held--that all the best archers of the north country should come one
day and shoot at the butts, and that a prize should be given to the
best archer.
The butts were to be set in a glade in the forest and he who shot the
best of all should receive an arrow, the like of which had never been
seen in England, for the shaft was to be of silver, and the head and
feathers of red gold.
Now all this was a device of the sheriff's to try to enthral the
outlaws, for he imagined that when such matches took place Robin
Hood's men without any doubt would be the bowmen there.
Tidings of this came to Robin Hood in the forest, and he said: "Come,
make ready, my lads, we will go and see that sport. Ye shall go with
me, and I will test the sheriff's faith, and see if he be true."
With that a brave young man, called David of Doncaster, stepped
forward.
"Master," he said, "be ruled by me, and do not stir from the
greenwood. To tell the truth I am well informed yonder match is a
wile. The sheriff has devised it to entrap us."
"That sounds like a coward," said Robin; "thy words do not please
me. Come what will of it, I'll try my skill at yonder brave archery."
Then up spoke brave Little John.
"Let us go thither, but come, listen to me, and I will tell you how we
can manage it without being known. We will leave behind us our mantles
of Lincoln green, and we will all dress differently so that they will
never notice us. One shall wear white, another red, a third one
yellow, another blue. Thus in disguise we will go to the sport,
whatever may come of it."
When they had their bows in order and their arrows well feathered
there gathered round Robin seven score of stalwart young men.
When they came to Nottingham they saw the butts set out fair and long,
and many were the bold archers who came to shoot. The outlaws mixed
with the rest to prevent all suspicion, for they thought it more
discreet not to keep together.
"Only six of you shall shoot with me," said Robin to his men. "The
rest must stand on guard with bows bent so that I be not betrayed."
The sheriff looked all round, but amidst eight hundred men he could
not see what he suspected.
The outlaws shot in turn, and they all did so well that the people
said that if Robin Hood had been there, and all his men to boot, none
of them could have surpassed these men.
"Ay," quoth the sheriff ruefully, rubbing his head. "I thought he
would have been here; I certainly thought he would, but though he is
bold he doesn't dare to appear."
His speech vexed Robin Hood to the heart. "Very soon," he thought
angrily, "thou shalt well see that Robin Hood _was_ here."
Some cried blue jacket, another cried brown, and a third cried brave
yellow, but a fourth man said: "Yonder man in red hath no match in the
place."
Now that was Robin Hood himself, for he was clothed in red. Three
times he shot, and each time he split the wand. To him, therefore, was
delivered the golden arrow as being the most worthy. He took the gift
courteously, and would have departed back to the greenwood; but the
Sheriff of Nottingham had by this time marked him, and had no mind to
let him go so easily. The alarm was raised; they cried out on Robin
Hood, and great horns were blown to summon help to capture him.
"Treachery! treason!" cried Robin. "Full evil art thou to know! And
woe to thee, proud sheriff, thus to entertain thy guest! It was
otherwise thou promised me yonder in the forest. But had I thee in the
greenwood again, under my trysting-tree, thou shouldst leave me a
better pledge than thy loyalty and truth."
Then on all sides bows were bent, and arrows flew like hail; kirtles
were rent, and many a stout knave pricked in the side. The outlaws
shot so strong that no one could drive them back, and the sheriff's
men fled in haste.
Robin saw the ambush was broken, and would fain have been back in the
greenwood, but many an arrow still rained on his company. Little John
was hurt full sorely, with an arrow in his knee, and could neither
ride nor walk.
"Master," he cried, "if ever thou loved me, and for the meed of my
service that I have served thee, let never that proud sheriff find me
alive! But take thy sword and smite off my head, and give me deep and
deadly wounds, so that no life be left in me."
"I would not that, John--I would not thou wert slain for all the gold
in merry England!" cried Robin.
"God forbid that thou shouldst part our company, Little John," said
Much.
He took Little John up on his back, and carried him a good mile, and
more. Often he laid him down on the ground, and turned to shoot those
who came after, and then he took him up and carried him on again. So
the outlaws fought their way, step by step, back to the forest.
A little within the wood there was a fair castle, with a double moat,
and surrounded by stout walls. Here dwelt that noble knight, Sir
Richard Lee, to whom Robin Hood had lent the four hundred pounds to
redeem his land.
