ROBIN HOOD AND THE BUTCHER.
“Shortly after this merry-making Robin Hood was one morning sitting by the way-side, amusing himself with trimming his bow and arrows, when he espied a jolly butcher hastening to market with a basket of meat before him upon his horse.
“‘Good morrow, my fine fellow,’ quoth Robin Hood as he passed by. ‘What may’st thou have in that basket there?’
“‘What’s that to thee,’ replied the butcher: ‘thou’lt not buy it I’ll warrant me.’
“‘Nay, now, my good friend, be civil,’ returned the outlaw, rising from the grass, and patting the man’s horse upon the neck. ‘What value settest thou upon this beast of thine, and the basket, altogether?’
“‘Well! an thou mean’st to buy,’ answered the butcher, still doubting, ‘thou shalt have the whole lot for four silver marks.’
“‘Throw that greasy frock of thine into the bargain,’ said Robin, ‘and here’s thy money:’ at the same time he took some silver pieces from a leathern pouch that hung from his girdle, and held them to the butcher. With great joy at having made so good a bargain, the man instantly dismounted, and giving his horse’s reins to his new owner, he quickly stripped off his outer garment. The bold outlaw as quickly encased himself in it, and, mounting the horse, took the basket from the butcher, and galloped off to Nottingham.
“When he reached the town, Robin Hood made his way to the part where the meat was sold; and having put up his horse at an inn, he uncovered his basket, and began to sell its contents. He knew very little and cared very little about the price that was usually paid for meat, and the ladies in the market quickly discovered that he gave about five times as much for a penny as any other butcher. His stall was soon surrounded, and his brethren in the trade were left without a customer. At first they could not imagine what could be the reason of so strange an occurrence; but when one of them learned that the new butcher had actually sold a whole leg of pork for a shilling, a general council was held, and it was unanimously agreed that he must either be mad, or some prodigal son who had run away with his father’s property: but they were all determined to learn something certain about him.
“When the market was over, one of them stepped up to Robin Hood. ‘Come, brother,’ said he to him, ‘we are all of one trade, come and dine with us to-day.’
“‘Right willingly that will I,’ replied the outlaw; ‘and a jolly dinner will we have. ’Tis my first day among ye, and by my faith it shall be a merry one.’ They were soon seated at the board, at the head of which presided the sheriff of Nottingham, while ‘mine host’ sat at the other end. Robin Hood, being a new comer, said grace, and they commenced a most fearful attack upon divers smoking flanks of beef, and many a goodly haunch of venison. The jovial outlaw did his duty with the rest, and when at last the dishes were allowed to be taken away, ‘Fill us more wine,’ he cried, ‘let’s be merry, my brethren; drink till ye can drink no more; I’ll pay the reckoning.’
“‘This is a mad blade,’ said the sheriff to his next neighbour; ‘we must find out who he is.’—‘Hast thou, friend,’ he continued aloud, addressing Robin Hood, ‘hast thou any horned beasts to dispose of?’
“‘Aye, good master sheriff, that have I,’ answered Robin, ‘some two or three hundreds, and a hundred acres of as good free land too as thou’st ever seen.’
“‘I want a few head of cattle,’ rejoined the former, ‘and if thou wilt, I’ll ride this day to look at thine.’
“‘Fill me a bumper of sack,’ cried Robin Hood; ‘here’s to a good bargain;’ and tossing off a goblet of wine, he rose up, threw a handful of silver upon the table, and with the sheriff left the astonished butchers to finish their wine and talk of their extraordinary comrade.
“The man of dignity saddled his palfrey, and tying a heavy bag of gold, wherewith to pay for his purchase, to his girdle, set out with Robin Hood to Sherwood forest. Merry were the jokes and loud was the laughter of the bold outlaw as they trotted along the road, and the sheriff thought that he had never met with so pleasant a companion. ‘Heaven preserve us,’ said he, ‘from a man they call Robin Hood, who often frequents these woods.’
“‘Fear not, master sheriff,’ replied Robin; ‘I saw him in Nottingham town not two hours ago, and I’ll warrant me he has not overtaken us.’
“‘In Nottingham!’ cried the sheriff, with astonishment: ‘why didst not thou tell me that before? I must go back and capture him.’
“‘’Twill be a profitless errand for thee,’ answered the outlaw. ‘Though I know Robin Hood as well as my own self, ’twas with difficulty I recognised him in his disguise.’ The sheriff looked hard at his companion, as he claimed so intimate a knowledge with the outlawed forester, but said not a word, only spurring his horse on faster, and keeping as far from his fellow-traveller as the width of the road permitted.
“Presently they arrived at the borders of the forest, and striking into a narrow road that led through it, reached an open lawn of some considerable extent. Just as they entered upon it, a whole herd of deer tripped gaily across the path.
“‘How likest thou my horned beasts, master sheriff?’ asked Robin Hood; ‘they are fat and in good condition, are they not?’
“‘I must tell thee, good fellow,’ returned the sheriff, reining up his palfrey, ‘that I would rather be elsewhere than in thy company.’
“Robin Hood replied by taking his bugle-horn from his side, and blowing three distinct blasts that made the woods re-echo, and his companion’s ears to tingle with no small degree of apprehension.
“‘Thou art a knave,’ cried he, ‘and hast played me false; take that for payment:’ and the terrified sheriff drew his sword and struck fiercely at the outlaw, who, spurring his steed aside, dexterously avoided the blow. In a moment after, sixty or more foresters, with Little John at their head, burst from the thickets and surrounded the two horsemen.
“‘Welcome, good master;’ said Little John to his captain. ‘What will’st thou with thy merry men?’
“‘I have brought the sheriff of Nottingham to dine with ye to-day,’ replied Robin Hood; ‘make good cheer, and give him of the best.’
“‘Aye, marry, that will we,’ returned the tall forester, ‘for I know he has gold to pay for it:’ and gently obliging the sheriff to dismount, he unfastened the bag from the unfortunate man’s girdle, and taking his cloak from his shoulders, he spread it upon the grass, and emptied the gold upon it.
“‘Three hundred pounds will serve us for many a carouse,’ said Little John, when he had counted the money and replaced it in the bag. ‘And now, master sheriff,’ he continued, laughing, ‘would’st thou like venison for thy dinner? Hast thou any stomach for a smoking haunch?’
“‘Let me away,’ cried the sheriff, running to his horse’s side, ‘or you’ll all rue this day.’
“Robin Hood sprang to his assistance, held the stirrup while he mounted, and politely wishing him a pleasant journey home, desired to be especially commended to his wife. The poor sheriff, glad to escape sound in body, returned no answer; but striking spurs into his palfrey was soon out of sight. The merry foresters quickly repaired to their wonted spot, and with many a bumper of ale or wine, drank to the health and prosperity of the liberal sheriff of Nottingham.