The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

1946MerryAdventures — Front cover of a 1946 edition of *The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood*.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is a children's historical adventure novel of twenty-two chapters. It was written and illustrated by the American artist and author Howard Pyle and first published in 1883. It is based on earlier English folktales about the legendary outlaw Ronin Hood and on the ballads "A Gest of Robyn Hode", "Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar", "Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne", "Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow", "Robin Hood's Progress to Nottingham", "Robin Hood and the Bishop of Hereford" and "Robin Hood and Queen Katharine" that date from between the 15th and 18th centuries. Pyle weaves material from those various sources together to form a coherent narrative, albeit a highly episodic one.

The novel takes place in England in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, mostly in and around Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire and in neighboring counties. It follows the life story of Robin Hood from the time he becomes an outlaw, as a young man during the reign of King Henry II, through to his death in the year 1247. Robin soon becomes the leader of a band of outlaws known as the Merry Men. A large reward is offered for the capture of Robin Hood, the Sheriff of Nottingham is keen to claim that reward. He also has a personal reason for wanting to capture Robin Hood because Robin became an outlaw as a result of killing a man who was one of the Sheriff's relatives. Robin evades capture by the Sheriff of Nottingham numerous times. Eventually, the humiliated Sheriff stops trying to capture Ronin Hood and actively avoids trying to come into contact with him. Robin, however, continues to face other challenges. Although he makes a living from stealing, Robin never robs from ordinary, hard working people or anyone who cannot afford the loss. He targets people whose wealth comes from exploiting the masses, such as nobles and high ranking churchmen. He insists on valuables being returned to people who have done nothing to deserve having them stolen. Robin gives some of what he takes to the poor and he and his Merry Men try to help anyone in need in any way that they can. As a result, Robin Hood becomes very popular among the ordinary people of Nottinghamshire. He also gains fame as a skilled fighter and archer. Even King Henry II's wife Queen Eleanor wants to see Robin Hood's skill as an archer in person and brings him to London secretly so that she can. When King Henry II dies, he is succeeded by his son King Richard the Lion Heart. King Richard is a great admirer of Robin Hood. He pardons Robin Hood and all of his Merry Men and raises Robin to the nobility, making him Robert, Earl of Huntington. Robin briefly becomes an outlaw again during the reign of Richard's brother King John. There is a final battle in which the Sheriff of Nottingham is finally and decisively defeated. Robin survives the battle but develops a fever soon afterwards. He goes to see his cousin, the Prioress of Kirklees, a skilled healer. She, however, betrays Robin and kills him. Chapters of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood deal with how the Merry Men Little John, Will Scarlet, Allen a Dale,^[1] Midge the Miller's Son^[2] and Friar Tuck join Robin's band. Maid Marian does not appear as a character in the novel and there are only two brief references to her.

Howard Pyle was not overly concerned with historical accuracy and the novel includes a number of anachronisms. Pyle openly acknowledges in the novel's preface that the world presented in the book is not a realistic one. The preface also makes it clear that the novel is not intended to be taken seriously and is simply intended to be an entertainment. As the novel's title suggests, Pyle's Robin Hood is an extremely light hearted man who frequently laughs and treats most things that befall him as a "merry adventure" or a joke.

Pyle's The Merry Adventures of Ronin Hood was highly influential on later writers and filmmakers. It made the topic of Robin Hood, formerly seen as somewhat disreputable, a suitable one for respectable children's literature. It also helped to popularize the modern idea of Robin Hood as a good and heroic figure who robs from the rich to give to the poor. Some of the old English ballads that are Pyle's sources depict Robin Hood as a crook who steals merely for personal gain and a mass murderer. Although he becomes an outlaw as a result of killing a man, Pyle's Robin Hood deeply regrets causing the man's death and manages to carry on his dangerous career without ever killing anyone else for many years afterwards.

Although The Merry Adventures of Ronin Hood is written mostly in standard Modern English, all of the characters' dialogue is written in pseudo-Shakespearean English that some readers may find hard to understand.

Summary[]

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood opens with a preface in which Pyle states that the novel is not intended for serious people who think that giving up "a few moments to mirth and joyousness" is a waste of time. He adds that such readers might be shocked by his book which depicts some real historical figures in a frivolous way and which depicts an England that bears little relation to the real country.

Chapter I

The novel proper opens with the words, "In Merry England in times of old when good King Henry the Second ruled the land." ^[3] The Sheriff of Nottingham has organized an archery contest, the prize for which is a barrel of ale. 18-year-old Robin Hood wants to take part in the contest. He sets out from his hometown of Locksley, intending to pass through Sherwood Forest to get to Nottingham. As he is walking through the forest, he is spotted by a group of fifteen foresters who are eating a large meat pie and drinking ale. They make fun of the youth with his "one-;penny bow" and "farthing^[4] shaft" and scoff at the idea of him taking part in the archery contest with full-grown men. Robin insists he is a good archer. To prove it, he bets twenty marks^[5] that he can kill the best deer in a herd he can see in the distance. One of the foresters takes Robin up on that bet. When Robin fires his arrow at the distant deer and kills one of them, the forester refuses to pay up and says Robin has committed a crime by killing one of the king's deer. Some of the foresters want to arrest Robin. The majority of them, however think they should just let him go. The one who lost the bet to Robin fires an arrow at him to make him hasten on his way. Since the man has been drinking, his arrow misses. Angered by this, Robin fires an arrow back at the man and kills him. Robin escapes deep into the forest which is to be his home for many years to come.

Robin is sorry for having killed a man, although he knows that what he has done cannot be undone. He is now an outlaw as a result of committing two crimes, killing a man and killing one of the king's deer. A reward of two hundred pounds is offered for his capture. The Sheriff of Nottingham is keen to claim that reward because the man Robin killed was a relative of his.

Other outlaws and outcasts are also living in Sherwood Forest. Some fell afoul of the law when they poached deer in "hungry wintertime". Others were cheated out of their property by greedy nobles or bishops. They gather around Robin Hood and make him their leader. They vow to take revenge on the nobles and churchmen who robbed them by stealing from those nobles and churchmen in return. They also vow, however, never to harm women or children and to use what they steal to help the poor. As a result, Robin and his band of outlaws, who become known as the Merry Men, become popular among the ordinary people of Nottinghamshire.

One day, Robin Hood declares that since he has had no adventure for two weeks, he is going out to seek one. He tells his Merry Men to stay where they are but to come to his aid if they hear three blasts from his horn. Robin comes to a stream across which there is a simple log bridge. Ronin sees a man, seven-foot tall and broad shouldered, approach the bridge from the other side of the stream. Robin tells him to stand back and let the better man pass. The stranger replies that he should cross first because he is the better man. Robin is ready to fight the man but the stranger points out that it would not be a fair fight. Robin has a bow and arrows and could kill the stranger easily whereas the stranger only has a wooden staff. The stranger waits while Robin goes off to make a wooden staff for himself.

The two men fight bravely for an hour. They occasionally pause for breath but neither man admits defeat. They are almost perfectly matched. Eventually, however, the stranger knocks Robin off the bridge. As he starts to float down the stream, Robin cannot help laughing at his own defeat. He gets out of the stream and gives three blasts on his horn. His Merry Men, led by Will Stutley, arrive. When they hear what the stranger has done to their leader, they begin to attack him. Robin, however, tells them not to and adds that he wans the stranger to join them and become his right-hand man. The stranger says that he will only serve someone who is a better archer than he is. The stranger is given a bow and arrows and immediately hits a distant target. Robin fires at the target and destroys the stranger's arrow with his own. The stranger has to admit that Robin is the better archer.

Robin asks the stranger his name. He answers that it is John Little. Will Stutley jokes that the seven-foot tall man should be called Little John. This makes John angry. Robin, however, likes the name. A feast is held to welcome the newcomer to the band of outlaws. After the men have eaten, a mock baptism is held. John is held down while the Merry Man who plays the part of the priest pours beer over his head. He is told that his old life as John Little is over and his new life as Little John has begun. John is angry at first. Since the other men find it amusing, however, John cannot help finding it funny too.

Chapter II

The Sheriff of Nottingham, wanting to get the £200 reward for the capture of Robin Hood, offers his own smaller but still sizeable reward of eighty golden angels^[6] to anyone who will serve an arrest warrant to the outlaw. The Sheriff does not yet know about the Merry Men who protect Robin. Everyone else in Nottingham does, however, and for that reason no one in the town is brave enough to serve the warrant. The Sheriff sends a messenger to Lincoln to see if there is anyone in that town who is brave enough to serve Robin the warrant. On the way to Lincoln, the messenger stops at an inn. There he meets a tinker who calls himself Wat o' the Crabstaff. He is a strong, brave man who always carries a wooden cudgel with him. He has never heard of Robin Hood before and is surprised that all the men of Nottingham are afraid of one man. He is confident that he can serve the warrant and claim the Sheriff's reward. He is also certain that he could defeat Robin Hood in a fight if necessary. Wat, who prides himself on his cleverness and cunning as well as his skill as a fighter, is confident that the sly outlaw will not outsmart him.

