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

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Speaker 1: By Howard Pyle, Chapter twenty one. King Richard comes to
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Speaker 1: Sherwood Forest. Not more than two months had passed and
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Speaker 1: gone since these stirring adventures befell Robin Hood and Little John,
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Speaker 1: when all Nottinghamshire was a mighty stir and tumult. For
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Speaker 1: King Richard of the Lion's Heart was making a royal
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Speaker 1: progress through Merry England, and every one expected him to
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Speaker 1: come to Nottingham Town in his journeying. Messengers went riding
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Speaker 1: back and forth between the Sheriff and the King, until
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Speaker 1: at last the time was fixed upon when his Majesty
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Speaker 1: was to stop in Nottingham as the guest of his worship.
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Speaker 1: And now came more bustle than ever, a great running
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Speaker 1: hither and thither, a rapping of hammers and babble of
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Speaker 1: voices sounded everywhere through the place, for the folks were
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Speaker 1: building great arches across the streets beneath which the King
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Speaker 1: was to pass, and where draping these arches with silken
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Speaker 1: banners and streamers of many colors. Great hubbub was going
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Speaker 1: on in the guildhall of the town also, for here
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Speaker 1: a grand banquet was to be given to the King,
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Speaker 1: and the nobles of his train, and the best master
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Speaker 1: carpenters were busy building a throne where the King and
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Speaker 1: the Sheriff were to sit at the head of the table,
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Speaker 1: side by side. It seemed to many of the good
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Speaker 1: folk of the place as if the day that should
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Speaker 1: bring the King into the town would never come, But
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Speaker 1: all the same it did come its own season, and
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Speaker 1: bright shone the sun down into the stony streets, which
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Speaker 1: were all alive, with the restless sea of people. On
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Speaker 1: either side of the way. Great crowds of town and
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Speaker 1: country folks stood packed as close together as dried herring
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Speaker 1: in a box, so that the sheriff's men halberds and
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Speaker 1: hands could hardly press them back to leave space for
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Speaker 1: the king's riding. Take care whom thou pushest against, cried
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Speaker 1: a great burly friar to one of these men. What'st
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Speaker 1: thou dig thine elbows into mine? Sirah, by our lady
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Speaker 1: of the fountain, on thou dost not treat me with
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Speaker 1: more deference, I will crack thy knaves pat Ford, They
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Speaker 1: even though thou be one of the mighty Sheriff's men.
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Speaker 1: At this a great shout of laughter arose from a
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Speaker 1: number of tall yeomen in Lincoln Green that were scattered
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Speaker 1: through the crowd thereabouts. But one that seemed of more
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Speaker 1: authority than the others nudged the holy man with his elbow.
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Speaker 1: Peace Tuck said, he didst thou not promise me ere
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Speaker 1: thou camest here, that thou would put a check upon
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Speaker 1: thy tongue. Aye marry, grumbled the other. But I did
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Speaker 1: not think to have a hard footed knave trample over
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Speaker 1: my toes, as though they were no more than so
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Speaker 1: many acorns in the forest. But of a sudden all
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Speaker 1: this bickering ceased, for a clear sound of many bugle
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Speaker 1: horns came winding down the street. Then all the people
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Speaker 1: craned their necks and gazed in the directions whence they
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Speaker 1: sound came. And the crowding and the pushing around, the
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Speaker 1: swaying grew greater than ever. And now a gallant array
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Speaker 1: of men came gleaming into sight, and the cheering of
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Speaker 1: the people ran down the streets as the fire runs
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Speaker 1: in dry grass. Eight and twenty heralds in velvet and
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Speaker 1: cloth of gold came riding forward. Over their heads fluttered
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Speaker 1: a cloud of snow white feathers, and each herald bore
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Speaker 1: in his hand a long silver trumpet, which he blew musically.
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Speaker 1: From each trumpet hung a heavy banner of velvet and
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Speaker 1: cloth of gold, with the royal arms of England emblazoned thereon.
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Speaker 1: After these came riding five score noble knights, two by two,
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Speaker 1: all fully armed, saving that their heads were uncovered. In
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Speaker 1: their hands, they bore tall lances, from the tops of
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Speaker 1: which fluttered pennons of many colors and devices. By the
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Speaker 1: side of each knight walked a page clad in rich
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Speaker 1: cloths of silk and velvet, and each page bore in
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Speaker 1: his hands his master's helmet, from which waved long, floating
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Speaker 1: plumes of feathers. Never had Nottingham seen a fairer sight
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Speaker 1: than these five score noble knights, from whose armor the
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Speaker 1: sun blazed in dazzling light as they came, riding on
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Speaker 1: their great war horses, with clashing of arms and jingling
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Speaker 1: of chains. Behind the knights came the Barrens and the
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Speaker 1: nobles of the mid Country, in robes of silk and
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Speaker 1: cloth of gold, with golden chains about their necks and
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Speaker 1: jewels at their girdles. Behind these again came a great
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Speaker 1: array of men at arms, with spears and halberds in
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Speaker 1: their hands. And in the midst of these two riders
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Speaker 1: side by side. One of the horsemen was the Sheriff
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Speaker 1: of Nottingham in his robes of office. The other, who
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Speaker 1: was a head taller than the Sheriff, was clad in
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Speaker 1: a rich but simple garb, with a broad, heavy chain
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Speaker 1: around his neck. His hair and beard were like threads
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Speaker 1: of gold, and his eyes were as blue as the
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Speaker 1: summer sky. As he rode along, he bowed to the
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Speaker 1: right hand and the left, and a mighty roar of
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Speaker 1: voices followed him as he passed, For this was King Richard. Then,
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Speaker 1: above all the tumult and the shouting, a great voice
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Speaker 1: was heard, mooring, heaven its saints, bless thee, our gracious
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Speaker 1: King Richard, and likewise our Lady of the Fountain, bless thee.
