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〃Od's life；〃 said the baron； 〃shall I not call my own daughter Mawd？
Methinks there should be a special exception in my favour。〃
〃It must not be；〃 said Robin Hood： 〃our constitution admits no
privilege。〃
〃But I will commute；〃 said the friar； 〃for twenty marks a year duly
paid into my ghostly pocket you shall call your daughter Mawd two
hundred times a day。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the baron； 〃and I agree； honest friar； when I can get
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twenty marks to pay： for till Prince John be beaten from Nottingham； my
rents are like to prove but scanty。〃
〃I will trust；〃 said the friar； 〃and thus let us ratify the stipulation； so
shall our laws and your infringement run together in an amicable parallel。〃
〃But；〃 said Little John； 〃this is a bad precedent； master friar。 It is
turning discipline into profit； penalty into perquisite； public justice into
private revenue。 It is rank corruption； master friar。〃
〃Why are laws made？〃 said the friar。 〃For the profit of somebody。 Of
whom？ Of him who makes them first； and of others as it may happen。
Was not I legislator in the last article； and shall I not thrive by my own
law？〃
〃Well then； sweet Mawd；〃 said the baron； 〃I must leave you； Mawd：
your life is very well for the young and the hearty； but it squares not with
my age or my humour。 I must house； Mawd。 I must find refuge： but
where？ That is the question。〃
〃Where Sir Guy of Gamwell has found it；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃near the
borders of Barnsdale。 There you may dwell in safety with him and fair
Alice； till King Richard return； and Little John shall give you safe conduct。
You will have need to travel with caution； in disguise and without
attendants； for Prince John commands all this vicinity； and will doubtless
lay the country for you and Marian。 Now it is first expedient to dismiss
your retainers。 If there be any among them who like our life； they may stay
with us in the greenwood； the rest may return to their homes。〃
Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian；
and were furnished accordingly with suits of green； of which Robin
always kept good store。
Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale；
she would accompany Little John and the baron； as she should not be
happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security。 Robin was very
unwilling to consent to this； and assured her that there was more danger
for her than the baron： but Marian was absolute。
〃If so； then；〃 said Robin； 〃I shall be your guide instead of Little John；
and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint…regents of Sherwood during my
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absence； and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them if
they differ in nice questions of state policy。〃 Marian objected to this； that
there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the baron： but
Robin was absolute in his turn。
〃Talk not of my voice；〃 said the friar； 〃for if Marian be a damsel errant；
I will be her ghostly esquire。〃
Robin insisted that this should not be； for number would only expose
them to greater risk of detection。 The friar； after some debate； reluctantly
acquiesced。
While they were discussing these matters； they heard the distant sound
of horses' feet。
〃Go；〃 said Robin to Little John； 〃and invite yonder horseman to
dinner。〃
Little John bounded away； and soon came before a young man； who
was riding in a melancholy manner； with the bridle hanging loose on the
horse's neck； and his eyes drooping towards the ground。
〃Whither go you？〃 said Little John。
〃Whithersoever my horse pleases；〃 said the young man。
〃And that shall be；〃 said Little John； 〃whither I please to lead him。 I
am commissioned to invite you to dine with my master。〃
〃Who is your master？〃 said the young man。
〃Robin Hood；〃 said Little John。
〃The bold outlaw？〃 said the stranger。 〃Neither he nor you should
have made me turn an inch aside yesterday； but to…day I care not。〃
〃Then it is better for you；〃 said Little John； 〃that you came to…day than
yesterday； if you love dining in a whole skin： for my master is the pink of
courtesy： but if his guests prove stubborn； he bastes them and his
venison together； while the friar says mass before meat。〃
The young man made no answer； and scarcely seemed to hear what
Little John was saying； who therefore took the horse's bridle and led him
to where Robin and his foresters were setting forth their dinner。 Robin
seated the young man next to Marian。 Recovering a little from his stupor；
he looked with much amazement at her； and the baron； and Robin； and the
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friar； listened to their conversation； and seemed much astonished to find
himself in such holy and courtly company。 Robin helped him largely to
rumble…pie and cygnet and pheasant； and the other dainties of his table；
and the friar pledged him in ale and wine； and exhorted him to make good
cheer。 But the young man drank little； ate less； spake nothing； and every
now and then sighed heavily。
When the repast was ended； 〃Now；〃 said Robin； 〃you are at liberty to
pursue your journey： but first be pleased to pay for your dinner。〃
〃That would I gladly do； Robin；〃 said the young man； 〃but all I have
about me are five shillings and a ring。 To the five shillings you shall be
welcome； but for the ring I will fight while there is a drop of blood in my
veins。〃
〃Gallantly spoken；〃 said Robin Hood。 〃A love…token； without doubt：
but you must submit to our forest laws。 Little John must search； and if he
find no more than you say； not a penny will I touch； but if you have
spoken false； the whole is forfeit to our fraternity。〃
〃And with reason；〃 said the friar； 〃for thereby is the truth maintained
The abbot of Doubleflask swore there was no money in his valise； and
Little John forthwith emptied it of four hundred pounds。 Thus was the
abbot's perjury but of one minute's duration； for though his speech was
false in the utterance； yet was it no sooner uttered than it became true； and
we should have been participes criminis to have suffered the holy abbot to
depart in falsehood： whereas he came to us a false priest； and we sent him
away a true man。 Marry； we turned his cloak to further account； and
thereby hangs a tale that may be either said or sung； for in truth I am
minstrel here as well as chaplain； I pray for good success to our just and
necessary warfare； and sing thanks…giving odes when our foresters bring in
booty：
Bold Robin has robed him in ghostly attire； And forth he is gone
like a holy friar； Singing； hey down； ho down； down； derry down：
And of two grey friars he soon was aware； Regaling themselves with
dainty fare； All on the fallen leaves so brown。
〃Good morrow； good brothers；〃 said bold Robin Hood； 〃And
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what make you in the good greenwood； Singing hey down； ho
down； down； derry down！ Now give me； I pray you； wine and food；
For none can I find in the good greenwood； All on the fallen leaves
so brown。〃
〃Good brother；〃 they said； 〃we would give you full fain； But we
have no more than enough for twain； Singing； hey down； ho down；
down； derry down。〃 〃Then give me some money；〃 said bold Robin Hood；
〃For none can I find in the good greenwood； All on the fallen leaves so
brown。〃
〃No money have we； good brother；〃 said they： 〃Then