The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

e, I will make our worshipful Sheriff pay right well for that which he hath done to me. Maybe I may bring him some time into Sherwood Forest and have him to a right merry fea

with him. But though they did not go abroad, they lived a merry life within the woodlands, spending the days in shooting at garlands hung upon a willow wand at the end of the glade, the leafy aisles ringing with merry jests and laughter: for w

ok up his stout cudgel and set forth to seek adventure, strolling blithely along until he came to the edge of Sherwood. There, as he rambled along the sunlit road, he met a lusty young butcher driving a fine m

ellow," quoth Robin, "thou se

hale in wind and limb? Have I not the bonniest lass in all Nottinghamshire? An

t, and well do I know each hedgerow and gentle pebbly stream, and even all the bright little fis

my beef and my mutton," answered the Butcher. "

and men do cal

y deeds both sung and spoken of. But Heaven forbid that thou shouldst take aught of me! An honest man am

ee, for I love a fair Saxon face like thine right well - more especially when it cometh from Locksley Town, and most especially when the man tha

," quoth the Butcher, "but if I do not sell al

e are six marks. Now, I would fain be a butcher for the day and sell my meat in Not

t head!" cried the Butcher right joyfully, as he leaped down

e gone back to thy lass, and give her a sweet kiss from me." So saying, he donned the Butcher's apron, and,

Stand for selling] in the best place he could find. Next, he opened his stall and spread his meat upon th

lasses, and

your mea

nnyworths of

harge of

that hath f

dainty d

et sweet, an

fair strea

e I from the

from dale

white as a m

other's mi

e lasses, and

your mea

nnyworths of

harge of

have I. Three pennyworths of meat I sell to a fat friar or priest for sixpence, for I want not their custom; stout aldermen I charge threepence, for it doth not matter to me whether they buy or not; to buxom dames I

t for one penny as they could buy elsewhere for three, and when a widow or a poor woman came to him, he gave her flesh for nothing; but when a merry lass came and gave him a kiss, he charged not one penny for his meat;

hen did ye ever see a thief who parted with his goods so freely and merrily? This must be some prodigal who hath sold his father's land, and woul

"we be all of one trade, so wilt thou go dine with us? For this day the Sheriff hath asked all the Butcher Guild to fea

I will go dine with you all, my sweet lads, and that as fast as I can hie." Whereupon, h

m, those that were near the Sheriff whispered to him, "Yon is a right mad blade, for he hath sold more meat for one penny this day than we could sell for three, and to whatsoeve

hand; for he loved a rich young prodigal - especially when he thought that he might lighten that prodigal's pockets into

so Robin stood up and said, "Now Heaven bless us all and eke good meat and good

perchance I may empty his purse of some of the money that the fool throweth about so freely." Then he spake aloud

jolly blade, for didst thou not have jolly Robin Hood at thy shooting mat

guild of butchers too, so that none laughed b

as our good gossip Swanthold sayeth; so let life be merry while it lasts, say I. Nay, never look down i' the mouth, Sir Sheriff. Who knowest but that thou mayes

e the butchers said, one to another, "Before Heaven, never have we seen s

ill pay this shot myself, e'en though it cost two hundred pounds. So let no man draw up his lip, nor thrust hi

I wot thou must have many a head of horned beasts and many

ts have I and my brothers, and none of them have we been able to sell, else I might not h

thy cattle, it may be I will find a man that will lift them from thy hands; perhaps that man may be myself, for I lo

they are worth at leas

fain would I help thee along, but five hundred pounds in money is a good round sum; besides I have it n

th seven hundred pounds and more, and even that is but small for them, and yet thou, wit

thine offer, for I and my brothers do need the money. We lead a merry life, and no one leads a merry life for a farthing, so I will close th

said the Sheriff. "But wha

rt o' Locksley,"

y horned beasts. But first my clerk shall draw up a paper in which thou shalt be bo

smiting his palm upon the Sheriff's hand. "Truly m

among themselves of the Sheriff, saying that it was but a s

forth upon their way, the Sheriff riding upon his horse and Robin running beside him. Thus they left Nottingham Town and traveled forward along the dusty highway, laughing and jesting together as though they had been old fr

f looked up and down and to the right and to the left of him, and then grew quiet and ceased his laugh

at rest, for well do I know Robin Hood and well do I know that th

, "I like not that thou seemest so well acquainted with this b

the road took a sudden bend, and before them a herd of dun deer went tripping across the path. Then Robin Hood came close to the Sheriff an

I would I were well out of this forest, for I like not thy compa

see my brothers, who own these fair horned beasts with me." So saying, he clapped his bugle to his mouth and winded

have, good master?"

today? Fye, for shame! Do you not see our good and worshipful master, the Sheriff of Nottingha

e Little John took the bridle rein and led the palfrey still deeper into the fore

very depths of Sherwood his heart sank within him, for he thought, "Surely my three hundred pounds will be taken from me, even if they take not my life

on which Robin sat down, placing the Sheriff at his right hand. "Now busk ye, my merry men all," quoth he, "and bring forth the best we hav

, so presently he began to pluck up heart. "For," said he

royally. First, several couples stood forth at quarterstaff, and so shrewd were they at the game, and so quickly did they give stroke and parry, that the Sheriff, who loved to watch all lusty sports of the kind, clapped

f sack and Malmsey and good stout ale, and set them in jars upon the cloth, with drinking horns about them. Then all sat down and feaste

ght courteously have ye used me, showing therein that ye have much respect for our glorious King and his deputy in brave

Robin said to the Sheriff, "If thou must go, worshipfu

the Sheriff; yet all the sa

n. "We keep a merry inn here in the greenwood, but

e, "we have had a merry time together today, and even if ye had not asked me, I

anly. By my faith, Sir Sheriff, I would be ashamed to show my face if I did not r

ried all, in

. "Think ye that your beggarly feast was w

u wilt look down the cloth thou wilt see Will Stutely, in whose eyes thou hast no great favor; then two other stout fellows are there here that thou knowest not, that were wounded in a brawl nigh Nottingham Town

ore but looked upon the ground and gnawed his nether lip. Then slowly h

the reckoning be right. We would not doubt our Sheriff, but he mi

Sheriff it seemed as if every clink of the bright money was a drop of blood from his veins. And when he saw it al

Robin, "and, as the day waxeth late, I will send one o

Sheriff hastily. "I can find min

said, "Now, fare thee well, good Sheriff, and when next thou thinkest to despoil some poor prodigal, remember thy feast in Sherwood Forest. 'Ne'er buy a horse, good friend, without first look

nd many ballads were sung by folk throughout the country, of how the Sheriff went to shear and came home s