, stout young 
 man, carrying a sack across his shoulders. 
 
 As he came nearer, they noticed that his 
 clothes were covered with flour dust, and that 
 tiny drifts of flour had settled in his heavy 
 eyebrows and flaxen hair. There was even a 
 smear of it across his broad red cheeks. 
 
 37 
 
38 
 
 3£ot)m ?|oob 
 
 How " By my faith ! ' ' said Robin Hood. ' ' This 
 
 Robin 
 
 Hood must be the young miller near Nottingham, 
 
 a j%, of whose strength we have heard. He must 
 
 ^2 re be strong indeed, for he carries that great 
 
 sack of meal as if it were a lady's kerchief, 
 
 and he sings without loss of breath." 
 
 This is the song the young man sang: 
 
 Un-der the green- wood tree, Who loves to lie with 
 
 me, And tune his mer-ry note, his mer-ry, mer-ry 
 
 1 *9 9 9 9 
 
 9 i i 9 - 
 
 J r-r-'*±- 
 
 p— 
 
 . • s* 
 
 y&^-+- 
 
 note, Un-to the sweet bird's throat? And tune his mer-ry 
 
 note Un - to the sweet bird's throat? Comehith-er, 
 
 hith-er, Come hith-er, come hith-er, come hith-er, come 
 
anb J^tS ffltxx? JKen 
 
 39 
 
 ■N? 
 
 b— I F— I h-&*- 
 
 -•-^-^r-^-- 1 
 
 ^-k- 
 
 ifc 
 
 -k-y-tiP- J 
 
 How 
 
 Robin 
 Hood 
 Gained 
 
 hith-er, come hith-er, come hith-er; Here shall he see no \f° 
 
 Men 
 
 en - e - my, But win - ter and rough weath-er; 
 
 Here shall he see 
 
 my, 
 
 But 
 
 ££t 
 
 --A- 
 
 '•— d 
 
 A-F-*f- 
 
 win-ter and rough weath-er; 
 
 *-— -*-d: 
 
 -r-+t* i— H — F 
 
 k- 
 
 Here shall he see no 
 
 V=fr 
 
 v- 
 
 - %— J- 
 
 en - e - my, 
 
 But win - ter, 
 
 but 
 
 =£t 
 
 -*-#■ 
 
 # 
 
 A— 
 
 v- 
 
 — * — y 
 
 win - ter and rough weath-er, rough weath-er, But 
 
 Trr T - 
 
 
 ~f* # 
 
 « 
 
 •AvP-r h is-J-i-- 
 
 - n i s */ 
 
 ^•# J P- 
 
 — b~ 
 
 ^-^-J-J — 
 
 i — p — i-— — 
 
 *=i - 
 
 — i/ — 
 
 win-ter and rough weath-er. 
 
 Un-der thejjreen-wood 
 
4 o 
 
 &ot>m J|oob 
 
 How 
 
 \J 
 
 •-. 
 
 -^-* 
 
 — K 
 
 1 
 
 i — r^i 1 
 
 
 >• 
 
 
 1 >• P 
 
 m « * * 
 
 
 tn 
 
 * r 
 
 ^ i 
 
 
 
 j. ^ r 
 
 ••ill 
 
 Hood V 
 
 re yj 
 
 *K — 4 ■■- ■■ 
 
 - y 
 
 - b 14— 
 
 Two tree, Who loves to lie with me, And tune his mer-ry 
 More 
 Men _£> ft 
 
 : tr| p # =j e 
 
 ^ 
 
 -*-*• 
 
 
 note Un-to the sweet bird's throat? And tune his mer-ry 
 
 I 
 
 © 
 
 &£-? 
 
 £=^=£ 
 
 j££ 
 
 T^-f" 
 
 ■v- 
 
 -ws- 
 
 note Un-to the sweet bird's throat? Come hith-er, 
 
 9-r ^n ^ 
 
 v- 
 
 v-* 
 
 -V 7 g 
 
 A- 
 
 hith-er, 
 
 hith - er, 
 
 hith - er, 
 
 Come 
 
 &-P- 
 
 -v—v- 
 
 V— *- 
 
 hith - er, come hith-er, come hith-er, come]hith-er, Come 
 
 #-y — 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■v- 
 
 -W- 
 
 ^ 
 
 ■V- 
 
 ■v — ^- 
 
 1 
 
 hith-er, come hith- er, come hith- er. 
 
 "A good song," said Robin. 
 
 "Hey, good master!" cried Little John, 
 "I am going to play a merry jest on this 
 fellow. I will pretend to rob him, and 
 then I will take him into the forest and give 
 
anb gig jfflerrp jlen 41 
 
 him such a feast as he never has had, and all How 
 his money back." Hood 
 
 Before Robin Hood could prevent him, T a ™ e 
 Little John ran forward and stepped in front jJJ?™ 
 of the miller. 
 
 "Stop, man!" he said. 
 
 The miller swung his sack of meal from his 
 shoulders to the ground, grasped more tightly 
 his staff, and stood blinking at Little John 
 from under his dusty eyebrows. 
 
 "Come now, do my bidding," said Little 
 John. "I have a mind to carry that heavy 
 sack." 
 
 "I give you thanks, if thanks are due you, 
 but I can carry it, myself," returned the miller. 
 
 "You mistake me," said Little John. "I 
 will carry it not for you but for myself, and 
 likewise whatever money you have." 
 
 The miller put one broad foot on his sack 
 of meal. 
 
 "Alas!" he said, "I have but little. If 
 you rob me, and Robin Hood hears what you 
 have done, it will go hard with you." 
 
 Robin Hood stood aside, watching the two. 
 He thought it strange that the big man did 
 not try to fight for his rights. 
 
 "Robin Hood is a friend of mine," Little 
 
42 jRotun Hooti 
 
 RMn J°^ n sa ^- "Come, give me your money, or 
 
 Hood I will spill your good meal on the ground." 
 
 Two "Alas!" cried the miller, falling on his 
 
 ji/J^ knees, "do not spill my good meal! I will 
 
 give you whatever money may lie at the 
 
 bottom of the bag." 
 
 "Aha!" said Little John. "I knew you 
 had some." 
 
 The young man rose slowly, and untying 
 the mouth of the bag, buried his arms to the 
 elbows in the meal. Robin stepped forward, 
 thinking that the jest had gone far enough. 
 Just as he bent over the sack with Little 
 John, and was about to speak, the miller 
 cast two great handfuls of the meal into 
 their faces. It blinded them and they started 
 back, rubbing their smarting eyes. The 
 miller threw more and more at them, till 
 they could see nothing. Then he seized his 
 staff and struck at them again and again. 
 
 ' ' Hold ! hold ! ' ' cried Little John. ' « Would 
 you strike a blinded man?" 
 
 "That I would," replied the miller, "if 
 he tried to rob me!" He beat Little John 
 across the shoulders, and a cloud of meal 
 rose from his tunic. 
 
 "Good sifting I am having!" he shouted. 
 
anb %Ng fflttty Jfflen 43 
 
 ''This will teach you to be careful how you How 
 treat Much, the miller's son." Hood 
 
 Then he turned his attention to Robin's ^ a ™ ed 
 shoulders. f r ore 
 
 Men 
 
 "Hold," cried Little John, hearing the 
 blows which had ceased to fall upon his own 
 shoulders. "Do you know that you are 
 beating Robin Hood?" 
 
 "What!" cried Much, the miller's son, 
 laying about him again with his stick. "Do 
 you expect me to believe that Robin Hood 
 would stand by and see a poor man robbed? 
 I must give you a mighty blow for that." 
 
 Robin's conscience was smarting as thor- 
 oughly as his shoulders. He knew that no 
 words of his could convince Much, the miller's 
 son; so he seized his horn, and blew on it 
 thrice, loudly. 
 
 The miller continued his beating, and so 
 diligently that he did not hear a crackling 
 in the underbrush. He was astonished when 
 a party of men in green fell upon him. They, 
 for their part, were much surprised to find 
 Robin Hood in need of their aid. They 
 would have beaten Much as heartily as he 
 had beaten their master, had Robin not 
 stayed them. 
 
44 
 
 &obin ?|oob 
 
anb %te fflttty Mm 45 
 
 "Nay!" he said. "It is I who have been How 
 
 f ., ,, Robin 
 
 in iault. Hood 
 
 He told his followers the story, and they % a ™ ed 
 could not help laughing. In fact, every one ^P™ 
 laughed except Much, and even he gave a 
 broad though trembling smile. He understood, 
 now, that he really stood before Robin Hood, 
 and he was not without fear. 
 
 "Nay, then," Robin said. "We have 
 something to forgive each other, Much, the 
 miller's son. I will forget my sore bones if 
 you will join my band, here in the forest. If 
 I can teach you to use a bow as briskly as 
 you use a stick, you will be of great advan- 
 tage to us." 
 
 All the men laughed at this except Little 
 John, who was rubbing his shoulders and 
 frowning. 
 
 "Right cheerfully will I join you," re- 
 sponded Much, the miller's son, "and you 
 will find none more loyal than I." 
 
 "Of that I am assured," said Robin. 
 "Come now; we must all go homeward, and 
 two of us at least will seek salve for bruises." 
 
 The bruises of Robin Hood and Little John 
 were well healed, when at Wakefield they met 
 
46 foolrin Hoob 
 
 How with an adventure which won them another 
 Hood recruit. They had gone there in disguise to 
 a ™wo transact some business. As they were passing 
 ^ r e e through the outskirts of the town they heard a 
 very sweet whistling. 
 
 "That is a pleasant sound," said Robin 
 Hood. " It is as good in its way as the singing 
 of our big Much, the miller's son." 
 
 "I trust he who whistles cannot use his 
 stick so well as he uses his voice," muttered 
 Little John. "Here is a path through this 
 corn, master, if you wish to come up with the 
 sound." 
 
 Robin Hood and Little John took their 
 way through the cornfield, following the loud, 
 sweet whistle. 
 
 "Aha!" cried Robin Hood. "I know who 
 this is. It is George-a-Green, the pinder of 
 Wakefield." 
 
 The pinder (or pinner) of Wakefield was 
 the man who kept the pound into which all 
 stray animals were driven. The fame of 
 George-a-Green had reached Robin Hood 
 and his men. He not only took care of the 
 pound, but had made himself guardian of 
 the general welfare of Wakefield. 
 
 When Robin and Little John finally passed 
 
anb j|te JWerrp jWen 47 
 
 through the corn, and reached George-a- How 
 Green, he had stopped whistling. He rose Hood 
 slowly to his feet, and they saw that he was % a ^ ed 
 almost as tall as Little John. He had brown More 
 hair, brown eyes, and a brown skin. Except 
 when he was angry, his eyes twinkled and 
 his mouth was rounded for whistling. But 
 as he gazed on Robin Hood and Little John 
 his mouth was stretched in a grim line, and 
 his eyes were narrowed by a frown. He 
 shook his quarterstafl, threateningly. 
 
 "How dare you leave the king's highway, 
 and break a path through the corn?" he 
 demanded. 
 
 ''Friend," said Robin, mildly, "we have 
 done your corn no harm." 
 
 "I am no friend of yours," said George-a- 
 Green. 
 
 "Come, then, be friends with my stick!" 
 cried Little John. 
 
 He swung his staff round his head, and 
 brought it down. George-a-Green parried 
 the stroke with his quarterstafl. Then he 
 struck at Little John, who in turn avoided 
 the blow. Again and again they tried to 
 reach each other, and always they failed. 
 At last they paused, breathless. 
 
48 &obm j)oob 
 
 How ' ' A truce ! ' ' cried Robin Hood. ' ' In truth, 
 Hood it is hard to tell which is the better man." 
 Gained George-a-Green sprang at him, and lifted 
 
 More his stick. 
 
 Men 
 
 "I have good enough will to fight the two 
 of you together," he shouted. 
 
 Robin lifted his stick, and the two fought 
 for a long time, neither of them gaining the 
 advantage. After each stroke, George-a- 
 Green gave a brief, wheezing whistle, and 
 Little John could scarcely forbear laughing 
 at him. 
 
 "You have lost your breath," said Robin 
 Hood at last, "while I am still fresh. Let 
 us rest." 
 
 George-a-Green nodded, and sat down 
 under a tree, while Robin, leaning against 
 the trunk, gazed admiringly at the young 
 man's strong arms and shoulders. 
 
 "I wish with all my heart you would serve 
 me instead of the town of Wakefield," he 
 said. 
 
 "There is but one man I will ever serve," 
 said George-a-Green, "and that is Robin 
 Hood, who has sweet singers among his men 
 to match my whistling. When my time is 
 finished here in Wakefield, come Michaelmas, 
 
attb gig Jfflerrp Jfflen 49 
 
 I am going to seek him through Sherwood h°™. 
 Forest." Hood 
 
 "He has sought you, George-a-Green," Two 
 said Robin, "for I am Robin Hood." M °™ 
 
 "Well, then, I give you greeting, new 
 master!" replied George-a-Green. 
 
 He burst into a merry whistling tune, 
 snapping his ringers and dancing a little to 
 show his delight. Robin and Little John 
 laughed at him. Then the three sat together 
 for an hour, talking about life in the green- 
 wood. Many stories had come to the ears 
 of George-a-Green about the outlaws, some 
 true and some false. Though he was a 
 simple man, he was too sensible to believe all 
 the rumors he heard. Having answered all 
 his questions, Robin Hood said: 
 
 "Now, my good George-a-Green, will you 
 minister to our needs and give us some food? 
 In truth, your prowess has made me so 
 hungry that I could eat for three men." 
 
 George-a-Green hastened to bring forth 
 bread and beef and cheese, whistling gayly 
 the while. And so the three sat comfortably 
 together, Robin well content with this strong, . 
 cheerful addition to his band of merry men. 
 When they returned to Sherwood Forest the 
 
50 
 
 &obtn i&oob 
 
 How first man to meet them was Much, the miller's 
 
 Room . 
 
 Hood son, singing this song: 
 
 Gained 
 
 Two 
 
 More 
 
 Men 
 
 Blow thy horn, hun - ter, Come, blow thy horn on 
 
 J I I 
 
 JSl- 
 
 &- 
 
 221 
 
 -<5>- 
 
 S3ii~^ 
 
 &—9- 
 
 ®=# 
 
 ■ffl" 
 
 2±i=i=f: 
 
 high! In y on -der wood there lieth a doe; In 
 
 J I 
 
 
 :s?" 
 
 * 
 
 -s^- 
 
 ?P 
 
 faith she would not die. 
 
 jQl. 
 
 & 
 
 ^&- 
 
 -&- 
 
 Come, blow thy horn, 
 
 hun 
 
 ter. 
 
 hun - ter. Come, blow thy horn, jol-ly 
 
 Then George-a-Green whistled the air with 
 variations. How glad they all were to have 
 such hearty makers of music in the company! 
 
 As time went on, Robin Hood gained many 
 recruits for his band, but none who were more 
 beloved than Much, the miller's son, and 
 George-a-Green, once pinder of Wakefield. 
 
anh W* Mttvv Jtten 
 
 Chapter IV 
 
 MAID MARIAN lived with her father, 
 Lord Fitzwalter, in one of the most 
 beautiful castles in England. Like the castle 
 which Robin Hood had once owned, it was 
 built of gray stone. It had a moat, a draw- 
 bridge, and a high watchtower where a warden 
 always stood, gazing at all who approached. 
 After Robin Hood went to the greenwood, 
 Marian often mounted to the watchtower, 
 and stood looking over the wide, rolling fields 
 of her father's estate. She did not hope to 
 see Robin Hood, for she knew he dared not 
 risk his life outside of Sherwood Forest; but 
 she thought perhaps he would send one of 
 his men with a message. It was very hard 
 to wait day after day, not knowing whether 
 Robin were alive or dead. 
 
 51 
 
52 IRobm Hoob 
 
 The Maid Marian did not spend all her time 
 ture of in the watchtower, for she had many duties 
 Marian ^° perform. As her mother was dead, she 
 had to take charge of the women of her 
 father's household. There were some twenty 
 of these, old and young, including her sisters. 
 Every day they sat in a large upper room 
 paneled with black oak, and listened and 
 looked while she taught them to make beau- 
 tiful embroideries and tapestries. If these 
 women had been very observant, they would 
 have noticed that of late all her tapestries 
 had been woven with pictures of green trees, 
 and grass, and fawn-colored deer. Marian's 
 thoughts were all with Robin, and she ex- 
 pressed her fancies about his life through the 
 work of her hands. 
 
 Sometimes, while the women were embroid- 
 ering, and spinning, and weavinglinen, Marian 
 would read aloud to them. Not every woman 
 of that day could read, and her listeners were 
 proud of Maid Marian's accomplishment. 
 Sometimes her father's chaplain came in and 
 read them sacred stories. At other times 
 they chatted and laughed among themselves, 
 and told tales they had heard of the knights 
 and the young squires. 
 
attb ?|te ffltvxy jCTen 53 
 
 When Lord Fitzwalter and his knights The 
 came home from hunting or long riding, the i ure of 
 women hurried down to the courtyard to MarLn 
 meet them. Then they helped remove the 
 armor, and brought cooling drinks. And 
 many a time, when Marian unlaced a helmet, 
 she wished that the face under it might be 
 that of her dear Robin Hood. In the evening, 
 after supper was over, the ladies played on 
 the harp or sang to the knights. 
 
 Marian had still another important duty. 
 She brought up the little boys, aged from six 
 to fourteen, who were pages in her father's 
 castle. These children were the sons of 
 friends of Lord Fitzwalter, and had been sent 
 to his castle to be trained in all knightly 
 duties. They spent a good deal of time in 
 the open air, watching the knights and 
 squires at work and at play, and helping take 
 care of the armor and horses. 
 
 The boys liked to look at Marian's pretty 
 face, set off by her rich and bright clothes. 
 She wore a close-fitting laced bodice of green 
 silk, with flowing sleeves so long that she 
 had to tie them in a knot to keep them out 
 of the way when she was using her hands very 
 much. Her green silk skirt was long, and 
 
54 &obm jtoob 
 
 The was embroidered with gold thread. Some- 
 
 tme of times she wore a mantle, and always a gold 
 
 Marian, necklace about her throat. Her hair was 
 
 braided in two long plaits interwoven with 
 
 ribbons, and brought over the shoulders to 
 
 hang down in front. 
 
 She taught the pages, through her stories, 
 that they must always be courteous, brave, 
 kind, and truthful. When she talked to them 
 of brave men, she had Robin Hood in mind. 
 This was the part of her duties that Marian 
 liked best. It pleased her to watch the 
 intent, earnest faces of the boys. Their 
 clothes were pretty, too. They wore soft 
 leather shoes, long silk stockings of gay 
 colors, short silken hose, and silken doublets 
 with lace at the wrists. 
 
 "If only Robin were here," she thought, 
 "that he might see how beautifully the boys 
 learn all I teach them!" 
 
 One day her father sent for her and told 
 her he had just betrothed her younger sister 
 Jocelyn to a great lord, and that Marian 
 must give up to Jocelyn her place as mistress 
 of the house. In no other way could heedless 
 Jocelyn learn all the duties of a great lord's 
 wife. After Marian had taken his commands 
 
anb gtg jWerrp jHen 55 
 
 she went up to the watchtower and looked T }f 
 
 . . Adven- 
 
 out over the wide lands, m the direction of tureof 
 Sherwood Forest. Marian 
 
 ''How can I bear this separation from 
 Robin," she thought, "now that I shall have 
 to be almost idle?" 
 
 She watched, as she so often had, the herds- 
 men away on the distant fields, or the men 
 nearer by who were tilling the ground. 
 Some of them looked as tiny as dolls. She 
 wished that one of them would grow larger 
 and larger, and at last change into a green- 
 clad messenger from Robin. 
 
 "If only I were with him," she thought, 
 "I could train his young pages, if he has any; 
 or at least I could mend the doublets and hose 
 of his bowmen." 
 
 At that moment the thought of going to 
 Robin Hood came into her mind. She rea- 
 soned that she would now be of little use 
 in her father's castle, and that she could be 
 of great service to Robin's people. Marian 
 always acted quickly upon her thoughts. She 
 decided that she would steal away early the 
 next morning. 
 
 That night she sat up late, putting her 
 affairs in order. She went about saying 
 
56 &obm j|oob 
 
 The good-by to many a quaint carved chair, and 
 twe of many a beautiful tapestry which she loved. 
 Marfan Next she made a small bundle of clothing, 
 putting into it, to please Robin, a soft robe 
 of Lincoln green. Finally, she climbed to a 
 round tower at the very top of the castle, 
 where were some carved oak chests full of 
 clothing. She selected a page's suit, all of 
 green, and a shining sword. 
 
 Before it was light she put on the suit, and 
 then, bundle and sword in hand, she stole 
 down the oak staircase that led from her 
 room to the courtyard. She dared not go 
 to the great entrance because the drawbridge 
 was up ; and, besides, there the guards would 
 challenge her. She slipped through the 
 stables into the dewy garden, and took her 
 way among the flowers and shrubs until she 
 reached the stone wall. She went along it 
 until she found a little secret door, to which 
 she had the key. 
 
 She trembled as she slowly unlocked the 
 door. She was leaving behind a life of safety, 
 and was going to — what? There were many 
 miles to walk before she would see the green 
 trees of Sherwood Forest. She might be in 
 peril from wild beasts or fierce robbers. But 
 
 y 
 
attb ffig ffltxxy Jtlen 57 
 
 she thought of Robin, and boldly stepped The 
 outside the wall. Then she ran down the ture of 
 bank above the moat, plunged into the water, MaHan 
 swam across, and climbed, dripping, up the 
 opposite side. 
 
 The faint gray of dawn was just showing 
 in the sky. Marian began to run, noise- 
 lessly. She did not wish the sharp-eyed 
 warden to see her. He would wonder what 
 a page could be doing out so early in the 
 morning, and would send a swift arrow after 
 her. 
 
 By the time the gray had changed to pink, 
 Marian was far out of shooting range. She 
 hurried breathlessly over fields and by hedges 
 toward the Roman road, which she knew led 
 to Sherwood Forest. When she stood upon 
 it, at last, she felt far from safe, in spite 
 of her sword, for many a robber infested 
 the highway. But she comforted herself 
 with the thought that she carried nothing 
 valuable, and that surely no one would hurt 
 a page. 
 
 Whenever she heard any one coming, she 
 slipped into the woods beside the road, and 
 as she was quick of movement, not once was 
 she detected. In that way she watched many 
 
58 &obm j|oob 
 
 The people pass ; bands of knights and squires 
 twe of and ladies on a hunting expedition ; poor 
 MaHan cottagers leading their donkeys, which drew 
 rude carts full of late vegetables; and twice, 
 silent, fierce-eyed riders wearing great boots, 
 and carrying naked swords. These she knew 
 to be robbers. 
 
 As she had brought no food with her she 
 was obliged, when noon came, to eat the wild 
 fruit of the woods. In an hour or two she 
 grew hungry again, and was sorry she had 
 not thought of bringing some dried meat and 
 cakes with her. As the afternoon passed, she 
 walked more and more slowly. It seemed to 
 her that she would never, never reach Sher- 
 wood Forest. 
 
 At about seven o'clock she was too tired 
 to go any farther, and she began to look for 
 a place to sleep. She was afraid to choose 
 the open ground, lest some wild beast should 
 attack her; and she was afraid to climb into 
 a tree lest she should fall out. At last she 
 came upon a little black hut which a charcoal 
 burner had deserted. She picked up enough 
 sticks and branches to build a barricade before 
 the open door; then she lay down behind 
 it, her head on her bundle. 
 
anb JMa Mtwy JWen 59 
 
 She was so tired that she slept at once, and T A h f 
 
 Adven- 
 
 did not waken till the sun poured in upon her tureof 
 over the barricade. Then she sprang to her Marian 
 feet, her courage all returned. Hearing the 
 murmur of a brook, she followed the sound. 
 She washed in the cold water, ate some wild 
 fruit, and set forth cheerfully. Once she saw 
 a young stag whose antlers were budding. 
 He was rubbing them against the bark of a 
 tree, to get rid of the covering skin. Marian 
 longed to help him, but he leaped away 
 when she approached. The sight of this 
 timid creature somehow added to her own 
 bravery. 
 
 Although she did not know it, she was in 
 Sherwood Forest, following the course of the 
 same stream above which Robin Hood and 
 Little John had fought. Presently, she came 
 to the bridge from which the two had fallen 
 into the water. While she was wondering 
 whether or not she had better cross it, she 
 heard the sound of quick footsteps, and a 
 tall man clad in green came out from among 
 the trees. He wore a mask over his face, and 
 he spoke in a high cracked voice. 
 
 "My pretty boy," he said, "you must turn 
 about and go back." 
 
60 &obin j|oob 
 
 The Marian was trembling, but she asked 
 tare of boldly, "And why? " 
 
 'anan " Because none must cross this bridge unless 
 he be a friend of Robin Hood." 
 
 "I assure you," said Marian, "that I am a 
 very good friend of Robin Hood! There- 
 fore, let me pass, good sir." 
 
 "Nay," replied the man. "I know Robin 
 Hood well, and I am sure he has no acquaint- 
 ance with any page. He is cut off from courts 
 and castles." 
 
 "Nevertheless," persisted Marian, "if you 
 will bring me to him I am sure he will be so 
 glad to see me that he will give you a great 
 reward." 
 
 "Hoighty toighty! You count much on 
 his generosity, fair page." 
 
 "I know him well, sir," replied Marian. 
 
 "Come, come, enough of this fooling!" said 
 the man, sternly. "You are but a court 
 spy, young sir. Go you back the way you 
 came. You shall enter no farther into Sher- 
 wood Forest." 
 
 Marian looked at the tall man, then at her 
 shining sword, and then at her slim arms. 
 Her heart sank, and yet she knew she could 
 never go back to her father's castle. 
 
attb j?te Mttvp jBen 61 
 
 "I will fight with you, if necessary," she J^. 
 said, in a trembling voice, "but I must pass." ture of 
 
 i iT-r i x 11 • ■/■ Moid 
 
 Hey! 1 could spit you as 11 you were a Marian 
 young bird!" laughed the other. "But I 
 would not hurt you, pretty page. Go you 
 back." 
 
 But Marian suddenly darted forward and 
 cut at the breast of the man. Laughingly he 
 parried the thrust, but he did not return it. 
 Marian struck at him again and again, till 
 she was breathless, but she did not even 
 scratch him. At last, with a quick stroke, 
 she reached his mask and cut it from his 
 face. Then she cried aloud, and dropped 
 her sword, which fell tinkling into the stream. 
 The man was Robin Hood. 
 
 "Oh, Robert! Oh, Robert!" she cried. "I 
 did not know you when you spoke in such a 
 high voice." 
 
 Robin looked at her in astonishment. 
 
 "Don't you know me?" she asked. "It is 
 your own Maid Marian." 
 
 How glad Robin was to see her! He was 
 amused that she had lifted a sword against 
 him, pleased at her courage, and very much 
 touched that she had come to seek him. 
 
 "Suppose I had hurt you!" she cried. 
 
62 iAotnn l)oob 
 
 r/te "You might hurt me with your tongue, 
 ture of but never with your sword, my most dear 
 MaHan lady," answered Robin. 
 
 Then, with loving and welcoming words, 
 he led her across the bridge. Friar Tuck 
 and Little John came running up, attracted 
 by the sound of voices. Marian told them 
 all her adventure. 
 
 "And I have come here to stay forever with 
 Robin," she finished. "I may stay, may I 
 not?" 
 
 "It 's a hard life for a lady," said Robin, 
 gravely, "and yet I do not see how I can 
 send you back to the castle." 
 
 "Faith, stay she must!" said Friar Tuck. 
 "I will marry you this very hour." 
 
 "And I will go and kill ai fine deer for the 
 wedding feast," said Little John. 
 
 "Do so, good man," said Marian; "for 
 in truth, I am as much in need of a dinner as 
 I am of a wedding." 
 
 It was a beautiful wedding held under the 
 greenwood tree, with Marian in her silken 
 robe, and Robin in a new suit of Lincoln 
 green. And in honor of the marriage, and 
 of Marian's adventure, Much, the miller's 
 son, and all the archers sang this song, 
 
anb His; ffltxvv Mm 
 
 63 
 
 // was a 
 beautiful 
 wedding 
 ield under 
 the Green- 
 wood tree 
 
6 4 
 
 &obm i|oob 
 
 4 dw»- George-a-Green whistling a soft accompa- 
 ture of niment : 
 
 Maid 
 Marian L0 VE WJLL FIND QUT TRE WAy 
 
 
 _^_i_ 
 
 1. - ver the mountains and un - der the caves, 
 
 i 
 
 ±=fc=t 
 
 1 
 
 P 
 
 "f: 
 
 r 
 
 "S 
 
 "22: 
 
 :^=-^-=i=^, 
 
 -<$> — <^- 
 
 ^T#. 
 
 1^9- 
 
 - ver the foun-tains and un - der the waves, 
 
 -J 
 
 
 72L 
 
 -&—9~9 
 
 d=tt=m 
 
 --(SI- 
 
 'S" 
 
 -«-+<s»- 
 
 Z5> — 2?~*"P 22" 
 
 i 
 
 Under waters that are deepest, Which Neptune still o-bej, 
 
 dzd- 
 
 ±=* 
 
 t 
 
 ^-r- 
 
 =F H +-+- F 
 
 -J— ^ — i— A-d— 
 
 &-* * 
 
 *j|±g=zs 
 
 ^-^x 
 
 
 Over rocks that are the steepest, Love will find out his way. 
 
 When there is no place 
 
 For the glowworm to lie; 
 
 Where there is no space 
 
 For receipt of a fly; 
 
 Where the midge does not venture 
 
 Lest herself fast she lay; 
 
If Love come, he will enter The 
 
 Adven- 
 
 And soon find out his way. tare of 
 
 Maid 
 Marian 
 
 You may esteem him 
 
 A child for his might ; 
 
 Or you may deem him 
 
 A coward from his flight ; 
 
 But if she whom Love doth honor 
 
 Be concealed from the day, 
 
 Set a thousand guards upon her — 
 
 Love will find out the way. 
 
 Some think to lose him 
 By having him confined; 
 And some do suppose him, 
 Poor thing, to be blind; 
 But if ne'er so close ye wall him, 
 Do the best that you may, 
 Blind Love, if so you call him, 
 Will find out his way. 
 
 You may train the eagle 
 To stoop to your fish; 
 Or you may inveigle 
 The phoenix of the east ; 
 The lioness, ye may move her 
 To give o'er her prey; 
 But you '11 ne'er stop a lover; 
 He will find out the way. 
 
66 
 
 jfrojun jjoob 
 
 The 
 
 A dventure 
 
 of Maid 
 
 Marian 
 
 There is no striving 
 
 To cross his inter t, 
 
 There is no contriving 
 
 His plots to prevent ; 
 
 For if once the message greet him 
 
 That his true love doth stay, 
 
 Though demons come and meet him, 
 
 He will go on his way. 
 
anb W& ffltrvp jWm 
 
 TteAPVENTURES OF ROBIN w 
 HO0D&.SIRRICHARD OFTHELEA 
 
 Chapter V 
 
 MARIAN was very happy in the woods. 
 It is true she did not have the luxuries 
 to which she had been accustomed in Lord 
 Fitzwalter's castle, but she had enough. 
 She had added many comforts to the green- 
 wood home. There was a rough kitchen 
 table on which the cooks chopped pulse, 
 pease, beans, onions, and other vegetables. 
 On another table stood earthen pots, a 
 hatchet, a mortar and pestle, a pepper mill, 
 some iron cauldrons and pots, a gridiron, 
 some frying pans, a sieve, some pitchers, and 
 a few round dishes. In a little rough cup- 
 board were kept flour and spices. In different 
 chests she stored the linen, the silver dishes, 
 knives, and spoons. There were as yet no 
 forks in England. 
 
 67 
 
68 Eotun gtoob 
 
 The Although Marian did. none of the cooking 
 
 tures of herself, she liked to superintend the good 
 
 Hood dinners which the outlaws ate. One day 
 
 Richard Little John killed an especially fine deer, and 
 
 of the a \ so snar ed some pheasants and plovers. 
 
 "Clearly, we are to have a rich dinner," 
 said Maid Marian. "I wish we might have 
 a guest." 
 
 "A guest?" Robin asked. "What guest?" 
 
 "I care not at all who it is," she replied. 
 
 "I should like to entertain a knight once 
 more," Robin said. 
 
 "Why not? " she asked. " Come you here, 
 Little John," she called. 
 
 The big young man left the venison he 
 was dressing and approached her, smiling. 
 
 "Good John," she said, "will you go forth 
 and ask the first knight you meet if he will 
 come and dine with us?" 
 
 "Surely, mistress," he replied. 
 
 "But hark you, Little John," Robin said; 
 "be sure to tell the knight just who it is that 
 invites him. I wish no guest to come here 
 unknowing that his host is an outlaw." 
 
 "Well said, master," said Little John. 
 "For company, I will take Much, the miller's 
 son." 
 
anb %Ms ffltxty jBlen 69 • 
 
 Robin and Marian accompanied their mes- T }f 
 
 r Adven- 
 
 sengers to the edge of the forest. Just before tures of 
 they reached the Roman road they saw a Hood 
 scornful looking lord riding by, accompanied ^thard 
 by half a dozen followers. °J the 
 
 ''There goes a wicked, man," Robin said. 
 "He robs rich and poor alike. He will stop 
 at no knavery. We must punish him some 
 day." 
 
 "It is the wicked Lord of Ely," said 
 Marian; "I know him well. He owns many 
 abbeys hereabout." 
 
 When the little company had passed, 
 Marian and Robin strolled back through the 
 greenwood, while Little John and Much, the 
 miller's son, set off down the Roman road. 
 They met no one for a long time, but at last 
 they saw a solitary figure riding toward them. 
 
 "Is that a knight, think you? " asked Much. 
 
 "If so, he must be very poor," replied 
 Little John, "for he is riding unattended." 
 
 "Rich or poor, our master will make him 
 welcome," said Much. 
 
 As the horseman came nearer, they saw 
 that he was riding carelessly, with one foot 
 only in the stirrup, as if he did not care 
 whether he were thrown or not. His doublet 
 
• 70 &ojnn iDoob 
 
 ., r/ ^ e and cloak and hose were all black, and very 
 
 A avert- t J 
 
 tmes of shabby. His face looked sad, but it was a 
 
 Robin .. 1 r 
 
 Hood gentle, good iace. 
 Richard "Greeting, sir," called Little John. "I 
 of the pray you, are you engaged to dine?" 
 
 "No," replied the knight, in a low voice; 
 "I had forgotten about dining." 
 
 "Then my master bids you dine with him, 
 if so be you are not too proud to dine with an 
 outlaw. His name is Robin Hood." 
 
 "Outlaw though he be," answered the 
 knight, "I have heard much good of him. 
 Gladly will I come." 
 
 He rode along dejectedly, the two men 
 following. Robin Hood was waiting for them 
 on the edge of the clearing. 
 
 ' ' What ! " he cried. " Is it you, Sir Richard 
 of the Lea?" 
 
 "And is it you, my lord of Huntington!" 
 exclaimed Sir Richard. 
 
 "Nay," said Robin, "I am an outlaw now 
 — no longer earl." 
 
 "I am glad to see you, Robert or Robin," 
 said Sir Richard. "I am always your friend, 
 — if, indeed, you care to be the friend of one 
 so full of misfortune as myself." 
 
 "In truth, you look wretched enough," 
 
anb j?te fflmy Jtten 71 
 
 said Robin. "Where is the gay scarlet J*J 
 doublet you liked to wear, and the great gray tares of 
 horse you always rode?" Hood 
 
 Sir Richard sighed deeply. Richard 
 
 "You remember my son Edwin? " he asked, "fjj* 
 "By accident the lad shot a knight belonging 
 to the household of the Lord of Ely." 
 
 "Ah! that lord rode by only this morning/' 
 said Robin. 
 
 "Aye, he was riding to an appointment 
 with me. This wicked lord has the favor of 
 the king, and he has poisoned the king's mind 
 against me. I have been obliged to give 
 him all my gold, and my wife's dowry, in 
 order to pay him for the life of the knight." 
 
 "That is a greater penalty than the law 
 demands," said Robin. 
 
 "True, but this Lord of Ely has forced 
 me to it. He took a mortgage of four hun- 
 dred pounds on my castle. I paid it, but 
 there were no witnesses, and he told the king 
 I still owed him. So now I am forced to 
 give the money to him over again, and if I 
 cannot pay it to-day, then am I ruined. I 
 and my wife, and my helpless little girls 
 will be turned out into the world with no- 
 where to go." 
 
72 &oftm %oob 
 
 rA« "And have you the four hundred pounds? " 
 
 A dven- J r 
 
 tures of asked Robin. 
 Hood "I have but ten shillings in all the world," 
 
 S replied the knight. 
 ° J * Lea They began to cross the clearing. Maid 
 Marian approached, and the knight greeted 
 her courteously. She brought him perfumed 
 water in a golden bowl, and a linen towel, 
 that he might wash his hands. Then she led 
 the way to the feast, laid on a long table 
 spread with a white cloth. It was a good 
 dinner, with the green trees instead of tapes- 
 tried walls, and the blue sky instead of a 
 paneled roof, and the singing of the birds 
 instead of a harper. Sir Richard tried to 
 seem cheerful as his hosts pressed food upon 
 him, but he did not succeed in throwing off 
 his grief. 
 
 When the dinner was over and all the bow- 
 men except Little John and Much, the miller's 
 son, had gone with their bows and arrows 
 to practice shooting along the Roman road, 
 Robin Hood said: 
 
 "Presently, we shall follow, and you shall 
 see some good sport. But that you may 
 look upon it with a care-free spirit, Sir 
 Richard, let me tell you that you shall have 
 
anb gig Jfflerrp jWen 73 
 
 four hundred pounds. My men and I have T . k f 
 
 c . J A aven- 
 
 been winning some money, and we are glad twes of 
 to share with you. You shall have four Hood 
 hundred pounds from my own store." %ckard 
 
 Sir Richard's face brightened. °^ he 
 
 "It would save me from ruin!" he said. 
 "And I think that I could pay it back within 
 the year. For once I am sure that the castle 
 is my own, I shall have the heart to see that 
 the fields are tilled and the herds tended." 
 
 "We could not let your wife and children 
 suffer," Marian said. 
 
 "It is for them that I accept the loan," 
 Sir Richard responded. 
 
 "Go you, Little John," said Robin Hood, 
 "and open my chest that stands there under 
 the greenwood tree. Count out four hundred 
 pounds for Sir Richard of the Lea." 
 
 Little John rose quickly and went to the 
 chest, followed by Much. 
 
 "And you, my beloved lady," said Robin 
 Hood to Marian, "can you not find twenty 
 yards of scarlet-and-gold cloth for Sir Richard 
 out of one of the cedar chests I gave you?" 
 
 "Gladly," replied Marian. 
 
 She hurried after Little John and Much. 
 Little John was counting out the money. 
 
74 &obm j|oob 
 
 The il i n faith," said Much, "you have more 
 tures of than four hundred pounds there ! ' ' 
 
 Hood "Yes, but the poor knight needs more," 
 SSX replied Little John. 
 of the "You are very generous with some one 
 else's gold," remarked Much. 
 
 "Look at the mistress," said Little John. 
 "She sets us a good example." 
 
 Maid Marian was measuring each yard of 
 the twenty she had been told to cut by 
 Much's bow, which was six feet long. 
 
 "The good knight's need is greater than 
 ours," explained Maid Marian, hurrying back 
 to Sir Richard, her arms full of glowing scarlet 
 and gold. 
 
 Sir Richard's face was radiant. 
 
 "I can never repay you," he said, "even 
 though I do give you back your gold." 
 
 "I am going to send an escort with you," 
 said Robin Hood, as Sir Richard bound the 
 cloth and the moneybags upon his horse. 
 "You will need guards for the road, and a 
 witness who can prove that the wicked Lord 
 of Ely has been paid the second four hundred 
 pounds. Little John and Much, the miller's 
 son, shall go with you." 
 
 At Robin Hood's command the two men 
 
anb j|te Jtterrp jffflen 75 
 
 dressed themselves as knights, and rode The 
 with Sir Richard of the Lea till they came to tures of 
 the Fox and Goose, the inn where he was to j^Jjj* 
 meet the Lord of Ely. A good priest was ^ h f r r d 
 just entering the inn, and they asked him to of the 
 be a witness for Sir Richard. So the four 
 entered the main room together. 
 
 The Lord of Ely was sitting behind a 
 table; his dark, scornful face looked very 
 confident. Behind stood his half-dozen fol- 
 lowers. They were all sure that Sir Richard 
 did not have the four hundred pounds. Sir 
 Richard bowed courteously, but the Lord of 
 Ely scarcely nodded. 
 
 "Have you come to give up your castle 
 to me?" he asked, abruptly. 
 
 "Have you my deed of surrender, my lord? " 
 asked Sir Richard. 
 
 "Here it is, safe enough," said the Lord of 
 Ely, pointing to a paper on the table before 
 him. 
 
 Little John boldly stepped forward and 
 seized it. 
 
 "This is worthless, now," he said, "for 
 Sir Richard has the four hundred pounds." 
 
 He tore the parchment into pieces as Sir 
 Richard handed over the bags of gold. 
 
76 
 
 l\obu\ l)oob 
 
 Little 
 John tore 
 he parch- 
 ment to 
 pieces 
 as Sir 
 Richard 
 handed 
 over the 
 gold 
 
anb gig jBerrp Jflett 77 
 
 The Lord of Ely scowled, and his face grew The 
 
 Adven- 
 
 cnmson. tures of 
 
 " What is all this? " he demanded. Hood 
 
 "A disappointment for you, my Lord of SSefc&'S 
 Ely," said Little John. of 'the 
 
 "Another such word, my man, and I will 
 hale you to the king, despite your rank!" 
 cried the Lord of Ely. 
 
 Sir Richard made an anxious sign to 
 Little John, (who spoke no more. Much 
 slowly counted out the gold, showing that 
 Sir Richard had several pounds left. The 
 Lord of Ely could hardly speak for rage. 
 
 " Another time, Richard of the Lea, I'll 
 have your castle and your life, too!" he 
 shouted. 
 
 Sir Richard hurried away, afraid lest the 
 Lord of Ely and his followers might do him 
 and Much and Little John some harm. 
 
 "I shall feel secure only when I am in my 
 own strong castle again," he said. 
 
 Little John and Much saw him safely on 
 his way to his Castle of the Lea. Then they 
 went back to Robin Hood. They met him 
 on the Roman road, a band of bowmen with 
 him, among them George-a-Green, whistling 
 merrily. 
 
78 &oftm %oob 
 
 The "Why are you here, master?" asked Little 
 tures of John. " Not to meet us, surely? " 
 
 Hold "Nay, I know you too well to do you such 
 Rkhald h° nor > m y good Little John," said Robin, 
 of the smiling. "I am waiting for my Lord of 
 Lea Ely." 
 
 Little John and Much laughed joyously. 
 "Good, master!" said Much. "Now we 
 can punish him for his rude treatment of Sir 
 Richard." He broke joyfully into this song: 
 
 "We be yeomen of the forest, 
 Under the greenwood tree. 
 We live by our king's deer; 
 Other shift have not we." 
 
 They lay in the woods, laughing and sing- 
 ing, for about an hour; and then Robin Hood 
 held up his hand to silence them. Half a 
 mile away came riding the Lord of Ely and 
 his men. They moved rapidly, looking from 
 left to right for fear of robbers. 
 
 When they reached the stretch of road 
 opposite Robin Hood he called to them to halt. 
 
 "Stop, my Lord of Ely!" he cried, loudly. 
 "Why this haste?" 
 
 The Lord of Ely looked up. There stood 
 Robin and, behind him, several archers clad 
 in green, holding their bows ready to shoot. 
 
anb ?|te ffltttp Mm 79 
 
 "Pay me a visit, my lord," said Robin. The 
 "Get down from your horse and walk this tures of 
 way. And bring your moneybags with you." gjJJ 
 
 "I have no moneybags," mumbled the ^. d , Sir 
 Lord of Ely. "I am a very poor man." of the 
 
 At this the bowmen laughed. 
 
 "How much money have you in your 
 moneybags?" asked Robin. 
 
 "Only ten shillings." 
 
 "If you are telling the truth," said Robin 
 Hood, "I shall take pity on your poverty, and 
 give you four hundred pounds. If you are 
 speaking falsely, you shall give me four hun- 
 dred pounds." 
 
 The Lord of Ely pointed to his saddle. 
 
 "You can see my moneybag hanging on 
 the pommel," he said. 
 
 "Nay, I am sure you have another," replied 
 Robin. 
 
 He twitched off the lord's mantle, and 
 there at his waist hung the bags of gold which 
 he had taken from Sir Richard of the Lea. 
 
 ' ' I am sure you did not come by this money 
 rightly," Robin said, as he tied the money- 
 bags to his own belt. " It is my duty to take 
 it away from you, to teach you to be honest. 
 But, in return, you shall sup here, — not 
 
8o &ofam Hoob 
 
 The with me, for I would not sit at the same 
 tures of table with a man so cruel as you. But we 
 R HoTd h a d an honored guest to dine. I will give 
 and sir y 0U the remainder of his feast." 
 
 Richard J 
 
 of the The Lord of Ely was very angry, but he 
 dared not speak further, for he feared that 
 his life was in danger. Robin blindfolded 
 him and his men, led them to the clearing, 
 and placed them at table. The Lord of Ely 
 sat with his followers huddled close to him, 
 and hastily ate cold venison and tender 
 pheasant, preserved figs, and plum tart. 
 As soon as he dared he rose, and then Robin 
 Hood led him and his men, blindfolded, back 
 to the edge of the forest, and gave them per- 
 mission to mount their horses and go. 
 
 "One piece of advice you must heed, my 
 Lord of Ely," he said. "If I again find you 
 taking money unjustly, I shall see that you 
 do not keep it long." 
 
 The Lord of Ely and his men rode off 
 hastily, bowed over their horses as if they 
 feared that Robin would send arrows after 
 them. When they were out of sight, George- 
 a-Green turned to his master. 
 
 "Good Robin," he said, "we have done 
 a man a kindness and punished an unjust 
 
attb $itf jHerrp Jfflen 
 
 8r 
 
 knave, and we still have our four hundred The 
 
 1 ,, .4 ^era- 
 
 pOUndS. /Mre5 / 
 
 "So much the better," said Robin. "We fgj 
 can give it to some other needy person." a ^K s % 
 
 Then they all went back to the clearing o/ ^e 
 where Maid Marian awaited them, Much, 
 the miller's son, with a comical face, singing 
 over and over again this song: 
 
 &? 
 
 +-i 
 
 -<s>- 
 
 .£?. 
 
 t 
 
 1-0 
 
 St 
 
 % 
 
 The cramp is in my purse full sore, No 
 
 -f^— 
 
 35 
 
 -& — 0- 
 
 -<S> — 0- 
 
 -(2- 
 
 E 
 
 mon-ey will bide there-in - a, And if I had some 
 
 ± 
 
 ^-# 
 
 F— # 
 
 £ 
 
 salve there-fore, Oh, light - ly then would I 
 
 t^==; 
 
 -<s>- 
 
 .^_ 
 
 -&- 
 
 \izt 
 
 -&-*- 
 
 &^ 
 
 3 
 
 iq 
 
 -lo- 
 
 sing - a Hey - ho! the cramp-a; hey - ho! the 
 
 i=t 
 
 -&- 
 
 -&- 
 
 ■&-T 
 
 z± 
 
 A-#- 
 
 feE 
 
 m 
 
 cramp-a, Hey - ho! the cramp -a, the cramp-a! 
 
&oiun Hoob 
 
 Chapter VI 
 
 SINCE Robin Hood was an outlaw with 
 a price on his head, he had many 
 enemies eager to take him prisoner. The 
 chief of these was the Sheriff of Nottingham. 
 Many and many a time had this stern man, 
 with a great band of followers, searched the 
 long miles of Sherwood Forest, but he had 
 never found Robin Hood's cunning hiding 
 place. 
 
 At last he laid a trap into which he thought 
 Robin Hood would be sure to fall. He pro- 
 claimed far and wide that he intended to 
 hold a contest in archery. Every one should 
 be welcomed. None should be questioned as to 
 whence he came or whither he was going. This 
 proclamation was pinned on several trees 
 in Sherwood Forest, and presently Little 
 
 82 
 
John found it and straightway brought it to ^£ v ther 
 Robin Hood. tures of 
 
 ''Aha!" said Robin, "the sheriff wishes us Hood 
 to walk into his hands." Rkhfrd 
 
 "It is a plot, then?" asked Little John. °[^ e 
 
 "Plainly," answered Robin. "Neverthe- 
 less, I think we had better go. The sheriff 
 believes he will recognize us by our good 
 shooting, but we shall puzzle him. We shall 
 not shoot so well as we can ; then he will think 
 we are but ordinary bowmen." 
 
 The bowmen listened to their leader with 
 great interest. To enter Nottingham seemed 
 to them an exciting adventure, — far more so 
 than shooting in the forest, or contending 
 with the Lord of Ely. Only rarely did Robin 
 Hood allow one of them to go to the town, and 
 then he wore a disguise, for to be recognized 
 as an outlaw meant instant imprisonment. 
 Therefore, the men longed all the more to 
 exchange occasionally the woods for the 
 streets. 
 
 "It will be pleasant to mingle with people 
 once more," said Much, the miller's son, 
 musingly ; "I should like to hear some of the 
 Nottingham singing." 
 
 "I pray you, let only three or four go," 
 
84 foobm Ijoob 
 
 Further said Maid Marian, "and wear chain armor 
 tmes of under your suits of Lincoln green." 
 S " Th at is a good plan," said Robin; "for, 
 Richard i n deed, treachery may be done us, however 
 of the careful we are." 
 
 There was some disappointment on the 
 part of the bowmen when Robin Hood chose 
 Friar Tuck, Much, George-a-Green, and Little 
 John to accompany him. But the men 
 always obeyed Robin cheerfully. They 
 escorted the five to the Roman road, and 
 watched them walking away, the cock's 
 feathers nodding in their hats, their bows and 
 quivers swinging on their backs. Robin 
 Hood turned once or twice to wave his hand 
 to Marian. 
 
 They walked two or three hours, and at 
 last reached the town of Nottingham. The 
 little stone houses, and thatched huts, and 
 forges and shops were set irregularly along 
 the streets. There was no castle, but the 
 sheriff had a very handsome house of stone, 
 with small dungeons underneath. In one of 
 these he hoped some day to imprison Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 At one end of the town was a big public 
 square, where the contest was to be held. 
 
anb %tg fflttxy Mm 85 
 
 Thither all the people were flocking. There Further 
 were a few knights on horseback, accompanied turesof 
 by ladies whose palfreys wore trappings of #^ w 
 rose-colored and violet silk. These ladies <™*. Sir , 
 
 Richard 
 
 laughed gayly, and nodded to the com- of the 
 mon people. There were plump shop- 
 keepers, clad in worsted, and carrying thick 
 sticks, since they had no swords. Young 
 mothers in holiday finery led their little 
 children to see the show, while old women 
 hobbled thither, leaning on crutches. Many 
 men from the country round about had driven 
 in with their families in rough carts with 
 great heavy wheels. All were talking and 
 laughing, and showing deep interest in the 
 contest. Occasionally some one would speak 
 to an archer, and wish him good luck in his 
 shooting. 
 
 When Robin Hood and his men reached 
 the square they found several other bowmen 
 assembled at one side; they were looking 
 across at the mark which had been set up at 
 the other side, five hundred yards away. The 
 five friends smiled at one another. They 
 could easily shoot that distance, even Friar 
 Tuck. 
 
 Presently the Lord Sheriff came driving 
 
86 l\ob\n ll)ooti 
 
 Further up the street, escorted by armed guards. 
 
 tmes of He wore a crimson robe edged with ermine, 
 
 fori and he looked very cold and haughty. He 
 
 R^h Si d t 00 ^ n ^ s sea ^ iri a pavilion just behind the 
 
 of the archers, and then gave the sign that the sport 
 
 might begin. 
 
 Man after man came up and shot at the 
 white board on which was painted a black 
 bull's-eye. Most of them fell far short of 
 the mark; one or two came near it, but no 
 one quite pierced it. 
 
 Then Robin Hood and his men stepped 
 forward. 
 
 "By my faith," whispered Robin, "it goes 
 against the grain to miss the mark! But 
 we must." 
 
 Friar Tuck shot first; afterwards Little 
 John, Much, and George-a-Green, each just 
 touching the outside of the mark. Then 
 Robin Hood drew his gray-goose shaft, and 
 his arrow split the arrow of Little John. 
 Every one but his men supposed this to be 
 an accident. 
 
 1 ' Well done ! ' » cried the Lord Sheriff. ' « Now, 
 all try again." 
 
 Again each man shot, but not once was 
 the bull's-eye pierced. 
 
"The shooting might be better," grumbled Further 
 the sheriff. tures f 
 
 "None could be better, my lord," spoke up fgj 
 a constable, "unless it were that of the out- 9^. Sir , 
 
 Richard 
 
 laws in Sherwood Forest." of the 
 
 "I warrant you I can shoot as well as they 
 can," said Robin Hood, impulsively. 
 
 "Ah, boaster," said the sheriff, "you are 
 very free with your tongue. Try, now, and 
 if you hit the bull's-eye I will give you ten 
 shillings; but if you fail, I will give you and 
 your friends ten lashes each." 
 
 "My men," whispered Robin Hood to 
 Little John, "put your backs together. We 
 cannot take those ten lashes, so I must e'en 
 do some pretty shooting; and then, as they ( 
 will guess who we are, we must run for it, 
 fighting as we go." 
 
 Robin chose his arrows carefully, lifted 
 his bow slowly, and shot again and again. 
 First he filled the bull's-eye full of arrows; 
 then he split these, one after another, with 
 other arrows. While every one stared open- 
 mouthed at his wonderful skill, he backed 
 away slowly from the pavilion, saying: 
 
 "I will show you what I can do at longer 
 range, my Lord Sheriff." 
 
88 ftoftm jjoojj 
 
 Further He walked backward more quickly, shoot- 
 
 tures of ing as he went, and again filling the bull's- 
 
 Hood e Y e with arrows. His four men edged along 
 
 and Sir w ith him. By this time the Lord Sheriff 
 
 Richard J 
 
 of the had recovered from his astonishment, and 
 his wits had begun to work. He sprang to 
 his feet. 
 
 1 ' Seize me those men ! " he shouted. ' ' For, 
 in truth, I think we are not far from the out- 
 laws of Sherwood Forest." 
 
 At that, Robin and his men began to run. 
 The sheriff's archers, at his command, shot 
 after them. But they aimed for the bodies, 
 and all the arrows glanced off the chain 
 armor underneath the green coats. 
 
 "Pursue the outlaws!" commanded the 
 sheriff. 
 
 Robin and his men ran more quickly than 
 ever, for now the sheriff's archers were trying 
 hard to overtake them. One after another 
 the pursuers dropped off, till only a few 
 remained. They kept shooting as they fol- 
 lowed Robin and his friends into the woods, 
 and at last the arrow of one of them struck 
 Little John in the leg. He staggered for a 
 few moments, and then fell. 
 
 "Good master, I pray you, kill me," he 
 
anb 3Jjte JWerrp jflen 
 
 8 9 
 
 Robin 
 chose his 
 arrows 
 carefully, 
 lifted his 
 bow slowly 
 and shot 
 again 
 and again 
 
90 &ot)in l)oob 
 
 /•«r/A«r said to Robin, "for I do not wish to fall into 
 tures of the hands of our enemies." 
 R HoZ Robin Hood handed his bow to Much. 
 TA Sir d "Never can I kill you, dear comrade," he 
 of the said. "Do you, good Much, and George-a- 
 Green, and Friar Tuck, shoot. I am going 
 * to carry Little John." 
 
 He lifted the huge young man and carried 
 him painfully for several yards. He rested 
 for a few seconds and then set out again, the 
 others shooting steadily the while. George- 
 a-Green whistled sharply every time he sped 
 a shaft; big Much knotted his brown brows 
 and frowned; the good Friar Tuck trotted 
 backward heavily, his rosy face anxious, for 
 he could not shoot so well as the others. 
 
 "Turn you to the left," panted Robin at 
 last, "for this road leads to the castle of our 
 good friend, Sir Richard of the Lea. Those 
 who pursue us dare not come very near to 
 his estate, and I cannot carry Little John 
 much farther." 
 
 Even as Robin Hood spoke, Sir Richard 
 appeared, walking through the woods in com- 
 pany with his wife and son and two or three 
 followers. 
 
 "My good friend Robin Hood!" he cried. 
 
anb %fo Jtlerrp jWen 91 
 
 "And in danger? Come, now, to my castle." Further 
 
 When the sheriff's men saw Sir Richard twes of 
 and his company they stopped, and presently ^ood 
 they turned back to the town of Nottingham. g^ h Str a 
 
 Sir Richard ordered his men at arms to of the 
 carry Little John. Then he led Robin up a 
 grassy road to the Castle of the Lea, a red- 
 towered building standing on a hill. His 
 lady brought Robin and the men perfumed 
 water, waiting on them just as Maid Marian 
 had waited on Sir Richard. A good monk 
 who was skilled in surgery cared for Little 
 John's wound, and soon all were seated 
 around the long table in Sir Richard's hall, 
 where Robin and his men told the story of 
 the day at Nottingham. 
 
 Then Sir Richard told Robin that he had 
 prospered since the outlaws had helped him, 
 and that he would be able to pay back the 
 four hundred pounds before the year was out. 
 He was much surprised when Robin told 
 him that he had got back the money from 
 the wicked Lord of Ely. 
 
 After that, a gray-haired old harper sang 
 to them of the glories of King Arthur and 
 his court; and all listened, especially the 
 little pages, who hoped some day to be brave 
 
92 
 
 &obm 3|oob 
 
 knights. The song the guests liked best was 
 "Troy Town" 
 
 >> . 
 
 
 =b 
 
 -<S &r 
 
 -& — &- 
 
 -&■ 
 
 72 
 
 -&-*—*r 
 
 
 When Troy town for ten years' wars With-stood the 
 
 4- 
 
 -fctte — grt g — *— * — s 
 
 d=q 
 
 -<s- 
 
 Greeks in man-ful wise; Yet did their foes in- 
 
 crease so fast, That to re - sist none could suf-fice. 
 
 
 T* '■ J 
 
 i(2: 
 
 «$*— 
 
 uTsr 
 
 :s: 
 
 -<^- 
 
 Waste lie those walls that were so 
 
 good, And corn now grows where Troy town stood. 
 
 It was almost midnight before the guests 
 were conducted to their beds. The floors 
 were strewn with green rushes, while the 
 
anb gig Jflerrp jflen 93 
 
 beds were spread with linen that had lain Further 
 
 Adven- 
 
 m sweet herbs. tures of 
 
 Sir Richard wished to keep his guests for jl 00 2 
 several days, but Robin feared that Marian a ^f c ^ d 
 might think some harm had befallen him if °f the 
 he stayed longer than he must. So next 
 morning they set off early, Little John riding 
 on a mule which Sir Richard had given him. 
 Sir Richard accompanied them down the 
 grassy road to the edge of the woods. Then 
 he bade them farewell, and watched them 
 as they made off down the Roman road. 
 
 When Robin was out of sight Sir Richard 
 turned homeward, but no sooner had he 
 taken the first steps than an arrow was sent 
 through his hat, and a loud voice commanded 
 him to halt. Then six of the sheriff's men 
 ran up to him and bound his hands together. 
 
 "If we cannot take Robin Hood," they 
 said, "we will take you to the sheriff, who 
 will punish you for harboring him." 
 
 "Ah, ha! you are six men, and yet you are 
 afraid to attack Robin Hood!" said Sir 
 Richard. 
 
 Angrily they bade him keep silence, and 
 led him off in the direction opposite that 
 which Robin had taken. 
 
94 foobtn j|oob 
 
 Further But Sir Richard's wife had seen it all. 
 
 tures of She was riding her white mule over the 
 
 Hood grassy road, meaning to meet Sir Richard 
 
 and Sir an( j walk home with him. She had all but 
 
 Kichard 
 
 of the reached him when the sheriff's men made 
 their attack. The lady waited till they were 
 out of earshot. Then she urged her white 
 mule down the Roman road after Robin 
 Hood, and it was not long before she had 
 overtaken him and told him her plight. 
 
 "And now, sir, will you go and rescue my 
 good lord?" said the lady. "For if once he 
 reaches Nottingham, the sheriff will put 
 him in a dungeon, and never again will 
 he see the light of day." Her tears fell fast, 
 and she clasped her hands as she said: "I 
 know I am asking you to risk your life for 
 him, but did he not risk his for you, in giving 
 you shelter?" 
 
 "Lady, there is no need to plead," said 
 Robin. "Gladly we go, my men and I. 
 You shall see your good lord very shortly." 
 
 Robin and George-a-Green and Much and 
 the rosy Friar Tuck set off running down the 
 Roman road, the lady and Little John trot- 
 ting behind on their mules. Little John did 
 his best to comfort her, but he was not 
 
anb 3|te ffltivy Mm 95 
 
 accustomed to speaking to ladies, and hardly Further 
 knew what to say. He contented himself twes of 
 with repeating over and over the statement j^Jj* 
 that Robin Hood's arm was the stoutest in < ™ i 1 Sir J 
 Nottinghamshire, and that he would soon of the 
 free Sir Richard. 
 
 When they had almost overtaken the 
 sheriff's men, Robin Hood said that they must 
 skirt through the forest and meet their 
 enemies face to face. 
 
 "In that way," he said, "we and they are 
 less likely to harm Sir Richard." 
 
 "Do not hurt him," said the lady. "Oh, 
 perhaps when the sheriff's men see you, they 
 will turn and slay him!" 
 
 "Nay, they will not see us soon enough," 
 said Robin, confidently. " Do you and Little 
 John ride slowly along the road, and when you 
 see us springing on the sheriff's men, urge 
 your mules to a trot and come up to us." 
 
 Robin, Friar Tuck, Much, and George-a- 
 Green slipped into the forest. After what 
 seemed a very long time to the lady and 
 Little John, they sprang out of the woods 
 and fell upon the six bowmen. Then Little 
 John struck his mule, and hurried up, with 
 an arrow all ready to shoot. 
 
96 &obm %oob 
 
 Further By the time the sheriff's men had recovered 
 tures of from their surprise, big Much had dragged 
 
 H™ d Sir Richard into the greenwood and untied 
 and Sir jjjg h an( } s# Then he rushed back and helped 
 
 of the Robin and Friar Tuck and George-a-Green 
 
 Lea . _,... . 
 
 to engage the six men. By this time, Little 
 John was sending arrows at the enemy. All 
 six of them were soon wounded and made 
 prisoners. 
 
 Robin Hood took away their bows and 
 tied their hands together. 
 
 ''Now," he said, "I might slay you; for 
 you have tried hard to make an end of me 
 and my men. Yet you were only obeying 
 the orders of your lord, the sheriff, and 
 obedience is the duty of every true man. 
 So I give you your freedom. Go back to the 
 sheriff and tell him that if he wishes to catch 
 Robin Hood he must learn a better way than 
 any he has yet tried." 
 
 The six prisoners, their heads hanging, set 
 off slowly toward Nottingham. Robin Hood 
 escorted Sir Richard and his grateful wife 
 to their Castle of the Lea. Then he and his 
 men began their journey back to Maid 
 Marian, waiting for them under the green- 
 wood tree. 
 
attb J?is jWcrry jffitm 
 
 RobinHood 
 
 AND THE 
 
 OrtalP*^ 
 
 Chapter VII 
 
 ONE day Much, the miller's son, went off 
 on a solitary hunting excursion. He 
 wished to explore a distant part of Sherwood 
 Forest, and he promised to return with some 
 fine venison. He came back in the afternoon, 
 however, empty-handed. 
 
 "What is this?" laughed Little John. 
 "What has become of your boasts? " 
 
 Much made no reply. He walked grimly 
 among the bowmen, who were sitting or lying 
 on the grass of the clearing, until he came to 
 Robin Hood, who sat under his tall oak. 
 
 "Master," said Much, with a black frown, 
 "do you know that you are not the only 
 lord of Sherwood Forest?" 
 
 "Why do you say that, Much?" asked 
 Robin, mildly. 
 
 97 
 
98 foofain Hoob 
 
 Robin "Because I know it to be true. I fared 
 and the forth early this morning, finding many a new 
 FHar P a "th in the forest. The flowers and birds 
 enticed me, and I made more than one new 
 verse as I walked and sang. Soon I came 
 almost to the end of the forest. It is a part 
 not far from Fountains Abbey." 
 
 "I have heard of it," said Robin; "but I 
 have never traveled there." 
 
 "Of that I feel sure," said Much, the 
 miller's son, "else the Curtal Friar would not 
 be there." 
 
 "The Curtal Friar?" inquired Robin. 
 
 "I came to the part of the forest of which 
 I speak," weht on Much, "and there lay a 
 broad lake. Sitting by the edge of it was a 
 Curtal Friar. He was as big as Little John, 
 and I believe him to be as strong." 
 
 At this, Little John leaped to his feet. 
 
 "Lead me to him, and I will show you 
 better!" he cried. 
 
 "Patience, John," said Robin Hood. "Go 
 on with your story, Much." 
 
 "This friar paid no attention to me till I 
 had come close to him," went on Much. 
 "Then he asked me my business." 
 
 " 'I am out for a day's pleasuring,' said I. 
 
anb gig Jflerrp jWen 99 
 
 " 'Can you not find your pleasure in some Robin 
 other part of the forest?' he asked. 'I hold and the 
 this part, and I do not care to have strangers pj%£ 
 or robbers cross this water of mine unless 
 they pay me a heavy fee ! ' 
 
 " 'I will pay you no fee,' I said, 'nor am I 
 a stranger or a robber, for this forest is the 
 forest of my master, Robin Hood. ' 
 
 " 'Go back to Robin Hood, your master,' 
 said he, 'and tell him that if he ever comes 
 near me he must make good his claim by 
 force.' " 
 
 "Is that all?" Robin asked. 
 
