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

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  Speaker 1: Chapter fifteen, how Sir Richard of the Lee paid his debts.
• 0:07
  Speaker 1: The long highway stretched straight on, gray and dusty in
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  Speaker 1: the sun. On either side were dikes full of water,
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  Speaker 1: bordered by osiers, and far away in the distance stood
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  Speaker 1: the towers of Emmet Priory, with tall poplar trees. Around.
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  Speaker 1: Along the causeway rode a knight, with a score of
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  Speaker 1: stout men at arms behind him. The knight was clad
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  Speaker 1: in a plain long robe of gray serge, gathered in
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  Speaker 1: at the waist, with a broad leathern belt, from which
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  Speaker 1: hung a long dagger and a stout sword. But though
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  Speaker 1: he was so plainly dressed himself, the horse he rode
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  Speaker 1: was a noble barb, and its trappings were rich with
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  Speaker 1: silk and silver bells. So thus the band journeyed along
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  Speaker 1: the causeway between the dikes till at last they reached
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  Speaker 1: the great gate of Emmett Priory. There the knight called
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  Speaker 1: to one of his men and bade him knock at
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  Speaker 1: the porter's lodge with the heft of his sword. The
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  Speaker 1: porter was drowsing on his bench within the lodge, but
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  Speaker 1: at the knock he roused himself, and opening the wicket,
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  Speaker 1: came hobbling forth and greeted the Knight, while a tame
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  Speaker 1: starling that hung in a wicker cage within piped out
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  Speaker 1: in coelo quiez, in coelo quiez, such being the words
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  Speaker 1: that the poor old lame porter had taught him to speak.
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  Speaker 1: Where is thy prior, asked the Knight of the old porter.
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  Speaker 1: He is at meat, good Knight, and he looketh for
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  Speaker 1: thy coming, quoth the porter. For if I mistake not
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  Speaker 1: thou art Sir Richard of the Lee, I am, Sir
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  Speaker 1: Richard of the Lee, then I will go seek him forthwith,
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  Speaker 1: said the Knight. But shall I not send thy horse
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  Speaker 1: to stable? Asked the porter. By our lady, it is
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  Speaker 1: the noblest nag and the best harnessed that e'er I
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  Speaker 1: saw in all my life before, And he stroked the
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  Speaker 1: horse's flank with his palm. Nay, quoth Sir Richard. The
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  Speaker 1: stables of this place are not for me. So make way,
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  Speaker 1: I prithee, so saying, he pushed forward, and the gates
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  Speaker 1: being opened, he entered the stony courtyard of the Prior,
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  Speaker 1: his men behind him. In they came with rattle of
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  Speaker 1: steel and clashing of swords and ring of horses feet
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  Speaker 1: on cobblestones whereat. A flock of pigeons that strutted in
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  Speaker 1: the sun flew with flapping wings to the high eaves
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  Speaker 1: of the round towers. While the Knight was riding along
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  Speaker 1: the causeway to Emmett, a merry feast was toward in
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  Speaker 1: the refectory. There, the afternoon sun streamed in through the
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  Speaker 1: great arched windows and lay in broad squares of light
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  Speaker 1: upon the stone floor and across the board covered with
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  Speaker 1: a snowy linen cloth, whereon was spread a princely feast.
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  Speaker 1: At the head of the table sat Prior Vincent of Emmet,
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  Speaker 1: all clad in soft robes of fine cloth and silk.
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  Speaker 1: On his head was a black velvet cap picked out
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  Speaker 1: with gold, and around his neck hung a heavy chain
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  Speaker 1: of gold with a great locket pendant. Therefrom Beside him,
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  Speaker 1: on the arm of his great chair roosted his favorite falcon,
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  Speaker 1: for the Prior was fond of the gentle craft of hawking.
