Now one day Robin Hood stood in the forest of Barnsdale and leant against a tree, and beside him stood his good yeoman, Little John, and Scarlet also, and Much, the miller’s son.
Then Little John spoke to Robin, saying: “Master, ’tis time to dine.”
But Robin answered, “I will not dine till I have some bold baron or a knight or a squire with me who will pay for his dinner.”
Then Little John and Much and William Scarlet set out in search of a guest, and after a time they saw a knight riding towards them with his retinue. He made but a sorry appearance, and seemed to have lost his pride, for he had but one foot in the stirrup, and his hood hung down over his eyes, and his clothes and trappings were mean and old.
But Little John showed him courtesy, and knelt before him saying:
“Welcome, gentle knight; welcome to the greenwood. My master has been waiting for you, fasting these three hours.”
“Who is your master?” asked the knight; and John answered, “Robin Hood.”
“He is a good yeoman,” said the knight, “and I have heard men speak well of him.”
So the knight, whose name was Sir Richard-at-the-Lee, rode on his way with Little John, till they came to where Robin was waiting; and Robin took off his hood and went on his knee, saying, courteously:
“Welcome, Sir Knight. I have awaited thee these three hours.”