ROBIN HOOD. 355

hand, the people began to laugh: and he asked them seven
times in the church, lest three times should not be enough.
Robin Hood gave away the maiden; the bishop slunk out of
the church, and his brother, the old knight, hobbled after as
well as he could, The whole company had a dinner upon
two fat bucks in Sherwood forest, and from this day Allen-a-
Dale was a friend to Robin Hood as long as he lived.

In the time of Robin Hood the bishops were under the orders
of the pope of Rome, and they were great officers and even
soldiers. Robin Hood lived in the see of the bishop of Hereford,
Now Robin had a great dislike to the popish clergy, because
one of them had cheated him of his uncle's estate; and the
bishop of Hereford had quite as much dislike to Robin,
because of the trick Robin had played him in the marriage of
Allen-a-Dale, and because he did not think it right that such a
robber should live in his see. ‘The bishop therefore made several
Journeys into the forest of Sherwood, to make Robin prisoner,
and bring him to the gallows. One time, when Robin was
walking alone in the forest of Sherwood, he heard the trampling
of horses ; and, looking round, he saw his old enemy, the hishop
of Hereford, with six servants. ‘The bishop was very near
Robin Hood, before Robin looked round and saw him ; and he
had nothing to trust to but his heels, to save him from danger.
As Robin ran along, he chanced to come up to a cottage
where an old woman lived by herself ; so he rushed in, and
begged her to save his life. “Who are you,” said the old
svoman, “and what can I do for you?"—“J am an outlaw,”
replied he, “and my name is Robin Hood ; and yonder is the
Lishop of Hereford, with all his men, who wants to bring me to
the gallo “If thou be Robin Hood,” said the old woman,
k thou art, I would as soon lose my own life, as not
do all in my power to endeavour to save thee. Many a time

Aag