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  Speaker 1: On his right hand sat the Sheriff of Nottingham in
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  Speaker 1: rich robes of purple, all trimmed about with fur, and
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  Speaker 1: on his left a famous doctor of law in dark
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  Speaker 1: and sober garb. Below these sat the High Cellarer of Emmet,
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  Speaker 1: and others chief among the brethren. Jest and laughter passed around,
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  Speaker 1: and all was as merry as Mary could be. The
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  Speaker 1: wizened face of the man of Law was twisted into
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  Speaker 1: a wrinkled smile, for in his pouch were four score
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  Speaker 1: golden angels, that the Prior had paid him in fee
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  Speaker 1: for the case betwixt him and the Sir Richard of
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  Speaker 1: the Lee. The learned doctor had been paid beforehand, for
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  Speaker 1: he had not over much trust in the Holy Vincent
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  Speaker 1: of Emmet, quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham. But art thou sure,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Prior, that thou hast the lands so safe? Ay? Mary,
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  Speaker 1: said Prior Vincent, smacking his lips after a deep draft
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  Speaker 1: of wine. I have kept a close watch upon him
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  Speaker 1: althet he was unawares of the same, and I know
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  Speaker 1: right well that he hath no money to pay me
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  Speaker 1: withal aye true, said the man of Law in a dry,
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  Speaker 1: husky voice. His land is surely forfeit if he cometh
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  Speaker 1: not to pay. But, Sir Prior, thou must get a
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  Speaker 1: release beneath his sign manual, or else thou canst not
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  Speaker 1: hope to hold the land without trouble from him, yea,
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  Speaker 1: said the prior. So thou hast told me ere now,
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  Speaker 1: but I know that this knight is so poor that
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  Speaker 1: he will gladly sign away his lands for two hundred
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  Speaker 1: pounds of hard money. Then up spake the high cellarer,
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  Speaker 1: methinks it is a shame to do so drive a
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  Speaker 1: misfortunate knight to the ditch. I think it sorrow that
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  Speaker 1: the noblest estate in Derbyshire should so pass away from
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  Speaker 1: him for a paltry five hundred pounds. Truly, I how now,
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  Speaker 1: broke in the Prior with a quivering voice, his eyes
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  Speaker 1: glistening in his cheeks, red with anger. Dost thou prate
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  Speaker 1: me to my very beard, sir ah by Saint Hubert,
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  Speaker 1: thou hadst best save thy breath to cool thy pottage,
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  Speaker 1: else it may scald thy mouth. Nay, said the man
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  Speaker 1: of Low smoothly. I dare swear this same knight will
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  Speaker 1: never come to settlement this day, but will prove recreant. Nevertheless,
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  Speaker 1: we will seek some means to gain his lands from him.
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  Speaker 1: So never fear. But even as the doctor spoke, there
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: came a sudden clatter of horses hoofs, and a jingle
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  Speaker 1: of iron mail in the courtyard below. Then up spake
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  Speaker 1: the Prior and called upon one of the brethren that
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  Speaker 1: sat below the salt, and bade him look out of
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  Speaker 1: the window and see who is below. Albeit he knew
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  Speaker 1: right well it could be none but Sir Richard. So
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  Speaker 1: the brother arose and went and looked, And he said,
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  Speaker 1: I see below a score of stout men in arms,
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  Speaker 1: and a knight just dismounting from his horse. He is
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  Speaker 1: dressed in long robes of gray, which methinks are of
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  Speaker 1: poor seeming. But the horse he rideth the pon hath
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  Speaker 1: the richest coursing that ever, I saw the knight dismounts,
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  Speaker 1: and they come this way, and are even now below
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  Speaker 1: in the great hall. Lo see ye there, now, quoth
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  Speaker 1: Prior Vincent. Here ye have a knight with so lean,
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  Speaker 1: a purse as scarce to by him, a crust of
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  Speaker 1: bread to munch. Yet he keeps a band of retainers
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  Speaker 1: and puts rich trappings upon his horse's hide, while his
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  Speaker 1: own back goeth bare. Is it not well that such
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  Speaker 1: men should be brought low? But art thou sure? Said
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  Speaker 1: the little doctor tremulously, that this knight will do us
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  Speaker 1: no harm, such as he are fierce when crossed, and
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  Speaker 1: he hath a band of naughty men at his heels.
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  Speaker 1: Mayhap thou hadst better give an extension of his debt.
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  Speaker 1: Thus he spake, for he was afraid Sir Richard might
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  Speaker 1: do him a harm. Thou needst not fear, said the Prior,
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  Speaker 1: looking down at the little man beside him. This knight
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  Speaker 1: is gentle and would as soon think of harming an
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  Speaker 1: old woman as thee. As the Prior finished, a door
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  Speaker 1: at the lower end of the refectory swung open, and
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  Speaker 1: in came Sir Richard, with folded hands and head bowed
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  Speaker 1: upon his breast. Thus humbly he walked slowly up the hall,
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  Speaker 1: while his men at arms stood about the door. When
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  Speaker 1: he had come to where the Prior sat, he knelt
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  Speaker 1: upon one knee, Save and keep thee, Sir Prior, He said,
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  Speaker 1: I am come to keep my day. Then the first
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  Speaker 1: word that the Prior said to him was hast thou
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  Speaker 1: brought my money? Alas I have not so much as
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  Speaker 1: one penny upon my body, said the knight. Whereat The
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  Speaker 1: Prior's eyes sparkled. Now thou art a shrewd debtor, I
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  Speaker 1: WoT said he Then Sir Sheriff, I drink to thee.
