The Chase of Robin Hood

           SOROBINHOODandtheothersleftthearcheryrangeatFinsburyFields,and,tarryingnot,setforthstraightwayupontheirhomewardjourney.Itwaswellforthemthattheydidso,fortheyhadnotgonemorethanthreeorfourmilesupontheirwaywhensixoftheyeomenoftheKing’sguardcamebustlingamongthecrowdthatstilllingered,seekingforRobinandhismen,toseizeuponthemandmakethemprisoners.Truly,itwasanill-donethingintheKingtobreakhispromise,butitallcameaboutthroughtheBishopofHereford’sdoing,forthusithappened:

           AftertheKingleftthearcheryground,hewentstraightwaytohiscabinet,andwithhimwenttheBishopofHerefordandSirRobertLee;buttheKingsaidneverawordtothesetwo,butsatgnawinghisnetherlip,forhisheartwasgalledwithinhimbywhathadhappened.AtlasttheBishopofHerefordspoke,inalow,sorrowfulvoice:"Itisasadthing,YourMajesty,thatthisknavishoutlawshouldbelettoescapeinthiswise;for,lethimbutgetbacktoSherwoodForestsafeandsound,andhemaysnaphisfingersatkingandking’smen."

           AtthesewordstheKingraisedhiseyesandlookedgrimlyupontheBishop."Saystthouso?"quothhe."Now,Iwillshowthee,ingoodtime,howmuchthoudosterr,for,whenthefortydaysarepastandgone,Iwillseizeuponthisthievingoutlaw,ifIhavetoteardownallofSherwoodtofindhim.