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Speaker 1: Then King Richard, looking towards the spot whence the sound came,
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Speaker 1: saw a tall, burly, strapping priest standing in front of
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Speaker 1: all the crowd, with his legs wide apart, as he
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Speaker 1: backed against those behind. By my soul, Sheriff said the King, laughing,
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Speaker 1: ye have the tallest priest in Nottinghamshire, that ere I
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Speaker 1: saw in my life. If Heaven never answered prayers because
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Speaker 1: of deafness, methinks I would nevertheless have blessings bestowed upon me.
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Speaker 1: For that man Yonder would make the great stone image
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Speaker 1: of Saint Peter rub its ears and hearken unto him.
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Speaker 1: I would that I had an army of such as he.
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Speaker 1: To this, the sheriff answered, never a word, but all
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Speaker 1: the blood left his cheeks, and he caught at the
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Speaker 1: pommel of his saddle to keep himself from falling. For
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Speaker 1: he also saw the fellow that so shouted, and knew
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Speaker 1: him to be Friar Tuck. And moreover, behind Friartuck, he
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Speaker 1: saw the faces of Robin Hood and Little John, and
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Speaker 1: Will Scarlet, and Will Stuteley, and Allinadale and others of
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Speaker 1: the band. How now, said the King, hastily, art thou
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Speaker 1: ill share that thou growest so white. Nay, your majesties,
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Speaker 1: said the Sheriff, It was not but a sudden pain
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Speaker 1: that will soon pass by. Thus he spoke, for he
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Speaker 1: was ashamed that the King should know that Robin Hood
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Speaker 1: feared him so little that he thus dared to come
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Speaker 1: within the very gates of Nottingham Town. Thus rode the
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Speaker 1: King into Nottingham Town on that bright afternoon in the
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Speaker 1: early fall season, and none rejoiced more more than Robin
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Speaker 1: Hood and his merry men to see him come so
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Speaker 1: royally unto his own. Even tide had come, the great
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Speaker 1: feast in the guild hall at Nottingham Town was done,
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Speaker 1: and the wine passed freely. A thousand waxen lights gleamed
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Speaker 1: along the board at which sat Lord and noble, and
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Speaker 1: knight and squire, in goodly array, at the head of
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Speaker 1: the table, upon a throne, all hung with cloth of gold,
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Speaker 1: sat King Richard, with the Sheriff of Nottingham beside him.
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Speaker 1: Quoth the King to the Sheriff, laughing as he spoke,
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Speaker 1: I have heard much spoken concerning the doings of certain
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Speaker 1: fellows hereabouts, one Robin Hood and his band, who are
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Speaker 1: outlaws and abide in sherwood forest. Canst thou not tell
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Speaker 1: me somewhat of them, Sir Sheriff, For I hear that
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Speaker 1: thou hast had dealings with them more than once. At
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Speaker 1: these words, the Sheriff of Nottingham looked down gloomily, and
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Speaker 1: the Bishop of Hereford, who was present, gnawed his nether lip,
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Speaker 1: quoth the Sheriff, I can tell you, your Majesty, but little
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Speaker 1: concerning the doings of those naughty fellows, saving that they
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Speaker 1: are the boldest law breakers in all the land. Then
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Speaker 1: up spoke young Sir Henry of the Leah, a great
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Speaker 1: favorite with the King under whom he had fought in Palestine.
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Speaker 1: May it please your Majesty, said he. When I was
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Speaker 1: away in Palestine, I heard oft times from my father,
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Speaker 1: and in most cases I heard of this very fellow,
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Speaker 1: Robin Hood. If your Majesty would like, I will tell
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Speaker 1: you a certain adventure of this outlaw. Then the King, laughing,
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Speaker 1: bade him tell his tale. Whereupon he told how Robin
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Speaker 1: Hood had aided Sir Richard of the Lee with money
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Speaker 1: that he had borrowed from the Bishop of Hereford. Again
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Speaker 1: and again, the King and those presents fraared with laughter,
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Speaker 1: while the poor bishop waxed cherry red in the face
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Speaker 1: with vexation, for the matter was a sore thing with him.
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Speaker 1: When Sir Henry of Lee was done, others of the
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Speaker 1: those presents, seeing how the King enjoyed this, Marygelle told
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Speaker 1: other tales concerning Robin and his merry men. By the
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Speaker 1: hilt of my sword, said stout King Richard. This is
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Speaker 1: as bold and merry a knave as ever I heard
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Speaker 1: tell of Mary. I must take this matter in hand
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Speaker 1: and do what thou couldst not thee Sheriff do it
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Speaker 1: clear the forest of him and his band. That night
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Speaker 1: the King sat in the place that was set apart
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Speaker 1: from his lodgings, while in Nottingham Town with him were
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Speaker 1: young Sir Henry of Lee, and two other knights and
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Speaker 1: three barons of Nottinghamshire. But the King's mind still dwelled
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Speaker 1: upon robin Hood. Now quoth he, I would freely give
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Speaker 1: a hundred pounds to meet this roguish fellow, Robin Hood,
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Speaker 1: and to seize somewhat of his doings in Sherwood Forest.
