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King Richard Comes to Sherwood Forest
"MayitpleaseYourMajesty,"saidhe,"whenIwasawayinPalestineIheardofttimesfrommyfather,andinmostcasesIheardofthisveryfellow,RobinHood.IfYourMajestywouldlikeIwilltellyouacertainadventureofthisoutlaw."
ThentheKinglaughinglybadehimtellhistale,whereuponhetoldhowRobinHoodhadaidedSirRichardoftheLeawithmoneythathehadborrowedfromtheBishopofHereford.AgainandagaintheKingandthosepresentroaredwithlaughter,whilethepoorBishopwaxedcherryredinthefacewithvexation,forthematterwasasorethingwithhim.WhenSirHenryoftheLeawasdone,othersofthosepresent,seeinghowtheKingenjoyedthismerrytale,toldothertalesconcerningRobinandhismerrymen.
"Bythehiltofmysword,"saidstoutKingRichard,"thisisasboldandmerryaknaveaseverIheardtellof.Marry,Imusttakethismatterinhandanddowhatthoucouldstnotdo,Sheriff,towit,cleartheforestofhimandhisband."
ThatnighttheKingsatintheplacethatwassetapartforhislodgingwhileinNottinghamTown.WithhimwereyoungSirHenryoftheLeaandtwootherknightsandthreebaronsofNottinghamshire;buttheKing’smindstilldwelleduponRobinHood."Now,"quothhe,"Iwouldfreelygiveahundredpoundstomeetthisroguishfellow,RobinHood,andtoseesomewhatofhisdoingsinSherwoodForest."
ThenupspakeSirHubertofgingham,laughing:"IfYourMajestyhathsuchadesireuponyouitisnotsohardtosatisfy.