 "Yes," replied Much, sulkily. "I came 
 back because he whipped up a bow from 
 beside him, and had an arrow turned on me 
 before I could draw my own bow." 
 
 "Nay, for once you were too slow, Much," 
 said Robin, smiling. "I must e'en go to see 
 this Curtal Friar. He will be an interesting 
 man to meet." 
 
 "In faith, yes! A fighting friar always is," 
 said Friar Tuck, fingering his long bow. 
 
 "May I go with you, master?" asked 
 Little John. "I would fain see this man who 
 is as big as I am." 
 
 "Nay," replied Robin. "I must go alone; 
 
ioo £otmt l)oob 
 
 2&>Wn but you may all be within bugle call, as is 
 
 Hood ' ,, 
 
 and the your WOIlt. 
 
 pilar Early next morning Robin Hood set out, 
 carrying with him his best bow, a heavy sheaf 
 of arrows, a leather shield, and a bright 
 sword. It was almost noon before he reached 
 the lake Much had described as lying near 
 Fountains Abbey. The Curtal Friar sat on 
 the shore, his bow and arrows and a buckler 
 by his side. He turned his head and stared 
 for a moment at Robin. Then he sprang to 
 his feet, bow in hand. He was, as Much had 
 said, a very tall man; perhaps not quite so 
 huge as Little John, but certainly larger than 
 Robin. 
 
 1 ' Ho, stranger ! " he shouted. ' ' What would 
 you here?" 
 
 "I would cross that water," Robin replied. 
 
 "I do not permit every one to cross," said 
 the friar, with a grim smile; "but I will take 
 you over if you will pay my fee." 
 
 "Whatever you ask," replied Robin. 
 
 He looked about for the Curtal Friar's boat, 
 but none was to be seen. 
 
 "Nay, I use no boat in my ferrying," said 
 the friar. "Up on my shoulders, man; I '11 
 carry you over." 
 
anb %te ffltvty JWen 101 
 
 They went along the shore till they came Robin 
 to the ford. Then Robin mounted on the and the 
 friar's back, holding his bow in his right ^\ a a r 
 hand. The friar lurched a little under his 
 weight, but he stepped out boldly into the 
 water. Nowhere did it come higher than 
 his waist, and after a few minutes of careful 
 walking, both were safe on the opposite 
 shore. Through a break in the trees, Robin 
 Hood could see the gray walls of Fountains 
 Abbey. 
 
 " It is a pretty prospect here," he said. "I 
 must go closer to the abbey." 
 
 "Not so fast," said the friar; "pay me my 
 fee first." 
 
 "Gladly," said Robin. He took a bag of 
 gold from his doublet. "What is the fee?" 
 
 "It is not gold," replied the friar; "but 
 you must carry me back over the stream even 
 as I carried you. That is my fee." 
 
 Robin compressed his lips. Then he said: 
 
 "Such was the agreement, though it is a 
 strange fee you ask, and one I did not expect. 
 Mount, then, friar." 
 
 The friar was a heavy weight for Robin. 
 With the first step he took he staggered. 
 He was the more impeded because he was 
 
102 &obm j|oob 
 
 Robin carrying his bow lifted above the water. 
 and the He managed to keep his footing, however, 
 c j?riar Du "t ^ e was glad to reach the other shore. 
 
 After he had put down the friar he stood 
 dizzily for a few moments. Then he said, 
 "So much for your fee, Curtal Friar; I will 
 not pay another such. And now put me 
 across again, for I would fain see Fountains 
 Abbey." 
 
 "Marry, I will not," began the friar. 
 Then he broke off, and said, "Well, then, 
 mount again." 
 
 Again Robin mounted, careful to keep his 
 bow out of the water. When they reached 
 midstream the friar coolly shook him off. 
 
 "Thus far you go," he said; "for I have 
 guessed you are Robin Hood. Your king- 
 dom stops in the midst of my stream." 
 
 Robin said no word. His bow was still 
 dry, and he held it aloft threateningly, as he 
 waded ashore. The Curtal Friar, too, waded 
 quickly to the spot where he had left his bow 
 and arrows. 
 
 They scrambled upon the shore and began 
 to shoot at each other. Robin shot first, and 
 the friar caught the arrow on his buckler; 
 then the friar shot, and the arrow would have 
 
anb fots ifJlerrp jfflen 
 
 103 
 
 The Friar 
 was a 
 heavy 
 weight for 
 Robin 
 
104 &obm jfoob 
 
 Robin gone to Robin's heart had he not warded it 
 
 and the off with his shield. Several times this was 
 
 p r r l ar repeated, until each saw that the other was 
 
 no mean adversary. They shot fast and 
 
 furiously, till their arrows were all gone. 
 
 "And now, what are we to do?" said the 
 friar. "For I will not yield you an inch." 
 
 "Nor I you," said Robin. "Let us fight 
 with swords, for I perceive you have two 
 lying hid in that green bower on the bank." 
 
 "You have quick eyes," said the friar. 
 "The swords, then." 
 
 They set to with the swords, and sharp 
 sparks flew from the clashing steel. Each 
 was so skillful that the other could not 
 wound him. They fought and fought until 
 their blows became as feeble as though they 
 were fighting with straws. 
 
 "Methinks we shall fall down together," 
 gasped Robin, ' ' with the victory to neither. A 
 boon, friar, and I will grant you no less." 
 
 "What is your boon?" asked the friar. 
 
 "Give me leave to blow three times on my 
 bugle," answered Robin, and he leaned 
 wearily against a tree. 
 
 "Ho, you would summon assistance!" 
 said the Curtal Friar. "Then so will I. 
 
anb %Mg ffittvy jWen J o5 
 
 Give me leave to whistle three times after Robin 
 you have blown your bugle." and the 
 
 "Agreed," said Robin. gg? 
 
 He set his bugle to his mouth, and blew 
 three blasts. Presently, in the distance, the 
 friar saw fifty bowmen, clad in green, running 
 toward him with their bows bent. 
 
 " Marry! it is as I thought," he said. Then 
 he whistled loudly three times. Immediately, 
 from beyond the walls of Fountains Abbey 
 came, leaping and barking, fifty large black 
 dogs. 
 
 "See you, Robin," said the friar, "I have a 
 dog for every one of your men, and there is 
 still myself for you." 
 
 While he spoke, the great dogs were swim- 
 ming the stream. The first two that reached 
 the bank leaped at Robin Hood and tore the 
 doublet of Lincoln green from his back. 
 But Little John had now arrived at the head 
 of the fifty bowmen, and he killed one dog, 
 while Robin killed the other. 
 
 The other men shot at the rest of the dogs, 
 but what was their amazement to see the 
 dogs leap and catch the arrows in their 
 mouths ! 
 
 "See you, Robin," said the friar; "my 
 
IQ 6 3&otun 3|oob 
 
 Robin dogs have been trained. Some of them you 
 
 Hood . . 
 
 and the may indeed succeed in killing, but not all." 
 FHar "Nay, we can soon tire out your dogs," 
 said Little John, and he lifted his bow. 
 
 "Stop!" said Robin Hood. "Hold your 
 arrows, my men ; and do you keep back your 
 dogs, Curtal Friar." 
 
 They did as they were bidden, and then 
 Robin said: 
 
 "It were a pity that you and I should be 
 enemies, Curtal Friar. Tell me why you 
 guard so carefully this stream." 
 
 "There are many robbers who have come 
 to Fountains Abbey and taken our gold and 
 food," said the friar. "I found that my only 
 safety lay in keeping these dogs to help me 
 guard this ford." 
 
 "Yet why did you attack me?" said 
 Robin Hood. "You know that I am the 
 king of Sherwood Forest. Why should not 
 I pass and see Fountains Abbey if I wish?" 
 
 "I will not let you rob the abbey," said 
 the friar, sturdily. 
 
 "Nay, then, I would not rob it," replied 
 Robin; "I never take money unjustly, 
 friar." 
 
 "I hear many tales against you," said the 
 
anb j|ig Jtlerrp jfflen 107 
 
 friar. "You are an outlaw, and there is a Robin 
 
 * 1 , , Hood 
 
 price upon your head. ow d /&. 
 
 "There are many false reports in the p^f 
 world," Robin Hood said. "I am an outlaw, 
 but I am not an evildoer. I am more likely 
 to give you alms for the poor that come to 
 Fountains Abbey than I am to take anything 
 from you." 
 
 "Then let us hold the forest in peace 
 together," said the friar. " Make the terms." 
 
 "In truth, peace is better than war," 
 said Robin. "Friar, give my men leave to 
 cross this stream whenever they will, pro- 
 vided always they pay you a fee of dried 
 meat." 
 
 "Agreed," said the friar. 
 
 "Furthermore, pay me a broad gold piece 
 every month, and I will give you as often 
 a fat buck for your poor." 
 
 "Agreed," repeated the friar. 
 
 "And when you come to my retreat in the 
 greenwood," said Robin, "there will always 
 be a warm welcome for you from Marian 
 and me, as well as from all my men." 
 
 "And for you," said the friar, bowing, 
 "the doors of Fountains Abbey will be thrown 
 wide." 
 
io8 
 
 3&obin ^oob 
 
 Robin At that, they all parted the best of friends, 
 and the and Robin and his men went back, laughing 
 C p r r f a \ and singing, to the greenwood: 
 
 Jog on, jog 
 Your pal - try 
 Cast care a - 
 
 on the 
 mon - ey 
 way, 
 
 let 
 
 foot ■ 
 bags 
 sor • 
 
 path way, And 
 of gold, What 
 row cease, A 
 
 mer-ri-ly take the stile-a; Your mer-ry heart goes 
 need have we to stare for; When lit-tle or noth-ing 
 fig for mel - an - chol - y ; Let's laugh and sing, or, 
 -V i 
 
 
 PT 
 
 n 
 
 s> 
 
 s 
 
 all the day; Your sad tires in a mile - a. 
 soon is told, And we have the less to care for. 
 if you please, We'll frol - ic with sweet Dol - ly. 
 
anb 3|ig ffltvvy Mm 
 
 |\Robin Hood and the 
 Widows T>iREE Sons 
 
 Chapter VIII 
 
 ROBIN HOOD and his men were prac- 
 ticing archery one day, near the Roman 
 road, when they heard the sound of weeping. 
 They peeped through the trees and saw a 
 tall woman clad in black like a widow, 
 sobbing and wringing her hands. Robin 
 Hood hastened to her. 
 
 "Prithee, madam," he said, "why do you 
 weep? Tell me, that I may help you." 
 
 "Alas, alas!" said the woman. "I am 
 beyond help. I weep for my three sons to 
 be hanged this day at Nottingham by order 
 of the sheriff." 
 
 "What have they done? Have they harmed 
 some defenseless person or robbed the poor?" 
 he asked. 
 
 "No, no; they are good sons," said the 
 109 
 
no Eobtn j^oob 
 
 Robin widow, sadly, "so good that so far the sheriff 
 and the has found no one in all Nottingham who 
 
 Wi Three is willin g to han g them." 
 
 Sons "But what have they done?" repeated 
 Robin. 
 
 "They are three young squires who have 
 been followers of Robin Hood, the outlaw, 
 and they were taken last night for killing 
 the king's deer." 
 
 "What!" cried Robin Hood, "are three 
 of my good bowmen taken? But comfort 
 yourself, madam, for hanged they shall 
 never be while I live. Go you to Notting- 
 ham town. Ere long you shall embrace 
 your sons." 
 
 " Nay, do not give me idle hopes," wept the 
 widow. 
 
 "I speak the truth," he said. "Go you 
 to Nottingham town, and have no fear. I 
 am Robin Hood, and I will save these my 
 men." 
 
 He bowed hastily and walked into the 
 forest, where he consulted with Friar Tuck, 
 Little John, Much, and George-a-Green. As 
 they were speaking they saw an old, ragged 
 beggar coming down the road, tapping trem- 
 blingly with his stick. 
 
attb %Ha iHerrp jffleit 
 
 in 
 
 "See," said Robin Hood, "there is the Robin 
 beggar's raiment I must needs have if I am and the 
 to carry out my plan. I pray you, my good Three" 
 men, come after me to Nottingham town." Sons 
 
 Robin hurried to the old man. 
 
 "I pray you, good father," he said, 
 ''exchange clothes with me as quickly as 
 you can." 
 
 "Nay, do not make game of an old man," 
 said the beggar. "My clothes are patched 
 and torn, while yours are whole." 
 
 "Nevertheless, let us change," said Robin. 
 "I am in earnest. To prove that I speak the 
 truth, I give you this broad gold piece." 
 
 The old man looked at the coin suspi- 
 ciously, but when he saw that it was good 
 gold he began fumblingly to take off his 
 clothes. They were indeed patched from 
 hose to mantle, with many colors and quali- 
 ties of cloth. The hat was a large gray one, 
 which came well down over the eyes. Then 
 there was a bag for meal, one for salt, one 
 for barley and corn, one for bread, and one 
 for beef. Last of all, Robin put his silver 
 horn and four sharp knives inside the worn 
 doublet. 
 
 Then he set off quickly down the Roman 
 
112 
 
 Bobm j|oob 
 
 "Nay, do 
 
 not make 
 
 game of 
 
 an old 
 
attb gig ffltvxy Mm "3 
 
 road for Nottingham. Far ahead, he could Robin 
 make out the figure of the widow, hurrying and the 
 to see her sons saved. On the way many Yhr°e WS 
 people joined him, going to see the hanging Sons 
 of the poor youths. 
 
 "It will be a sin and a shame if those good 
 young men have to die," they said, "and 
 only for killing of the deer which should be 
 free to all men." 
 
 Robin Hood listened to their words, but 
 he made no remark himself. As he walked 
 beside the forest, his sharp ears heard a 
 slight continuous rustling, and he knew it was 
 his merry men marching among the trees, 
 ready to obey whatever orders he might give. 
 
 When he reached Nottingham, Robin 
 followed the crowd to the great square 
 where once he had shot so wonderfully. 
 In the center of it was built a high gallows. 
 On the platform of this stood the three young 
 squires, their hands and feet bound, above 
 each head a noose dangling. They looked 
 pale but brave. 
 
 "Only last night they were free," thought 
 Robin. " They supped with me in the green- 
 wood. Marry, and to-night they shall be 
 free again! I wish they knew it." 
 
:i 4 &ojnn l)oob 
 
 i?okw A pavilion had been erected behind the 
 
 Hood 1t . 
 
 a^ the gallows, and m this sat the Lord Sheriff. He 
 % ThrL looked about the crowd anxiously. Then he 
 Sons beckoned to a herald who stood on the steps 
 of the pavilion. 
 
 "Come hither," he said. "Sound again 
 my demand." 
 
 The herald blew his brass trumpet. 
 
 "Hear ye!" he cried. "The most noble 
 the Lord High Sheriff of Nottingham demands 
 that some loyal subject of the king come 
 forward and offer himself as hangman to 
 these three traitors who have slain the king's 
 deer." 
 
 For a moment no one made any response. 
 Then Robin Hood stepped forward. 
 
 "Stop him," said some one in the crowd; 
 "do not let any one hang these three young 
 squires." 
 
 Several tried to lay hands on Robin, but 
 he slipped away from all of them, and reached 
 the steps of the pavilion. 
 
 "You are a loyal old man," said the sheriff, 
 as Robin stood before him with head and 
 shoulders bent, and hat pulled well down 
 over his face. "Do you think you are strong 
 enough to hang these traitors?" 
 
anb %ig Jflerrp JKen 115 
 
 "I could hang thirty traitors without Robin 
 growing weary," said Robin, grimly. and the 
 
 " Then you will be my hangman? " ^ l h f°f s 
 
 "What will you give me?" asked Robin. Sons 
 "Thirty pence, which is the regular hang- 
 man's fee, and all the clothes of these three 
 traitors." 
 
 The poor widow heard the words and 
 uttered a loud cry of despair. She had 
 trusted in the word of Robin Hood, but where 
 was he? How could he keep this old beggar 
 man from hanging her sons? The people 
 crowded against the scaffold, muttering an- 
 grily against the old man. 
 
 "Lord Sheriff," said Robin Hood, in a 
 high, broken voice. "I prithee send a guard 
 with me to the foot of the gallows, else the 
 people will tear me in pieces." 
 
 Half a dozen of the sheriff's men led Robin 
 Hood to the gallows. 
 
 "Now go back," said Robin, "and stand 
 close about your Lord Sheriff. It seems to 
 me that he will need help ere long." 
 
 The guards went back to the pavilion, and 
 Robin stood alone by the three young squires. 
 "Fear nothing," he whispered. "It is I, 
 my brave lads; I will save you." 
 
n6 foobm l)oob 
 
 7?o6t« He went close to each one, pretending to 
 
 Hood . 7 
 
 and the adjust the nooses about their necks. In 
 
 1 Three doing so, he slipped a knife inside the doublet 
 
 Sons Q f eac ] 1# Then he went the rounds again, 
 
 pretending to tighten the ropes about their 
 
 hands and feet, but in reality cutting them. 
 
 "Oh, ha,ve mercy, and kill them quickly, 
 if kill them you must!" wept the widow. 
 
 "My Lord Sheriff," pleaded a man in the 
 crowd, "let those men go free. I myself 
 will be surety that they will kill no more 
 deer." 
 
 "Hold your peace!" thundered the sheriff. 
 "You know well that these are the men of 
 Robin Hood, the wicked outlaw who glories 
 in destroying the property of the king." 
 
 "Nay, Robin Hood is kind," said the man. 
 "If you send these young squires back to 
 him, he will do the town some great kindness 
 in return." 
 
 "Arrest that man!" shouted the sheriff. 
 "He who dares to oppose my will shall be 
 thrust into prison." 
 
 While the guards were searching for the 
 man among the crowd, Robin took his bugle 
 from his doublet. In the confusion, no one 
 knew who it was who blew three shrill blasts. 
 
anb %fe ffltxxy jWen 117 
 
 "What sound was that?" cried the sheriff, Robin 
 turning to the herald. and the 
 
 " My lord, I do not know," the man replied. S"' 5 
 
 "A requiem for the souls of these three Sons 
 men, perhaps," shouted Robin Hood. 
 
 "Get about your work quickly, old man," 
 said the sheriff; "else shall you forfeit the 
 thirty pence and receive thirty lashes." 
 
 As he spoke, up the main street came the 
 quick tramp, tramp, of two hundred feet, 
 and Robin Hood's bowmen poured into the 
 square. Their long gray-goose shafts were 
 all ready to shoot, and the Lord Sheriff felt 
 as though each shaft were aimed at his heart. 
 At the same moment, while all eyes were 
 turned upon the bowmen, Robin Hood and 
 the three squires leaped from the platform 
 of the gallows. The friendly crowd made a 
 path for them, and they ran to join the 
 bowmen. 
 
 Then Robin Hood stood at their head, 
 drew himself up to his full height, and gazed 
 at the Lord Sheriff. 
 
 "A man's life is worth more than all the 
 deer he could ever shoot," he said sternly. 
 "The forest and the food in the forest should 
 be free to all. Look at me, Lord Sheriff; 
 
"8 &obm j|oob 
 
 Robin I am Robin Hood. . I was made an outlaw, 
 
 and the and I have made myself King of Sherwood 
 
 1 Three Forest. I offer its deer to all the good people 
 
 Sons faQfQ present. Come, whenever it pleases 
 
 you, and shoot in my kingdom." 
 
 He turned and made a gesture to his men. 
 They all backed away from the square, their 
 bows lifted, and the arrows still aimed at 
 the Lord Sheriff. The widow walked among 
 her sons, weeping for joy. 
 
 "Madam," said Robin, "dry your tears. 
 Your sons will be safe hereafter, for this 
 incident will teach them not to be careless. 
 They are safe so long as they stay in 
 Sherwood Forest. Come home with us, 
 madam, and my Lady Marian will show 
 you how happy a life can be led in the 
 good greenwood." 
 
 But the widow decided to return again to 
 Nottingham. She bade her sons a loving 
 farewell. 
 
 "I will come to see you in the greenwood," 
 she said, "but you must never again travel 
 out from the forest. You are certain not to 
 come to harm so long as you keep close 
 to Robin Hood." 
 
 So they parted. Robin and the men went 
 
anb £t* ffltvvvfflm 
 
 119 
 
 back to the greenwood, and as they went, Robin 
 Much, the miller's son, who had been teasing and the 
 the young squires about what he called their Three* S 
 travel to Nottingham in search of adventure, Sons 
 began to sing this song, which he had heard 
 in the town: 
 
 =N- 
 
 -0—0- 
 
 There were three trav-el-ers, trav-el-ers three, With a 
 
 IN I PS K l S IN . 
 
 hey down, ho down, lang tree down der - ry, And 
 
 IN >N 
 
 A-- r 
 
 *=* 
 
 J— m m *l 1 ' 1 — j m m »— 
 
 9 9 9 -0- -0- -0- -0- -0r -p- 9 * 
 
 they would go trav-el the North Coun-try, With-out 
 
 IN ,N ' * . * N 
 
 ' They traveled east, and they traveled west, 
 
 With a hey down, ho down, lang tree down deny, 
 
 Wherever they came, still they drank of the best, 
 Without ever a stiver of money. 
 
120 
 
 Kolmi l)oob 
 
 Robin 
 
 Hood 
 
 and the 
 
 Widow's 
 
 Three 
 
 Sons 
 
 "At length by good fortune they came to a .1 inn, 
 
 With a hey down, ho down, lang tree down deny, 
 And they were as merry as e'er they had been, 
 Without ever a stiver of money. 
 
 "Then taking their leaves they went merrily out, 
 
 With a hey down, ho down, lang tree down derry, 
 And they 're gone for to travel the nation about 
 Without ever a stiver of money." 
 
anb ?|ta ffltvvp jfflen 
 
 Chapter IX 
 
 A FEW days after their adventures with 
 the sheriff's men, Robin Hood and 
 Little John were standing on the Roman 
 road, wondering how they should spend the 
 day. Presently they heard the rumble of 
 wheels and the sound of loud singing. They 
 turned around and saw a potter driving a 
 cart full of earthen pots of all sizes. 
 
 "This fellow has no fear," said Robin Hood. 
 "Every week he goes singing down the road 
 as if there were no outlaws in the forest." 
 
 "He is perfectly honest," said Little John, 
 "and he has no doubt heard that we do not 
 stop honest men. Yet, master, give me leave 
 to have sport with him." 
 
 "Take your will, Little John," said Robin 
 Hood. 
 
122 &obm l)ooti 
 
 RoUn When the potter came up, Little John 
 
 Hood . .. , 1 . 
 
 and the said to him : 
 Potter "Ho, potter, stop your cart, and pay us a 
 toll. We are no longer going to let you ride 
 free on our road." 
 
 "Marry, you may whistle for your toll!" 
 shouted the potter. "Get up, Dobbin." 
 
 "We are two to one," said Little John, 
 "and two big men, at that." 
 
 "The biggest does not always win," re- 
 torted the potter, cheerfully. 
 
 He jumped down from his cart, and took 
 his great staff in his right hand. 
 
 "Come, now," he said, "I challenge one 
 of you to a play with the staff." 
 
 Robin Hood stepped forward. 
 
 1 ' Ready, my brave fellow, ' ' he said. ' ' Have 
 at you." 
 
 Then the two began to strike at each other, 
 but both were skillful at the play, and parried 
 each other's blows. At last the potter struck 
 Robin on the wrist, and sent his staff spinning 
 from his hand. 
 
 "Well done, my man," said Robin. "Shall 
 we go on fighting?" 
 
 "Nay," said the potter, "for I see you are 
 a man whom, in the end, I cannot beat. I 
 
anb His? JWerrp Jfflen 123 
 
 should spend the morning here, and then who Robin 
 would sell my pots? I bid you good day." and the 
 
 "Nay, then," said Robin, "let me take Potter 
 your clothes and sell your pots, and do you 
 stay here with Little John and my other 
 men, and feast on venison." 
 
 The potter smiled. 
 
 "Faith, I never tasted venison in my life," 
 he said; "but do you know how to sell pots? 
 Perhaps you will sell them too cheap." 
 
 "Have no fear," replied Robin, "when I 
 return I shall give you whatever money you 
 ask for your wares." 
 
 "Then strip off your green clothes and 
 take my rags," said the potter. "Faith, 't is 
 many a day since I had a whole doublet!" 
 
 His woolen doublet was indeed torn and 
 soiled, his stockings full of holes, and his 
 shoes cut. When Robin was dressed in 
 these garments no one would ever have 
 dreamed that he was the great outlaw. He 
 leaped into the cart, and drove gayly down 
 the road till he reached the edge of Notting- 
 ham town. Then he made the horse go very 
 slowly, crying loudly: 
 
 "Pots! pots! Who will buy my pots? 
 Very cheap pots!" 
 
124 
 
 &oftttt Jloob 
 
 "Three- 
 pence a 
 pot', 
 three- 
 pence!" 
 
anb j|ig ffltxvy Mm I2 5 
 
 The women came from the little houses — Robin 
 mothers with babies in their arms, and old and the 
 women — all eager to ask his price. But otter 
 Robin answered none of them till he reached 
 the sheriff's great house. Then he said: 
 ' ' Threepence a pot ! threepence ! ' ' 
 
 The women looked at one another. 
 
 "The potter will not thrive long at his 
 trade," they whispered. "Never before were 
 such pots sold for less than fivepence." 
 
 Buyers came from all about, and Robin 
 did a thriving trade. From the corner of his 
 eye he caught a glimpse of ths sheriff's wife 
 peeping at him from a window. At last he 
 had sold all the pots but five. 
 
 "These are not for sale," he said. "These 
 I give as a present to the sheriff's wife." 
 
 Some one told this to one of the sheriff's 
 maidservants, and she came out and carried 
 the five pots in to her mistress. Then she 
 returned and said that the sheriff's wife was 
 pleased with the present, and would be glad 
 to give Robin his dinner. 
 
 Robin quickly tied his horse, and went 
 inside. The maidservant took him into the 
 kitchen, where she spread a meal of black 
 bread, cheese, and cakes. 
 
i26 &obin j|oob 
 
 Robin While he was eating, the sheriff's wife came 
 
 Hood . , , . 
 
 and the into the kitchen, bne was a stout, pretty 
 otter lady, with dancing black eyes. Her father 
 had been a peasant, and she liked to slip into 
 the kitchen and talk to the peasants who 
 came to see her servants. But the sheriff 
 preferred that she should sit in the main 
 hall, and have nothing to do with people of 
 low rank. 
 
 Robin liked her, and they soon fell into 
 pleasant talk. Then she went to the sher- 
 iff, who sat at work in his countingroom, 
 and told him that the potter was a good 
 talker. 
 
 "Bring him to me," said the sheriff. 
 
 So Robin went from the kitchen to the 
 countingroom, and began to tell stories of 
 adventure to the sheriff. At last he led the 
 talk to the subject of archery. At that the 
 sheriff's face grew grim. 
 
 "My lord has had a misadventure with 
 archery of late," laughed the sheriff's wife. 
 
 Then she told Robin Hood the story he 
 knew so well, about himself and his three 
 followers. 
 
 "It was good shooting, nevertheless," said 
 the sheriff. 
 
anb His; ffltvvy fflm 127 
 
 "In faith, it is not difficult to shoot well," Robin 
 said Robin Hood, carelessly. and the 
 
 "Can you shoot, fellow, that you talk so 
 freely?" asked the sheriff. 
 
 "Assuredly," said Robin Hood. 
 
 "Prove it to me," said the sheriff. "I will 
 take you to the square where the contest was 
 held, and you shall shoot.'-' 
 
 When they had left the house, and the 
 sheriff's horse had been brought him, Robin 
 saw that the sheriff's lady was still standing 
 in the great entrance. 
 
 "Are you not coming, my lady?" he 
 asked. 
 
 "Nay," she said, "I have no palfrey; I 
 must e'en stay at home." 
 
 Robin thought it was strange that a man 
 with so many horses as the sheriff must have, 
 did not provide a proper palfrey for his 
 wife. He kept his thoughts to himself, 
 however, and drove behind the sheriff till 
 they reached the square. Then he got down 
 and took his bow and arrows from the bot- 
 tom of the cart. He shot straight into the 
 bull's-eye. 
 
 "Verily, you shoot as well as the strangers 
 did who outwitted me here last month," 
 
 Potter 
 
128 &ot)tn l)ooti 
 
 UoWn said the sheriff. "Who are you, fellow?" 
 
 and the "A man who has a little skill in shooting," 
 
 Potter replied Robin. "But one could hardly miss 
 
 with this bow. Robin Hood put it into this 
 
 cart this very morning." 
 
 "What!" shouted the sheriff. "Do you 
 know Robin Hood?" 
 
 "As well as I know myself," replied Robin. 
 
 The sheriff's fierce face grew crimson. 
 
 "I want to see that man," he said; "I 
 must know what he looks like. Can you 
 bring me to him?" 
 
 "Do you mean that you wish to capture 
 him?" asked Robin. 
 
 "Yes; and yet, if you lead me to him 
 now with a company of my men, he and his 
 bowmen will hear them coming through the 
 greenwood. I do not want that." 
 
 "Then what do you want?" asked Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 " I want to see his face so that I shall know 
 him if ever we meet in Nottingham town. 
 I do not doubt that he will attempt to meet 
 me single-handed, as he has before. I want 
 to be sure that I am capturing the great 
 outlaw, and none other." 
 
 "So your plan is to go alone with me to 
 
anb ?|te ffltttp Mm 129 
 
 the greenwood to see Robin Hood?" asked Robin 
 
 -p, 1 . Hood 
 
 KODin. and the 
 
 "Yes, but I do not want him to see me," Fotter 
 said the sheriff. 
 
 "I do not think I can promise that," said 
 Robin Hood. 
 
 The sheriff looked at him doubtfully. 
 
 "You can trust me, however," went on 
 Robin; "I will answer for your life with my 
 own. If Robin Hood's men kill you, they 
 shall kill me, also." 
 
 "Then, if I can count on your loyalty, I 
 will go with you in the morning," said the 
 sheriff. "We two are strong enough to over- 
 come Robin Hood should we chance to meet 
 him alone." 
 
 They went back to the sheriff's house, and 
 Robin Hood spent the rest of the afternoon 
 talking to the sheriff's lady. After supper 
 he went at once to bed, and slept soundly 
 till the morning. When he and the sheriff 
 were ready to set out, he took leave of the 
 sheriff's wife. 
 
 "I thank you for your hospitality, lady," 
 he said, "and I beg you to accept this red- 
 gold ring as a sign of my friendship." 
 
 She slipped it on her plump finger. 
 
130 Eobtn jtoob 
 
 Robin "A gold ring and five fine pots!" she said. 
 
 and the " Indeed, potter, you are as generous as if 
 
 Potter y QU were an ear i m J trust that some day you 
 
 will be requited for your kindness." 
 
 Robin Hood and the sheriff rode out of 
 Nottingham and then down the straight 
 road to Sherwood Forest. Robin related 
 many a story and sang many a song to please 
 the sheriff, who said that the ride seemed 
 very short. 
 
 "Faith, the rest of the day will seem long 
 enough to you," said Robin. 
 
 "What do you mean?" asked the sheriff. 
 
 "You will find my meaning in Sherwood 
 Forest," answered Robin. "Turn in here, 
 my lord." 
 
 The sheriff paused. 
 
 "Do you mean treachery, fellow?" 
 
 "Nay," said Robin, jumping from the 
 cart. "I have passed my word that you 
 shall be safe." 
 
 He put his hand on the bridle of the sheriff's 
 horse, and held him. Then he brought his 
 silver bugle from inside his doublet, and 
 blew a loud, clear blast. Immediately, Little 
 John, the potter, and a score of bowmen 
 ran from the greenwood. 
 
anb %Ma ffltvvp Jflen 131 
 
 "Hey!" cried the potter. "Here come my Robin 
 clothes and my empty cart." and the 
 
 "Dear master," cried Little John, "can Potter 
 this be the Sheriff of Nottingham?" 
 
 "It is," said Robin Hood. "But I have 
 sworn that he shall come to no harm among 
 us. I have said that I will answer for his 
 life with my own." 
 
 Little John frowned. 
 
 ' ' The wound in my leg that his men made 
 is still painful," he grumbled. " Master, is he 
 not to pay for that ? ' ' 
 
 "Nay, John," said Robin Hood, "this 
 man is our guest for the day. I have taken 
 food in his house; he shall dine safely in my 
 greenwood." 
 
 The sheriff was looking anxiously from one 
 to another. 
 
 "Release me," he stammered., "I com- 
 mand you! I am lord of this shire." 
 
 "But I am lord of this forest," returned 
 the great outlaw; "for I am Robin Hood, the 
 man you wished to see." 
 
 The sheriff stared at him helplessly. 
 
