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the sheriff； and demanded an armed force to assist in the apprehension of
the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon。 The sheriff； who was willing to have
his share of the prize； determined to accompany the knight in person； and
regaled him and his man with good store of the best； after which； they；
with a stout retinue of fifty men； took the way to Gamwell feast。
〃God's my life；〃 said the sheriff； as they rode along； 〃I had as lief you
would tell me of a service of plate。 I much doubt if this outlawed earl； this
forester Robin； be not the man they call Robin Hood； who has quartered
himself in Sherwood Forest； and whom in endeavouring to apprehend I
have fallen divers times into disasters。 He has gotten together a band of
disinherited prodigals； outlawed debtors； excommunicated heretics； elder
sons that have spent all they had； and younger sons that never had any
thing to spend； and with these he kills the king's deer； and plunders
wealthy travellers of five…sixths of their money； but if they be abbots or
bishops； them he despoils utterly。〃
The sheriff then proceeded to relate to his companion the adventure of
the abbot of Doubleflask （which some grave historians have related of the
abbot of Saint Mary's； and others of the bishop of Hereford）： how the
abbot； returning to his abbey in company with his high selerer； who
carried in his portmanteau the rents of the abbey…lands； and with a
numerous train of attendants； came upon four seeming peasants； who were
roasting the king's venison by the king's highway： how； in just
indignation at this flagrant infringement of the forest laws； he asked them
what they meant； and they answered that they meant to dine： how he
ordered them to be seized and bound； and led captive to Nottingham； that
they might know wild…flesh to have been destined by Providence for
licensed and privileged appetites； and not for the base hunger of
unqualified knaves： how they prayed for mercy； and how the abbot
swore by Saint Charity that he would show them none： how one of them
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thereupon drew a bugle horn from under his smock…frock and blew three
blasts； on which the abbot and his train were instantly surrounded by sixty
bowmen in green： how they tied him to a tree； and made him say mass for
their sins： how they unbound him； and sate him down with them to dinner；
and gave him venison and wild…fowl and wine； and made him pay for his
fare all the money in his high selerer's portmanteau； and enforced him to
sleep all night under a tree in his cloak； and to leave the cloak behind him
in the morning： how the abbot； light in pocket and heavy in heart； raised
the country upon Robin Hood； for so he had heard the chief forester called
by his men； and hunted him into an old woman's cottage： how Robin
changed dresses with the old woman； and how the abbot rode in great
triumph to Nottingham； having in custody an old woman in a green
doublet and breeches： how the old woman discovered herself： how the
merrymen of Nottingham laughed at the abbot： how the abbot railed at the
old woman； and how the old woman out…railed the abbot； telling him that
Robin had given her food and fire through the winter； which no abbot
would ever do； but would rather take it from her for what he called the
good of the church； by which he meant his own laziness and gluttony； and
that she knew a true man from a false thief； and a free forester from a
greedy abbot。
〃Thus you see；〃 added the sheriff； 〃how this villain perverts the
deluded people by making them believe that those who tithe and toll upon
them for their spiritual and temporal benefit are not their best friends and
fatherly guardians； for he holds that in giving to boors and old women
what he takes from priests and peers； he does but restore to the former
what the latter had taken from them； and this the impudent varlet calls
distributive justice。 Judge now if any loyal subject can be safe in such
neighbourhood。〃
While the sheriff was thus enlightening his companion concerning the
offenders； and whetting his own indignation against them； the sun was fast
sinking to the west。 They rode on till they came in view of a bridge；
which they saw a party approaching from the opposite side； and the knight
presently discovered that the party consisted of the lady Matilda and friar
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Michael； young Gamwell； cousin Robin； and about half…a…dozen foresters。
The knight pointed out the earl to the sheriff； who exclaimed； 〃Here； then；
we have him an easy prey；〃 and they rode on manfully towards the bridge；
on which the other party made halt。
〃Who be these；〃 said the friar； 〃that come riding so fast this way？ Now；
as God shall judge me； it is that false knight Sir Ralph Montfaucon； and
the sheriff of Nottingham； with a posse of men。 We must make good our
post； and let them dislodge us if they may。〃
The two parties were now near enough to parley； and the sheriff and
the knight； advancing in the front of the cavalcade； called on the lady； the
friar； young Gamwell； and the foresters； to deliver up that false…traitor；
Robert； formerly Earl of Huntingdon。 Robert himself made answer by
letting fly an arrow that struck the ground between the fore feet of the
sheriff's horse。 The horse reared up from the whizzing； and lodged the
sheriff in the dust； and； at the same time； the fair Matilda favoured the
knight with an arrow in his right arm； that compelled him to withdraw
from the affray。 His men lifted the sheriff carefully up； and replaced him
on his horse； whom he immediately with great rage and zeal urged on to
the assault with his fifty men at his heels； some of whom were intercepted
in their advance by the arrows of the foresters and Matilda； while the friar；
with an eight…foot staff； dislodged the sheriff a second time； and laid on
him with all the vigour of the church militant on earth； in spit