The Adventures of Robin Hood eBook

“Is it so?” quoth Robin, starting; for he knew right well that it was the Queen sent the message, and that she spake of the King’s wrath.  “Now, I thank thee, good fellow, for thou hast done me greater service than thou knowest of this day.”  Then he called his three yeomen together and told them privately that they had best be jogging, as it was like to be ill for them so nigh merry London Town.  So, without tarrying longer, they made their way through the crowd until they had come out from the press.  Then, without stopping, they left London Town and started away northward.

The Chase of Robin Hood

SO ROBIN HOOD and the others left the archery range at Finsbury Fields, and, tarrying not, set forth straightway upon their homeward journey.  It was well for them that they did so, for they had not gone more than three or four miles upon their way when six of the yeomen of the King’s guard came bustling among the crowd that still lingered, seeking for Robin and his men, to seize upon them and make them prisoners.  Truly, it was an ill-done thing in the King to break his promise, but it all came about through the Bishop of Hereford’s doing, for thus it happened: 

After the King left the archery ground, he went straightway to his cabinet, and with him went the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Robert Lee; but the King said never a word to these two, but sat gnawing his nether lip, for his heart was galled within him by what had happened.  At last the Bishop of Hereford spoke, in a low, sorrowful voice:  “It is a sad thing, Your Majesty, that this knavish outlaw should be let to escape in this wise; for, let him but get back to Sherwood Forest safe and sound, and he may snap his fingers at king and king’s men.”

At these words the King raised his eyes and looked grimly upon the Bishop.  “Sayst thou so?” quoth he.  “Now, I will show thee, in good time, how much thou dost err, for, when the forty days are past and gone, I will seize upon this thieving outlaw, if I have to tear down all of Sherwood to find him.  Thinkest thou that the laws of the King of England are to be so evaded by one poor knave without friends or money?”

Then the Bishop spoke again, in his soft, smooth voice: 

“Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, and believe that I have nought but the good of England and Your Majesty’s desirings at heart; but what would it boot though my gracious lord did root up every tree of Sherwood?  Are there not other places for Robin Hood’s hiding?  Cannock Chase is not far from Sherwood, and the great Forest of Arden is not far from Cannock Chase.  Beside these are many other woodlands in Nottingham and Derby, Lincoln and York, amid any of which Your Majesty might as well think to seize upon Robin Hood as to lay finger upon a rat among the dust and broken things of a garret.  Nay, my gracious lord, if he doth once plant foot in the woodland, he is lost to the law forever.”