 "I am going now to put on my own 
 garments," said Robin. "Then I shall 
 sit opposite you at dinner, my lord, and 
 
i32 &obht jfoob 
 
 Robin you can take your fill of gazing at me." 
 and the Little John and George-a- Green led the 
 otier sheriff, blindfolded, to the grassy clearing, 
 where Marian greeted them. She was very 
 courteous to the sheriff*, but he was so angry 
 and afraid that he could scarcely reply to 
 her. 
 
 Soon a great dinner was spread. The 
 sheriff saw haunch after haunch of the king's 
 venison, which he was supposed to protect. 
 He saw the king's pheasants and partridges 
 and plovers. Robin Hood urged him to 
 eat, but he could take only a few scant 
 mouthfuls. 
 
 After dinner Robin bade his archers set up 
 a mark; and then he showed the sheriff 
 what perfect marksmen they all were. 
 
 "You see, my lord," he said, "that we can 
 protect ourselves. If you should come to 
 the greenwood with a company of soldiers, 
 you know what you would meet with." 
 
 The sheriff made no reply. He was very 
 angry, and yet he could not help admiring 
 the fine shooting. 
 
 In the middle of the afternoon Robin took 
 him back to the clearing. The potter ran 
 after them. 
 
anb SMa ffltxvy JWen 133 
 
 "Hold, Robin Hood," he said; "the day Robin 
 
 . . „ . Hood 
 
 is going. I must get home to my wile. Give and the 
 me the money for the pots." 
 
 "What were they worth?" asked Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 "A good pound of gold," said the potter, 
 "and I hope you will give me all of it, though 
 I am willing to pay for the good cheer I have 
 had with your men." 
 
 "You shall not pay for that," replied 
 Robin, "for you were a welcome guest. Tell 
 Little John to give you, from our treasury, 
 not only one pound, but ten. And now fare- 
 well, potter; remember that you are welcome 
 here whenever you choose to come as a 
 friend." 
 
 The potter took off his hat. 
 
 "I am proud to be the friend, however 
 humble, of Robin Hood," he said. "Fare 
 you well, my lord." 
 
 "Farewell," said the sheriff. 
 
 "Marry," laughed the potter, "I did not 
 call you ' lord' ! I spoke to Robin Hood. To 
 my mind, that man is a lord who shows him- 
 self best in wit and in strength of body. 
 Farewell again, my Lord Robert, Earl of 
 Huntington." 
 
i34 Kotjtn goob 
 
 Robin "Only Robin Hood of the green forest," 
 and the said the outlaw simply. "Farewell, potter." 
 1 ' ' " Then Robin Hood turned to the sheriff. 
 
 "Your horse is ready, my lord, and you 
 have my leave to go." 
 
 Little John came up, leading a white pal- 
 frey. 
 
 " But where is my horse? " asked the sheriff. 
 
 "You will ride home on this," said Robin 
 Hood. "I have exchanged it for your horse. 
 Your good lady has no palfrey, and you have 
 more horses than you need." 
 
 The sheriff was angrier than ever. He 
 said never a word, but as Robin blindfolded 
 his eyes he thought: "Five pots, a ring, and 
 a white palfrey! My wife has profited by 
 this adventure." 
 
 He mounted the palfrey, and then Robin 
 Hood led him through a maze of paths into 
 the road. 
 
 "Farewell, sir," he said. "I think you 
 will hardly find your way back to our haunts. 
 Give greetings to your lady from me." 
 
 The sheriff made no reply. He only urged 
 the white palfrey to a trot. As he hurried 
 down the Roman road in a cloud of dust, 
 Much, the miller's son, sang this song after 
 
anb %ta ffltvty Jfflen 
 
 135 
 
 him, George-a-Green whistling the tune with Robin 
 all his might : <™ d the 
 
 & Potter 
 
 .a 
 
 3=5 
 
 ^ 
 
 jGL 
 
 -& 
 
 7g S>" 
 
 (S-- 
 
 "NowRob-in, lend to me thy bow, Sweet 
 
 i 
 
 -fS>- 
 
 ^2 (2 
 
 IE 
 
 :c2_ 
 
 ^ 
 
 2Z 
 
 ^ 
 
 Rob - in, 
 
 lend 
 
 to me thy bow, For 
 
 i 
 
 0— w 
 
 -0-T& 
 
 F= F=I= 
 
 I must now a - hunt - ing with my la - dy 
 
 i 
 
 -i9- 
 
 F-f^- 
 
 .(2_ 
 
 II 
 
 go, With my sweet la 
 
 dy go. 
 
 "And whither will thy lady go? 
 
 Sweet Wilkin, tell it unto me; 
 
 And thou shalt have my hawk, my hound, and eke 
 
 my bow, 
 To wait on thy lady." 
 
 " My lady will to Uppingham, 
 
 To Uppingham forsooth will she ; 
 
 And I myself appointed for to be the man 
 
 To wait upon my lady." 
 
136 &obm Jjtoob 
 
 Robin "Adieu, good Wilkin, all beshrewed, 
 and the Thy hunt i n g nothing pleaseth me; 
 Potter But yet beware thy babbling hounds stray not abroad 
 For ang'ring of thy lady." 
 
 "My hounds shall be led in the line, 
 
 So well I can assure it thee ; 
 
 Unless by strain of view some pursue I may find, 
 
 To please my sweet lady." 
 
 With that the lady she came in. 
 
 And willed them all for to agree; 
 
 For honest hunting never was accounted sin, 
 
 Nor never shall for me. 
 
ant jfyit JWerrp jWen 
 
 t 
 
 1 
 
 Thb 
 
 i^jVBNTURESOF' 
 
 IutlbJohnc 
 ^theSherifp, 
 
 Chapter X 
 
 THE Sheriff of Nottingham was deter- 
 mined to wreak vengeance upon Robin 
 Hood and his followers. For weeks he and his 
 men went through Sherwood Forest, seeking 
 traces of the outlaws. But the sheriff was 
 never able to find the path which led to the 
 grassy clearing. Often an arrow would fall 
 among his soldiers as a warning that Robin 
 Hood and his bowmen wished to be let 
 alone. 
 
 Finding that he could not take Robin 
 Hood, the sheriff did a very unjust thing. 
 He found out the names of some of the poor 
 people whom Robin Hood had helped and 
 began to persecute them because they were 
 friends of an outlaw. At this Robin Hood was 
 exceedingly angry. He did his best for the 
 
 137 
 
138 Robin fooob 
 
 The poor people, giving them venison and money. 
 tures of But the sheriff continued to illtreat them. 
 
 5£ "If ever I take that man again," said 
 a ^f ie % Robin Hood, "I will not let him off so easily." 
 
 At this Little John begged to go forth on 
 an adventure. 
 
 "Give me leave, good master," he said. 
 ' ' I think I can find a way to make the sheriff 
 prisoner. I cannot forgive him for the wound 
 in my leg, to say nothing of the way he treats 
 these poor people." 
 
 "Go your way, John," said Robin Hood, 
 "only be careful that no harm comes to 
 you." 
 
 Little John went to Marian and asked her 
 to look in her chests and find him a common 
 suit of homespun cloth. Then she gave 
 him a dye made of walnut with which he 
 dyed his light hair and stained his skin. 
 Even his friends hardly recognized Little 
 John in the dark gypsy who stood ready to 
 set forth on an adventure. He cut a staff 
 and walked quickly to the town of Notting- 
 ham. When he reached the sheriff's house 
 he knocked and demanded to see the lord. 
 
 The servant who answered the door looked 
 at him scornfully. 
 
anb %ig ffltvvy Jflen 139 
 
 "What has a poor fellow like you to do The 
 with my master? " he asked. tures of 
 
 ' ' Tell your master that I am looking for a / f* 
 place as a servant. Say that I am not only at j d t . h '' 
 a strong man, but that I can shoot with a 
 bow and arrow as well as Robin Hood." 
 
 At that the servant let him in, for the sheriff 
 was always eager to talk with a man who 
 could shoot. 
 
 The sheriff looked up when Little John 
 entered the doorway of the countingroom. 
 
 "So you wish to be my servant?" he said. 
 11 If you can really shoot well, I will take you." 
 
 Little John soon showed him in the public 
 square how well he could speed an arrow. 
 The sheriff was pleased. 
 
 "I will take you as my own bodyguard," 
 he said. 
 
 Upon this Little John looked pleased, too. 
 He knew that if once he could get the sheriff 
 off alone, he could easily take him to Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 "But not for a week," the sheriff added. 
 "I will see if you have the faithfulness a 
 good servant should have, by putting you 
 in the scullery. The steward will give you 
 your orders. You may go," 
 
i4o &oinn j|oob 
 
 The Little John was anything but pleased to 
 
 tmes of hear these words. After living a healthy 
 
 John life in the open air he hardly knew how he 
 
 "sheriff cou ^ endure staying in a little dark scullery, 
 
 cleaning knives and plates. However, since 
 
 it was only for a week, he determined to try. 
 
 For three days he did his best, though it was 
 
 very wearisome. The steward was severe 
 
 with him, and made him do all the hardest 
 
 work. Whenever he thought Little John 
 
 was lazy, he struck him with his thick staff. 
 
 Little John bore it all in silence, though his 
 
 head ached as well as his back. 
 
 On the fourth morning he was awakened 
 early by the sound of the sheriff going off on 
 a hunt. Little John was very tired. He 
 was sure that he would become ill if he 
 stayed in the scullery another day. So he 
 determined to leave the sheriff's service and 
 try to take him prisoner in some other way. 
 About sunrise the steward knocked at his 
 door and ordered him to get up. 
 
 "Not I," said Little John; "I 'm going to 
 sleep till noon." 
 
 The steward beat on the door again and 
 again. 
 
 "Beat it in, if you like," said Little John, 
 
anb %ig Jflerrp Mm hi 
 
 "but if you do, the sheriff will call you to The 
 
 fJ Adven- 
 
 aCCOUllt. tures of 
 
 At noon, Little John got up and went to f oh * 
 the kitchen. The steward sprang at him, ^jf JJf 
 and struck him with a club. John easily 
 knocked him down. 
 
 "I 'm a strong man," said Little John; 
 "you had better not attack me again, 
 for another time I will really do you some 
 harm." 
 
 He went into the pantry, where venison 
 and pastry were on the shelves, as well as 
 fruits and cheeses. But John was honest. 
 He took only the black bread and curds 
 which were allowed him for breakfast. 
 
 While he was eating, the steward shut and 
 locked the pantry door. Little John only 
 laughed, and when his breakfast was over 
 he broke the door down and went into the 
 kitchen. 
 
 "Farewell to you," said he. 
 
 But a man almost as huge as Little John 
 himself barred the door. This was the new 
 cook, whom the steward had ordered to fight 
 with John. Both of them were willing, for 
 neither had ever been beaten. They got 
 long staves and went into the courtyard. 
 
142 £ot)tii goob 
 
 r/te For two hours they struck at each other, and 
 tuns of neither had the best of it. At last the big 
 
 jlhn cook threw down his staff. 
 and the '> ]\t m0 re for me!" he roared. "You are 
 
 Sheriff 
 
 the best man I have ever met. I would 
 call you friend." 
 
 Little John threw away his staff. 
 
 "Gladly," said he; "and now, let us leave 
 this house. If you are a friend of mine, 
 you will stay no longer with this steward and 
 his lord, the sheriff." 
 
 Off they went through the town, and then 
 into the woods about Nottingham. Little 
 John told the cook who he was, and asked 
 him if he would take service with Robin Hood. 
 
 "Nothing would please me better," replied 
 the cook, "for I have heard many a tale of 
 his courage and kindness. Take me to your 
 lord." 
 
 After they had walked two or three miles 
 they heard the sound of a hunting horn. 
 
 "Stop!" said Little John. "Is not that 
 the sheriff's horn?" 
 
 "Truly," replied the cook, "I think it is." 
 
 "A plan has occurred to me," said Little 
 John. "Do you take my bugle and follow 
 this winding path by the hawthorn. When 
 
attb %tg Jflerrp jfflen 143 
 
 you have gone two miles, blow. Robin The 
 Hood and his men will come. Tell them who tures of 
 you are, and ask Robin Hood to wait in the fJl* 
 clearing by the yew trees till I come." a * d th < 
 
 "I will do as you say," replied the cook. 
 
 Then Little John ran off, following the 
 sound of the sheriff's horn. After a short 
 time he came upon the sheriff and two or 
 three of his men. Little John hurried to the 
 sheriff, and said, breathlessly: 
 
 "Oh, master, come with me! I will lead 
 you to the finest buck that ever was seen. 
 It has a green skin." 
 
 "Come, come, my good servant," said the 
 sheriff. "Who ever heard of a buck with a 
 green skin?" 
 
 "But I have seen it, my lord," persisted 
 Little John; "it is here in the forest, not 
 three miles away." 
 
 "It must be some magic, if the skin is 
 green," said the sheriff. 
 
 "No, it is not magic," said Little John. 
 "And that is not all, master. He has sharp 
 antlers — sixty of them." 
 
 "Sixty antlers!" cried the sheriff. 
 
 "And five score deer follow him, also in 
 green." 
 
i44 lAolnn l)oob 
 
 The "Nay, my good servant John, your eyes 
 turesof have deceived you," said the sheriff, 
 j*"* "Only come with me, master, and see," 
 
 "sheriff ur S e d John. 
 
 "There can be no harm in that," said the 
 sheriff. 
 
 So he and his men followed Little John 
 along the path by the hawthorns. When- 
 ever Little John thought the sheriff or his 
 men were impatient because they did not 
 come up with the deer, he began to tell what 
 a wonderful creature it was. At last he 
 brought them to the clearing by the yew 
 trees. 
 
 "Here we are, master," said Little John, 
 catching sight of green coats among the 
 yew trees. "The buck you seek is at hand." 
 
 At that moment out stepped Robin Hood 
 and a hundred archers. They surrounded 
 the sheriff and his men, and took them pris- 
 oners. 
 
 "Fellow," said the sheriff to Little John, 
 "you have deceived me." 
 
 "Nay," said Little John, "I but spoke in 
 parable. The green skin of the buck is the 
 green raiment of Robin Hood, and the sixty 
 antlers are his arrows. And I owed you this 
 
anb j|tg ffltvvy Mm H5 
 
 for that arrow you once had shot into my The 
 
 , Adven- 
 
 leg. ' hires of 
 
 "Step back, .Little John," commanded j£ 
 Robin. "Now, my Lord Sheriff," he said, **£*? 
 "I could easily take your life, but I will not. 
 I will keep you here, and make you live and 
 work as we do." 
 
 "For how long?" asked the sheriff. 
 
 "That I do t not know," replied Robin 
 Hood. 
 
 The sheriff reflected that at least his life 
 was safe, and he hoped that he and his men 
 would somehow escape. Besides, life and 
 work in the greenwood could not be very 
 hard. 
 
 But in all this the sheriff was mistaken. 
 He could not escape, for there were always 
 three or four of Robin's bowmen with him. 
 Every morning he helped dress venison and 
 prepare vegetables for dinner. Every after- 
 noon he practiced shooting till his arms 
 ached. After supper he helped cleanse the 
 dishes. Little John enjoyed seeing him scrape 
 trenchers, though he always did half the 
 work himself. 
 
 It amused Much, the miller's son, to hurry 
 through whatever evening task was assigned 
 
146 
 
 £obm i)ooti 
 
 Every 
 
 morning 
 
 he helped 
 
 prepare 
 
 vegetables 
 
 for dinner 
 
anb ?|te fflttvp ffltn 
 
 147 
 
 to him, and then to stand close to the sheriff, The 
 who was still at work, and sing some care-free tures of 
 song. The following was one of his favorites: f oh n 
 
 1 __ 1 and the 
 
 V ! I-^S ! L ^ ! Sheriff 
 
 fair - y elves that be, . . . Which cir - cle on 
 
 
 be; 
 
 — f© a 
 
 S*— # — ?d — 2 
 
 ■» 
 
 "ST 
 
 i 
 
 at^: 
 
 -^-* -^- ^-^- 
 
 green, Come fol-low Mab, your queen. Hand in hand let's 
 
 
 
 75*- 
 
 3^: 
 
 3g" 
 -(221 
 
 (5 1 
 
 f; 
 
 *-»—* 
 
 =t 
 
 5 
 
 ^ fi» * +&—.j..g 
 
 , . !lf 
 
 dance a - round, For this place is fair - y ground. 
 
 When mortals are at rest, 
 And snoring in their nest; 
 Unheard and unespied, 
 Through keyholes we do glide; 
 Over tables, stools, and shelves, 
 We trip it with our fairy elves. 
 
 10 
 
148 
 
 &obm Jjtoob 
 
 The 
 Adven- 
 tures of 
 Little 
 John 
 and the 
 Sheriff 
 
 And if the house be foul 
 
 With platter, dish, or bowl 
 
 Upstairs we nimbly creep, 
 
 And find the sluts asleep; 
 
 Then we pinch their arms and thighs; 
 
 None us hears, and none us spies. 
 
 But if the house be swept, 
 And from un cleanness kept, 
 We praise the household maid, 
 And duly she is paid ; 
 Every night before we go, 
 We drop a tester in her shoe. 
 
 Then o'er a mushroom's head 
 
 Our tablecloth we spread; 
 
 A grain of rye or wheat, 
 
 The diet that we eat; 
 
 Pearly drops of dew we drink, 
 
 In acorn cups filled to the brink. 
 
 The brains of nightingales, 
 
 With unctuous fat of snails, 
 
 Between two cockles stewed, 
 
 Is meat that's eas'ly chew'd; 
 
 Tails of worms and marrow of mice, 
 
 Do make a dish that's wond'rous nice. 
 
 The grasshopper, gnat, and fly, 
 
 Serve for our minstrelsy; 
 
 Grace said, we dance a while, 
 
 And so the time beguile : 
 
 And if the moon do hide her head 
 
 The glow-worm lights us home to bed. 
 
anb %Ma fflttvy Jflen 149 
 
 O'er tops of dewy grass The 
 
 So nimbly do we pass, UlTof 
 
 The young and tender stalk, Little 
 Ne'er bends where we do walk; dth 
 
 Yet in the morning may be seen Sheriff 
 Where we the night before have been. 
 
 What distressed the sheriff most was sleep- 
 ing on the ground. Much helped him make 
 a bed of green boughs, but they cut into his 
 flesh. Then Much got grass and moss for 
 him, but still he could not sleep comfortably. 
 Besides, he was afraid of wild beasts, and he 
 did not like to wake in the dawn when the 
 birds began to chirp. 
 
 At the end of three days he came to Robin 
 Hood in tears. 
 
 "There is not a more miserable man in the 
 whole of Nottinghamshire than I," he said, 
 "and all because I have tried to punish you 
 for breaking the law." 
 
 "There you are mistaken," said Robin. 
 "An outlaw is subject to none. I make my 
 own law and my own kingdom. I have 
 never hurt you, and yet you have tried to 
 kill me." 
 
 "Let us speak no more," said the sheriff. 
 "I wish you would kill me now, Robin Hood, 
 
150 Eobtn feoob 
 
 r/?e for I assure you I would far rather die than 
 tures of live and work longer in your forest." 
 
 jjj£ Marian felt sorry for the sheriff. 
 5? 'v? ' ' ^ S P oor W ^ e must l° n g f or him, ' ' she said. 
 "Let him go, Robin; I am sure he will not 
 make trouble for you again." 
 
 "If I let you free," said Robin Hood, 
 "what will you do?" 
 
 "I will go back to Nottingham town," 
 said the sheriff, "and neither I nor my men 
 will ever seek to kill you or yours." 
 
 "That is not enough," said Robin; "for 
 you are not able to kill us." 
 
 "Then I will no longer persecute Sir 
 Richard of the Lea, who lately helped you," 
 said the sheriff. 
 
 "Good, but can you promise nothing 
 more ? ' ' 
 
 "I can help your men if ever they come 
 into my power," said the sheriff after a 
 pause, "and I will do that. Also, I will nc 
 longer trouble the poor whom you have 
 helped." 
 
 "You have learned your lesson, my Lord 
 Sheriff," said Robin, "and you have learned 
 it cheaply at the cost of an aching back and 
 tired arms." 
 
anb j|tg ffltvvy Mm 151 
 
 • 
 
 Robin Hood called his bowmen and ordered The 
 them to free the sheriff and his follow- turlToj 
 ers, mount them on their horses, blindfold jjjj 
 them, and lead them to the Roman road. He «"* (Jf 
 himself led the horse of the sheriff. 
 
 "And now, good-by," he said. "Go you 
 back to your good wife and give her gentle 
 greetings from me." 
 
 "Farewell, Robin Hood," said the sheriff. 
 " I do not wish to call you friend, but I respect 
 you as a courteous enemy." 
 
 They bowed to each other, and parted. 
 Presently the clatter of the horses' hoofs died 
 away on the Roman road, and Robin and 
 his men were left once more sole occupants 
 of Sherwood Forest. 
 
Motrin ?^oob 
 
 Chapter XI 
 
 THE end of April had come in Robin 
 Hood's forest. The crocuses were gone, 
 and the cowslips and primroses were show- 
 ing their yellow heads in the grass. The 
 leaves on the trees were long; even the oaks 
 were thickly enough clad to cast a shade. 
 The young birds were almost large enough 
 to fly, and every morning they woke Marian 
 with their chirping. 
 
 "In my father's castle," said Marian, 
 "they are beginning to think of May Day." 
 
 "Do you miss May Day?" asked Robin 
 Hood. "Shall we go to Nottingham town 
 and see the celebrations there?" 
 
 "Nay, then," said Marian, "let us have 
 our own May-day games, Robin. Much 
 shall sing for us ; George-a-Green shall whistle ; 
 
 152 
 
anb His Mtvvy fflm 153 
 
 Little John shall dance; some of the young a- 
 men must wrestle; and you and I shall be 
 crowned King and Queen of the May." 
 
 "That is a good plan," Robin said. 
 
 They were sitting under Robin's favorite 
 oak. Marian was embroidering a green 
 jacket for him, and he had been reading to her 
 from a beautifully illuminated manuscript. 
 Just as he was about to continue, Friar 
 Tuck came hurrying across the clearing, his 
 rosy face beaming with excitement, his plump 
 cheeks shaking at each step. 
 
 "Hark you, Robin!" he said: "I have 
 heard that the queen and her ladies, her 
 pages, her guards, and some of the courtiers 
 are to reach Nottingham to-morrow." 
 
 "Say you so, indeed?" cried Robin. 
 
 "I suppose they will lodge with the sher- 
 iff," said Marian, "for none other has so large 
 a house. I warrant his lady will be vastly 
 excited." 
 
 "But this is not all," went on Friar Tuck. 
 "The sheriff is anxious that there shall be a 
 splendid May-day celebration for Her Maj- 
 esty. The great square of Nottingham is 
 not sylvan enough, it seems. Despite the 
 possible danger from us, he says, he intends 
 
i54 foobm j|oob 
 
 /■to hold the games and dancing in the clearing 
 by the yew trees." 
 
 "The sheriff knows that there is no danger 
 from us," Robin said. " I am a loyal subject 
 who will always protect my queen, though 
 I am an outlaw." 
 
 "He probably supposes that you are as 
 base as himself," remarked Friar Tuck; "but 
 he thinks that with his soldiers and because 
 of the queen, the royal party will be safe." 
 
 "Oh!" cried Marian, clapping her hands. 
 "Robin, let us hide in the thick woods about 
 the clearing and watch their games!" 
 
 "And give up our own?" he asked. 
 
 "No, no; have both!" she said. "Let us 
 see theirs first, and then have our own. 
 As ours will be much better, they should 
 be last." 
 
 "You are very loyal to our own, Marian," 
 Robin Hood said, smiling. "It shall be as 
 you wish." 
 
 When Robin Hood's bowmen heard that 
 the queen with part of her court was coming 
 to Nottingham, they were much interested. 
 At various times during the next day or two, 
 some of them went in disguise to Nottingham 
 to see what they might of the royal party. 
 
anb j|tg Mttvy jfflett 155 
 
 They could scarcely recognize the place, a- 
 A great triumphal arch had been built at 
 the entrance of the town over the road along 
 which the queen was to pass. It was 
 entirely covered with green boughs, and 
 across the top was the word, "Welcome," 
 made of white roses. There was another 
 arch, in front of the sheriff's house, painted 
 blue and gold. From the windows of the 
 other houses hung flags and banners — scarlet 
 and purple and crimson. Even the very 
 poor people had managed to decorate in some 
 way. Those who could not afford a banner 
 of cloth had woven mats of rushes to hang 
 from their windows, and had placed green 
 boughs over the doorways. 
 
 The clearing by the yew trees was full of 
 busy workmen engaged in making a pavilion 
 of green wood and boughs. In the center 
 was placed the sheriff's own carved chair, 
 over which was draped a robe of ermine. 
 Robin and Marian peeped at it from behind 
 the trees. 
 
 "Would you rather be a real queen than 
 Queen of the May?" Robin asked Marian. 
 
 "I prefer to be Queen of the Greenwood, 
 as I am," she replied. 
 
156 Kolmt goob 
 
 „. ^" Early on the first of May the queen was 
 
 Maying J . 
 
 awakened by the sound of singing outside 
 the sheriff's house. The people of Notting- 
 ham were giving her a May-day greeting. 
 After she had dressed and breakfasted, her 
 white palfrey was brought to the door. It 
 had scarlet trappings, and a bridle decorated 
 with emeralds and jingling with golden bells. 
 The queen wore a pale green robe in honor 
 of the day. After her favorite page, Richard 
 Partington, had helped her to mount, he 
 walked at her horse's head. Then two score 
 horsemen in coats of mail galloped to the 
 front, while just behind the queen rode half 
 a dozen ladies in waiting on brown and black 
 palfreys led by handsome pages. Next came a 
 score of knights beautifully dressed in green; 
 then twenty more horsemen, and, after them, 
 the Lord Sheriff. 
 
 All these set off down the road, followed 
 by the bowmen, dancers, and wrestlers who 
 were to provide the entertainment for the 
 queen, and two stout boys carrying the 
 Maypole. 
 
 This Maypole was a tall, slim, tapering 
 tree trunk, all trimmed about with green 
 leaves and spring flowers, and with a dozen 
 
anb gig Jlterrp Jtlen 151 
 
 long green ribbons hanging from the top of j^ a . 
 it almost to the ground. 
 
 The people of the town followed the 
 procession as far as they dared, but as they 
 were not invited to see the entertainment 
 they did not enter the greenwood. When 
 the party had reached the clearing by the 
 yew trees the sheriff assisted the queen to 
 dismount and led her to the chair of state. 
 
 Meantime, Robin Hood, Marian, and the 
 bowmen had gathered a few paces distant 
 in the woods. They watched the ladies and 
 courtiers group themselves about the queen, 
 while the guards stood a little farther back. 
 
 "Do you see the bowmen, master?" asked 
 Little John. "They are clad just like our- 
 selves, in Lincoln green." 
 
 "The sheriff has a good memory," said 
 Robin Hood. 
 
 "I fear that being clad like us will not 
 give them our skill," remarked Little John. 
 
 "Hush," said Robin; "the sports are about 
 to begin." 
 
 The Maypole was set up several yards dis- 
 tant from the pavilion. Then half a dozen 
 men and maidens came forward, and courte- 
 sied to the queen; and, each taking one of the 
 
158 JAobin I)ooti 
 
 ^- long green ribbons, they began to dance. 
 Backward and forward they stepped, the 
 ribbons always in their hands, a fiddler making 
 a rude kind of music to which they all kept 
 time. 
 
 When the dance was over, the queen 
 applauded, but Marian smiled. She knew 
 that her bowmen could dance more grace- 
 fully than that. Then stakes were set up 
 at one end of the clearing, and some young 
 men threw quoits. This game did not inter- 
 est the queen particularly, because she was 
 too far away to see when the quoits encircled 
 the stakes. After that, other young men 
 wrestled, and again Marian smiled as she 
 thought how much more skillful the men of 
 the greenwood were. Last of all, the twenty 
 men in green stepped forward. 
 
 "These, your majesty," said the sheriff, 
 "are the best bowmen in the country, bar 
 none." 
 
 At that, Robin Hood shrugged his shoul- 
 ders. "In faith, that is hard to bear!" he 
 said. 
 
 "Nay, then, Lord Sheriff," said the queen. 
 ' ' I did not know you had the best archers in 
 England." 
 
anb %tg ffltttp Mm 159 
 
 "Your Majesty shall judge," replied the j: . 
 sheriff. 
 
 A row of targets was set up at one end of the 
 clearing, and the twenty archers stepped 
 forward and raised their bows. They had 
 been practicing diligently and they shot well, 
 most of them coming within the bull's-eye. 
 
 "Well done!" cried the queen. "But the 
 sport has been very short. Have you any- 
 thing more to show me, my Lord Sheriff?" 
 
 ' ' I had thought that more would tire Your 
 Majesty, " replied the sheriff. 
 
 "Nay, then, I would gladly see more," 
 said the queen; "but since there is no more, 
 I thank you heartily for the pleasure you have 
 given me and my court." 
 
 At this moment Robin Hood stepped for- 
 ward. He was clad in his usual Lincoln 
 green, and he wore, in honor of the day, a 
 long mantle embroidered in gold. He fell on 
 one knee before the queen. 
 
 "Whom have we here?" said she. 
 
 "Your Majesty, a most loyal subject," he 
 replied, "who craves leave to show you some 
 May-day sport." 
 
 "Gladly," said the queen. 
 
 Robin Hood waved his hand, and his 
 
160 Kotmt l)oob 
 
 __ 4" hundred bowmen marched two and two 
 
 Maying 
 
 out of the woods and took their places, bows 
 raised, before the targets at the end of the 
 clearing. 
 
 The queen's men looked at one another 
 uneasily, and felt for their weapons. 
 
 "Fear nothing!" cried Robin Hood loudly. 
 "We are loyal men." . 
 
 Then Marian, all in white, rode forward on 
 her white palfrey. She dismounted at the 
 pavilion and bowed low to the queen. 
 
 "Come you here, my pretty child," said 
 the queen, "and sit on the footstool at my 
 feet." 
 
 While Marian obeyed, a band of dancers 
 came from the woods, Little John at their 
 head, carrying a Maypole. It was far more 
 beautiful than the sheriff's pole, for it was 
 covered with the rarest of wild flowers and 
 little delicate ferns. The long ribbons which 
 hung from it were decorated with shining 
 gold coins. 
 
 The dancers stepped before the queen and 
 did a morris dance, weaving backward and 
 forward, leaning and turning as lightly as 
 if the green grass had been a waxed floor. 
 
 As they danced, they sang this song: 
 
anb %fc Jflerrp Jtlen 
 
 161 
 
 .# 
 
 ^P^ 
 
 -z^- 
 
 #— <£?— &- 
 
 T 
 
 
 z£ 
 
 ft 
 
 L #— & — &- 
 
 -& 
 
 A- 
 Maying 
 
 H 
 
 -*— <5? — ^— # J 
 
 Trip and go, heave and ho, Up and down, 
 
 ifad=4 
 
 f S 
 
 
 :^- 
 
 u ^- 
 
 :ft-5f 
 
 :^: 
 
 S 
 
 AS 
 
 to and fro; From the town to the grove, 
 
 *fc 
 
 
 =M 
 
 M? 
 
 * — 2 
 
 Two and two let us rove. A - May - ing, a - 
 
 £^ 
 
 #— S m& 
 
 -&■ 
 
 play - ing, . 
 
 Love hath no 
 
 f^T 
 
 gain- 
 
 g» g 
 
 F=F 
 
 :^: 
 
 -<s>- 
 
 -(S'; 
 
 say 
 
 ing. So trip and go, . . . 
 
 :fc# 
 
 rss 
 
 s 
 
 2£ 
 
 -H — ^ #- 
 
 -# — & — s» — P- 
 
 i 
 
 -^=^ 
 
 iz? 
 
 i 
 
 trip and go, Mer - ri - ly trip and go. 
 
!62 &oftm %oob 
 
 Main' "Wonderful dancing!" cried the queen. 
 aymg "Again!" 
 
 After the dance had been repeated, six 
 wrestlers took their places and showed their 
 skill. Next six tumblers performed most 
 difficult feats of tumbling and leaping over 
 high bars. Lastly, after the queen had 
 applauded, Robin Hood called his archers. 
 
 "Your Majesty," he said, bowing low to the 
 queen, "my Lord Sheriff has shown you what 
 his archers can do. Give me leave to present 
 mine." 
 
 "Let the men shoot," said the queen. 
 "Archery has ever been my favorite sport, 
 as it is the king's." 
 
 Robin Hood whistled. At the signal, the 
 archers came forward, and ranged themselves 
 in front of the pavilion. He whistled again, 
 and they got into position and lifted their 
 bows. At the third whistle, they sped their 
 gray-goose shafts, and immediately the bull's- 
 eye was full. Again Robin whistled, and this 
 time each archer split an arrow. 
 
 Then Robin took his own bow, and stepping 
 a little to one side, shot diagonally, so that 
 he sent an arrow through three of those 
 quivering in the bull's-eye. 
 
 
attb %tg ffltvvy Jtten 163 
 
 The queen rose, and extended her hand. <f; . 
 
 ^ ' Maying 
 
 "My good subject, this is an unbelievable 
 sight," she said. "Accept this gold ring as 
 a token of my favor." 
 
 Robin took off his embroidered mantle. 
 
 "Your Majesty," he said, "if you will 
 accept this mantle in return." 
 
 The queen took it, and then handed him 
 the ring. Meantime, the sheriff was looking 
 uneasily at Robin. He did not know whether 
 or not he dared tell the queen who Robin was. 
 
 "And now, my good subject," said the 
 queen, "tell me your name, that I may speak 
 of you and your wonderful shooting to my 
 lord, the king." 
 
 "Your Majesty," he said, "have I your 
 good leave to depart unscathed, I and all my 
 men, and with your good favor, whoever I 
 am?" 
 
 "Assuredly, since you are my true subject," 
 she replied. 
 
 "Then, Your Majesty, I stand here, Robin 
 Hood, outlaw of Sherwood Forest." 
 
 At that, the courtiers and men at arms put 
 their hands on their weapons. One or two 
 took a step forward. The ladies clung to- 
 gether in fear. The queen grew pale; then 
 
 11 
 
164 
 
 3&obm Jtoob 
 
 " Your 
 
 Majesty, 
 
 I stand 
 
 here, 
 
 Robin 
 
 Hood, 
 
 outlaw of 
 
 Sherwood 
 
 forest." 
 
anb Htg ffltxx? Jfflen 165 
 
 she turned to her followers and said: "Si-<J; . 
 
 Maying 
 
 lence, all! Make no movement. Do not 
 harm this man." 
 
 ' ' Humph ! ' ' whispered Little John. ' "T is 
 more like that we could harm them." 
 
 "Your Majesty," said one lord, "do you 
 not know that there is a price on this man's 
 head — that the king has commanded — " 
 
 "Sir," cried the queen, "you forget your- 
 self! While the king is at war, as he is just 
 now, I am king. I command that this man, 
 to whom I have given my word, shall go 
 free." 
 
 Robin Hood took Marian's hand, and led 
 her to her palfrey. He beckoned his men to 
 withdraw into the wood. Then he turned to 
 the queen. 
 
 "Your Majesty," he said, "do you wish 
 now to take back your ring?" 
 
 "Nay,", said the queen, "a gift is a gift, 
 and you are a true subject. Yet come not 
 near my court again, Robin Hood. I may 
 not always have the power to protect you. 
 I thank you for your merry sport, and fare- 
 well." 
 
 Robin Hood bent and kissed her hand. 
 Then he turned his back on all that silent 
 
166 
 
 &obin Hoob 
 
 ., .■ 4 " company and took his way toward his own 
 
 Maying r J j 
 
 green kingdom. He spoke not at all, but 
 the others were merry, particularly George- 
 a-Green, who whistled and danced, and Much, 
 the miller's son, who sang this song: 
 
 to the May - pole a - long let us 
 
 gone; There go the lass - es, a - way to the 
 
 
 green, Where their beau-ties may be 
 
 SraS 
 
 £==£ 
 
 *^v 
 
 
 Bess, 
 
 ~K 
 
 Moll, Kate, Doll, All the brave 
 
 S V — k \ — ST- 
 
 ^— V — I w — fc" 
 
 — K- 
 
 — Ps 
 
 — I- 
 
 -0 
 
 — t-^F — 
 
 lass - es have lads to at - tend them; Hodge, 
 
attb %te ffltvvy Jfflen 
 
 167 
 
 A- 
 
 Maying 
 
 ^MW^ 
 
 :f: 
 
 on, The time 
 
 is 
 
 swift and must be 
 
 =t 
 
 fc— 1 
 
 i 
 
 m — # — # — * # — *- 
 
 gone; There go the lass - es a- way to the 
 
 r V s fi p*» 1**, 
 
3&ofcm Jloob 
 
 Chapter XII 
 
 SOME time after his adventure with the 
 queen, Robin Hood took his bow and 
 went alone for a stroll through the forest. 
 He thought of the old days when he had been 
 an important person in the king's court, and 
 now he was an outlaw with a price on his 
 head! Full of such musing, he wandered far 
 from his usual haunts. As he was walking down 
 a forest path he looked up to see a beautiful 
 herd of deer grazing just beyond him. 
 
 1 ' Well met ! ' ' thought Robin Hood. ' ' Now 
 I can provide for our dinner." 
 
 Just as he was about to lift his bow, a 
 young man came down the path behind 
 him. The young man was tall and slim. 
 He was dressed in a scarlet doublet, long 
 white silk hose, and embroidered leather 
 
 168 
 
anb gig jfflerrp jfflen 169 
 
 shoes; in his scarlet hat was a white feather. Robin 
 As he saw the deer, he stepped forward and and the 
 shot an arrow at the same moment that Robin range} 
 sped his shaft. A beautiful fawn-colored deer 
 fell, pierced to the heart, and Robin Hood 
 sprang forward to its side. 
 
 "That is right, my good fellow," said the 
 young man; "pull out my arrow and bring 
 me my deer." 
 
 Robin Hood laughed. 
 
 "Your pardon, fair sir," he said, "but that 
 was my arrow." 
 
 "Nay, then," said the young man; "there 
 is but one arrow, and that must be mine. I 
 could not have missed, for I was taught to 
 shoot by my uncle, who was famous all over 
 England for his skill. I will pay you for 
 your service, fellow." 
 
 "I am willing to give service to any man 
 as a courtesy," said Robin Hood, "but I do 
 not take orders such as you have just spoken, 
 young sir." 
 
 The stranger shrugged his shoulders. 
 
 "You lose a goodly fee," he said; "but 
 I am able to shoulder my own deer." 
 
 "Aye, if it were your deer," replied Robin, 
 "but this is my deer. I know well my 
 
170 Kotjtn iDoob 
 
 Robin arrows. You will find your arrow some- 
 
 and the where in the greenwood beyond." 
 
 tranger They stood facing each other for a moment. 
 
 Then, in a little clearing beyond, a doe 
 
 appeared. The graceful creature lowered its 
 
 head to graze. 
 
 "This is a better deer than the other," 
 remarked the young man. "I will give you 
 the first, for I see by your plain clothes that 
 you are but a poor forester." 
 
 ' ' Marry ! do not judge too much by appear- 
 ances," said Robin Hood. "I will e'en 
 shoot this doe myself." 
 
 "Forester," said the stranger, haughtily, 
 "I command you not to shoot. I wish to 
 kill this deer without hindrance." 
 
 Robin Hood smiled. 
 
 "And who are you, that you give me such 
 commands?" he asked. 
 
 "I am a strong man," returned the youth, 
 "and a good shot with the bow, as my former 
 attempt proved." 
 
 "I have some skill with the bow myself," 
 returned Robin, "as my arrow, sticking in 
 that deer, proves." 
 The young man raised his bow, threateningly. 
 
 "Stop," said Robin; "you have no arrow 
 
anb %ig fflttvv jfflen 171 
 
 fitted, while I have. I might have killed you Robin 
 at any time during our talk, had I wished." and the 
 
 "That is true— if you would dare to kill Stranger 
 a nobleman," said the stranger. 
 
 "I respect a nobleman no more than I 
 respect a common man," replied Robin Hood; 
 "but I like your courage, and I forgive your 
 insolence. I will fight with you, if you like, 
 but it must be with swords." 
 
 "Agreed," said the young man, "but can 
 you fence like a gentleman? And do you 
 pledge your word to do me no treachery?" 
 
 "In truth," returned Robin, "you try my 
 patience, my fair youth ! Had I wished, I could 
 have killed you. I have no love for treachery. 
 Do you see this silver bugle of mine?" 
 
 "A pretty toy," said the stranger. 
 
 "Toy, forsooth! With one blast of this 
 horn I could call a hundred men who would 
 bind you, and put your noble person to 
 doing some humble service if I bade them. 
 So say to me no word about treachery." 
 
 "All the better, if you have all these men 
 at your command," said the stranger, "for 
 that assures me that I am fighting with no 
 common forester." 
 
 "Young man," said Robin gravely, "give 
 
172 &oftm j|oob 
 
 Robin me leave to say that you think too much of 
 and the rank. Have at you." 
 
 Stranger They struck out at each other with their 
 swords, and at the first sound of steel clashing 
 against steel, off scampered the doe into the 
 forest. The sun was in Robin Hood's eyes, 
 but he scorned to ask the stranger to choose 
 another spot for the combat. For a long 
 time they parried each other's strokes. The 
 young man was very nimble, and it took all 
 Robin Hood's skill to avoid his thrusts. 
 
 "Aha!" said the. stranger, as he slashed 
 the sleeve of Robin's doublet, "a little closer, 
 and I had drawn the blood, forester." 
 
 "The miss of an inch is as good as a mile," 
 returned Robin, cheerfully. "I pay you 
 back," he added, as he cut away half the 
 ruffle on the young man's sleeve. 
 
 They fought on for ten minutes, and then 
 the young man said: 
 
 "I pray you, call a halt. It is warm work 
 fighting on this fine May morning, and I 
 perceive that we shall not soon be done." 
 
 "Agreed," replied Robin. 
 
 Each leaned against the trunk of a tree 
 and rested, panting heavily. 
 
 "Marry!" said the stranger, slowly, "it 
 
anb JMs Mtttv Mm 
 
 173 
 
 It took all 
 Robin 
 Hood's 
 skill to 
 avoid his 
 thrusts. 
 
J 74 &obtn jfoob 
 
 Robin seems a pity to fight so sorely. Forester, 
 and the will you not put down your sword, and be 
 5toF myman?" 
 
 Robin smiled. 
 
 "Have you forgotten," he said, "that I 
 told you I have a hundred men of my own?" 
 
 "I will take them too, and gladly," said 
 the young man. 
 
 "Come, come," said Robin, sternly; "you 
 are a poor reader of character if you think 
 I am one who follows any man's bidding." 
 
 The stranger said nothing for a few mo- 
 ments. Then he asked: 
 
 "What good hiding places are there in this 
 forest? And what are the names of those 
 I am likely to see?" 
 
 " Nay," said Robin Hood, shortly, " I am to 
 fight with you, not to give you information." 
 
 "Now, that was not spoken like a knight," 
 said the young man, reproachfully. 
 
 "True," said Robin, "and I crave your 
 pardon. I should have told you that there 
 are good reasons why I can give no man 
 news of this forest. You will remember, 
 too, that this is the first time you have 
 addressed me as knight." 
 
 The young man took up his sword again. 
 
anb ftig fflttty ffltn 175 
 
 "You fight like a knight," he said, "and j^j» . 
 you deserve the name. Have at you." and the 
 
 Again they fought, and sharp steel smiting 
 against sharp steel made a sound much 
 louder than the singing of the birds on the 
 branches above them. Stroke after stroke 
 they made, their breath growing shorter 
 and their wrists more tired. The sun, too, 
 was stronger, and so dazzled Robin that 
 more than once the stranger almost got 
 under his guard. 
 
 At last the young man made a quick 
 slashing stroke at Robin's head. The outlaw 
 only partly avoided it, for a sudden sunbeam 
 blinded him. The sharp sword went through 
 his green hat, and fair curls, and made a 
 long cut on the side of his head. He gave 
 back a pace, while the blood ran down his 
 face, and the stranger said: 
 
 "Marry, halt we till you have bound your 
 wound." 
 
 Before Robin could reply, Little John and 
 Much, the miller's son, at the head of fifty 
 bowmen, dashed through the surrounding 
 trees. They had heard the sound of fighting, 
 and now, when they saw their master's blood, 
 their rage was great. Little John seized 
 
176 &obm jfoob 
 
 Robin the stranger in his great arms, and wresting 
 and the his sword away, threw it to the spot where 
 
 Stranger ^ dead deer lay> 
 
 "Master, shall I bind him?" cried Little 
 John. 
 
 "That you shall not, my hot-headed friend," 
 replied Robin. ' ' He overcame me in fair fight. ' ' 
 
 "Nay," said the stranger politely, "the 
 fight was not over. You would have given 
 me just as sharp a stroke." 
 
 "Nevertheless, we will fight no more," 
 said Robin. "You have asked me to take 
 service with you. Now, I ask you to join me." 
 
 The stranger's respect for Robin Hood had 
 increased when he saw all the bowmen who 
 acknowledged him as master. Besides, he 
 observed that Robin had let him fight with 
 his back to the sun. 
 
 "I cannot join you," the stranger replied, 
 "for I am in great misfortune. I am seeking 
 my uncle, in the hope that he will receive 
 me if my plight is not too sad." 
 
 "Will you tell me your misfortune?" 
 asked Robin. 
 
 "I have had the same mischance that once 
 befell the son of Sir Richard of the Lea," 
 replied the young man. "By mistake, I 
 
anb j)te fflttry Jfflen 177 
 
 slew a knight who was a great favorite of Robin 
 the king, and I have been obliged to flee and the 
 until the king's wrath is cooled. I have tranger 
 no following, but a little money, and, as I 
 said, I seek my uncle." 
 
 "Perhaps we can help you to find him," 
 said Robin. "What is his name?" 
 
 "Robert, Earl of Huntington," replied 
 the young man, "but in these parts he is 
 known as Robin Hood. I am Will Scarlett, 
 son of his eldest sister and the Earl of 
 Gam well." 
 
 "Are you indeed he who was the little lad, 
 Will Scarlett?" cried Robin Hood. He put 
 his arm around the young man's shoulder, 
 and looked searchingly into his face. "Are 
 you indeed that little lad whom I taught to 
 shoot?" 
 
 The young man seized Robin's hand. 
 
 "And I did not know you, my good 
 uncle! And I called you a forester, and 
 asked you to serve me! Now I beg you to 
 let me serve you." 
 
 "We are all equal here," said Robin. 
 "You will learn to be less haughty when you 
 have helped dress and cook a deer." 
 
 The young man smiled. 
 
i 7 8 
 
 &obm ^oob 
 
 Robin "I shall begin by carrying home the deer 
 
 and the you shot. Uncle," he said, "I yield to you." 
 
 stranger « Nay ;> sa ; d Robin, "Little John shall 
 
 carry it, and you shall walk with me and tell 
 
 me of your mother. It has been many a long 
 
 day since I have seen any of my own kin." 
 
 So back they walked, two and two, to Robin 
 Hood's retreat, all the band rejoicing in their 
 new recruit. Much expressed his pleasure 
 in the following little snatch of song: 
 
 t±zM: 
 
 i^tt: 
 
 1 — ' r ~l 
 
 i — ! — r 
 
 J -tt-l 
 
 
 
 s? • 
 
 1 1 L 
 
 grass, There's mon-y ane sings o' 
 
 M . i - v I 
 
 corn, 
 
 — i- 
 
 ±=J=z 
 
 i 
 
 --A — f— I — It-=- + A 
 
 There's mon - y ane sings 
 
 o' 
 
 Rob - in 
 
 tie where he was born. 
 
anb %jt3 jBerrp jffilen 
 
 ofRobinHood 
 
 AT COURT 
 
 Chapter XIII 
 
 ROBIN HOOD had not asked his nephew 
 half the questions he wished to ask 
 about his sister, the Lady of Gamwell, and all 
 those of the castle of Gamwell, when the walk 
 home was interrupted. They were following 
 a path close to the Roman road, when they 
 heard the sound of a horse's hoofs. Looking 
 through the trees, they saw a maiden, dressed 
 all in black, riding on a black palfrey hung 
 with sable trappings. The dreary color pre- 
 pared them for her sorrowful face. 
 
 Immediately, Robin Hood stepped forth 
 from the woods, followed by Will Scarlett 
 and Little John. 
 
 "Madam," said Robin Hood, gently, "may 
 I ask where you are from, and why you are 
 so sad in look and in dress?" 
 
 12 
 
 179 
 
i8o fooftm gogjj 
 
 rAe "Good sir," replied the maiden, "I come 
 
 ture of from the king's city of London, and I am 
 
 ft o A sad because all London is plunged in great 
 
 and Will p-j-jgf " 
 Scarlett ° 
 
 at Court "What is the matter?" he asked. 
 
 "The city is besieged by the proud Prince 
 of Aragon," she said. "He came to woo the 
 princess." 
 
 "Marry," said Robin Hood, "it is a strange 
 wooing!" 
 
 "The king does not wish the princess to 
 marry him," went on the maiden, "but 
 he says he will have her for his wife within 
 ten days, or else he will lay waste the land 
 all about. London can endure a siege, but 
 the poor country people will suffer." 
 
 "That is true, indeed," said Robin; "and 
 does the Prince of Aragon offer no alter- 
 native?" 
 
 "Yes," replied the maiden, "and that is 
 why I am riding, and three other maidens, 
 also. We go north, east, south, and west, 
 looking for help." 
 
 "What help?" asked Robin. 
 
 "The prince is a huge man, and two of 
 his bodyguards are giants in size," she said. 
 "They are terrible to look on, with their 
 
anb gig jHerrp Jflen 181 
 
 bristling heads and flaming eyes, and they are The 
 marvelously strong. The prince says that if ture of 
 three champions can be found in all England H ° ^ 
 to overcome him and his two giants, he will cjfjjf' 
 yield his suit for the princess. Our good king at Court 
 says that if any such can be found, he will give 
 the princess to the greatest victor of the three." 
 
 "There must be many in this broad land 
 who will be glad to fight for the princess," 
 said Robin Hood. 
 
 The maiden shook her head. 
 
 "None, none!" she said. "You do not 
 know how strong are the Prince of Aragon 
 and his giants." 
 
 "On what day is this contest to be held?" 
 inquired Robin. 
 
 "On Midsummer Day, June the twenty- 
 fourth," she replied. 
 
 "Fear nothing, maiden," said Robin; "take 
 my word for it that on that day the king will 
 have all the champions he needs." 
 
 The maiden rode on to the southward, and 
 Robin Hood set off to his retreat, absorbed 
 in thought. After Marian had welcomed 
 Will Scarlett, and had asked after the health 
 of various old friends, Robin Hood told her 
 of his meeting with the maiden. 
 
1 82 foobtn j|oob 
 
 The " I know of what you are thinking, Robin," 
 tureZf said Marian. "You wish to send three of 
 5JJ3 our men to fight." 
 and wui "Nay," said Robin, "you have not quite 
 at Court guessed." 
 
 "Ah, I fear I know! You wish to go 
 yourself, with two of the men. I am afraid 
 for you, but I must not hold you back," 
 said Marian, bravely. 
 
 "Let me be one of the men!" cried Little 
 John. 
 
 "And me, uncle!" cried Will Scarlett. 
 
 " Little John could match one of the giants, 
 surely," said Robin, looking with pride 
 on his huge follower. "Yes, you shall go." 
 
 "And shall I go?" asked Will Scarlett. 
 
 "You, too, impatient one," returned Robin, 
 smiling; "for if you fight bravely in the con- 
 test, perhaps the king will forgive you for 
 accidentally slaying his knight." 
 
 Both the young men were delighted. For 
 the next few days they practiced tilting with 
 the lance on horseback, and various other 
 feats of strength. Meantime, Marian pre- 
 pared three pilgrim's robes of motley gray, 
 and scrips, and bottles, and long staves. 
 
 "It will be the safest disguise," Robin 
 
attb %fo jMerrp Jtten 183 
 
 explained to Little John and Will Scarlett. The 
 "If we are dressed as pilgrims, people will ture of 
 scarcely look under our hoods to see if we are # 00 ™ 
 the famous bowmen of Sherwood Forest." sctrfetf 
 
 They set out for London two or three days at Court 
 before Midsummer Day. They wished to 
 walk comfortably, and hoped to rest for a 
 day before the contest began. Robin Hood 
 carried a bag of gold under his long robe, 
 while Little John and Will Scarlett carried 
 dried venison and cakes. 
 
 It was beautiful weather, both cool and 
 sunny. Many miles of their way lay through 
 forest lands, but it seemed to them that no 
 trees they saw were so beautiful as those of 
 their own Sherwood Forest. Sometimes a 
 deer ran by them, and then they wished for 
 their bows and arrows. Now and then they 
 passed through little hamlets, and always 
 the villagers were talking of the Prince of 
 Aragon, and of the contest. After a time, 
 the little hamlets became more frequent, a 
 sign that they were coming closer to London. 
 
 Many and many a time had Robert, Earl 
 of Huntington, ridden over that road on a 
 battle horse, but Robin Hood, who walked, 
 was just as happy as the earl had been. When 
 
1 84 £olnn I)oob 
 
 rAe they came in sight of the River Thames he 
 
 ture of pointed out interesting landmarks to Little 
 
 Hold J°hn, who had never been to London. Pres- 
 
 an scadeu en tly> they saw a gray haze, which later turned 
 
 at Court into the buildings of London — castles and 
 
 huts, mills and smithies, shops and booths, 
 
 all shining in the bright sunlight. 
 
 When they reached the heart of the city 
 they realized that they had but little time 
 to spare, for the contest was to be held the 
 next day. Robin led the way to a shop not 
 far from Paul's Church, and showing his bag 
 of gold, demanded the best of armor. The 
 armorer had some difficulty in finding a suit 
 large enough for Little John. 
 
 "He is as big as one of those giants who 
 are to fight against us to-morrow," he said. 
 
 After the armor was chosen — coats of mail, 
 helmets, leg-pieces, shields, lances, and swords 
 — Robin Hood went to a man who sold him 
 three good horses. By the time they were 
 paid for, there was but little gold left for 
 lodging. So they stayed with the armorer, 
 who fed their horses next morning, and gave 
 them breakfast. 
 
 It was only a little after dawn when they 
 set out for the south bank of the Thames, 
 
attb ^fg Mtvvy Mm 
 
 185 
 
 The 
 
 armorer 
 had some 
 difficulty 
 in finding 
 a suit 
 large 
 enough 
 for Little 
 John. 
 
1 86 &ofam jfoob 
 
 The near London Bridge. Here, in a great field, 
 
 ture of the combat was to be held. As they rode out 
 
 R £ b J d into the field Little John said to Robin Hood: 
 
 and wui " Master, I am not afraid to fight, but truly I 
 
 at Court am almost afraid of so much magnificence ! ' ' 
 
 On each side of the field was a great pavil- 
 ion. In one sat the English king and his 
 lords and ladies ; in the other, sat the followers 
 of the Prince of Aragon. The sun sparkled 
 on their gold and jewels, and Little John's 
 eyes were dazzled by the scarlet and blue 
 and crimson of their robes. In front of each 
 pavilion was a long row of knights on horse- 
 back. The English king sat in the center of 
 his pavilion, stern and pale, and by his side 
 sat his daughter, the princess, heavily veiled. 
 
 Just as Robin Hood and his men entered 
 the field a herald from the side of the Prince 
 of Aragon rode forward, holding on high 
 his golden trumpet. He was clothed all in 
 scarlet silk and velvet. 
 
 "Hear ye!" he cried. "The most noble 
 the Prince of Aragon and his two giants are 
 ready to do combat with any three cham- 
 pions of the King of England for the hand of 
 the most glorious Princess." 
 
 The princess shuddered a little, and looked 
 
anb gig Jflerrp Jtlen 187 
 
 at her father. At the same moment the The 
 Prince of Aragon, dressed in black armor, ture of 
 rode out in front of his row of knights, fol- §^f 
 lowed by his two giants. scirktf 1 
 
 Then an English herald galloped forward at Court 
 and lifted his trumpet of gold. 
 
 "Hear ye!" he cried. "What three brave 
 men will fight as champions to succor the 
 most noble the Princess of England?" 
 
 Robin and his men checked their horses. 
 
 "Many knights will come forward," said 
 Robin, "and we must e'en take our turn." 
 
 But no one moved. Again the herald 
 blew his trumpet, and called: 
 
 "What brave man will save the Princess 
 of England? To him who does, by the king's 
 command, her hand will be given, if so be he 
 is of noble blood." 
 
 When they saw that no one replied to the 
 second appeal, Robin Hood and his men 
 galloped forward, and drew up in front of 
 the king's pavilion. Robin leaped from his 
 horse, and bent on one knee. 
 
 "Most noble liege," he said, "here are 
 three unknown knights,' who crave leave to 
 give battle for the honor of England and to 
 save the gracious princess," 
 
188 ftoftm iPooti 
 
 The "Gladly do I give you leave," said the 
 
 ture of king. "Mount, brave Sir Unknown Knight, 
 
 "jjjjj and let the trumpets be sounded." 
 
 a %ariett R°bi n mounted, and he and Little John and 
 
 at Court Will Scarlett rode their horses in front of the 
 
 long row of English knights to the place 
 
 opposite the Prince of Aragon and his giants. 
 
 Then the heralds sounded their trumpets, and 
 
 all six riders spurred their horses forward, 
 
 riding with their lances at rest. Immediately 
 
 clouds of dust rose as high as their helmets, 
 
 and the lances crashed against the shields. 
 
 Little John's lance broke, but he kept his 
 
 seat. Not so the giant whom he had attacked ; 
 
 he was unhorsed, and lay stunned on the 
 
 ground. Little John picked him up, armor 
 
 and all, and carried him to the king. 
 
 "My liege," he said, panting, "here is one 
 of your enemies. What shall I do with him? " 
 
 Shouts of laughter greeted Little John; for 
 what he had done was against knightly usage. 
 
 "In truth, the good fellow is a yeoman, and 
 no knight!" said the king. "Leave him 
 here, my good man, and my surgeon will care 
 for him. Go you back to your horse." 
 
 So Little John hurried back to the middle 
 of the field, where Will Scarlett and Robin 
 
anb %te fflttxy jHen 189 
 
 were engaged with the Prince of Aragon and The 
 the other giant. All were fighting bravely, t ure of 
 Will Scarlett had wounded the giant, but Hood 
 had himself received two sword cuts on his ^ W}} 1 
 
 bear Lett 
 
 leg. Robin and the Prince of Aragon were on at Court 
 foot, striking at each other with their swords. 
 
 Little John circled about them, longing to 
 help, but knowing that Robin Hood would 
 not permit a fight of three against two. At 
 last Will Scarlett unhorsed his giant, who 
 begged for his life and surrendered. Him 
 also Little John carried in his arms and laid 
 at the king's feet. Will Scarlett sat on his 
 horse, breathless and pale, blood flowing 
 from his wounds. 
 
 For many minutes Robin Hood and the 
 prince fought. Never had Robin met with 
 so strong an adversary. Each dealt the other 
 wounds, and yet they fought on with almost 
 undiminished vigor. At last the sword of the 
 prince broke. Robin Hood paused. 
 
 "You are a brave man," he said. "Take 
 my sword, and I will use that of Will Scarlett." 
 
 Again they fought, and this time the prince 
 dealt Robin Hood a cut through the visor 
 of his helmet. Robin shook away the blood 
 from his eyes, and, made fierce by the pain, 
 
i9o &obm j^oob 
 
 The pressed hard upon the prince. He drove him 
 
 ture of closer and closer against the ranks of his own 
 
 R H™ d men. Slowly borne backward, at last the 
 
 and will p r i nce stumbled and fell. Robin stood over 
 
 at Court him, his sword point pressing against the neck 
 
 of the prince. 
 
 "Prince of Aragon," he said, "I yield you 
 your life before you ask it. Now, yield up 
 your suit for the hand of the princess." 
 
 "I yield," said the prince, weakly. "I 
 pray you, help me to my feet, for I am sore 
 wounded." 
 
 Robin assisted him to rise, and some of 
 his own knights came forward and led him 
 to his pavilion. Then Robin, followed by 
 Will Scarlett and Little John, went to the 
 King of England, and knelt before him, while 
 the English applauded loudly. 
 
 "Sire," said Robin Hood, "the Prince of 
 Aragon has yielded his suit." 
 
 "My brave Unknown Knight," said the 
 king, "I thank you for saving me and mine. 
 Nor have I forgotten that I promised the 
 princess to the victor." 
 
 "Faith," muttered Little John, "she can- 
 not marry all three of us ! " 
 
 All the courtiers smiled- at this good simple 
 
anb %Mg Mttry jfflen 191 
 
 fellow, who so little knew how to talk in the The 
 presence of a king. turTof 
 
 "Nay, but she shall choose," said the king, f^fj 
 "Take off your helmets." a J ld f iU 
 
 J . , bear Lett 
 
 "Small chance have I!" sighed Little John, at Court 
 
 They undid their helmets, and the princess 
 came forward, drawing aside her veil. First 
 she looked at Little John, and as he had 
 expected, she quickly passed him by. Next 
 she looked at Robin with admiration, and 
 lastly, she looked at Will Scarlett. Then she 
 grew pale, and drew a quick breath. 
 
 "Sire," she said, "I choose this young 
 man. Often I have seen him at court, for 
 if I mistake not, he is son to the Earl of 
 Gam well." 
 
 At this the king frowned; then he said, 
 slowly : 
 
 "You killed one of my good knights; but 
 you have helped to save my daughter and 
 perhaps my kingdom, so I must e'en forgive 
 you. Yet I should be glad of a different 
 son-in-law." 
 
 Little cared Will Scarlett for the grudging 
 remark! He kissed the hand of the princess, 
 and went forward to meet his mother and 
 father, who came down from the pavilion to 
 
192 foohin j|oob 
 
 The greet him. The lady of Gamwell cried aloud 
 
 tme of at seeing Robin, but he held up his hand to 
 
 HoJd silence her. 
 
 an scS " An(i now," said the king, "I must give 
 
 at Court what reward I can to these other brave 
 
 fighters. I would," he said to Robin, "that 
 
 the princess had chosen you." 
 
 "Nay, sire, I should have had to refuse 
 her," replied Robin, "for I have already a 
 wife whom I love with all my heart." 
 
 "Then she has made the most suitable 
 choice," said the king. "Your face, though 
 clean-shaven and scarred, seems familiar. Tell 
 me your name, and ask what gift you will." 
 
 "My liege," answered Robin, "I ask as 
 reward that you let me and my man go with- 
 out further question as to our names, and 
 that you will think of me as your most loyal 
 subject." 
 
 The king looked at him doubtfully. 
 
 "It must be as you wish," he said, "but I 
 would gladly entertain you at my castle. 
 Fare you well ; and when you will, come again 
 to my court." 
 
 "I thank you, sire," said Robin, bowing low. 
 
 Then he and Little John rode from the field, 
 all the people looking wonderingly after them. 
 
attb His; Mtxxv Jfflen 
 
 193 
 
 Robin rode cheerfully, glancing back now The 
 and then at London, turning into a gray haze twe of 
 behind them. To him the simple life in the jjjjjj 1 
 greenwood was nobler than life in the king's a ™ d Yf? 
 court. But Little John was rather sulky, for at Court 
 he wanted to stay and taste court life. He 
 would have liked to hear the song Will Scar- 
 lett sang to his princess: 
 
 f f ? 
 And we will all 
 
 the pleas - ures prove, 
 
 And all the crag - gy moun- tains yield. 
 13 
 
194 
 
 Ixotrin Jjtoob 
 
 The 
 
 Adven- 
 ture of 
 Robin 
 Hood 
 and Will 
 Scarlett 
 at Court 
 
 And we will sit upon the rocks, 
 And see the shepherds feed their flocks 
 By shallow rivers, to whose falls 
 Melodious birds sing madrigals. 
 By shallow rivers, to whose falls 
 Melodious birds sing madrigals. 
 
 There will I make thee beds of roses 
 And a thousand fragrant posies ; 
 A cap of floers, and a kirtle 
 Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle 
 A cap of flowers, and a kirtle 
 Embroider'd all with leaves of myrtle. 
 
 A gown made of the finest wool, 
 Which from our pretty lambs we pull 
 Fair lined slippers for the cold, 
 With buckles of the purest gold. 
 Fair lined slippers for the cold, 
 With buckles of the purest gold. 
 
 Thy silver dishes for thy meat 
 As precious as the gods do eat, 
 Shall on an ivory table be 
 Prepar'd each day for thee and me. 
 Shall on an ivory table be 
 Prepar'd each day for thee and me. 
 
 The shepherd swains shall dance and sing 
 For thy delight each May morning : 
 If these delights thy mind may move, 
 Then live with me and be my love. 
 If these delights thy mind may move, 
 Then live with me and be my love. 
 
anb %fc Jflerrp JWen 
 
 Chapter XIV 
 
 IT was a beautiful day in early spring. 
 The little buds were just breaking on 
 the oaks, and the lilacs were making a laven- 
 der mist all over the young bushes. The 
 outlaws had prepared a great feast, and had 
 wreathed the table with young leaves and 
 yellow crocuses. Marian only did not eat. 
 
 "Prithee, Marian," said Robin, "are you 
 ill, that you do not eat?" 
 
 "Nay," she said, "but I am tired of veni- 
 son. It seems to me that I have had nothing 
 but that ever since I came to this greenwood." 
 
 "Tell me what else you want," said Robin. 
 " I will ride to Nottingham and buy it." 
 
 "You cannot," she said, "for I want noth- 
 ing but fish freshly caught out of the sea ; and 
 how am I to get that? " 
 
 13 
 
 195 
 
196 jforfjUj i)oob 
 
 2?oW» ' ' You shall have it, ' ' Robin replied. ' ' I am 
 on the tired of hunting; I shall go to Scarborough 
 Sea town and turn fisherman for a time, and bring 
 you back plenty of fish." 
 
 "Faith, good Robin," said jolly Friar 
 Tuck, "I hope you will leave your bow behind; 
 else the very fishes will swim away from you." 
 
 "Nay," said Robin, "I am not sure that I 
 can fish, but I know that I can shoot. I shall 
 feel safer if I take my good bow, but I shall 
 wrap it in a long cloth so that no one may 
 guess I am a bowman." 
 
 Marian found a homespun suit for Robin, 
 and he set off, with a few pennies in his pocket, 
 for the fishing town of Scarborough. It was 
 a little place, not half the size of Nottingham. 
 The people were nearly all fishers, and their 
 houses were clustered close to the sea, from 
 which they got their living. The shore was 
 littered with boats and nets. The place 
 looked strange to Robin because there were 
 few trees and gardens, and the salt air did 
 not smell like the air in Sherwood Forest. 
 
 He wandered down the one narrow street 
 of the town until he came to a cottage at the 
 door of which stood an old woman, knitting. 
 
 "Good dame," said Robin, "I am looking 
 
anb $t* jfflerrp jfflen 197 
 
 for a boat in which I can hire as a fisherman. Robin 
 Do you know any such ? " » ;/ze 
 
 The old woman put down her knitting and 
 gazed searchingly at Robin. 
 
 "You seem an able-bodied man," she said, at 
 last, "and I am willing to give you work. My 
 husband, Captain Simon, sails my boat, and 
 he is short a man. I will take you to him." 
 
 She went with him down to the shore where 
 Captain Simon and his fishers were getting 
 ready to launch a boat. It was a large boat 
 with a high cabin and three sails, but it 
 looked very small to Robin, used to the large 
 spaces in Sherwood Forest. 
 
 "Simon," said the old woman, "here is a 
 man who wants to fish with you." 
 
 Captain Simon looked sharply at Robin. 
 
 "Will you work hard, my man?" he asked. 
 
 "Aye; and I ask only a penny for my 
 wages, and a few fish at the end." 
 
 "By my life ! " said the fisher, "you must be 
 a useless fellow or you would not be willing 
 to come for a penny. However, I will try 
 you. What is that long bundle you carry ? ' ' 
 
 "That is something I always find useful," 
 replied Robin. "I pray you, let it come with 
 me. It takes up but little room." 
 
 Sea 
 
198 &obm i)oob 
 
 Robin "Hasten then," said Captain Simon. "It 
 on °the is time the boat was off, if we are to do deep- 
 Sea sea fishing to-morrow." 
 
 He bade his wife good-by, and he and his 
 men pushed off the boat, and raised the sails. 
 Robin had never been in a boat before, and 
 while they were in the harbor he enjoyed the 
 gentle motion. He liked to see the sunlight 
 shining on the green waves, while the little 
 town of Scarborough slipped farther and 
 farther away. But as soon as they were out- 
 side the harbor the boat began to pitch and 
 toss, to Robin's great distress. He was very 
 ill, but no one showed any sympathy for him. 
 "If you were really a fisherman," said the 
 captain, "you would be able to bear a gentle 
 sea like this." 
 
 Robin only clung to his bow, and wished 
 he were in the greenwood, and wondered if 
 he would live long enough to catch the fish for 
 his dear Marian. But the next morning, he 
 was quite well, and eager to begin fishing. 
 
 But he was so awkward in his attempts 
 that Captain Simon became very impatient 
 with him. First of all, he cast in his lines 
 without bait. When the laughter of the 
 fishermen showed him his mistake, he tried 
 
attb %te Jtterrp jWen 199 
 
 to bait his lines. He was skillful with his Robin 
 fingers, as every man who handled the bow on the 
 well must needs be; so he was able to put Sea 
 the bait on without mishap. But when it 
 came to casting the lines, he blundered again. 
 He got them tangled with the lines of the 
 other fishermen, and even with the rigging 
 of the boat. 
 
 "You are a useless lubber!" said the cap- 
 tain, angrily. "You are frightening all the 
 fish away. I am sorry I took you on board." 
 
 "Never fear," said Robin; "I shall soon 
 learn, Master Captain." 
 
 "I hope you will," replied the captain; 
 "you had better. If you make any more 
 mistakes, I am going to tie you to the mast." 
 
 Robin smiled. He was sure that he was 
 not going to make any more mistakes; but 
 he was too confident. At the end of the boat 
 hung a dragnet. The captain ordered him 
 and one of the fishermen to draw it up. Each 
 took an end, and pulled and pulled. 
 
 "It comes heavily," said Robin Hood; 
 "there must be a good catch." 
 
 "I am glad of that," said the other, "for 
 it will please the captain." 
 
 Higher and higher came the net, until it 
 
200 &obm I)oQi) 
 
 i?oW« rose out of the water and they could see the 
 
 on the silver scales of the fish shining in the sunlight. 
 
 ea At that moment the ship gave a heavy lurch. 
 
 Robin Hood was not yet steady in his footing 
 
 and he slipped and fell, dropping his end of 
 
 the net. Down went the catch into the sea. 
 
 The captain ran to Robin and tried to 
 strike him, but Robin parried the blow. 
 
 "Seize him, men! " cried the captain. "Bind 
 him to the mast!" 
 
 The sailors obeyed, and though Robin 
 struggled, they were too many for him. 
 They tied him with ropes to the mast, and 
 there he stood in the hot sun, harkening to 
 the angry scolding of the captain. The 
 fishermen listened in amazement. They had 
 never seen their master so angry, and they 
 were afraid he might kill Robin Hood. They 
 were sorry, for they liked Robin, in spite of 
 his blunders. Robin was angry, too. He 
 wished himself back in the greenwood, where 
 his men always showed him respect and 
 affection. But he said nothing, for he knew 
 that to show self-control was greater than to 
 fish well or shoot well. 
 
 While the captain was abusing Robin 'all 
 the men had their faces toward the outlaw, 
 
anb %tg ffltxvy Mm 201 
 
 and away from the sea. Now one of them Robin 
 
 Hood 
 
 turned away and looked out over the water, on the 
 Then he gave a great shout. 
 
 "Master! Captain!" he cried. "Look! 
 There, there!" 
 
 All the men looked. Sailing swiftly toward 
 them was a French boat. The captain pulled 
 nervously at his beard. 
 
 "Turn the boat," he said. "There is 
 1 nothing to do but try to run away." 
 
 "What!" cried Robin. "Run away from 
 an enemy!" 
 
 "The French boat is bigger than ours," 
 said one of the fishermen. "If the Frenchmen 
 catch us, they will take our fish and all that 
 we have and sink our boat, and kill us." 
 
 "No, no," said Robin, "I will save you. 
 Bring me my good bow; bring me the long 
 bundle wrapped in cloth." 
 
 The captain struck him. 
 
 "Keep silent," he said. "You could not 
 fish; how can you save us?" 
 
 "You deserve to drown for striking a 
 defenseless man," said Robin; "but bring me 
 the bow." 
 
 The captain hesitated, and then he said: 
 
 "At least, it can do no harm to try." 
 
2 02 ftoftin gjoojj 
 
 i?o6i« One of the men brought Robin Hood his 
 on the bow, while another unbound his arms. In 
 ea the meantime, some of the fishers had turned 
 the boat, and they sailed as fast as they could 
 toward the English shore. But the French 
 boat was more lightly built than theirs, and 
 it gained every minute. The men looked in 
 despair at the enemy, coming nearer and 
 nearer. 
 
 Robin, however, showed no anxiety. He' 
 rubbed his arms, which were stiff from the 
 ropes which had bound him. Then he care- 
 fully chose an arrow and fitted it to his bow. 
 The fishermen kept glancing from him to the 
 French ship. Robin lifted his bow. The 
 French boat was now so near that with his 
 sharp eyes he could see the faces of the men 
 on the deck. He took for his target the man 
 whom he judged to be captain. Then he 
 sent an arrow through the air like a bird. 
 
 In a moment a loud cry rose from the deck 
 of the French ship; the captain was struck 
 down. But scarcely had they stooped to 
 raise him when Robin shot again. Arrow 
 after arrow he sent, until the French in fear 
 turned to escape. 
 
 "After them!" cried Robin to the captain. 
 
anb gig jftlerrp jtten 203 
 
 "We must take this enemy of our dear Robin 
 England. Turn the ship, captain." n°the 
 
 The captain gave the order, and now it Sea 
 was the English boat that chased the French. 
 
 "That is better," said Robin, as he shot 
 again. "I could not bear to be running away 
 from an enemy." 
 
 The French sailors were so frightened that 
 they were no longer able to manage their 
 boat skillfully, and soon the English over- 
 took them. Robin leaped to the deck of 
 the French boat, bow in hand. 
 
 ' ' Surrender ! " he cried. ' ' Surrender to Eng- 
 land!" 
 
 The French surrendered, and begged for 
 their lives. 
 
 "Have you treasure on board?" asked 
 Robin. 
 
 "A thousand pounds of gold," they said. 
 
 "You must forfeit it," ordered the bowman, 
 "for that is the law of the sea. You should 
 also forfeit your boat; but that I give to you." 
 
 Two of the Frenchmen went below to the 
 treasure chest, and brought Robin bag after 
 bag of gold, till the thousand pounds were 
 piled before him. Robin, his bow still strung, 
 in case of treachery, ordered the English 
 
204 • &oftm j|oob 
 
 RoUn sailors to carry the treasure to their ship. 
 on the Then he leaped backward after them, 
 Sea and commanded the Frenchmen to sail back 
 to their own country. He kept his bow in 
 position until they were too far away to 
 throw a knife or dagger at the Englishmen. 
 Then he turned to Captain Simon. 
 
 "Am I still a worthless landlubber, cap- 
 tain?" he asked, smiling. 
 
 "I crave your pardon," said the captain. 
 "A landlubber you are, for I still maintain 
 that you are a poor fisher; but you are far 
 from worthless. I thank you for my life, 
 and for the lives of my men." 
 
 "You are heartily welcome," replied Robin. 
 
 "This thousand pounds of gold," said the 
 captain, "belongs, according to law, half 
 to the king and half to you." 
 
 "Nay," said Robin, "I did not bargain for 
 gold. I asked but a catch of fish and a penny. ' ' 
 
 "Nevertheless," said the captain, "the 
 money is yours." 
 
 "I will take it, then," said Robin, "and 
 in your town of Scarborough I will have 
 built an almshouse for sailors." 
 
 At this the men loudly cheered Robin. 
 They showed him great respect on the 
 
anb SMs Jtterrp iMen 
 
 205 
 
 voyage home, for they had now begun to Robin 
 suspect who he was. There was but one on the 
 man in England, they thought, who could Sea 
 shoot so well. Robin Hood told jthem stories 
 of his life in the greenwood, and praised the 
 simple pleasures he and his bowmen loved. 
 
 As the little town of Scarborough came into 
 sight, he laughed and said, "In faith I shall 
 be glad to set foot on dry land "and get back 
 to my forest. I have done my last fishing." 
 
 They followed him as he leaped ashore, 
 and begged him to stay with them. He 
 remained for one meal, and as he rested 
 after it, they sang and danced for him. 
 Robin remembered the air and the words, 
 that he might repeat them to Much and 
 George-a-Green. 
 
 3 
 
 * 
 
 -&r 
 
 -fan. 
 
 
 
 We be three poor mar - i - ners, 
 We care not for those mar - tial men 
 
 1^— S" 
 
 -&- 
 
 -!§-!-<a 
 
 i!5>— <^- 
 
 1Z. 
 
 -#- * 
 
 New-ly come from the seas; We spend our lives in 
 That do our states dis -dain; But we care for the 
 
206 
 
 Eobtn itoob 
 
 Robin 
 
 Hood 
 
 on the 
 
 Sea 
 
 ^=^z=±s: 
 
 
 tS- 
 
 22 
 
 «<• 
 
 &w 
 
 jeop - ard - y, While oth - ers live at ease, 
 mer - chant - men Who do our states main-tain. 
 
 1 
 
 -+ 
 
 1 1 — m — & *a 
 
 S 
 
 -«-. 
 
 Hi 
 
 i — « — "i — g a . <h 
 
 *r^— ^- 
 
 Shall we go dance the round, the round? Shall 
 To them we dance this round, a-round, a-round, To 
 
 -&- 
 
 <S> &- 
 
 ij@=±&$t3±:i=g=g. 
 
 go dance the round, the round, the round? And 
 we dance this round, this round, this round; And 
 
 19- 
 
 he 
 he 
 
 i: 
 
 ■S 
 
 -« — «- 
 
 that is a bul - ly 
 that is a bul - ly 
 
 boy, Come 
 boy, Come 
 
 is: 
 
 :*=* 
 
 -« 
 
 pledge 
 pledge 
 
 -&- 
 
 me 
 me 
 
 227 
 
 — i # 
 
 II 
 
 
 on this ground, a-ground, a-ground. 
 on this ground, a-ground, a-ground. 
 
 Then the fishermen loaded him with all 
 the fish he could carry, folded in their best 
 
anb 3!te ffltvxp jMen 
 
 207 
 
 Robin set 
 off gayly 
 to the 
 forest with 
 his silver 
 burden 
 
208 Motrin Jitoob 
 
 Robin ne t # Robin set off gayly to the forest with 
 
 on the his silver burden. He forgot all about the 
 
 dancing green waves. He could see only 
 
 Marian's dark, sweet face against the green 
 
 leaves of their home. 
 
anb jte ffltttp Mm 
 
 Chapter XV 
 
 ONE day Robin Hood and Marian were 
 wandering through Sherwood Forest 
 near the Roman road. They liked to see the 
 life of the world, to which they did not 
 belong, passing by along the road on foot 
 or on horseback. 
 
 Presently they heard a very gay voice sing- 
 ing this song: 
 
 =tehi 
 
 U0 
 
 ---x 
 
 =t 
 
 0-0 i 
 
 it was a frog in the well, humbledum, humbledum, 
 
 0— ^— # 
 
 0—0—0—0 
 
 -0—0- 
 
 -0-\ — I 1 1 1- 
 
 0-4 
 
 
 And the merry mouse in the mill,tweedle,tweedle, twine. 
 
 209 
 
210 
 
 &obm jkiob 
 
 Robin "The frog would a- wooing ride, humbledum, humble- 
 Hood -. 
 
 and dum, 
 
 Allen-a- Sword and buckler by his side, tweedle, tweedle, twine. 
 Dale 
 
 "When upon his high horse set, humbledum, humble- 
 dum, 
 His boots they shone as black as jet, tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
 "When he came to the merry mill pin, humbledum, 
 humbledum, 
 'Lady Mouse, are you within?' Tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
 " Then came out the dusty mouse, humbledum humble- 
 dum; 
 'I am lady of this house'. Tweedle, tweedle, twine. 
 
 " 'Hast thou any mind of me?' Humbledum, humbledum. 
 'I have e'en a great mind of thee,' tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
 ' ' 'Who shall this marriage make ?' Humbledum, humble- 
 dum. 
 'Our lord, which is the rat.' Tweedle, tweedle, twine. 
 
 "'What shall we have to our supper? ' Humbledum, 
 humbledum. 
 'Three beans in a pound of butter.' Tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
 "But, when supper they were at, humbledum, humble- 
 dum, 
 The frog, the mouse, and e'en the rat, tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
anb %ig ffltxty JWen 211 
 
 "Then came in Gib, our cat, humbledum, humbledum; Robin 
 
 And caught the mouse e'en by the back, tweedle, ? 
 
 tweedle, twine. Allen-a- 
 
 Dale 
 
 "Then did they separate, humbledum, humbledum; 
 
 The frog leapt on the floor so flat, tweedle, tweedle, 
 
 twine. 
 
 "Then came in Dick, our drake, humbledum, humble- 
 dum, 
 And drew the frog e'en to the lake, tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine. 
 
 "The rat he ran up the wall, humbledum, humbledum, 
 And so the company parted all, tweedle, tweedle, 
 twine." 
 
 "That is a pretty tune," said Marian; 
 "and he who sings it is a pretty young 
 man." 
 
 He was a tall, fair youth, clad all in scarlet 
 and gold. His scarlet leather shoes were 
 embroidered in gold, and his silken doublet 
 was sewn with go.d thread. His fair curls 
 were as bright as the sunshine, and his eyes 
 and lips were laughing. 
 
 "I have seldom seen a happier face," 
 said Robin. "I wish him good fortune." 
 
 The very next day they were walking in 
 the forest, accompanied by Friar Tuck and 
 
 14 
 
212 &oftm ptoob 
 
 R £ Un d Little John, when they met the same young 
 and man. His head was bent, his eyes were on 
 Dale the ground ; he had lost his hat, and his 
 fair curls were uncombed. His horse fol- 
 lowed him, whinnying, and tangling his 
 forefeet in the dragging bridle reins. When 
 they saw him Robin Hood and Little John, 
 from force of habit, lifted their bows. 
 
 "Shoot," he said. "Life is no longer glad 
 for me; I pray you, shoot." 
 
 "No man has ever dared come thus far 
 into my retreat," said Robin Hood. "It 
 is against my law." 
 
 "Then punish me for breaking your law," 
 said the young man ; ' ' and take what wealth 
 I have left, too. It is but seven pounds of 
 money, and a golden ring that I had been 
 saving these seven years for my wedding." 
 
 "You must have suffered some great mis- 
 fortune," said Robin Hood, "since you are 
 so ready to part with your life and your 
 money." 
 
 "I have," replied the young man. 
 
 "What is your name?" asked Robin. 
 
 "Allen-a-Dale." 
 
 "Tell me your trouble, good Allen," said 
 Robin. "It may be that I can help you." 
 
anb %te ffltvty Jfflen 213 
 
 "Nay, my case is beyond help," said Allen- Robin 
 a-Dale, hopelessly. "You must know that I and 
 was brought up as a page in the castle of the £>Je Ma " 
 noble Earl of Scar. First I was his page, and 
 as such played often with his daughter, Lady 
 Katherine. Later, when I was a squire, and 
 then a knight, I still thought of Katherine. 
 Seven years ago, just before I rode forth on 
 my adventures, we were betrothed. I rode 
 back yesterday with great gladness, for 
 to-day had been set for our wedding." 
 
 Here Allen-a-Dale broke off, and sighed 
 deeply. 
 
 "When I reached Scar Castle," he said, 
 "I was met coldly. The Earl of Scar was 
 from home, I was told; his lady could not 
 see me, and Lady Katherine was busy in 
 her chamber. I waited wonderingly until 
 the earl came back from hunting. He told 
 me with scant courtesy that I should not 
 marry Lady Katherine; that he had agreed 
 that she should marry the old Knight of 
 the Marshes, a very rich man." 
 
 Marian listened sympathetically. 
 
 "But could you not get speech with the 
 Lady Katherine?" she asked. "Does she 
 not still love you?" 
 
2H 3Ro6m l)oob 
 
 ^Jj* "I do not know," said the youth. "A 
 and fortnight ago she did, for I had a message 
 Dale from her by a trusty servant." 
 
 "I am sure she would not change in two 
 weeks," Marian replied. 
 
 "Yet that avails me nothing," said Allen- 
 a-Dale, sadly, "since in a few hours she is 
 to marry this old Knight of the Marshes." 
 
 "The Earl of Scar has done wrong to break 
 his word," said Robin. "Where does he 
 intend to hold this wedding?" 
 
 "It will be held in Scar Chapel, not five 
 miles away," sighed the youth. 
 
 "Nay, speak not so dolefully; I do not 
 think it will be held," said Robin. "Do 
 you follow my advice, and you may yet 
 marry the Lady Katherine to-day." 
 
 Allen-a-Dale looked up wonderingly. 
 
 "Trust him," said Marian. "Whatever 
 he undertakes, succeeds." 
 
 Robin Hood lost no time in getting back 
 to the clearing in the greenwood. There 
 Marian found for him a long gray robe and 
 a flowing gray wig, and Much gave him his 
 harp. 
 
 "Truly," said Marian, "you look now like 
 a very ancient harper." 
 
anb |jte JWerrp JWen 215 
 
 "When they hear me singing the songs j^Jj* 
 of Much, the miller's son, they will think and 
 I am a good one," said Robin. "Now, Dale 
 hand me my bugle; and, Little John and 
 Much, remember well the orders I have 
 given you." 
 
 He set off on foot for Scar Chapel, followed 
 at a distance of half a mile by fifty of his 
 men. He walked briskly until he was close 
 to Scar Castle. Then he slowed his pace 
 to one more befitting an aged man. 
 
 The castle of the Earl of Scar was built 
 of dark gray stone, and was almost covered 
 with green ivy. Servants were hurrying to 
 and fro, from kitchen to hall, speeding the 
 wedding feast. The earl and his wife were 
 in their great coach, ready to ride to Scar 
 Chapel. The priest who was to perform 
 the ceremony was clad in his vestments. 
 Only the bride was lingering, weeping in her 
 own room, and thinking of Allen-a-Dale, 
 whom she loved. Just as she came down the 
 great stairway, accompanied by her maidens, 
 Robin Hood struck up his music. He sang 
 a beautiful wedding song, and the earl, 
 listening, said: 
 
 "That is a good musician. Let him join 
 
216 foobtn j|oob 
 
 jgw» the other harpers, and make music for us 
 and on the way to the chapel." 
 Dale So Robin Hood headed the procession of 
 musicians, and the wedding party proceeded 
 to the church, the villagers strewing the 
 path with flowers. At the door they were 
 met by the Knight of the Marshes. 
 
 Robin pressed his way up close to the altar, 
 which was covered with an embroidered 
 cloth of white and gold and bore many 
 lighted candles. It was a small chapel, 
 with oaken piers and narrow windows. 
 Robin was glad to see that these windows 
 were open, and that the door, too, was left 
 ajar. The priest came up to the altar, and 
 then pale, sad Lady Katherine followed, 
 leaning on her father's arm. The Knight 
 of the Marshes took his place by her side. 
 
 Just then Robin Hood blew a loud blast on 
 his bugle. Then he took his long bow from 
 under his cloak, and fitted an arrow to it. 
 
 "What does this mean?" cried the Earl 
 of Scar. 
 
 As he spoke, fifty green-clad bowmen, 
 Allen-a-Dale at their head, leaped through 
 the windows and in at the door, their bows 
 ready to shoot. 
 
anb p)te Mttvy ffltn 217 
 
 "It means," said Robin Hood, "that I g*§» 
 like not the bridegroom you have chosen, and 
 There shall be a wedding here, but the bride Dale 
 shall marry the man she- loves." 
 
 "How dare you speak thus in the church? " 
 demanded the priest. ' ' The maiden is marry- 
 ing the man of her choice." 
 
 The Earl of Scar and the Knight of the 
 Marshes had drawn their swords, and so 
 had some of their followers. But under the 
 threatening arrows they dared not use their 
 steel. 
 
 "Step forward, Allen-a-Dale," commanded 
 Robin Hood. 
 
 Allen came forward, clad in green like the 
 archers, a bow and arrow in his hand. 
 
 "Lady Katherine," said Robin gently, 
 "do you indeed still love Allen-a-Dale, and 
 do you still wish to marry him?" 
 
 The Lady Katherine was a timid maiden, 
 and she looked in fear at her father. 
 
 "Do not be afraid," Robin said. "What- 
 ever your answer is, I will see that no harm 
 comes to you or to Allen." 
 
 "Yes," she said; "yes, I wish to marry 
 Allen-a-Dale." 
 
 "That is enough," said Robin. Then he 
 
218 £ot)in l)oob 
 
 ***** added to the priest, "Sir, the maiden has 
 and, chosen." 
 
 Dale "I forbid you to marry her to Allen-a- 
 Dale," thundered the Earl of Scar. 
 
 " Marry her to me," commanded the Knight 
 of the Marshes. 
 
 "Marry her to Allen," said Robin Hood, 
 "or some who are here shall not go forth 
 alive." 
 
 The priest hesitated, and then he said: 
 
 "Whatever befall me, I will marry the 
 maiden to the man she has chosen." 
 
 "Well spoken," said Robin; "if the Earl of 
 Scar attempt to punish you for doing your 
 duty, I shall see that he surfers for it. Begin, 
 good father; I shall give away the bride." 
 
 The priest married them, his voice trem- 
 bling, for he was afraid of the two lords. 
 Lady Katherine's voice also trembled, but 
 Allen-a-Dale called forth his responses loudly 
 and happily. 
 
 When the marriage was over, Robin Hood 
 said to Allen-a-Dale: 
 
 "Take your bride, and mount her on the 
 white palfrey without. Then ride quickly 
 to my Lady Marian." 
 
 For ten minutes the bowmen held all 
 
anb %te fflttxy Mm 
 
 219 
 
 "The 
 
 priest 
 
 married 
 
 them, 
 
 his voice 
 
 trembling' 
 
220 JAolnn l)oob 
 
 *jjj* in the church at their mercy. Then they 
 and cautiously backed to the doors, Robin last, 
 Dale and once outside they ran like deer. They 
 heard great shouting in the church, and 
 looking back, saw the people pouring out 
 and gazing after them. Two or three knights 
 mounted their horses, but no one pursued 
 them. They ran until they were quite out 
 of danger, and then walked briskly to the 
 clearing in Sherwood Forest. They there 
 found Allen-a-Dale and his bride seated at 
 their wedding feast. 
 
 "Welcome!" cried Robin Hood. "Here 
 you shall stay with us until Robin Hood 
 has got the king's pardon. Then shall you 
 go to the king's court in London. And now, 
 let us share in your feast." 
 
 "And well do you deserve to," said Lady 
 Katherine, timidly, "for you have this day 
 made happy two people who, but for you, 
 would have been very miserable." 
 
 
anb Hts ffltvvy Mm 
 
 RobinH° od s 
 Adventure 
 wtththeKng 
 
 Chapter XVI 
 
 ROBIN HOOD'S power had wonderfully 
 increased. The common people often 
 came to Sherwood Forest for his advice, 
 preferring his judgment to that of the sher- 
 iff. Whenever a poor person wanted food 
 or clothes he asked Robin for them. The 
 sheriff sent many complaints to the king in 
 London, but the king paid no attention to 
 them. For the most part, he was engaged in 
 war, and had no time to waste in pursuit of 
 an outlaw. Besides, he was rather amused 
 that an outlaw was the real master of Notting- 
 ham instead of the sheriff. Some of his 
 courtiers urged him to send an army to punish 
 Robin Hood. 
 
 "That would be foolish," said the king; 
 ' ' they say his band has increased to fully two 
 
m &oftm l)oob 
 
 Robin hundred. If I sent down two hundred men 
 
 Hood s 
 
 Adven- who do not know Sherwood Forest, what 
 the King would happen? They would all be shot in 
 pieces while they were trying to find paths 
 through the woods." 
 
 "Then send a thousand men, sire," sug- 
 gested the courtiers. 
 
 "Nay, I have better use for my good 
 soldiers than to make them food for arrows," 
 replied the king. 
 
 - "But, Your Majesty," they persisted, 
 "Robin Hood takes their money from those 
 rich people who, according to him, have 
 dealt unjustly with the poor." 
 
 "In faith, he must have robbed many of 
 the rich!" laughed the king. 
 
 "He has, and soon we shall all be poor." 
 
 "Nay, that day is far off," said the king 
 lightly. 
 
 "But, sire," said one shrewd old courtier, 
 "it is true that it would take Robin Hood 
 a long time to rob all the rich of your great 
 England, yet at the rate at which he is slaying 
 deer in Sherwood Forest, they will soon all be 
 gone. 'T is said he feeds the people on veni- 
 son for miles about. No man but himself, or 
 his archers, may hunt in Sherwood Forest. 
 
He makes all the deer there his own quarry." £? w » 
 
 ^ J Hood s 
 
 The king by no means always listened to Adven- 
 the woes of his subjects ; he took their losses the King 
 lightly enough. But he was very angry when 
 he was told that his deer were being killed. 
 
 "Nay, if this be true, I will punish the 
 man," he said. 
 
 "Then you will send the soldiers, sire?" 
 they asked. 
 
 "Nay," replied the king, "I will go down 
 to Nottingham and meet face to face this man 
 who would defy me." 
 
 Refusing to listen to the objections of his 
 courtiers, he lost no time in riding to Notting- 
 ham with a great array of knights. They 
 made a magnificent sight in their rich clothes 
 and armor. The king's fear was that Robin 
 Hood would get wind of his coming; and the 
 fear was rightly founded. Robin had many 
 trusty friends among the poor of Notting- 
 hamshire who were glad to carry him news. 
 
 The king reached Nottingham town and 
 took up his lodging with the Lord Sheriff. 
 The next morning he set forth to ride through 
 Sherwood Forest to hunt for deer and for 
 the outlaw. As he and his men passed 
 through the woods in the direction of Robin 
 
224 ifroftm j|oob 
 
 RoMn Hood's retreat, the deer became more and 
 
 Hood s 
 
 Adven- more scarce, until at last not one was to be 
 
 tltTB r W%tit 
 
 the King seen. And though they looked for Robin 
 Hood even more industriously than they did 
 for the deer, he was not to be found. 
 
 Day after day they searched the woods as 
 thoroughly as they could, but many parts 
 were hedged about with impenetrable thickets, 
 and among these Robin had cunning hiding 
 places. Sometimes they wondered that no 
 arrow was shot at them as a warning. They 
 should have had a better knowledge of the 
 loyalty of Robin Hood. After a search of 
 two weeks, the king's impatience knew no 
 bounds. At last a forester offered a plan. 
 
 "You can find Robin Hood, sire," the man 
 said, "only if you go to Sherwood Forest in 
 disguise. If you should dress as an abbot 
 and, carrying a moneybag, ride with five 
 knights, also disguised, through the woods, 
 you would meet the great outlaw." 
 
 "A good plan! Faith!" said the king. 
 
 He called on the Lord Sheriff to furnish 
 him with the disguise. Over his royal doublet 
 he put an abbot's long cloak, and on his head 
 a broad hat. Then, followed by five men all 
 soberly clad in gray robes, he set off for the 
 
anb j|ig Mtxxy Mm 22 5 
 
 greenwood. He had gone some three miles S' 6 *" 
 
 & _ a Hood s 
 
 from Nottingham, and had struck into the Adven- 
 forest, when, at a turn in the path he was the King 
 taking, he saw a company of men clad in 
 green coats and bearing long bows in their 
 hands. At their head stood a tall, fair, hand- 
 some man with laughing eyes. He strode 
 to the king's horse and took it by the bridle. 
 
 "Sir Abbot," he said, "by your leave, you 
 must bide for a time with us. We are men, 
 sir, who live on nothing but the deer in the 
 king's forest; and as you have plenty of 
 money, we must ask you to give us some for 
 the poor." 
 
 "By my life!" cried the king, "there are 
 many of you, and I have but forty pounds. 
 I have spent the last three weeks with the 
 king in Nottingham, where I have given much 
 money to many a good lord. Nevertheless, 
 if I had a hundred pounds, I would give it to 
 you freely." 
 
 "That is spoken generously," said Robin. 
 
 He held out his hand for the king's money- 
 bag. Then he poured the shining coins on 
 the green grass, dividing them into two parts. 
 
 "Here, Little John," he said, handing one 
 share to his huge follower; "put this in our 
 
226 fooftin l)oob 
 
 jSfp chest from which we dispense alms to the 
 Adven- poor. Sir Abbot," he said with a low bow, 
 the King "I give you back half your gold, and I trust 
 we shall meet again." 
 
 1 ' Gramercy ! ' ' was the reply. ' ' And as I am 
 greatly in the king's favor, I bid you in his 
 name to dine with him at Nottingham." 
 
 As he spoke, he drew aside his robe a little, 
 and showed the king's great seal. 
 
 Robin Hood bowed again. 
 
 "I love no man in the world so much as I 
 do the King of England," he said. "I wel- 
 come the sight of my lord's seal, and, Sir 
 Abbot, in sign of the honor offered me, I beg 
 you, for love of the king, to dine with me 
 to-day under my try sting tree." 
 
 "Gladly will I," replied the king. 
 
 His five followers exchanged anxious looks, 
 but their lord gave no heed. He allowed 
 himself and his men to be blindfolded, and 
 then they were led through a twisting path 
 into Robin Hood's great clearing. One of 
 the bowmen had run quickly to tell Marian 
 that guests were expected, so she had all 
 ready silver basins of perfumed water and 
 sweet linen towels. 
 
 Then they were led to a table spread with 
 
anb j|tg Jflerrp jBlen 227 
 
 a fair white cloth. The kins: smiled when he £ oW » 
 
 ° _ Hood s 
 
 saw that the meat consisted chiefly of his own Adven- 
 
 tUTE 'With 
 
 venison. He had never tasted better cooked the King 
 food, he said. Robin Hood and Marian did 
 the honors, while the bowmen who waited on 
 the table were prompt and quiet. When the 
 king saw how readily Robin's men obeyed him, 
 he said to himself: 
 
 "Faith, I would my subjects were as quick 
 to do my bidding!" 
 
 After the meal, Robin proposed that his 
 men should show their skill in archery. So 
 they set up a willow wand with a rose garland 
 twined about it, at which they were to shoot 
 from a very considerable distance. 
 
 The king shook his head. 
 
