Chapter Four Robin Hood Plays Butcher.
Robin Hood and his men did not leave Sherwood Forest for one whole year after rescuing Will Stootley.
Whenever they caught a wealthy priest or landlord on the road through Sherwood, they took him to their place under the greenwood tree.
There they held a great feast for the man they had captured.
After the meal, they made him pay, often with all the money he carried.
One morning, bored, Robin went looking for adventure.
Reaching the edge of the forest, he spied a butcher, his horse-drawn cart full of meat.
The butcher whistled merrily as he drove along.
Hello, good friend, Robin said.
You certainly seem happy.
The butcher replied.
Yes, it's true, I am.
I'm healthy, and it's a beautiful day.
I love the prettiest lass in all Nottinghamshire, and I'm to marry her in Loxley Town next Thursday.
I was born and bred in Loxley Town myself, said Robin.
I know it well.
Where are you going this fine morning?
I'm going to Nottingham Town to sell my beef and mutton, said the butcher.
Who are you that comes from Loxley Town?
Robin smiled and bowed.
Call me Robin Hood.
My God, I know the name well, exclaimed the butcher.
Please don't take anything from me.
I'm an honest man.
I have harmed no one.
Robin Hood laughed.
I wouldn't take a penny from an honest man such as yourself, especially one who hails from Loxley Town.
But tell me, what price would you ask for your cart, horse, and meat?
Hmm, the butcher thought for a moment.
The cart, horse, and meat are worth four pounds altogether.
Robin reached into his pouch and pulled out six pounds.
I would like to buy your cart and be a butcher for one day.
Will you sell it to me?
May all the saints bless you, cried the butcher.
He jumped down from the cart and grabbed for the money Robin waved in front of him.
Robin laughed loudly.
Now get back to your lass and give her a kiss for me.
Leaping into the driver's seat, he slapped the reins and the horse trotted off through the forest.
When he reached Nottingham Market, Robin set up his stall among the other butchers.
Clanging his cleaver and a knife together, he began to sing Come ye lasses, come ye dames, buy your meat from me.
For three pennies worth of meat I sell for the charge of one penny.
When he finished his song, Robin called out, Now who will buy?
Three pennies worth of meat I sell to a fat friar for six pennies because I don't want his business.
To a lovely woman, I sell three pennies worth of meat for one penny.
I like their business.
To the lovely girl who likes a good butcher, I charge nothing but a kiss because I like her business best of all.
A laughing crowd gathered.
The meat was of the finest quality and for the dames and girls of Nottingham Town, the prices were excellent.
Robin charged a poor widow or a poor woman nothing at all.
If a fair young lass came to Robin's stall, he charged only a kiss.
Some onlookers thought he was a thief who had stolen the cart and meat, but— thief would not give the meat away.
Finally, everyone decided that Robin must be a rich man's son who thought giving away his money was fun.
Curious, some of the other butchers walked over to Robin's stall.
Come, brother, dine with us, they invited.
We are giving a great feast for the Sheriff of Nottingham at the Guild Hall.
I will happily dine with you, said Robin with a tip of his cap.
The sheriff was eager to meet this butcher who gave meat away.
Perhaps he could cheat him out of some money.
He had seen Robin only twice, very briefly, and didn't recognize the young man when he entered the hall.
When dinner was served, the sheriff asked Robin to say grace.
Robin prayed.
Now, heaven bless us and all the good meat and drink within this house, and may all butchers be as honest as I am.
Everyone laughed, especially the sheriff.
Surely this is some rich man's son, he thought.
Perhaps I can lighten his purse a bit.
Patting Robin on the shoulder, the sheriff said, You are a jolly young man.
I know you love jolly young men, Robin replied.
Didn't you have a shooting match?
And didn't you present Robin Hood with a bright golden arrow as a prize?
The sheriff drew back and grew silent.
Then Robin cried out, I am paying for this feast.
No one, not sheriff or butcher, shall reach for his purse tonight.
You spend money so freely, young man, said the sheriff.
Surely you must have many acres of land and many horned beasts.
I have more than five hundred horned beasts I cannot sell, Robin said.
Otherwise I would not have turned butcher.
The sheriff's eyes twinkled.
Perhaps I can help you.
How much do you want for your beasts?
Five hundred pounds, said Robin.
Well, the sheriff hesitated.
Five hundred pounds is a lot of money.
I will give three hundred pounds.
You old cheat, laughed Robin scornfully.
Five hundred hornbeats are worth seven hundred pounds.
How could you swindle a poor youth like that?
Don't look at me as though you just bit a sour egg.
I will take your offer.
My brothers and I enjoy a merry life, and a merry life requires money.
I will take you to see my beasts this very day, but you must bring the money.
I don't trust someone who drives so hard a bargain.
I will bring the money.
What's your name? asked the sheriff.
Men call me Robert Deloxley, Robin replied.
Robert Deloxley, I will come today to buy your horned beasts, but mind you, you will not get the money until I get the beasts.
Fair enough, agreed Robin.
Later that afternoon, he and the sheriff set out.
When they had walked some distance, the sheriff saw the edge of Sherwood Forest.
May heaven protect us from Robin Hood, he prayed.
Oh, don't worry, good sheriff, said Robin.
I know Robin Hood well.
You are in no more danger from him than you are from me.
The sheriff shuddered.
This young man seems too friendly with Robin Hood, he thought.
They traveled into the forest, down a winding road.
As they rounded a bend, a herd of deer pranced before them.
Robin drew close to the sheriff and pointed.
Those are my horned beasts, sir.
Are they not a sight to see?
The sheriff stopped short.
I do not like your company, he said.
I wish to be away.
The sheriff started to turn back, but Robin stopped him.
Stay for a while, Robin said.
I would like you to meet my brothers.
Then he put his bugle to his lips and blew three times.
One hundred merry men ran up the path, Little John leading the way.
Now, now, young master, said Little John.
I have brought good company to feast with us, Robin told him.
Do you not recognize our good master, the Sheriff of Nottingham?
The merry men raised their caps politely, and the Sheriff grew very grim.
He knew that Robin would take his three hundred pounds, and he feared for his life.
Hadn't he tried to capture Robin Hood?
Hadn't he tried to hang Will Stootley?
Little John took the Sheriff's arm gently but firmly and led him deeper into the forest.
Finally, they reached the glade where a broad oak spread its limbs.
Beneath the greenwood tree, the men had laid out cushions of moss.
Robin escorted the sheriff to a seat.
No one had said anything about the money.
Perhaps he has forgotten, the sheriff thought.
Food arrived, fresh venison and fine breads, and the diners ate until they were full.
As the moon began to rise, the sheriff yawned.
Thank you very much for a wonderful evening, but it grows late and I must be leaving.
Robin shook the sheriff's hand.
Leave if you must, but you forget something.
We run a merry inn here in the forest.
Whoever comes as our guest must pay his bill.
The sheriff laughed hollowly.
Well, we have had a merry time.
Even if you hadn't asked, I'd have been happy to give you twenty pounds for the food.
Oh, no, said Robin seriously.
I would be ashamed to charge you less than Three hundred pounds.
Three hundred devils, roared the sheriff.
Do you think your rotten food was worth three pounds, let alone three hundred?
Robin said gravely.
Look around.
There are men here who don't love you as I do.
You will see Will Stuteley, whom you tried to hang.
Pay your bill without more ado, or it may be ill for you.
The sheriff grew pale.
He bit his bottom lip, then reached for his money bag and gave it to Robin.
Robin passed the bag to Little John and told him to count the money.
The sheriff winced, as if each coin were a drop of his own blood.
When John finished, Robin said, Never before have we had such a generous guest.
As it is very late, I will send one of my young men to guide you.
No, heaven forbid, protested the sheriff.
I can find my own way.
I will put you on the right track myself, Robin insisted.
As they walked along, he warned the sheriff against trying to swindle young men.
Never buy a horse, Robin said, without first looking it in the mouth.
