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16 - Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle · Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

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  Speaker 1: According by Marion Brown, Toronto, Canada. The Merry Adventures of
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  Speaker 1: Robin Hood by Howard Pyle, Chapter sixteen, Little John turns
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  Speaker 1: barefoot friar. Cold winter had passed and spring had come.
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  Speaker 1: No leafy thickness had yet clad the woodlands, but the
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  Speaker 1: budding leaves hung like a tender mist about the trees.
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  Speaker 1: In the open country. The meadow lands lay a sheeny green,
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  Speaker 1: the cornfields a dark velvety color, for they were thick
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  Speaker 1: and soft with the growing blades. The plowboys shouted in
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  Speaker 1: the sun, and in the purple new turned furrows, Flocks
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  Speaker 1: of birds hunted for fat worms. All the broad, moist
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  Speaker 1: earth smiled in the warm light, and each little green
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  Speaker 1: hill clapped its hand for joy on a deer's hide
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  Speaker 1: stretched on the ground. In the open in front of
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  Speaker 1: the greenwood tree sat Robin Hood, basking in the sun
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  Speaker 1: like an old dog fog. Leaning back with his hands
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  Speaker 1: clasped about his knees. He lazily watched little John rolling
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  Speaker 1: a stout bowstring from long strands of hemp and thread,
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  Speaker 1: wetting the palms of his hands ever and anon, and
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  Speaker 1: rolling the cord upon his thigh. Near By sat allan
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  Speaker 1: Adale fitting a new string to his harp, quoth Robin.
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  Speaker 1: At last, methinks I would rather roam this forest in
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  Speaker 1: the gentle springtime than be king of all merry England.
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  Speaker 1: What palace in the broad world is as fair as
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  Speaker 1: the sweet woodland just now? And what king in all
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  Speaker 1: the world has such appetite for plovers, eggs and lampreys
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  Speaker 1: as I for juicy venison and sparkling ale Gaffer's Swanthold
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  Speaker 1: speaks truly when he said, better a crust with content
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  Speaker 1: than honey with a sour heart. Yea quoth little John,
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  Speaker 1: as he rubbed his new made bowstring with yellow beeswax.
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  Speaker 1: The life we lead is the life for me. Thou
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  Speaker 1: speakest of the springtime, But methinks even the winter hath
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  Speaker 1: its own joys. Thou and I, good Master, have had
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  Speaker 1: more than one merry day this winter, passed at the
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  Speaker 1: Blue Boar. Dost thou not remember that night thou and
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  Speaker 1: will Stuteley and Friar Tuck and I passed at that
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  Speaker 1: same hostelry with the two beggars and the strolling friar.
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  Speaker 1: Yea quoth Mary Robin, laughing, That was the night that
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  Speaker 1: will Stuteley must needs snatch a kiss from the stout hostess,
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  Speaker 1: and got a cannonk in a veil emptied over his
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  Speaker 1: head for his pains. Truly it was the same, said
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  Speaker 1: little John, laughing. Also, methinks that was a goodly song
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  Speaker 1: that the strolling friar sang. Friar, Tuck, thou hast a
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  Speaker 1: quick ear for a tune, dost thou not remember it?
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  Speaker 1: I did have the catch of it one time, said Tuck.
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  Speaker 1: Let me see. And he touched his forefinger to his forehead,
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  Speaker 1: and thought, humming to himself, and stopping ever and anon
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  Speaker 1: to fit what he had got to what he searched
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  Speaker 1: for in his mind. At last he found it all, and,
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  Speaker 1: clearing his throat, sang merrily in the blossoming hedge. The
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  Speaker 1: robin cock sings for the sun it is merry and bright,
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  Speaker 1: and he joyfully hops, and he flutters his wings, for
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  Speaker 1: his heart is all full of delight. For the may
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  Speaker 1: bloometh fair, and there's little of care and plenty to
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  Speaker 1: eat in the maytime rare when the flowers all die.
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  Speaker 1: Then off he will fly to keep himself warm in
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  Speaker 1: some jolly old barn, where the snow in the wind
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  Speaker 1: neither chill him nor harm. And such is the life
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  Speaker 1: of a strolling friar, with a plenty to eat and
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  Speaker 1: to drink. For the good wife will keep him a
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  Speaker 1: seat by the fire, and the pretty girl's smile at
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  Speaker 1: his wink. Then he lustily trolls, as onward he strolls,
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  Speaker 1: a rollicking song for the saving of souls. When the
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  Speaker 1: wind doth blow with the coming of snow. There's a
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  Speaker 1: place by the fire for the fatherly friar, and a
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  Speaker 1: crab in the bowl for his heart's desire. Thus Friar
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  Speaker 1: Tuck sang in a rich and mellow voice, rolling his
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  Speaker 1: head from side to side in time with him the music.
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  Speaker 1: And when he had done, all clapped their hands and
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  Speaker 1: shouted with laughter, for the song fitted him well. In
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  Speaker 1: very sooth, quoth little John, It is a goodly song,
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  Speaker 1: And were I not a yeoman of sherwood forest, I
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  Speaker 1: had rather be a strolling friar than aught else in
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  Speaker 1: the world. Yea, it is a goodly song, said Robin Hood.
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  Speaker 1: But methought those two burly beggars told the merrier tales
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  Speaker 1: and led the merrier life. Dost thou not remember what
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  Speaker 1: that great black bearded fellow told of his begging at
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  Speaker 1: the fair in York. Yea, said little John. But what
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  Speaker 1: told the friar of the harvest home in Kentshire? I
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  Speaker 1: hold that he led a merrier life than the other two,
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  Speaker 1: truly for the honor of the cloth, quoth Friar Tuck.
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  Speaker 1: I hold with my good gossip Little John. Now quoth Robin,
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  Speaker 1: I hold to mine own mind. But what sayest thou,
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  Speaker 1: Little John, to a merry adventure this fair day? Take
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  Speaker 1: thou a friar's gown from our chest of strange garments,
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  Speaker 1: and don the same. I wi stop the first beggar
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  Speaker 1: I meet, and changed clothes with him. Then let us
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  Speaker 1: wander the country about this sweet day, and see what
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  Speaker 1: befalls each of us that fitteth my mind, quoth little John.
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  Speaker 1: So let us forth say I. Thereupon Little John and
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  Speaker 1: Friar Tuck went to the storehouse of the band, and
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  Speaker 1: there chose for the yeoman the robe of a gray friar.
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  Speaker 1: Then they came forth again, and a mighty roar of
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  Speaker 1: laughter went up, For not only had the band never
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  Speaker 1: seen Little John in such a guy's before, but the
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  Speaker 1: robe was too short for him by a good palm's breadth.
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  Speaker 1: But little John's hands were folded in his loose sleeves,
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  Speaker 1: and Little John's eyes were cast upon the ground, and
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  Speaker 1: at his girdle hung a great long string of beads. Now,
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  Speaker 1: Little John took up his stout staff, at the end
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  Speaker 1: of which hung a chubby, little leathern poddle, such as
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  Speaker 1: palmers carry at the tips of their staves. But in
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  Speaker 1: it was something I WoT more like good malmsey than
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  Speaker 1: cold spring water, such as godly pilgrim's carry. Then up
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  Speaker 1: rose Robin and took his stout staff in his hand. Likewise,
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  Speaker 1: and slipped ten golden angels into his pouch. For no
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  Speaker 1: beggar's garb was among the stores of the band, so
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  Speaker 1: he was fain to run his chance of meeting a
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  Speaker 1: beggar and buying his clothes of him. So, all being
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  Speaker 1: made ready, the two yeomens set forth on their way,
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  Speaker 1: striding lustily along all in the misty morning. Thus they
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  Speaker 1: walked down the forest path until they came to the highway,
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  Speaker 1: and then along the highway till it split in twain,
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  Speaker 1: leading on one hand to blythe and on the other
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  Speaker 1: to Gainsborough. Here the yeoman stopped, quoth Jolly Robin, take
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  Speaker 1: thou the road to Gainsborough, and I will take that
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  Speaker 1: to blythe so fare thee well, holy Father, And mayst
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  Speaker 1: thou not have cause to count thy beads in earnest.
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  Speaker 1: Ere we meet again, good Den, good beggar, that is
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  Speaker 1: to be quoth Little John, And mayst thou have no
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  Speaker 1: cause to beg for mercy. Ere I see thee next next.
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  Speaker 1: So each stepped sturdily upon his way, until a green
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  Speaker 1: hill rose between them, and the one was hid from
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  Speaker 1: the sight of the other. Little John walked along, whistling,
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  Speaker 1: for no one was nigh upon all the road. In
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  Speaker 1: the butting hedges, the little birds twittered merrily, and on
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  Speaker 1: either hand the green hills swept up to the sky,
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  Speaker 1: the great white clouds of springtime, sailing slowly over their
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  Speaker 1: crowns in lazy flight. Up hill and down dale walked
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  Speaker 1: Little John, the fresh wind blowing in his face, and
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  Speaker 1: his robes fluttering behind him. So at last he came
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  Speaker 1: to a cross road that led to Tuxford. Here he
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  Speaker 1: met three pretty lasses, each bearing a basket of eggs
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  Speaker 1: to market. Quoth he whither away, fair maids, and he
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  Speaker 1: stood in their path, holding his staff in front of
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  Speaker 1: them to stop them. Then they huddled together and nudged
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  Speaker 1: one another, and one presently spake up and said, we
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  Speaker 1: are going to the Tuxford market, Holy Friar, to sell
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  Speaker 1: our eggs. Now out upon it, quoth little John, looking
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  Speaker 1: upon them with his head on one side. Surely it
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  Speaker 1: is a pity for such fair lasses should be forced
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  Speaker 1: to carry eggs to market. Let me tell you, and
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  Speaker 1: I had the shaping of things in this world, ye,
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  Speaker 1: should all three have been clothed in the finest silks
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  Speaker 1: and ride upon milk white horses, with pages at your side,
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  Speaker 1: and feed upon nothing but whipped cream and strawberries. For
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  Speaker 1: such a life would surely befit your looks. At this speech,
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  Speaker 1: All three of the pretty maids looked down, blushing and simpering.
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  Speaker 1: One said, la another merry a maketh sport of us,
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  Speaker 1: and the third listen now to the holy Man. But
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  Speaker 1: at the same time they looked at Little John from
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  Speaker 1: out the corners of their eyes. Now look at you,
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  Speaker 1: said little John. I cannot see such dainty damsels as
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  Speaker 1: ye are carrying baskets along a high road. Let me
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  Speaker 1: take them mine own self, and one of you, if
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  Speaker 1: ye will may carry my staff for me, nay, said
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  Speaker 1: one of the lasses. But thou canst not carry three
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  Speaker 1: baskets all at one time. YEA, but I can, said
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  Speaker 1: little John, And that I will show you presently. I
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  Speaker 1: thank the good Saint Wilfrid that he hath given me
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  Speaker 1: a pretty wit. Look, ye, now here I take this
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  Speaker 1: great basket. So here I tie my rosary around the handle. Thus,
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  Speaker 1: and here I slip the rosary over my head, and
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  Speaker 1: sling the basket upon my back. In this wise, and
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  Speaker 1: little John did according to his words, the basket hanging
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  Speaker 1: down behind him like a peddlar's pack. Then giving his
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  Speaker 1: staff to one of the maids, and taking a basket
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  Speaker 1: upon either arm, he turned his face toward Tuxford Town
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  Speaker 1: and stepped forth merrily, a laughing maid on either side,
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  Speaker 1: and one walking ahead carrying the staff. In this wise
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  Speaker 1: they journeyed along, and every one they met stopped and
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  Speaker 1: looked after them, laughing, For never had anybody seen such
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  Speaker 1: a merry sight as this tall, strapping gray friar, with
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  Speaker 1: robes all too short for him, laden with eggs, and
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  Speaker 1: tramping the road with three pretty lasses. For this little
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  Speaker 1: John cared not a whit. But when such folks gave
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  Speaker 1: justting words to him. He answered back as merrily, speech
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  Speaker 1: for speech. So they stepped along toward Tuxford, chatting and laughing,
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  Speaker 1: until they came nigh to the town. Here little John
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  Speaker 1: stopped and set down the baskets, for he did not
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  Speaker 1: care to go into the town lest he should perchance
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  Speaker 1: meet some of the sheriff's men. Alas sweet chucks, quoth he, here,
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  Speaker 1: I must leave you. I had not thought to come
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  Speaker 1: this way, but I am glad that I did. So
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  Speaker 1: now ere we part, we must drink sweet friendship, so saying,
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  Speaker 1: he unslung the leathern poddle from the end of his staff,
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  Speaker 1: and drawing the stopper therefrom, he handed it to the
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  Speaker 1: lass who had carried his staff, first wiping the mouth
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  Speaker 1: of the poddle upon his sleeve, then each last took
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  Speaker 1: a fair drink of what was within, And when it
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  Speaker 1: had passed all around, Little John finished what was left,
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  Speaker 1: so that not another drop could be squeezed from it. Then,
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  Speaker 1: kissing each last sweetly, he wished them all good den
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  Speaker 1: and left them. But the maid stood looking after him
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  Speaker 1: as he walked away, whistling. What a pity, quoth one
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  Speaker 1: that such a stout lusty lad should be in holy orders, Mary,
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  Speaker 1: quoth Little John to himself, as he strode along Yon,
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  Speaker 1: was no such ill happening, Saint Dunstan, send me more
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  Speaker 1: of the like. After he had trudged along for a time,
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  Speaker 1: he began to wax thirsty again. In the warmth of
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  Speaker 1: the day. He shook his leathern poddle beside his ear,
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  Speaker 1: but not a sound came therefrom. Then he placed it
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  Speaker 1: to his lips and tilted it high aloft, but not
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  Speaker 1: a drop was there, little John. Little John said he
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  Speaker 1: sadly to himself, shaking his head, the while woman will
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  Speaker 1: be thy ruin yet if thou dost not take better
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  Speaker 1: care of thyself. But at last he reached the crest
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  Speaker 1: of a certain hill and saw below a sweet little
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  Speaker 1: thatched inn lying snugly in the dale beneath him, toward
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  Speaker 1: which the rogue dipped sharply. At the sight of this,
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  Speaker 1: a voice within him cried aloud, I give thee joy,
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  Speaker 1: good friend, for yonder is thy heart's delight to wit
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  Speaker 1: a sweet rest and a cup of brown beer. So
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  Speaker 1: he quickened his pace down the hill, and so came
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  Speaker 1: to the little inn, from which hung a sign with
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  Speaker 1: a stag's head painted upon it. In front of the door,
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  Speaker 1: a clucking hen was scratching in the dust, with a
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  Speaker 1: brood of chickens about her heels. The sparrows were chattering
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  Speaker 1: of household affairs under the eaves, and all was so
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  Speaker 1: sweet and peaceful that Little John's heart laughed within him.
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  Speaker 1: Beside the door stood two stout cobs with broad, soft
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  Speaker 1: padded saddles, well fitted for easily traveling, and speaking of
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  Speaker 1: rich guests. In the parlor in front of the door,
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  Speaker 1: three merry fellows, a tinker, a peddler, and a beggar
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  Speaker 1: were seated on a bench in the sun, quaffing stout ale.
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  Speaker 1: I give you good den, sweet friends, quoth little John,
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  Speaker 1: striding up to where they sat. Give THEE good den,
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  Speaker 1: Holy Father, quoth the merry beggar, with a grin. But
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  Speaker 1: look thee thy gown is too short. Thou hadst best
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  Speaker 1: cut a piece off the top and tack it to
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  Speaker 1: the bottom, so that it may be long enough. But
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  Speaker 1: come sit beside us here and take a taste of ale.
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  Speaker 1: If thy vows forbid thee not nay, quoth little John,
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  Speaker 1: also grinning. The blessed Saint Dunstan hath given me a
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  Speaker 1: free dispensation for all indulgence in that line, And he
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  Speaker 1: thrust his hand into his pouch for money to pay
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  Speaker 1: his score. Truly, quoth the tinker, without thy looks belie
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  Speaker 1: thee holy friar. The good Saint Dunstan was wise, for
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  Speaker 1: without such dispensation his votary is like to have many
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  Speaker 1: a penance to make Nay, take thy hand from out
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  Speaker 1: thy pouch, brother, for thou shalt not pay thy shot.
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  Speaker 1: Ho Landlord, a pot of ale. So the ale was
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  Speaker 1: brought and given to little John. Then, blowing the froth
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  Speaker 1: a little way to make room for his lips, he
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  Speaker 1: tilted the bottom of the pot higher and higher till
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  Speaker 1: it pointed to the sky, and he had to shut
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  Speaker 1: his eyes to keep the dazzle of the sunshine out
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  Speaker 1: of them. Then he took the pot away, for there
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  Speaker 1: was nothing in it, and heaved a full, deep sigh,
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  Speaker 1: looking at the others with moist eyes and shaking his
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  Speaker 1: head solemnly. O Landlord, cried the peddler, Bring this good
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  Speaker 1: fellow another pot of ale. For truly it is a
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  Speaker 1: credit to us all to have one among us who
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  Speaker 1: can empty a cannonkin. So lustily. So they talked among
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  Speaker 1: themselves merrily, until after a while, quoth little John, who
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  Speaker 1: rideth those two nags yonder two holy men like thee brother,
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  Speaker 1: quoth the beggar, They are now having a goodly feast within.
