Page 362 - Child's own book
P. 362

hand,  the  people  began  to  laugh:  and he  asked  them  seven
                          times  in  the  church,  lest  three  times  should  not  be  enough.
                          Robin  Hood  gave  away  the  maiden;  the  bishop slunk  out of
                          the church,  and  his  brother,  the  old  knight,  hobbled  after  as
                          well  as  he  could.  The  whole  company  had  a  dinner  upon
                          two  fat  bucks  in  Sherwood  forest,  and  from  this day  Allen-a-
                          Drtlc  was  a friend  to  Robin  Hood as long as lie lived.
                             Jn  the time of Robin  Hood  the bishops were under the orders
                          of  the  pope  of  Rome,  and  they  Were  great  officers  and  even
                          soldiers.  Robin Hood lived  in  the see of the bishop of II ere fur d.
                          Now  Robin  had  a  great dislike  to the  popish  clergy,  because
                          one  of  them  had  cheated  him  of  his uncle’s  estate;  and  tbe
                          bishop  of  Hereford  had  quite  as  much  dislike  to  Robin,
                          because  of the  trick  Robin  had  played  him  in  the  marriage  of
                          AHen-a-Dale, and  because he did  not think it right  that  such a
                          robber should live in his see.  The  bishop therefore made several
                          journeys  into the  forest  of  Sherwood,  to make  Robin prisoner,
                          and  bring  him  to  the  gallows.  One  time,  when  Robin  was
                          walking alone in the forest  of Sherwood, he  heard  the trampling
                          of horses;  and, looking round,  he saw  his old enemy, the hisbop
                          of  Hereford,  with  six  servants.  The  bishop  was  very  near
                          Robin  Hood, before  Robin  looked round and  saw  him ;  and lie
                          had  nothing  to trust  to  but his heels, to save him  from  danger.
                          As  Robin  ran  along,  he  chanced  to  come  up  to  a  cottage
                          where  an  old  woman  Jived  by  herself:  so  he  rushed  in,  and
                                                           m '      '   J                 i*
                          begged  her  to  save  his  life,  i: Who  are  you,”  said  the  old
                          'woman, “ and  what can  1  do for you ? ”—“  I  am  an  outlaw,”
                          replied  lie, **and  my  name  is  Robin  Hood ;  and yonder is the
                          bishop  of Hereford, with all  his  men, who  wants to bring me  to
                          the gallows/     “ If thou  be Robin  Hood,”  said  the old woman,
                          “ as  1  think  thou art,  I  would as  soon  lose  my own  life, as not
                          do  all in  my  power  to  endeavour  to save  thte.  Many  a time
                                                                               a  a  2
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