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How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
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Then,whenhehaddonespeaking,RobinstretchedouthishandandgraspedtheKnight’spalm.Quothheinatremblingvoice,"IowetheeadebtIcanneverhopetorepay,SirRichard,forletmetellthee,IwouldratherlosemyrighthandthanhavesuchillbefallyoungDavidofDoncasterasseemedliketocomeuponhimatDenby."
Sotheytalkeduntilafterawhileonecameforwardtosaythatthefeastwasspread;whereuponallaroseandwentthereto.Whenatlastitwasdone,theKnightcalleduponhismentobringthepackhorsesforward,whichtheydidaccordingtohisbidding.ThenoneofthemenbroughttheKnightastrongbox,whichheopenedandtookfromitabagandcountedoutfivehundredpounds,thesumhehadgottenfromRobin.
"SirRichard,"quothRobin,"thouwiltpleasureusallifthouwiltkeepthatmoneyasagiftfromusofSherwood.Isitnotso,mylads?"
Thenallshouted"Ay"withamightyvoice.
"Ithankyoualldeeply,"saidtheKnightearnestly,"butthinkitnotillofmeifIcannottakeit.GladlyhaveIborroweditfromyou,butitmaynotbethatIcantakeitasagift."
ThenRobinHoodsaidnomorebutgavethemoneytoLittleJohntoputawayinthetreasury,forhehadshrewdnessenoughtoknowthatnoughtbreedsillwillandheartbitternesslikegiftsforcedupononethatcannotchoosebuttakethem
