Chapter 34 - Page 2

the 18th
November, 1247, being the thirty-first year of King Henry III.; and if
the date assigned to his birth be correct, about the eighty-seventh
year of his age. He was interred under some trees at a short
distance from the house; a stone being placed over his grave, with
an inscription to his memory.
There are some who will have it that Robin Hood was not alive in the
reign of Richard I., and who will have it that he preferred other
forests to Sherwood. But the stories that we have chosen are of the
Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest and of King Richard the Lion-hearted. LITTLE JOHN. The lieutenant of Robin Hood's band was named Little John, not so
much from his smallness in stature (for he was seven feet high and
more), as for a reason which I shall tell later. And the manner in
which Robin Hood, to whom he was very dear, met him was this.
Robin Hood on one occasion being hunting with his men and finding
the sport to be poor, said: "We have had no sport now for some time.
So I go abroad alone. And if I should fall into any peril whence I
cannot escape I will blow my horn that ye may know of it and bear me
aid." And with that he bade them adieu and departed alone, having with
him his bow and the arrows in his quiver. And passing shortly over a
brook by a long bridge he met at the middle a stranger. And neither of
the two would give way to the other. And Robin Hood being angry fitted
an arrow to his bow and made ready to fire. "Truly," said the stranger
at this, "thou art a fine fellow that you must draw your long bow on
me who have but a staff by me." "That is just truly," said Robin; "and
so I will lay by my bow and get me a staff to try if your deeds be
as good as your words." And with that he went into a thicket and chose
him a small ground oak for a staff and returned to the stranger.
"Now," said he, "I am a match for you, so let us play upon this
bridge, and if one should fall in the stream the other will have the
victory." "With all my heart," said the stranger; "I shall not be
the first to give out." And with that they began to make great play
with their staves. And Robin Hood first struck the stranger such a
blow as warmed all his blood, and from that they rattled their
sticks as though they had been threshing corn. And finally the
stranger gave Robin such a crack on his crown that he broke his head
and the blood flowed. But this only urged him the more, so that he
attacked the stranger with such vigor that he had like to have made an
end of him. But he growing into a fury finally fetched him such a blow
that he tumbled him from the bridge into the brook. Whereat the
stranger laughed loudly and long, and cried out to him, "Where art
thou now, I prythee, my good fellow?" And Robin replied, "Thou art