Page 292 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

Then Robin Hood bowed his head and taking the ring,
kissed it right loyally, and then slipped it upon his little
finger. Quoth he, ‘Sooner would I lose my life than this
ring; and ere it departs from me, my hand shall be cold in
death or stricken off at the wrist. Fair Sir Page, I will do our
Queen’s bidding, and will presently hie with thee to Lon-
don; but, ere we go, I will feast thee here in the woodlands
with the very best we have.’
‘It may not be,’ said the Page; ‘we have no time to tarry,
therefore get thyself ready straightway; and if there be any
of thy band that thou wouldst take with thee, our Queen
bids me say that she will make them right welcome like-
wise.’
‘Truly, thou art right,’ quoth Robin, ‘and we have but
short time to stay; therefore I will get me ready presently. I
will choose three of my men, only, to go with me, and these
three shall be Little John, mine own true right-hand man,
Will Scarlet, my cousin, and Allan a Dale, my minstrel. Go,
lads, and get ye ready straightway, and we will presently off
with all speed that we may. Thou, Will Stutely, shall be the
chief of the band while I am gone.’
Then Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale ran
leaping, full of joy, to make themselves ready, while Robin
also prepared himself for the journey. After a while they all
four came forth, and a right fair sight they made, for Robin
was clad in blue from head to foot, and Little John and Will
Scarlet in good Lincoln green, and as for Allan a Dale, he
was dressed in scarlet from the crown of his head to the toes
of his pointed shoes. Each man wore beneath his cap a little

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