Chapter-9
Robin and Maid Marian were passing their days peacefully in the Sherwood Forest. One morning, they decided to take a walk around the Forest. When they were enjoying themselves a stroll, they noticed a young man full of energy and enthusiasm. He was sitting under the shade of a tree and serenading very softly. He was looking very carefree and cheerful. He was passing his time in happy-go-lucky fashion.
Seeing the young man Robin said to Maid Marian, “O beloved! Have a look at that young man. He seems to be footloose and fancy free. He is a free man who is singing melodiously.”
Maid Marian replied, “Yes dear, you are very much right. He is sitting here comfortably and is away from the hustle-bustle of the world.”
Saying these words both Robin and Maid Marian were on their way.
A week passed. The two again were enjoying themselves a stroll in the morning. They noticed the same young man whom they saw a week ago. This time the young man was not looking happy. He was sad and disappointed.
Seeing the young man Robin said to Maid Marian, “This young man is not so happy as he was that day. Let us ask him what his problem is.”
Maid Marian saw eye to eye with Robin. The two went up to the young man who was sitting under a shady tree. As he looked at Robin and Maid Marian he at once stood up.
Robin said to the young man, “Dear! Why are you sad today? Tell us what your problem is. The last week when we saw you, you were looking very cheerful and enthusiastic. Today you look somewhat upset. Please let us know what hurts you.”
The young men looked somewhat puzzled. He asked Robin, “Who are you?”
Robin replied, “Dear! Tell me everything without any hesitation. I am the leader of the outlaws living in the Sherwood Forest. Maybe I can help you sort out your matter.”
Hearing the words of Robin the young man was filled with happiness. A ray of hope arose in his heart. He said to Robin, “Sir, I am Alan-a-Dale. I love Ellen who has been engaged to me. But my enemy has plotted against us. Last month, I had to marry that beautiful maiden. But I could not do so because a Norman baron came in between us. He showed his wealth to Ellen and forced her to marry him against her wish. I have learnt that he is forcibly marrying Ellen tomorrow. That is why I am deeply sad at heart. Ellen loves me more than anything else. I too love her from the core of my heart. In fact, we can’t live without each other. If you really want to help me, marry her off to me and rid us of that haughty Norman baron.”
Hearing the words of young man Robin said to him, “Dear, tell me why Ellen is ready to marry the baron against her wish. Is she unfaithful? Does she admire his wealth or doesn’t she love you from the bottom of her heart? Please tell me the truth, otherwise I shall not be able to help you in this matter.”
The young man explained thus, “Sir! Ellen’s father had an old business. He was very wealthy. Last year, his partner played false upon him and cheated him of his every penny. Apart from this, he got stuck in debts. At present, he is in red from head to toe.
The Norman boron as you know is very rich. He has promised to pay his debts provided Ellen marries her. Ellen’s father is down with some deadly disease. She does not have money to take care of her father. That is why she has got ready to marry the baron much against her will.”
Hearing the pathetic tale of the young man Maid Marian was filled with pity. She said to Robin, “Dear, we must help him. Just because of money she is marrying the man much against her wish. It is not good. Money is not the be all and end all of one’s life. True love is what everyone desires. It is really shameful. Do something.”
Robin turned to the young man and said, “I promise you will marry the partner of your choice. But what will you offer me in return?”
The young man at once replied, “Sir, tell me what you deem fit. I am ready to abide by your every condition. I want back my Ellen only. That is all.”
Hearing the words of the young man Robin felt very happy. He observed, “Then give me word that you will join my band. Also, make a pledge that you will make Ellen ready as well to be the part of our band. If you promise me thus, I shall try me level best to poke my nose into your matter.”
Hearing the words of Robin the young man with palms joined in reverence said, “O chief! I give you word that I along with Ellen will join you band, come what may.”
Hearing the words of the young man Robin was overjoyed. Then he took the young man to the greenwood camp and introduced him to his Merry Men one by one. The Merry Men felt very pleased to meet the young man.
Robin chalked out a plan to stop the marriage. He said to his Merry Men, “Listen to me carefully, O comrades. This young man seeks hand of his beloved in marriage. But her beloved is being forcibly married off to a baron. Tomorrow you will dress yourselves as common folk and go to the church to witness the marriage. Don’t forget to take your weapons. There, I shall need your support and help in stalling the marriage proceedings.”
