356 ROBIN HOOD.

have Little John and thou done me a kindness, and brought me
venison ; and no longer ago than last Saturday-night yon gave
me a pair of new shoes, and this green kirtle." “Then,” said
Robin Hood, “give me thy green kirtle, and thy close-eared
cap, and put into my hands thy distaff and spindle, and do thou
take my scarlet mantle, and my quiver and how.” As soon as
they had made this change, Robin Hood left the house, and
went tothe place where all the eompany were to be found. He
Iooked behind him a hundred times for the bishop, who had no
thoughts of finding him in this disguise. One of the robbers,
who was a spiteful fellow, as Robin Hood came near them,
cried out, “A witch, a witch! I will let fly an arrow at her.”
“ Hold thy hand,” said Robin Hood, “ and shoot not thy arrows
so keen, for I am Robin Hood, thy master.” Then he went
up to Little John, and said, “Come, kill 8 good fat deer, for
the bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day.”

While this was going on, the bishop came to the old woman's
house; and seeing aman, as he thought, with a mantle of scarlet,
and a quiver and bow in his hand, he shook his head, and said,
“Tam afraid you are one of Robin Hood's gang ; if you have
not a mind to be hanged yourself, show me where that traitor
is, and set him before me.” The old woman agreed to this. “Go
with me,” said she to the bishop, “and I think I can bring you to
the man you want.” The bishop then mounted her upon a milk-
white steed, and himself rode upon a dapple grey ; and for joy
that he should get Robin Hood he went laughing all the way.
But as they were riding along the forest, the bishop saw a hundred
brave bowmen drawn up under a tree. “Oh! who is yonder,”
said the bishop, ‘ranging within the wood?” “ Why,” says the
old woman, “I think it is aman they call Robin Hood.”—“Why,
who art thou?" said the bishop : “for, to tell thee the truth, I
thought thouhadst been Robin Hood himself.” —“Ob! my lord,”