Page 200 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

called from the organ loft.
And now all was hubbub and noise. Stout Edward strode
forward raging, and would have seized his daughter to drag
her away, but Little John stepped between and thrust him
back. ‘Stand back, old man,’ said he, ‘thou art a hobbled
horse this day.’
‘Down with the villains!’ cried Sir Stephen, and felt for
his sword, but it hung not beside him on his wedding day.
Then the men-at-arms drew their swords, and it seemed
like that blood would wet the stones; but suddenly came a
bustle at the door and loud voices, steel flashed in the light,
and the crash of blows sounded. The men-at-arms fell back,
and up the aisle came leaping eighteen stout yeomen all
clad in Lincoln green, with Allan a Dale at their head. In his
hand he bore Robin Hood’s good stout trusty bow of yew,
and this he gave to him, kneeling the while upon one knee.
Then up spake Edward of Deirwold in a deep voice of
anger, ‘Is it thou, Allan a Dale, that hath bred all this coil
in a church?’
‘Nay,’ quoth merry Robin, ‘that have I done, and I care
not who knoweth it, for my name is Robin Hood.’
At this name a sudden silence fell. The Prior of Emmet
and those that belonged to him gathered together like a
flock of frightened sheep when the scent of the wolf is nigh,
while the Bishop of Hereford, laying aside his book, crossed
himself devoutly. ‘Now Heaven keep us this day,’ said he,
‘from that evil man!’
‘Nay,’ quoth Robin, ‘I mean you no harm; but here is fair
Ellen’s betrothed husband, and she shall marry him or pain

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