。〃
  〃You　are　a　merry　knave；〃　said　the　baron；　〃and　here　is　a　cup　of　wine　for　you。〃
  〃Gramercy；〃　said　the　squire；　〃and　better　late　than　never：　but　I　lacked　a　cup　of　this　before。　　Had　I　been　pot…valiant；　I　had　held　you　play。〃
  〃Sir　knight；〃　said　Marian；　〃this　is　the　third　time　you　have　sought　the　life　of　my　lord　and　of　me；　for　mine　is　interwoven　with　his。　And　do　you　think　me　so　spiritless　as　to　believe　that　I　can　be　yours　by　compulsion？　　Tempt　me　not　again；　for　the　next　time　shall　be　the　last；　and　the　fish　of　the　nearest　river　shall　commute　the　flesh　of　a　recreant　knight　into　the　fast…day　dinner　of　an　uncarnivorous　friar。　I　spare　you　now；　not　in　pity　but　in　scorn。　　Yet　shall　you　swear　to　a　convention　never　more　to　pursue　or　molest　my　lord　or　me；　and　on　this　condition　you　shall　live。〃
  The　knight　had　no　alternative　but　to　comply；　and　swore；　on　the　honour　of　knighthood；　to　keep　the　convention　inviolate。　How　well　he　kept　his　oath　we　shall　have　no　opportunity　of　narrating：　Di　lui　la　nostra　istoria　piu　non　parla。
  CHAPTER　XVI
  Carry　me　over　the　water；　thou　fine　fellowe。　　Old　Ballad。
  The　pilgrims；　without　experiencing　further　molestation；　arrived　at　the　retreat　of　Sir　Guy　of　Gamwell。　　They　found　the　old　knight　a　cup　too　low；　partly　from　being　cut　off　from　the　scenes　of　his　old　hospitality　and　the　shouts　of　his　Nottinghamshire　vassals；　who　were　wont　to　make　the　rafters　of　his　ancient　hall　re…echo　to　their　revelry；　but　principally　from　being　parted　from　his　son；　who　had　long　been　the　better　half　of　his　flask　and　pasty。　The　arrival　of　our　visitors　cheered　him　up；　and　finding　that　the　baron　was　to　remain　with　him；　he　testified　his　delight　and　the　cordiality　of　his　welcome　by　pegging　him　in　the　ribs　till　he　made　him　roar。
  Robin　and　Marian　took　an　affectionate　leave　of　the　baron　and　the　old　knight；　and　before　they　quitted　the　vicinity　of　Barnsdale；　deeming　it　prudent　to　return　in　a　different　disguise；　they　laid　aside　their　pilgrim's　attire；　and　assumed　the　habits　and　appurtenances　of　wandering　minstrels。
  They　travelled　in　this　character　safely　and　pleasantly；　till　one　evening　at　a　late　hour　they　arrived　by　the　side　of　a　river；　where　Robin　looking　out　for　a　mode　of　passage　perceived　a　ferry…boat　safely　moored　in　a　nook　on　the　opposite　bank；　near　which　a　chimney　sending　up　a　wreath　of　smoke　through　the　thick…set　willows；　was　the　only　symptom　of　human　habitation；　and　Robin　naturally　conceiving　the　said　chimney　and　wreath　of　smoke　to　be　the　outward　signs　of　the　inward　ferryman；　shouted　〃Over！〃　with　much　strength　and　clearness；　but　no　voice　replied；　and　no　ferryman　appeared。　　Robin　raised　his　voice；　and　shouted　with　redoubled　energy；　〃Over；　Over；　O…o…o…over！〃　A　faint　echo　alone　responded　〃Over！〃　and　again　died　away　into　deep　silence：　but　after　a　brief　interval　a　voice　from　among　the　willows；　in　a　strange　kind　of　mingled　intonation　that　was　half　a　shout　and　half　a　song；　answered：
  Over；　over；　over；　jolly；　jolly　rover；　　Would　you　then　come　over？　Over；　over；　over？　　Jolly；　jolly　rover；　here's　one　lives　in　clover：　　Who　finds　the　clover？　The　jolly；　jolly　rover。　　He　finds　the　clover；　let　him　then　come　over；　　The　jolly；　jolly　rover；　over；　over；　over；