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  Speaker 1: But still the knight kneeled upon the hard stones. So
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  Speaker 1: the prior turned to him again, What wouldst thou have?
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  Speaker 1: Quoth he? Sharply at these words, A slow red mounted
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  Speaker 1: into the Knight's cheeks. But still he knelt. I would
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  Speaker 1: crave thy mercy, said he, as thou hopest for Heaven's mercy,
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  Speaker 1: show mercy to me, strip me not of my lands,
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  Speaker 1: and so reduce a true knight to poverty. Thy day
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  Speaker 1: is broken, and thy land's forfeit, said the man of law,
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  Speaker 1: plucking up his spirits at the knight's humble speech. Quoth
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  Speaker 1: Sir Richard, thou, man of law, will thou not befriend
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  Speaker 1: me in mine hour of need? Nay? Said the other.
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  Speaker 1: I hold with his holy Prior, who hath paid me
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  Speaker 1: my fees in hard gold, so that I am bounder
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  Speaker 1: to him. Wilt thou not be my friend, Sir Sheriff,
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  Speaker 1: said Sir Richard. Nay, for heaven, quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham.
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  Speaker 1: This is no business of mine. Yet I will do
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  Speaker 1: what I may. And he nudged the prior beneath the cloth,
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  Speaker 1: with his knee wilt thou not ease him of some
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  Speaker 1: of his debts, Sir prior. At this, the Prior smiled grimly.
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  Speaker 1: Pay me three hundred pounds, Sir Richard said he, and
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  Speaker 1: I will give thee acquittance of thy debt. Thou knowest,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Prior, that is as easy for me to pay
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  Speaker 1: four hundred pounds as three hundred, said Sir Richard. But
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  Speaker 1: wilt thou not give me another twelvemonth to pay my debt?
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  Speaker 1: Not another day? Said the Prior sternly. And is this
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  Speaker 1: all thou wilt do for me, asked the knight. Now
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  Speaker 1: out upon thee, false knight, cried the Prior, bursting forth
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  Speaker 1: in anger. Either pay thy debt as I have said,
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  Speaker 1: or release thy land and get thee gone from out
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  Speaker 1: my hall. Then Sir Richard arose to his feet. Thou
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  Speaker 1: false lying priest, said he, in so stern a voice
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  Speaker 1: that the man of law shrunk affrighted. I am no
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  Speaker 1: false knight, as thou knowest full well, But have even
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  Speaker 1: held my place in the press and the tourney. Hast
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  Speaker 1: thou so little courtesy that thou would see a true
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  Speaker 1: knight kneel for all this time, or see him come
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  Speaker 1: into thy hall? And never offer him meat or drink. Then,
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  Speaker 1: quoth the man of law, in a trembling voice, this
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  Speaker 1: is surely an ill way to talk of matters appertaining
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  Speaker 1: to business. Let us be mild in speech. What wilt
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  Speaker 1: thou pay this knight, Sir Prior, to give thee release
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  Speaker 1: of his land? I would have given him two hundred pounds,
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  Speaker 1: quoth the Prior. But since he hath spoken so vilely
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  Speaker 1: to my teeth, not one groat over one hundred pounds
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  Speaker 1: will he get? Hadst thou offered me a thousand pounds,
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  Speaker 1: false Prior said the knight, thou wouldst not have got
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  Speaker 1: an inch of my land. Then, turning to where his
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  Speaker 1: men at arms stood near the door, he called, come hither,
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  Speaker 1: and beckoned with his finger, whereupon the tallest of them
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  Speaker 1: all came forward and handed him a long leathern bag.
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  Speaker 1: Sir Richard took the bag and shot from it upon
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  Speaker 1: the table a glittering stream of golden money. Bear in mind,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Prior said he that thou hast promised me quittance
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  Speaker 1: for three hundred pounds. Not one farthing above that shalt
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  Speaker 1: thou get, so, saying he counted out three hundred pounds
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  Speaker 1: and pushed it toward the prior. But now Prior's hands
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  Speaker 1: dropped at his sides, and the Prior's head hung upon
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  Speaker 1: his shoulder. For not only had he lost all hopes
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  Speaker 1: of the land, but he had forgiven the knight one
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  Speaker 1: hundred pounds of his debt, and had needlessly paid the
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  Speaker 1: man of law four score angels to him. He turned
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  Speaker 1: and quoth he give me back my money that thou
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  Speaker 1: hast nay, cried the other shrilly. It is but my
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  Speaker 1: fee that thou didst pay me, and thou gettest it
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  Speaker 1: not back again, and he hugged his gown about him. Now,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Prior, quoth Sir Richard, I've held my day and
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  Speaker 1: paid all the dues demanded of me, So as there
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  Speaker 1: is no more betwixt us, I leave this vile place straightway,
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  Speaker 1: so saying, he turned upon his heel and strode away.