He saw the little company of outlaws fighting their way along, so he
hastened to call them to come and take shelter in his castle.
"Welcome art thou, Robin Hood! Welcome!" he cried, as he led them
in. "Much I thank thee for thy comfort and courtesy and great kindness
to me in the forest. There is no man in the world I love so much as
thee. For all the proud Sheriff of Nottingham, here thou shalt be
safe!--Shut the gates, and draw the bridge, and let no man come in!"
he shouted to his retainers. "Arm you well; make ready; guard the
walls! One thing, Robin, I promise thee: here shalt thou stay for
twelve days as my guest, to sup, and eat, and dine."
Swiftly and readily tables were laid and cloths spread, and Robin Hood
and his merry men sat down to a good meal.
HOW THE SHERIFF TOOK SIR RICHARD PRISONER
Retold by Mary Macleod
The Sheriff of Nottingham was wroth when he heard that Robin Hood and
his band of outlaws had taken refuge in the knight's castle. All the
country was up in rout, and they came and besieged the castle. From
his post outside the walls the sheriff loudly proclaimed that the
knight was a traitor, and was shielding the king's enemy against the
laws and right.
"I am ready to answer for the deeds I have done here by all the lands
I possess, as I am a true knight," was Sir Richard's answer. "Go on
your way, sirs, and leave me alone in peace until ye know our king's
will, what he will say to you."
The sheriff, having had his answer, curt and to the point, rode forth
at once to London to carry the tale to the king.
He told him of the knight, and of Robin Hood, and of the band of bold
archers which the latter kept up.
"The knight boasts of what he has done to aid these outlaws," said the
sheriff. "He would be lord, and set you at nought through all the
north country."
"I will be at Nottingham within the fortnight," said the king, "and I
will seize Robin Hood, and also that knight. Go home, sheriff, and do
as I bid thee. Get ready enough good archers from all the country
round about."
So the sheriff took his leave, and went home to Nottingham to do as
the king commanded.
Robin meanwhile had left the castle, and had gone back to the
greenwood, and Little John, as soon as he was whole from the
arrow-shot in his knee, went and joined him there. It caused great
vexation to the sheriff to know that Robin Hood once more walked free
in the forest, and that he had failed of his prey; but all the more he
was resolved to be revenged on Sir Richard Lee. Night and day he kept
watch for that noble knight; at last, one morning when Sir Richard
went out hawking by the riverside, the sheriff's men-at-arms seized
him, and he was led bound hand and foot to Nottingham.
When Sir Richard's wife heard that her husband had been taken
prisoner, she lost no time in seeking help. Mounting a good palfrey,
she rode off at once to the greenwood, and there she found Robin Hood
and all his men.
"God save thee, Robin Hood, and all thy company! For the love of
heaven, grant me a boon! Let not my wedded lord be shamefully
slain. He is taken fast bound to Nottingham, all for the love of
thee!"
"What man hath taken him?" asked Robin.
"The proud sheriff," said the lady. "He has not yet passed on his way
three miles."
Up then started Robin as if he were mad.
"Arm, lads! Arm and make ready! By heaven, he that fails me now shall
never more be man of mine!"
Speedily good bows were bent, seven score and more, and away went the
outlaws, full speed over hedge and ditch, in chase of the sheriff's
men, When they came to Nottingham, there in the street they overtook
the sheriff.
"Stay, thou proud sheriff--stay and speak with me!" said Robin. "I
would fain hear from thee some tidings of our king. By heaven, these
seven years have I never gone so fast on foot, and I swear it bodeth
no good for thee."
He bent his bow, and sent an arrow with all the might he could; it hit
the sheriff so that he fell to the ground, and lay there stunned, and
before he could rise to his feet Robin drew his sword and smote off
his head.
"Lie thou there, proud sheriff, traitor and evildoer!" said
Robin. "No man might ever trust to thee whilst thou wert still alive!"
Now they fought hand to hand. Robin Hood's men drew their shining
swords, and laid on so heavily that they drove down the sheriff's men
one after another.
Robin Hood ran to Sir Richard Lee, and cut his bonds in two, and,
thrusting a bow into his hand, bid him stand by him.
"Leave thy horse behind thee, and learn to run on foot," he counselled
him. "Thou shalt go with me to the greenwood through mire and moss and
fen. Thou shalt go with me to the forest, and dwell with me there,
until I have got our pardon from Edward, our king."