As the sun rose the next morning, Robin along with his Merry Men got ready to go to the church in order to carry out his plan. They all reached the church and mingled with the crowd sitting there.
The church was packed to capacity. So none could recognize Robin and his men. After some time a man from the crowd shouted, “Here comes the bride!”
All eyes set on the bride who was elegantly dressed in the marriage outfit. But Ellen, the bride, was sad and gloomy. As she escorted by her father reached the church gate, the entire crowd welcomed her cheerfully. But Ellen was crestfallen.
Just then, a rough dirty-looking fellow came over there and said, “Hello Ellen! How are you? I have come to take you back to my house.”
Saying these words he along with Ellen moved forward in the direction of Father who was eagerly waiting for them.
All of a sudden, three men from the crowd sprung up and circled around the Norman baron.
Seeing the men the baron exclaimed, “Hey, who are you? Why are you behaving in such a fashion? Mind your business.”
But the men did not pay any heed to what the Norman baron uttered. They held him tightly. All of a sudden, the rustic fellow who was with Ellen threw off his tramp’s clothes. He was none other than Robin who jumped at the baron and caught him by the neck.
Seeing them the baron turned pale with fear. Robin blew his horn and the Merry Men fanned in all the corners of the church. They restricted the entry of church goers.
After some time Alan-a-Dale escorted by two armed men entered the church. Robin took him and Ellen to Father and said, “Father, they love each other and want to marry. Perform the ceremony and solemnize their marriage.”
When Father came to know the name of the groom, he shouted angrily, “This can’t be the groom. I have been told the other name. How has it happened? I can’t solemnize this marriage.”
Hearing the words of Father Robin flew into a rage. He took Father to one side and said, “Father, they are engaged. If you don’t believe my words you can ask the bride.”
Father moved to Ellen and asked, “O Ellen, speak the truth. Tell me whether you love this man or not.”
Ellen kept mum for some time and then spoke up most respectfully, “Father, I love Alan-a-Dale. I am engaged to him. The baron wants to marry me against my wish.”
As the Norman baron had good reputation, Father denied to perform the marriage ceremony. Then at the behest of Robin Friar Tuck came forward and performed the ritual ceremony.
The Norman baron and the Bishop could do nothing but look on. Alan-a-Dale and Ellen garlanded each other. The Merry Men of Robin did the melodious singing with the crowd swaying to and fro out of joy. With the marriage ceremony over everybody returned to the Sherwood Forest.
The newly wed couple was all praise for Robin and his Merry Men. They were grateful to them for their timely help. They said to Robin, “Chief! We owe you a debt of gratitude. Had you not come on time, we would have been ruined. You have given each of us a new lease of life. You have done a humanitarian deed today. You have come to us like an angel from the heavens.”
As promised, both Alan-a-Dale and Ellen started staying with Robin and his Merry Men in the Sherwood Forest. Days passed by followed by weeks and months.
One morning, both Alan-a-Dale and Ellen with the other Merry Men were sitting in the greenwood camp. They were idling away their time cutting some jokes.
Friar Tuck came up there and said, “Hello friends! How are you? Good morning to all of you. Would anybody like to accompany me on a walk? Both Ellen and Alan-a-Dale spoke up in chorus, “We will, wait for a moment.”
Saying these words they got ready to go along with Friar Tuck. Carrying a bow and arrow in his hand Friar Tuck led them through the dense forest.
Hardly had they covered some distance when they heard a strange voice. They were dumbfounded. They grew inquisitive as it was a soft chanting. Both Alan-a-Dale and Ellen said to Friar Tuck, “Whose voice can it be? Why not go in the direction whither the voice is coming?”
Friar Tuck agreed to what they said. The three went in the direction of the voice. At some distance, they sighted three monks. There were two black monks and one mendicant friar. Now the three outlaws decided to hear what they were chanting in a soft voice. So, they hid themselves behind a tall oak-tree. The tall oak-tree was very close to the three monks. Now the three outlaws positioned themselves and heard thus.
“Money, money! O Almighty God, send us money by any means so that we may fulfil our long-standing needs.” They were chanting these lines time and again with sad hearts. They were in dire need of money.
No sooner did they finish praying for the money than the mendicant friar said, “We have said prayers many a time. Now it is up to the benevolent God to fulfil our needs. Sooner or later, we are sure to get money. We should have full faith in Him. He sees but waits. He will definitely answer our prayers. Let us check our pockets for money. Maybe he will send something.”
The two black monks saw eye to eye with the mendicant friar. They said, “Yes, you are very much right. Mysterious are the ways of the Almighty God.”
Saying these words they checked their pockets for money. They turned their pockets inside out but they did not have even a penny.
One of the black monks observed, “Look here. We don’t have a dime in our pockets. I was right the Merry Men robbed us of all our money. What shall we do now?”
The other black monk too had the same viewpoint. Both of them looked very dejected and disappointed.
Seeing them in deplorable condition the mendicant friar observed, “Don’t lose heart. You search my pocket and I shall search yours. It shall do the trick.”
Hearing the words of the mendicant friar the two black monks brisked the pockets of the mendicant friar. To their utter disappointment, they too were empty. There was not even a dime in his pockets. The two black monks hung their heads in utter despair.
The mendicant friar remarked, “Let me search your pockets. You have searched mine. Now it is my turn to see whether your pockets have money or not.”
Saying these words the mendicant friar reached out his hands towards the first black monk.
Lo and behold! No sooner did he touch the pockets of the black monk silver coins began to fall down to the ground from the monk’s cloak.
It was amazing. The monk was taken aback. The coins were strewn all over the ground. Now the mendicant friar reached out his hands to touch the pockets of the second monk. The same thing happened. As soon as he stretched out his hands towards he monk, the silver coins began to rain in the same fashion.
Seeing the silver coins both the black monks began to dance in jubilation. Each of the monks had belt around his waist. There were several money bags attached to the belt.
The mendicant friar observed, “Friends! The Almighty God is kind and benevolent. He has answered our prayers. Look here. The ground is strewn with a lot of silver coins. God is great. None can know what His intention are. We made a promise among ourselves that whatever God would send us we would share it among ourselves equally. As per the promise, here is your share.”
Saying these words the mendicant friar stretched out his hands to give a handful of coins to each of the black monks. But they refused to take the coins. Their conscience pricked them for telling the mendicant friar a lie.
In fact, the two black monks had managed to steal the coins from the Abbey. They had not informed about it to the friar. They were taking the coins to a safe hiding place.
In spite of money offered by the friar, the two black monks did not accept the coins. Without saying a word they mounted their horses and rode into the dense forest.
Seeing this the mendicant friar could not help laughing. He laughed boisterously. His loud laugh echoed through the entire forest. The friar pulled off his garb. To the utter amazement of Alan-a-Dale, Ellen and Friar Tuck, he was none other than Robin, their chief.
Soon they came out of the tall oak-tree. Seeing them Robin said, “Hello friends! You watched everything that took place here. Wasn’t it amazing? Collect all these silver coins. They must be nearly four hundred pounds.”
Again Robin laughed merrily. Friar Tuck remarked, “O chief! You are great. we are proud to have you as our master.”
Saying these words he collected all the coins and filled his money bag with them. Robin with his friends returned to the greenwood camp. Everyone praised Robin to the skies.
The Sheriff in the castle was not able to sleep peacefully at night. His every attempt to capture Robin had cost him very dearly. He had spent most of his time and money in such useless pursuits. His exchequer had nearly drained out. So, he wrote a letter to the Abbot, who was his dearest friend, asking him for some money. He advised him to collect the money from his subjects.
The Abbot sent his men in every nook and corner of the district to carry out his objective. Soon a lot of money was collected. Now the Abbot appointed a priest and entrusted him with the responsibility of handing over the money to the Sheriff. The priest mounted a horse and rode off.
The priest’s way passed through the Sherwood Forest. The priest feared that he might come across Robin and his Merry Men. So, he concealed the money in a money bag. He placed the money bag under the saddle on which he was sitting.
The evening fell and it became absolutely dark. All of a sudden, the priest saw four vagabonds bending low on the ground at some distance. He pulled the reins of his horse. The horse stopped near the four tramps.
Seeing them bowing low the priest asked, “What are you doing here? What do you want? Be off my way and let me pass.”