A few days later, Robin Hood is heading towards Nottingham when he meets the tinker. The two strangers greet each other and engage in some banter. The tinker gets angry at one remark that Robin makes about tinkers but Robin calms him down by inviting him to the Blue Boar Inn for some ale. On the way to the inn, the tinker says that he has come to Nottingham to serve an arrest warrant to Robin Hood. Robin tells him to be careful that the sly thief does not steal the warrant out of his pocket.

The landlord of the Blue Boar Inn knows Robin Hood well. He likes him because he always pays his bill and would never help anyone in his capture. Robin gets the landlord to spike the tinker's ale with some stronger liquor. After drinking a few mugs of the spiked ale, Wat o' the Crabstaff begins to sing a song of Arthurian legend in a fine voice. His song is cut short, however, when he passes out. Robin pays the ten shillings^[7] he owes the landlord but tells him that he can charge the tinker again when he wakes up, adding that he can take the tools of the tinker's trade and his coat if he has no money. As he said he would do, Robin steals the warrant out of the tinker's pocket.

When he comes to many hours later, as evening is approaching, the tinker finds that he still has his wooden cudgel but not the arrest warrant. He also notices his companion has gone. He asks the landlord what happened to the "knave" who was with him. The landlord says that was no knave but the "right stout fellow" Robin Hood. The landlord then demands ten shillings payment for the ale, taking the tinker's tools and coat because he has no cash.

On leaving the inn, Wat o' the Crabstaff meets Robin Hood again. This time Wat challenges Robin Hood to a fight. Robin accepts. He is able to get the better of Wat for a while until Wat strikes at Robin's wooden staff and destroys it. Robin then gives three blasts on his horn and his Merry Men, led by Little John, appear. When Robin tells the Merry Men that Wat tried to arrest him, they want to hang the tinker. Robin tells them to do no harm to the man. He admires Wat because of his strength and bravery and also because of his beautiful singing voice. He invites wat to join the Merry Men, telling him of the fine life he will lead if he does. Wat likes the idea. He also has to acknowledge that Robin Hood is cleverer and more cunning than he is. He therefore accepts Robin as his master and joins the band.

Chapter III

The only man brave enough to attempt to arrest Robin Hood having chosen to join him instead, the Sheriff of Nottingham is at a loss as to what to do. He travels to London to ask for help from King Henry II himself. The King refuses to help the Sheriff and warns him that if he wants to keep his position, he will have to come up with a plan to capture Robin Hood. On the way back from London to Nottingham, the Sheriff comes up with what he thinks is the perfect plan.

The Sheriff sends messengers far and wide to announce that an archery contest will be held in Nottingham and that the prize will be an arrow made of solid gold. Robin is keen to enter the contest. When one of his Merry Men, young David of Doncaster, tells him that the whole thing was just organized as a trap to catch him, Robin is even more eager to enter the contest. He does, however, realize he will need to disguise himself. He tells his Merry Men to come with him to Nottingham disguised as monks, beggars and tinkers, bringing their swords with them for protection.

In stead of his usual Lincoln green, Robin Hood wears tattered old scarlet clothes. He wears a patch over one eye and uses walnut to dye his blond beard brown. Nobody recognizes him and the Sheriff believes that Robin Hood has not been brave enough to come to the competition.

The one-eyed stranger in scarlet wins the contest. After the Sheriff gives him the golden arrow, he asks the stranger if he will enter his service and help him capture Ronin Hood. The stranger refuses, sating he will be no man's servant. The Sheriff considers having the man beaten for his insolence but decides to let him go and take his prize with him. Robin is thus able to get away without needing the help of his disguised Merry Men with their concealed swords.

That evening, an arrow is fired through the Sheriff of Nottingham's window that lands in front of him on his dinner table. A message attached to the arrow tells the Sheriff the true identity of the one-eyed man in scarlet who won the archery contest.

Chapter IV

The Sheriff of Nottingham regrets having told the King about his problem because he fears losing his position if he does not capture Robin Hood. Having failed to capture him by simple application of the law or by trickery, the Sheriff decides to take Robin by brute force. He sends hundreds of soldiers into Sherwood Forest. Anyone who captures Robin Hood dead or alive will receive a reward of £100. Anyone who captures another one of the Merry Men dead or alive will receive a reward of £40.

Ronin is warned of this plan by the landlord of the Blue Boar. Although he and his Merry Men could fight off the soldiers, Robin knows that means some of the soldiers would die. Having already killed one man, Robin never wants to kill again. He therefore tells the Merry Men to stay quiet and hidden. The soldiers search Sherwood Forest for a week but find no one.

On the eighth day, certain that the soldiers will not stay in Sherwood Forest forever, Robin calls for a volunteer to find out what they are doing. Many of the Merry Men volunteer. Robin chooses Will Stutley. Will Stutley disguises himself as a monk, concealing his sword beneath his robes, and follows some of the soldiers to the Blue Boar. The soldiers and Will Stutley sit at tables outside the inn. A cat rubs against Will's leg, causing his robe to rise up and reveal his Lincoln green clothes underneath. Will is thus recognized as being one of Robin Hood's band. Although he fights back bravely, he is captured.

Maken, the daughter of the landlord of the Blue Boar, tells Robin that Will Stutley has been captured and is to be hanged the next day. The following day, young David of Doncaster finds out from a pilgrim leaving Nottingham that Will Stutley will be hanged at sunset at a crossroads outside Nottingham's city walls.

All of the Merry Men go to the place of execution. They are able to force their way past the many soldiers there. Little John boards the cart that is carrying Will Stutley, steals the Sheriff's sword and gives it to Will. Although the Merry Men could easily kill half of the Sheriff's soldiers, they choose just to leave them wounded. The Sheriff flees in terror, along with all of his men who are still standing.

The Sheriff of Nottingham decides that he would be better of losing his position than his life. He makes no further attempts to capture Robin Hood.

Chapter V

Robin Hood wants to take revenge on the Sheriff of Nottingham for his previous attempts to capture him and for having almost executed Will Stutley. Robin likes the idea of getting the Sheriff to dine with him and his Merry Men in Sherwood Forest before making him pay for the meal he has just been given, a trick they have played on several wealthy men before.

After almost a year has passed, Robin goes out one day in search of adventure. he meets a raveling butcher on the road. Robin introduces himself to the butcher in a friendly manner and assures the man he has nothing to fear from him. He finds out the butcher is from Locksley, Robin's hometown, and this is one reason why Robin takes a liking to him. The butcher agrees to sell his horse, cart and all the meat inside it to Robin for four marks. Robin pays him six.

Robin Hood makes his way to the market in Nottingham. He sets up his stall and sings a song about the unusual prices he is charging for his meat. Staying true to what he said in his song, Robin gives most of his female customers as much meat for one penny as they would get for three pence elsewhere. He gives meat away free to poor widows and is happy to accept a kiss instead of money as payment from young women. Robin's strange behavior attracts the attention of other butchers. They decide that he cannot be a thief otherwise he would not give his meat away for free. They conclude that he must be a young man who has recently come into an inheritance and is keen to spend it all. When all of his meat has sold out, Robin is invited to join the other butchers at the guildhall for a feast given by the Sheriff of Nottingham.

At the feast, the young man, whom the other butchers say has just come into a large inheritance, attracts the Sheriff's attention. The Sheriff thinks he will be able to take some of the young man's money for himself. He asks Robin how much land and how many animals he owns. Robin replies that he and his brothers have some five hundred "horned beasts" and he does not know how many acres he rules over. The Sheriff offers to pay £300 to take all of Robin's "horned beats". Robin accepts the offer.

That afternoon, the Sheriff rides out from Nottingham alongside Robin, believing he is going to be taken to see the "horned beasts" he has agreed to buy. The Sheriff becomes uneasy when they enter Sherwood Forest and his unease increases as they go deeper into it. Some deer appear. Robin says they are some of the five hundred "horned beats". He then blows on his horn to call his brothers, that is to say his Merry Men. Robin introduces the Sheriff to them and they appear to show the Sheriff genuine respect.

Robin says that, since the Sheriff gave him a feast earlier that day, he will now provide a feast for the Sheriff in return. The Sheriff is at first afraid that he will be killed, or at least robbed of the £300 he has with him. As time passes, however, he relaxes a little and enjoys the displays of fighting that the Merry Men put on for him. He dares to hope that Robin has forgotten about the money he is carrying with him. As evening approaches, the Sheriff announces that he is about to leave. Robin then says that the entertainment they have provided for the Sheriff is not free and he will have to pay £300 for it. Robin points out that there are some members of his band, such as Will Stutley, who do not like the Sheriff as much as he does and that things are likely to go badly for the Sheriff if he does not pay his bill. The Sheriff reluctantly hands over the money. He is allowed to leave unharmed, having learned not to try to take advantage of young men with more money than sense.

Chapter VI

1912 depiction of the Sheriff of Nottingham by the British artist Louis Rhead.

Months pass and October comes. The time approaches for a fair that is held in Nottingham in October every five years at which there is an archery contest. The Sheriff if Nottingham does not want Robin Hood to come to the fair. He thinks about cancelling it but knows that people would say he was afraid of Robin Hood if he did. He decides to hold the fair and the archery contest but to offer a prize for it that he does not think Robin Hood would want. The prize is two fat steers. The Sheriff is right, Robin Hood does not want the prize. Little John, however, does. Robin urges Little John to go to Nottingham n disguise if he insists on entering the contest. Little John says that for his only disguise, he will dress in scarlet instead of his usual Lincoln green and wear a hood over his head.

Calling himself Reynold Greenleaf and dressed all in scarlet, Little John goes to the fair. Having first defeated the famous Eric o' Lincoln in a cudgel fight, Little John goes on to win the archery contest. The Sheriff looks Little John in the face and asks if he has seen him before. Little John says it is possible because he has seen the Sheriff many times before. The Sheriff says that, in addition to the two fat steers, he will also give Little John a barrel of beer and asks him if he will enter his service. Little John agrees to work for the Sheriff. He gives away his two steers and barrel of beer to the people of Nottingham.

Chapter VII

Although Little John has originally agreed to enter the Sheriff's service as a joke, he finds he enjoys being the Sheriff's right-hand man. The Sheriff's castle is also a comfortable place to be during the winter. Little John stays in the Sheriff's service for six months.

Little John wakes up late one spring morning while the Sheriff is out hunting. He goes downstairs for some breakfast but finds that the Steward, who is jealous of Little John's popularity with the Sheriff, will not unlock the pantry door for him. Undeterred, Little John knocks the Steward down to the floor, punches a hole in the pantry door, opens it and begins to enjoy the food and wine inside. Having heard the commotion, the Cook comes to investigate. The cowardly Steward persuades the brave Cook to fight Little John for him, offering him money and wine. The Cook enters the pantry. He and Little John begin to fight. Little John then points out that there is enough food and wine in the pantry for two. The Cook and Little John both sit down to an enormous meal. They drink wine and sing songs together. When they have finished their meal, they take up their fight again.

The two men are both equally good swordsmen. They both tire each other out but neither gains the advantage. Little John then calls a halt to the fight. Both men admit that they no longer know why they are fighting. Little John says that he would like the Cook to be his friend and companion. He reveals his true identity to the Cook and offers him the chance enjoy a life of freedom as one of Robin Hood's Merry Men. The Cook is delighted to meet the famous Little John and accepts the offer at once. Little John says that they should also take some of the Sheriff's silverware before they leave.

Robin Hood is pleased to see Little John return and bring a new member of the band with him. he is not happy, however, that Little John has stolen the Sheriff of Nottingham's silverware, thinking that the Sheriff does not deserve such ill treatment. Little John says he will bring the Sheriff to see Robin Hood and he will say he gave Little John the silverware as a gift.

Little John finds the Sheriff hunting in the forest and tells him he saw a group of men dressed in green who want the Sheriff to come to him alone. The Sheriff follows his servant to where Robin Hood is, He then finally remembers where he saw Little John before. Robin Hood offers the Sheriff food prepared by his Cook, which the Sheriff declines. Robin then offers the Sheriff rink. The Sheriff is unhappy to see it served to him in one of his own silver cups on one of his own silver plates. Robin says that he knows of nothing that the Sheriff has done recently that makes him deserve having his silver stolen. he therefore gives the sack of silverware back to the Sheriff. Before he leaves, Robin Hood advises the Sheriff to be more careful who he hires as his servants in the future.

Chapter VIII

Not long after Little John's return, Robin Hood sends him to the tailor in the town of Ancaster to get more Lincoln green cloth from which the outlaws' clothes are made. Little John has to go at night because his time in the Sheriff's service means too many people would recognize his face if he went in daylight. Little John comes to a road that leads to Ancaster in one direction and to the Blue Boar Inn in the other. he decides to go to the Blue Boar and stays there all night.

The following morning, Little John sets out for Ancaster again. At the same time, a man called Arthur a Bland is also passing by the outskirts of Sherwood Forest. Arthur a Bland is a tinker by trade. He is also a skilled wrestler, stick fighter, archer and poacher. Since he loves watching deer, even when he is not able to poach them, Arthur a Bland goes into the forest with the hope of seeing some of the animals. Little John sees the man and suspects him of being a poacher. Not liking the idea of someone taking the deer he thinks belong to him and his companions, Little John challenges the man. A cudgel fight ensues.

Robin Hood, having heard of Little John's dereliction of duty, sets off towards the Blue Boar Inn to chastise him. Robin witnesses the fight between Little John and Arthur a Bland. Although he thinks it is unlikely to happen, Robin hopes that Little John will be beaten as punishment for not doing his duty. Surprisingly, Little John is defeated. Robin then introduces himself and Little John to Arthur a Bland and invites him to join the Merry Men. Arthur a Bland happily accepts the invitation.

Chapter IX

Robin Hood, Little John and Arthur a Bland set off together for Ancaster. They see a young man on the road who has long blond hair, is dressed in fine scarlet clothes and is sniffing a rose. Robin Hood is certain the young man is a rich baron's son and he should rob him. Little John and Arthur think the young man looks strong but Robin is certain he is a weakling and a coward.

Will Scarlett — 1912 depiction of Will Scarlet by the British artist Louis Rhead.

Standing in front of the young man, Robin Hood claims to be a tax collector and demands money. The young man says that he does not have any and insists on being allowed to pass. When Robin does not permit that, the young man draws his sword. Robin says he is willing to fight the young man but he does not have a sword, only a quarterstaff. He insists on the young man getting a quarterstaff also. The young man uproots an oak sapling, strips it of its branches and uses it as his weapon. Robin Hood is no match for the young an and concedes defeat.

Robin asks the young man what his name is. he answers that he is Will Gamwell from Maxwell and he is Robin Hood's nephew. He accidentally killed one of his father's servants when he punched the man. His family advised him to escape justice and go to live with his uncle. Robin Hood is happy to welcome his nephew to his band. Since Will Gamwell is wanted by the law, Robin advises him to change his name and says that he will now be known as Will Scarlet because of his scarlet clothes.

Little John promises to say nothing about Robin's defeat at the hands of Will Scarlet if Robin says nothing about his defeat at the hands of Arthur a Bland or his choosing to go to the Blue Boar instead of Ancaster. Robin agrees. he says that they will go to Ancaster another day and will now return to Sherwood Forest.

Chapter X

The four men become hungry. Arthur a Bland says he knows of a house nearby where they can het bread, cheese and beer for sixpence. Arthur is sent to the house with the money and returns with the food and drink. The four men eat, drink and sing songs.

They see a young man coming down the road with a sack of flour and a quarterstaff. Robin Hood recognizes him as a miller whom he thinks is a fine young man. Robin says they should play a trick on the miller. They will pretend that they want to rob him, take him into the forest, give him a feast and he will leave with more money than he had when he came. They surround the miller and demand money. The miller says that he has none. Robin says that he thinks the miller is hiding some in his sack of flour and will empty the sack to get it. Saying that he does not want his flour to be spoiled, the miller says that he will get the coins out of his sack himself. he pretends to search in the sack for money. He really fills his hands with flour and then throws it into the faces of his attackers, temporarily blinding and choking them. The miller then starts to hit the robbers with his quarterstaff.

Calling on the miller to stop, Robin reveals his identity to the man. The miller does not believe him, saying that Robin Hood would never attack an honest tradesman. Robin gives three blasts on his horn and some more of his Merry Men come to his assistance. The miller is captured but Robin cannot stay angry with his worthy opponent for long. He asks the young man his name. he replies that he is known as Midge the Miller's Son. Robin invites him to join the Merry Men. Midge accepts the invitation.

A feast is held that night to welcome Arthur a Bland, Will Scarlet and Midge the Miller's Son to the Merry Men. Little John breaks his word and tells both of how Will Scarlet defeated Robin Hood and how he was defeated by Arthur a Bland.

Chapter XI

Being short of money, Robin Hood decides that it is time once again to invite a rich man to dine in the forest and make him pay handsomely for the meal afterwards. He tells Will Stutley to hide by the side of the road and look out for a suitable wealthy man. Will Stutley chooses some men to accompany him, including Arthur a Bland, Will Scarlet and Midge the Miller's Son. They wait by the side of the road all day but do not see a single wealthy traveler.

Just as they have given up and are heading home, they hear the sound of someone in distress. They find a young man, whom they recognize as a talented traveling minstrel, lying on the ground crying. Will Scarlet takes pity on the young man and decides to take him to see Robin, believing that his uncle could do something to help.

Allan-a-Dale — 1912 depiction of Allen a Dale by the British artist Louis Rhead.