 "You are too far from your mark by fifty 
 paces," he said. 
 
 1 ' Not so, Sir Abbot, ' ' replied Robin ; ' ' most 
 of these men will hit the wand. Any one 
 who fails to hit either it or the rose garland 
 shall yield up his bow and arrows, and shall 
 receive a blow on his bare head." 
 
 Then Robin shot first, splitting the wand. 
 Little John, Much, George-a-Green, and 
 others followed, all coming within the rose 
 garland. The king expressed great surprise; 
 
 15 
 
228 &0jjffl l)OOtl 
 
 Robin then he asked Robin to shoot again. This 
 Hood's . ° . . 
 
 4dw«n- time the great outlaw was careless m his 
 
 the King sighting, and for the first time in his life he 
 
 missed the mark. 
 
 "Ha, master," laughed Little John, "now 
 must you receive a buffet on the head." 
 
 "If so," said Robin, "Sir Abbot here must 
 bestow it." 
 
 "Right gladly," said the king with a grim 
 
 smile, for he was a strong man. He turned 
 
 up the sleeve of his abbot's gown, and gave 
 
 " Robin Hood such a blow that Robin fell 
 
 full length on the ground. 
 
 The outlaws started forward angrily, but 
 Robin ordered them back. He rose slowly 
 to his feet, and then he knelt on one knee 
 and bowed low to the king. ' 
 
 "Sire," he said, "when you rolled back 
 your sleeve I saw the insignia of royalty. 
 I crave your mercy. I am, as I have ever 
 been, your loyal subject." 
 
 When he said that, all the bowmen fell 
 upon their knees, and Marian bowed very 
 low. 
 
 "Rise, Robin," said the king. "I believe 
 you are a true and loyal man. I am safe 
 here in your hands with my men." 
 
attb %te JWerrp jilen 
 
 229 
 
 H Robin 
 fell full 
 length 
 on the 
 
230 gUrfun l)ooti 
 
 ifo6*» "Sire," said Robin, rising, "no man here 
 
 Hoods ' °' 
 
 i4rfwn- would hurt you in the slightest." 
 the King "You are a good host, Robin," returned 
 the king, "and a good hunter. I forgive you 
 the killing of my deer; but I must command 
 you to be more sparing of your shooting in 
 the future." 
 
 Robin smiled. 
 
 "Nay, sire, we have never killed need- 
 lessly," he said. 
 
 "We differ about that," said the king 
 dryly. "But now, in order that I may be 
 sure about the welfare of my deer, I bid you 
 back to my court." 
 
 "Back to your court, sire!" cried Robin. 
 
 "Aye," replied the king, "I restore you 
 your estates that were forfeited; I take 
 from you the ban of outlaw. You are again 
 Robert, Earl of Huntington. I will lay 
 commands on Lord Fitzwalter to forgive 
 your lady, his daughter. What more I and 
 the queen can do to make your life happy 
 in the court shall be done. And," continued 
 the king, a little impatiently, "I am not 
 wont to see my favors received with such a 
 grave face, my Lord of Huntington." 
 
 Robin fell on his knee. 
 
anb S»te 0Jttty Mm 231 
 
 "Sire," he said, "I am indeed grateful to j^Jj! 
 you. I was but thinking — ■" 4<foe»- 
 
 "And what were you thinking, my Lord the King 
 of Huntington?" asked the king. 
 
 "I was thinking that our lives are very 
 simple and happy here, sire," returned Robin, 
 in a low voice. "We commit no sins in the 
 forest; we live in peace with those who are 
 good, and pity and punish those who are 
 evil, and we help the poor. My liege, is 
 there any court in all this broad land of which 
 one can say so much?" 
 
 The king sighed. 
 
 "In truth, my Lord of Huntington," he 
 said, "or Robin Hood, as I see you would 
 fain be called, there are often sin and treach- 
 ery at court. I lay no commands on you: 
 choose you then what you will, or let the 
 Lady Marian choose." 
 
 "Sire," said Marian, bowing low, "I am 
 very happy here in the forest with Robin." 
 
 "Then you will stay here, Robin Hood?" 
 asked the king. 
 
 "Sire," said Robin with a bright smile, "if 
 you will grant us safe conduct, Marian 
 and I and seven score men will come on a 
 visit to your court. But after that I must 
 
232 
 
 foofttn goojj 
 
 ■&>&*» e ' en return to my home here and shoot the 
 
 Hood s m J 
 
 Adven- king's deer as has been my habit." 
 
 ttiTS t W%ttl 
 
 the King Then the outlaws escorted the king and 
 his party back to the Roman road. After 
 they had parted, Little John was so excited 
 at the honor that had been done them that 
 he forestalled Much, who would have sung 
 for the bowmen. This was Little John's 
 song: 
 
 Rob - in Hood, Rob - in Hood," said Lit - tie John, 
 
 -&- 
 
 ^>-± &^ 
 
 "Come, dance be - fore the queen - a, 
 
 #^^— 9- 
 
 *—*—* 
 
 1 1 y 
 
 In a red pet - ti - coat and a green jack-et, A 
 
 white hose and 
 
 a green 
 
anb %te fflztxy JWen 
 
 Chapter XVII 
 
 THERE were many years during which 
 Robin Hood and his merry men forgot 
 that change or old age could come to them 
 in the greenwood. The trees were the same, 
 for most of them had had their full growth 
 for scores of years. The songs of the birds 
 were as gay as they had been the first day 
 the outlaws had come into the forest. The 
 songs of Much, the miller's son, were as 
 care free. George-a-Green whistled as mer- 
 rily as ever. 
 
 But after long years the bowmen began to 
 see a difference. They could no longer 
 shoot so skillfully as they had in former times. 
 They cared less to hunt, and were glad to 
 welcome to their number young recruits, 
 who would do the heavier work. Much 
 
 233 
 
2 34 I\olmt l)00tl 
 
 Deathaf De g an to sing plaintive songs ; George-a-Green's 
 Robin whistling grew thin. Then some of the older 
 
 Hood i • -i -i 1 
 
 men died, and were buried in the forest. 
 After that, it seemed as if winter came sooner 
 and stayed longer than in the old days. 
 
 Robin, however, always looked and spoke 
 cheerfully until Marian died. He had never 
 thought of her as changing from the beautiful 
 young girl who had come to him, dressed as 
 a page, to share his fortunes. After he lost 
 her he seemed to care but little what hap- 
 oened. Little John tried to rouse him. 
 
 "Master," he said to him one day, "since 
 your friend the old king is dead and a new 
 king reigns, do you not know that we are in 
 some danger?" 
 
 "Is it true, John?" asked Robin. 
 
 ' ' Aye, ' ' replied Little John. ' ' I have heard 
 rumors in Nottingham that a valiant knight, 
 Sir Richard of Oxenbridge, is coming with 
 a hundred men to give battle to us." 
 
 For a moment Robin Hood's eyes sparkled 
 with their old light. Then he dropped his 
 head, and said, listlessly: 
 
 "If Sir William comes, of course we shall 
 meet his attack. But I fear that our days 
 in the greenwood are nigh over." 
 
anb ffite ffltxxy JWen 235 
 
 "Nay, master, we are as strong yet as we ^ he ' , 
 were in our prime," said Little John, cheerily. Robin 
 
 "Ah, John, your hair is as silver as the bark 
 of a birch tree, and your big shoulders are 
 bent," said Robin Hood. "Nothing is as 
 it was except your courage. Nevertheless, 
 if Sir William comes we shall e'en do our best 
 to receive him." 
 
 A few days later Robin was sitting with 
 Little John in the clearing by the yew trees 
 when he heard the steady tramp of men. 
 He put his bugle to his lips, and sounded 
 a loud blast. At the same moment Sir 
 William of Oxenbridge and a hundred bowmen 
 came breaking their way through the under- 
 brush near the clearing. Robin Hood rose. 
 
 "Sirs, what seek ye?" he asked. 
 
 "Robin Hood, the outlaw," replied young 
 Sir William, "and if you can show him to us, 
 I will give you many broad gold pieces." 
 
 "I am here," said Robin. 
 
 Sir William started forward, but Little 
 John lifted his bow. 
 
 "Nay, sir," said he, while he listened to the 
 approach of Robin's men whom the bugle 
 had summoned, "you cannot take our master 
 without a fair fight." 
 
236 &obm %)oob 
 
 n P* "So be it," replied Sir William. 
 
 Death oj r 
 
 Robin The two bands drew up at opposite sides 
 of the clearing, and began to fight. It was 
 many years since Robin's men had battled 
 with any one. At first, all their old ardor 
 came back to them, and they sent their 
 arrows quickly and strongly. But soon Robin 
 saw that they began to tire. They still shot 
 bravely, but not so quickly. Nevertheless, 
 as they were much better archers than Sir 
 William's younger men, neither side had the 
 advantage. After a time, Sir William shouted 
 to Robin and asked him to call a truce. 
 Robin gave commands to his men, and then 
 Sir William approached and said: 
 
 " Robin Hood, you fight well. The inten- 
 tion was to take you alive, throw you in 
 prison, and then hang you. But if you will 
 surrender now, I pledge you my word you 
 shall not be hanged." 
 
 "Gramercy," said Robin; "but they would 
 keep me forever in prison." 
 
 "Aye," replied the knight. 
 
 "Nay, that cannot be, after my free life 
 in the greenwood," replied Robin Hood. 
 
 He waited until Sir William had gone back 
 to his men, and then he gave the signal to 
 
anb j|fg ffltxxy Jtlen 237 
 
 shoot. After half an hour of grim, deter- The 
 mined fighting, Sir William again called for Robin 
 a truce, and said: Hood 
 
 "Robin Hood, yield, and I promise that 
 you shall have but ten years of imprisonment." 
 
 "Faith!" replied Robin. "I have not 
 that many years to spend in this world. Let 
 us fight on to the death." 
 
 Robin's archers felt renewed courage when 
 Sir William gave this proof that his men 
 were weakening. They shot fast and as well 
 as they could, and before an hour had passed, 
 Sir William withdrew his men. 
 
 "To-morrow," he said, "we will fight with 
 you again, and this time we shall win the 
 victory." 
 
 When Sir William and his followers had 
 disappeared from the greenwood, Robin Hood 
 sank to the ground. 
 
 "Help me, Little John," he said; "I am 
 wounded with an arrow." 
 
 Little John bent over his master, and 
 plucked away the barb of the arrow. Then 
 he dressed the wound, while the bowmen 
 stood about anxiously, looking sadly now at 
 him, now at those of their band who were 
 dead or hurt. 
 
238 &obin jfoob 
 
 Deathtf "My merry men," said Robin, "I am sick, 
 RoUn and we are nearly all old. To-morrow - we 
 could not win in the right with Sir William's 
 young men. Therefore, I pray you, leave 
 me and this greenwood. Go you hence to 
 France or Spain or where you will. Seek 
 another master and another means of liveli- 
 hood. This forest is no longer safe for you, 
 and I, who am about to die, can no longer 
 protect you." 
 
 They fell upon their knees about him and 
 begged him not to send them away. They 
 said that he would soon be sound, and that 
 they could all live as well as ever in the 
 greenwood. But Robin Hood was firm. 
 
 "Take what money and goods there may 
 be in my oaken chests," he said, "and bid 
 me farewell. I shall lean on Little John and 
 get me to Kirl y Hall, where there is a woman 
 I know. She will put a leech to my wound. 
 If I recover I will follow you. And now, 
 farewell." 
 
 One after another they bade him farewell, 
 the men who had so long worked and played 
 with Robin. He watched them file away to 
 the retreat. Then he said to Little John: 
 
 "I would fain see again the oak under 
 
anb j^ig ffltvtp jflen 239 
 
 which Marian and I have so often sat, but P e , . 
 
 Death of 
 
 I must not. Help me, I pray you, to Kirkly Robin 
 Hall." Hood 
 
 They walked throughout that night, rest- 
 ing every few minutes. At dawn they were 
 in sight of Kirkly Hall, which lay not far 
 from Fountains Abbey. 
 
 It was a low building of white stone. The 
 woman who, Robin Hood had said, was 
 skilled in surgery, came to the door in answer 
 to Little John's loud knock. 
 
 "Good woman," said Robin, "will you set 
 a leech to my wound?" 
 
 She looked at him eagerly. 
 
 "Yes," she said, "come you in; but your 
 friend must stay without." And she shut 
 the door in the face of Little John. 
 
 He went and sat under a tree not far from 
 the doorway, while the woman led Robin 
 Hood through a number of passages until 
 they reached a little corner room. It con- 
 tained a bed and a chair. 
 
 "Lie on the bed," said she, "and I will set 
 the leech to your wound, and otherwise 
 bleed you." 
 
 She opened two of his veins; then she 
 laughed harshly and jumped to her feet. 
 
240 foobm goob 
 
 r*« "Lie there and die, outlaw," she said, "and 
 Robin I will get the price that is upon your head." 
 00 Then she ran out of the room and locked 
 the door. Robin Hood staggered to his feet, 
 and tried to stanch the fast -flowing blood, 
 but he could not. Next he tried to break 
 the lock of the door, but it was too strong 
 for him. At last he bethought him of his 
 bugle. He went to the window and, leaning 
 against it, blew a feeble note. It was 'a thin 
 sound indeed, compared to the blast he used 
 to blow in the olden days. But Little John, 
 sitting under the tree, heard him. 
 
 "Can my master be making that faint 
 sound?" cried Little John, leaping to his 
 feet. "He must be near death, indeed!" 
 
 He ran to the outside door, and broke it 
 down. He rushed through passage after 
 passage, calling at every door for Robin 
 Hood. At last, his master's feeble voice 
 answered him, and Little John broke into 
 the corner room. He sank beside Robin, 
 who lay on the floor. 
 
 "A boon!" he cried. "Let me burn this 
 woman's house!" 
 
 "Nay," said Robin, "I have never waged 
 war against women, and I shall not begin 
 
attb gtss Mtvtv Jflen 
 
 241 
 
 Very 
 feebly 
 poor 
 Robin 
 shot an 
 
24 2 &ofttn %)oob 
 
 The on the day of my death. But now, lift me, 
 e RoUn good Little John, and set me up against the 
 Hood window." 
 
 Little John obeyed him, and then Robin said : 
 
 "Give my bow and arrow into my hand. 
 I shall shoot the arrow, and where it falls 
 there dig my grave." 
 
 Little John, weeping, obeyed him, and very 
 feebly poor Robin Hood shot an arrow. 
 Then he dropped back into the arms of his 
 faithful friend. 
 
 "Bury me with my bow at my side," he 
 said, "and put a stone over my grave so that 
 my friends may know where I lie.". 
 
 Then he died, and Little John buried him 
 .with many tears, and for a number of days 
 he could not bear to leave the grave. But 
 at last he set off to join the other bowmen 
 abroad. Before he went, however, he chose 
 a stone for Robin Hood's grave on which he 
 carved the epitaph: 
 
 "Here underneath this little stone, 
 Lies Robert, Earl of Huntington. 
 No archer ever was so good. 
 The people called him Robin Hood. 
 Such outlaws as him and his men, 
 England will never see again." 
 
anb l)is jfWerrp Jlen 
 
 Robin Hood and Little John 
 
 i. When Robin Hood was about twenty years old, 
 With a hey down down and a down, 
 He happend to meet Little John, 
 A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade, 
 For he was a lusty young man. 
 
 2. Tho he was calld Little, his limbs they were 
 
 large, 
 And his stature was seven foot high ; 
 Where-ever he came, they quak'd at his name, 
 For soon he would make them to fly. 
 
 3. How they came acquainted, I'll tell you in brief, 
 
 If you will but listen a while; 
 For this very jest, amongst all the rest, 
 I think it may cause you to smile. 
 
 4. Bold Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmen, 
 
 "Pray tarry you here in this grove; 
 
 16 243 
 
244 j&ojnn gjoob 
 
 And see that you all observe well my call, 
 While through the forest I rove. 
 
 5. "We have had no sport for these fourteen long 
 
 days, 
 Therefore now abroad will I go; 
 Now should I be beat, and cannot retreat, 
 My horn I will presently blow." 
 
 6. Then did he shake hands with his merry men all, 
 
 And bid them at present good-b'w'ye; 
 Then, as near a brook his journey he took, 
 A stranger he chanced to spy. 
 
 7. They happend to meet on a long narrow bridge, 
 
 And neither of them would give way; 
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood, 
 "I'll show you right Nottingham play." 
 
 8. With that from his quiver an arrow he drew, 
 
 A broad arrow with a goose- wing: 
 The stranger reply'd, "I'll liquor thy hide, 
 If thou off erst to touch the string." 
 
 9. Quoth bold Robin Hood, "Thou dost prate like 
 
 an ass, 
 For were I to bend but my bow, 
 I could send a dart quite thro thy proud heart, 
 Before thou couldst strike me one blow." 
 
 10. "Thou talkst like a coward," the stranger reply'd; 
 "Well armd with a long bow you stand, 
 
anb %>tg ffltvxy Mm 245 
 
 To shoot at my breast, while I, I protest, 
 Have naught but a staff in my hand." 
 
 11. "The name of a coward," quoth Robin, "I scorn, 
 
 Wherefore my long bow I '11 lay by; 
 And now, for thy sake, a staff will I take, 
 The truth of thy manhood to try." 
 
 12. Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees, 
 
 And chose him a staff of ground-oak; 
 Now this being done, away he did run 
 To the stranger, and merrily spoke : 
 
 13. "Lo! see my staff, it is lusty and tough, 
 
 Now here on the bridge we will play: 
 Whoever falls in, the other shall win 
 The battel, and so we'll away." 
 
 14. "With all my whole heart," the stranger reply'd; 
 
 "I scorn in the least to give out"; 
 This said, they fell to 't without more dispute, 
 And their staffs they did flourish about. 
 
 15. And first Robin he gave the stranger a bang, 
 
 So hard that it made his bones ring; 
 The stranger he said, "This must be repaid, 
 I '11 give you as good as you bring. 
 
 16. "So long as I 'm able to handle my staff, 
 
 To die in your debt, friend, I scorn": 
 Then to it each goes, and followd their blows, 
 As if they had been threshing of corn. 
 
246 &ojun goofr 
 
 17. The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown, 
 
 Which caused the blood to appear; 
 Then Robin, enrag'd, more fiercely engag'd. 
 And followd his blows more severe. 
 
 18. So thick and so fast did he lay it on him, 
 
 With a passionate fury and ire, 
 At every stroke, he made him to smoke, 
 As if he had been all on fire. 
 
 19. O then into fury the stranger he grew, 
 
 And gave him a damnable look, 
 And with it a blow that laid him full low, 
 And tumbled him into the brook. 
 
 20. "I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now?" 
 
 The stranger, in laughter, he cry'd; 
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, "Good faith, in the flood, 
 And floating along with the tide. 
 
 21. "I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul; 
 
 With thee I '11 no longer contend ; 
 For needs must I say, thou hast got the day, 
 Our battel shall be at an end." 
 
 22. Then unto the bank he did presently wade, 
 
 And pulld himself out by a thorn; 
 Which done, at the last, he blowd a loud blast 
 Straitway on his fine bugle-horn. 
 
 23 . The echo of which through the vallies did fly, 
 
 At which his stout bowmen appeard, 
 
anb %te jWerrp jtten 247 
 
 All clothed in green, most gay to be seen; 
 So up to their master they steerd. 
 
 24. "O what's the matter?" quoth William Stutely; 
 
 "Good master, you are wet to the skin" : 
 "No matter," quoth he; "the lad which you see, 
 In fighting, hath tumbled me in." 
 
 25. "He shall not go scot-free," the others reply 'd; 
 
 So strait they were seizing him there, 
 To duck him likewise; but Robin Hood cried, 
 "He is a stout fellow, forbear. 
 
 26. "There's no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not 
 
 afraid; 
 These bowmen upon me do wait ; 
 There 's threescore and nine ; if thou wilt be mine, 
 Thou shalt have my livery strait. 
 
 27. "And other accoutrements fit for a man; 
 
 Speak up, jolly blade, never fear; 
 
 I '11 teach you also the use of the bow, 
 
 To shoot at the fat fallow deer." 
 
 28. "O here is my hand," the stranger reply'd, 
 
 " I '11 serve you with all my whole heart; 
 My name is John Little, a man of good mettle ; 
 Ne'er doubt me, for I '11 play my part." 
 
 29. "His name shall be alterd," 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. 
 
248 foofam jjggjj 
 
 30. They presently fetchd in a brace of fat does, 
 
 With humming strong liquor likewise ; 
 They lovd what was good; so, in the greenwood, 
 This pretty sweet babe they baptize. 
 
 3 1 . He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high, 
 
 And, may be, an ell in the waist; 
 A pretty sweet lad; much feasting they had; 
 Bold Robin the christning gracd. 
 
 32. With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring, 
 
 And were of the Notti[n]gham breed; 
 Brave Stutely comes then, with seven yeomen, 
 And did in this manner proceed. 
 
 33. "This infant was called John Little," quoth he, 
 
 "Which name shall be changed anon; 
 The words we'll transpose, so where-ever he goes, 
 His name shall be calld Little John." 
 
 34. They all with a shout made the elements ring, 
 
 So soon as the office was ore; 
 To feasting they went, with true merriment, 
 And tippld strong liquor gillore. 
 
 35. Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe, 
 
 And cloth 'd him from top to the toe 
 In garments of green, most gay to be seen, 
 And gave him a curious long bow. 
 
 36. "Thou shalt be an archer as well as the best, 
 
 And range in the greenwood with us ; 
 
attb %ia fflttty Jfflen 249 
 
 Where we '11 not want gold nor silver, behold, 
 While bishops have ought in their purse. 
 
 37. "We live here like squires, or lords of renown, 
 
 Without e'er a foot of free land; 
 We feast on good cheer, with wine, ale, and beer, 
 And evry thing at our command." 
 
 38. Then musick and dancing did finish the day; 
 
 At length, when the sun waxed low, 
 Then all the whole train the grove did refrain, 
 And unto their caves they did go. 
 
 39. And so ever after, as long as he livd, 
 
 Altho he was proper and tall, 
 Yet nevertheless, the truth to express, 
 Still Little John they did him call. 
 
 The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield 
 
 1. In Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder, 
 
 In Wakefield, all on a green; (bis) 
 
 2. "There is neither knight nor squire," said the 
 
 pinder, 
 "Nor baron that is so bold, (bis) 
 Dare make a trespass on the town of Wakefield, 
 But his pledge goes to the pinfold." (bis) 
 
 3. All this beheard three witty young men, 
 
 'T was Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John; 
 With that they spyed the jolly pinder, 
 As he sate under a thorn. 
 
250 l\ob\n goob 
 
 4. "Now turn again, turn again," said the pinder, 
 
 "For a wrong way have you gone; 
 For you have forsaken the king his highway, 
 And made a path over the corn." 
 
 5 . " O that were great shame, ' ' said jolly Robin, 
 
 "We being three, and thou but one": 
 The pinder leapt back then thirty good foot, 
 'T was thirty good foot and one. 
 
 6. He leaned his back fast unto a thorn, 
 
 And his foot unto a stone, 
 And there he fought a long summer's day, 
 
 A summer's day so long, 
 Till that their swords, on their broad bucklers, 
 
 Were broken fast unto their hands. 
 
 7. "Hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin Hood, 
 
 1 ' And my merry men every one ; 
 For this is one of the best pinders 
 That ever I tryd with a sword. 
 
 8 . " And wilt thou forsake thy pinder his craft, 
 
 And live in [the] greenwood with me?" 
 
 "At Michaelmas next my covnant comes out, 
 When every man gathers his fee; 
 
 I '11 take my blew blade all in my hand, 
 And plod to the greenwood with thee." 
 
attb j»te ffltxvp Mm 251 
 
 10. "Hast thou either meat or drink," said Robin 
 Hood, 
 "For my merry men and me?" 
 
 11. "I have both bread and beef," said the pinder, 
 
 "And good ale of the best"; 
 "And that is meat good enough," said Robin 
 Hood, 
 "For such unbidden guest. 
 
 12. "O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft, 
 
 And go to the greenwood with me? 
 Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year, 
 The one green, the other brown [shall be]." 
 
 13. "If Michaelmas day were once come and gone 
 
 And my master had paid me my fee, 
 Then would I set as little by him 
 As my master doth set by me." 
 
 Robin Hood and Maid Marian 
 
 1. A bonny fine maid of a noble degree, 
 
 With a hey down down a down down 
 Maid Marian calld by name, 
 Did live in the North, of excellent worth, 
 For she was a gallant dame. 
 
 2. For favour and face, and beauty most rare, 
 
 Queen Hellen shee did ex cell; 
 For Marian then was praisd of all men 
 That did in the country dwell. 
 
252 Kolmt i)oob 
 
 3. 'T was neither Rosamond nor Jane Shore, 
 
 Whose beauty was clear and bright, 
 That could surpass this country lass, 
 Beloved of lord and knight. 
 
 4. The Earl of Huntington, nobly born, 
 
 That came of noble blood, 
 To Marian went, with a good intent, 
 By the name of Robin Hood. 
 
 5. With kisses sweet their red lips meet, 
 
 For shee and the earl did agree; 
 In every place, they kindly imbrace, 
 With love and sweet unity. 
 
 6. But fortune bearing these lovers a spight, 
 
 That soon they were forced to part, 
 To the merry green wood then went Robin Hood, 
 With a sad and sorrowful heart. 
 
 7. And Marian, poor soul, was troubled in mind, 
 
 For the absence of her friend ; 
 With finger in eye, shee often did cry, 
 And his person did much commend. 
 
 8. Perplexed and vexed, and troubled in mind, 
 
 Shee drest herself like a page, 
 And ranged the wood to find Robin Hood, 
 The bravest of men in that age. 
 
 9. With quiver and bow, sword, buckler, and all, 
 
 Thus armed was Marian most bold, 
 
anb %tg jfWerrp JWen 253 
 
 Still wandering about to find Robin out, 
 Whose person was better than gold. 
 
 10. But Robin Hood, hee himself had disguis'd, 
 
 And Marian was strangely attir'd, 
 That they provd foes, and so fell to blowes, 
 Whose valour bold Robin admir'd. 
 
 11. They drew out their swords, and to cutting they 
 
 went, 
 At least an hour or more, 
 That the blood ran apace from bold Robin's face, 
 And Marian was wounded sore. 
 
 12. "O hold thy hand, hold thy hand," said Robin 
 
 Hood, 
 "And thou shalt be one of my string, 
 To range in the wood with bold Robin Hood, 
 To hear the sweet nightingale sing." 
 
 13. When Marian did hear the voice of her love, 
 
 Her self shee did quickly discover, 
 And with kisses sweet she did him greet, 
 Like to a most loyall lover. 
 
 14. When bold Robin Hood his Marian did see, 
 
 Good lord, what clipping was there ! 
 With kind imb races and jobbing of faces, 
 Providing of gallant cheer. 
 
 15. For Little John took his bow in his hand, 
 
 And wandring in the wood, 
 
254 l\obm l)ooti 
 
 To kill the deer, and make good chear, 
 For Marian and Robin Hood. 
 
 1 6. A stately banquet the[y] had full soon, 
 
 All in a shaded bower, 
 Where venison sweet they had to eat, 
 And were merry that present hour. 
 
 17. Great flaggons of wine were set on the board, 
 
 And merrily they drunk round 
 Their boules of sack, to strengthen the back, 
 Whilst their knees did touch the ground. 
 
 18. First Robin Hood began a health, 
 
 To Marian his onely dear, 
 And his yeomen all, both comly and tall, 
 Did quickly bring up the rear. 
 
 19. For in a brave vein they tost off the[ir] bouls, 
 
 Whilst thus they did remain, 
 
 And every cup, as they drunk up, 
 
 They filled with speed again. 
 
 20. At last they ended their merryment, 
 
 And went to walk in the wood, 
 Where Little John and Maid Marian 
 Attended on bold Robin Hood. 
 
 21. In sollid content together they liv'd, 
 
 With all their yeomen gay; 
 They liv'd by their hands, without any lands, 
 And so they did many a day. 
 
attb gtg Jtterrp Jfflett 255 
 
 22. But now to conclude, an end I will make 
 In time, as I think it good, 
 For the people that dwell in the North can tell 
 Of Marian and bold Robin Hood. 
 
 Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar 
 
 1. In summer-time, when leaves grow green, 
 
 And flowers are fresh and gay, 
 Robin Hood and his merry men 
 Were disposed to play. 
 
 2. Then some would leap, and some would run, 
 
 And some would use artillery: 
 "Which of you can a good bow draw, 
 A good archer to be ? 
 
 3. "Which of you can kill a buck? 
 
 Or who can kill a do ? 
 Or who can kill a hart of greece, 
 Five hundred foot him fro?" 
 
 4. Will Scadlock he killd a buck, 
 
 And Midge he killd a do, 
 And Little John killd a hart of greece, 
 Five hundred foot him fro. 
 
 5. "God's blessing on thy heart," said Robin Hood, 
 
 "That hath [shot] such a shot for me; 
 I would ride my horse an hundred miles, 
 To find© one could match with thee," 
 
256 ftojnn l)oob 
 
 6. That causd Will Scadlock to laugh, 
 
 He laughed full heartily: 
 "There lives a curtal frier in Fountains Abby 
 Will beat both him and thee. 
 
 7. "That curtal frier in Fountains Abby 
 
 Well can a strong bow draw; 
 He will beat you and your yeomen, 
 Set them all on a row." 
 
 8. Robin Hood took a solemn oath, 
 
 It was by Mary free, 
 That he would neither eat nor drink 
 Till the frier he did see. 
 
 9. Robin Hood put on his harness good, 
 
 And on his head a cap of steel, 
 Broad sword and buckler by his side, 
 And they became him weel. 
 
 10. He took his bow into his hand, 
 
 It was made of a lusty tree, 
 With a sheaf of arrows at his belt, 
 To the Fountains Dale went he. 
 
 1 1 . And comming unto Fountain^] dale, 
 
 No further would he ride; 
 There was he ware of a curtal frier, 
 Walking by the waterside. 
 
 12. The fryer had on a harness good, 
 
 And on his head a cap of steel, 
 
anb j|tg ffltxxy Mm 257 
 
 Broad sword and buckler by his side, 
 And they became him weel. 
 
 13. Robin Hood lighted off his horse, 
 
 And tied him to a thorn: 
 "Carry me over the water, thou curtal frier, 
 Or else thy life's forlorn." 
 
 14. The frier 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. 
 
 15. Lightly leapt Robin Hood off the frier's back; 
 
 The frier said to him again, 
 "Carry me over this water, fine fello, 
 Or it shall breed thy pain." 
 
 16. Robin Hood took the frier on's back, 
 
 Deep water he did bestride, 
 And spake neither good word nor bad, 
 Till he came at the other side. 
 
 17. Lightly leapt the frier off Robin Hood's back; 
 
 Robin Hood said to him again, 
 ' ' Carry me over this water, thou curtal frier, 
 Or it shall breed thee pain." 
 
 18. The frier took Robin Hood on's back again, 
 
 And stept up to the knee ; 
 Till he came at the middle stream, 
 Neither good nor bad spake he. 
 
258 foobttt l)OOb 
 
 19. And coming to the middle stream, 
 
 There he threw Robin in : 
 "And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellow, 
 Whether thou wilt sink or swim." 
 
 20. Robin Hood swam to a bush of broom, 
 
 The frier to a wicker wand ; 
 Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore, 
 And took his bow in hand. 
 
 2 1 . One of his best arrows under his belt 
 
 To .the frier he let fly; 
 The curtal frier with his steel buckler, 
 He put that arrow by. 
 
 22. "Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellow, 
 
 Shoot on as thou hast begun; 
 If thou shoot here a summer's day, 
 Thy mark I will not shun." 
 
 23. Robin Hood shot passing well, 
 
 Till his arrows all were gone; 
 They took their swords and steel bucklers, 
 And fought with might and maine; 
 
 24. From ten o' th' clock that day, 
 
 Till four i' th' afternoon; 
 Then Robin Hood came to his knees, 
 Of the frier to beg a boon. 
 
 25. "A boon, a boon, thou curtal frier, 
 
 I beg it on my knee ; 
 
anb j|tg fflttty Mm 259 
 
 Give me leave to set my horn to my mouth, 
 And to blow blasts three." 
 
 26. "That will I do," said the curtal frier, 
 
 "Of thy blasts I have no doubt; 
 I hope thou'lt blow so passing well 
 Till both thy eyes fall out." 
 
 27. Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth, 
 
 He blew but blasts three; 
 Half a hundred yeomen, with bows bent, 
 Came raking over the lee. 
 
 28. "Whose men are these," said the frier, 
 
 "That come so hastily?" 
 "These men are mine," said Robin Hood; 
 "Frier, what is that to thee?" 
 
 29. "A boon, a boon," said the curtal frier, 
 
 "The like I gave to thee; 
 Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth, 
 And to whute whutes three." 
 
 30. "That will I do," said Robin Hood, 
 
 ' ' Or else I were to blame ; 
 Three whutes in a frier's fist 
 Would make me glad and fain." 
 
 31. The frier set his fist to his mouth, 
 
 And whuted whutes three; 
 Half a hundred good ban-dogs, 
 Came running the frier unto. 
 
 17 
 
260 £obm l)oob 
 
 32. " Here 's for every man of thine a dog, 
 
 And I myself for thee": 
 "Nay by my faith," quoth Robin Hood, 
 "Frier, that may not be." 
 
 33. Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did go, 
 
 The one behind, the other before; 
 Robin Hood's mantle of Lincoln green 
 Off from his back they tore. 
 
 34. And whether his men shot east or west, 
 
 Or they shot north or south, 
 The curtal dogs, so taught they were, 
 They kept their arrows in their mouth. 
 
 35. "Take up thy dogs," said Little John, 
 
 "Frier, at my bidding be"; 
 "Whose man art thou," said the curtal frier, 
 "Comes here to prate with me? " 
 
 36. "I am Little John, Robin Hood's man, 
 
 Frier, I will not lie; 
 If thou take not up thy dogs soon, 
 I 'le take up them and thee." 
 
 37. Little John had a bow in his hand, 
 
 He shot with might and main; 
 Soon half a score of the frier's dogs 
 Lay dead upon the plain. 
 
 38. "Hold thy hand, good fellow." said the curtal frier, 
 
 "Thy master and I will agree; 
 
anb jMsi ffltvvy Mm 261 
 
 And we will have new orders taken, 
 With all the haste that may be." 
 
 39. "If thou wilt forsake fair Fountains Dale 
 
 And Fountains Abby free, 
 Every Sunday throughout the year, 
 A noble shall be thy fee. 
 
 40. "And every holy day throuhout the year, 
 
 Changed shall thy garments be, 
 If thou wilt go to fair Nottingham, 
 And there remain with me." 
 
 41. This curtal frier had kept Fountains Dale 
 
 Seven long years or more ; 
 There was neither knight, lord, nor earl 
 Could make him yield before. 
 
 Robin Hood Rescuing the Three Squires 
 
 1. Bold Robin Hood ranging the forest all round, 
 The forest all round ranged he; 
 O there did he meet with a gay lady, 
 She came weeping along the highway. 
 
 "What weep you for then?" said jolly Robin, 
 
 "I prithee come tell unto me"; 
 "Oh! I do weep for my three sons, 
 
 For they are all condemned to die." 
 
262 i\obm l9oob 
 
 3. "What have they done then?" said jolly Robin, 
 
 "Come tell me most speedily"; 
 "Oh! it is for killing the king's fallow deer, 
 And they are all condemned to die." 
 
 4. "Get you home, get you home," said jolly Robin, 
 
 "Get you home most speedily, 
 And I will unto fair Nottingham go, 
 For the sake of the squires three." 
 
 5. Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes, 
 
 For Nottingham town goes he, 
 O there did he meet with a poor beggar-man, 
 He came creeping along the highway. 
 
 6. "What news, what news, thou old beggar-man? 
 
 What news, come tell unto me": 
 "O there is weeping and wailing in fair Notting- 
 ham, 
 For the death of the squires all three." 
 
 7. This beggar-man had a coat on his back, 
 
 'T was neither green, yellow, nor red ; 
 Bold Robin Hood thought 't was no disgrace 
 To be in a beggar-man's stead. 
 
 8. "Come, pull off thy coat, you old beggar-man, 
 
 And you shall put on mine; 
 And forty good shillings I '11 give thee to boot, 
 Besides brandy, good beer, and wine." 
 
 9. Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came, 
 
 Unto Nottingham town came he; 
 
anb His Mtxxy Jtlen 263 
 
 O there did he meet with great master sheriff 
 And likewise the squires all three. 
 
 10. "One boon, one boon," says jolly Robin, 
 
 "One boon, I beg on my knee; 
 That, as for the deaths of these three squires, 
 Their hangman I may be." 
 
 11. "Soon granted, soon granted," says great master 
 
 sheriff, 
 "Soon granted unto thee; 
 And you shall have all their gay clothing, 
 Aye, and all their white money." 
 
 12. "0 1 will have none of their gay clothing, 
 
 Nor none of their white money, 
 But I'll have three blasts on my bugle-horn, 
 That their souls to heaven may flee." 
 
 13. Then Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high, 
 
 Where he blew loud and shrill, 
 Till an hundred and ten of Robin Hood's men 
 They came marching all down the green hill. 
 
 14. "Whose men are they all these?" says great 
 
 master sheriff, 
 "Whose men are they? Tell unto me" : 
 "0 they are mine, but none of thine, 
 And they're come for the squires all three." 
 
 15. "O take them, O take them!" says great master 
 
 sheriff, 
 "O take them along with thee; 
 
264 Kolnn l)ooti 
 
 For there 's never a man in all Nottingham 
 Can do the like of thee." 
 
 Robin Hood and the Prince of Aragon 
 
 i. Now Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little John 
 Are walking over the plain, 
 With a good fat buck which Will Scadlock 
 With his strong bow had slain. 
 
 2. "Jog on, jog on," cries Robin Hood, 
 
 "The day it runs full fast; 
 For though my nephew me a breakfast gave, 
 I have not yet broke my fast. 
 
 3. "Then to yonder lodge let us take our way, 
 
 I think it wondrous good, 
 Where my nephew by, my bold yeomen 
 Shall be welcomd unto the green wood." 
 
 4. With that he took the bugle-horn, 
 
 Full well he could it blow; 
 Straight from the woods came marching down 
 One hundred tall fellows and mo. 
 
 5. "Stand, stand to your arms!" crys Will Scadlock, 
 
 " Lo ! the enemies are within ken" , 
 With that Robin Hood he laughed aloud, 
 Crys, "They are my bold yeomen." 
 
 6. Who, when they arriv'd and Robin espy'd, 
 
 Cry'd "Master, what is your will? 
 
anb gig Jfflerrp jfflen 265 
 
 We thought you had in danger been, 
 Your horn did sound so shrill." 
 
 7. "Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, 
 
 "The danger is past and gone; 
 I would have you to welcome my nephew here, 
 That hath paid me two for one." 
 
 8. In feasting and sporting they passed the day, 
 
 Till Phcebus sunk into the deep; 
 Then each one to his quarters hy'd, 
 His guard there for to keep. 
 
 9. Long had they not walked within the green wood, 
 
 But Robin he was espy'd 
 Of a beautiful damsel all alone, 
 That on a black palfrey did ride. 
 
 10. Her riding-suit was of sable hew black, 
 
 Sypress over her face, 
 Through which her rose-like cheeks did blush, 
 All with a comely grace. 
 
 11. "Come tell me the cause, thou pritty one," 
 
 Quoth Robin, "and tell me aright, 
 From whence thou comest, and whither thou goest, 
 All in this mournful plight." 
 
 12. "From London I came," the damsel reply 'd, 
 
 "From London upon the Thames, 
 Which circled is, O grief to tell! 
 Besieged with foreign arms. 
 
266 Robin %)oob 
 
 13. "By the proud Prince of Aragon, 
 
 Who swears by his martial hand 
 To have the princess for his spouse, 
 Or else to waste this land : 
 
 14. "Except that champions can be found 
 
 That dare fight three to three, 
 Against the prince and giants twain, 
 Most horrid for to see : 
 
 15. "Whose grisly looks, and eyes like brands. 
 
 Strike terror where they come, 
 With serpents hissing on their helms, 
 Instead of feathered plume. 
 
 16. "The princess shall be the victor's prize, 
 
 The king hath vowd and said, 
 And he that shall the conquest win 
 Shall have her to his bride. 
 
 17. "Now we are four damsels sent abroad, 
 
 To the east, west, north, and south, 
 To try whose fortune is so good 
 To find these champions forth. 
 
 18. "But all in vain we have sought about; 
 
 Yet none so bold there are 
 That dare adventure life and blood, 
 To free a lady fair." 
 
 19. "When is the day?" quoth Robin Hood, 
 
 "Tell me this and no more"; 
 
anb %tg Jflerrp Mm 267 
 
 "On Midsummer next," the damsel said, 
 "Which is June the twenty-four." 
 
 20. With that the teares tickled down her cheeks, 
 
 And silent was her tongue ; 
 With sighs and sobs she took her leave, 
 Away her palfrey sprung. 
 
 21. This news struck Robin to the heart, 
 
 He fell down on the grass; 
 His actions and his troubled mind 
 Shewed he perplexed was. 
 
 22. "Where lies your grief?" quoth Will Scadlock, 
 
 "O master, tell to me; 
 If the damsel's eyes have pierced your heart, 
 I'll fetch her back to thee." 
 
 23. "Now nay, now nay," quoth Robin Hood, 
 
 ' ' She doth not cause my smart ; 
 But it is the poor distressed princess 
 That wounds me to the heart. 
 
 24. "I will go fight the giants all 
 
 To set the lady free": 
 "The devil take my soul," quoth Little John, 
 "If I part with thy company." 
 
 25. "Must I stay behind?" quoth Will Scadlock; 
 
 "No, no, that must not be; 
 I 'le make the third man in the fight, 
 So we shall be three to three." 
 
268 JA 01)111 l)00b 
 
 26. These words cheered Robin at the heart, 
 
 Joy shone within his face ; 
 Within his arms he hugged them both, 
 And kindly did embrace. 
 
 27. Quoth he, "We'll put on mothly gray, 
 
 With long staves in our hands, 
 A scrip and bottle by our sides, 
 As come from the Holy Land. 
 
 28. "So we may pass along the highway; 
 
 None will ask from whence we came, 
 But take us pilgrims for to be, 
 Or else some holy men." 
 
 29. Now they are on their journey gone, 
 
 As fast as they may speed, 
 Yet for all haste, ere they arriv'd, 
 The princess forth was led : 
 
 30. To be delivered to the prince, 
 
 Who in the list did stand, 
 Prepar'd to fight, or else receive 
 His lady by the hand. 
 
 31. With that he walkt about the lists, 
 
 With giants by his side : 
 "Bring forth," said he, "your champions, 
 Or bring me forth my bride. 
 
 32. "This is the fourth and twentieth day, 
 
 The day prefixt upon ; 
 
anb ffite jftlerrp jWen 269 
 
 Bring forth my bride, or London burns, 
 I swear by Acaron." 
 
 33. Then cries the king, and queen likewise, 
 
 Both weeping as they speak, 
 "Lo! we have brought our daughter dear, 
 Whom we are forced to forsake." 
 
 34. With that stept out bold Robin Hood, 
 
 Crys, "My liege, it must not be so; 
 Such beauty as the fair princess 
 Is not for a tyrant's mow." 
 
 35. The prince he then began to storm, 
 
 Crys, "Fool, fanatick, baboon! 
 How dares thou stop my valour's prize ? 
 I'll kill thee with a frown." 
 
 36. "Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel," 
 
 Thus Robin began to reply, 
 "Thy frowns I scorn; lo! here's my gage, 
 And thus I thee defie. 
 
 37. "And for these two Goliaths there, 
 
 That stand on either side, 
 Here are two little Davids by, 
 That soon can tame their pride. ' ' 
 
 38. Then did the king for armour send, 
 
 For lances, swords, and shields : 
 And thus all three in armour bright 
 Came marching to the field. 
 
270 &obm jfoob 
 
 39. The trumpets began to sound a charge, 
 
 Each singled out his man; 
 Their arms in pieces soon were hewd, 
 Blood sprang from every vain. 
 
 40. The prince he reacht Robin a blow — 
 
 He struck with might and main— 
 Which forcd him to reel about the field, 
 As though he had been slain. 
 
 41. "God-a-mercy," quoth Robin, "for that blow! 
 
 The quarrel shall soon be try'd; 
 This stroke shall shew a full divorce 
 Betwixt thee and thy bride." 
 
 42. So from his shoulders he's cut his head, 
 
 Which on the ground did fall, 
 And grumbling sore at Robin Hood, 
 To be so dealt withal. 
 
 43 . The giants then began to rage, 
 
 To see their prince lie dead : 
 "Thou's be the next," quoth Little John, 
 "Unless thou well guard thy head." 
 
 44. With that his faulchion he whirld about — 
 
 It was both keen and sharp — 
 He clove the giant to the belt, 
 And cut in twain his heart. 
 
 45. Will Scadlock well had playd his part, 
 
 The giant he had brought to his knee; 
 
anb JM$ ffltxvp Mm 271 
 
 Quoth he, "The devil cannot break his fast, 
 Unless he have you all three." 
 
 46. So with his faulchion he run him through, 
 
 A deep and gashly wound ; 
 Who damd and foamd, cursd and blasphemd 
 And then fell to the ground. 
 
 47. Now all the lists with cheers were filld, 
 
 The skies they did resound, 
 Which brought the princess to herself, 
 Who was fain in a s wound. 
 
 48. The king and queen and princess fair 
 
 Came walking to the place, 
 And gave the champions many thanks, 
 And did them further grace. 
 
 49. "Tell me," quoth the king, "whence you are, 
 
 That thus disguised came, 
 Whose valour speaks that noble blood 
 Doth run through every vain." 
 
 50. "A boon, a boon," quoth Robin Hood, 
 
 "On my knees I beg and crave" : 
 "By my crown," quoth the king, "I grant; 
 Ask what, and thou shalt have." 
 
 51. "Then pardon I beg for my merry men, 
 
 Which are within the green wood, 
 For Little John, and Will Scadlock, 
 And for me, bold Robin Hood." 
 
2 1* i\obin ji)oob 
 
 52. "Art thou Robin Hood?" then quoth the king; 
 
 "For the valour you have shown, 
 Your pardons I doe freely grant, 
 And welcome every one. 
 
 53. "The princess I promised the victor's prize, 
 
 She cannot have you all three" : 
 "She shall chuse," quoth Robin; saith Little John, 
 "Then little share falls to me." 
 
 54. Then did the princess view all three, 
 
 With a comely lovely grace, 
 Who took Will Scadlock by the hand, 
 Quoth, "Here I make my choice." 
 
 55. With that a noble lord stept forth, 
 
 Of Maxfield earl was he, 
 Who lookt Will Scadlock in the face, 
 Then wept most bitterly. 
 
 56. Quoth he, "I had a son like thee, 
 
 Whom I loved wondrous well ; 
 But he is gone, or rather dead; 
 His name is Young Gamwell." 
 
 57. Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees, 
 
 Cries, "Father! father! here, 
 Here kneels your son, your Young Gamwell 
 You said you loved so dear." 
 
 58. But, lord! what imbracing and kissing was there, 
 
 When all these friends were met ! 
 
anb %te Mttvy Mm 273 
 
 They are gone to the wedding, and so to bedding, 
 And so I bid you good night. 
 
 The Noble Fisherman 
 
 1. In summer time, when leaves grow green, 
 
 When they doe grow both green and long, 
 Of a bould outlaw, called Robin Hood, 
 It is of him I sing this song. 
 
 2. When the lilly leafe and the elephant 
 
 Doth bud and spring with a merry good cheere, 
 This outlaw was weary of the wood-side, 
 And chasing of the fallow deere. 
 
 3. " The fisherman brave more mony have 
 
 Then any merchant, two or three; 
 Therefore I will to Scarborough goe, 
 That I a fisherman brave may be." 
 
 4. This outlaw calld his merry men all, 
 
 As they sate under the green -wood tree ; 
 "If any of you have gold to spend, 
 I pray you heartily spend it with me. 
 
 5. "Now," quoth Robbin, "lie to Scarborough goe, 
 
 It seems to be a very faire day"; 
 Who tooke up his inne at a widdow-woman's house, 
 Hard by upon the water gray. 
 
 6. Who asked of him, "Where wert thou borne? 
 
 Or tell to me, where dost thou fare?" 
 
274 JAOlltn iPooip 
 
 "I am a poore fisherman," said he then 
 "This day intrapped all in care." 
 
 7. "What is thy name, thou fine fellow? 
 
 I pray thee heartily tell to me"; 
 "In mine own country where I was born, 
 Men called me Simon over the Lee." 
 
 8. "Simon, Simon," said the good wife, 
 
 "I wish though maist well brook thy name"; 
 The outlaw was ware of her courtesie, 
 And rejoyed he had got such a dame. 
 
 9. "Simon, wilt thou be my man? 
 
 And good round wages I'le give thee - 
 I have as good a ship of mine owne 
 As any sayle upon the sea. 
 
 10. "Anchors and planks thou shalt want none. 
 
 Masts and ropes that are so long"; 
 "And if that you thus furnish me," 
 Said Simon, "nothing shall goe wrong." 
 
 11. They pluck t up anchor, and away did sayle, 
 
 More of a day, than two or three ; 
 
 When others cast in their baited hooks, 
 
 The bare lines into the sea cast he. 
 
 12. "It will be long," said the master then, 
 
 ' ' Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea ; 
 I '11 assure you he shall have no part of our fish, 
 For in truth he is of no part worthy." 
 
anb j|tg fflivvy jfflen 275 
 
 13. "O woe is me," said Simon then, 
 
 "This day that ever I came here! 
 I wish I were in Plomton Parke, 
 In chasing of the fallow deere. 
 
 14. "For every clowne laughs me to scorne, 
 
 And they by me set nought at all ; 
 If I. had them in Plomton Park, 
 I would set as little by them all. " 
 
 15. They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle, 
 
 More of a day than two or three; 
 But Simon spied a ship of warre, 
 
 That sayld towards them most valourously. 
 
 16. "O woe is me," said the master then, 
 
 "This day that ever I was borne! 
 For all our fish we have got to-day 
 Is every bit lost and forlorne. 
 
 17. "For your French robbers on the sea, 
 
 They will not spare of us one man, 
 But carry us to the coast of France, 
 And ligge us in the prison strong." 
 
 18. But Simon said, "Do not feare them, 
 
 Neither, master, take you no care; 
 Give me my bent bow in my hand, 
 And never a Frenchman will I spare." 
 
 19. "Hold thy peace, thou long lubber, 
 
 For thou art nought but braggs and boast : 
 
 18 
 
276 l\obu\ l)oob 
 
 If I should cast thee over-board, 
 There were nothing but a lubber lost." 
 
 2 o. Simon grew angry at these words, 
 And so angry then was he 
 That he tooke his bent bow in his hand 
 And to the ship-hatch goe doth he. 
 
 21. "Master, tye me to the mast," saith he, 
 
 "That at my mark I may stand fair, 
 
 And give me my bended bow in my hand, 
 
 And never a Frenchman will I spare." 
 
 22. He drew his arrow to the very head, 
 
 And drew it with all might and maine, 
 And straightway, in the twinkling of an eye 
 Doth the Frenchman's heart the arrow gain. 
 
 23. The Frenchman fell downe on the ship-hatch, 
 
 And under the hatches down below ; 
 Another Frenchman that him espy'd 
 The dead corps into the sea doth throw. 
 
 24. "O master, loose me from the mast," he said, 
 
 "And for them all take you no care, 
 And give me my bent bow in my hand, 
 And never a Frenchman will I spare." 
 
 25. Then streight [they] did board the Frenchmans 
 
 ship, 
 They lying all dead in their sight; 
 They found within the ship of warre 
 
 Twelve thousand pound of money bright. 
 
anb j|tg Mtvty Mm 277 
 
 26. "The one halfe of the ship," said Simon then, 
 
 " I 'le give to my dame and children small; 
 The other halfe of the ship I 'le bestow 
 On you that are my fellows all." 
 
 27. But now bespake the master then, 
 
 "For so, Simon, it shall not be; 
 For you have won her with your own hand, 
 And the owner of it you shall bee." 
 
 28. "It shall be so, as I have said; 
 
 And, with this gold, for the opprest 
 An habitation I will build, 
 
 Where they shall live in peace and rest." 
 
 Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale 
 
 1. Come listen to me, you gallants so free, 
 
 All you that loves mirth for to hear, 
 And I will you tell of a bold outlaw, 
 That lived in Nottinghamshire, (bis) 
 
 2. As Robin Hood in the forrest stood, 
 
 All under the green- wood tree, 
 There was he ware of a brave young man, 
 As fine as fine might be. 
 
 3. The youngster was clothed in scarlet red, 
 
 In scarlet fine and gay, 
 And he did frisk it over the plain, 
 And chanted a roundelav. 
 
278 JAobm iDoob 
 
 4. As Robin Hood next morning stood, 
 . Amongst the leaves so gay, 
 
 There did he espy the same young man 
 Come drooping along the way. 
 
 5. The scarlet he wore the day before, 
 
 It was clean cast away; 
 And every step he fetcht a sigh, 
 "Alack and a well a day!" 
 
 6. Then stepped forth brave Little John, 
 
 And Nick the miller's son, 
 Which made the young man bend his bow, 
 When as he see them come. 
 
 7. "Stand off, stand off," the young man said, 
 
 "What is your will with me?" 
 "You must come before our master straight 
 Under yon green-wood tree." 
 
 8. And when he came bold Robin before, 
 
 Robin askt him courteously, 
 "O hast thou any money to spare 
 For my merry men and me? " 
 
 9. "I have no money," the young man said, 
 
 "But five shillings and a ring; 
 And that I have kept this seven long years, 
 To have it at my wedding. 
 
 10. "Yesterday I should have married a maid, 
 But she is now from me tane, 
 
anb j|tg Jflerrp jUlen 279 
 
 And chosen to be an old knight's delight, 
 Whereby my poor heart is slain." 
 
 ii. "What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, 
 "Come tell me, without any fail": 
 "By the faith of my body," then said the young 
 man. 
 "My name it is Allen-a-Dale." 
 
 12. "What wilt though give me," said Robin Hood, 
 
 "In ready gold or fee, 
 To help thee to thy true-love again, 
 And deliver her unto thee ? " 
 
 13. "I have no money," then quoth the young man, 
 
 "No ready gold nor fee, 
 But I will swear upon a book 
 Thy true servant for to be." 
 
 14. "How many miles is- to thy true-love? 
 
 Come tell me without any guile" : 
 "By the faith of my body," then said the young 
 man, 
 "It is but five little mile." 
 
 15. Then Robin he hasted over the plain, 
 
 He did neither stint nor lin, 
 Until he came unto the church 
 
 here Allen should keep his wedding. 
 
 16. "What dost thou do here?" the bishop he said, 
 
 "I prethee, now tell to me": 
 
280 3A o tun Il)oob 
 
 " I am a bold harper," quoth Robin Hood, 
 "And the best in the north country." 
 
 17. "O welcome, O welcome," the bishope he said 
 
 "That musick best pleaseth me"; 
 "You shall have no musick," quoth Robin Hood, 
 '.'Till the bride and the bridegroom I see." 
 
 18. With that came in a wealthy knight, 
 
 Which was both grave and old, 
 And after him a finikin lass, 
 Did shine like glistering gold. 
 
 19. "This is no fit match," quoth bold Robin Hood, 
 
 ' ' That you do seem to make here ; 
 For since we are come unto the church, 
 The bride she shall chuse her own dear." 
 
 20. Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth, 
 
 And blew blasts two or three ; 
 Wnen four and twenty bowmen bold 
 Came leaping over the lea. 
 
 21. And when they came into the church-yard, 
 
 Marching all on a row, 
 The first man was Allen-a-Dale, 
 To give bold Robin his bow. 
 
 22. "This is thy true-love," Robin he said, 
 
 "Young Allen, as I hear say; 
 And you shall be married at this same time, 
 Before we depart away." 
 
 
anb %tg Jflerrp jWen 281 
 
 23. "That shall not be," the bishop he said, 
 
 "For thy word shall not stand; 
 They shall be three times askt in the church, 
 As the law is in the land." 
 
 24. Robin Hood pulld off the bishops coat, 
 
 And put it upon Little John ; 
 "By the faith of my body," then Robin said, 
 "This cloath doth make the a man." 
 
 25. When Little John went into the quire, 
 
 The people began for to laugh ; 
 He askt them seven times in the church, 
 Least three times should not be enough: 
 
 26. "Who gives me this maid," then said Little John; 
 
 Quoth Robin, "That do I, 
 And he that doth take her from Allen-a-Dale 
 Full dearly he shall her buy." 
 
 27. And thus having ended this merry wedding, 
 
 The bride lookt as fresh as a queen, 
 And so they returned to the merry green wood, 
 Amongst the leaves so green. 
 
 Robin Hood's Death and Burial 
 
 1 . When Robin Hood and Little John 
 
 Down a down a down a down 
 Went oer yon bank of broom, 
 
 Said Robin Hood bold to Little John, 
 "We have shot for many a pound." 
 
 Hey, down a derry deny down. 
 
282 £olmt l)oob 
 
 2. But I am not able to shoot one shot more, 
 
 My broad arrows will not flee; 
 But I have a cousin lives down below, 
 Please God, she will bleed me. 
 Hey, down a derry derry down. 
 
 3. Now Robbin he is to fair Kirkly gone, 
 
 As fast as he can win ; 
 But before he came there, as we do hear, 
 He was taken very ill. 
 
 4. And when he came to fair Kirkly-hall, 
 
 He knocked all at the ring, 
 But none was so ready as his cousin herself 
 For to let bold Robin in. 
 
 5. "Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin," 
 
 she said, 
 "And drink some beer with me?" 
 "No, I will neither eat nor drink, 
 Till I am blooded by thee." 
 
 6. ' Well, I have a room, cousin Robin," she said, 
 
 "Which you did never see, 
 And if you please to walk therein, 
 You blooded by me shall be." 
 
 7. She took him by the lilly- white hand, 
 
 And led him to a private room, 
 And there she blooded bold Robin Hood, 
 While one drop of blood would run down. 
 
anb %te Mtxtp Jfflen 283 
 
 8. She blooded him in a vein of the arm, 
 
 And locked him up in the room ; 
 Then did he bleed all the live-long day, 
 Until the next day at noon. 
 
 9. He then bethought him of a casement there, 
 
 Thinking for to get down; 
 But was so weak he could not leap, 
 He could not get him down. 
 
 10. He then bethought him of his bugle-horn, 
 
 Which hung low down to his knee; 
 He set his horn unto his mouth, 
 And blew out weak blasts three. 
 
 11. Then Little John, when hearing him, 
 
 As he sat under a tree, 
 "I fear my master is now near dead, 
 He blows so wearily." 
 
 1 2 . Then Little John to fair Kirkly is gone, 
 
 As fast as he can dree; 
 But when he came to Kirkly-hall 
 He broke locks two or three; 
 
 13. Until he came bold Robin to see, 
 
 Then he fell on his knee; 
 "A boon, a boon," cried Little John, 
 " Master, I beg of thee." :.:.:,■ '; & - 
 
 14. "What is that boon," said Robin Hood,. 
 
 "Little John, [thou] begs of me?" 
 
284 JAObin i)oob 
 
 "It is to burn fair Kirkly-hall, 
 And all their nunnery." 
 
 15. "Now nay, now nay,'' quoth Robin Hood, 
 
 "That boon I'll not grant thee; 
 I never hurt woman in all my life, 
 Nor men in woman's company. 
 
 16. "I never hurt fair maid in all my time, 
 
 Nor at mine end shall it be; 
 But give me my bent bow in my hand, 
 
 And a broad arrow I '11 let flee 
 And where this arrow is taken up, 
 
 There shall my grave digged be. 
 
 17. " Lay me a green sod under my head, 
 
 And another at my feet ; 
 And lay my bent bow by my side, 
 
 Which was my music sweet ; 
 And make my grave of gravel and green, 
 
 Which is most right and meet. 
 
 18. "Let me have length and breadth enough, 
 
 With a green sod under my head ; 
 That they may say, when I am dead, 
 Here lies bold Robin Hood." 
 
 19. These words they readily granted him, 
 
 Which did bold Robin please; 
 And there they buried bold Robin Hood, 
 Within the fair Kirkleys. 
 
anb %te jffterrp Mm 285 
 
 20. Thus he that never feared bow nor spear 
 
 Was murdered by letting blood; 
 And so, loving friends, the story it ends 
 Of valiant Robin Hood. 
 
 2 1 . There 's nothing remains but his epitaph now 
 
 Which, reader, here you have, 
 To this very day which read you may, 
 
 As it is upon his grave, 
 Hey down a derry derry down. 
 
&obin 3|oob 
 
 IT has been the writer's object in these stories 
 to follow the Robin Hood ballads as closely as 
 may be. In the interests of morality, however, it has 
 not always been possible to preserve the proportion 
 of the old ballads or to transcribe them without 
 change. For example, the ballads give an unfair 
 view of the clergy ; if they do not make theft a gracious 
 act, they at least show that the hero is too prone to 
 take the law into his own hands. For these reasons, 
 only one story is given where Robin Hood robs a priest, 
 and then he does it in the interests of justice. Other 
 deviations from the original proportion are the additions 
 to the . Maid Marian story, and to the circumstances 
 of Robin's banishment; in the latter case, the tradition 
 is followed that Robin Hood was of noble birth. (See 
 Ritson's Robin Hood.) There are also a few slight 
 alterations in incident or character which have been 
 made for the sake of consistency or of plot. 
 
 A good deal of the comedy element and of the 
 fighting has been kept — the fighting necessarily, or the 
 Sherwood Forest flavor would have been lost. The 
 
 286 
 
anb gjjg JWerrp JWen 287 
 
 spontaneity and charm of the outdoor life will, it is 
 hoped, appeal more readily to the imagination of 
 children because of the introduction of the old English 
 songs. Most of them are taken from Chappell's Old 
 English Popular Music. Good additional books to 
 consult are Ritson's Ancient Songs and Ballads, and 
 Rimbault's Illustrations of the Robin Hood Ballads. 
 
 For the rest, the best qualities of the outlaws have 
 been emphasized — their sense of justice, their loyalty 
 to friends, their kindness to the poor, and their gentle- 
 ness to the weak. 
 
 Doubtless the teacher will see that the children 
 appreciate the points of the story — the moral, the 
 humor, the characters, and the climaxes — by asking 
 questions; but she can make them realize each story 
 better if she allow them to live it by dramatizing it. 
 With this in mind, the writer has taken the opportunity 
 of presenting something of the customs and manners 
 of the chivalric age. The teacher can make the ideas of 
 the children more definite by consulting Leon Gau- 
 tier's Chivalry, translated by Henry Frith, and pub- 
 lished by Routledge. It is a concrete and scholarly 
 history of chivalry, copiously illustrated. Another 
 good book is Strutt's Sports and Pastimes of the English 
 People, which has full descriptions of hawking, hunting, 
 wrestling, and games. The children can reproduce 
 castles, armor, and furniture with the help of chalk, 
 cardboard, plaster, and a sand table. Certain of the 
 Robin Hood costumes could be made in cheap fabrics. 
 In this connection, the excellent pictures in Howard 
 Pyle's Robin Hood will be a help. 
 
288 ftofttn l)oob 
 
 The nine ballads given are taken from the Child 
 edition, to which the teacher may refer those pupils 
 who are interested enough or sufficiently advanced to 
 wish to consult some original sources. They are 
 printed without change except the fourth, from which 
 stanzas 2, 3,5, and 6 have been omitted Words which 
 are not to be found in the ordinary dictionaries will be 
 found in the glossary. For good accounts of the 
 ballads, the teacher should consult such works as 
 Courthope's History of English Poetry; Garnett and 
 Gosse's History of English Literature; The Cambridge 
 History of English Literature; and The Dictionary of 
 National Biography. 
 
anli Sis; ffltrvp Jfflen 
 
 ® 
 
 artillery. Engines for discharging missiles, as bows, 
 
 slings, etc. 
 ban-dogs. Large dogs in a band or else tied up. 
 beshrewd. Cursed. 
 brook. "I wish thou maist well brook thy name": do 
 
 credit to it. 
 b'w'ye. Be with thee. 
 clipping. Embracing. 
 curtal. Short, docked; of a friar, short-f rocked ; of 
 
 any animal that has lost its tail. 
 discover. Make known. 
 dru. Do, perform, "as fast as he can dru." 
 elephant. A kind of flower; a species of scabious. 
 finikin. Dainty, pretty. 
 forlorne. Lose. 
 
 free. Gracious, liberal; "by Mary free." 
 fro. From. 
 frier. Friar. 
 
 gillore. Galore, in abundance. 
 greece. Fat and fit for killing; "a hart of greece." 
 harniss. Armor. 
 
290 &obm l)oob 
 
 hew. Color. 
 
 hy'd. Hied. 
 
 ligge. Lay. 
 
 lin. Cease, leave off. 
 
 liquor. Slang for thrash or beat; "Liquor thy hide." 
 
 mo. More. 
 
 mothly. Motley; "put on mothly grey," put on 
 
 variegated grey. 
 mow. Mouth; thick lips; jests; "such beauty is not 
 
 for tyrant's mow." 
 palfrey. A woman's saddle horse. 
 pinder. An officer of a manor having the duty of 
 
 impounding stray beasts. 
 raking. Moving forward rapidly; "yeomen came 
 
 raking o'er the lea." 
 spight. Spite. 
 stint. Stop. 
 
 stiver. Any very small coin. 
 strait. Immediately. 
 streight. Straight. 
 swound. Swoon. 
 sypress. A name of several fabrics originally 
 
 imported from Cypress; cloth of gold; 
 
 satin; "Sypress over her face." 
 tane. Taken. 
 treen. Trees. 
 whute. Hoot. 
 win. Go.