his orders； and five hundred pounds were counted out and tied
up in a leathern bag for Sir Richard。 The rest of the treasure
was divided； and part taken to the treasurehouse of the band；
and part put by with the other things for the Bishop。
Then Sir Richard arose。 〃I cannot stay later； good friends；〃
said he； 〃for my lady will wax anxious if I come not home；
so I crave leave to depart。〃
Then Robin Hood and all his merry men arose； and Robin said；
〃We cannot let thee go hence unattended； Sir Richard。〃
Then up spake Little John； 〃Good master； let me choose a score
of stout fellows from the band； and let us arm ourselves in a seemly
manner and so serve as retainers to Sir Richard till he can get
others in our stead。〃
〃Thou hast spoken well； Little John； and it shall be done；〃 said Robin。
Then up spake Will Scarlet； 〃Let us give him a golden chain
to hang about his neck； such as befits one of his blood；
and also golden spurs to wear at his heels。〃
Then Robin Hood said； 〃Thou hast spoken well； Will Scarlet；
and it shall be done。〃
Then up spake Will Stutely； 〃Let us give him yon bale of rich
velvet and yon roll of cloth of gold to take home to his noble
lady wife as a present from Robin Hood and his merry men all。〃
At this all clapped their hands for joy； and Robin said：
〃Thou hast well spoken； Will Stutely； and it shall be done。〃
Then Sir Richard of the Lea looked all around and strove to speak；
but could scarcely do so for the feelings that choked him； at last
he said in a husky； trembling voice； 〃Ye shall all see； good friends；
that Sir Richard o' the Lea will ever remember your kindness this day。
And if ye be at any time in dire need or trouble； come to me and my lady；
and the walls of Castle Lea shall be battered down ere harm shall
befall you。 I〃 He could say nothing further； but turned hastily away。
But now Little John and nineteen stout fellows whom he had
chosen for his band； came forth all ready for the journey。
Each man wore upon his breast a coat of linked mail； and on
his head a cap of steel； and at his side a good stout sword。
A gallant show they made as they stood all in a row。
Then Robin came and threw a chain of gold about Sir Richard's neck；
and Will Scarlet knelt and buckled the golden spurs upon
his heel； and now Little John led forward Sir Richard's horse；
and the Knight mounted。 He looked down at Robin for a
little time； then of a sudden stooped and kissed his cheek。
All the forest glades rang with the shout that went up
as the Knight and the yeomen marched off through the woodland
with glare of torches and gleam of steel； and so were gone。
Then up spake the Bishop of Hereford in a mournful voice； 〃I； too；
must be jogging； good fellow； for the night waxes late。〃
But Robin laid his hand upon the Bishop's arm and stayed him。
〃Be not so hasty； Lord Bishop；〃 said he。 〃Three days hence Sir Richard
must pay his debts to Emmet； until that time thou must be content
to abide with me lest thou breed trouble for the Knight。 I promise
thee that thou shalt have great sport； for I know that thou art
fond of hunting the dun deer。 Lay by thy mantle of melancholy；
and strive to lead a joyous yeoman life for three stout days。
I promise thee thou shalt be sorry to go when the time has come。〃
So the Bishop and his train abided with Robin for three days； and much
sport his lordship had in that time； so that； as Robin had said；
when the time had come for him to go he was sorry to leave the greenwood。
At the end of three days Robin set him free； and sent him forth from
the forest with a guard of yeomen to keep freebooters from taking
what was left of the packs and bundles。
But； as the Bishop rode away； he vowed within himself that he would
sometime make Robin rue the day that he stopped him in Sherwood。
But now we shall follow Sir Richard； so listen； and you shall
hear what befell him； and how he paid his debts at Emmet Priory；
and likewise in due season to Robin Hood。
How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts
THE LONG HIGHWAY stretched straight on； gray and dusty in the sun。
On either side were dikes full of water bordered by osiers；
and far away in the distance stood the towers of Emmet Priory
with tall poplar trees around。
Along the causeway rode a knight with a score of stout
men…at…arms behind him。 The Knight was clad in a plain；
long robe of gray serge； gathered in at the waist with a broad
leathern belt； from which hung a long dagger and a stout sword。
But though he was so plainly dressed himself； the horse he rode
was a noble barb； and its trappings were rich with silk
and silver bells。
So thus the band journeyed along the causeway between the dikes； till at
last they reached the great gate of Emmet Priory。 There the Knight called
to one of his men and bade him knock at the porter's lodge with the heft
of his sword。
The porter was drowsing on his bench within the lodge；
but at the knock he roused himself and； opening the wicket；
came hobbling forth and greeted the Knight； while a tame starling
that hung in a wicker cage within piped out； 〃_In coelo quies！
