Chapter IV: Part 4

“The defeated sheriff neither forgot nor forgave the treatment that he had received. He was determined upon being revenged on the rebellious knight, and set spies round his castle to give him intelligence when he stirred from it. For a long time they watched in vain; but one summer’s morning the knight and his lady rode out to amuse themselves in the delightful sport of falconry. Their steeds bounded gaily along the meadows, by the banks of a river, and they rode far away from home. A solitary heron that had been patiently watching for fish in a shallow part of the stream, frightened at their approach, rose with a shrill scream, and soared high up in air. The lady checked her palfrey, untied the jesses that confined a falcon to her wrist, and threw it off. The bird flew upwards as if shot from a bow, and rapidly ascended higher than the quarry: fluttering its wing, it hovered for an instant above, and then shooting downwards, struck the heron with its sharp beak and bore it to the earth. The lady was delighted, and applying a silver whistle to her mouth, recalled the well-trained hawk, which flew back again to her hand, and seemed proud of her caresses. Pleased with the sport, they galloped over many a verdant plain and flowery mead, and noon was long past ere they bethought themselves of returning. They were conversing about Robin Hood and his bold foresters, and wondering that they had heard nothing more of the sheriff of Nottingham, when they became aware of six armed horsemen galloping towards them at their utmost speed. Little imagining their intentions, the knight quietly pursued his course, when, to his surprise, the men checked their steeds as they approached, and with drawn swords in their hands surrounded him. In the leader the unfortunate knight easily recognised the sheriff of Nottingham, and he guessed his fate. He was fastened with thongs to his saddle, his arms were tied behind his back, and he was led away captive.

“His lady, aware that resistance was fruitless, turned her horse’s head, and galloped swiftly from the spot. Full of courage and love for her gallant husband, she rode on without drawing rein until she reached the forest of Sherwood, into which she fearlessly entered. A youth was lying upon the grass under a broad tree. ‘My friend,’ she cried to him, ‘canst tell me where to find bold Robin Hood?’

“The young man started to his feet, and doffing his cap, replied, ‘I am one of Robin Hood’s foresters, gracious lady, and will conduct thee to him;’ and taking the palfrey’s rein in his hand, he led it through the narrow paths to the spot where the bold outlaw was shading himself from the summer’s heat beneath a rustic bower.

“‘God save thee, good Robin Hood,’ said the lady as the forester advanced; ‘grant me thine aid, and that quickly. Thine enemy, the sheriff, hath bound my dear husband, and led him captive to Nottingham.’

“The outlaw replied by setting his bugle-horn to his lips, and sounding a shrill blast, it was answered from every side, and seven-score men soon gathered round him.

“‘Busk ye, my merry men,’ he cried to them. ‘To the rescue of the knight of Wierysdale. That double villain, the sheriff of Nottingham, hath bound him. He that will not fight for our good friend is no longer follower of mine.’

“The men gave a loud shout to prove their readiness, and their captain, bidding the lady be of good cheer, and await the issue in her castle, darted through the woods. The foresters followed him in a crowd close upon his heels; neither hedge nor stream stopped their progress; they leaped over every obstacle, and in two hours reached the town of Nottingham. They were just in time. The gaoler was even at the moment unbarring the gates of the castle to admit the prisoner, and the sheriff was unfastening the bonds by which he was held to his horse. At the appearance of the outlaws a loud cry was raised by the astonished inhabitants, and the sheriff leaped into his saddle. He had but a small force at hand, quite insufficient to oppose the assailants, and seizing his prisoner’s bridle rein, he attempted to fly;—’twas too late. An arrow from the bow of the foremost outlaw pierced his brain, and he fell headlong from his steed. His attendants were routed, and the knight of Wierysdale was recaptured. Robin Hood himself cut his bonds with a dagger, and after raising a loud shout of victory, he and his gallant foresters retired to Wierysdale, where they received the warm thanks of the lady of the castle, and after partaking of a glorious feast, they returned to their wonted abodes in merry Sherwood.

