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The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood
by Howard Pyle
PREFACE
FROM THE AUTHOR TO THE READER
You who so plod amid serious things that you feel it shame to give
yourself up even for a few short moments to mirth and joyousness
in the land of Fancy； you who think that life hath nought to do with
innocent laughter that can harm no one； these pages are not for you。
Clap to the leaves and go no farther than this； for I tell you plainly
that if you go farther you will be scandalized by seeing good；
sober folks of real history so frisk and caper in gay colors and motley
that you would not know them but for the names tagged to them。
Here is a stout； lusty fellow with a quick temper； yet none so ill
for all that； who goes by the name of Henry II。 Here is a fair；
gentle lady before whom all the others bow and call her
Queen Eleanor。 Here is a fat rogue of a fellow； dressed up in rich
robes of a clerical kind； that all the good folk call my Lord Bishop
of Hereford。 Here is a certain fellow with a sour temper and a grim look
the worshipful； the Sheriff of Nottingham。 And here； above all；
is a great； tall； merry fellow that roams the greenwood and joins
in homely sports； and sits beside the Sheriff at merry feast； which same
beareth the name of the proudest of the PlantagenetsRichard of
the Lion's Heart。 Beside these are a whole host of knights；
priests； nobles； burghers； yeomen； pages； ladies； lasses； landlords；
beggars； peddlers； and what not； all living the merriest of merry lives；
and all bound by nothing but a few odd strands of certain old ballads
（snipped and clipped and tied together again in a score of knots）
which draw these jocund fellows here and there； singing as they go。
Here you will find a hundred dull； sober； jogging places； all tricked out with
flowers and what not； till no one would know them in their fanciful dress。
And here is a country bearing a well…known name； wherein no chill mists
press upon our spirits； and no rain falls but what rolls off our backs
like April showers off the backs of sleek drakes； where flowers bloom
forever and birds are always singing； where every fellow hath a merry catch
as he travels the roads； and ale and beer and wine （such as muddle no wits）
flow like water in a brook。
This country is not Fairyland。 What is it？ 'Tis the land of Fancy； and is
of that pleasant kind that； when you tire of itwhisk！you clap the leaves
of this book together and 'tis gone； and you are ready for everyday life；
with no harm done。
And now I lift the curtain that hangs between here and
No…man's…land。 Will you come with me； sweet Reader？ I thank you。
Give me your hand。
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I HOW ROBIN HOOD CAME TO BE AN OUTLAW 1
II ROBIN HOOD AND THE TINKER 14
III THE SHOOTING MATCH AT NOTTINGHAM TOWN 27
IV WILL STUTELY RESCUED BY HIS COMPANIONS 38
V ROBIN HOOD TURNS BUTCHER 50
VI LITTLE JOHN GOES TO NOTTINGHAM FAIR 61
VII HOW LITTLE JOHN LIVED AT THE SHERIFF'S 68
VIII LITTLE JOHN AND THE TANNER OF BLYTH 81
IX ROBIN HOOD AND WILL SCARLET 92
X THE ADVENTURE WITH MIDGE； THE MILLER'S SON 102
Xl ROBIN HOOD AND ALLAN A DALE 115
XII ROBIN HOOD SEEKS THE CURTAL FRIAR 129
XIII ROBIN HOOD COMPASSES A MARRIAGE 145
XIV ROBIN HOOD AIDS A SORROWFUL KNIGHT 156
XV HOW SIR RICHARD OF THE LEA PAID HIS DEBTS 172
XVI LITTLE JOHN TURNS BAREFOOT FRIAR 186
XVII ROBIN HOOD TURNS BEGGAR 202
XVIII ROBIN HOOD SHOOTS BEFORE QUEEN ELEANOR 222
XIX THE CHASE OF ROBIN HOOD 243
XX ROBIN HOOD AND GUY OF GISBOURNE 262
XXI KING RICHARD COMES TO SHERWOOD FOREST 281
EPILOGUE 300
How Robin Hood Cane to Be an Outlaw
IN MERRY ENGLAND in the time of old； when good King Henry the Second
ruled the land； there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest；
near Nottingham Town； a famous outlaw whose name was Robin Hood。 No archer
ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill
and cunning as his； nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore
merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades。
Right merrily they dwelled within the depths of Sherwood Forest；
suffering neither care nor want； but passing the time in merry games
of archery or bouts of cudgel play； living upon the King's venison；
washed down with draughts of ale of October brewing。
Not only Robin himself but all the band were outlaws and dwelled apart
from other men； yet they were beloved by the country people round about；
for no one ever came to jolly Robin for help in time of need and went
away again with an empty fist。
And now I will tell how it came about that Robin Hood fell afoul
of the law。
When Robin was a youth of eighteen； stout of sinew and bold
of heart； the Sheriff of Nottingham proclaimed a shooting
match and offered a prize of a butt of ale to whosoever should
shoot the best shaft in Nottinghamshire。 〃Now；〃 quoth Robin；
〃will I go too； for fain would I draw a string for the bright
eyes of my lass and a butt of good October brewing。〃
So up he got and took his good stout yew bow and a score or more
of broad clothyard arrows； and started off from Locksley Town
through Sherwood Forest to Nottingham。
It was at the dawn of day in the merry Maytime； when hedgerows are green
and flowers bedeck the meadows； daisies pied and yellow cuckoo buds
and fair primroses all along the briery hedges； when apple buds blossom
and sweet birds sing； the lark at dawn of day； the throstle cock and cuckoo；
when lads and lasses look upon each other with sweet thoughts； when busy
housewives spread their linen to bleach upon the bright green grass。
Sweet was the greenwood as he walked along its paths； and bright the green
and rustling leaves； amid which the little birds sang with might and main：
and blithely Robin whistled as he trudged along； thinking of Maid Marian
and her bright eyes； for at such times a youth's thoughts are wont to turn
pleasantly upon the lass that he loves the best。
As thus he walked along with a brisk step and a merry whistle；
he came suddenly upon some foresters seated beneath a great
oak tree。 Fifteen there were in all； making themselves merry
with feasting and drinking as they sat around a huge pasty；
to which each man helped himself； thrusting his hands into the pie；
and washing down that which they ate with great horns of ale
which they drew all foaming from a barrel that stood nigh。
Each man was clad in Lincoln green； and a fine show they made；
seated upon the sward beneath that fair； spreading tree。
Then one of them； with his mouth full； called out
to Robin； 〃Hulloa； where goest thou； little lad； with thy
one…penny bow and thy farthing shafts？〃
Then Robin grew angry； for no stripling likes to be taunted
with his green years。
〃Now；〃 quot