Page 289 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

tington was right glad when he saw before him a sweet little
inn, all shady and cool beneath the trees, in front of the
door of which a sign hung pendant, bearing the picture of a
blue boar. Here he drew rein and called loudly for a pottle of
Rhenish wine to be brought him, for stout country ale was
too coarse a drink for this young gentleman. Five lusty fel-
lows sat upon the bench beneath the pleasant shade of the
wide-spreading oak in front of the inn door, drinking ale
and beer, and all stared amain at this fair and gallant lad.
Two of the stoutest of them were clothed in Lincoln green,
and a great heavy oaken staff leaned against the gnarled oak
tree trunk beside each fellow.
The landlord came and brought a pottle of wine and a
long narrow glass upon a salver, which he held up to the
Page as he sat upon his horse. Young Partington poured
forth the bright yellow wine and holding the glass aloft,
cried, ‘Here is to the health and long happiness of my roy-
al mistress, the noble Queen Eleanor; and may my journey
and her desirings soon have end, and I find a certain stout
yeoman men call Robin Hood.’
At these words all stared, but presently the two stout yeo-
men in Lincoln green began whispering together. Then one
of the two, whom Partington thought to be the tallest and
stoutest fellow he had ever beheld, spoke up and said, ‘What
seekest thou of Robin Hood, Sir Page? And what does our
good Queen Eleanor wish of him? I ask this of thee, not
foolishly, but with reason, for I know somewhat of this stout
yeoman.’
‘An thou knowest aught of him, good fellow,’ said young

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood