4 Robin Hood Plays Butcher

CHAPTER 4 Robin Hood Plays Butcher Robin Hood and his men did not leave Sherwood Forest for one whole year after rescuing Will Stutely. Whenever they caught a wealthy priest or landlord on the road through Sherwood, they took him to their place under the Greenwood Tree. There they held a great feast for the man they had captured. After the meal they made him pay, often with all the money he carried. One morning, bored, Robin went looking for adventure. Reaching the edge of the

forest, he spied a butcher, his horse-drawn cart full of meat. The butcher whistled merrily as he drove along. "Hello, good friend," Robin said. "You certainly seem happy." The butcher replied, "Yes, it's true. I am. I'm healthy, and it's a beautiful day. I love the prettiest lass in all Nottinghamshire, and I'm to marry her in Locksley town next Thursday." "I was born and bred in Locksley town myself," said Robin. "I know it well. Where are you going this fine morning?" "I am going to Nottingham town to sell my beef and mutton," said the butcher. "Who are you that comes from Locksley town?" Robin smiled and bowed. "Call me Robin Hood." "By God, I know the name well," exclaimed the butcher. "Please don't take

anything from me. I am an honest man. I have harmed no one." Robin Hood laughed. "I wouldn't an honest man such as yourself, especially one who hails from Locksley town! But tell me, what price would you ask for your cart, horse, and meat?" "Hmmmn." The butcher thought for a moment. "The cart, horse, and meat are worth four pounds altogether." Robin reached into his pouch and pulled out six pounds. "I would like to buy your cart and be a butcher for one day. Will you sell it to me?" "May all the saints bless you!" cried the butcher. He jumped down from the cart and grabbed for the money Robin waved in front of him. Robin laughed loudly. "Now get back to your lass and give her a kiss for me." Leaping

into the driver's seat, he slapped the reins, and the horse trotted off through the forest. When he reached the Nottingham market, Robin set up his stall among the other butchers. Clanging his cleaver and a knife together, he began to sing: Come ye lasses, come ye dames, Buy your meat from me. For three pennies' worth of meat I sell For the charge of one penny. When he finished his song, Robin called out, "Now, who will buy? Three pennies' worth of meat I sell to a fat friar for six pennies because I don't want his business. To lovely women, I sell three pennies' worth of meat for one penny. I like their business. To the lovely girl who likes a good butcher, I charge nothing but a kiss because I like her business best of all!"

A laughing crowd gathered. The meat was of the finest quality, and for the dames and girls of Nottingham town, the prices were excellent. Robin charged a widow or a poor woman nothing at all. If a fair young lass came to Robin's stall, he charged only a kiss.

Some onlookers thought he was a thief who had stolen the cart and meat. But a thief would not give the meat away. Finally, everyone decided that Robin must be a rich man's son who thought giving away his money was fun. Curious, some of the other butchers walked over to Robin's stall. "Come, brother, dine with us," they invited. "We are giving a great feast for the Sheriff of Nottingham at the Guild Hall." "I will happily dine with you," said Robin with a tip of his cap. The sheriff was eager to meet this butcher who gave meat away. Perhaps he could cheat him out of some money. He had seen Robin only twice, very briefly, and didn't recognize the young man when he entered the hall. When dinner was served, the sheriff asked Robin to say grace. Robin prayed, "Now