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  Speaker 1: All this time the sheriff had been staring with wide
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  Speaker 1: open eyes and mouth agape at the tall man at arms,
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  Speaker 1: who stood as though carved out of stone. At last,
• 11:21
  Speaker 1: he gasped out ranald greenleaf. At this the tall man
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  Speaker 1: at arms, who was no other than Little John, turned
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  Speaker 1: grinning to the Sheriff, I give thee good den fair gossip,
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  Speaker 1: quoth he. I would say, sweet Sheriff, that I've heard
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  Speaker 1: all thy pretty talk this day, and it shall be
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  Speaker 1: duly told unto Robin Hood. So farewell for the knots
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  Speaker 1: till we meet again in Sherwood forest. Then he also
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  Speaker 1: turned and followed Sir Richard down the hall, leaving the Sheriff,
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  Speaker 1: all pale and amazed, shrunk together upon his chair. A
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: merry feast it was, to which Sir Richard came, but
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  Speaker 1: a sorry lot he left behind him, And little hunger
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: had they for the princely foods spread before them. Only
• 12:01
  Speaker 1: the learned doctor was happy, for he had his fee.
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  Speaker 1: Now a twelvemonth and a day passed since prior Vincent
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: of Emmett sat at feast, and once more the mellow
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  Speaker 1: fall of another year had come. But the year had
• 12:14
  Speaker 1: brought great change. I WoT to the lands of Sir
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  Speaker 1: Richard of the Lee, for where before shaggy wild grasses
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  Speaker 1: grew upon the meadow lands, now all stretch away in
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  Speaker 1: golden stubble, betokening that a rich and plentiful crop had
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  Speaker 1: been gathered therefrom A year had made a great change
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: in the castle also, for where were empty moats and
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  Speaker 1: the crumbling of neglect, all was now orderly and well kept.
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  Speaker 1: Bright shone the sun on battlement and tower, and in
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  Speaker 1: the blue air overhead a hawk of clattering jackdaws flew
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: around the gilded weather vane and spire. Then, in the
• 12:48
  Speaker 1: brightness of the morning, the drawbridge fell across the moat
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: with a rattle and clank of chains. The gate of
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: the castle swung slowly open in a goodly array of
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  Speaker 1: steel clad men at arms with a night night, all
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  Speaker 1: clothed in chain mail as white as frost on brier
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  Speaker 1: and thorn of a winter morning, came flashing out from
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: the castle courtyard. In his hand the knight held a
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  Speaker 1: great spear, from the point of which fluttered a blood
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: red pennant, as broad as the palm of one's hand.
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: So this trip came forth from the castle, and in
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  Speaker 1: the midst of them walked three pack horses, laden with
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  Speaker 1: parcels of diverse shapes and kinds. Thus rode forth, good
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  Speaker 1: Sir Richard of the Lee, to pay his debt to
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  Speaker 1: robin Hood this bright and merry morn. Along the highway,
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: they wended their way with measured tramp of feet and
• 13:34
  Speaker 1: rattle and jingle of sword and harness. Onward they marched
• 13:38
  Speaker 1: till they came nigh to Denby, where from the top
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: of a hill they saw over beyond the town many
• 13:44
  Speaker 1: gay flags and streamers floating in the bright air. Then
• 13:48
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard turned to the man at arms nearest to him.
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  Speaker 1: What is toward yonder at Denby today, quoth he, please
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  Speaker 1: your worship, answered the man at arms. A merry fair
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  Speaker 1: is held there to day, and a great wrestling mat,
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  Speaker 1: to which many folk have come for a prize. Hath
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  Speaker 1: been offered of a pipe of red wine, a fair
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: golden ring, and a pair of gloves, all of which
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: go to the best wrestler. Now, by my faith, quoth
• 14:12
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard, who loved good manly sports. Right, well, this
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: will be a goodly thing to see. Methinks we have
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: to stay a little while on our journey and see
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  Speaker 1: this merry sport. So he turned his horse's head aside
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: toward Denby and the fair, and thither he and his
• 14:26
  Speaker 1: men made their way. There they found a great hubbub
• 14:29
  Speaker 1: of merriment. Flags and streamers were floating, tumblers were tumbling
• 14:34
  Speaker 1: on the green bagpipes were playing, and lads and lasses
• 14:37
  Speaker 1: were dancing to the music. But the crowd were gathered
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: most of all around a ring where the wrestling was
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: going forward, And thither Sir Richard and his men turned
• 14:46
  Speaker 1: their steps. Now, when the judges of the wrestling saw
• 14:50
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard coming and knew who he was, the chief
• 14:52
  Speaker 1: of them came down from the bench where he and
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: the others sat, and went to the night and took
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: him by the hand, beseeching him to come and sit
• 15:00
  Speaker 1: with them and judge the sport. So Sir Richard got
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: down from his horse and went with the others to
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: the bench raised beside the ring. Now there had been
• 15:08
  Speaker 1: great doings that morning, for a certain yeoman named Egbert,
• 15:12
  Speaker 1: who came from Stoke over in Staffordshire, had thrown with
• 15:15
  Speaker 1: ease all those that came against him. But a man
• 15:18
  Speaker 1: of Denby, well known through all the countryside as William
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: of the Scar, had been biding his time with the
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: Stoke man. So when Egbert had thrown everyone else stout,
• 15:28
  Speaker 1: William leaped into the ring. Then a tough bout followed,
• 15:31
  Speaker 1: and at last he threw Egbert heavily whereat there was
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: a great shouting and shaking of hands, for all the
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: Denby men were proud of their wrestler. When Sir Richard came,
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: he found Stout William puffed up by the shouts of
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: his friends, walking up and down the ring, daring any
• 15:47
  Speaker 1: one to come and try a throw with him. Come one,
• 15:50
  Speaker 1: come all, quoth he here stand ay William of the
• 15:53
  Speaker 1: scar against any man. If there is none in Derbyshire
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  Speaker 1: to come against me, Come all who will from Nottingham
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  Speaker 1: Staff or York. And if I do not make them
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  Speaker 1: one and all root the ground with their noses like
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  Speaker 1: swine in the forests, call me no more brave William
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: the wrestler. At this all laughed, But above all the laughter,
• 16:13
  Speaker 1: a loud voice was heard to cry out, send thou
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: takest so big? Here cometh one from Nottinghamshire to try
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: a fall with thee fellow. And straightway a tall youth
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: with a tough quarter staff in his hand came, pushing
• 16:25
  Speaker 1: his way through the crowd, and at last leaped lightly
• 16:28
  Speaker 1: over the rope into the ring. He was not as
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: heavy as Stout William, but he was taller and broader
• 16:34
  Speaker 1: in the shoulders, and all his joints were well knit.
• 16:37
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard looked upon him keenly. Then, turning to one
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: of the judges, he said, knowest thou who this youth is.
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: Methinks I have seen him before. Nay, said the judge,
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: he is a stranger to me. Meantime, without a word,
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: the young man, laying aside his quarter staff, began to
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: take off his jerkin and body clothing, until he presently
• 16:57
  Speaker 1: stood with naked arms and body. And a comely sight
• 17:00
  Speaker 1: he was when so bared to the view, for his
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: muscles were cut round and smooth and sharp, like swift
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: running water. And now each man spat upon his hands
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: and clapping them upon his knees, squatted down, watching the
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: other keenly so as to take the vantage of him
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: in the grip. Then like a flash, they leaped together,
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: and a great shout went up, for William had gotten
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: the better hold of the two. For a short time
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: they strained and struggled, and writhed, and then stout. William
• 17:30
  Speaker 1: gave his most cunning trip and throw, but the stranger
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: met it with greater skill than his, and so the
• 17:36
  Speaker 1: trip came to naught. Then of a sudden, with a
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: twist and a wrench, the stranger loosed himself, and he
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: of the Scar found himself locked in a pair of
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: arms that fairly made his ribs crack. So with heavy
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: hot breathing, they stood for a while, straining their bodies,
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: all glistening with sweat, and great drops of sweat trickling
• 17:56
  Speaker 1: down their faces. But the stranger's hug was so close
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: that at last stout William's muscle softened under his grip,
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: and so he gave a sob. Then the youth put
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: forth all his strength and gave a sudden trip with
• 18:09
  Speaker 1: his heel, and a cast over his right hip, and
• 18:12
  Speaker 1: down Stout William went with a sickening thud, and lay
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: as though he would never move hand nor foot again.
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: But now no shout went up for the stranger, but
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: an angry murmur was heard among the crowd, so easily
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: had he won the match. Then one of the judges,
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: a kinsman to William of the Scar, rose, with trembling
• 18:30
  Speaker 1: lip and baleful look. Quoth he, if thou hast slain
• 18:34
  Speaker 1: that man, it will go ill with thee Let me
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: tell thee fellow. But the stranger answered boldly, he took
• 18:41
  Speaker 1: his chance with me as I took mine with him.
• 18:44
  Speaker 1: No law can touch me to harm me, even if
• 18:46
  Speaker 1: I slew him, so that it was fairly done in
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: the wrestling ring that we shall see, said the judge,
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: scowling upon the youth, while once more an angry murmur
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: ran around the crowd. For as I have said, the
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: men of deay Be were proud of Stout William of
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: the scar. Then up spoke Sir Richard gently, nay, said
• 19:05
  Speaker 1: he the youth is right. If the other dieth, he
• 19:08
  Speaker 1: dieth in the wrestling ring where he took his chance
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: and was cast fairly Now. But in the meantime three
• 19:15
  Speaker 1: men had come forward and lifted Stout William from the ground,
• 19:18
  Speaker 1: and found that he was not dead, though badly shaken
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: by his heavy fall. Then the chief judge rose and said,
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: young man, the prize is duly thine. Here is the
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: red gold ring, and here the gloves, and yonderstands the
• 19:31
  Speaker 1: pipe of wine. To do with whatsoever thou dost list
• 19:36
  Speaker 1: at this, the youth, who had donned his clothes and
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: taken up his staff again bowed without a word, then
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: taking the gloves in the ring and thrusting the one
• 19:44
  Speaker 1: into his girdle, and slipping the other upon his thumb.
• 19:47
  Speaker 1: He turned, and, leaping lightly over the ropes, again made
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: his way through the crowd and was gone. Now I
• 19:55
  Speaker 1: wonder who yon youth may be, said the judge, turning
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: to Sir Richard. He seems like a stout saxon from
• 20:01
  Speaker 1: his red cheeks and fair hair. This William of ours
• 20:04
  Speaker 1: is a stout man too, and never have I seen
• 20:07
  Speaker 1: him cast in the ring before. Albeit he hath not
• 20:09
  Speaker 1: yet striven with such great wrestlers as Thomas of Cornwall,
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: Dychen of York, and young David of Doncaster. Hath he
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: not a firm foot in the ring? Thinkest thou, Sir Richard, Aye? Truly?
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: And yet this youth threw him fairly and with wondrous ease.
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: I much wonder who he can be, Thus said Sir
• 20:27
  Speaker 1: Richard in a thoughtful voice. For a time the knight
• 20:31
  Speaker 1: stood talking to those about him. But at last he
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: arose and made ready to depart. So he called his
• 20:35
  Speaker 1: men about him, and tightening the girths of his saddle,
• 20:38
  Speaker 1: he mounted his horse once more. Meanwhile, the young stranger
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: had made his way through the crowd, But as he
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: passed he heard all around him such words muttered as
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: look at the cockrel. Behold how he plummeth himself. I
• 20:51
  Speaker 1: dare swear he cast good William unfairly. YEA truly saw
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: ye not bird lime upon his hands. It would be
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: well to cut his cock's comb. To all this, the
• 21:01
  Speaker 1: stranger paid no heed, but strode proudly about as though
• 21:04
  Speaker 1: he heard it not. So he walked slowly across the
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: green to where the booth stood, wherein was dancing, And
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: standing at the door, he looked in on the sport.
• 21:13
  Speaker 1: As he stood, thus a stone struck his arm of
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: a sudden with a sharp jar. And turning, he saw
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: that an angry crowd of men had followed him from
• 21:21
  Speaker 1: the wrestling ring. Then when they saw him turn so
• 21:25
  Speaker 1: a great hooting and yelling arose from all, so that
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: the folk came running out from the dancing booth to
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: see what was to do. At last, a tall, broad shouldered,
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: burly blacksmith strode forward from the crowd, swinging a mighty
• 21:38
  Speaker 1: blackthorn club in his hand. Wouldst thou come here to
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: our fair town of denby thou jack in the box
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: to overcome a good honest lad with vile juggling tricks,
• 21:49
  Speaker 1: growled he in a deep voice like the bellow of
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: an angry bull. Take that then, and of a sudden
• 21:55
  Speaker 1: he struck a blow at the youth that might have
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: felled an ox. But the other turned the blow deftly aside,
• 22:01
  Speaker 1: and gave back another so terrible that the denby man
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: went down with a groan, as though he had been
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: smitten by lightning. When they saw their leader fall, the
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: crowd gave another angry shout. But the stranger placed his
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: back against the tent near which he stood, swinging his
• 22:16
  Speaker 1: terrible staff, And so fell had been the blow that
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: he struck the stout smith, that none dared to come
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: within the measure of his cudgel. So the press crowded back,
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: like a pack of dogs from a bear at bay.
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: But now some coward hand from behind threw a sharp,
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: jagged stone that smote the stranger on the crown, so
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: that he staggered back, and the red blood gushed from
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: the cut and ran down his face and over his jerkin. Then,
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: seeing him dazed with this vile blow, the crowd rushed
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: upon him, so that they overbore him, and he fell
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: beneath their feet. Now it might have gone ill with
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: the youth, even to the losing of his young life.
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: Had not Sir Richard come to this fair. For of
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: a sudden, shouts were heard, and steel flashed in the air,
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: and blows were given with the flat of swords, while
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: through the midst of the crowd, Sir Richard of the
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: Lee came spurring on his white horse. Then the crowd,
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: seeing the steel clad Knight and the armed men, melted
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: away like snow on the warm hearth, leaving the young
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: man all bloody and dusty upon the ground. Finding himself free,
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: the youth arose, and, wiping the blood from his face,
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: looked up, quoth he, Sir Richard of the Lee. Mayhap thou,
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: how save my life this day? Who art thou that
• 23:29
  Speaker 1: knowest Sir Richard of the Lee so well? Quoth the Knight.
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: Methinks I have seen thy face before, young man. Yea
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: thou hast, said the youth. For men call me David
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: of Doncaster. Ha said Sir Richard, I wonder that I
• 23:42
  Speaker 1: knew thee not David, but thy beard hath grown longer,
• 23:45
  Speaker 1: and thou thyself art more set in manhood since this
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: day twelvemonth. Come hither into the tent, David, and wash
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: the blood from thy face and thou Ralph, bring him
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: straightway a clean jerkin. Now I am sorry for thee,
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: yet I am right glad that I have had a
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: chance to pay a part of my debt of kindness
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: to thy good master Robin Hood, For it might have
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: gone ill with THEE had I not come, young man.
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: So saying the Knight led David into the tent, and
• 24:13
  Speaker 1: there the youth washed the blood from his face and
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: put on the clean jerkin. In the meantime, a whisper
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: had gone around from those that stood nearest that this
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: was none other than the Great David of Doncaster, the
• 24:24
  Speaker 1: best wrestler in all the mid Country, who only last
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: spring had cast stout Adam O Lincoln in the ring
• 24:30
  Speaker 1: at Selby in Yorkshire, and now held the Mid Country
• 24:33
  Speaker 1: Champion Belt. Thus it happened that when young David came
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: forth from the tent along with Sir Richard, the blood
• 24:40
  Speaker 1: all washed from his face and his soiled jerkin changed
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: for a clean one. No sounds of anger were heard,
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: but all pressed forward to see the young man, feeling
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: proud that one of the great wrestlers of England should
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: have entered the ring at Denby Fair. So thus fickle
• 24:54
  Speaker 1: is a mass of men. Then Sir Richard called aloud, friends,
• 24:59
  Speaker 1: this is David of Doncaster. So thinke it no shame
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: that your Denby man was cast by such a wrestler.
• 25:05
  Speaker 1: He beareth you no ill will for what hath passed,
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: But let it be a warning to you how ye
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: treat strangers. Henceforth, had ye slain him, it would have
• 25:14
  Speaker 1: been an ill day for you, for Robin Hood would
• 25:16
  Speaker 1: have harried your town as the kestrel Harry's the dovecote.
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: I have bought the pipe of wine from him, and
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: now I give it freely to you to drink as
• 25:25
  Speaker 1: ye list. But never hereafterward fall upon a man for
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: being a stout yeoman. At this all shouted a man,
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: but in truth they thought more of the wine than
• 25:34
  Speaker 1: of the knight's words. Then Sir Richard, with David beside
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: him and his men at arms around, turned about and
• 25:41
  Speaker 1: left the fair. But in after days, when the men
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: that saw that wrestling boat were bent with age, they
• 25:47
  Speaker 1: would shake their heads when they heard of any stalwart game,
• 25:50
  Speaker 1: and say, aye, aye, But thou shouldst have seen the
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: great David of Doncaster cast stout William of the Scar
• 25:56
  Speaker 1: at Denby Fair Robin Hood stood in the merry greenwood,
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: with Little John and most of his stout yeomen around him,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: awaiting Sir Richard's coming. At last a glint of steel
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: was seen through the brown forest leaves and forth from
• 26:11
  Speaker 1: the covert into the open rode Sir Richard at the
• 26:13
  Speaker 1: head of his men. He came straightforward to Robin Hood, and,
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: leaping from off his horse, clasped the yeoman in his arms.
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: Why how now, said Robin, after a time, holding Sir
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: Richard off and looking at him from top to toe.
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: Methinks thou art a gayer bird than when I saw
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: THEE last. Yes, thanks to THEE, Robin, said the knight,
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: laying his hand upon the yeoman's shoulder. But for THEE,
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: I would have been wandering in misery in a far
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: country by this time. But I have kept my word, Robin,
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: and have brought back the money that thou didst lend me,
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: and which I have doubled four times over again, and
• 26:48
  Speaker 1: so become rich once more. Along with this money, I
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: have brought a little gift to THEE and thy brave men,
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: from my dear lady and myself. Then, turning to his men,
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: he called aloud bring forth the pack horses, But Robin
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: stopped him. Nay, Sir Richard said, he think it not
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: bold of me to cross thy bidding. But we of
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: Sherwood do no business till after we have eaten and drunk. Whereupon,
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: taking Sir Richard by the hand, he led him to
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: the seat beneath the greenwood tree, while others of the
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: chief men of the band came and seated themselves around.
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: Then quoth Robin, how cometh it that I saw young
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: David of Doncaster with THEE and thy men, Sir Knight.
• 27:27
  Speaker 1: Then straightway the Knight told all about his stay at Denby,
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: and of the happening at the fair, and how it
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: was like to go hard with young David. So he
• 27:35
  Speaker 1: told his tale, and quoth he it was this good
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: Robin that kept me so late on the way, otherwise
• 27:41
  Speaker 1: I would have been here an hour agone. Then, when
• 27:44
  Speaker 1: he had done speaking, Robin stretched out his hand and
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: grasped the Knight's palm. Quoth he, in a trembling voice,
• 27:51
  Speaker 1: I owe THEE a debt I can never hope to repay,
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard, For let me tell THEE, I would rather
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: lose my right hand than have such ill befall young
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: David of Doncaster, as seemed like to come upon him
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: at Denby. So they talked, until after a while one
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: came forward to say that the feast was spread, whereupon
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: all arose and went there too. When at last it
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: was done, the Knight called upon his men to bring
• 28:15
  Speaker 1: the pack horses forward, which they did according to his bidding.
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: Then one of the men brought the Knight a strong box,
• 28:22
  Speaker 1: which he opened and took from it a bag, and
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: counted out five hundred pounds the sum he had gotten
• 28:28
  Speaker 1: from Robin. Sir Richard, quoth Robin, thou wilt pleasure us all,
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: if thou wilt keep that money as a gift from
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: us of Sherwood? Is it not so? My lads? Then
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: all shouted ay with a mighty voice. I thank you
• 28:42
  Speaker 1: all deeply, said the Knight earnestly. But think it not
• 28:45
  Speaker 1: ill of me if I cannot take it? Gladly have
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: I borrowed it from you? But it may not be
• 28:51
  Speaker 1: that I can take it as a gift. Then Robin
• 28:54
  Speaker 1: Hood said no more, but gave the money to little
• 28:56
  Speaker 1: John to put away in the treasury, for he had
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: shrewdness a night to know that naught breeds ill will
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: and heart bitterness, like gifts forced upon one that cannot
• 29:05
  Speaker 1: choose but take them. Then Sir Richard had the packs
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: laid upon the ground and opened, whereupon a great shout
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: went up that made the forest ring again. For lo
• 29:16
  Speaker 1: there were ten score bows of finest Spanish yew, all
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: burnished till they shone again, and each bow inlaid with
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: fanciful figures in silver, yet not inlaid so as to
• 29:26
  Speaker 1: mar their strength. Beside these were ten score quivers of
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: leather embroidered with golden thread, and in each quiver were
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: a score of shafts with burnished heads that shone like silver.
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: Each shaft was feathered with peacock's plumes inoket with silver.
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: Sir Richard gave to each Geoman a bow and a
• 29:45
  Speaker 1: quiver of arrows, but to Robin he gave a stout
• 29:49
  Speaker 1: bow inlaid with the cunningest workmanship in gold, while each
• 29:53
  Speaker 1: arrow in his quiver was inoked with gold. Then all
• 29:56
  Speaker 1: shouted again for joy of the fair gift, and all
• 29:59
  Speaker 1: swore among themselves that they would die if need be
• 30:02
  Speaker 1: for Sir Richard and his lady. At last the time
• 30:05
  Speaker 1: came when Sir Richard must go, whereupon robin Hood called
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: his band around him, and each man of the yeoman
• 30:12
  Speaker 1: took a torch in his hand to light the way
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: through the woodlands. So they came to the edge of Sherwood,
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: and there the knight kissed Robin upon the cheeks, and
• 30:20
  Speaker 1: left him and was gone. Thus robin Hood helped a
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: noble knight out of his dire misfortunes that else would
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: have smothered the happiness from his life. End of Chapter fifteen.