Page 313 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

The Chase of Robin Hood

O ROBIN HOOD and the others left the archery range
Sat Finsbury Fields, and, tarrying not, set forth straight-
way upon their homeward journey. It was well for them that
they did so, for they had not gone more than three or four
miles upon their way when six of the yeomen of the King’s
guard came bustling among the crowd that still lingered,
seeking for Robin and his men, to seize upon them and
make them prisoners. Truly, it was an ill-done thing in the
King to break his promise, but it all came about through the
Bishop of Hereford’s doing, for thus it happened:
After the King left the archery ground, he went straight-
way to his cabinet, and with him went the Bishop of
Hereford and Sir Robert Lee; but the King said never a word
to these two, but sat gnawing his nether lip, for his heart
was galled within him by what had happened. At last the
Bishop of Hereford spoke, in a low, sorrowful voice: ‘It is a
sad thing, Your Majesty, that this knavish outlaw should be
let to escape in this wise; for, let him but get back to Sher-
wood Forest safe and sound, and he may snap his fingers at
king and king’s men.’
At these words the King raised his eyes and looked grim-
ly upon the Bishop. ‘Sayst thou so?’ quoth he. ‘Now, I will
show thee, in good time, how much thou dost err, for, when
the forty days are past and gone, I will seize upon this thiev-

1 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood