tears from the Dragon of Wentley。
〃Alas； that these things should be！〃 said jolly Robin； turning to the Bishop；
〃for I have ever found Little John a truthful man。〃
At this； a roar of laughter went up； whereat the blood rushed
into the Bishop's face till it was cherry red from crown to chin；
but he said nothing and only swallowed his words； though they
well…nigh choked him。
〃Nay； my Lord Bishop；〃 said Robin； 〃we are rough fellows；
but I trust not such ill men as thou thinkest； after all。
There is not a man here that would harm a hair of thy reverence's head。
I know thou art galled by our jesting； but we are all equal here in
the greenwood； for there are no bishops nor barons nor earls among us；
but only men； so thou must share our life with us while thou dost
abide here。 Come； busk ye； my merry men； and get the feast ready。
Meantime； we will show our guests our woodland sports。〃
So； while some went to kindle the fires for roasting meats；
others ran leaping to get their cudgels and longbows。
Then Robin brought forward Sir Richard of the Lea。 〃My Lord Bishop；〃
said he； 〃here is another guest that we have with us this day。
I wish that thou mightest know him better； for I and all my men
will strive to honor you both at this merrymaking。〃
〃Sir Richard；〃 said the Bishop in a reproachful tone； 〃methinks thou
and I are companions and fellow sufferers in this den of〃
He was about to say 〃thieves；〃 but he stopped suddenly and looked
askance at Robin Hood。
〃Speak out； Bishop；〃 quoth Robin； laughing。 〃We of Sherwood
check not an easy flow of words。 ‘Den of thieves' thou west
about to say。〃
Quoth the Bishop； 〃Mayhap that was what I meant to say； Sir Richard；
but this I will say； that I saw thee just now laugh at the scurrilous
jests of these fellows。 It would have been more becoming of thee；
methinks； to have checked them with frowns instead of spurring them
on by laughter。〃
〃I meant no harm to thee；〃 said Sir Richard； 〃but a merry jest
is a merry jest； and I may truly say I would have laughed at it
had it been against mine own self。〃
But now Robin Hood called upon certain ones of his band who
spread soft moss upon the ground and laid deerskins thereon。
Then Robin bade his guests be seated； and so they all three sat down；
some of the chief men； such as Little John； Will Scarlet； Allan a Dale；
and others； stretching themselves upon the ground near by。
Then a garland was set up at the far end of the glade；
and thereat the bowmen shot； and such shooting was done
that day as it would have made one's heart leap to see。
And all the while Robin talked so quaintly to the Bishop and
the Knight that； the one forgetting his vexation and the other
his troubles； they both laughed aloud again and again。
Then Allan a Dale came forth and tuned his harp； and all was hushed around；
and he sang in his wondrous voice songs of love； of war； of glory；
and of sadness； and all listened without a movement or a sound。
So Allan sang till the great round silver moon gleamed with its clear
white light amid the upper tangle of the mazy branches of the trees。
At last two fellows came to say that the feast was ready spread；
so Robin； leading his guests with either hand； brought them
to where great smoking dishes that sent savory smells far and near
stood along the white linen cloth spread on the grass。 All around
was a glare of torches that lit everything up with a red light。
Then； straightway sitting down； all fell to with noise and hubbub；
the rattling of platters blending with the sound of loud talking
and laughter。 A long time the feast lasted； but at last all
was over； and the bright wine and humming ale passed briskly。
Then Robin Hood called aloud for silence； and all was hushed
till he spoke。
〃I have a story to tell you all； so listen to what I have to say；〃
quoth he； whereupon； without more ado； he told them all about Sir Richard；
and how his lands were in pawn。 But； as he went on； the Bishop's face；
that had erst been smiling and ruddy with merriment； waxed serious；
and he put aside the horn of wine he held in his hand； for he knew the story
of Sir Richard； and his heart sank within him with grim forebodings。
Then； when Robin Hood had done； he turned to the Bishop of Hereford。 〃Now； my
Lord Bishop；〃 said he； 〃dost thou not think this is ill done of anyone；
much more of a churchman； who should live in humbleness and charity？〃
To this the Bishop answered not a word but looked upon the ground
with moody eyes。
Quoth Robin； 〃Now； thou art the richest bishop in all England；
canst thou not help this needy brother？〃 But still the Bishop
answered not a word。
Then Robin turned to Little John； and quoth he； 〃Go thou and
Will Stutely and bring forth those five pack horses yonder。〃
Whereupon the two yeomen did as they were bidden； those about
the cloth making room on the green； where the light was brightest；
for the five horses which Little John and Will Stutely
presently led forward。
〃Who hath the score of the goods？〃 asked Robin Hood； looking at
the Black Friars。
Then up spake the smallest of all； in a trembling voice
