“Shortly after this merry-making Robin Hood was one morning sitting by
the way-side, amusing himself with trimming his bow and arrows, when he
espied a jolly butcher hastening to market with a basket of meat before
him upon his horse.
“‘Good morrow, my fine fellow,’ quoth Robin Hood as he passed by. ‘What
may’st thou have in that basket there?’
“‘What’s that to thee,’ replied the butcher: ‘thou’lt not buy it I’ll
warrant me.’
“‘Nay, now, my good friend, be civil,’ returned the outlaw, rising
from the grass, and patting the man’s horse upon the neck. ‘What value
settest thou upon this beast of thine, and the basket, altogether?’
“‘Well! an thou mean’st to buy,’ answered the butcher, still doubting,
‘thou shalt have the whole lot for four silver marks.’
“‘Throw that greasy frock of thine into the bargain,’ said Robin, ‘and
here’s thy money:’ at the same time he took some silver pieces from a
leathern pouch that hung from his girdle, and held them to the butcher.
With great joy at having made so good a bargain, the man instantly
dismounted, and giving his horse’s reins to his new owner, he quickly
stripped off his outer garment. The bold outlaw as quickly encased
himself in it, and, mounting the horse, took the basket from the butcher,
and galloped off to Nottingham.
“When he reached the town, Robin Hood made his way to the part where the
meat was sold; and having put up his horse at an inn, he uncovered his
basket, and began to sell its contents. He knew very little and cared
very little about the price that was usually paid for meat, and the
ladies in the market quickly discovered that he gave about five times as
much for a penny as any other butcher. His stall was soon surrounded,
and his brethren in the trade were left without a customer. At first they
could not imagine what could be the reason of so strange an occurrence;
but when one of them learned that the new butcher had actually sold a
whole leg of pork for a shilling, a general council was held, and it was
unanimously agreed that he must either be mad, or some prodigal son who
had run away with his father’s property: but they were all determined to
learn something certain about him.
“When the market was over, one of them stepped up to Robin Hood. ‘Come,
brother,’ said he to him, ‘we are all of one trade, come and dine with us
to-day.’
“‘Right willingly that will I,’ replied the outlaw; ‘and a jolly dinner
will we have. ’Tis my first day among ye, and by my faith it shall be
a merry one.’ They were soon seated at the board, at the head of which
presided the sheriff of Nottingham, while ‘mine host’ sat at the other
end. Robin Hood, being a new comer, said grace, and they commenced a most
fearful attack upon divers smoking flanks of beef, and many a goodly
haunch of venison. The jovial outlaw did his duty with the rest, and
when at last the dishes were allowed to be taken away, ‘Fill us more
wine,’ he cried, ‘let’s be merry, my brethren; drink till ye can drink no
more; I’ll pay the reckoning.’
“‘This is a mad blade,’ said the sheriff to his next neighbour; ‘we must
find out who he is.’—‘Hast thou, friend,’ he continued aloud, addressing
Robin Hood, ‘hast thou any horned beasts to dispose of?’
“‘Aye, good master sheriff, that have I,’ answered Robin, ‘some two or
three hundreds, and a hundred acres of as good free land too as thou’st
ever seen.’
“‘I want a few head of cattle,’ rejoined the former, ‘and if thou wilt,
I’ll ride this day to look at thine.’
“‘Fill me a bumper of sack,’ cried Robin Hood; ‘here’s to a good
bargain;’ and tossing off a goblet of wine, he rose up, threw a handful
of silver upon the table, and with the sheriff left the astonished
butchers to finish their wine and talk of their extraordinary comrade.
“The man of dignity saddled his palfrey, and tying a heavy bag of gold,
wherewith to pay for his purchase, to his girdle, set out with Robin Hood
to Sherwood forest. Merry were the jokes and loud was the laughter of
the bold outlaw as they trotted along the road, and the sheriff thought
that he had never met with so pleasant a companion. ‘Heaven preserve us,’
said he, ‘from a man they call Robin Hood, who often frequents these
woods.’
“‘Fear not, master sheriff,’ replied Robin; ‘I saw him in Nottingham town
not two hours ago, and I’ll warrant me he has not overtaken us.’
“‘In Nottingham!’ cried the sheriff, with astonishment: ‘why didst not
thou tell me that before? I must go back and capture him.’
“‘’Twill be a profitless errand for thee,’ answered the outlaw. ‘Though
I know Robin Hood as well as my own self, ’twas with difficulty I
recognised him in his disguise.’ The sheriff looked hard at his
companion, as he claimed so intimate a knowledge with the outlawed
forester, but said not a word, only spurring his horse on faster, and
keeping as far from his fellow-traveller as the width of the road
permitted.
“Presently they arrived at the borders of the forest, and striking
into a narrow road that led through it, reached an open lawn of some
considerable extent. Just as they entered upon it, a whole herd of deer
tripped gaily across the path.
“‘How likest thou my horned beasts, master sheriff?’ asked Robin Hood;
‘they are fat and in good condition, are they not?’
“‘I must tell thee, good fellow,’ returned the sheriff, reining up his
palfrey, ‘that I would rather be elsewhere than in thy company.’
“Robin Hood replied by taking his bugle-horn from his side, and blowing
three distinct blasts that made the woods re-echo, and his companion’s
ears to tingle with no small degree of apprehension.
“‘Thou art a knave,’ cried he, ‘and hast played me false; take that for
payment:’ and the terrified sheriff drew his sword and struck fiercely at
the outlaw, who, spurring his steed aside, dexterously avoided the blow.
In a moment after, sixty or more foresters, with Little John at their
head, burst from the thickets and surrounded the two horsemen.
“‘Welcome, good master;’ said Little John to his captain. ‘What will’st
thou with thy merry men?’
“‘I have brought the sheriff of Nottingham to dine with ye to-day,’
replied Robin Hood; ‘make good cheer, and give him of the best.’
“‘Aye, marry, that will we,’ returned the tall forester, ‘for I know he
has gold to pay for it:’ and gently obliging the sheriff to dismount,
he unfastened the bag from the unfortunate man’s girdle, and taking his
cloak from his shoulders, he spread it upon the grass, and emptied the
gold upon it.
“‘Three hundred pounds will serve us for many a carouse,’ said Little
John, when he had counted the money and replaced it in the bag. ‘And now,
master sheriff,’ he continued, laughing, ‘would’st thou like venison for
thy dinner? Hast thou any stomach for a smoking haunch?’
“‘Let me away,’ cried the sheriff, running to his horse’s side, ‘or
you’ll all rue this day.’
“Robin Hood sprang to his assistance, held the stirrup while he mounted,
and politely wishing him a pleasant journey home, desired to be
especially commended to his wife. The poor sheriff, glad to escape sound
in body, returned no answer; but striking spurs into his palfrey was soon
out of sight. The merry foresters quickly repaired to their wonted spot,
and with many a bumper of ale or wine, drank to the health and prosperity
of the liberal sheriff of Nottingham.