Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar

           THESTOUTYEOMENofSherwoodForestwereeverearlyrisersofamorn,moreespeciallywhenthesummertimehadcome,fortheninthefreshnessofthedawnthedewwasalwaysthebrightest,andthesongofthesmallbirdsthesweetest.

           QuothRobin,"NowwillIgotoseekthissameFriarofFountainAbbeyofwhomwespakeyesternight,andIwilltakewithmefourofmygoodmen,andthesefourshallbeLittleJohn,WillScarlet,DavidofDoncaster,andArthuraBland.Bidetherestofyouhere,andWillStutelyshallbeyourchiefwhileIamgone."ThenstraightwayRobinHooddonnedafinesteelcoatofchainmail,overwhichheputonalightjacketofLincolngreen.Uponhisheadheclappedasteelcap,andthishecoveredbyoneofsoftwhiteleather,inwhichstoodanoddingcock’splume.Byhissidehehungagoodbroadswordoftemperedsteel,thebluishblademarkedalloverwithstrangefiguresofdragons,wingedwomen,andwhatnot.AgallantsightwasRobinsoarrayed,Iwot,theglintofsteelshowinghereandthereasthesunlightcaughtbrightlythelinksofpolishedmailthatshowedbeneathhisgreencoat.

           So,havingarrayedhimself,heandthefouryeomensetforthupontheirway,WillScarlettakingthelead,forheknewbetterthantheotherswhithertogo.