In coelo quies！_〃 such being the words that the poor old lame
porter had taught him to speak。
〃Where is thy prior？〃 asked the Knight of the old porter。
〃He is at meat； good knight； and he looketh for thy coming；〃
quoth the porter； 〃for； if I mistake not； thou art Sir Richard
of the Lea。〃
〃I am Sir Richard of the Lea； then I will go seek him forthwith；〃
said the Knight。
〃But shall I not send thy horse to stable？〃 said the porter。
〃By Our Lady； it is the noblest nag； and the best harnessed；
that e'er I saw in all my life before。〃 And he stroked the horse's
flank with his palm。
〃Nay；〃 quoth Sir Richard； 〃the stables of this place are not for me；
so make way； I prythee。〃 So saying； he pushed forward； and； the gates being
opened； he entered the stony courtyard of the Priory； his men behind him。
In they came with rattle of steel and clashing of swords； and ring of horses'
feet on cobblestones； whereat a flock of pigeons that strutted in the sun
flew with flapping wings to the high eaves of the round towers。
While the Knight was riding along the causeway to Emmet；
a merry feast was toward in the refectory there。 The afternoon
sun streamed in through the great arched windows and lay in broad
squares of light upon the stone floor and across the board covered
with a snowy linen cloth； whereon was spread a princely feast。
At the head of the table sat Prior Vincent of Emmet all clad
in soft robes of fine cloth and silk； on his head was a black
velvet cap picked out with gold； and around his neck hung
a heavy chain of gold； with a great locket pendant therefrom。
Beside him； on the arm of his great chair； roosted his favorite falcon；
for the Prior was fond of the gentle craft of hawking。
On his right hand sat the Sheriff of Nottingham in rich robes
of purple all trimmed about with fur； and on his left a famous
doctor of law in dark and sober garb。 Below these sat the high
cellarer of Emmet； and others chief among the brethren。
Jest and laughter passed around； and all was as merry as merry could be。
The wizened face of the man of law was twisted into a wrinkled smile；
for in his pouch were fourscore golden angels that the Prior had paid him
in fee for the case betwixt him and Sir Richard of the Lea。 The learned
doctor had been paid beforehand； for he had not overmuch trust in the holy
Vincent of Emmet。
Quoth the Sheriff of Nottingham； 〃But art thou sure； Sir Prior；
that thou hast the lands so safe？〃
〃Ay； marry；〃 said Prior Vincent； smacking his lips after a deep
draught of wine； 〃I have kept a close watch upon him； albeit he was
unawares of the same； and I know right well that he hath no money
to pay me withal。〃
〃Ay； true；〃 said the man of law in a dry； husky voice； 〃his land
is surely forfeit if he cometh not to pay； but； Sir Prior；
thou must get a release beneath his sign manual； or else thou
canst not hope to hold the land without trouble from him。〃
〃Yea；〃 said the Prior； 〃so thou hast told me ere now； but I know that this
knight is so poor that he will gladly sign away his lands for two hundred
pounds of hard money。
Then up spake the high cellarer； 〃Methinks it is a shame to so drive
a misfortunate knight to the ditch。 I think it sorrow that the noblest
estate in Derbyshire should so pass away from him for a paltry five
hundred pounds。 Truly； I〃
〃How now；〃 broke in the Prior in a quivering voice； his eyes glistening
and his cheeks red with anger； 〃dost thou prate to my very beard； sirrah？
By Saint Hubert； thou hadst best save thy breath to cool thy pottage；
else it may scald thy mouth。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the man of law smoothly； 〃I dare swear this same knight
will never come to settlement this day； but will prove recreant。
Nevertheless； we will seek some means to gain his lands from him；
so never fear。〃
But even as the doctor spoke； there came a sudden clatter of horses'
hoofs and a jingle of iron mail in the courtyard below。
Then up spake the Prior and called upon one of the brethren
that sat below the salt； and bade him look out of the window
and see who was below； albeit he knew right well it could
be none but Sir Richard。
So the brother arose and went and looked； and he said； 〃I see below a score
of stout men…at…arms and a knight just dismounting from his horse。
He is dressed in long robes of gray which； methinks； are of poor seeming；
but the horse he rideth upon hath the richest coursing that ever I saw。
The Knight dismounts and they come this way； and are even now below
in the great hall。〃
〃Lo； see ye there now；〃 quoth Prior Vincent。 〃Here ye have
a knight with so lean a purse as scarce to buy him a crust
of bread to munch； yet he keeps a band of retainers and puts rich
trappings upon his horse's hide； while his own back goeth bare。
Is it not well that such men should be brought low？〃
〃But art thou sure；〃 said the little doctor tremulously；
〃that this knight will do us no harm？ Such as he are fierce
when crossed； and he hath a band of naughty men at his heels。
Mayhap thou hadst better give an extension of his debt。〃
Thus he spake； for h