＇3＇　Classes　of　traveling　mendicants　that　infested　England　as　late　as　the　middle　of　the　seventeenth　century。　VIDE　Dakkar's　ENGLISH　VILLAINIES；　etc。
  〃Mayhap　that　may　be　so；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃for　I　bring　to　mind　that　Gaffer　Swanthold　sayeth　Jack　Shoemaker　maketh　ill　bread；　Tom　Baker　maketh　ill　shoon。　　Nevertheless；　I　have　a　mind　to　taste　a　beggar's　life；　and　need　but　the　clothing　to　be　as　good　as　any。〃
  〃I　tell　thee；　fellow；〃　said　the　Beggar；　〃if　thou　wert　clad　as　sweetly　as　good　Saint　Wynten；　the　patron　of　our　craft；　thou　wouldst　never　make　a　beggar。　Marry；　the　first　jolly　traveler　that　thou　wouldst　meet　would　beat　thee　to　a　pudding　for　thrusting　thy　nose　into　a　craft　that　belongeth　not　to　thee。〃
  〃Nevertheless；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃I　would　have　a　try　at　it；　and　methinks　I　shall　change　clothes　with　thee；　for　thy　garb　seemeth　to　be　pretty；　not　to　say　gay。　So　not　only　will　I　change　clothes；　but　I　will　give　thee　two　golden　angels　to　boot。　　I　have　brought　my　stout　staff　with　me；　thinking　that　I　might　have　to　rap　some　one　of　the　brethren　of　thy　cloth　over　the　head　by　way　of　argument　in　this　matter；　but　I　love　thee　so　much　for　the　feast　thou　hast　given　me　that　I　would　not　lift　even　my　little　finger　against　thee；　so　thou　needst　not　have　a　crumb　of　fear。〃
  To　this　the　Beggar　listened　with　his　knuckles　resting　against　his　hips；　and　when　Robin　had　ended　he　cocked　his　head　on　one　side　and　thrust　his　tongue　into　his　cheek。
  〃Marry；　come　up；〃　quoth　he　at　last。　　〃Lift　thy　finger　against　me；　forsooth！　　Art　thou　out　of　thy　wits；　man？　My　name　is　Riccon　Hazel；　and　I　come　from　Holywell；　in　Flintshire；　over　by　the　River　Dee。　　I　tell　thee；　knave；　I　have　cracked　the　head　of　many　a　better　man　than　thou　art；　and　even　now　I　would　scald　thy　crown　for　thee　but　for　the　ale　thou　hast　given　me。　Now　thou　shalt　not　have　so　much　as　one　tag…rag　of　my　coat；　even　could　it　save　thee　from　hanging。〃
  〃Now；　fellow；〃　said　Robin；　〃it　would　ill　suit　me　to　spoil　thy　pretty　head　for　thee；　but　I　tell　thee　plainly；　that　but　for　this　feast　I　would　do　that　to　thee　would　stop　thy　traveling　the　country　for　many　a　day　to　come。　Keep　thy　lips　shut；　lad；　or　thy　luck　will　tumble　out　of　thy　mouth　with　thy　speech！〃
  〃Now　out；　and　alas　for　thee；　man；　for　thou　hast　bred　thyself　ill　this　day！〃　cried　the　Beggar；　rising　and　taking　up　his　staff。　〃Take　up　thy　club　and　defend　thyself；　fellow；　for　I　will　not　only　beat　thee　but　I　will　take　from　thee　thy　money　and　leave　thee　not　so　much　as　a　clipped　groat　to　buy　thyself　a　lump　of　goose　grease　to　rub　thy　cracked　crown　withal。　So　defend　thyself；　I　say。〃
  Then　up　leaped　merry　Robin　and　snatched　up　his　staff　also。　〃Take　my　money；　if　thou　canst；〃　quoth　he。　　〃I　promise　freely　to　give　thee　every　farthing　if　thou　dost　touch　me。〃　And　he　twirled　his　staff　in　his　fingers　till　it　whistled　again。
  Then　the　Beggar　swung　his　staff　also；　and　struck　a　mighty　blow　at　Robin；　which　the　yeoman　turned。　　Three　blows　the　Beggar　struck；　yet　never　one　touched　so　much　as　a　hair　of　Robin's　head。　Then　stout　Robin　saw　his　chance；　and；　ere　you　could　count　three；　Riccon's　staff　was　over　the　hedge；　and　Riccon　himself　lay　upon　the　green　grass　with　no　more　motion　than　you　could　find　in　an　empty　pudding　bag。
  〃How　now！〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　laughing。　　〃Wilt　thou　have　my　hide　or　my　money；　sweet　chuck？〃　　But　to　this　the　other　answered　never　a　word。　　Then　Robin；　seeing　his　plight；　and　that　he　was　stunned　with　the　blow；　ran；　still　laughing；　and　brought　the　skin　of　ale　and　poured　some　of　it　on　the　Beggar's　head　and　some　down　his　throat；　so　that　presently　he　opened　his　eyes　and　looked　around　as　though　wondering　why　he　lay　upon　his　back。
  Then　Robin；　seeing　that　he　had　somewhat　gathered　the　wits　that　had　just　been　rapped　out　of　his　head；　said；　〃Now；　good　fellow；　wilt　thou　change　clothes　with　me；　or　shall　I　have　to　tap　thee　again？　　Here　are　two　golden　angels　if　thou　wilt　give　me　freely　all　thy　rags　and　bags　and　thy　cap　and　things。　If　thou　givest　them　not　freely；　I　much　fear　me　I　shall　have　to〃　and　he　looked　up　and　down　his　staff。
  Then　Riccon　sat　up　and　rubbed　the　bump　on　his　crown。　　〃Now；　out　upon　it！〃　quoth　he。　　〃I　did　think　to　drub　thee　sweetly；　fellow。　　I　know　not　how　it　is；　but　I　seem；　as　it　were；　to　have　bought　more　beer　than　I　can　drink。　If　I　must　give　up　my　clothes；　I　must；　but　first　promise　me；　by　thy　word　as　a　true　yeoman；　that　thou　wilt　take　nought　from　me　but　my　clothes。〃
  〃I　promise　on　the　word　of　a　true　yeoman；〃　quoth　Robin；　thinking　that　the　fellow　had　a　few　pennies　that　he　would　save。
  Thereupon　the　Beggar　drew　a　little　knife　that　hung　at　his　side　and；　ripping　up　the　lining　of　his　coat；　drew　thence　ten　bright　golden　pounds；　which　he　laid　upon　the　ground　beside　him　with　a　cunning　wink　at　Robin。　　〃Now　thou　mayst　have　my　clothes　and　welcome；〃　said　he；　〃and　thou　mightest　have　had　them　in　exchange　for　thine　without　the　cost　of　a　single　farthing；　far　less　two　golden　angels。〃
  〃Marry；〃　quoth　Robin；　laughing；　〃thou　art　a　sly　fellow；　and　I　tell　thee　truly；　had　I　known　thou　hadst　so　much　money　by　thee　maybe　thou　mightst　not　have　carried　it　away；　for　I　warrant　thou　didst　not　come　honestly　by　it。〃
  Then　each　stripped　off　his　clothes　and　put　on　those　of　the　other；　and　as　lusty　a　beggar　was　Robin　Hood　as　e'er　you　could　find　of　a　summer's　day。　But　stout　Riccon　of　Holywell　skipped　and　leaped　and　danced　for　joy　of　the　fair　suit　of　Lincoln　green　that　he　had　so　gotten。　　Quoth　he；　〃I　am　a　gay…feathered　bird　now。　　Truly；　my　dear　Moll　Peascod　would　never　know　me　in　this　dress。　Thou　mayst　keep　the　cold　pieces　of　the　feast；　friend；　for　I　mean　to　live　well　and　lustily　while　my　money　lasts　and　my　clothes　are　gay。〃
  So　he　turned　and　left　Robin　and；　crossing　the　stile；　was　gone；　but　Robin　heard　him　singing　from　beyond　the　hedge　as　he　strode　away：
  〃_For　Polly　is　smiling　and　Molly　is　glad　　　　　　When　the　beggar　comes　in　at　the　door；　　And　Jack　and　Dick　call　him　a　fine　lusty　lad；　　　　　　And　the　hostess　runs　up　a　great　score。
  Then　hey；　Willy　Waddykin；　　　　　　Stay；　Billy　Waddykin；　　And　let　the　brown　ale　flow　free；　flow　free；　　　　　　The　beggar's　the　man　for　me_。〃
  Robin　listened　till　the　song　ended　in　the　distance；　then　he　also　crossed　the　stile　into　the　road；　but　turned　his　toes　away　from　where　the　Beggar　had　gone。　The　road　led　up　a　gentle　hill　and　up　the　hill　Robin　walked；　a　half　score　or　more　of　bags　dangling　about　his　legs。　Onward　he　strolled　for　a　long　time；　but　other　adventure　he　found　not。　The　road　was　bare　of　all　else　but　himself；　as　he　went　kicking　up　little　clouds　of　dust　at　each　footstep；　for　it　was　noontide；　the　most　peaceful　time　of　all　the　day；　next　to　twilight。　All　the　earth　was　silent　in　the　restfulness　of　eating　time；　the　plowhorses　stood　in　the　furrow　munching；　with　great　bags　over　their　noses　holding　sweet　food；　the　plowman　sat　under　the　hedge　and　the　plowboy　also；　and　they；　too；　were　munching；　each　one　holding　a　great　piece　of　bread　in　one　fist　and　a　great　piece　of　cheese　in　the　other。
  So　Robin；　with　all　the　empty　road　to　himself；　strode　along　whistling　merrily；　his　bags　and　pouches　bobbing　and　dangling　at　his　thighs。　　At　last　he　came　to　where　a　little　grass…grown　path　left　the　road　and；　passing　through　a　stile　and　down　a　hill；　led　into　a　little　dell　and　on　across　a　rill　in　the　valley　and　up　the　hill　on　the　other　side；　till　it　reached　a　windmill　that　stood　on　the　cap　of　the　rise　where　the　wind　bent　the　trees　in　swaying　motion。　Robin　looked　at　the　spot　and　liked　it；　and；　for　no　reason　but　that　his　fancy　led　him；　he　took　the　little　path　and　walked　down　the　grassy　sunny　slope　of　the　open　meadow；　and　so　came　to　the　little　dingle　and；　ere　he　knew　it；　upon　four　lusty　fellows　that　sat　with　legs　outstretched　around　a　goodly　feast　spread　upon　the　ground。
  Four　merry　beggars　were　they；　and　each　had　slung　about　his　neck　a　little　board　that　rested　upon　his　breast。　One　board　had　written　upon　it；　〃I　am　blind；〃　another；　〃I　am　deaf；〃　another；　〃I　am　dumb；〃　and　the　fourth；　〃Pity　the　lame　one。〃　But　although　all　these　troubles　written　upon　the　boards　seemed　so　grievous；　the　four　stout　fellows　sat　around　feasting　as　merrily　as　though　Cain's　wife　had　never　opened　the　pottle　that　held　misfortunes　and　let　them　forth　like　a　cloud　of　flies　to　pester　us。
  The　deaf　man　was　the　first　to　hear　Robin；　for　he　said；　〃Hark；　brothers；　I　hear　someone　coming。〃　　And　the　blind　man　was　the　first　to　see　him；　for　he　said；　〃He　is　an　honest　man；　brothers；　and　one　of　like　craft　to　ourselves。〃　Then　the　dumb　man　called　to　him　in　a　great　voice　and　said；　〃Welcome；　brother；　come　and　sit　while　there　is　still　some　of　the　feast　left　and　a　little　Malmsey　in　the　pottle。〃　　At　this；　the　lame　man；　who　had　taken　off　his　wooden　leg　and　unstrapped　his　own　leg；　and　was　sitting　with　it　stretched　out　upon　the　grass　so　as　to　rest　it；　made　room　for　Robin　among　them。　〃We　are　glad　to　see　thee；　brother；〃　said　he；　holding　out　the　flask　of　Malmsey。
  〃Marry；〃　quoth　Robin；　laughing；　and　weighing　the　flask　in　his　hands　ere　he　drank；　〃methinks　it　is　no　more　than　seemly　of　you　all　to　be　glad　to　see　me；　seeing　that　I　bring　sight　to　the　blind；　speech　to　the　dumb；　hearing　to　the　deaf；　and　such　a　lusty　leg　to　a　lame　man。　I　drink　to　your　happiness；　brothers；　as　I　may　not　drink　to　your　health；　seeing　ye　are　already　hale；　wind　and　limb。