Приключения Робин Гуда

           Nowtherewaspresentatcourtacertainknight,SirWilliamDale,asgallantasoldieraseverdonnedharness.SirWilliamDalewaswellacquaintedwithSherwoodForest,forhewasheadkeeperoverthatpartofitthatlaynightogoodMansfieldTown;sotohimtheKingturned,andbadehimtakeanarmyofmenandgostraightwaytoseekRobinHood.LikewisetheKinggaveSirWilliamhissignetringtoshowtotheSheriff,thathemightraiseallhisarmedmentoaidtheothersintheirchaseofRobin.SoSirWilliamandtheSheriffsetforthtodotheKing’sbiddingandtosearchforRobinHood;andforsevendaystheyhuntedupanddown,yetfoundhimnot.

           Now,hadRobinHoodbeenaspeacefulasofold,everythingmighthaveendedinsmoke,asothersuchventureshadalwaysdonebefore;buthehadfoughtforyearsunderKingRichard,andwaschangedfromwhatheusedtobe.Itgalledhispridetothusfleeawaybeforethosesentagainsthim,asachasedfoxfleesfromthehounds;sothusitcameabout,atlast,thatRobinHoodandhisyeomenmetSirWilliamandtheSheriffandtheirmenintheforest,andabloodyfightfollowed.ThefirstmanslaininthatfightwastheSheriffofNottingham,forhefellfromhishorsewithanarrowinhisbrainerehalfascoreofshaftshadbeensped.ManyabettermanthantheSheriffkissedthesodthatday,butatlast,SirWilliamDalebeingwoundedandmostofhismenslain,hewithdrew,beaten,andlefttheforest.