the merry adventures of robin hood-第67章

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ck　thy　knave's　pate　for　thee；　even　though　thou　be　one　of　the　mighty　Sheriff's　men。〃

At　this　a　great　shout　of　laughter　arose　from　a　number　of　tall　yeomen　in　Lincoln　green　that　were　scattered　through　the　crowd　thereabouts；　but　one　that　seemed　of　more　authority　than　the　others　nudged　the　holy　man　with　his　elbow。　〃Peace；　Tuck；〃　said　he；　〃didst　thou　not　promise　me；　ere　thou　camest　here；　that　thou　wouldst　put　a　check　upon　thy　tongue？〃

〃Ay；　marry；〃　grumbled　the　other；　〃but　'a　did　not　think　to　have　a　hard…footed　knave　trample　all　over　my　poor　toes　as　though　they　were　no　more　than　so　many　acorns　in　the　forest。〃

But　of　a　sudden　all　this　bickering　ceased；　for　a　clear　sound　of　many　bugle　horns　came　winding　down　the　street。　　Then　all　the　people　craned　their　necks　and　gazed　in　the　direction　whence　the　sound　came；　and　the　crowding　and　the　pushing　and　the　swaying　grew　greater　than　ever。　And　now　a　gallant　array　of　men　came　gleaming　into　sight；　and　the　cheering　of　the　people　ran　down　the　crowd　as　the　fire　runs　in　dry　grass。

Eight　and　twenty　heralds　in　velvet　and　cloth　of　gold　came　riding　forward。　Over　their　heads　fluttered　a　cloud　of　snow…white　feathers；　and　each　herald　bore　in　his　hand　a　long　silver　trumpet；　which　he　blew　musically。　From　each　trumpet　hung　a　heavy　banner　of　velvet　and　cloth　of　gold；　with　the　royal　arms　of　England　emblazoned　thereon。　　After　these　came　riding　fivescore　noble　knights；　two　by　two；　all　fully　armed；　saving　that　their　heads　were　uncovered。　　In　their　hands　they　bore　tall　lances；　from　the　tops　of　which　fluttered　pennons　of　many　colors　and　devices。　By　the　side　of　each　knight　walked　a　page　clad　in　rich　clothes　of　silk　and　velvet；　and　each　page　bore　in　his　hands　his　master's　helmet；　from　which　waved　long；　floating　plumes　of　feathers。　　Never　had　Nottingham　seen　a　fairer　sight　than　those　fivescore　noble　knights；　from　whose　armor　the　sun　blazed　in　dazzling　light　as　they　came　riding　on　their　great　war　horses；　with　clashing　of　arms　and　jingling　of　chains。　　Behind　the　knights　came　the　barons　and　the　nobles　of　the　mid…country；　in　robes　of　silk　and　cloth　of　gold；　with　golden　chains　about　their　necks　and　jewels　at　their　girdles。　Behind　these　again　came　a　great　array　of　men…at…arms；　with　spears　and　halberds　in　their　hands；　and；　in　the　midst　of　these；　two　riders　side　by　side。　One　of　the　horsemen　was　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　in　his　robes　of　office。　The　other；　who　was　a　head　taller　than　the　Sheriff；　was　clad　in　a　rich　but　simple　garb；　with　a　broad；　heavy　chain　about　his　neck。　　His　hair　and　beard　were　like　threads　of　gold；　and　his　eyes　were　as　blue　as　the　summer　sky。　As　he　rode　along　he　bowed　to　the　right　hand　and　the　left；　and　a　mighty　roar　of　voices　followed　him　as　he　passed；　for　this　was　King　Richard。

Then；　above　all　the　tumult　and　the　shouting　a　great　voice　was　heard　roaring；　〃Heaven；　its　saints　bless　thee；　our　gracious　King　Richard！　and　likewise　Our　Lady　of　the　Fountain；　bless　thee！〃　Then　King　Richard；　looking　toward　the　spot　whence　the　sound　came；　saw　a　tall；　burly；　strapping　priest　standing　in　front　of　all　the　crowd　with　his　legs　wide　apart　as　he　backed　against　those　behind。

〃By　my　soul；　Sheriff；〃　said　the　King；　laughing；　〃ye　have　the　tallest　priests　in　Nottinghamshire　that　e'er　I　saw　in　all　my　life。　If　Heaven　never　answered　prayers　because　of　deafness；　methinks　I　would　nevertheless　have　blessings　bestowed　upon　me；　for　that　man　yonder　would　make　the　great　stone　image　of　Saint　Peter　rub　its　ears　and　hearken　unto　him。　I　would　that　I　had　an　army　of　such　as　he。〃

To　this　the　Sheriff　answered　never　a　word；　but　all　the　blood　left　his　cheeks；　and　he　caught　at　the　pommel　of　his　saddle　to　keep　himself　from　falling；　for　he　also　saw　the　fellow　that　so　shouted；　and　knew　him　to　be　Friar　Tuck；　and；　moreover；　behind　Friar　Tuck　he　saw　the　faces　of　Robin　Hood　and　Little　John　and　Will　Scarlet　and　Will　Stutely　and　Allan　a　Dale　and　others　of　the　band。

〃How　now；〃　said　the　King　hastily；　〃art　thou　ill；　Sheriff；　that　thou　growest　so　white？〃

〃Nay；　Your　Majesty；〃　said　the　Sheriff；　〃it　was　nought　but　a　sudden　pain　that　will　soon　pass　by。〃　　Thus　he　spake；　for　he　was　ashamed　that　the　King　should　know　that　Robin　Hood　feared　him　so　little　that　he　thus　dared　to　come　within　the　very　gates　of　Nottingham　Town。

Thus　rode　the　King　into　Nottingham　Town　on　that　bright　afternoon　in　the　early　fall　season；　and　none　rejoiced　more　than　Robin　Hood　and　his　merry　men　to　see　him　come　so　royally　unto　his　own。


Eventide　had　come；　the　great　feast　in　the　Guild　Hall　at　Nottingham　Town　was　done；　and　the　wine　passed　freely。　A　thousand　waxen　lights　gleamed　along　the　board；　at　which　sat　lord　and　noble　and　knight　and　squire　in　goodly　array。　At　the　head　of　the　table；　upon　a　throne　all　hung　with　cloth　of　gold；　sat　King　Richard　with　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　beside　him。

Quoth　the　King　to　the　Sheriff；　laughing　as　he　spoke；　〃I　have　heard　much　spoken　concerning　the　doings　of　certain　fellows　hereabouts；　one　Robin　Hood　and　his　band；　who　are　outlaws　and　abide　in　Sherwood　Forest。　　Canst　thou　not　tell　me　somewhat　of　them；　Sir　Sheriff？　　For　I　hear　that　thou　hast　had　dealings　with　them　more　than　once。〃

At　these　words　the　Sheriff　of　Nottingham　looked　down　gloomily；　and　the　Bishop　of　Hereford；　who　was　present；　gnawed　his　nether　lip。　Quoth　the　Sheriff；　〃I　can　tell　Your　Majesty　but　little　concerning　the　doings　of　those　naughty　fellows；　saving　that　they　are　the　boldest　lawbreakers　in　all　the　land。〃

Then　up　spake　young　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea；　a　great　favorite　with　the　King；　under　whom　he　had　fought　in　Palestine。　　〃May　it　please　Your　Majesty；〃　said　he；　〃when　I　was　away　in　Palestine　I　heard　ofttimes　from　my　father；　and　in　most　cases　I　heard　of　this　very　fellow；　Robin　Hood。　　If　Your　Majesty　would　like　I　will　tell　you　a　certain　adventure　of　this　outlaw。〃

Then　the　King　laughingly　bade　him　tell　his　tale；　whereupon　he　told　how　Robin　Hood　had　aided　Sir　Richard　of　the　Lea　with　money　that　he　had　borrowed　from　the　Bishop　of　Hereford。　　Again　and　again　the　King　and　those　present　roared　with　laughter；　while　the　poor　Bishop　waxed　cherry　red　in　the　face　with　vexation；　for　the　matter　was　a　sore　thing　with　him。　When　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea　was　done；　others　of　those　present；　seeing　how　the　King　enjoyed　this　merry　tale；　told　other　tales　concerning　Robin　and　his　merry　men。

〃By　the　hilt　of　my　sword；〃　said　stout　King　Richard；　〃this　is　as　bold　and　merry　a　knave　as　ever　I　heard　tell　of。　　Marry；　I　must　take　this　matter　in　hand　and　do　what　thou　couldst　not　do；　Sheriff；　to　wit；　clear　the　forest　of　him　and　his　band。〃

That　night　the　King　sat　in　the　place　that　was　set　apart　for　his　lodging　while　in　Nottingham　Town。　　With　him　were　young　Sir　Henry　of　the　Lea　and　two　other　knights　and　three　barons　of　Nottinghamshire；　but　the　King's　mind　still　dwelled　upon　Robin　Hood。　　〃Now；〃　quoth　he；　〃I　would　freely　give　a　hundred　pounds　to　meet　this　roguish　fellow；　Robin　Hood；　and　to　see　somewhat　of　his　doings　in　Sherwood　Forest。〃

Then　up　spake　Sir　Hubert　of　gingham；　laughing：　　〃If　Your　Majesty　hath　such　a　desire　upon　you　it　is　not　so　hard　to　satisfy。　If　Your　Majesty　is　willing　to　lose　one　hundred　pounds；　I　will　engage　to　cause　you　not　only　to　meet　this　fellow；　but　to　feast　with　him　in　Sherwood。〃

〃Marry；　Sir　Hubert；〃　quoth　the　King；　〃this　pleaseth　me　well。　But　how　wilt　thou　cause　me　to　meet　Robin　Hood？〃

〃Why；　thus；〃　said　Sir　Hubert；　〃let　Your　Majesty　and　us　here　present　put　on　the　robes　of　seven　of　the　Order　of　Black　Friars；　and　let　Your　Majesty　hang　a　purse　of　one　hundred　pounds　beneath　your　gown；　then　let　us　undertake　to　ride　from　here　to　Mansfield　Town　tomorrow；　and；　without　I　am　much　mistaken；　we　will　both　meet　with　Robin　Hood　and　dine　with　him　before　the　day　be　passed。〃

〃I　like　thy　plan；　Sir　Hubert；〃　quoth　the　King　merrily；　〃and　tomorrow　we　will　try　it　and　see　whether　there　be　virtue　in　it。〃

So　it　happened　that　when　early　the　next　morning　the　Sheriff　came　to　where　his　liege　lord　was　abiding；　to　pay　his　duty　to　him；　the　King　told　him　what　they　had　talked　of　the　night　before；　and　what　merry　adventure　they　were　set　upon　undertaking　that　morning。　But　when　the　Sheriff　heard　this　he　smote　his　forehead　with　his　fist。　〃Alas！〃　said　he；　〃what　evil　counsel　is　this　that　hath　been　given　thee！　O　my　gracious　l