ROBIN HOOD. 351

word and good wishes of almost all the poor in those parts. He
never robbed anybody but people who were very rich, and who
had not the spirit to make good use of their riches. As he had
lost his estate by the cunning of a popish priest, he had a great
dislike to the whole set; and the popish priests at that time
behaved in such a manner that hardly anybody liked them ; so
that Robin was not thought the worse of for his usage of them.
Wher: he met with poor men in his rambles, instead of taking
anything from them, he gave them money of his ow
let any woman be cither robbed or hurt; and in cases of hardship
he always took the part of the weak and the injured against the
strong ; so that it was truly said, “that of all thicves he was
the gentlest and most generous thief.”

Robin Hood was fond of doing odd and strange things, and he
loved a joke quite as well as he loved a good hooty. One day,
as he was stralling in the forest by himself, he saw a jolly butcher
riding upon a fine mare, with panniers on each side, filled with
meat. “Good morrow, good fellow,” said Robin, * whither are
You going so ear! ‘The man replied, “I am a butcher, and
am going to Nottingham market to sell my meat.”—“ I never
leamed any trade,” said Robin, “I think I should like to be a
butcher, What shall I give you for your mare and your panniers,
and all that is in them ?”—* They are not dearat four marks,”
said the butcher, “and { will not sell them for less.” Robin
made no more words, but counted out the money, and then made
the butcher give him his blue linen coat and his apron, in
exchange for Robin Hood's fi form of scarlet. When Robin
Hood had dressed himself in this manner, he rode straight to
Nottingham, ‘The Sheriff of Nottingham was master of the
nd Robin Mood hired a stall there. But we may very
well suppose that he did not know much about his trade, and
indeed as lung as he hadany meat to sellncotherbutchercould sell