Page 368 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

‘what have I to fear in meeting him, having done him no
harm? Truly, there is no danger in this. But mayhap thou
wilt go with us, Sir Sheriff.’
‘Nay,’ quoth the Sheriff hastily, ‘Heaven forbid!’
But now seven habits such as Black Friars wear were
brought, and the King and those about him having clad
themselves therein, and His Majesty having hung a purse
with a hundred golden pounds in it beneath his robes, they
all went forth and mounted the mules that had been brought
to the door for them. Then the King bade the Sheriff be si-
lent as to their doings, and so they set forth upon their way.
Onward they traveled, laughing and jesting, until they
passed through the open country; between bare harvest
fields whence the harvest had been gathered home; through
scattered glades that began to thicken as they went farther
along, till they came within the heavy shade of the forest
itself. They traveled in the forest for several miles without
meeting anyone such as they sought, until they had come to
that part of the road that lay nearest to Newstead Abbey.
‘By the holy Saint Martin,’ quoth the King, ‘I would that
I had a better head for remembering things of great need.
Here have we come away and brought never so much as a
drop of anything to drink with us. Now I would give half a
hundred pounds for somewhat to quench my thirst withal.’
No sooner had the King so spoken, than out from the co-
vert at the roadside stepped a tall fellow with yellow beard
and hair and a pair of merry blue eyes. ‘Truly, holy brother,’
said he, laying his hand upon the King’s bridle rein, ‘it were
an unchristian thing to not give fitting answer to so fair a