n　Robin　took　this　sweet；　pretty　babe；　clothed　him　all　anew　from　top　to　toe　in　Lincoln　green；　and　gave　him　a　good　stout　bow；　and　so　made　him　a　member　of　the　merry　band。
  And　thus　it　was　that　Robin　Hood　became　outlawed；　thus　a　band　of　merry　companions　gathered　about　him；　and　thus　he　gained　his　right…hand　man；　Little　John；　and　so　the　prologue　ends。　And　now　I　will　tell　how　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　three　times　sought　to　take　Robin　Hood；　and　how　he　failed　each　time。
  Robin　Hood　and　the　Tinker
  Now　it　was　told　before　how　two　hundred　pounds　were　set　upon　Robin　Hood's　head；　and　how　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　swore　that　he　himself　would　seize　Robin；　both　because　he　would　fain　have　the　two　hundred　pounds　and　because　the　slain　man　was　a　kinsman　of　his　own。　Now　the　Sheriff　did　not　yet　know　what　a　force　Robin　had　about　him　in　Sherwood；　but　thought　that　he　might　serve　a　warrant　for　his　arrest　as　he　could　upon　any　other　man　that　had　broken　the　laws；　therefore　he　offered　fourscore　golden　angels　to　anyone　who　would　serve　this　warrant。　　But　men　of　Nottingham　Town　knew　more　of　Robin　Hood　and　his　doings　than　the　Sheriff　did；　and　many　laughed　to　think　of　serving　a　warrant　upon　the　bold　outlaw；　knowing　well　that　all　they　would　get　for　such　service　would　be　cracked　crowns；　so　that　no　one　came　forward　to　take　the　matter　in　hand。　Thus　a　fortnight　passed；　in　which　time　none　came　forward　to　do　the　Sheriff's　business。　　Then　said　he；　〃A　right　good　reward　have　I　offered　to　whosoever　would　serve　my　warrant　upon　Robin　Hood；　and　I　marvel　that　no　one　has　come　to　undertake　the　task。〃
  Then　one　of　his　men　who　was　near　him　said；　〃Good　master；　thou　wottest　not　the　force　that　Robin　Hood　has　about　him　and　how　little　he　cares　for　warrant　of　king　or　sheriff。　Truly；　no　one　likes　to　go　on　this　service；　for　fear　of　cracked　crowns　and　broken　bones。〃
  〃Then　I　hold　all　Nottingham　men　to　be　cowards；〃　said　the　Sheriff。　　〃And　let　me　see　the　man　in　all　Nottinghamshire　that　dare　disobey　the　warrant　of　our　sovereign　lord　King　Harry；　for；　by　the　shrine　of　Saint　Edmund；　I　will　hang　him　forty　cubits　high！　　But　if　no　man　in　Nottingham　dare　win　fourscore　angels；　I　will　send　elsewhere；　for　there　should　be　men　of　mettle　somewhere　in　this　land。〃
  Then　he　called　up　a　messenger　in　whom　he　placed　great　trust；　and　bade　him　saddle　his　horse　and　make　ready　to　go　to　Lincoln　Town　to　see　whether　he　could　find　anyone　there　that　would　do　his　bidding　and　win　the　reward。　So　that　same　morning　the　messenger　started　forth　upon　his　errand。
  Bright　shone　the　sun　upon　the　dusty　highway　that　led　from　Nottingham　to　Lincoln；　stretching　away　all　white　over　hill　and　dale。　Dusty　was　the　highway　and　dusty　the　throat　of　the　messenger；　so　that　his　heart　was　glad　when　he　saw　before　him　the　Sign　of　the　Blue　Boar　Inn；　when　somewhat　more　than　half　his　journey　was　done。　The　inn　looked　fair　to　his　eyes；　and　the　shade　of　the　oak　trees　that　stood　around　it　seemed　cool　and　pleasant；　so　he　alighted　from　his　horse　to　rest　himself　for　a　time；　calling　for　a　pot　of　ale　to　refresh　his　thirsty　throat。
  There　he　saw　a　party　of　right　jovial　fellows　seated　beneath　the　spreading　oak　that　shaded　the　greensward　in　front　of　the　door。　There　was　a　tinker；　two　barefoot　friars；　and　a　party　of　six　of　the　King's　foresters　all　clad　in　Lincoln　green；　and　all　of　them　were　quaffing　humming　ale　and　singing　merry　ballads　of　the　good　old　times。　Loud　laughed　the　foresters；　as　jests　were　bandied　about　between　the　singing；　and　louder　laughed　the　friars；　for　they　were　lusty　men　with　beards　that　curled　like　the　wool　of　black　rams；　but　loudest　of　all　laughed　the　Tinker；　and　he　sang　more　sweetly　than　any　of　the　rest。　His　bag　and　his　hammer　hung　upon　a　twig　of　the　oak　tree；　and　near　by　leaned　his　good　stout　cudgel；　as　thick　as　his　wrist　and　knotted　at　the　end。
  〃Come；〃　cried　one　of　the　foresters　to　the　tired　messenger；　〃come　join　us　for　this　shot。　　Ho；　landlord！　　Bring　a　fresh　pot　of　ale　for　each　man。
  The　messenger　was　glad　enough　to　sit　down　along　with　the　others　who　were　there；　for　his　limbs　were　weary　and　the　ale　was　good。
  〃Now　what　news　bearest　thou　so　fast？〃　quoth　one；　〃and　whither　ridest　thou　today？〃
  The　messenger　was　a　chatty　soul　and　loved　a　bit　of　gossip　dearly；　besides；　the　pot　of　ale　warmed　his　heart；　so　that；　settling　himself　in　an　easy　corner　of　the　inn　bench；　while　the　host　leaned　upon　the　doorway　and　the　hostess　stood　with　her　hands　beneath　her　apron；　he　unfolded　his　budget　of　news　with　great　comfort。　　He　told　all　from　the　very　first：　how　Robin　Hood　had　slain　the　forester；　and　how　he　had　hidden　in　the　greenwood　to　escape　the　law；　how　that　he　lived　therein；　all　against　the　law；　God　wot；　slaying　His　Majesty's　deer　and　levying　toll　on　fat　abbot；　knight；　and　esquire；　so　that　none　dare　travel　even　on　broad　Watling　Street　or　the　Fosse　Way　for　fear
  of　him；　how　that　the　Sheriff　had　a　mind　to　serve　the　King's　warrant　upon　this　same　rogue；　though　little　would　he　mind　warrant　of　either　king　or　sheriff；　for　he　was　far　from　being　a　law…abiding　man。　Then　he　told　how　none　could　be　found　in　all　Nottingham　Town　to　serve　this　warrant；　for　fear　of　cracked　pates　and　broken　bones；　and　how　that　he；　the　messenger；　was　now　upon　his　way　to　Lincoln　Town　to　find　of　what　mettle　the　Lincoln　men　might　be。
  〃Now　come　I；　forsooth；　from　good　Banbury　Town；〃　said　the　jolly　Tinker；　〃and　no　one　nigh　Nottinghamnor　Sherwood　either；　an　that　be　the　mark　can　hold　cudgel　with　my　grip。　　Why；　lads；　did　I　not　meet　that　mad　wag　Simon　of　Ely；　even　at　the　famous　fair　at　Hertford　Town；　and　beat　him　in　the　ring　at　that　place　before　Sir　Robert　of　Leslie　and　his　lady？　This　same　Robin　Hood；　of　whom；　I　wot；　I　never　heard　before；　is　a　right　merry　blade；　but　gin　he　be　strong；　am　not　I　stronger？　And　gin　he　be　sly；　am　not　I　slyer？　　Now　by　the　bright　eyes　of　Nan　o'　the　Mill；　and　by　mine　own　name　and　that's　Wat　o'　the　Crabstaff；　and　by　mine　own　mother's　son；　and　that's　myself；　will　I；　even　I；　Wat　o'　the　Crabstaff；　meet　this　same　sturdy　rogue；　and　gin　he　mind　not　the　seal　of　our　glorious　sovereign　King　Harry；　and　the　warrant　of　the　good　Sheriff　of　Nottinghamshire；　I　will　so　bruise；　beat；　and　bemaul　his　pate　that　he　shall　never　move　finger　or　toe　again！　Hear　ye　that；　bully　boys？〃
  〃Now　art　thou　the　man　for　my　farthing；〃　cried　the　messenger。　〃And　back　thou　goest　with　me　to　Nottingham　Town。〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　shaking　his　head　slowly　from　side　to　side。　〃Go　I　with　no　man　gin　it　be　not　with　mine　own　free　will。〃
  〃Nay；　nay；〃　said　the　messenger；　〃no　man　is　there　in　Nottinghamshire　could　make　thee　go　against　thy　will；　thou　brave　fellow。〃
  〃Ay；　that　be　I　brave；〃　said　the　Tinker。
  〃Ay；　marry；〃　said　the　messenger；　〃thou　art　a　brave　lad；　but　our　good　Sheriff　hath　offered　fourscore　angels　of　bright　gold　to　whosoever　shall　serve　the　warrant　upon　Robin　Hood；　though　little　good　will　it　do。〃
  〃Then　I　will　go　with　thee；　lad。　　Do　but　wait　till　I　get　my　bag　and　hammer；　and　my　cudgel。　　Ay；　let'　me　but　meet　this　same　Robin　Hood；　and　let　me　see　whether　he　will　not　mind　the　King's　warrant。〃　　So；　after　having　paid　their　score；　the　messenger；　with　the　Tinker　striding　beside　his　nag；　started　back　to　Nottingham　again。
  One　bright　morning　soon　after　this　time；　Robin　Hood　started　off　to　Nottingham　Town　to　find　what　was　a…doing　there；　walking　merrily　along　the　roadside　where　the　grass　was　sweet　with　daisies；　his　eyes　wandering　and　his　thoughts　also。　His　bugle　horn　hung　at　his　hip　and　his　bow　and　arrows　at　his　back；　while　in　his　hand　he　bore　a　good　stout　oaken　staff；　which　he　twirled　with　his　fingers　as　he　strolled　along。
  As　thus　he　walked　down　a　shady　lane　he　saw　a　tinker　coming；　trolling　a　merry　song　as　he　drew　nigh。　　On　his　back　hung　his　bag　and　his　hammer；　and　in　his　hand　he　carried　a　right　stout　crabstaff　full　six　feet　long；　and　thus　sang　he：　　〃_In　peascod　time；　when　hound　to　horn　　　　　　Gives　ear　till　buck　be　killed；　　And　little　lads　with　pipes　of　corn　　　　　　Sit　keeping　beasts　afield_〃
  〃Halloa；　good　friend！〃　cried　Robin。
  〃I　WENT　TO　GATHER　STRAWBERRIES〃
  〃Halloa！〃　cried　Robin　again。
  〃BY　WOODS　AND　GROVES　FULL　FAIR〃
  〃Halloa！　　Art　thou　deaf；　man？　　Good　friend；　say　I！〃
  〃And　who　art　thou　dost　so　boldly　check　a　fair　song？〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　stopping　in　his　singing。　　〃Halloa；　shine　own　self；　whether　thou　be　good　friend　or　no。　　But　let　me　tell　thee；　thou　stout　fellow；　gin　thou　be　a　good　friend　it　were　well　for　us　both；　but　gin　thou　be　no　good　friend　it　were　ill　for　thee。〃
  〃And　whence　comest　thou；　my　lusty　blade？〃　quoth　Robin。
  〃I　come　from　Banbury；〃　answered　the　Tinker。
  〃Alas！〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　hear　there　is　sad　news　this　merry　morn。〃
  〃Ha！　　Is　it　indeed　so？〃　cried　the　Tinker　eagerly。　〃Prythee　tell　it　speedily；　for　I　am　a　tinker　by　trade；　as　thou　seest；　and　as　I　am　in　my　trade　I　am　greedy　for　news；　even　as　a　priest　is　greedy　for　farthings。〃
  〃Well　then；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃list　thou　and　I　will　tell；　but　bear　thyself　up　bravely；　for　the　news　is　sad；　I　wot。　　Thus　it　is：　I　hear　that　two　tinkers　are　in　the　stocks　for　drinking　ale　and　beer！〃
  〃Now　a　murrain　seize　thee　and　thy　news；　thou　scurvy　dog；〃　quoth　the　Tinker；　〃for　thou　speakest　but　ill　of　good　men。　But　sad　news　it　is　indeed；　gin　there　be　two　stout　fellows　in　the　stocks。〃
  〃Nay；〃　said　Robin；　〃thou　hast　missed