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Speaker 1: Then up spoke Sir Hubert of Gingham, laughing, if your
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Speaker 1: Majesty hath such a desire upon you, it is not
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Speaker 1: so hard to satisfy. If your Majesty is willing to
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Speaker 1: lose one hundred pounds, I will engage to cause you
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Speaker 1: not only to meet this fellow, but to feast with
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Speaker 1: him in Sherwood marry. Sir Hubert quoth the King this
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Speaker 1: pleaseth me well. But how wilt thou cause me to
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Speaker 1: meet robin Hood? Why thus said here, Sir Hubert, let
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Speaker 1: your majesty and us here present, put on the robes
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Speaker 1: of seven of the Order of Blackfriars, and let your
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Speaker 1: majesty hang a purse of one hundred pounds beneath your gown.
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Speaker 1: Then let us undertake to ride from here to Mansfield
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Speaker 1: Town tomorrow, and without I am much mistaken, we will
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Speaker 1: both meet with robin Hood and dine with him before
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Speaker 1: the day be passed. I like thy plan, Sir Hubert,
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Speaker 1: quoth the King merrily, and tomorrow we will try it
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Speaker 1: and see whether there'll be virtue in it. So it
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Speaker 1: happened that, when early the next morning, the sheriff came
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Speaker 1: to where his liege lord was abiding to pay his
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Speaker 1: duty to him, the King told him what they had
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Speaker 1: talked of the night before, and what merry adventure they
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Speaker 1: were set upon undertaking that morning. But when the sheriff
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Speaker 1: heard this, he smote his forehead with his fist alas
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Speaker 1: said he, what evil counsel is this that hath been
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Speaker 1: given thee Oh, my gracious Lord and King, you know
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Speaker 1: not what you do, this villain, that you thus go
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Speaker 1: to seek hath no reverence either for king or King's laws. Ah,
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Speaker 1: But did I not hear aright when I was told
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Speaker 1: that this robin Hood hath shed no blood since he
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Speaker 1: was out lawed, saving only that of that vile GHI
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Speaker 1: of Gisborne, for whose death all honest man should thank him. Yea,
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Speaker 1: your Majesty, said the sheriff. You have heard a right. Nevertheless,
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Speaker 1: then quote the King, breaking in on the Sheriff's speech.
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Speaker 1: What have I do to fear in meeting him? Having
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Speaker 1: done him no harm? Truly, there is no danger in this.
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Speaker 1: But may thou wilt go with us, Sir Sheriff. Nay,
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Speaker 1: quote the sheriff hastily heaven forbid. But now seven habits,
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Speaker 1: such as Blackfriars where were brought, and the King and
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Speaker 1: those about him having clad themselves therein, and his Majesty
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Speaker 1: having hung a purse with hundred golden pounds in it
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Speaker 1: beneath his robes, they all went forth and mounted the
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Speaker 1: mules that had been brought to the door for them.
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Speaker 1: Then the King bade the Sheriff be silent as to
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Speaker 1: their doings, and so they set forth upon their way.
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Speaker 1: Onward they traveled, laughing and jesting, until they passed through
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Speaker 1: the open country between bare harvest fields, whence the harvest
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Speaker 1: had been gathered home through scattered glades that began to
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Speaker 1: thicken as they went farther along, till they came within
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Speaker 1: the heavy shade of the forest itself. They traveled in
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Speaker 1: the forest for several miles without meeting any one such
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Speaker 1: as they sought, until they had come to that part
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Speaker 1: of the road that lay nearest to Newstead Abbey. By
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Speaker 1: the Holy Saint Martin, quoth the King, I would that
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Speaker 1: I had a better head for remembering things of great need.
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Speaker 1: Here have we come away and brought never so much
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Speaker 1: as a drop of anything to drink with us. Now
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Speaker 1: I would give half a hundred pounds for somewhat to
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Speaker 1: quench my thirst withal. No sooner had the King so spoken,
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Speaker 1: than out from the cupboard at the roadside stepped a
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Speaker 1: tall fellow with yellow beard and hair and a pair
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Speaker 1: of merry blue eyes, truly holy brother, saying, he laying
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Speaker 1: his hand upon the King's bridle, rein it were an
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Speaker 1: Unchristian thing to not give fitting answer to so fair
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Speaker 1: a bargain. We keep an inn hereabouts, and for fifty
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Speaker 1: pounds we will not only give thee a good draft
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Speaker 1: of wine, but we will give thee as noble a feast,
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Speaker 1: as ever thou didst tickle thy gullet withal, so saying,
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Speaker 1: he put his fingers to his lips and blew a
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Speaker 1: shrill whistle. Then straightway the bushes and branches on either
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Speaker 1: side of the road swayed and crackled, and threescore broad
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Speaker 1: shouldered yeomen in Lincoln Green burst out into the covert.
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Speaker 1: How now, fellow, quoth King Wow, who art thou thou
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Speaker 1: naughty rogue? Hast thou no regard for such holy men
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Speaker 1: as we are?
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Speaker 2: Not?
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Speaker 1: A whit? Quoth Merry robin Hood. For though fellow was he,
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Speaker 1: for in sooth all the holiness belonging to rich fires
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Speaker 1: such as ye are, one could drop into a thimble,
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Speaker 1: and the good wife would never feel it with the
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Speaker 1: tip of her finger. As for my name, it is
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Speaker 1: robin Hood, and thou mayest have heard it before. Now
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Speaker 1: out upon thee, quoth King Richard, Thou art a bold
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Speaker 1: and naughty fellow, and a lawless one withal as I
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Speaker 1: have often heard tell. Now prithee, let me and these
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Speaker 1: brethren of mine travel forward in peace and quietness. It
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Speaker 1: may not, be, said Robin, for it would look but
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Speaker 1: ill of us to let such holy men travel onward
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Speaker 1: with empty stomachs. But I doubt not that thou hast
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Speaker 1: a fat purse to pay the score at our inn,
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Speaker 1: since thou offered freely so much for a poor dropt
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Speaker 1: of wine. Show me thy purse, reverend brother, or I
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Speaker 1: may perchance have to strip thy robes from thee to
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Speaker 1: search for it myself. Nay, use no force, said the
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Speaker 1: king sternly. Here is my purse. But lay not the
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Speaker 1: lawless hands upon our person. Ah tot tout, quoth Mary Robin,
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Speaker 1: what proud words are these? Art thou the King of
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Speaker 1: England to talk so to me? Here? Will take this person?
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Speaker 1: See what there is within? Will Scarlet took the person,
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Speaker 1: counted out the money. Then Robin bade him keep fifty
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Speaker 1: pounds for himself, and put fifty back into the purse.
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Speaker 1: This he handed to the king. Here, brother, quoth he
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Speaker 1: take this half of thy money? And thanks Saint Martin,
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Speaker 1: on whom thou didst call before that thou thou hastn't
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Speaker 1: fallen into the hands of such gentle rogues, that there
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Speaker 1: will not strip thee bear as they might do. But
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Speaker 1: wilt thou not pat thy cow, for I would fain
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Speaker 1: see thy face. Nay, said the King, I may not
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Speaker 1: put back my cow, for we seven have vowed that
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Speaker 1: we will not show our faces for four and twenty hours.
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Speaker 1: Then keep them covered in peace, said Robin, And for
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Speaker 1: be it from me to make you break your vows.
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Speaker 1: So he called seven of his yeomen and bade them
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Speaker 1: each take a mule by the bridle. Then, turning their
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Speaker 1: faces toward the depths of the woodland, they journeyed onward
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Speaker 1: until they came to the open glade and greenwood tree.
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Speaker 1: Little John, with threescore yeomen at his heels, had also
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Speaker 1: gone forth that morning to wait along the roads and
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Speaker 1: bring a rich guest to sherwood Glade, if such might
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Speaker 1: be his luck, for many with fat purses must travel
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Speaker 1: the roads at this time when such great doings were
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Speaker 1: going on in Nottinghamshire. But though Little John and so
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Speaker 1: many others were gone, Friar Chuck and two score or
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Speaker 1: more stout yeomen were seated or lying around beneath the
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Speaker 1: great tree. And when Robin and when the others came,
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Speaker 1: they leaped to their feet to meet him. By my soul,
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Speaker 1: quoth Mary, King Richard, when he had gotten down from
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Speaker 1: his mule and stood looking about him. Thou hast in
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Speaker 1: a very truth a fine lot of young men about thee.
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Speaker 1: Robin methinks King Richard himself would be glad of such
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Speaker 1: a bodyguard. Ah, these are not all my fellows, said
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Speaker 1: Robin proudly, for threescore more of them are away on
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Speaker 1: business with my good right hand man, little John. But
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Speaker 1: as for King Richard, I tell thee brother, there is
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Speaker 1: not a man of us all but would pour out
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Speaker 1: our blood like water for him. Ye churchmen cannot rightly
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Speaker 1: understand our king, but we yeomen love him right loyally
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Speaker 1: for the sake of his brave doings, which are so
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Speaker 1: like our own. But now Friar Tuck came bustling up,
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Speaker 1: ye good den brothers, said he, I am right glad
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Speaker 1: to welcome some of my cloth in this naughty place.
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Speaker 1: Truly methinks these rogues of outlaws would stand but an
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Speaker 1: ill chance were it not for the prayers of Holy Tuck,
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Speaker 1: who laboreth so hard for their well being. Here one
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Speaker 1: eye slyly and stuck his tongue into his cheek, who
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Speaker 1: art thou mad priest, said the king in a serious voice.
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Speaker 1: Albeit he smiled beneath his cow at this fire truck
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Speaker 1: looked all around with a slow gaze. Look you, now,
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Speaker 1: quoth he never let me hear you say again that
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Speaker 1: I am no patient man. Here is a knave of
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Speaker 1: Friar calleth me, a mad priest, and yet I smite
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Speaker 1: him not. My name is Friar Tuck Fellow, the holy
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Speaker 1: Friar Tuck. There, Tuck, said Robin. Thou hast said he
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Speaker 1: now prithee, cease thy talk and bring some wine. These
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Speaker 1: reverend men are athirst and sin. They have paid so
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Speaker 1: richly for their score, they mustn't have the best. Friar
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Speaker 1: Tuck bridled at being so checked in his speech. Nevertheless,
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Speaker 1: he went straightway to do Robin's bidding. So presently a
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Speaker 1: great crock was brought, and wine was poured out for
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Speaker 1: all the guests and for robin hood. Then Robin held
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Speaker 1: his cup aloft stay cried he tarry in your drinking
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Speaker 1: till I give you a place. Here is to good
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Speaker 1: King Richard of great renown, and may all enemies to
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Speaker 1: him be confounded. Then all drank the King's health, even
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Speaker 1: the King himself methinks good fellow, said he. Thou hast
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Speaker 1: drunk to thine own confusion. Ne'er a wit, quoth Mary Robin,
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Speaker 1: For I tell thee that we of Sherwood are more
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Speaker 1: loyal to our lord, the King than those of thine order.
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Speaker 1: We would give up our lives for his benefiting, while
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Speaker 1: ye are constant to lie snug in your abbeys and priors.
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Speaker 1: Let reign. Who will at this the king laughed? Quoth he,
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Speaker 1: Perhaps King Richard's welfare is more to me than thou
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Speaker 1: wottest of fellow. But enough of that matter. We have
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Speaker 1: paid well for our fare, So canst thou not show
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Speaker 1: us some verry entertainment? I have often heard that ye
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Speaker 1: are wondrous archers. Wilt thou not show us somewhat of
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Speaker 1: your skills? With all my heart, said Robin, we are
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Speaker 1: always pleased to show our guests all the sport that
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Speaker 1: is to be seen as gaffers. One thalt saith tis
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Speaker 1: a hard hearth that will not give a cage starling
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Speaker 1: of the best, and cage starlings ye are with us,
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Speaker 1: Ho lads set up garlands at the end of the glade.
