Will Stutely Rescued by His Companions

           NowwhentheSherifffoundthatneitherlawnorguilecouldovercomeRobinHood,hewasmuchperplexed,andsaidtohimself,"FoolthatIam!HadInottoldourKingofRobinHood,Iwouldnothavegottenmyselfintosuchacoil;butnowImusteithertakehimcaptiveorhavewrathvisiteduponmyheadfromhismostgraciousMajesty.Ihavetriedlaw,andIhavetriedguile,andIhavefailedinboth;soIwilltrywhatmaybedonewithmight."

           Thuscommuningwithinhimself,hecalledhisconstablestogetherandtoldthemwhatwasinhismind."Nowtakeyeeachfourmen,allarmedinproof,"saidhe,"andgetyegonetotheforest,atdifferentpoints,andlieinwaitforthissameRobinHood.Butifanyconstablefindstoomanymenagainsthim,lethimsoundahorn,andthenleteachbandwithinhearingcomewithallspeedandjointhepartythatcallsthem.Thus,Ithink,shallwetakethisgreen-cladknave.Furthermore,tohimthatfirstmeetethwithRobinHoodshallonehundredpoundsofsilvermoneybegiven,ifhebebroughttomedeadoralive;andtohimthatmeetethwithanyofhisbandshalltwoscorepoundsbegiven,ifsuchbebroughttomedeadoralive.So,beyeboldandbeyecrafty."

           SothustheywentinthreescorecompaniesoffivetoSherwoodForest,totakeRobinHood,eachconstablewishingthathemightbetheonetofindtheboldoutlaw,oratleastoneofhisband.