Page 262 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

John; thereupon, putting his heavy hands upon the shoul-
der of each, he forced them to their knees, he kneeling also.
Then Little John began to beseech Saint Dunstan for money,
which he did in a great loud voice. After he had so besought
the Saint for a time, he bade the friars feel in their pouches
and see if the Saint had sent them anything; so each put his
hand slowly in the pouch that hung beside him, but brought
nothing thence.
‘Ha!’ quoth Little John, ‘have your prayers so little virtue?
Then let us at it again.’ Then straightway he began calling
on Saint Dunstan again, somewhat in this wise: ‘O gracious
Saint Dunstan! Send some money straightway to these poor
folk, lest the fat one waste away and grow as lean as the
lean one, and the lean one waste away to nothing at all, ere
they get to Lincoln Town; but send them only ten shillings
apiece, lest they grow puffed up with pride, Any more than
that that thou sendest, send to me.
‘Now,’ quoth he, rising, ‘let us see what each man hath.’
Then he thrust his hand into his pouch and drew thence
four golden angels. ‘What have ye, brothers?’ said he.
Then once again each friar slowly thrust his hand into
his pouch, and once again brought it out with nothing in it.
‘Have ye nothing?’ quoth Little John. ‘Nay, I warrant
there is somewhat that hath crept into the seams of your
pouches, and so ye ha’ missed it. Let me look.’
So he went first to the lean Friar, and, thrusting his hand
into the pouch, he drew forth a leathern bag and counted
therefrom one hundred and ten pounds of golden money.
‘I thought,’ quoth Little John, ‘that thou hadst missed, in

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