13 The Bishop “Helps” Robin and Sir Richard

CHAPTER 13 The Bishop "Helps" Robin and Sir Richard When the party reached the Greenwood Tree, they saw that Little John's men had captured the Bishop of Hereford and his attendants. Robin saw pack horses loaded with goods. He also saw that one horse carried a big locked wooden box. Robin's eyes gleamed. He knew such a box held treasure. The bishop spotted Robin and charged

toward him like a bull. Robin smiled. "Hello, your holiness! I will be with you in a moment. Don't worry, there's not another man in all England I'd rather speak with." The bishop's face swelled with rage. "Is this the way you and your ragtag band treat a man so high in the church as I?" he shouted. "These friars and I were traveling peacefully down the road when up comes a great strapping fellow, a full seven feet high. He's with eighty men, and they demand that we stop. He called me fat priest, man-eating bishop, and whatnot as if I were no more than a beggar!" Robin said, "Alas, my lord, you have truly been ill treated by my band. Little John, come here for a moment." Little John came forward, pretending to be ashamed, like a child caught stealing sweets. Robin said to the bishop, "Is this the man

who spoke so boldly to your lordship?" "Yes it is," fumed the bishop. "He's an evil fellow." Robin turned to Little John. "Little John, did you call his lordship a fat priest?" "Yes, I did," Little John said sorrowfully. "And a man-eating bishop?" "Yes," replied Little John, even more sorrowfully. "Alas, then these things must be true," concluded Robin. "Little John is an honest man, and I know he would not lie to a bishop!" The bishop's blood boiled so hotly that his face turned cherry red from his scalp to his chin, but he swallowed his words. "Now, my good bishop, we are rough fellows," said Robin Hood. "But we are not so rough as you might believe. All are equal here in the Greenwood, and all who come to

dine with us must share our merry life. So too must you." While some of the men ran to prepare the meal, others brought out staffs and longbows. Soft animal pelts were laid out on the ground as seats for the guests. Robin seated Sir Richard of the Lea next to the Bishop of Hereford. When everyone was comfortable, some men hung a wreath of green branches from a distant tree. The men each aimed three arrows at the wreath. Although it was just four palms wide, only two arrows missed the ring. "I have never seen such shooting!" the bishop exclaimed. "Robin Hood, I have often heard of your skill. Will you show me a sample?" Robin jumped lightly to his feet. From a willow tree, he cut a slim stick and whittled one end to a point. He walked off in the

distance, stuck the sharpened stick into the ground, and then returned to where the bishop sat. Robin took up his bow and chose a very straight arrow with flawless feathers. He placed the notched end of the arrow over the string of his bow, drew back quickly, and shot. An instant later, a great shout arose. Robin's arrow had split the narrow stick and lodged halfway through it! The bishop was amazed. The merry men raised a cheer for Robin Hood. They were proud of his skill. Soon great platters of savory meats appeared. After everyone had eaten his fill, Robin called for silence. When everyone hushed, he spoke. "I have a story to tell, so listen to what I say." Then Robin Hood repeated Sir Richard's sad tale. "Now Sir Richard will surely lose his castle and his lands to the Prior of Emmett," Robin said at the end. He looked at the bishop. "Is that the way for a

servant of God to behave?" The bishop stared at the ground, afraid to meet anyone's eye. "You are the richest bishop in all of England," Robin cajoled. "Can you help this needy brother?" The bishop said nothing. Robin turned to Little John. "Get the bundles that the bishop and his men carried." Little John and Will Stutely laid the bundles out on the grass in front of everyone. Little John handed Robin a list of goods. Robin asked Will Scarlet to read the list aloud so everyone could hear. Some items, such as candles for the Chapel of St. Thomas, Robin let the bishop keep. Other items, such as bundles of silk, would be sold for charity. Finally, they came to the last item on the list. Will Scarlet read, "A box belonging to the Lord Bishop of Hereford." The bishop shuddered as if he had a chill.