HOW THE KING CAME TO SHERWOOD FOREST
Retold by Mary Macleod
Tidings of the sheriff's death were sent to King Edward in London, and
he came to Nottingham with a great array of knights to lay hold of Sir
Richard Lee and Robin Hood, if that were possible. He asked
information from men of all the country round, and when he had heard
their tale and understood the case he seized all the lands belonging
to Sir Richard Lee. He went all through Lancashire, searching far and
wide, till he came to Plumpton Park, and everywhere he missed many of
his deer. There he had always been wont to see herds in large numbers,
but now he could scarcely find one deer that bore any good horn.
The king was furiously wroth at this.
"By heaven I would that I had Robin Hood here before me to see him
with my own eyes," he exclaimed. "And he that shall smite off the
knight's head and bring it here to me shall have all the lands
belonging to Sir Richard Lee. I will give them him with my charter,
and seal it with my hand for him to have and to hold, for evermore."
Then up spoke a good old knight who was very faithful and loyal.
"Ay, my liege lord the king, but I will say one word to you," he
said. "There is no man in this country who will have the knight's
lands as long as Robin can go or ride and carry bow in hand. If any
one try to possess them he will assuredly lose his head. Give them to
no man, my lord, to whom you wish any good."
The king dwelt for many months in Nottingham, but no man came to claim
the knight's lands, nor could he ever hear of Robin Hood in what part
of the country he might be. But always Robin went freely here and
there, roving wherever he chose over hill and valley, slaying the
king's deer, and disposing of it at his will.
Then a head forester, who was in close attendance on the king, spoke
up, and said:
"If you would see good Robin you must do as I tell you. Take five of
the best knights that are in your train, and go down to yonder abbey,
and get you monks' habits. I will be your guide to show you the way,
and before you get back to Nottingham I dare wager my head that you
will meet with Robin if he be still alive. Before you come to
Nottingham you shall see him with your own eyes."
The king hastened to follow the forester's counsel; he and his five
monks went to the abbey, and speedily disguised themselves in the garb
of monks, and then blithely returned home through the greenwood.
Their habits were grey; the king was a head taller than all the rest,
and he wore a broad hat, just as if he were an abbot, and behind him
followed his baggage-horse, and well-laden sumpters, and in this
fashion they rode back to the town.
They had gone about a mile through the forest under the linden trees
when they met with Robin Hood standing in the path with many of his
bold archers.
"Sir abbot, by your leave, ye must bide awhile with us," said Robin,
seizing the king's horse. "We are yeomen of this forest, we live by
the king's deer, and we have no other means. But you have both
churches and rents, and full great plenty of gold; give us some of
your store for charity's sake."
"I brought no more than forty pounds with me to the greenwood," said
the pretended abbot. "I have been staying at Nottingham for a
fortnight with the king, and I have spent a great deal on many of the
fine lords there. I have only forty pounds left, but if I had a
hundred I would give it thee."
Robin took the forty pounds, and divided it into two parts; half he
gave to his men, and bade them be merry with it, and the other half he
returned to the king.
"Sir, have this for your spending," he said courteously. "We shall
meet another day."
"Thanks," said the king. "But Edward our king greeteth you well; he
sends thee here his seal, and bids thee come to Nottingham to dine and
sup there."
He took out the broad seal, and let him see it, and Robin at the sight
of it, knowing what was right and courteous, set him on his knee.
"I love no man in all the world so well as I do my king," he
said. "Welcome is my lord's seal, and welcome art thou, monk, because
of thy tidings. Sir abbot, for love of my king thou shalt dine with
me to-day under my trysting-tree."
Forth he led the king with all gentle courtesy, and many a deer was
slain and hastily dressed for the feast. Then Robin took a great horn
and blew a loud blast and seven score of stalwart young men came ready
in a row, and knelt on their knee before Robin in sign of salutation.
"Here is a brave sight," said the king to himself. "In good faith his
men are more at his bidding than mine are at mine."
Dinner was speedily prepared, and they went to it at once, and both
Robin and Little John served the king with all their might. Good
viands were quickly set before him--fat venison, fish out of the
river, good white bread, good red wine, and fine brown ale. The king
swore he had never feasted better in his life.
Then Robin took a can of ale, and bade every man drink a health to the
king. The king himself drank to the king, and so the toast went round,
and two barrels of strong old ale were spent in pledging that health.