ROBIN HOOD’S PARDON, REBELLION, AND DEATH.

“The excitement caused by the death of the sheriff of Nottingham was not easily appeased. Intelligence of the outrage was carried to King Richard, who summoned a council to devise the best means of putting down the fearless rebels. They declared the knight of Wierysdale an outlaw; and his lands, which were forfeited to the crown, were offered as a reward to whomsoever should take the traitor, Robin Hood, dead or alive. Fifty knights volunteered their services, and Sherwood forest became too hot for the brave outlaws, who retired by stealth to Plompton park, in Cumberland, where they concealed themselves for many weeks. At last, receiving intelligence that the search was abandoned, they ventured to return to Sherwood; but, to their great surprise, they were one morning interrupted by the approach of six priests, who advanced towards them, riding upon steeds richly caparisoned. The foremost was a man of most commanding presence. He was of noble countenance, tall stature, well proportioned, and apparently of Herculean strength; and, as he sat upright upon his saddle and glanced around him, his stately mien but ill accorded with the peaceful character of the white robe that covered him.

“Robin Hood knew him not, and wondered what bold bishop it could be, who had ventured to enter upon the proscribed domains.

“‘By thy leave, holy father,’ he cried, as he stepped from a thicket, and laid his hand upon the horse’s bridle, ‘thou must abide awhile. If thou hast gold in thy purse, by the laws of Sherwood forest it is forfeited.’

“‘Good sir,’ replied the bishop, ‘I have but forty pounds. King Richard has been at Nottingham, and the gay follies of the court have swallowed up the rest;’ and drawing a purse from his girdle, he gave it to the outlaw, who counted out the bright gold pieces into his hand. ‘Thou wilt need these, perchance,’ he said, as he gave back half the money. ‘We may meet again and thou canst then repay me.’

“‘Gramercy, but thou art a gentle thief,’ exclaimed the bishop. ‘If, as I strongly suspect, thou art bold Robin Hood, Richard, king of England, sends thee his seal by me, and bids thee attend him in the good town of Nottingham.’

“The outlaw bent his knee as he beheld the royal signet. ‘I will obey,’ he cried, ‘I can trust to the honour of King Richard, and for love of him, sir bishop, thou shalt dine with me under our trysting tree.’ He winded his bugle-horn merrily, and seven-score men obeyed the summons.

“A cloth was spread upon the grass, and plentifully supplied with venison, fowls, and fish; cans of fine brown ale, and bowls of ruby wine. The bishop and his companions seated themselves, and a jovial feast ensued. ‘Let us drink to the health of King Richard,’ cried the outlaw, filling his goblet to the brim. ‘He who fails me in this pledge is no friend of Robin Hood’s.’ Loud cries of ‘Long live the King,’ rose from all sides; and in imitation of their host, each man emptied his cup, and reversed it upon the cloth before him.

“‘Bend your bows, my gallant followers,’ said the outlaw, ‘and show our guests the archery of Sherwood.’ A willow wand was fixed in the earth, at a long distance off, and a garland of wild roses was suspended upon its top. The laws of the game were, that whoever missed the garland should lose his bow and arrows, and receive a buffet upon his bare head. One by one the foresters advanced, and all shot true, until Little John carelessly missed the wand by three good inches. Robin Hood gave him a blow upon his ear that made it ring for many an after hour, and then took his own turn. To his great dismay his shaft flew on the outer side of the garland.

“His men shouted with laughter. ‘Thou hast lost thy bow, good master!’ they cried in the greatest glee. ‘The bishop shall give thee thy pay.’ The priest laughed too, and turning up the sleeves of his gown stepped toward the outlaw.

“Robin Hood stood firm, and folded his arms upon his breast, but the stalwart bishop bestowed such a buffet upon his head that he rolled over and over upon the grass.

“‘By my troth,’ cried he, when he had recovered his feet, there is pith in that arm of thine. I’ll warrant me thou canst shoot a bow as well as us.’ The bishop laughed again, and taking up Robin Hood’s forfeited weapon, let fly at the garland. The arrow, too strongly shot, flew above the wand, and struck into a tree on the further side of the lawn.

“‘Now thou must take _thy_ pay,’ exclaimed the outlaw; and striding towards him, he gave him a vigorous blow, but the priest did not waver an inch. At that instant a horseman galloped swiftly across the plain, and leaping from his steed, ran to them: it was the knight of Wierysdale. ‘Away, my brave men,—away,’ he shouted; ‘King Richard is seeking for ye. The forest is beset with men, and ye will——’ He suddenly paused; his eye had caught the keen glance with which the bishop was regarding him. He threw himself at his feet:—‘Pardon, gracious sire,’ he exclaimed, ‘one who has served thee long and faithfully.’ Robin Hood was struck dumb—the truth flashed across his mind:—it was King Richard whom he had so unceremoniously buffeted. He fell upon his knees by the knight’s side, and sued for mercy.

J. Gilbert]

“‘Sir knight,’ exclaimed the noble king, ‘thou hast done wrong, but I forgive thee; rise,—thy lands are restored to thee. As for thee, thou valiant traitor, he continued, placing his hand on Robin Hood’s head, ‘on one condition only can I grant thy pardon. Thou and thy men must follow me to London, and be my royal archers.’ The outlaws shouted with rapture; cries of ‘Long live King Richard’ rent the air, and every man bent his knee to their royal master.

“The king then mounted his palfrey and retired, accompanied by Robin Hood, Little John, and Will Scarlet, each of whom he soon afterwards appointed to some place of dignity. Many of the foresters dispersed to various parts, but fifty of the most faithful followed their beloved master to London.

“Here, it is said, our brave hero assumed his title of earl of Huntingdon, and lived in most noble style; but soon growing tired of the confinement of the court, he asked permission to revisit the merry woods. The king granted him seven days, but when Robin Hood breathed the delightful air of Sherwood, and heard the songs of the sweet birds, he could not tear himself away. He ranged through many a well-known thicket and oft-frequented lawn, and in the ecstacy of his delight he set his bugle horn to his mouth, and made the old trees re-echo with the blast. To his great astonishment it was replied to, and four-score youths bounded towards him. Several had deserted him in London, and many who were at first disbanded had returned to their favourite haunts, and Robin Hood was again acknowledged as the leader of a forest band. Little John and Will Scarlet soon learned the intelligence, and with all speed joined him with the rest.

“King Richard was enraged; he sent a renowned knight with two hundred soldiers to capture the rebellious outlaw, and a desperate fight took place upon a plain in Sherwood forest. It lasted from sun-rise to sun-set, but neither party could boast of victory, and the knight lost many of his men. Robin Hood himself was wounded by an arrow, and was obliged to be taken to Kirkleys Nunnery, where he was treacherously suffered to bleed to death by the prioress. As he found his end approaching he called Little John to him. ‘Carry me into the woods, I entreat thee,’ he said to him;

“‘And give me my bent bow in my hand,
And a broad arrow I’ll let flee;
And where this arrow is taken up
There shall my grave digged be.”

“The outlaw shot his last bow. His shaft flew feebly to a short distance, and fell beneath an oak. He leaned back into the arms of his faithful attendant—and died. His wish was complied with; and a stone was placed upon the green sod to mark the last resting-place of the brave Robin Hood; it bore this inscription:—

“Here, underneath this little stone,
Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon.
Ne’er archer was as he so good;
And people called him ‘Robin Hood.’
Such outlaws as he and his men
Will England never see again.”

I was obliged to hurry the latter part of my stories more than I could have wished, but I had scarcely finished, before our faithful monitor, the sonorous school bell, called us to our less pleasing, but more important pursuits.

The holidays soon after commenced, and we all returned HOME.

THE END.

CLARKE, PRINTERS, SILVER STREET, FALCON SQUARE, LONDON.