his clothes also； for Robin Hood's garb tickled his eye。
So each put on the other fellow's clothes； and Robin gave the honest
Cobbler ten bright new shillings。 Quoth merry Robin； 〃I ha'
been a many things in my life before； but never have I been
an honest cobbler。 Come； friend； let us fall to and eat；
for something within me cackles aloud for that good fat capon。〃
So both sat down and began to feast right lustily； so that when they
were done the bones of the capon were picked as bare as charity。
Then Robin stretched his legs out with a sweet feeling of comfort within him。
Quoth he； 〃By the turn of thy voice； good Quince； I know that thou hast
a fair song or two running loose in thy head like colts in a meadow。
I prythee； turn one of them out for me。〃
〃A song or two I ha'；〃 quoth the Cobbler； 〃poor things； poor things；
but such as they are thou art welcome to one of them。〃
So； moistening his throat with a swallow of beer； he sang：
〃_Of all the joys； the best I love；
Sing hey my frisking Nan； O；
And that which most my soul doth move；
It is the clinking can； O。
〃All other bliss I'd throw away；
Sing hey my frisking Nan； O；
But this_〃
The stout Cobbler got no further in his song； for of a sudden
six horsemen burst upon them where they sat； and seized
roughly upon the honest craftsman； hauling him to his feet；
and nearly plucking the clothes from him as they did so。
〃Ha！〃 roared the leader of the band in a great big voice of joy；
〃have we then caught thee at last； thou blue…clad knave？
Now； blessed be the name of Saint Hubert； for we are fourscore
pounds richer this minute than we were before； for the good Bishop
of Hereford hath promised that much to the band that shall
bring thee to him。 Oho！ thou cunning rascal！ thou wouldst
look so innocent； forsooth！ We know thee； thou old fox。
But off thou goest with us to have thy brush clipped forthwith。〃
At these words the poor Cobbler gazed all around him
with his great blue eyes as round as those of a dead fish；
while his mouth gaped as though he had swallowed all his words
and so lost his speech。
Robin also gaped and stared in a wondering way； just as the Cobbler
would have done in his place。 〃Alack…a…daisy； me；〃 quoth he。
〃I know not whether I be sitting here or in No…man's…land！ What
meaneth all this stir i' th' pot； dear good gentlemen？
Surely this is a sweet； honest fellow。〃
〃 ‘Honest fellow；' sayst thou； clown？〃 quoth one of the men 〃Why； I
tell thee that this is that same rogue that men call Robin Hood。〃
At this speech the Cobbler stared and gaped more than ever；
for there was such a threshing of thoughts going on
within his poor head that his wits were all befogged with the dust
and chaff thereof。 Moreover； as he looked at Robin Hood； and saw
the yeoman look so like what he knew himself to be； he began to doubt
and to think that mayhap he was the great outlaw in real sooth。
Said he in a slow； wondering voice； 〃Am I in very truth that fellow？
Now I had thoughtbut nay； Quince； thou art mistookyetam I？Nay； I must
indeed be Robin Hood！ Yet； truly； I had never thought to pass from
an honest craftsman to such a great yeoman。〃
〃Alas！〃 quoth Robin Hood； 〃look ye there； now！ See how your ill…treatment
hath curdled the wits of this poor lad and turned them all sour！
I； myself； am Quince； the Cobbler of Derby Town。〃
〃Is it so？〃 said Quince。 〃Then； indeed； I am somebody else； and can be none
other than Robin Hood。 Take me； fellows； but let me tell you that ye ha'
laid hand upon the stoutest yeoman that ever trod the woodlands。〃
〃Thou wilt play madman； wilt thou？〃 said the leader of the band。
〃Here； Giles； fetch a cord and bind this knave's hands behind him。
I warrant we will bring his wits back to him again when we get
him safe before our good Bishop at Tutbury Town。〃 Thereupon they
tied the Cobbler's hands behind him； and led him off with a rope；
as the farmer leads off the calf he hath brought from the fair。
Robin stood looking after them； and when they were gone he laughed
till the tears rolled down his cheeks； for he knew that no harm
would befall the honest fellow； and he pictured to himself
the Bishop's face when good Quince was brought before him as
Robin Hood。 Then； turning his steps once more to the eastward；
he stepped out right foot foremost toward Nottinghamshire
and Sherwood Forest。
But Robin Hood had gone through more than he wotted of。
His journey from London had been hard and long； and in a se'ennight
he had traveled sevenscore and more of miles。 He thought now to
travel on without stopping until he had come to Sherwood； but ere
he had gone a half a score of miles he felt his strength giving way
beneath him like a river bank which the waters have undermined。
He sat him down and rested； but he knew within himself that
he could go no farther that day； for his feet felt like lumps
of lead； so heavy were they with weariness。 Once more he arose
and went forward； but after traveling a couple of miles he was
fain to give the matter up； so； coming to an inn just then；
he entered and calling the landlord； bade him show him to a room；
although the sun was only then just sinking in the western sky。
There were but three bedrooms in the place； and to the meanest
of these the landlord showed Robin Hood； but little Robin cared
for the looks of the place； for he could have slept that night
upon a bed of broken stones。 So； stripping off his clothes
without more ado； he rolled into the bed and was asleep almost
ere his head touched the pillow。
Not long after Robin had so gone to his rest a great cloud peeped
blackly over the hills to the westward。 Higher and higher it arose
until it piled up into the night like a mountain of darkness。
All around beneath it came ever and anon a dull red flash；
and presently a short grim mutter of the coming thunder was heard。
Then up rode four stout burghers of Nottingham Town； for this was
the only inn within five miles' distance； and they did not care to be
caught in such a thunderstorm as this that was coming upon them。
Leaving their nags to the stableman； they entered the best room
of the inn； where fresh green rushes lay all spread upon the floor；
and there called for the goodliest fare that the place afforded。
After having eaten heartily they bade the landlord show them to their rooms；
for they were aweary； having ridden all the way from Dronfield that day。
So off they went； grumbling at having to sleep two in a bed；
but their troubles on this score； as well as all others； were soon
lost in the quietness of sleep。
And now came the first gust of wind； rushing past the place；
clapping and banging the doors and shutters； smelling of the
coming rain； and all wrapped in a cloud of dust and leaves。
As though the wind had brought a guest along with it； the door
opened of a sudden and in came a friar of Emmet Priory； and one
in high degree； as was shown by the softness and sleekness of his
robes and the richness of his rosary。 He called to the landlord；
and bade him first have his mule well fed and bedded in the stable；
and then to bring him the very best there was in the house。
So presently a savory stew of tripe and onions； with sweet little
fat dumplings； was set before him； likewise a good stout pottle
of Malmsey； and straightway the holy friar fell to with great
courage and heartiness； so that in a short time nought was
left but a little pool of gravy in the center of the platter；
not large enow to keep the life in a starving mouse。
In the meantime the storm broke。 Another gust of wind went rushing by；
and with it fell a few heavy drops of rain； which presently came rattling
down in showers； beating against the casements like a hundred little hands。
Bright flashes of lightning lit up every raindrop； and with them came cracks
of thunder that went away rumbling and bumping as though Saint Swithin
were busy rolling great casks of water across rough ground overhead。
The womenfolks screamed； and the merry wags in the taproom put their arms
around their waists to soothe them into quietness。
At last the holy friar bade the landlord show him to his room；
but when he heard that he was to bed with a cobbler； he was as ill
contented a fellow as you could find in all England； nevertheless there
was nothing for it； and he must sleep there or nowhere； so； taking up
his candle； he went off； grumbling like the now distant thunder。
When he came to the room where he was to sleep he held the light
over Robin and looked at him from top to toe； then he felt
better pleased； for； instead； of a rough； dirty…bearded fellow；
he beheld as fresh and clean a lad as one could find in a week
of Sundays； so； slipping off his clothes； he also huddled into the bed；
where Robin； grunting and grumbling in his sleep； made room for him。
Robin was more sound asleep； I wot； than he had been for many a day；
else he would never have rested so quietly with one of the friar's sort
so close beside him。 As for the friar； had he known who Robin Hood was；
you may well believe he would almost as soon have slept with an adder
as with the man he had for a bedfellow。
So the night passed comfortably enough； but at the first dawn
of day Robin opened his eyes and turned his head upon the pillow。
Then how he gaped and how he stared； for there beside him lay one all shaven
and shorn； so that he knew that it must be a fellow in holy orders。
He pinched himself sharply； but； finding he was awake； sat up in bed；
while the other slumbered as peacefully as though he were safe
and sound at home in Emmet Priory。 〃Now；〃 quoth Robin to himself；
〃I wonder how this thing hath dropped into my bed during the night。〃
So saying； he arose softly； so as not to waken the other； and looking
about the room he espied the friar's clothes lying upon a bench near
the wall。 First he looked at the clothes； with his head on one side；
and then he looked at the friar and slowly winked one eye。
Quoth he； 〃Good Brother What…e'er…thy…name…may…be； as thou hast
borrowed my bed so freely I'll e'en borrow thy clothes in return。〃
So saying； he straightway donned the holy man's garb； but kindly left
the cobbler's clothes in th