"Make good cheer, abbot," said Robin, "and for these same tidings thou
hast brought thou art doubly welcome. Now before thou go hence thou
shalt see what life we lead here in the greenwood, so that thou mayest
inform the king when ye meet together."
The meal was scarcely over when up started all the outlaws in haste,
and bows were smartly bent. For a moment the king was sorely aghast,
for he thought he would certainly be hurt. But no man intended ill to
him. Two rods were set up, and to them all the yeomen flocked to try
their skill at archery. The king said the marks were too far away by
fifty paces, but he had never seen shooting such as this. On each side
of the rods was a rose garland, and all the yeomen had to shoot within
this circle. Whoever failed of the rose garland had as penalty to lose
his shooting gear, and to hand it to his master, however fine it might
be, and in addition to this he had to stand a good buffet on the
head. All that came in Robin's way he smote therewith right good will.
When his own turn came Robin shot twice, and each time cleft the wand,
so also did the good yeoman Gilbert. Little John and Will Scarlet did
not come off so well, and when they failed to hit within the garland
they each got a good buffet from Robin.
But at his last shot, in spite of the way in which his friends had
fared, Robin, too, failed of the garland by three fingers or more.
"Master, your tackle is lost," said Gilbert. "Stand forth and take
your pay."
"If it be so there is no help for it," said Robin. "Sir abbot, I
deliver thee mine arrow; I pray thee, sir, serve thou me."
"It falleth not within my order, by thy leave, Robin, to smite any
good yeoman, for fear lest I grieve him," said the king.
"Smite on boldly; I give thee full leave," said Robin.
The king at these words at once folded back his sleeves, and gave
Robin such a buffet that it nearly knocked him to the ground.
"By heaven, thou art a stalwart friar," cried Robin. "There is pith in
thine arm; I trow thou canst shoot well."
Then King Edward and Robin Hood looked each other full in the face,
and Robin Hood gazed wistfully at the king. So also did Sir Richard
Lee, and then he knelt down before him on his knee. And all the wild
outlaws, when they saw Sir Richard Lee and Robin Hood kneeling before
the king, also knelt down.
"My lord the King of England, now I know you well," said Robin.
"Mercy, of thy goodness and thy grace, for my men and me! Yes, before
heaven, I crave mercy, my lord the king, for me and for my men."
"Yes, I grant thee thy petition," said the king, "if thou wilt leave
the greenwood, thou and all thy company, and come home with me, sir,
to my court, and dwell with me there."
"I will swear a solemn vow that so it shall be," said Robin. "I will
come to your court to see your service and bring with me seven score
and three of my men. But unless I like well your service, I shall soon
come back to the forest, and shoot again at the dun deer, as I am wont
to do."
HOW ROBIN HOOD WENT BACK TO THE GREENWOOD
Retold by Mary Macleod
"Hast thou any good cloth that thou wilt sell to me now?" said the
king.
"Yes, three and thirty yards," said Robin.
"Then I pray thee, Robin, sell me some of it for me and my company."
"Yes, I will," said Robin. "I should be a fool if I did not, for I
trow another day you will clothe me against Christmas."
So the king speedily cast off his coat, and donned a garment of green,
and so did all his knights. When they were all clad in Lincoln green
and had thrown aside their monks' grey habits, "Now we will go to
Nottingham," said the king.
They bent their bows, and away they went, shooting in the same band,
as if they were all outlaws. The king and Robin Hood rode together,
and they shot "pluck-buffet" as they went by the way--that is to say,
whoever missed the mark at which he aimed was to receive a buffet from
the other; many a buffet the king won from Robin Hood, and good Robin
spared nothing of his pay.
"Faith," said the king, "thy game is not easy to learn; I should not
get a shot at thee though I tried all this year."
When they drew near Nottingham, all the people stood to behold them.
They saw nothing but mantles of green covering all the field; then
every man began saying to another: "I dread our king is slain; if
Robin Hood comes to the town, he will never leave one of us alive.
"They all hastened to make their escape, both men and lads, yeomen and
peasants; the ploughman left the plough in the fields, the smith left
his shop, and old wives who could scarcely walk hobbled along on their
staves.
