TO
MY SISTER ELIZA,
WITH
A BROTHER’S MOST AFFECTIONATE LOVE,
I DEDICATE
These Stories of my Boyhood.
CONTENTS.
| EARLY SCHOOL DAYS.—The Old Sycamore-Tree.—Robin Hood’s Youth.—The Outlaws of Sherwood.—Robin Hood and Little John.—Robin Hood and the Butcher.—The Gay Forester. | Page [1] |
| OUR SECOND MEETING.—Allen-a-Dale’s Marriage.—The Monks’ Prayer—Robin Hood and the Ranger.—Guy of Gisborne.—Will Stutely’s Capture.—The Rescue.—Robin Hood and the Beggar. | [29] |
| THE THIRD EVENING.—The Outlaws’ Sports.—Robin Hood and the Friar of Fountains’ Dale.—The Bishop of Hereford.—A Priestly Quarrel.—A Merry Dance. | [63] |
| OUR HALF-HOLIDAY.—The Wood.—St. Bartholomew’s Day.—Finsbury Field.—The Queen’s Champion.—The Outlaw’s Pardon.—The Knight of Wierysdale.—Robin Hood’s Generosity.—The Abbot of St. Mary’s. | [87] |
| OUR FIFTH MEETING.—Reynolde Grenelefe.—The Silver Bugle-Horn.—The Sheriff’s Pantry.—A curious coloured Stag.—The Sheriff’s Couch.—A Rural Fair.—The Monks of St. Mary’s.—The Knight’s Gratitude. | [112] |
| OUR LAST EVENING.—The Sheriff’s Complaint.—The Golden Arrow.—Robin Hood’s Smile of Triumph.—A desperate Combat.—Wierysdale Castle.—The Sheriff’s Death.—The Outlaw’s Allegiance and Pardon.—Robin Hood’s Rebellion.—His Death. | [135] |
LIST OF PLATES.
| Marriage of Allen-a-Dale | [frontispiece] |
| The Foresters’ Welcome | [p. 14] |
| Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne | [46] |
| Robin Hood and the Friar | [72] |
| The Bishop of Hereford | [82] |
| The Knight of Wierysdale | [110] |
| The Golden Arrow | [138] |
| The Outlaws’ Allegiance | [150] |
ROBIN HOOD.
EARLY SCHOOL-DAYS.
Tales of Robin Hood and his merry foresters were the delight of my boyhood.
Many an hour which my school-fellows spent in games of cricket or leap-frog, I passed happily away in the rustic arbour that we had built in the corner of our play-ground, deeply intent upon a volume of old ballads that chance had thrown before me. Sometimes a companion or two, weary of the sport in which they had been engaged, would join me in my retreat, and ask me to read aloud; and seldom would they leave me till the school-bell warned us that it was time to return to our duties.