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costly plate； which the sheriff of Nottingham had unwillingly contributed
to supply； at the same time with an excellent cook； whom Little John's art
had spirited away to the forest with the contents of his master's silver
scullery。
An hundred foresters were here assembled over…ready for their dinner；
some seated at the table and some lying in groups under the trees。
Robin bade courteous welcome to the knight； who took his seat
between Robin and Marian at the festal board； at which was already
placed one strange guest in the person of a portly monk； sitting between
Little John and Scarlet； with； his rotund physiognomy elongated into an
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unnatural oval by the conjoint influence of sorrow and fear： sorrow for the
departed contents of his travelling treasury； a good…looking valise which
was hanging empty on a bough； and fear for his personal safety； of which
all the flasks and pasties before him could not give him assurance。 The
appearance of the knight； however； cheered him up with a semblance of
protection； and gave him just sufficient courage to demolish a cygnet and
a rumble…pie； which he diluted with the contents of two flasks of canary
sack。
But wine； which sometimes creates and often increases joy； doth also；
upon occasion； heighten sorrow： and so it fared now with our portly
monk； who had no sooner explained away his portion of provender； than
he began to weep and bewail himself bitterly。
〃Why dost thou weep； man？〃 said Robin Hood。 〃Thou hast done
thine embassy justly； and shalt have thy Lady's grace。〃
〃Alack！ alack！〃 said the monk： 〃no embassy had I； luckless sinner； as
well thou wottest； but to take to my abbey in safety the treasure whereof
thou hast despoiled me。〃
〃Propound me his case；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃and I will give him ghostly
counsel。〃
〃You well remember；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃the sorrowful knight who
dined with us here twelve months and a day gone by。〃
〃Well do I；〃 said Friar Tuck。 〃His lands were in jeopardy with a
certain abbot； who would allow him no longer day for their redemption。
Whereupon you lent to him the four hundred pounds which he needed； and
which he was to repay this day； though he had no better security to give
than our Lady the Virgin。〃
〃I never desired better；〃 said Robin； 〃for she never yet failed to send
me my pay； and here is one of her own flock； this faithful and well…
favoured monk of St。 Mary's； hath brought it me duly； principal and
interest to a penny； as Little John can testify； who told it forth。 To be sure；
he denied having it； but that was to prove our faith。 We sought and found
it。〃
〃I know nothing of your knight；〃 said the monk： 〃and the money was
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our own； as the Virgin shall bless me。〃
〃She shall bless thee；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃for a faithful messenger。〃
The monk resumed his wailing。 Little John brought him his horse。
Robin gave him leave to depart。 He sprang with singular nimbleness into
the saddle； and vanished without saying； God give you good day。
The stranger knight laughed heartily as the monk rode off。
〃They say； sir knight；〃 said Friar Tuck； 〃they should laugh who win：
but thou laughest who art likely to lose。〃
〃I have won；〃 said the knight； 〃a good dinner； some mirth； and some
knowledge： and I cannot lose by paying for them。〃
〃Bravely said；〃 answered Robin。 〃Still it becomes thee to pay： for it
is not meet that a poor forester should treat a rich knight。 How much
money hast thou with thee？〃
〃Troth； I know not；〃 said the knight。 〃Sometimes much； sometimes
little； sometimes none。 But search； and what thou findest； keep： and for
the sake of thy kind heart and open hand； be it what it may； I shall wish it
were more。〃
〃Then； since thou sayest so；〃 said Robin； 〃not a penny will I touch。
Many a false churl comes hither； and disburses against his will： and till
there is lack of these； I prey not on true men。〃
〃Thou art thyself a true man； right well I judge； Robin；〃 said the
stranger knight； 〃and seemest more like one bred in court than to thy
present outlaw life。〃
〃Our life；〃 said the friar； 〃is a craft； an art； and a mystery。 How much
of it； think you； could be learned at court？〃
〃Indeed； I cannot say；〃 said the stranger knight： 〃but I should
apprehend very little。〃
〃And so should I；〃 said the friar： 〃for we should find very little of
our bold open practice； but should hear abundance of praise of our
principles。 To live in seeming fellowship and secret rivalry； to have a hand
for all； and a heart for none； to be everybody's acquaintance； and nobody's
friend； to meditate the ruin of all on whom we smile； and to dread the
secret stratagems of all who smile on us； to pilfer honours and despoil
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fortunes； not by fighting in daylight； but by sapping in darkness： these are
arts which the court can teach； but which we； by 'r Lady； have not learned。
But let your court…minstrel tune up his throat to the praise of your court…
hero； then come our principles into play： then is our practice extolled not
by the same name； for their Richard is a hero； and our Robin is a thief：
marry； your hero guts an exchequer； while your thief disembowels a
portmanteau； your hero sacks a city； while your thief sacks a cellar： your
hero marauds on a larger scale； and that is all the difference； for the
principle and the virtue are one： but two of a trade cannot agree：
therefore your hero makes laws to get rid of your thief； and gives him an
ill name that he may hang him： for might is right； and the strong make
laws for the weak； and they that make laws to serve their own turn do also
make morals to give colour to their laws。〃
〃Your comparison； friar；〃 said the stranger； 〃fails in this： that