The king laughed loud and long to see the townsfolk scurry off in this
fashion, and he commanded them to come back. He soon let them
understand that he had been in the forest, and that from that day for
evermore he had pardoned Robin Hood. When they found out the tall
outlaw in the Lincoln green was really the king, they were overjoyed;
they danced and sang, and made great feasting and revelry for gladness
at his safe return.
Then King Edward called Sir Richard Lee, and there he gave him his
lands again, and bade him be a good man. Sir Richard thanked the king,
and paid homage to him as the true and loyal knight he had always
been.
So Robin Hood went back to London with the king, and dwelt at court.
But before many months had gone he found all his money had melted
away, and that he had nothing left. He had spent over a hundred pounds
and now had not enough to pay the fees of his followers. For
everywhere he went he had always been laying down money both for
knights and squires, in order to win renown. When he could no longer
afford to pay their fee, all the new retainers left him, and by the
end of the year he had none but two still with him, and those were his
own faithful old comrades, Little John and Will Scarlet.
It happened one day some young men of the court went out to shoot, and
as Robin Hood stood with a sad heart to watch them, a sudden great
longing for his old life in the greenwood came over him.
"Alas!" he sighed, "my wealth has gone! Once on a time I too was a
famous archer, sure of eye and strong of hand; I was accounted the
best archer in merry England. Oh, to be back once more in the heart of
the greenwood, where the merry does are skipping, and the wind blows
through the leaves of the linden, and little birds sit singing on
every bough! If I stay longer with the king, I shall die of sorrow!"
So Robin Hood went and begged a boon of the king.
"My lord the King of England, grant me what I ask! I built a little
chapel in Barnsdale, which is full seemly to see, and I would fain be
there once again. For seven nights past I have neither slept nor
closed my eyes, nor for all these seven days have I eaten or drunk. I
have a sore longing after Barnsdale; I cannot stay away. Barefoot and
doing penance will I go thither."
"If it be so, there is nothing better to be done," said the
king. "Seven nights--no longer--I give thee leave to dwell away from
me."
Thanking the king, Robin Hood saluted him and took his leave full
courteously, and away he went to the greenwood.
It was a fair morning when he came to the forest. The sun shone, the
soft green turf was strewn with flowers that twinkled like stars, and
all the air rang with the song of birds. The cloud of care and sorrow
rolled away from Robin's spirit, and his heart danced as light as a
leaf on the tree.
"It is long since I was here last," he said, as he looked around
him. "I think I should like to shoot once more at the deer."
He fitted an arrow to his bow, and away it sped to its mark, and down
dropped a fine fat hart. Then Robin blew his horn. And as the blast
rang out, shrill and sweet and piercing, all the outlaws of the forest
knew that Robin Hood had come again. Through the woodland they
gathered together, and fast they came trooping, till in a little space
of time seven score stalwart lads stood ready in order before Robin.
They took off their caps, and fell on their knee in salutation.
"Welcome, our master! Welcome, welcome back to the greenwood!" they
shouted.
ROBIN HOOD AND THE BUTCHER
Retold by Mary Macleod
It happened one day when Robin Hood was in the forest that he saw a
jolly butcher with a fine mare, who was going to market to sell his
meat.
"Good morrow, good fellow, what food have you there?" said Robin.
"Tell me what is your trade, and where you live, for I like the look
of you."
"No matter where I live," answered the man. "I am a butcher, and I am
going to Nottingham to sell my flesh."
"What's the price of your flesh?" said Robin. "And tell me, too, the
price of your mare, however dear she may be, for I would fain be a
butcher."
"Oh, I'll soon tell you the price of my flesh," replied the butcher.
"For that, with my bonny mare, and they are not at all dear, you must
give me four marks."
Robin Hood agreed at once to the bargain.
"I will give you four marks. Here is the money; come, count it, and
hand me over the goods at once, for I want to be a butcher."
So the man took the money, and Robin took the mare and the cart of
meat, and went on to Nottingham to begin his new trade. He had a plan
in his mind, and in order to carry it out he went to the sheriff's
house, which was an inn, and took up his lodging there.
When the butchers opened their shops Robin boldly opened his, but he
did not in the least know how to sell, for he had never done anything
of the kind before. In spite of this, however, or rather because of
it, while all the other butchers could sell no meat Robin had plenty
of customers, and money came in quickly. The reason of this was that
Robin gave more meat for one penny than others could do for
three. Robin therefore sold off his meat very fast, but none of the
butchers near could thrive.