At first Robin Hood takes the minstrel for a wealthy guest who will pay for the feast. The minstrel says that the only money he has is half a sixpence he has on a necklace. He tells his sad story to Robin Hood, Little John and Will Scarlet. he is known as Allen a Dale. He recently moved from York to the Dale of Rotherstream and played his music at many locations in the neighborhood. One place where he performed was the house of a wealthy franklin.^[8] He and the franklin's daughter Ellen fell in love with each other. They split a sixpence and each wore half of it around their necks as a symbol of their love. The franklin found out about their relationship. Not approving of it, he sent his daughter away. She is now to be married to the elderly Sir Stephen of Trent and will surely die of sorrow as a result.

Robin says that he can arrange to have Allen married to Ellen with her father's approval. The only problem is finding a priest. Since Robin often robs the wealthy clergy, priests are not very fond of him. Will Scarlet says that he knows a friar, called the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey, who could be persuaded to perform the ceremony.

Since Robin Hood and the Merry Men have already heard of Allen a Dale's skill as a minstrel, they call on him to give them a song. The song which Allen sings is so beautiful that Robin asks him if he will remain in Sherwood Forest forever. Allen agrees to stay and thus becomes one of the Merry Men.

Chapter XII

The following day, Robin Hood sets out to see the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey. He wears a coat of chainmail under his shirt and a helmet under his hat. He carries a sword. he takes Little John, Arthur a Bland and David of Doncaster with him. Will Scarlet, the only one of the Merry Men who knows the friar, leads the way. The Merry men come to a river. Will Scarlet says that the friar lives on the other side of it and it can be crossed at a nearby ford. Robin is not happy because he did not know that he would need to wade through a river. He chooses to leave the other men behind and continue the journey on his own.

On his way to the ford, Robin hears what sounds like two people having a conversation, although the two voices sound remarkably similar. Hiding himself, Robin observes one man having a conversation with himself. The man appears to be very strong and there is a helmet on the ground next to him. He also appears to be very happy and seems to be the kind of person who makes other people happy too. He has curly black hair and a beard. His shaved crown and his clothes show that he is a friar, although nothing else about him indicates that. Robin watches as the friar continues talking to himself, eats a large meat pie, drinks some wine and sings a song. From his hiding place, Robin joins in with the song, although the friar does not appear to notice.

Robin then comes out of hiding and asks for some of the wine, which the friar gives him. Robin asks the friar if he knows the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey. The friar answers, "Yea, somewhat." Robin asks the friar on which side of the river the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey can currently be found. The friar does not give him a straight answer. Robin says that he would like to cross the river but does not want to get his clothes wet. He asks if the broad shouldered friar would carry him across the ford. The friar is angry at the suggestion at first but suddenly changes his mind and agrees. He asks if he can carry Robin's sword as well. Robin only agrees to hand over his weapon after the friar says that carrying it would make him less comfortable and he would be doing it as a penance.

After the friar has carried Robin across the river, the outlaw asks to have his sword back. The friar refuses, saying he will only give it back if Robin carries him back across the ford to the opposite side. Robin carries the heavy friar across the river. He sees that the friar also has a sword at his side. He is able to remove it without the friar noticing. On the other side of the river, Robin tells the friar that he will only return his sword if he carries him back across the ford again. The friar agrees. In the middle of the ford, he throws Robin off into the water. The angry Robin challenges the friar to a fight. The friar accepts the challenge. They cross the river. Robin notices that the friar is also wearing a coat of chain mail under his robes. Knowing that he could not defeat the man on his own, Robin gives three blasts on his horn. The Merry Men approach. Seeing them coming, the friar blows a whistle. Some fierce looking dogs immediately respond to the friar's call. The friar orders them to attack the men. Will Scarlet, however, knows the dogs and is able to call them off.

Will Scarlet greets the friar as an old friend and introduces Robin Hood to him. Robin complains that they are wasting time and should be looking for the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey. The friar responds that he is the Curtal Friar of Fountain Abbey and, among other names, he is also known as Friar Tuck. Robin says that he likes that name better and asks why the friar did not tell him who he was earlier. Tuck replies that Robin did not ask him. The Merry men take Friar Tuck back with them to Sherwood Forest.

Chapter XIII

The following day is the day that Allen a Dale's beloved Ellen is to be married to the elderly Sir Stephen of Trent. Leaving Will Scarlet in charge in Sherwood Forest, Robin Hood selects twenty of his Merry Men to go with him to the dale of Rotherstream. Robin disguises himself as a traveling minstrel and tells Little John to carry two sacks. Little John realizes the sacks contain gold coins. Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Allen a Dale, Little John and the other selected Merry Men make their way to the church where the wedding is to be held. They hide in a nearby field behind a wall. Robin tells David of Doncaster to watch the church. Nothing happens for a long time.

Eventually, David sees an old friar approach the church. Friar Tuck is sent to talk to him. The weak old friar struggles to unlock the church door. Tuck is able to do it instantly. He tells the old friar that he wants to watch the wedding. The old friar says he is welcome to stay.

Those who are to attend the wedding start to arrive. They are headed by Sir Stephen's cousin the Bishop of Hereford, who is to perform the ceremony. Another senior churchman, the Prior of Emmet, accompanies him. Robin does not approve of the fine clothes that the Bishop is wearing or of the gold chain around his neck. Robin stands in the doorway of the church. The Bishop of Hereford asks him who he is. Robin replies that he is a minstrel who can play in such a way as to make the bride love her husband. Knowing that the young bride does not love his old cousin, the Bishop says he will give Robin Hood anything he desires if he can do that.

The bride and groom arrive. To the shock of everyone, Robin declares that it is wrong to see a sad young bride have to marry an old man when she loves someone else. he gives three blasts on his horn and his Merry men appear with Allen a Dale at the head of them. Robin says that Allen is the man Ellen truly loves. Thoroughly ashamed that Ellen would rather marry a common minstrel than him, Sir Stephen announces that he no longer wants her to be his wife and leaves. The Bishop of Hereford wants to leave too but Robin forces him to stay. Little John is called on to bring forth the two sacks. Robin tells Ellen's father that they contain two hundred gold coins that he can have if he gives his blessing to the marriage of Ellen and Allen a Dale. Ellen's father reluctantly agrees but makes it clear he will have nothing more to do with his daughter afterwards. The Prior of Emmet points out that there is no priest present who would be willing to perform the wedding ceremony. Friar Tuck them comes out of hiding and marries Ellen to Allen a Dale.

Robin reminds the Bishop of Hereford that he promised to give him anything he desired if he could make the bride love her husband. Ellen does love her husband and it is entirely Robin's doing. Against his will, the Bishop gives Robin his gold chain. Robin them gives it to Ellen.

On the way back to Sherwood Forest, Friar Tuck asks Robin if he thinks his men need a chaplain. Robin laughs and tells Tuck he is welcome to stay with them forever.

Chapter XIV

Months pass and autumn comes. Robin Hood again wants to find some rich man to dine with him in the forest who will be made to pay for the feast afterwards. He and twenty Merry Men go east to find such a person while Little John and twenty other Merry Men go west.

Eventually, Robin sees a sad looking knight traveling along the road. He stops the knight and introduces himself. The knight says he has heard many good things about Robin Hood. Robin then invites the knight to dine with him, making it clear that the knight would have to pay for the feast afterwards. The knight, who says his name is Sir Richard of Lea, shows Robin that he has only ten shillings with him and tells the outlaw that is all the money he has in the world. Robin makes up his mind to help the knight and invites him back to Sherwood Forest anyway.

On the way back to Sherwood, Sir Richard of Lea tells Robin that his son, who is now away fighting in the crusades, accidentally killed a man in a jousting accident. Sir Richard was forced to pay compensation to the dead man's family. He was obliged to borrow money from the Priory of Emmet. He will now lose his castle and all of his land to the Priory of Emmet if he does not give the Prior four hundred pounds in three days.

Robin is delighted to see that the guest Little John has brought to Sherwood Forest is none other than the Bishop of Hereford. Entertainment, food, wine and beer are provided for both the Bishop and Sir Richard. The Bishop forgets that he was brought to the forest against his will and begins to enjoy himself.

Calling for silence, Robin tells Sir Richard's story. He points out, much to the Bishop's discomfort, that Sir Richard is suffering at the hands of churchmen.

Will Scarlet is called on to read the inventory of items that the Bishop of Hereford and his retinue of friars were carrying with them. The inventory states that some items are going to people that Robin knows to be honest and hard working. He does not take those items. Some items Robin Hood takes. Others he divides into three, one third to go to the person named on the inventory, one third to go to charity and one third for Robin and his Merry Men. The last item on the list is a box belonging to the Bishop of Hereford himself. It contains £1,500 in gold coins. Robin allows the Bishop to keep a third of that. He gives five hundred pounds to Sir Richard. Sir Richard promises to pay the money back to Robin Hood in a year's time. He is sent on his way with many other gifts and a group of Merry Men, led by Little John and dressed in armor, to protect him and to give the impression that he is a person of importance once again.

When the Bishop of Hereford says he has to leave, Robin stops him. Robin points out that Sir Richard of Lea has three days in which to pay his debt to the Priory of Emmet and that the Bishop may try to stop his stolen money going to the Priory. For that reason, the Bishop will have to stay in Sherwood Forest for the next three days. Robin adds that the Bishop will enjoy himself so much that he will not want to leave.

Robin is right. The Bishop foes not want to leave Sherwood Forest at the end of the three days. As he leaves, however, he privately vows to take revenge on Robin Hood.

Chapter XV

On the afternoon after he leaves Sherwood Forest, Sir Richard of the Lea arrives at the Priory of Emmet. Accompanied by the armored Merry Men, he goes into the great hall, where the Prior is having a meal with guests including the Sheriff of Nottingham. Sir Richard kneels before the Prior, who asks him if he has come to pay his debt of £400. Sir Richard says that he has no money and asks the Prior to show him some mercy and allow him to keep his lands. The Sheriff of Nottingham suggests that the Prior should show some mercy by relieving Sir Richard of some of his debt. The Prior says that he will consider the debt settled and allow Sir Richard to keep his lands if he gives him £300 immediately. The Prior will not allow the knight another year or even another day in which to find that money. Having thus tricked the Prior into reducing his debt by £100, Sir Richard hands over £300 and leaves. Before leaving the great hall, Little John addresses the Sheriff and says he will tell Robin Hood of all that has happened.

A year and a day pass. Sir Richard of the Lea has prospered. He and his retinue set off for Sherwood Forest so that he can return the £500 that Robin Hood gave him. They stop at the town of Derby to attend the fair. Sir Richard is made one of the judges of the wrestling match. The popular local wrestler William of the Scar is defeated by a stranger from Nottingham. The fairgoers are angry that their local hero has been defeated by an outsider. Some time after the wrestling match, they attack the stranger and almost kill him. They all run off, however, when they see the armored Sir Richard coming on his horse. The stranger thanks Sir Richard for saving his life and says that he is David of Doncaster, the Merry Man and former famous wrestler. Sir Richard did not recognize him because David has grown a beard in the past year and looks considerably older than he did the last time they saw each other. David's wounds are treated, he is cleaned up and given new clothes. Before leaving, Sir Richard tells the people of Derby that they almost killed one of the Merry Men and Robin Hood would surely have taken revenge on them if they had.

On arrival in Sherwood Forest, Sir Richard returns the £500 to Robin Hood. Robin says that he does not ant it and Sir Richard should keep it as a gift. Sir Richard, however, insists and Robin reluctantly takes it. Sir Richard also gives the Merry Men gifts of the finest new bows, arrows and quivers.

Chapter XVI

Another winter passes and spring comes again. Robin Hood talks about how much he loves spring in Sherwood Forest, Little John says that winter has its pleasures too and reminds his friend of the winter night they spent at the Blue Boar Inn when a strolling friar and two beggars were there. Fondly remembering the songs that the friar sang and the stories he told of his life, Little John says that, if he were not one of the Merry Men, he would rather be a strolling friar than anything else. Robin Hood says that he thinks the two beggars lead merrier lives than the friar.

To find out who leads the merrier life, Robin Hood and Little John agree to become a beggar and a strolling friar for the day. Robin Hood will change clothes with the first beggar he meets. The Merry Men already have a friar's robe in their possession. Little John puts it on, even though it is much too small for him. He carries a staff with a bottle on the end of it like pilgrims do. Unlike a pilgrim's, Little John's bottle contains wine rather than water. The two friends walk together until they come to a fork in the road. Robin Hood then follows the road to Blyth while Little John follows the road to Gainsborough.

Little John meets three young women who are carrying eggs to market in the town of Tuxford. Little John flirts with them, they flirt with him in return, and he helps them carry their eggs. When they arrive at the outskirts of the town, Little John leaves the three women after first letting them each have a drink from his bottle.

Soon afterwards, Little John is thirsty but finds he has no wine left. He goes to an inn and joins a peddler, a beggar and a tinker who are sitting at a table outside it. He notices two fine horses and is told they belong to two friars from Fountain Abbey in Yorkshire who are traveling to Lincoln on business.

The two friars come out of the inn. They are obviously displeased to see Little John, in a friar's robes, drinking beer and singing secular songs. They berate him. Little John responds, making it clear he has no respect for friars from the wealthy Fountain Abbey who get their money by exploiting the poor. The two friars ignore Little John's remarks and start on heir way. Little John insists on following them, even though the two friars make it quite clear they do not want his company. They try to outride him, although Little John on foot has no difficulty keeping p with their fast horses.

Eventually, the friars flatly tell Little John to stop following them. He says that he will but only if they give him a penny to buy bread and cheese at the next inn. Both friars say hey have no money at all. Little John says it is not right that holy men should leave his company without any money at all. He insists on them joining him in kneeling down on the road and praying to Saint Dunstan for money. The haughty friars refuse at first but Little John then implies he will beat them with his staff if they do not do as he asks. After they have prayed, Little John tells the friars to look in the pouches at their sides. They both say they are still empty. Little John says that is because the two friars prayers have little value. He prays again. This time Little John says that the two friars only deserve to be sent one pound between them because they are too proud. He adds that he is the rightful owner of any extra money Saint Dunstan chooses to put in their pouches. Again, the two friars say their pouches are still empty. This time, Little John insists on looking for himself. He finds a small bag inside each pouch. Each bag contains one hundred pounds. Little John lets the two friars keep the one pound between he said they could have in his prayer to Saint Dunstan. He takes the rest and starts his journey back to Sherwood Forest.

Chapter XVII

After leaving Little John at the fork in the road, Robin Hood walks for a long time without seeing a beggar with whom he can change clothes. He begins to grow hungry and talks aloud about what he would like to eat and drink. Shortly thereafter, he sees a beggar sitting on a stile. He has many bags hanging about his person and, like Robin, he has a wooden quarterstaff. Robin Hood asks the beggar if he has any food that he could share with him. The beggar has quite a large provision of food but has nothing to drink apart from water because he is not allowed into the inn. Robin Hood hoes to the inn to fetch ale while the beggar cooks some of the food he has.

After the two men have eaten and drunk, Robin Hood says he would like to become a beggar. The beggar says that is not possible. There are many different kinds of beggars and it is necessary to serve a long apprenticeship before becoming any of them. The beggar says that Robin Hood is now too old to start the necessary training. Robin says that he would like to try being a beggar for the day and would like to change clothes with the beggar for that reason. The beggar refuses to hand over his clothes. He says that it would not matter how Robin dressed, he would still be recognized as someone pretending to be a beggar who had no right to be one and would get beaten up as a result. Nevertheless, Robin still wants to change clothes with the beggar. Robin says that, in addition to letting the beggar keep his clothes, he would also pay him two golden angels for his outfit. He says that he could fight the beggar and take his clothes but does not want to do that. The beggar says that Robin will have to fight him if he wants to take his clothes. he adds that he is known as Riccon Hazel from Holyhead and he is famous for his skill as a fighter. After a long fight, Riccon Hazel eventually admits defeat. He says that Robin can take his clothes but only his clothes and nothing else. Robin agrees to this condition, thinking the beggar has a few small coins hidden in his clothes. Riccon Hazel cuts open the lining of his coat and takes out ten pounds in gold coins. he laughingly says that he did not need the two gold coins Robin offered him.

Having changed clothes with Riccon Hazel, Robin Hood walks on alone for some time. He eventually comes to a field where four beggars are resting. They each have signs around their necks. The first has a sign that says he is blind, the second has one that says he is deaf, the third has one that says he is mute and the fourth has one that says he is lame. The four men are fakers, however, and are able to see, hear, speak and walk perfectly well. They They take Robin Hood for a fellow beggar and invite him to join them and share their wine.

The beggars ask Robin where he comes from. They are surprised to hear that he spent the previous night in Sherwood Forest, saying they would not sleep there out of fear that Robin Hood would take the money they are carrying. They start to tell Robin Hood they are carrying money given to them by the beggar king Peter of York to Lincoln. The "blind" beggar, however, does not completely trust the outsider. Using jargon that Robin Hood does not understand, he asks him what kind of beggar he is. Robin tries to fake an answer but it is obvious that he did not really understand the question. He is asked another question in the beggars' secret slang. When he cannot answer it, the beggars conclude that he must be a spy and that he will have to be killed because he has heard too much. The beggars attack Robin but he fights back. He easily defeats two of them and the other two run away. Robin finds that the defeated beggars at his feet are each carrying one hundred pounds in gold coins. He takes that money.

Determined to have one more adventure before he returns to Sherwood Forest, Robin sees a man riding along the road whom he recognizes as a wealthy corn dealer that exploits the poor. First Robin begs for money from the corn dealer, which he refuses to give, claiming that he has none. Robin then says that he is not really a beggar as the lack of dirt on his hands and face shows. He is wealthy traveler who is disguised as a beggar so that Robin Hood will not steal his money. He shows the corn dealer that he has two hundred pounds. The corn dealer says that the disguise will not work because Robin Hood robs beggars as well as the rich. Robin convinces the corn dealer that they should travel together for their own safety.

When they reach the outskirts of Sherwood Forest, the corn dealer says they are at the place where they have to be the most careful of Robin Hood. Robin says that he wishes he had as little money on him to lose as the corn dealer. The corn dealer replies that he is also carrying two hundred pounds hidden in the soles of his clogs. Robin laughs and talks loudly about how clever the corn dealer is in such a way, much to the annoyance of the corn dealer who is worried about attracting the attention of thieves. Robin says that he has decided to go no further. The corn dealer can continue his journey if he likes but will have to it without his clogs. Revealing his true identity, Robin says that he would invite the man to dine with him but, since corn dealers are so hated, he could not guarantee his safety. Robin takes the man's wooden shoes and they money they contain and heads off into the forest.

At night, Robin Hood and Little John both tell of their adventures that day. Some of the Merry Men think that Little John had more fun while others think that Robin did. Readers are left to make up their own minds as to who had the merrier time.

Chapter XVIII

Richard Partington, the page of King Henry II's wife Queen Eleanor,^[9] travels from London to Sherwood Forest to seek out Robin Hood. He tells Robin that the Queen has heard of his adventures and would like to see his skill as an archer herself. An archery contest is to be held in Finsbury Park in London in four days time. Queen Eleanor would like to see Robin compete in it and win it. Richard Partington also tells Robin that he can bring any of the Merry Men that he chooses with him to London. The page gives Robin a ring from the Queen which he places on his little finger.

Robin chooses to take Little John, Will Scarlet and Allen a Dale with him. He leaves Will Stutley in charge in Sherwood Forest in his absence. Before leaving for London, Little John and Will Scarlet dress in their usual Lincoln green. Allen a Dale dresses entirely in scarlet and Robin Hood dresses all in blue. The travelers arrive in London on the day that the archery contest is to be held.

Accompanied by her ladies-in-waiting, Queen Eleanor receives Robin Hood and the Merry Men. Robin Hood entertains her with tales of his adventures. Allen a Dale entertains her with a song.

The archery contest in Finsbury Park begins. The first prize is £50 in gold coins, a silver and gold bugle and a quiver containing ten arrows with golden tips. The second prize is one hundred fatted bucks. The third prize is two barrels of wine. All of the competitors are soldiers in the King's army with different regiments competing against each other. The captains Tepus, Gilbert of the White Hand and Clifton of Buckinghamshire are expected to win.

Queen Eleanor asks her husband if he really thinks the competitors are the best archers in England. The King answers that he thinks they are the best in the world. Queen Eleanor says that she has brought three archers who are just as good as Tepus, Gilbert and Clifton. She adds that she would like to see them compete against the competition winners or any other archers of the King's choosing but only on the condition that they be granted a free pardon. The King promises to give them a free pardon for forty days and says that they van take the prizes if they defeat the competition winners. He also wagers three barrels of wine, ten barrels of beer and two hundred fine bows, arrows and quivers that the Queen cannot produce three archers who are as good as Tepus, Gilbert and Clifford. The Queen asks if anyone can provide her with those items in case she looses the bet. The Bishop of Hereford refuses but a knight named Sir Robert Lee is willing. Queen Eleanor then changes her mind, however, and says she will bet her girdle covered with jewels against the items offered by the King. The King takes the bet.

Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet and Allen a Dale are brought before the King and Queen. The Bishop of Hereford identifies the four outlaws. Queen Eleanor reminds the King that he agreed to give them a free pardon for forty days.

The winners of the contest are Gilbert of the White Hand, Tepus and Hubert of Suffolk. Robin Hood, Little John and Will Scarlet are to compete against them. Hubert of Suffolk shoots better than Will Scarlet. Little John easily defeats Tepus. The competition is extremely close between the excellent archer Gilbert of the White Hand and Robin Hood. Although Gilbert accepts that he has been beaten by Robin, the King does not. He admits that he has lost the wager but says that Robin Hood has not yet won the first prize. The King insists on Robin Hood and Gilbert of the White Hand continuing to compete until there is a clear winner. Gilbert is first to shoot again and just misses the center of the target. Robin Hood hits it easily and is declared the winner.

Robin Hood decides to keep the silver and gold bugle. He gives the £50 to his worthy opponent Gilbert of the White Hand and gives away his gold tipped arrows to other competitors. Little John likewise gives the deer he has won to Tepus.

A soldier approaches Robin Hood and tells him that he has a message from Richard Partington. The message is, "The lion growls. Beware thy head." Robin knows this means the King is angry and he has to leave London at once.

Chapter XIX

At the Bishop of Hereford's urging, the King breaks his promise to give Robin Hood and his men a free pardon for forty days. He orders Sir Robert Lee to send his soldiers to capture the outlaws. Although Sir Robert Lee follows the King's command, he first tells Queen Eleanor of the danger Robin is in. She in turn gives the message to her page Richard Partington and the outlaws leave just before the soldiers arrive to capture them.

By twilight, Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet and Allen a Dale, traveling on foot, are some twelve miles away from London in the town of Barnet. They go to an inn to spend the night. After the four men have enjoyed a huge meal, the landlord approaches Robin Hood and tells him that a certain Richard Partington at the door wants to speak to him.

The page tells Robin Hood that a hundred soldiers under the command of the Bishop of Hereford are heading towards Barnet with the aim of capturing Robin or preventing him from getting back to Sherwood. Robin says that he will leave the inn at once and et the landlord think that he and his men are going to Saint Albans. In truth, Robin will send his men one way through the country while he goes another.

Robin does as he said. He tells his men to go east, to be careful and to make their way back to Sherwood Forest by avoiding the main roads. Robin goes west. Little John, Will Scarlet and Allen a Dale get back to Sherwood Forest in eight days without ever seeing any of the Bishop's soldiers. Robin Hood is not so lucky.

After the Bishop of Hereford finds Robin Hood is not in Saint Albans, he orders his hundred soldiers and the many more who join him afterwards to go on to Nottingham. When the soldiers reach Nottingham four days later, they are divided into small groups of six or seven men. They are then sent to every road, large and small, north, south, east and west of Sherwood Forest. Little John, Will Scarlet and Allen a Dale only avoided certain capture by the Bishop's men by a day.

After traveling west for seven days, Robin Hood has reached Derbyshire. He thinks he is now out of danger and begins to head back towards Sherwood Forest. While pausing to drink from a stream by a wood, Robin is surprised when an arrow whizzes past his ear. Robin gets away from the seven soldiers who are after him by hiding in the wood, only to find another seven soldiers ahead of him. He runs back the way he came, getting quickly away from the seven soldiers who chased him in the first lace. He does not stop running until he reaches the town of Mackworth.

Robin is hungry and prays to Saint Dunstan to send him food. He then sees a man heading towards him. The man is Quince of Derby, an honest, although not very intelligent, cobbler. Quince has just sold some shoes to a farmer who has given him some boiled chicken and beer. Robin buys the chicken and beer from Quince for ten shillings and the fine blue clothes he is wearing. Robin Hood puts on the cobbler's old clothes while the cobbler puts on his. Although he has purchased the food and drink from Quince, Robin shares it with him anyway. After they have finished their meal, Quince starts to sing a song.

Quince's song is interrupted by the arrival of six soldiers. Seeing Quince all dressed in blue, they take him for Robin Hood. He protests that he is only Quince the cobbler of Derby. Robin Hood, who is now dressed as Quince, says that his companion must be mistaken because he is the real Quince the cobbler of Derby. The simple Quince thinks that what the soldiers are saying must be true and he must indeed be the famous outlaw Robin Hood. He allows the soldiers to take him away. Robin knows that Quince will be released unharmed when the Bishop of Hereford sees that the man brought before him is not Robin Hood.

At sunset, Robin Hood stops at an inn where there are only three rooms. He is put in the worst room and, being extremely tired, goes straight to bed. During the course of the evening, the other two rooms get filled up. A friar from the Priory of Emmet comes to the inn and asks for a room. he is told that he will have to share a bed with a cobbler. He accepts. Robin continues sleeping undisturbed when the friar gets into bed next to him. Robin awakes at the first light of dawn. He is surprised to find a holy man in bed next to him. he quietly gets out of bed and puts on the friar's robe. When he leaves the inn, Robin is asked if he wants his mule. He happily takes the friar's mule. When the friar finds that his robe is gone. He has no choice but to put on the cobbler's clothes. He is promptly arrested for being Robin Hood.

Robin is not far from Sherwood Forest when he sees Sir Richard of the Lea on the road. He tells Sir Richard of his adventures and says he thinks he is now out of danger. Sir Richard replies that he is wrong. Not only are the King's soldiers still looking for him, the Sheriff of Nottingham has posted soldiers on all the roads ahead. They will not let anyone pass without thoroughly examining them and wil surely know by this time that Robin is now disguised as a friar. Sir Richard says that although Robin is welcome to stay at his castle, he could not possibly defend it against the combined armies of the Sheriff of Nottingham and the King. he thinks that Robin's only hope is to go back to London and appeal to Queen Eleanor.

Dressed as one of Sir Richard's servants, Robin travels back to London with the knight. He leaps over a wall into Queen Eleanor's garden. He asks her to persuade the King to call off his search for him. Queen Eleanor is gone for a long time. When she returns, it is obvious from her face that she has been arguing and shouting. She is accompanied by Sir Robert Lee. He tells Robin that he is extremely lucky because the King has decided to let him leave in peace accompanied by a page who will make sure he gets back to Sherwood Forest safely. Sir Robert warns Robin Hood that his good luck may not last and gives him two pieces of advice, "First, be mire honest. Second, be not so bold in thy comings and goings."

Chapter XX

Although Robin Hood does not follow Sir Robert Lee's advice to be more honest, he does follow his advice to be less bold in his comings and goings. He makes sure not to stray so far from Sherwood Forest that he cannot get back to it quickly and easily.

King Henry II dies and is succeeded by his son King Richard.^[10] Great changes occur in England but nothing much changes in Sherwood Forest for Robin Hood and his men.

One summer day, Robin Hood says that he and Little John should go out in search of adventure again. Little John will take the path to the left, Robin will take the one to the right and they will see what befalls them. Robin comes across a stranger sat under a tree. The man has a sword, a dagger, a bow and a quiver full of arrows. He is wearing a horse's skin with the horse's head forms a hood that hides his face. Robin asks the stranger why he is so strangely dressed. The man does not answer his question and makes it clear he wants to be left alone. Robin Hood, however, insists on trying to have a conversation and the stranger starts to warm to him. He says that he is Guy of Gisborne, an outlaw from Herefordshire. He has come to Nottinghamshire because his services have been hired by the Sheriff of Nottingham. The Sheriff has promised him a pardon and a reward of two hundred pounds if he captures Robin Hood dead or alive. Guy Of Gisborne is known to be a cold-blooded murderer and a rapist. Robin Hood can barely stand to talk to such a person. Nevertheless, he manages to hide his disgust and keeps talking.

Robin says to Guy of Gisborne, "Methinks there is no one in the world that Robin Hood would rather meet than thee." Guy of Gisborne says the day they meet will be a sad one for Robin Hood because it will be the day he dies. Guy scoffs at the idea of Robin Hood, who has only ever killed one man, being a great outlaw or a great archer. He is certain that he could beat Robin Hood in an archery contest any day. Robin says that all Nottinghamshire men are famous for their skill at archery and even he would not be afraid to compete against Guy of Gisborne. Guy accepts the challenge and an impromptu archery contest is held. Robin easily defeats Guy of Gisborne and then reveals who he really is.

The two men draw their swords and a fight ensues. Both men know that it is a fight in which one of them must die. Robin Hood defeats and kills Guy of Gisborne. It is the second time he has killed a man. he says to himself that he still bitterly regrets the first life he took but will never regret taking the second one. Since Guy of Gisborne was hired by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Robin decides to go and see the Sheriff. He first puts on Guy's horse skin, with the horse's head hood hiding his face. He straps Guy's weapons to his body and carries his own in his hands.

While Robin Hood is having his encounter with Guy of Gisborne, Little John comes to a cottage. He hears the sound of sobbing coming from inside it. he goes inside and see that the person crying is an old woman. He asks her to tell him her troubles. She said that her three sons are all to be put to death. Her eldest son poached a deer. Forest rangers followed the trail of deer's blood to the old woman's cottage. None of her sons would say which one of them killed the deer so they were all arrested. To send a message to other poachers, the Sheriff of Nottingham will have them all hanged. This will happen near to the King's Head Inn where the Sheriff is waiting to receive the man he sent after Robin Hood.

Choosing to temporarily ignore the news about the Sheriff sending someone after Robin Hood, Little John disguises himself by pitting on some clothes that belonged to the old woman's late husband and making a white wig and false beard out of wool. He makes his way to the Ling's Head Inn.

The three young men, with their hands tied, are brought before the Sheriff of Nottingham at the inn. The Sheriff decides that, although he wants to hang the men straight away, he will not do it outside the King's Head Inn in case that brings bad luck to business. The Sheriff and his men take the young men to a nearby wood. The Sheriff sees the disguised Little John approach. He calls him over and asks him his name. Little John replies that it is Giles Hobble. The Sheriff asks Little John if he would like to earn sixpence by hanging the three men. Little John asks if the condemned men have confessed their sins. The Sheriff replies that they have not and says Little John can hear their confessions if he likes. By pretending to do that, Little John is able to get very close to each of the men. He cuts their bonds and whispers to them that when he throes off his wig and false beard, that will be a signal to them to cast off their nooses and run off into the wood. Little John gives the signal and the three men run away into the wood. Little John tries to run away too but is captured. His hands are tied and he is taken back with the Sheriff to the King's head Inn.

Considering that Robin Hood might escape Guy of Gisborne and come to rescue Little John, the Sheriff decides that he had better hang the outlaw straight away. The Sheriff and his men take Little John back to the wood where the three young men are to be hanged. Robin Hood dressed in Guy of Gisborne's horse's skin approaches the, he is, of course, presumed to be Guy of Gisborne. He says that he has killed Robin Hood and show's Robin's sword, bow, arrows and horn as proof. The delighted Sheriff offers him anything he wants as an extra reward. he asks to be given Little John. He takes him to a tree, pretending he is going to murder him. Robin cuts Little John's bonds, casts off the horse's skin to reveal who he really is and gives three blasts on his horn. More than a dozen of the Merry Men come to Robin's aid. The Sheriff and his men take flight.

The three young men whose lives Little John saved join Robin Hood's band, after first telling their elderly mother about their escape.

Chapter XXI

Two months after Robin Hood escapes death at the hands of Guy of Gisborne, King Richard comes to Nottingham as part of a royal progress around England. Robin Hood and his Merry Men are among the many people who crowd the streets of Nottingham to see the King as he passes through the town in a procession accompanied by many knights in shining armor.

The Sheriff of Nottingham holds a feast in the King's honor. King Richard asks the Sheriff about Robin Hood. The Sheriff prefers not to talk about the outlaw and his band. Sir Henry of the Lea, one of the knights who accompanied King Richard to Nottingham and the son of Sir Richard of the Lea, proceeds to tell the King about how Robin Hood got his father out of debt with money he "borrowed" from the Bishop of Hereford. The King finds this story highly amusing. Other guests then tell the King more tales of Robin Hood.

Later that evening, King Richard tells some of his followers that he would very much like to meet Robin Hood and see him in action. One of them, Sir Hubert of Gingham, says that can easily be arranged. Sir Hubert says they should disguise themselves as members of the Order of Black Friars and that the King should hang a purse containing one hundred pounds under his robe. They will ride from Nottingham to Mansfield and will no doubt be stopped on the way by Robin Hood, who will invite them to feast in Sherwood Forest in exchange for the hundred pounds.

The following morning, King Richard and six of his knights follow Sir Hubert's plan. The disguised King and his followers ride into Sherwood Forest. King Richard says aloud that he has forgotten to bring anything to drink and would gladly pay fifty pounds for something to quench his thirst. Robin Hood appears and says that he will provide wine for fifty pounds. He introduces himself. Several of his Merry Men appear and surround the travelers. The King hands over his purse. Robin Hood takes fifty pounds from it and hands back the rest. Robin Hood asks the King if he will take off his cowl. The King replies that he and the other friars have vowed to keep their faces covered for twenty-four hours.

The disguised King and his followers are taken deeper into the forest. King Richard admires how many Merry Men Robin has, saying that the King would be lucky to have so many bodyguards. Robin says that he has sixty more Merry Men who are away on business under the command of Little John.

Wine is provided for Robin Hood's guests and an archery contest is organized for their entertainment. Anyone who misses the target gets punched by Will Scarlet. Unfortunately, Robin Hood is one of those who misses the target. He refuses to let Will Scarlet hit him, saying that he is king in Sherwood Forest and therefore none of his subjects can strike him. Robin does, however, acknowledge that the Pope has the right to punish the king. he therefore selects one of the friars, really the disguised King Richard, to hit him as a representative of the Pope. Robin tells the disguised King that he will give him back his fifty pounds if he can knock him to the ground and will take all of the rest of his money if he cannot. The King punches Robin Hood and he falls to the ground. As promised, Robin gives back his money.

Little John appears with Sir Richard of the Lea. Sir Richard has come to warn Robin Hood that the King is looking for him. Believing Robin's life to be in danger, Sir Richard tells him that he will shelter him at Castle Lea and he should flee there at once. Sir Richard recognizes the disguised King and prostrates himself before him. The King them throws off hos robe. Robin Hood and the Merry Men recognize the King from when they saw him in Nottingham earlier. They all bow down before their monarch also.

King Richard asks Sir Richard of the Lea what he meant by offering to protect Robin Hood from his King. Sir Richard says that he owes everything he has to Robin Hood and he could not desert the outlaw in his time of need. Sir Henry of the Lea removes his friar's robe and kneels down next to hs father. He reminds the King that he saved his life while they were fighting in the Crusades but says that, for his father's sake, he would defy his King to protect Robin Hood. The smiling King tells the two knights to rise and says that they will not be punished.

The King announces that Robin Hood and all of his Merry Men are immediately pardoned. He invites Robin Hood, Little John, Wil Scarlet and Allen a Dale to accompany hm back to London and enter into his service. All of the other Merry men are to be made official forest rangers.

Epilogue

Howard Pyle tells his readers that they do not have to read the final, and least merry, part of his novel if they do not want to.

After spending a few years at the court of King Richard, Little John and Will Scarlet return to their old homes. Robin Hood, Allen a Dale and his wife Ellen, however, remain at court. Robin Hood becomes a favorite of the King, is put in charge of the army and is elevated to the nobility, becoming known as Robert, Earl of Huntingdon.

King Richard dies in battle overseas and is succeeded by his brother King John.^[11] After many years away, Robin Hood longs to see Sherwood Forest again. He asks King John for permission to go there. King John grants that permission but tells Robin to stay there no longer than three days.

Robin Hood and Allen a Dale return to Sherwood Forest and go to the now deserted spot where the Merry Men used to gather. Robin gives three blasts on his horn. Little John, Will Stutley, Midge the Miller's Son and others come in response to his call. They are overjoyed to see their leader once more. Robin says that he will never again leave the forest and renounces his title of Earl of Huntingdon.

News that Robin Hood has returned to Sherwood Forest spreads quickly. Almost all of Robin's former followers come to his side once again. When King John finds out that Robin Hood has disobeyed his order to leave the forest after three days he is greatly angered. He vows to capture Robin Hood dead or alive. He sends an army to Nottingham under the leadership of the knight Sir William Dale. Sir William's army combines with that of the Sheriff of Nottingham and together they search for Robin Hood. At one time, Robin Hood would have peacefully evaded those armies. Now, however, Robin is a changed man. It hurts his pride that he, a former commander of King Richard's army, should be hunted in such a way. Robin and his men meet the armies of Sir William Dale and the Sheriff of Nottingham in battle. Many men die. The first to be killed is the Sheriff of Nottingham. Sir William and his remaining soldiers retreat defeated.

Robin Hood survives the battle but is left emotionally scarred and develops a fever. He tells Little John that he is going to visit his cousin, the Prioress of the nunnery of Kirklees in Yorkshire, to be cured of his fever. Robin's cousin has a reputation as a skilled healer who cures patients by bleeding them.^[12] Little John is to accompany Robin on his journey to Yorkshire. Will Stutley is to be left in charge in Sherwood Forest.

The Prioress of Kirklees is worried that her family association with Robin Hood will cause problems for her now that Robin is out of favor with the King. When Robin comes to her for aid, she sees the opportunity to get on the right side of his powerful enemies by killing him. Robin Hood is taken inside the nunnery and led up to a room in a tower. Little John is not allowed inside the nunnery but does not stray far from the building. The Prioress cuts Robin in such a way that unstoppable streams of blood flow from his body all day.

Robin Hood eventually realizes what his cousin has done to him. He is able to give three weak blasts on his horn. Little John responds to the sound. He breaks down the door of the nunnery and goes up to the room in the tower where his friend is being kept. The Prioress enters the room. Out of fear of Little John, she nervously bandages Robin's wounds. Little John then orders her to leave. Little John tries to reassure his friend that they will soon be roaming the forest together again. Robin Hood, however, knows that he is dying. Little John wants to burn down the nunnery in revenge but Robin persuades him not to. With the last of his strength, Robin fires an arrow out of the window of the tower, having said, "where this arrow lodges and there let my grave be digged." Little John carries out his friend's dying wish.

A new Sheriff of Nottingham is appointed who is kinder than the previous one. The surviving members of the Merry Men live out the rest of their lives in peace. Many of them live to have children and grandchildren and pass on tales of Robin Hood to them.

Pyle says that a gravestone is still said to stand in Kirklees. According to the inscription on the stone, it marks the final resting place of Robert, Earl of Huntingdon who died in December 1247, was the greatest archer who ever lived and was also known as Robin Hood.

Footnotes[]

↑ Pyle uses the spelling "Allen a Dale", which is the earliest recorded version of the character's name. The name is now usually written as "Alan-a-Dale".
↑ The character whom Pyle names Midge the Miller's Son is now better known as Much the Miller's Son.
↑ Henry II was King of England from 1154 to 1189.
↑ A farthing was a British coin used from the 13th century until 1961. It was worth a quarter of a penny. The use of the word "farthing" in a story set in the time of King Henry II is an anachronism.
↑ The mark was once a common unit of currency in many European countries. Although coins denominated in marks were never issued in England, the mark was used there for accounting purposes. During the period in which The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is set, a mark was worth 160 pence or two thirds of a pound sterling.
↑ An angel was a gold coin minted in England between 1465 and 1642. Its value varied over time. It got its name because it bore an image of the archangel Michael slaying a dragon on one side. References to golden angels in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood are anachronistic.
↑ The shilling was a British coin in use between 1503 and 1971. It was worth twelve pence or one twentieth of a pound sterling. The use of the word "shilling" in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is an anachronism.
↑ Franklin was a social class in England between the 12th and 15th centuries. The word originally meant anyone who was free. That is to say, not a serf obliged to work on land owned by someone else. "Franklin" later came to mean someone who owned a substantial area of land but was not a member of the nobility.
↑ Chapter XVIII of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is based on the ballad "Robin Hood and Queen Katharine". Pyle changes the Queen's name from Katharine to Eleanor in order to make the episode more historically accurate to the time in which the novel takes place. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1203) was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as wife of King Louis VI and Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as wife of King Henry II. Her children included King Richard I of England and King John of England.
↑ Richard I was King of England from 1189 to 1199.
↑ John was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. Although, according to The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Robin dies during the reign of King John, the inscription on the gravestone that Pyle includes says he died in 1247.
↑ Bloodletting was one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the world from ancient times until the late 19th century. It originated in the discredited belief that the human body contained four "humors", namely blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. Having too much of any one of those "humors" was believed to be dangerous to one's health and to cause behavioral problems. Bloodletting is rarely carried out by medical practitioners today as it is ineffective in treating all but a very few ailments.

External links[]

[1] Pyle uses the spelling "Allen a Dale", which is the earliest recorded version of the character's name. The name is now usually written as "Alan-a-Dale".

[2] The character whom Pyle names Midge the Miller's Son is now better known as Much the Miller's Son.

[3] Henry II was King of England from 1154 to 1189.

[4] A farthing was a British coin used from the 13th century until 1961. It was worth a quarter of a penny. The use of the word "farthing" in a story set in the time of King Henry II is an anachronism.

[5] The mark was once a common unit of currency in many European countries. Although coins denominated in marks were never issued in England, the mark was used there for accounting purposes. During the period in which The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is set, a mark was worth 160 pence or two thirds of a pound sterling.

[6] An angel was a gold coin minted in England between 1465 and 1642. Its value varied over time. It got its name because it bore an image of the archangel Michael slaying a dragon on one side. References to golden angels in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood are anachronistic.

[7] The shilling was a British coin in use between 1503 and 1971. It was worth twelve pence or one twentieth of a pound sterling. The use of the word "shilling" in The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is an anachronism.

[8] Franklin was a social class in England between the 12th and 15th centuries. The word originally meant anyone who was free. That is to say, not a serf obliged to work on land owned by someone else. "Franklin" later came to mean someone who owned a substantial area of land but was not a member of the nobility.

[9] Chapter XVIII of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood is based on the ballad "Robin Hood and Queen Katharine". Pyle changes the Queen's name from Katharine to Eleanor in order to make the episode more historically accurate to the time in which the novel takes place. Eleanor of Aquitaine (1122-1203) was Queen of France from 1137 to 1152 as wife of King Louis VI and Queen of England from 1154 to 1189 as wife of King Henry II. Her children included King Richard I of England and King John of England.

[10] Richard I was King of England from 1189 to 1199.

[11] John was King of England from 1199 until his death in 1216. Although, according to The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, Robin dies during the reign of King John, the inscription on the gravestone that Pyle includes says he died in 1247.

[12] Bloodletting was one of the most commonly performed medical procedures in the world from ancient times until the late 19th century. It originated in the discredited belief that the human body contained four "humors", namely blood, yellow bile, black bile and phlegm. Having too much of any one of those "humors" was believed to be dangerous to one's health and to cause behavioral problems. Bloodletting is rarely carried out by medical practitioners today as it is ineffective in treating all but a very few ailments.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]