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ose 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 the place of it。 Then he went forth into the freshness of the morning; and the stableman that was up and about the stables opened his eyes as though he saw a green mouse before him; for such men as the friars of Emmet were not wont to be early risers; but the man bottled his thoughts; and only asked Robin whether he wanted his mule brought from the stable。
〃Yea; my son;〃 quoth Robinalbeit he knew nought of the mule〃and bring it forth quickly; I prythee; for I am late and must be jogging。〃 So presently the stableman brought forth the mule; and Robin mounted it and went on his way rejoicing。
As for the holy friar; when he arose he was in as pretty a stew as any man in all the world; for his rich; soft robes were gone; likewise his purse with ten golden pounds in it; and nought was left but patched clothes and a leathern apron。 He raged and swore like any layman; but as his swearing mended nothing and the landlord could not aid him; and as; moreover; he was forced to be at Emmet Priory that very morning upon matters of business; he was fain either to don the cobbler's clothes or travel the road in nakedness。 So he put on the clothes; and; still raging and swearing vengeance against all the cobblers in Derbyshire; he set forth upon his way afoot; but his ills had not yet done with him; for he had not gone far ere he fell into the hands of the King's men; who marched him off; willy…nilly; to Tutbury Town and the Bishop of Hereford。 In vain he swore he was a holy man; and showed his shaven crown; off he must go; for nothing would do but that he was Robin Hood。
Meanwhile merry Robin rode along contentedly; passing safely by two bands of the King's men; until his heart began to dance within him because of the nearness of Sherwood; so he traveled ever on to the eastward; till; of a sudden; he met a noble knight in a shady lane。 Then Robin checked his mule quickly and leaped from off its back。 〃Now; well met; Sir Richard of the Lea;〃 cried he; 〃for rather than any other man in England would I see thy good face this day!〃 Then he told Sir Richard all the happenings that had befallen him; and that now at last he felt himself safe; being so nigh to Sherwood again。 But when Robin had done; Sir Richard shook his head sadly。 〃Thou art in greater danger now; Robin; than thou hast yet been;〃 said he; 〃for before thee lie bands of the Sheriff's men blocking every road and letting none pass through the lines without examining them closely。 I myself know this; having passed them but now。 Before thee lie the Sheriffs men and behind thee the King's men; and thou canst not hope to pass either way; for by this time they will know of thy disguise and will be in waiting to seize upon thee。 My castle and everything within it are thine; but nought could be gained there; for I could not hope to hold it against such a force as is now in Nottingham of the King's and the Sheriffs men。〃 Having so spoken; Sir Richard bent his head in thought; and Robin felt his heart sink within him like that of the fox that hears the hounds at his heels and finds his den blocked with earth so that there is no hiding for him。 But presently Sir Richard spoke again; saying; 〃One thing thou canst do; Robin; and one only。 Go back to London and throw thyself upon the mercy of our good Queen Eleanor。 Come with me straightway to my castle。 Doff these clothes and put on such as my retainers wear。 Then I will hie me to London Town with a troop of men behind me; and thou shalt mingle with them; and thus will I bring thee to where thou mayst see and speak with the Queen。 Thy only hope is to get to Sherwood; for there none can reach thee; and thou wilt never get to Sherwood but in this way。〃
So Robin went with Sir Richard of the Lea; and did as he said; for he saw the wisdom of that which the knight advised; and that this was his only chance of safety。
Queen Eleanor walked in her royal garden; amid the roses that bloomed sweetly; and with her walked six of her ladies…in…waiting; chattering blithely together。 Of a sudden a man leaped up to the top of the wall from the other side; and then; hanging for a moment; dropped lightly upon the grass within。 All the ladies…in…waiting shrieked at the suddenness of his coming; but the man ran to the Queen and kneeled at her feet; and she saw that it was Robin Hood。
〃Why; how now; Robin!〃 cried she; 〃dost thou dare to come into the very jaws of the raging lion? Alas; poor fellow! Thou art lost indeed if the King finds thee here。 Dost thou not know that he is seeking thee through all the land?〃
〃Yea;〃 quoth Robin; 〃I do know right well that the King seeks me; and therefore I have come; for; surely; no ill can befall me when he hath pledged his royal word to Your Majesty for my safety。 Moreover; I know Your Majesty's kindness and gentleness of heart; and so I lay my life freely in your gracious hands。〃
〃I take thy meaning; Robin Hood;〃 said the Queen; 〃and that thou dost convey reproach to me; as well thou mayst; for I know that I have not done by thee as I ought to have done。 I know right well that thou must have been hard pressed by peril to leap so boldly into one danger to escape another。 Once more I promise thee mine aid; and will do all I can to send thee back in safety to Sherwood Forest。 Bide thou here till I return。〃 So saying; she left Robin in the garden of roses; and was gone a long time。
When she came back Sir Robert Lee was with her; and the Queen's cheeks were hot and the Queen's eyes were bright; as though she had been talking with high words。 Then Sir Robert came straight forward to where Robin Hood stood; and he spoke to the yeoman in a cold; stern voice。 Quoth he; 〃Our gracious Sovereign the King hath mitigated his wrath toward thee; fellow; and hath once more promised that thou shalt depart in peace and safety。 Not only hath he promised this; but in three days he will send one of his pages to go with thee and see that none arrest thy journey back again。 Thou mayst thank thy patron saint that thou hast such a good friend in our noble Queen; for; but for her persuasion and arguments; thou hadst been a dead man; I can tell thee。 Let this peril that thou hast passed through teach thee two lessons。 First; be more honest。 Second; be not so bold in thy comings and goings。 A man that walketh in the darkness as thou dost may escape for a time; but in the end he will surely fall into the pit。 Thou hast put thy head in the angry lion's mouth; and yet thou hast escaped by a miracle。 Try it not again。〃 So saying; he turned and left Robin and was gone。
For three days Robin abided in London in the Queen's household; and at the end of that time the King's head Page; Edward Cunningham; came; and taking Robin with him; departed northward up