“Robin Hood stood firm, and folded his arms upon his breast, but the stalwart bishop bestowed such a buffet upon his head that he rolled over and over upon the grass.
“‘By my troth,’ cried he, when he had recovered his feet, there is pith in that arm of thine. I’ll warrant me thou canst shoot a bow as well as us.’ The bishop laughed again, and taking up Robin Hood’s forfeited weapon, let fly at the garland. The arrow, too strongly shot, flew above the wand, and struck into a tree on the further side of the lawn.
“‘Now thou must take thy pay,’ exclaimed the outlaw; and striding towards him, he gave him a vigorous blow, but the priest did not waver an inch. At that instant a horseman galloped swiftly across the plain, and leaping from his steed, ran to them: it was the knight of Wierysdale. ‘Away, my brave men,—away,’ he shouted; ‘King Richard is seeking for ye. The forest is beset with men, and ye will——’ He suddenly paused; his eye had caught the keen glance with which the bishop was regarding him. He threw himself at his feet:—‘Pardon, gracious sire,’ he exclaimed, ‘one who has served thee long and faithfully.’ Robin Hood was struck dumb—the truth flashed across his mind:—it was King Richard whom he had so unceremoniously buffeted. He fell upon his knees by the knight’s side, and sued for mercy.
THE OUTLAW’S ALLEGIANCE.
J. Gilbert
“‘Sir knight,’ exclaimed the noble king, ‘thou hast done wrong, but I forgive thee; rise,—thy lands are restored to thee. As for thee, thou valiant traitor, he continued, placing his hand on Robin Hood’s head, ‘on one condition only can I grant thy pardon. Thou and thy men must follow me to London, and be my royal archers.’ The outlaws shouted with rapture; cries of ‘Long live King Richard’ rent the air, and every man bent his knee to their royal master.
“The king then mounted his palfrey and retired, accompanied by Robin Hood, Little John, and Will Scarlet, each of whom he soon afterwards appointed to some place of dignity. Many of the foresters dispersed to various parts, but fifty of the most faithful followed their beloved master to London.
“Here, it is said, our brave hero assumed his title of earl of Huntingdon, and lived in most noble style; but soon growing tired of the confinement of the court, he asked permission to revisit the merry woods. The king granted him seven days, but when Robin Hood breathed the delightful air of Sherwood, and heard the songs of the sweet birds, he could not tear himself away. He ranged through many a well-known thicket and oft-frequented lawn, and in the ecstacy of his delight he set his bugle horn to his mouth, and made the old trees re-echo with the blast. To his great astonishment it was replied to, and four-score youths bounded towards him. Several had deserted him in London, and many who were at first disbanded had returned to their favourite haunts, and Robin Hood was again acknowledged as the leader of a forest band. Little John and Will Scarlet soon learned the intelligence, and with all speed joined him with the rest.
“King Richard was enraged; he sent a renowned knight with two hundred soldiers to capture the rebellious outlaw, and a desperate fight took place upon a plain in Sherwood forest. It lasted from sun-rise to sun-set, but neither party could boast of victory, and the knight lost many of his men. Robin Hood himself was wounded by an arrow, and was obliged to be taken to Kirkleys Nunnery, where he was treacherously suffered to bleed to death by the prioress. As he found his end approaching he called Little John to him. ‘Carry me into the woods, I entreat thee,’ he said to him;