Page 367 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

‘Marry, Sir Hubert,’ quoth the King, ‘this pleaseth me
well. But how wilt thou cause me to meet Robin Hood?’
‘Why, thus,’ said Sir Hubert, ‘let Your Majesty and us
here present put on the robes of seven of the Order of Black
Friars, and let Your Majesty hang a purse of one hundred
pounds beneath your gown; then let us undertake to ride
from here to Mansfield Town tomorrow, and, without I am
much mistaken, we will both meet with Robin Hood and
dine with him before the day be passed.’
‘I like thy plan, Sir Hubert,’ quoth the King merrily, ‘and
tomorrow we will try it and see whether there be virtue in
it.’
So it happened that when early the next morning the
Sheriff came to where his liege lord was abiding, to pay his
duty to him, the King told him what they had talked of the
night before, and what merry adventure they were set upon
undertaking that morning. But when the Sheriff heard this
he smote his forehead with his fist. ‘Alas!’ said he, ‘what evil
counsel is this that hath been given thee! O my gracious
lord and King, you know not what you do! This villain that
you thus go to seek hath no reverence either for king or
king’s laws.’
‘But did I not hear aright when I was told that this Rob-
in Hood hath shed no blood since he was outlawed, saving
only that of that vile Guy of Gisbourne, for whose death all
honest men should thank him?’
‘Yea, Your Majesty,’ said the Sheriff, ‘you have heard
aright. Nevertheless—‘
‘Then,’ quoth the King, breaking in on the Sheriffs speech,

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood