Page 229 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

this knight will do us no harm? Such as he are fierce when
crossed, and he hath a band of naughty men at his heels.
Mayhap thou hadst better give an extension of his debt.’
Thus he spake, for he was afraid Sir Richard might do him
a harm.
‘Thou needst not fear,’ said the Prior, looking down at the
little man beside him. ‘This knight is gentle and would as
soon think of harming an old woman as thee.’
As the Prior finished, a door at the lower end of the re-
fectory swung open, and in came Sir Richard, with folded
hands and head bowed upon his breast. Thus humbly he
walked slowly up the hall, while his men-at-arms stood
about the door. When he had come to where the Prior sat,
he knelt upon one knee. ‘Save and keep thee, Sir Prior,’ said
he, ‘I am come to keep my day.’
Then the first word that the Prior said to him was ‘Hast
thou brought my money?’
‘Alas! I have not so much as one penny upon my body,’
said the Knight; whereat the Prior’s eyes sparkled.
‘Now, thou art a shrewd debtor, I wot,’ said he. Then, ‘Sir
Sheriff, I drink to thee.’
But still the Knight kneeled upon the hard stones, so
the Prior turned to him again. ‘What wouldst thou have?’
quoth he sharply.
At these words, a slow red mounted into the Knight’s
cheeks; but still he knelt. ‘I would crave thy mercy,’ said he.
‘As thou hopest for Heaven’s mercy, show mercy to me. Strip
me not of my lands and so reduce a true knight to poverty.’
‘Thy day is broken and thy lands forfeit,’ said the man of

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood