Читать книгу Famous Legends Adapted for Children - Emeline G. Crommelin - Страница 11

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When Robin Hood heard that the bishop was coming, he and some of his men dressed themselves as shepherds, and waited in the forest for him and his company to pass. While they were waiting, they roasted a fine buck for dinner. As the bishop drew near, he noticed the delicious meat roasting, and, being very hungry, said to his followers:

“I believe those forest rovers, who are always giving trouble, are roasting some fine venison for dinner. If so, we shall eat it, and take the hungry prisoners to the king.”

When the bishop reached the place, he asked one of the “shepherds” what he meant by roasting the king’s venison, and told him it was the last time he would have a chance to do it.

The “shepherd” paid no heed to the bishop’s words, but invited him to join them in their merry feast. The bishop became very angry at this, and ordered his men to bind the saucy fellow to a tree, and said they should all be taken to the king without delay.

Before the men had time to carry out the order, however, Robin blew a loud blast on his horn. In an instant the frightened bishop and his company were surrounded by a band of men, all dressed in Lincoln green, and carrying bows and short swords.

At the same time Robin Hood and the men who were with him dropped the dress of shepherds. There they stood, all dressed in Lincoln green, like the others who had come out of the forest so suddenly.

Now it was Robin’s turn. He ordered Little John to bind the poor bishop, who cried:

“Mercy, mercy, I pray! If I had known you, I should not have come this way.”

Robin and his men went into the forest for a short distance, and ate their dinner. Then Little John spread the bishop’s cloak on the ground, and on it emptied the bishop’s bag of three hundred pounds. The bishop gave up the gold very willingly, because his life was saved.

But Robin did not intend to let him off so easily, so he asked Alan to bring his harp and play for the bishop to dance. Alan did so, and the bishop danced, in spite of his heavy riding-boots, until he fell exhausted to the ground. Then Robin bade the harper stop his music, and the worn-out bishop cried:

“You may shoot all the deer you wish in Sherwood Forest, and if you or any of your band ever catch me again you may hang me.”