an old man he was； with a gentle； wrinkled face。
〃That have I； but； I pray thee； harm me not。〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth Robin； 〃I have never harmed harmless man yet；
but give it to me； good father。〃 So the old man did as
he was bidden； and handed Robin the tablet on which was marked
down the account of the various packages upon the horses。
This Robin handed to Will Scarlet； bidding him to read the same。
So Will Scarlet； lifting his voice that all might hear； began：
〃Three bales of silk to Quentin； the mercer at Ancaster。〃
〃That we touch not；〃 quoth Robin； 〃for this Quentin
is an honest fellow； who hath risen by his own thrift。〃
So the bales of silk were laid aside unopened。
〃 One bale of silk velvet for the Abbey of Beaumont。〃
〃What do these priests want of silk velvet？〃
quoth Robin。 〃Nevertheless； though they need it not；
I will not take all from them。 Measure it off into three lots；
one to be sold for charity； one for us； and one for the abbey。〃
So this； too； was done as Robin Hood bade。
〃Twoscore of great wax candles for the Chapel of Saint Thomas。〃
〃That belongeth fairly to the chapel；〃 quoth Robin； 〃so lay it to one side。
Far be it from us to take from the blessed Saint Thomas that which
belongeth to him。〃 So this； also； was done according to Robin's bidding；
and the candles were laid to one side； along with honest Quentin's
unopened bales of silk。 So the list was gone through with；
and the goods adjudged according to what Robin thought most fit。
Some things were laid aside untouched； and many were opened and divided
into three equal parts； for charity； for themselves； and for the owners。
And now all the ground in the torchlight was covered over with
silks and velvets and cloths of gold and cases of rich wines；
and so they came to the last line upon the tablet〃 A box belonging
to the Lord Bishop of Hereford。〃
At these words the Bishop shook as with a chill； and the box
was set upon the ground。
〃My Lord Bishop； hast thou the key of this box？〃 asked Robin。
The Bishop shook his head。
〃Go； Will Scarlet；〃 said Robin； 〃thou art the strongest man here
bring a sword straightway； and cut this box open； if thou canst。〃
Then up rose Will Scarlet and left them； coming back in a short time；
bearing a great two…handed sword。 Thrice he smote that strong；
ironbound box； and at the third blow it burst open and a great heap
of gold came rolling forth； gleaming red in the light of the torches。
At this sight a murmur went all around among the band； like the
sound of the wind in distant trees； but no man came forward nor
touched the money。
Quoth Robin； 〃Thou； Will Scarlet； thou； Allan a Dale； and thou；
Little John； count it over。〃
A long time it took to count all the money； and when it had been duly
scored up； Will Scarlet called out that there were fifteen hundred
golden pounds in all。 But in among the gold they found a paper；
and this Will Scarlet read in a loud voice； and all heard that this
money was the rental and fines and forfeits from certain estates
belonging to the Bishopric of Hereford。
〃My Lord Bishop；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃I will not strip thee；
as Little John said； like a winter hedge； for thou shalt take
back one third of thy money。 One third of it thou canst
well spare to us for thy entertainment and that of thy train；
for thou art very rich； one third of it thou canst better spare
for charity； for； Bishop； I hear that thou art a hard master
to those beneath thee and a close hoarder of gains that thou
couldst better and with more credit to thyself give to charity
than spend upon thy own likings。〃
At this the Bishop looked up； but he could say never a word；
yet he was thankful to keep some of his wealth。
Then Robin turned to Sir Richard of the Lea； and quoth he；
〃Now； Sir Richard； the church seemed like to despoil thee；
therefore some of the overplus of church gains may well be used
in aiding thee。 Thou shalt take that five hundred pounds laid
aside for people more in need than the Bishop is； and shalt
pay thy debts to Emmet therewith。〃
Sir Richard looked at Robin until something arose in his
eyes that made all the lights and the faces blur together。
At last he said； 〃I thank thee； friend； from my heart； for what thou
doest for me； yet； think not ill if I cannot take thy gift freely。
But this I will do： I will take the money and pay my debts；
and in a year and a day hence will return it safe either to thee
or to the Lord Bishop of Hereford。 For this I pledge my most
solemn knightly word。 I feel free to borrow； for I know no man
that should be more bound to aid me than one so high in that church
that hath driven such a hard bargain。〃 〃Truly； Sir Knight；〃
quoth Robin； 〃I do not understand those fine scruples that weigh
with those of thy kind； but； nevertheless； it shall all be
as thou dost wish。 But thou hadst best bring the money to me
at the end of the year； for mayhap I may make better use of it
than the Bishop。〃 Thereupon； turning to those near him； he gave
his orders； and five hundred pounds were counted out and tied
up in a leathe