ll　the　crowd　with　his　legs　wide　apart　as　he　backed　against　those　behind。
  〃By　my　soul；　Sheriff；〃　said　the　King；　laughing；　〃ye　have　the　tallest　priests　in　Nottinghamshire　that　e'er　I　saw　in　all　my　life。　If　Heaven　never　answered　prayers　because　of　deafness；　methinks　I　would　nevertheless　have　blessings　bestowed　upon　me；　for　that　man　yonder　would　make　the　great　stone　image　of　Saint　Peter　rub　its　ears　and　hearken　unto　him。　I　would　that　I　had　an　army　of　such　as　he。〃
  To　this　the　Sheriff　answered　never　a　word；　but　all　the　blood　left　his　cheeks；　and　he　caught　at　the　pommel　of　his　saddle　to　keep　himself　from　falling；　for　he　also　saw　the　fellow　that　so　shouted；　and　knew　him　to　be　Friar　Tuck；　and；　moreover；　behind　Friar　Tuck　he　saw　the　faces　of　Robin　Hood　and　Little　John　and　Will　Scarlet　and　Will　Stutely　and　Allan　a　Dale　and　others　of　the　band。
  〃How　now；〃　said　the　King　hastily；　〃art　thou　ill；　Sheriff；　that　thou　growest　so　white？〃
  〃Nay；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃it　was　nought　but　a　sudden　pain　that　will　soon　pass　by。〃　　Thus　he　spake；　for　he　was　ashamed　that　the　King　should　know　that　Robin　Hood　feared　him　so　little　that　he　thus　dared　to　come　within　the　very　gates　of　Nottingham　Town。
  Thus　rode　the　King　into　Nottingham　Town　on　that　bright　afternoon　in　the　early　fall　season；　and　none　rejoiced　more　than　Robin　Hood　and　his　merry　men　to　see　him　come　so　royally　unto　his　own。
  Eventide　had　come；　the　great　feast　in　the　Guild　Hall　at　Nottingham　Town　was　done；　and　the　wine　passed　freely。　A　thousand　waxen　lights　gleamed　along　the　board；　at　which　sat　lord　and　noble　and　knight　and　squire　in　goodly　array。　At　the　head　of　the　table；　upon　a　throne　all　hung　with　cloth　of　gold；　sat　King　Richard　with　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　beside　him。
  Quoth　the　King　to　the　Sheriff；　laughing　as　he　spoke；　〃I　have　heard　much　spoken　concerning　the　doings　of　certain　fellows　hereabouts；　one　Robin　Hood　and　his　band；　who　are　outlaws　and　abide　in　Sherwood　Forest。　　Canst　thou　not　tell　me　somewhat　of　them；　Sir　Sheriff？　　For　I　hear　that　thou　hast　had　dealings　with　them　more　than　once。〃
  At　these　words　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　looked　down　gloomily；　and　the　Bishop　of　Hereford；　who　was　present；　gnawed　his　nether　lip。　Quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃I　can　tell　Your　Majesty　but　little　concerning　the　doings　of　those　naughty　fellows；　saving　that　they　are　the　boldest　lawbreakers　in　all　the　land。〃
  Then　up　spake　young　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea；　a　great　favorite　with　the　King；　under　whom　he　had　fought　in　Palestine。　　〃May　it　please　Your　Majesty；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　was　away　in　Palestine　I　heard　ofttimes　from　my　father；　and　in　most　cases　I　heard　of　this　very　fellow；　Robin　Hood。　　If　Your　Majesty　would　like　I　will　tell　you　a　certain　adventure　of　this　outlaw。〃
  Then　the　King　laughingly　bade　him　tell　his　tale；　whereupon　he　told　how　Robin　Hood　had　aided　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　with　money　that　he　had　borrowed　from　the　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　Again　and　again　the　King　and　those　present　roared　with　laughter；　while　the　poor　Bishop　waxed　cherry　red　in　the　face　with　vexation；　for　the　matter　was　a　sore　thing　with　him。　When　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea　was　done；　others　of　those　present；　seeing　how　the　King　enjoyed　this　merry　tale；　told　other　tales　concerning　Robin　and　his　merry　men。
  〃By　the　hilt　of　my　sword；〃　said　stout　King　Richard；　〃this　is　as　bold　and　merry　a　knave　as　ever　I　heard　tell　of。　　Marry；　I　must　take　this　matter　in　hand　and　do　what　thou　couldst　not　do；　Sheriff；　to　wit；　clear　the　forest　of　him　and　his　band。〃
  That　night　the　King　sat　in　the　place　that　was　set　apart　for　his　lodging　while　in　Nottingham　Town。　　With　him　were　young　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea　and　two　other　knights　and　three　barons　of　Nottinghamshire；　but　the　King's　mind　still　dwelled　upon　Robin　Hood。　　〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　would　freely　give　a　hundred　pounds　to　meet　this　roguish　fellow；　Robin　Hood；　and　to　see　somewhat　of　his　doings　in　Sherwood　Forest。〃
  Then　up　spake　Sir　Hubert　of　gingham；　laughing：　　〃If　Your　Majesty　hath　such　a　desire　upon　you　it　is　not　so　hard　to　satisfy。　If　Your　Majesty　is　willing　to　lose　one　hundred　pounds；　I　will　engage　to　cause　you　not　only　to　meet　this　fellow；　but　to　feast　with　him　in　Sherwood。〃
  〃Marry；　Sir　Hubert；〃　quoth　the　King；　〃this　pleaseth　me　well。　But　how　wilt　thou　cause　me　to　meet　Robin　Hood？〃
  〃Why；　thus；〃　said　Sir　Hubert；　〃let　Your　Majesty　and　us　here　present　put　on　the　robes　of　seven　of　the　Order　of　Black　Friars；　and　let　Your　Majesty　hang　a　purse　of　one　hundred　pounds　beneath　your　gown；　then　let　us　undertake　to　ride　from　here　to　Mansfield　Town　tomorrow；　and；　without　I　am　much　mistaken；　we　will　both　meet　with　Robin　Hood　and　dine　with　him　before　the　day　be　passed。〃
  〃I　like　thy　plan；　Sir　Hubert；〃　quoth　the　King　merrily；　〃and　tomorrow　we　will　try　it　and　see　whether　there　be　virtue　in　it。〃
  So　it　happened　that　when　early　the　next　morning　the　Sheriff　came　to　where　his　liege　lord　was　abiding；　to　pay　his　duty　to　him；　the　King　told　him　what　they　had　talked　of　the　night　before；　and　what　merry　adventure　they　were　set　upon　undertaking　that　morning。　But　when　the　Sheriff　heard　this　he　smote　his　forehead　with　his　fist。　〃Alas！〃　said　he；　〃what　evil　counsel　is　this　that　hath　been　given　thee！　O　my　gracious　lord　and　King；　you　know　not　what　you　do！　This　villain　that　you　thus　go　to　seek　hath　no　reverence　either　for　king　or　king's　laws。〃
  〃But　did　I　not　hear　aright　when　I　was　told　that　this　Robin　Hood　hath　shed　no　blood　since　he　was　outlawed；　saving　only　that　of　that　vile　Guy　of　Gisbourne；　for　whose　death　all　honest　men　should　thank　him？〃
  〃Yea；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃you　have　heard　aright。　　Nevertheless〃
  〃Then；〃　quoth　the　King；　breaking　in　on　the　Sheriffs　speech；　〃what　have　I　to　fear　in　meeting　him；　having　done　him　no　harm？　Truly；　there　is　no　danger　in　this。　　But　mayhap　thou　wilt　go　with　us；　Sir　Sheriff。〃
  〃Nay；〃　quoth　the　Sheriff　hastily；　〃Heaven　forbid！〃
  But　now　seven　habits　such　as　Black　Friars　wear　were　brought；　and　the　King　and　those　about　him　having　clad　themselves　therein；　and　His　Majesty　having　hung　a　purse　with　a　hundred　golden　pounds　in　it　beneath　his　robes；　they　all　went　forth　and　mounted　the　mules　that　had　been　brought　to　the　door　for　them。　Then　the　King　bade　the　Sheriff　be　silent　as　to　their　doings；　and　so　they　set　forth　upon　their　way。　　Onward　they　traveled；　laughing　and　jesting；　until　they　passed　through　the　open　country；　between　bare　harvest　fields　whence　the　harvest　had　been　gathered　home；　through　scattered　glades　that　began　to　thicken　as　they　went　farther　along；　till　they　came　within　the　heavy　shade　of　the　forest　itself。　They　traveled　in　the　forest　for　several　miles　without　meeting　anyone　such　as　they　sought；　until　they　had　come　to　that　part　of　the　road　that　lay　nearest　to　Newstead　Abbey。
  〃By　the　holy　Saint　Martin；〃　quoth　the　King；　〃I　would　that　I　had　a　better　head　for　remembering　things　of　great　need。　Here　have　we　come　away　and　brought　never　so　much　as　a　drop　of　anything　to　drink　with　us。　　Now　I　would　give　half　a　hundred　pounds　for　somewhat　to　quench　my　thirst　withal。〃
  No　sooner　had　the　King　so　spoken；　than　out　from　the　covert　at　the　roadside　stepped　a　tall　fellow　with　yellow　beard　and　hair　and　a　pair　of　merry　blue　eyes。　　〃Truly；　holy　brother；〃　said　he；　laying　his　hand　upon　the　King's　bridle　rein；　〃it　were　an　unchristian　thing　to　not　give　fitting　answer　to　so　fair　a　bargain。　We　keep　an　inn　hereabouts；　and　for　fifty　pounds　we　will　not　only　give　thee　a　good　draught　of　wine；　but　will　give　thee　as　noble　a　feast　as　ever　thou　didst　tickle　thy　gullet　withal。〃　So　saying；　he　put　his　fingers　to　his　lips　and　blew　a　shrill　whistle。　Then　straightway　the　bushes　and　branches　on　either　side　of　the　road　swayed　and　crackled；　and　threescore　broad…shouldered　yeomen　in　Lincoln　green　burst　out　of　the　covert。
  〃How　now；　fellow；〃　quoth　the　King；　〃who　art　thou；　thou　naughty　rogue？　Hast　thou　no　regard　for　such　holy　men　as　we　are？〃
  〃Not　a　whit；〃　quoth　merry　Robin　Hood；　for　the　fellow　was　he；　〃for　in　sooth　all　the　holiness　belonging　to　rich　friars；　such　as　ye　are；　one　could　drop　into　a　thimble　and　the　goodwife　would　never　feel　it　with　the　tip　of　her　finger。　As　for　my　name；　it　is　Robin　Hood；　and　thou　mayst　have　heard　it　before。〃
  〃Now　out　upon　thee！〃　quoth　King　Richard。　　〃Thou　art　a　bold　and　naughty　fellow　and　a　lawless　one　withal；　as　I　have　often　heard　tell。　　Now；　prythee；　let　me；　and　these　brethren　of　mine；　travel　forward　in　peace　and　quietness。〃
  〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　Robin；　〃for　it　would　look　but　ill　of　us　to　let　such　holy　men　travel　onward　with　empty　stomachs。　But　I　doubt　not　that　thou　hast　a　fat　purse　to　pay　thy　score　at　our　inn　since　thou　offerest　freely　so　much　for　a　poor　draught　of　wine。　Show　me　thy　purse；　reverend　brother；　or　I　may　perchance　have　to　strip　thy　robes　from　thee　to　search　for　it　myself。〃
  〃Nay；　use　no　force；〃　said　the　King　sternly。　　〃Here　is　my　purse；　but　lay　not　thy　lawless　hands　upon　our　person。〃
  〃Hut；　tut；〃　quoth　merry　Robin；　〃what　proud　words　are　these？　Art　thou　the　King　of　England；　to　talk　so　to　me？　　Here；　Will；　take　this　purse　and　see　what　there　is　within。〃
  Will　Scarlet　took　the　purse　and　counted　out　the　money。　　Then　Robin　bade　him　keep　fifty　pounds　for　themselves；　and　put　fifty　back　into　the　purse。　This　he　handed　to　the　King。　　〃Here；　brother；〃　quoth　he；　〃take　th