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〃How now； fellow；〃 quoth the King； 〃who art thou； thou naughty rogue？
Hast thou no regard for such holy men as we are？〃
〃Not a whit；〃 quoth merry Robin Hood； for the fellow was he； 〃for in sooth
all the holiness belonging to rich friars； such as ye are； one could drop into
a thimble and the goodwife would never feel it with the tip of her finger。
As for my name； it is Robin Hood； and thou mayst have heard it before。〃
〃Now out upon thee！〃 quoth King Richard。 〃Thou art a bold and naughty fellow
and a lawless one withal； as I have often heard tell。 Now； prythee； let me；
and these brethren of mine； travel forward in peace and quietness。〃
〃It may not be；〃 said Robin； 〃for it would look but ill of us
to let such holy men travel onward with empty stomachs。
But I doubt not that thou hast a fat purse to pay thy score at our
inn since thou offerest freely so much for a poor draught of wine。
Show me thy purse； reverend brother； or I may perchance have
to strip thy robes from thee to search for it myself。〃
〃Nay； use no force；〃 said the King sternly。 〃Here is my purse；
but lay not thy lawless hands upon our person。〃
〃Hut； tut；〃 quoth merry Robin； 〃what proud words are these？
Art thou the King of England； to talk so to me？ Here； Will；
take this purse and see what there is within。〃
Will Scarlet took the purse and counted out the money。 Then Robin bade
him keep fifty pounds for themselves； and put fifty back into the purse。
This he handed to the King。 〃Here； brother；〃 quoth he； 〃take this half
of thy money； and thank Saint Martin； on whom thou didst call before；
that thou hast fallen into the hands of such gentle rogues that they will not
strip thee bare； as they might do。 But wilt thou not put back thy cowl？
For I would fain see thy face。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the King； drawing back； 〃I may not put back my cowl；
for we seven have vowed that we will not show our faces for four
and twenty hours。〃 ；
〃Then keep them covered in peace；〃 said Robin； 〃and far be it
from me to make you break your vows。〃
So he called seven of his yeomen and bade them each one take
a mule by the bridle； then； turning their faces toward the depths
of the woodlands； they journeyed onward until they came to the open
glade and the greenwood tree。
Little John； with threescore yeomen at his heels； had also gone forth that
morning to wait along the roads and bring a rich guest to Sherwood glade；
if such might be his luck； for many with fat purses must travel the roads
at this time； when such great doings were going on in Nottinghamshire；
but though Little John and so many others were gone； Friar Tuck and twoscore
or more stout yeomen were seated or lying around beneath the great tree；
and when Robin and the others came they leaped to their feet to meet him。
〃By my soul；〃 quoth merry King Richard； when he had gotten down from
his mule and stood looking about him； 〃thou hast in very truth a fine
lot of young men about thee； Robin。 Methinks King Richard himself
would be glad of such a bodyguard。〃
〃These are not all of my fellows；〃 said Robin proudly； 〃for threescore
more of them are away on business with my good right…hand man；
Little John。 But； as for King Richard； I tell thee； brother； there is
not a man of us all but would pour out our blood like water for him。
Ye churchmen cannot rightly understand our King； but we yeomen
love him right loyally for the sake of his brave doings which are
so like our own。〃
But now Friar Tuck came bustling up。 〃Gi' ye good den； brothers；〃 said he。
〃I am right glad to welcome some of my cloth in this naughty place。
Truly； methinks these rogues of outlaws would stand but an ill chance were it
not for the prayers of Holy Tuck； who laboreth so hard for their well…being。〃
Here he winked one eye slyly and stuck his tongue into his cheek。
〃Who art thou； mad priest？〃 said the King in a serious voice；
albeit he smiled beneath his cowl。
At this Friar Tuck looked all around with a slow gaze。 〃Look you now；〃
quoth he； 〃never let me hear you say again that I am no patient man。
Here is a knave of a friar calleth me a mad priest； and yet I smite him not。
My name is Friar Tuck； fellowthe holy Friar Tuck。〃
〃There； Tuck；〃 said Robin； 〃thou hast said enow。 Prythee； cease thy
talk and bring some wine。 These reverend men are athirst； and sin'
they have paid so richly for their score they must e'en have the best。〃
Friar Tuck bridled at being so checked in his speech；
nevertheless he went straightway to do Robin's bidding；
so presently a great crock was brought； and wine was poured out for
all the guests and for Robin Hood。 Then Robin held his cup aloft。
〃Stay！〃 cried he。 〃Tarry in your drinking till I give you a pledge。
Here is to good King Richard of great renown； and may all enemies
to him be confounded。〃
Then all drank the King's health； even the King himself。
〃Methinks； good fellow；〃 said he； 〃thou hast drunk to
thine own confusion。〃
〃Never a whit；〃 quoth merry Robin； 〃for I tell thee that we of Sherwood
are more loyal to our lord the King than those of thine order。
We would give up our lives for his benefiting； while ye are content
to lie snug in your abbeys and priories let reign who will。〃
At this the King laughed。 Quoth he； 〃Perhaps King Richard's welfare is
more to me than thou wottest of； fellow。 But enough of that matter。
We have paid well for our fare； so canst thou not show us some
merry entertainment？ I have oft heard that ye are wondrous archers；
wilt thou not show us somewhat of your skill？〃
〃With all my heart；〃 said Robin； 〃we are always pleased to show our
guests all the sport that is to be seen。 As Gaffer Swanthold sayeth；
‘ 'Tis a hard heart that will not give a caged starling of the best'；
and caged starlings ye are with us。 Ho； lads！ Set up a garland
at the end of the glade。〃
Then； as the yeomen ran to do their master's bidding； Tuck turned to one
of the mock friars。 〃Hearest thou our master？〃 quoth he； with a sly wink。
〃Whenever he cometh across some poor piece of wit he straightway layeth
it on the shoulders of this Gaffer Swantholdwhoever he may be
so that the poor goodman goeth traveling about with all the odds
and ends and tags and rags of our master's brain packed on his back。〃
Thus spake Friar Tuck； but in a low voice so that Robin could not hear him；
for he felt somewhat nettled at Robin's cutting his talk so short。
In the meantime the mark at which they were to shoot was set up at sixscore
paces distance。 It was a garland of leaves and flowers two spans in width；
which same was hung upon a stake in front of a broad tree trunk。
〃There；〃 quoth Robin； 〃yon is a fair mark； lads。 Each of you shoot
three arrows thereat； and if any fellow misseth by so much as one arrow；
he shall have a buffet of Will Scarlet's fist。〃
〃Hearken to him！〃 quoth Friar Tuck。 〃Why； master； thou dost bestow
buffets from thy strapping nephew as though they were love taps from
some bouncing lass。 I warrant thou art safe to hit the garland thyself；
or thou wouldst not be so free of his cuffing。〃
First David of Doncaster shot； and lodged all three of his
arrows within the garland。 〃Well done； Da