But the four tramps did not budge an inch. They remained in the same position. Now the Sheriff dismounted from his horse and approached the four tramps. As he bowed to touch one of them, all the four tramps stood up. They pulled off their clothing. They stared at the priest who turned pale with fear. Sweat flashed across his face.
The four tramps were none other than Robin Hood, Little John, Will Scarlet and Much-the-Miller’s son respectively. They burst out in a peal of laughter. Beside them a king’s deer was laying dead. The four had killed it.
Seeing the dead dear the priest got offended. He remarked, “How dare you kill the king’s dear? It is an offence. You will not be spared for this.”
Robin pretended to be deaf. He exclaimed, “What? We have killed a bear. What if we have killed it? We enjoy hunting.”
“But it is not bear. It is a deer. Don’t you know that it belongs to the King. Its meat belongs to the King only. You can’t lay your hands on it,” warned the priest.
But Robin said, “Beef! It will be boiled soon. It will be delicious. We shall serve you the beef once it is prepared.”
Now the priest got irritated all the more. He went close to Robin and shouted in his ear, “Listen to me carefully. It is royal meat. You can’t touch it.”
Robin who played deaf exclaimed, “Soiled meat? You are absolutely right. The meat will get soiled if we don’t move it before long”
The priest had lost his temper. He went red in the face. He unsheathed his sword and tried to attack Robin. As he lifted his arm up, Little John came from behind and grabbed him tightly around the waist. However hard the priest tried, he could not loosen his grip.
Robin then said to the priest, “I am Robin Hood, the chief of the outlaws. These are my Merry Men.”
Hearing the words the priest gasped in terror. He was shivering with fear.
Seeing the priest Robin said, “Come on, priest. We are not so bad as to harm an innocent person. But you can’t go away from here without having dinner with us.”
The priest had no alternative but to take dinner with Robin. He didn’t want to incur the wrath of Robin either.
Robin took the priest to the greenwood camp. There, he introduced him to his Merry Men who were busy preparing the evening meal.
Everyone except for the priest relished the meal. The priest looked in a tearing hurry. He wanted to reach the Sheriff as quickly as possible. So, he said to Robin, “Chief! I seek your permission to move from here. I am getting late. I am on an urgent visit to somebody.”
Hearing the words of the priest Robin said, “Let me know whether you have liked the meal or not. Only then shall I let you go from here.”
The priest replied, “The meal was really delicious. I ate to my heart’s content.”
Robin stood up and said, “So, pay the price of the meal. It is mandatory upon every visitor who visits here and takes meal with us. Without paying us the price you can’t go away from here.”
The priest observed, “Chief! I have only three shillings. I require these shillings during my journey. So, I have nothing to give you.
Robin remarked, “O priest! Are your speaking the truth? If you are found telling a lie, you won’t be spared. Your horse will be impounded.”
When they were having meal Robin’s men searched the horse. Under the saddle they found the money bag which contained a lot of money.
The priest was filled with fright. His lips were sealed for a moment. Before he could utter a word Robin showed him his money bag which contained lots of money.
The priest stood aghast. He said to Robin, “You can’t take this money from me. It is someone else’s property. Please don’t do it. It is the Sheriff’s property. He won’t spare you for this impudence.”
Robin observed, “Had you spoken the truth earlier I would not have taken a penny from you. Now the money does not belong to you. It is the Sheriff’s property. So we shall accept payment from the Sheriff. We are not touching your money.”
But the priest stated, “Don’t touch it, O chief. The Sheriff won’t spare me. The Abbot has handed over the money to me. He wants me to deliver it to the Sheriff.”
But Robin did not pay any attention to what the priest said. All his pleas fell flat on Robin’s ears. Robin ordered his men thus, “Take a hundred pounds from this money bag.”
Then he turned to the priest and said, “We are taking only a hundred pounds. Go and tell the Sheriff that Robin the outlaw has snatched a hundred pounds as his rent.”
The priest was awestruck. He was sweating profusely. He said to Robin, “O chief! I dare not tell the Sheriff all this thing. He will surely have me hanged to death. Please spare my money.”
But Robin did not relent. He said to the priest jokingly, “Then you can tell the Abbot to make up the money. He will collect it from the people once again.”
Saying these words Robin’s men counted a hundred pounds and took it away from the priest. Two of Robin’s men blindfolded the priest and led him out of the forest.