  〃I　much　doubt；〃　said　Marian；　〃if　this　ferryman　do　not　mean　by　clover　something　more　than　the　toll　of　his　ferry…boat。〃
  〃I　doubt　not；〃　answered　Robin；　〃he　is　a　levier　of　toll　and　tithe；　which　I　shall　put　him　upon　proof　of　his　right　to　receive；　by　making　trial　of　his　might　to　enforce。〃
  The　ferryman　emerged　from　the　willows　and　stepped　into　his　boat。　〃As　I　live；〃　exclaimed　Robin；　〃the　ferryman　is　a　friar。〃
  〃With　a　sword；〃　said　Marian；　〃stuck　in　his　rope　girdle。〃
  The　friar　pushed　his　boat　off　manfully；　and　was　presently　half　over　the　river。
  〃It　is　friar　Tuck；〃　said　Marian。
  〃He　will　scarcely　know　us；〃　said　Robin；　〃and　if　he　do　not；　I　will　break　a　staff　with　him　for　sport。〃
  The　friar　came　singing　across　the　water：　　the　boat　touched　the　land：　Robin　and　Marian　stepped　on　board：　　the　friar　pushed　off　again。
  〃Silken　doublets；　silken　doublets；〃　said　the　friar：　〃slenderly　lined；　I　bow：　　your　wandering　minstrel　is　always　poor　toll：　　your　sweet　angels　of　voices　pass　current　for　a　bed　and　a　supper　at　the　house　of　every　lord　that　likes　to　hear　the　fame　of　his　valour　without　the　trouble　of　fighting　for　it。　What　need　you　of　purse　or　pouch？　　You　may　sing　before　thieves。　Pedlars；　pedlars：　　wandering　from　door　to　door　with　the　small　ware　of　lies　and　cajolery：　　exploits　for　carpet…knights；　honesty　for　courtiers；　truth　for　monks；　and　chastity　for　nuns：　a　good　saleable　stock　that　costs　the　vender　nothing；　defies　wear　and　tear；　and　when　it　has　served　a　hundred　customers　is　as　plentiful　and　as　marketable　as　ever。　　But；　sirrahs；　I'll　none　of　your　balderdash。　You　pass　not　hence　without　clink　of　brass；　or　I'll　knock　your　musical　noddles　together　till　they　ring　like　a　pair　of　cymbals。　That　will　be　a　new　tune　for　your　minstrelships。〃
  This　friendly　speech　of　the　friar　ended　as　they　stepped　on　the　opposite　bank。　Robin　had　noticed　as　they　passed　that　the　summer　stream　was　low。
  〃Why；　thou　brawling　mongrel；〃　said　Robin；　〃that　whether　thou　be　thief；　friar；　or　ferryman；　or　an　ill…mixed　compound　of　all　three；　passes　conjecture；　though　I　judge　thee　to　be　simple　thief；　what　barkest　thou　at　thus？　Villain；　there　is　clink　of　brass　for　thee。　　Dost　thou　see　this　coin？　Dost　thou　hear　this　music？　　Look　and　listen：　　for　touch　thou　shalt　not：　my　minstrelship　defies　thee。　　Thou　shalt　carry　me　on　thy　back　over　the　water；　and　receive　nothing　but　a　cracked　sconce　for　thy　trouble。〃
  〃A　bargain；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃for　the　water　is　low；　the　labour　is　light；　and　the　reward　is　alluring。〃　　And　he　stooped　down　for　Robin；　who　mounted　his　back；　and　the　friar　waded　with　him　over　the　river。
  〃Now；　fine　fellow；〃　said　the　friar；　〃thou　shalt　carry　me　back　over　the　water；　and　thou　shalt　have　a　cracked　sconce　for　thy　trouble。〃
  Robin　took　the　friar　on　his　back；　and　waded　with　him　into　the　middle　of　the　river；　when　by　a　dexterous　jerk　he　suddenly　flung　him　off　and　plunged　him　horizontally　over　head　and　ears　in　the　water。　Robin　waded　to　shore；　and　the　friar；　half　swimming　and　half　scrambling；　followed。
  〃Fine　fellow；　fine　fellow；〃　said　the　friar；　〃now　will　I　pay　thee　thy　cracked　sconce。〃
  〃Not　so；〃　said　Robin；　〃I　have　not　earned　it：　　but　thou　hast　earned　it；　and　shalt　have　it。〃
  It　was　not；　even　in　those　good　old　times；　a　sight　of　every　day　to　see　a　troubadour　and　a　friar　playing　at　single…stick　by　the　side　of　a　river；　each　aiming　with　fell　intent　at　the　other's　coxcomb。　The　parties　were　both　so　skilled　in　attack　and　defence；　that　their　mutual　efforts　for　a　long　time　expended　themselves　in　quick　and　loud　rappings　on　each　other's　oaken　staves。　　At　length　Robin　by　a　dexterous　feint　contrived　to　score　one　on　the　friar's　crown：　but　in　the　careless　moment　of　triumph　a　splendid　sweep　of　the　friar's　staff　struck　Robin's　out　of　his　hand　into　the　middle　of　the　river；　and　repaid　his　crack　on　the　head　with　a　degree　of　vigour　that　might　have　passed　the　bounds　of　a　jest　if　Marian　had　not　retarded　its　descent　by　catching　the　friar's　arm。
  〃How　now；　recreant　friar；〃　said　Marian；　〃what　have　you　to　say　why　you　should　not　suffer　instant　execution；　being　detected　in　open　rebellion　against　your　liege　lord？　Therefore　kneel　down；　traitor；　and　submit　your　neck　to　the　sword　of　the　offended　law。〃
  〃Benefit　of　clergy；〃　said　the　friar：　　〃I　plead　my　clergy。　And　is　it　you　indeed；　ye　scapegraces？　　Ye　are　well　disguised：　I　knew　ye　not；　by　my　flask。　　Robin；　jolly　Robin；　he　buys　a　jest　dearly　that　pays　for　it　with　a　bloody　coxcomb。　But　here　is　balm　for　all　bruises；　outward　and　inward。　（The　friar　produced　a　flask　of　canary。）　Wash　thy　wound　twice　and　thy　throat　thrice　with　this　solar　concoction；　and　thou　shalt　marvel　where　was　thy　hurt。　　But　what　moved　ye　to　this　frolic？　Knew　ye　not　that　ye　could　not　appear　in　a　mask　more　fashioned　to　move　my　bile　than　in　that　of　these　gilders　and　lackerers　of　the　smooth　surface　of　worthlessness；　that　bring　the　gold　of　true　valour　into　disrepute；　by　stamping　the　baser　metal　with　the　fairer　im…pression？　I　marvelled　to　find　any　such　given　to　fighting　（for　they　have　an　old　instinct　of　self…preservation）：　but　I　rejoiced　thereat；　that　I　might　discuss　to　them　poetical　justice：　and　therefore　have　I　cracked　thy　sconce：　　for　which；　let　this　be　thy　medicine。〃
  〃But　wherefore；〃　said　Marian；　〃do　we　find　you　here；　when　we　left　you　joint　lord　warden　of　Sherwood？〃
  〃I　do　but　retire　to　my　devotions；〃　replied　the　friar。　〃This　is　my　hermitage；　in　which　I　first　took　refuge　when　I　escaped　from　my　beloved　brethren　of　Rubygill；　and　to　which　I　still　retreat　at　times　from　the　vanities　of　the　world；　which　else　might　cling　to　me　too　closely；　since　I　have　been　promoted　to　be　peer…spiritual　of　your　forest…court。　For；　indeed；　I　do　find　in　myself　certain　indications　and　admonitions　that　my　day　has　past　its　noon；　and　none　more　cogent　than　this：　that　daily　of　bad　wine　I　grow　more　intolerant；　and　of　good　wine　have　a　keener　and　more　fastidious　relish。　　There　is　no　surer　symptom　of　receding　years。　　The　ferryman　is　my　faithful　varlet。　I　send　him　on　some　pious　errand；　that　I　may　meditate　in　ghostly　privacy；　when　my　presence　in　the　forest　can　b