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Speaker 1: Then as the yeomen ran to their master's bidding. Tuck
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Speaker 1: turned to one of the Mackriars. Hereest thou our master,
18:13
Speaker 1: quoth he, with a sly wink. Whenever he cometh across
18:17
Speaker 1: some poor piece of wit, he straightway layeth on the
18:20
Speaker 1: shoulders of this scaffold swandholt whoever he may be, so
18:23
Speaker 1: that the poor good man goeth traveling about with all
18:26
Speaker 1: the odds and ends and tags and rags of our
18:28
Speaker 1: master's brain packed on his back. Thus spake Friar Tuck,
18:32
Speaker 1: but in a low voice, so that Robin could not
18:34
Speaker 1: hear him, for he felt somewhat nettled at Robin's cutting
18:37
Speaker 1: his talk so short. In the meantime, the mark at
18:40
Speaker 1: which they were to shoot was set up six score
18:42
Speaker 1: paces distance. It was a garland of leaves and flowers
18:46
Speaker 1: two spans in width, which same was hung upon a
18:48
Speaker 1: stake in front of a broad tree trunk. There, quoth Robin,
18:52
Speaker 1: yawn is a fair mark. Lads, Each of you shoot
18:55
Speaker 1: three arrows thereat, and if any fellow misseth by so
18:58
Speaker 1: much as one arrow, he shall have I've a buffet
19:00
Speaker 1: of will Scarlett's fist. Hearken to him, quoth Friar Tuck.
19:05
Speaker 1: Why master, thou dost bestow buffets from thy strapping nephew,
19:08
Speaker 1: as though they were love taps from some bouncing lass.
19:11
Speaker 1: I warrant thou art safe to hit the garland thyself,
19:14
Speaker 1: or thou wantst not to be so free of his cuffing.
19:17
Speaker 1: First David of Dancaster shot and lodged all three of
19:20
Speaker 1: his arrows within the garland. Well done, David, cried Robin.
19:25
Speaker 1: Thus hath saved thine ears from a warming this day.
19:28
Speaker 1: Next Midge the miller shot, and he also lodged his
19:32
Speaker 1: arrows in the garland. Then followed what the tinker, But
19:35
Speaker 1: alas for him, for one of his chaft missed the
19:37
Speaker 1: mark by the breadth of two fingers. Come hither, fellow,
19:41
Speaker 1: said will Scarlet, in his soft, gentle voice. I owe
19:44
Speaker 1: thee somewhat that I would pay for within. Then what
19:48
Speaker 1: the tinker came forward and stood in front of Will Scarlett,
19:51
Speaker 1: screwing up his face and shutting his eyes tightly, as
19:53
Speaker 1: though he already felt his ears ringing with the buffet.
19:56
Speaker 1: Will Scarlett rolled up his sleeves, and, standing on tiptoe
19:59
Speaker 1: to give the a greater swing to his arm. He
20:01
Speaker 1: struck with might and main woof came his palm against
20:05
Speaker 1: the tinker's head, and down went stout wat to the grass,
20:07
Speaker 1: heels overhead, as the wooden image at the fair ground
20:10
Speaker 1: goes down when the skillful player throws a cudgel at it. Then,
20:14
Speaker 1: as the tinker sat up upon the grass, rubbing his
20:16
Speaker 1: ears and winking and blinking at the bright stars that
20:18
Speaker 1: danced between his eyes, the yeoman roared with mirth till
20:21
Speaker 1: the forest rang. As for King Richard, he laughed till
20:24
Speaker 1: the tears ran down his cheeks. Thus the band shot,
20:27
Speaker 1: each in turn, some getting off scotfree, some winning a
20:31
Speaker 1: buffet that always sent them to the grass. And now
20:34
Speaker 1: last of all Robin took his place, and all was
20:36
Speaker 1: hushed as he shot. The first shaft he shot split
20:40
Speaker 1: a piece from the stake on which the garland was hung.
20:43
Speaker 1: The second lodged within an inch of the other. By
20:46
Speaker 1: my hollodum, said King Richard to himself, I would give
20:49
Speaker 1: a thousand pounds for this fellow to be one of
20:51
Speaker 1: my guard. And now for the third time Robin shot.
20:54
Speaker 1: But alas for him, the arrow was ill feathered and
20:57
Speaker 1: wavered to one side. It smote an inch ounce sighed
21:00
Speaker 1: the Garland. At this a great roar went up those
21:03
Speaker 1: of the Yeoman, who sat upon the grass, rolling over
21:06
Speaker 1: and over, shouting with laughter, for never before had they
21:09
Speaker 1: seen their master so missed the mark. But Robin flung
21:12
Speaker 1: his bow upon the ground with vexation. Now out upon it,
21:15
Speaker 1: cried he, thou shaft had an ill feather to it,
21:18
Speaker 1: for I felt it as it left my fingers. Give
21:20
Speaker 1: me a clean arrow, and I will engage to split
21:22
Speaker 1: the wand with it. At these words, the Yeoman laughed
21:25
Speaker 1: louder than ever. Nay, good Uncle, said will Scarlet in
21:29
Speaker 1: his soft, sweet voice, thou hast e thy fair chance,
21:32
Speaker 1: and hast missed thine aim. Out and out I swear
21:35
Speaker 1: the arrow was as good as any that hath been
21:37
Speaker 1: loosened this day. Come hither, I owe thee somewhat, and
21:40
Speaker 1: would fain pay it. Go, good Master, roared firetuck, and
21:45
Speaker 1: may may blessing go with thee. Thou hast bestowed these
21:48
Speaker 1: love taps of Will Scarlet's with great freedom. It were
21:51
Speaker 1: pity on thou gottest not thine own share. It may
21:55
Speaker 1: not be, said Mary Robin. I am king here, and
21:58
Speaker 1: no subject may raise hand against the king. But even
22:01
Speaker 1: our Great King Richard may yield to the Holy Pope
22:04
Speaker 1: without shame, and even take a tap from him by
22:06
Speaker 1: way of penance. Therefore, I will yield myself to this
22:10
Speaker 1: holy friar, who seemeth to be won in authority, and
22:13
Speaker 1: will take my punishment from him. Thus saying, he turned
22:16
Speaker 1: to the King, I prithee, brother, wilt thou take my
22:19
Speaker 1: punishing into thy holy hands with all my heart? Quoth
22:24
Speaker 1: Mary King Richard, rising from where he was sitting, I
22:26
Speaker 1: owe thee somewhat for having lifted a heavy weight of
22:29
Speaker 1: fifty pounds from my purse, so make room for him
22:32
Speaker 1: and the green lads. An thou makest me tumble, quoth Robin.
22:36
Speaker 1: I will freely give thee back thy fifty pounds. But
22:39
Speaker 1: I tell THEE, brother, if thou makest me not feel
22:42
Speaker 1: grass all along my back, I will take every farthing
22:44
Speaker 1: thou hast for thy boastful speech. So be it, said
22:48
Speaker 1: the King, I am willing to venture it. Thereupon he
22:51
Speaker 1: rolled up his sleeve and showed an arm that make
22:53
Speaker 1: the yeoman stare. But Robin, with his feet wide apart,
22:57
Speaker 1: stood firmly planted, waiting the other smiling. Then the King
23:00
Speaker 1: swung back his arm and balancing himself a moment he
23:03
Speaker 1: delivered a buffet at Robin that fell like a thunderbolt.
23:07
Speaker 1: Down went Robin, headlong upon the grass, for the stroke
23:10
Speaker 1: would have felled a stone wall. Then how the yeomen
23:13
Speaker 1: shouted with laughter till their sides ached, for never had
23:17
Speaker 1: they seen such a buffet given in all their lives.
23:20
Speaker 1: As for Robin, he presently sat up and looked all
23:23
Speaker 1: around him, as though he had dropped from a cloud
23:25
Speaker 1: and had lit in a place he had never seen before.
23:28
Speaker 1: After a while, still gazing about him at his laughing yeoman,
23:32
Speaker 1: he put his finger tips softly to his ear and
23:34
Speaker 1: felt all around it tenderly. Will Scarlet said, he count
23:38
Speaker 1: this fellow out his fifty pounds. I want nothing more,
23:42
Speaker 1: either of his money or of him or a merman
23:45
Speaker 1: seized him and his buffeting. I would that I had
23:47
Speaker 1: taken my news from THEE, for I verily believe he
23:50
Speaker 1: hath deafened mine ear from ever hearing again. Then, while
23:54
Speaker 1: gusts of laughter still broke from the band, will Scarlet
23:58
Speaker 1: counted out the fifty pounds, and the king dropped it
24:01
Speaker 1: back into his purse again. I give THEE thanks fellow,
24:04
Speaker 1: said he. And if ever thou shalt wish for another
24:07
Speaker 1: box of the year to match the one thou hast,
24:09
Speaker 1: come to me, and I will fit THEE with one
24:11
Speaker 1: for naught, so spake the merry King. But even as
24:15
Speaker 1: he ended, there came suddenly the sound of many voices,
24:18
Speaker 1: and out from the covert pursed Little John and three
24:21
Speaker 1: score men, with Sir Richard of the Lee in his
24:23
Speaker 1: midst across the glade. They came running, And as they came,
24:27
Speaker 1: Sir Richard shouted to Robin, make haste, dear friend, gather
24:30
Speaker 1: thy band together and come with me. King Richard left
24:33
Speaker 1: Nottingham Town this very morning and cometh to seek THEE
24:36
Speaker 1: in the woodlands. I know not how he cometh, for
24:38
Speaker 1: it was but a rumor of this that reached me. Nevertheless,
24:42
Speaker 1: I know that it is the truth. Therefore, hasten with
24:45
Speaker 1: all thy men, and come to castle THEE, for there
24:48
Speaker 1: thou mayest lay hidden till thy present danger passeth. Who
24:51
Speaker 1: are these strangers that thou hast with THEE? Why quoth
24:55
Speaker 1: Mary Robin, rising from the grass, These are certain gentle
24:59
Speaker 1: guests that come with thus from the high road over
25:01
Speaker 1: by new Stead Abbey. I know not their names, but
25:04
Speaker 1: I have become right well acquainted with this lusty rogue's
25:07
Speaker 1: palm this morning, marry the pleasure of this acquaintance, hath
25:10
Speaker 1: dost me a deaf ear and fifty pounds to boot.
25:13
Speaker 1: Sir Richard looked keenly at the tall friar, who, drawing
25:17
Speaker 1: himself up to his full height, looked fixedly back at
25:19
Speaker 1: the night. Then of a sudden Sir Richard's cheek grew pale,
25:23
Speaker 1: for he knew who it was that he looked upon.
25:26
Speaker 1: Quickly he leaped from off his horse's back and flung
25:29
Speaker 1: himself upon his knees before the other. At this the King,
25:33
Speaker 1: seeing that Sir Richard knew him, threw back his cowl,
25:37
Speaker 1: and all the yeomans saw his face and knew him also,
25:40
Speaker 1: for there was not one of them but had been
25:42
Speaker 1: in the crowd of the good town of Nottingham, and
25:44
Speaker 1: had seen him riding side by side with the sheriff.
25:47
Speaker 1: Down they fell upon their knees, nor could they say
25:49
Speaker 1: a word. Then the King looked all around right grimly,
25:53
Speaker 1: and last of all, his glance came back and rested
25:55
Speaker 1: again upon Richard of Lee. How is this, Sir Richard,
26:00
Speaker 1: said he sternly. How darest thou step between me and
26:03
Speaker 1: these fellows? And how darest thou offer thy knightly castle
26:07
Speaker 1: of the Lee for a refuge to them? Wilt thou
26:09
Speaker 1: make it a hiding place for the most renowned outlaws
26:12
Speaker 1: in England? Then Sir Richard of the Lee raised his
26:15
Speaker 1: eyes to the King's face. Far be it from me,
26:18
Speaker 1: said he to do aught that could bring your Majesty's
26:21
Speaker 1: anger upon me. Yet sooner would I face your Majesty's
26:24
Speaker 1: wrath than suffer aught of harm that I could stay
26:27
Speaker 1: to fall upon Robin Hood and his band, For to
26:29
Speaker 1: them I owe life, honor, everything. Should I then desert
26:33
Speaker 1: him in this hour of need? Ere the Knight had
26:36
Speaker 1: done speaking, one of the mockfriars that stood near the
26:39
Speaker 1: king came forward and knelt beside Sir Richard, and, throwing
26:42
Speaker 1: back his cow, showed the face of young Sir Henry
26:45
Speaker 1: of the Lee. Then Sir Henry grasped his father's hand
26:49
Speaker 1: and said, here kneels, one who hath served THEE well,
26:52
Speaker 1: Cring Richard, And as thou knowest, hath stepped between THEE
26:55
Speaker 1: and death in Palestine. Yet do I abide by my
26:58
Speaker 1: dear father. And here I say also that I would
27:01
Speaker 1: freely give shelter to this noble outlaw, robin Hood, even
27:05
Speaker 1: though it brought thy wrath upon me, for my father's
27:07
Speaker 1: honor and my father's welfare are as dear to me
27:10
Speaker 1: as mine own. King Richard looked from one to the
27:13
Speaker 1: other of the kneeling knights, and at last the frown
27:16
Speaker 1: faded from his brow, and a smile twitched at the
27:18
Speaker 1: corner of his lips. Marry, Sir Richard, quoth the King,
27:23
Speaker 1: thou art a bold spoken knight, and thy freedom of
27:25
Speaker 1: speech weigheth not heavily against THEE with me, this young
27:29
Speaker 1: son of Thine, taken after his sire, both in boldness
27:32
Speaker 1: of speech and of deed. For as he saith, he
27:35
Speaker 1: stepped one time betwixt me and death. Wherefore I would
27:38
Speaker 1: pardon THEE for his sake, even if thou hast done
27:40
Speaker 1: more than thou hast rise all ye, for ye shall
27:44
Speaker 1: suffer no harm through me this day, for it were
27:47
Speaker 1: pity that a merry time should end in a manner
27:49
Speaker 1: as to mar its joyousness. Then all arose, and the
27:52
Speaker 1: King beckoned robin Hood to come to him. How now,
27:55
Speaker 1: quoth he is thine year still too deaf to hear
27:58
Speaker 1: me speak mine, my ears would be deafened in death.
28:01
Speaker 1: Ere they would cease to hear your Majesty's voice, said Robin.
28:05
Speaker 1: As for the blow that your Majesty struck me, I
28:07
Speaker 1: would say that, though my sins are haply manny, methinks
28:10
Speaker 1: they have been paid up in full. Thereby, ah thinkest thou,
28:14
Speaker 1: so said the king, with some one of a sternness
28:16
Speaker 1: in his voice. Now I tell THEE that, but before
28:19
Speaker 1: three things to wit my mercifulness, my love for a
28:22
Speaker 1: stout woodsman, and the loyalty thou hast avowed for me,
28:25
Speaker 1: thine ears mayhap may have been more tightly clothed than
28:28
Speaker 1: ever a buffet for me could have shut them. Talk
28:31
Speaker 1: not lightly of thy sins, good Robin, But come look up.
28:34
Speaker 1: Thy danger has past. For hereby I give THEE and
28:37
Speaker 1: all thy band free pardon. But in sooth I cannot
28:41
Speaker 1: let you roam the forest as ye have done in
28:42
Speaker 1: the past. Therefore I will take THEE at thy word.
28:45
Speaker 1: When thou didst say thou wouldst give thy service to me,
28:48
Speaker 1: and thou shalt go back to London with me? Who
28:50
Speaker 1: will take that bold knave little John also, and likewise
28:54
Speaker 1: thy cousin will Scarlet, and thy mist Minstrel Allan a Dale.
28:57
Speaker 1: As for the rest of thy band, we will take
28:59
Speaker 1: their names and them duly recorded as royal rangers. For
29:02
Speaker 1: methinks it were wiser to have them changed to law
29:05
Speaker 1: abiding caretakers of our deer and sherwood than to leave
29:08
Speaker 1: them to run at large as outlaws slayers their home.