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  Speaker 1: For I smelled the steam of a potted pullet just now.
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  Speaker 1: The landlady saith. They come from Fountain Abbey in Yorkshire
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  Speaker 1: and go to Lincoln. On other matters, they are a
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  Speaker 1: merry couple, said the tinker, for one is as lean
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  Speaker 1: as an old wife's spindle, and the other as fat
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  Speaker 1: as a suet pudding. Talking of fatness, said the peddler,
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  Speaker 1: thou thyself lookest none too ill fed, Holy friar. Nay, truly,
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  Speaker 1: said little John, thou seest in me what the Holy
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  Speaker 1: Saint Dunstan can do for them that serve him upon
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  Speaker 1: a handful of parched peas and a trickle of cold water.
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  Speaker 1: At this a great shout of laughter went up. Truly,
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  Speaker 1: it is a wondrous thing, quoth the beggar. I would
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  Speaker 1: have made my vow to see the masterly manner in
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  Speaker 1: which thou didst tuck away yon pot of ale that
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  Speaker 1: thou hast not tasted clear water for a brace of months,
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  Speaker 1: has not this same holy Saint Dunstan taught thee a
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  Speaker 1: goodly song or two? Why as for that, quoth little John, grinning.
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  Speaker 1: Mayhap he hath lent me aid to learn a ditty
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  Speaker 1: or so, Then prithee, let us hear how he hath
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  Speaker 1: taught thee, quoth the tinker. At this, little John cleared
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  Speaker 1: his throat, and, after a word or two about certain
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  Speaker 1: hoarseness that troubled him, saying, thus, ah, pretty pretty maid,
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  Speaker 1: whither dost thou go i? Prithee, prithee, wait for thy
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  Speaker 1: lover also, and will gather the rose as it sweetly blows.
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  Speaker 1: For the merry, merry winds are blowing now. It seemed
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  Speaker 1: as though Little john songs were never to get sung,
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  Speaker 1: for he got no farther than this when the door
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  Speaker 1: of the inn opened, and out came the two brothers
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  Speaker 1: of Fountain Abbe, the landlord following them, and as the
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  Speaker 1: saying is, washing his hands with humble soap. But when
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  Speaker 1: the brothers of fount Nabby saw who it was that sang,
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  Speaker 1: and how he was clad in the robes of a
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  Speaker 1: gray friar, they suddenly stopped, and fat little brother drawing
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  Speaker 1: his heavy eyebrows together in a mighty frown, and the
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  Speaker 1: thin brother twisting up his face as though he had
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  Speaker 1: sour beer in his mouth. Then, as Little John gathered
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  Speaker 1: his voice for a new verse, how now roared forth
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  Speaker 1: the fat brother, his voice coming from him like loud
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  Speaker 1: thunder from a little cloud. Thou, naughty fellow, is this
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  Speaker 1: a fit place for one in thy garb to tipple
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  Speaker 1: and sing profane songs? Nay, quoth little John, sin, I
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  Speaker 1: can't tipple and sing like your Worship's reverence in such
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  Speaker 1: a goodly place as fountain Abbey. I must even tipple
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  Speaker 1: and sing where I can. Now out upon thee, cried
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  Speaker 1: the tall lean brother in a harsh voice. Now out
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  Speaker 1: upon thee, that thou shouldst so disgrace thy cloth by
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  Speaker 1: this talk and bearing mary, come up, quoth little John. Disgrace,
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  Speaker 1: sayest thou methinks it is more disgrace for one of
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  Speaker 1: our garb to wring hard earned farthings out of the
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  Speaker 1: grip of poor lean peasants, Is it not so? Brother?
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  Speaker 1: At this the tinker, the peddler, and the beggar nudged
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  Speaker 1: one another, and all grinned, and the friars scowled blackly
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  Speaker 1: at Little John, but they could think of nothing further
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  Speaker 1: to say, so they turned to their horses. Then Little
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  Speaker 1: John arose of a sudden from the bench where he sat,
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: and ran to where the brothers of Fountain Abbey were mounting.
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: Quoth he, let me hold your horse's bridles, for you.
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: Truly your words have smitten my sinful heart, so that
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: I will abide no longer in this den of evil,
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: but will go forward with you. No vile temptation I
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: WoT will fall upon me in such holy company. Nay, fellow,
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: said the lean brother harshly, for he saw that Little
• 17:59
  Speaker 1: John made board of them. We want none of thy company,
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: so get thee gone. Alas quoth little John, I am
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: truly sorry that she like me not nor my company.
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: But as for leaving you, it may not be. For
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: my heart is so moved that willy nilly, I must
• 18:14
  Speaker 1: go with you for the sake of your holy company.
• 18:18
  Speaker 1: Now at this talk, all the good fellows on the
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: bench grinned till their teeth glistened, and even the landlord
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: could not forbear to smile. As for the friars, they
• 18:26
  Speaker 1: looked at one another with a puzzled look, and knew
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: not what to do in the matter. They were so
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: proud that it made them feel sick with shame to
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: think of riding along the high road with a strolling
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: friar in robes all too short for him running beside them.
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: But yet they could not make little John stay against
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: his will, for they knew he would crack the bones
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: of them, both of them in a twinkling, were he
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: so minded. Then up spake the fat brother, more mildly
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: than he had done before. Nay, good brother said he
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: we will ride fast, and thou wilt tire to death
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: at the pace. Truly am grateful to THEE for the
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: thought of me, quoth little John. But have no fear, brother,
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: My limbs are stout. I could run like a hare
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: from here to Gainsborough. At these words, a sound of
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: laughing came from the bench whereat the lean brother's wrath
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: boiled over like water into the fire with great fuss
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: and noise. Now out upon thee Thou, naughty fellow, he cried,
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: Art thou not ashamed to bring disgrace so upon our cloth.
• 19:25
  Speaker 1: Bide thee here thou sought with these porkers. Thou art
• 19:29
  Speaker 1: not fit company for us. Lae ye there now, quoth
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: Little John, thou hearest, Landlord, thou art not fit company
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: for these holy men. Go back to thine ail house. Nay,
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: if these most holy brothers of mine do but give
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: me the word, I'll beat thy head with this stout
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: staff till it is soft as whipped eggs. At these words,
• 19:50
  Speaker 1: a great shout of laughter went up from those on
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: the bench, and the Landlord's face grew red as a
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: cherry from smothering his laugh in his stomach. But he
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: kept his merriment down, for he he wished not to
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: bring the ill will of the brothers of found Nabby
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: upon him by unseemly mirth. So the two brethren, as
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: they could do not else, having mounted their nags, turned
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: their noses toward Lincoln, and rode away. I cannot stay longer,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: sweet friends, quoth little John, as he pushed in betwixt
• 20:17
  Speaker 1: the two cobs. Therefore, I wish you good den Off
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: we go we three, So saying, he swung his stout
• 20:24
  Speaker 1: staff over his shoulder and trudged off, measuring his pace
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: with that of the two nags. The two brothers glowered
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: at Little John when he so pushed himself betwixt them.
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: Then they drew as far away from him as they could,
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: so that the yeomen walked in the middle of the road,
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: while they rode on the footpath on either side of
• 20:42
  Speaker 1: the way. As they so went away, the tinker, the peddler,
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: and the beggar ran skipping out into the middle of
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: the highway, each with a pot in his hand, and
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: looked after them, laughing. While they were in sight of
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: those at the inn. The brothers walked their horses soberly,
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: not caring to make ill matters worse by seeming to
• 20:59
  Speaker 1: run away away from Little John, For they could not
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: think but how it would sound in folk's ears when
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: they heard how the brethren of Fountain Abbey scampered away
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: from a strolling friar, like the ugly one, when the
• 21:11
  Speaker 1: blessed Saint Dunstan loosed his nose from the red hot
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: tongs where he had held it fast. But when they
• 21:17
  Speaker 1: had crossed the crest of the hill and the inn
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: was lost to sight, quoth the fat brother to the
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: thin brother, brother Ambrose, had we not better mend our pace?
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: Why truly, gossip spoke Little John. Methinks it would be
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: well to boil our pot a little faster, for the
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: day is passing on, so will not jolt thy fat
• 21:37
  Speaker 1: too much onward, say I. At this the two friars
• 21:41
  Speaker 1: said nothing, but they glared again on Little John with
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: baleful looks. Then, without another word, they clucked to their
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: horses and both broke into a canter. So they galloped
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: for a mile and more, and Little John ran betwixt
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: them as lightly as a stag, and never turned a
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: hair with the running. At last, the fat brother drew
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: his horse's rein the groan, for he could stand the
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: shaking no longer. Alas said Little John, with not so
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: much as a catch in his breath, I did sadly
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: fear that the roughness of this pace would shake thy
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: poor old fat paunch. To this the fat friar never
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: said a word, but he stared straight before him, and
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: he gnawed his nether lip. And now they traveled forward
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: more quietly, little John in the middle of the road
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: whistling merrily to himself, and the two friars in the
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: footpath on either side, saying never a word. Then presently
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: they met three merry minstrels, all clad in red, who
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: stared amain to see a gray friar with such short
• 22:37
  Speaker 1: robes walking in the middle of the road, and two
• 22:40
  Speaker 1: brothers with heads bowed with shame, riding upon richly caparis
• 22:43
  Speaker 1: and cobs on the footpath. When they had come nearer
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: to the minstrels, Little John waved his staff like an usher,
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: clearing the way. Make way, he cried in a loud voice,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: make way, make way, for here we go we three.
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: Then how the minstrel stared, and how they laughed. But
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: the fat friar shook as with a agw and the
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: lean friar bowed his head over his horse's neck. Then
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: next they met two noble knights in rich array with
• 23:11
  Speaker 1: hawk on wrist, and likewise two fair ladies clad in
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: silks and velvets, all a riding on noble steeds. These
• 23:18
  Speaker 1: all made rooms, staring as little John and the two
• 23:21
  Speaker 1: friars came along the road to them. Little John bowed humbly,
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: give you greetings, lords and ladies, said he. But here
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: we go we three. Then all laughed, and one of
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: the fair ladies cried out, what three meanst thou merry friend?
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: Little John looked over his shoulder, for they had now
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: passed each other. And he called back big Jack, Lean Jack,
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: and fat Jack pudding. At this, the fat friar gave
• 23:47
  Speaker 1: a groan and seemed as if he were like to
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: fall from his saddle for shame. The other brother said nothing,
• 23:53
  Speaker 1: but he looked before him with a grim and stony look.
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: Just ahead of them, the road took a sudden turn
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: around a high hedge, and some two score paces beyond
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: the bend, another road crossed the one they were riding upon.
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: When they had come to the cross road and were
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: well away from those they had left, the lean friar
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: drew rein. Suddenly, Look ye fellow, quoth he, in a
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: voice quivering with rage. We have had enough of thy
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: vile company, and care no longer to be made sportive.
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: Go thy way, and let us go ours in peace.
• 24:25
  Speaker 1: Law there now, quoth little John. Methought we were such
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: a merry company, and here thou dost blaze up like
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: fat in the pan. But truly I ha had an
• 24:36
  Speaker 1: now of you to day. Though I can ill spare
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: your company, I know ye will miss me. But gin
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: ye want me again, whispered a goodman wind, and he
• 24:44
  Speaker 1: will bring news thereof to me. But ye see, I
• 24:47
  Speaker 1: am a poor man, and ye are rich. I pray
• 24:50
  Speaker 1: you give me a penny or two to buy me
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: bread and cheese at the next inn. We have no money, fellow,
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: said the lean friar, harshly. Come, brother Thomas, let us forward.
