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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 upon his way
to Sherwood。 Now and then they passed bands of the King's men
coming back again to London； but none of those bands stopped them；
and so； at last； they reached the sweet； leafy woodlands。
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne
A LONG TIME passed after the great shootin