For two and twenty years Robin Hood dwelt in Sherwood Forest after he
had run away from Court, and naught that the King could say would
tempt him back again. At the end of that time he fell ill; he neither
ate nor drank, and had no care for the things he loved. 'I must go to
merry Kirkley,' said he, 'and have my blood let.'
But Will Scarlett, who heard his words, spoke roundly to him. 'Not by
_my_ leave, nor without a hundred bowmen at your back. For there
abides an evil man, who is sure to quarrel with you, and you will need
us badly.'
'If you are afraid, Will Scarlett, you may stay at home, for me,' said
Robin, 'and in truth no man will I take with me, save Little John
only, to carry my bow.'
'Bear your bow yourself, master, and I will bear mine, and we will
shoot for a penny as we ride.'
'Very well, let it be so,' said Robin, and they went on merrily enough
till they came to some women weeping sorely near a stream.
'What is the matter, good wives?' said Robin Hood.
'We weep for Robin Hood and his dear body, which to-day must let
blood,' was their answer.
'Pray why do you weep for me?' asked Robin; 'the Prioress is the
daughter of my aunt, and my cousin, and well I know she would not do
me harm for all the world.' And he passed on, with Little John at his
side.
Soon they reached the Priory, where they were let in by the Prioress
herself, who bade them welcome heartily, and not the less because
Robin handed her twenty pounds in gold as payment for his stay, and
told her if he cost her more she was to let him know of it. Then she
began to bleed him, and for long Robin said nothing, giving her credit
for kindness and for knowing her art, but at length so much blood came
from him that he suspected treason. He tried to open the door, for she
had left him alone in the room, but it was locked fast, and while the
blood was still flowing he could not escape from the casement. So he
lay down for many hours, and none came near him, and at length the
blood stopped. Slowly Robin uprose and staggered to the
lattice-window, and blew thrice on his horn; but the blast was so low,
and so little like what Robin was wont to give, that Little John, who
was watching for some sound, felt that his master must be nigh to
death.
At this thought he started to his feet, and ran swiftly to the Priory.
He broke the locks of all the doors that stood between him and Robin
Hood, and soon entered the chamber where his master lay, white, with
nigh all his blood gone from him.
'I crave a boon of you, dear master,' cried Little John.
'And what is that boon,' said Robin Hood, 'which Little John begs of
me?' And Little John answered, 'It is to burn fair Kirkley Hall, and
all the nunnery.'
But Robin Hood, in spite of the wrong that had been done him, would
not listen to Little John's cry for revenge. 'I never hurt a woman in
all my life,' he said, 'nor a man that was in her company. But now my
time is done, that know I well; so give me my bow and a broad arrow,
and wheresoever it falls there shall my grave be digged. Lay a green
sod under my head and another at my feet, and put beside me my bow,
which ever made sweetest music to my ears, and see that green and
gravel make my grave. And, Little John, take care that I have length
enough and breadth enough to lie in.' So he loosened his last arrow
from the string and then died, and where the arrow fell Robin was
buried.
[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD SHOOTS HIS LAST ARROW]