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: But Little John caught the horses by the bridle reins,
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: one in either hand. Hi Ye, in truth, no money
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: about you whatsoever, said he. Now, I pray you, brothers,
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: for charity's sake, give me somewhat to buy a crust
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: of bread, even though it be only a penny. I
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: tell thee fellow, we have no money, thundered the fat
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: little friar with the great voice. Hi Ye, in holy truth,
• 25:22
  Speaker 1: no money, asked little John. Not a farthing, said the
• 25:26
  Speaker 1: lean friar, sourly. Not a groat, said the fat friar loudly. Nay,
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: quoth little John. This must not be far be it
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: from me to see such holy men as ye are
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: depart from me with no money. Get both of you
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: down straightway from off your horses, and we will kneel
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: here in the middle of the cross roads and pray
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: the blessed Saint Dunstan to send us some money to
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: carry us on our journey. What sayest thou, thou limb
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: of evil, cried the lean friar, fairly, gnashing his teeth
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: with rage. Dost thou bid me, the high cellarer of
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: Fountain Abbey, to get down from my home horse and
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: kneel in the dirty road to pray to some beggarly
• 26:03
  Speaker 1: saxon saint. Now quoth little John, I have a great
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: part of my mind to crack thy head for speaking
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: thus of the good Saint Dunstan. But get down straightway,
• 26:15
  Speaker 1: for my patience will not last much longer, and I
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: may forget that ye are both in holy orders. So saying,
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: he twirled his stout staff till it whistled again. At
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: this speech, both friars grew as pale as dough. Down
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: slipped the fat brother from off his horse on one side,
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: and down slip the lean brother on the other. Now, brothers,
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: down on your knees and pray, said little John. Thereupon,
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: putting his heavy hands upon the shoulders of each, he
• 26:41
  Speaker 1: forced them to their knees. He kneeling also, the little
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: John began to beseech Saint Dunstan for money, which he
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: did in a great loud voice. After he had so
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: besought the Saint. For a time, he bade the friars
• 26:52
  Speaker 1: feel in their pouches and see if the Saint had
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: sent them anything. So each put his hands slowly in
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: the pouch that hung beside him, but brought nothing. Thence ha,
• 27:03
  Speaker 1: quoth little John, have your prayers so little virtue? Then
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: let us at it again. Then straight away he began
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: calling on Saint Dunstan again somewhat in this wise, O,
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: gracious Saint Dunstan, send some money straightway to these poor folk,
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: Lest the fat one waste away and grow as lean
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: as the lean one, and the lean one waste away
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: to nothing at all. Ere they get to Lincoln Town.
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: But send them only ten shillings apiece, lest they grow
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: puffed up with pride any more than that. Thou sendest
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: send me, Now, quoth he rising, Let us see what
• 27:37
  Speaker 1: each man hath. Then he thrust his hand into his
• 27:40
  Speaker 1: pouch and drew thenceforth four golden angels. What have ye, brother?
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: Said he? And once again each friar slowly thrust his
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: hand into his pouch, and once again brought it out
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: with nothing in it. Have ye nothing, quoth little John?
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: Nay I warrant there is somewhat that hath crept into
• 27:59
  Speaker 1: the seams of your pouches, and so ye have missed it.
• 28:02
  Speaker 1: Let me look. So he went first to the lean friar,
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: and thrusting his hand into the pouch, he drew forth
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: a leathern bag, and counted there from one hundred and
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: ten pounds of golden money. I thought, quoth little John,
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: that thou hast missed in some odd corner of thy
• 28:17
  Speaker 1: pouch the money that the blessed Saint had sent thee.
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: And now let me see whether thou hast not some also, brother.
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: Thereupon he thrust his hand into the pouch of the
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: fat friar, and drew the fence a bag like the other,
• 28:30
  Speaker 1: and counted out from it threescore and ten pounds. Look ye, now,
• 28:34
  Speaker 1: quoth he, I knew the good Saint had sent thee
• 28:37
  Speaker 1: some pittance that thou als had missed. Then, giving them
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: one pound between them, he slipped the rest of the
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: money into his own pouch, saying, ye pledged me your
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: holy word that ye had no money. Being holy men,
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: I trust that ye would not be lie your words
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: so pledged. Therefore I know the good Saint Dunstan has
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: sent this an answer to my prayers. But as I
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: only prayed for ten shillings to be sent to each
• 29:01
  Speaker 1: of you, all over and above, that belongeth by rights
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: to me, and so I take it. I give you
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: good den, brothers, and may ye have a pleasant journey henceforth,
• 29:10
  Speaker 1: so saying, he turned and left them striding away. The
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: friars looked at one another with a woeful look, and
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: slowly and sadly they mounted their horses again and rode
• 29:21
  Speaker 1: away with never a word. But Little John turned his
• 29:25
  Speaker 1: footsteps back again to Sherwood forest, and merrily he whistled
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: as he strode along. And now we will see what
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: befell Robin Hood in his adventure as Beggar. End of
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: chapter sixteen. Little John turns barefoot Friar