Now the King had no mind that Robin Hood should do as he willed, and
called his Knights to follow him to Nottingham, where they would lay
plans how best to take captive the felon. Here they heard sad tales of
Robin's misdoings, and how of the many herds of wild deer that had
been wont to roam the forest in some places scarce one remained. This
was the work of Robin Hood and his merry men, on whom the King swore
vengeance with a great oath.
'I would I had this Robin Hood in my hands,' cried he, 'and an end
should soon be put to his doings.' So spake the King; but an old
Knight, full of days and wisdom, answered him and warned him that the
task of taking Robin Hood would be a sore one, and best let alone. The
King, who had seen the vanity of his hot words the moment that he had
uttered them, listened to the old man, and resolved to bide his time,
if perchance some day Robin should fall into his power.
All this time and for six weeks later that he dwelt in Nottingham the
King could hear nothing of Robin, who seemed to have vanished into the
earth with his merry men, though one by one the deer were vanishing
too!
At last one day a forester came to the King, and told him that if he
would see Robin he must come with him and take five of his best
Knights. The King eagerly sprang up to do his bidding, and the six men
clad in monks' clothes mounted their palfreys and rode down to the
Abbey, the King wearing an Abbot's broad hat over his crown and
singing as he passed through the greenwood.
[Illustration: There is Pith in your arm said ROBIN HOOD]
Suddenly at the turn of a path Robin and his archers appeared before
them.
'By your leave, Sir Abbot,' said Robin, seizing the King's bridle,
'you will stay a while with us. Know that we are yeomen, who live upon
the King's deer, and other food have we none. Now you have abbeys and
churches, and gold in plenty; therefore give us some of it, in the
name of holy charity.'
'I have no more than forty pounds with me,' answered the King, 'but
sorry I am it is not a hundred, for you should have had it all.'
So Robin took the forty pounds, and gave half to his men, and then
told the King he might go on his way. 'I thank you,' said the King,
'but I would have you know that our liege lord has bid me bear you his
seal, and pray you to come to Nottingham.'
At this message Robin bent his knee.
'I love no man in all the world
So well as I do my King';
he cried, 'and Sir Abbot, for thy tidings, which fill my heart with
joy, to-day thou shalt dine with me, for love of my King.' Then he led
the King into an open place, and Robin took a horn and blew it loud,
and at its blast seven score of young men came speedily to do his
will.
'They are quicker to do his bidding than my men are to do mine,' said
the King to himself.
* * * * *
Speedily the foresters set out the dinner, venison, and white bread,
and the good red wine, and Robin and Little John served the King.
'Make good cheer,' said Robin, 'Abbot, for charity, and then you shall
see what sort of life we lead, that so you may tell our King.'
When he had finished eating the archers took their bows, and hung
rose-garlands up with a string, and every man was to shoot through
the garland. If he failed, he should have a buffet on the head from
Robin.
Good bowmen as they were, few managed to stand the test. Little John
and Will Scarlett, and Much, all shot wide of the mark, and at length
no one was left in but Robin himself and Gilbert of the White Hand.
Then Robin fired his last bolt, and it fell three fingers from the
garland. 'Master,' said Gilbert, 'you have lost, stand forth and take
your punishment.'
'I will take it,' answered Robin, 'but, Sir Abbot, I pray you that I
may suffer it at your hands.'
The King hesitated. 'It did not become him,' he said, 'to smite such a
stout yeoman,' but Robin bade him smite on; so he turned up his
sleeve, and gave Robin such a buffet on the head that he rolled upon
the ground.
'There is pith in your arm,' said Robin. 'Come, shoot a main with me.'
And the King took up a bow, and in so doing his hat fell back and
Robin saw his face.
'My lord the King of England, now I know you well,' cried he, and he
fell on his knees and all the outlaws with him. 'Mercy I ask, my lord
the King, for my men and me.'
'Mercy I grant,' then said the King, 'and therefore I came hither, to
bid you and your men leave the greenwood and dwell in my Court with
me.'
'So shall it be,' answered Robin, 'I and my men will come to your
Court, and see how your service liketh us.'