29:10
Speaker 1: But now get a feast ready, I would see how
29:13
Speaker 1: ye live in the woodlands. So Robin bade his men
29:16
Speaker 1: make ready a grand feast straightway. Great fires were kindled
29:20
Speaker 1: and burned brightly, at which savory things roasted sweetly. Whilst
29:24
Speaker 1: this was going forward, the King bade Robin call Allan
29:27
Speaker 1: and Dale, for he would hear him sing. So word
29:30
Speaker 1: was passed for Allan, and presently he came, bringing his harp. Marry,
29:34
Speaker 1: said King Richard. If thy singing match thy looks, it
29:37
Speaker 1: is fair enough. Prythee strike up a diddy, and let
29:40
Speaker 1: us have taste of thy skill. Then Alan touched his
29:43
Speaker 1: heart lightly, and all words were hushed while he sang.
29:46
Speaker 2: Thus, Oh, where hast thou ben, my daughter? Oh, where
29:57
Speaker 2: hast thou ben? This day, dott my daughter, Oh, I
30:02
Speaker 2: have been to the river side, where the waters lie
30:06
Speaker 2: all gray and wide, and the gray sky birds are
30:09
Speaker 2: the leaden tide, and the shrill windsize a straining, and
30:14
Speaker 2: the shrill insize a straining. What sawest thou there, my daughter?
30:22
Speaker 2: What sawest thou there this day? Daughter? My daughter?
30:27
Speaker 1: Oh?
30:27
Speaker 2: I saw a boat come drifting nigh, where the quivering
30:31
Speaker 2: rushes hiss and sigh, and the water sows as it
30:35
Speaker 2: gurgles by, and the shrill windsizes a straining, and the
30:39
Speaker 2: shrill windsides a straining. What sailed in the boat, my daughter?
30:47
Speaker 2: What sailed in the boat this day? Daughter? My daughter? Oh?
30:53
Speaker 2: There was a one all clad in white, and about
30:56
Speaker 2: his face hung a pallid light, and his eyes gleam
30:59
Speaker 2: shot arp like the stars at night. And the shrill
31:02
Speaker 2: winside a straining, and the shrill winside a straining. And
31:09
Speaker 2: what said he, my daughter? What said he to thee
31:15
Speaker 2: this day? Daughter? My daughter? O said he not? But
31:20
Speaker 2: did he this thrice on my lips? Did he press
31:23
Speaker 2: a kiss? And my hot strings shrunk with an awful bliss,
31:27
Speaker 2: And the shrill inside a straining, and the shrill winside
31:32
Speaker 2: a straining. Why growest thou so cold, my daughter? Why
31:38
Speaker 2: growest thou so cold? And white? Daughter? My daughter? Oh?
31:44
Speaker 2: Never a word the daughter said, but she sat all
31:47
Speaker 2: straight with a drooping head, for her heart was stilled,
31:51
Speaker 2: and her face was dead. And the shrill inside a straining,
31:55
Speaker 2: and the shrill winside a straining.
32:00
Speaker 1: All listened in silence. And when Allan Adale had done,
32:04
Speaker 1: King Richard heaved a sigh by the breath of my body. Allan,
32:09
Speaker 1: quoth he, thou hast such a wondrous, sweet voice, that
32:12
Speaker 1: it strangely moves my heart. But what doleful ditty is
32:16
Speaker 1: this for the lips of a stout yeoman. I would
32:19
Speaker 1: rather hear thee sing a song of love and battle
32:21
Speaker 1: than a sad thing like that. Moreover, I understand it
32:24
Speaker 1: not what meanest thou by the words? I know not,
32:29
Speaker 1: your majesty, said Allan, shaking his head. For oft times
32:32
Speaker 1: I sing that which I do not clearly understand mine
32:35
Speaker 1: own self. Well, well, quoth the King, let it pass
32:40
Speaker 1: only I tell thee this, Allan, thou shouldst turn thy
32:44
Speaker 1: songs to such matter as I spoke of, to wit
32:47
Speaker 1: love or war? For in sooth thou hast a sweeter
32:50
Speaker 1: voice than Blundell, and methought he was the best minstrel
32:53
Speaker 1: that ever I heard. But now one came forward and
32:56
Speaker 1: said that the feast was ready. So robin Hood brought
32:59
Speaker 1: King Richard and those with him to where it lay,
33:01
Speaker 1: all spread out on fair white linen cloths, which lay
33:04
Speaker 1: upon the soft green grass. Then King Richard sat him
33:07
Speaker 1: down and feasted and drank, and when he was done,
33:10
Speaker 1: he swore roundly that he had never sat at such
33:13
Speaker 1: a lusty repast in all his life. Before that night
33:18
Speaker 1: he lay in her sherwood forest upon a bed of
33:20
Speaker 1: sweet green leaves. And early the next morning he set
33:22
Speaker 1: forth from the woodlands for Nottingham Town, robin Hood and
33:26
Speaker 1: all his band going with him. You may guess what
33:29
Speaker 1: a stir there was in the good town when all
33:31
Speaker 1: those famous outlaws came marching into the streets. As for
33:35
Speaker 1: the sheriff, he knew not what to say nor where
33:38
Speaker 1: to look when he saw robin Hood in such high
33:40
Speaker 1: favor with the King, while all his heart was filled
33:43
Speaker 1: with gall because of the vexation that lay upon him.
33:46
Speaker 1: The next day the King took leave of Nottingham Town.
33:49
Speaker 1: So robin Hood and Little John and will Scarlett and
33:53
Speaker 1: Alan Adale shook hands with all the rest of the band,
33:56
Speaker 1: kissing the cheeks of each man and swearing that they
33:58
Speaker 1: would often come to Sherwey and see them. Then each
34:02
Speaker 1: mounted his horse and rode away in the train of
34:05
Speaker 1: the King. End of chapter twenty one, The Merry Adventures
34:10
Speaker 1: of Robin Hood