Page 314 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

ing outlaw, if I have to tear down all of Sherwood to find
him. Thinkest thou that the laws of the King of England
are to be so evaded by one poor knave without friends or
money?’
Then the Bishop spoke again, in his soft, smooth voice:
‘Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, and believe that I
have nought but the good of England and Your Majesty’s
desirings at heart; but what would it boot though my gra-
cious lord did root up every tree of Sherwood? Are there
not other places for Robin Hood’s hiding? Cannock Chase
is not far from Sherwood, and the great Forest of Arden is
not far from Cannock Chase. Beside these are many oth-
er woodlands in Nottingham and Derby, Lincoln and York,
amid any of which Your Majesty might as well think to
seize upon Robin Hood as to lay finger upon a rat among
the dust and broken things of a garret. Nay, my gracious
lord, if he doth once plant foot in the woodland, he is lost
to the law forever.’
At these words the King tapped his fingertips upon the
table beside him with vexation. ‘What wouldst thou have
me do, Bishop?’ quoth he. ‘Didst thou not hear me pledge
my word to the Queen? Thy talk is as barren as the wind
from the bellows upon dead coals.’
‘Far be it from me,’ said the cunning Bishop, ‘to point the
way to one so clear-sighted as Your Majesty; but, were I the
King of England, I should look upon the matter in this wise:
I have promised my Queen, let us say, that for forty days
the cunningest rogue in all England shall have freedom to
come and go; but, lo! I find this outlaw in my grasp; shall I,

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