Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin, who had not been to church for two weeks decided to go to St. Mary’s in Nottingham. Much the miller’s son advised him to take 20 of his yeomen for safety-sake, but Robin would have none of it and insisted he and Little John would go together. On their journey, they struck a bet on who the best archer was, but when Little John claimed his five shillings for beating Robin he refused to pay. This led to a fight in which Robin struck Little John who promptly left his master, leaving Robin to go to Nottingham on his own.
On entering, St. Mary’s church a great-headed monk who recognised Robin claimed he had been robbed by him. The monk raised the alarm, he bared the town gates and alerted the sheriff who, along with his men broke into the church where a fight ensued. Robin killed twelve of the sheriff’s men with his two-handed long-sword, but disaster followed when Robin was captured and thrown into jail. Further, accusations were made against him by other monks who all wrote letters of complaint against Robin to be taken to the king.
In the next scene, the outlaws heard Robin had been captured and jailed, so Little John, set off with Much the miller’s son to find the monk they knew had been sent to report Robin’s capture to the king. Finding the monk Little John killed him and took the letters from off his body while Much killed the page who would identify them. Little John and Much carried the monk’s letters to the king, telling him the monk had died on the way. After reading the letters, the king exclaimed there was never a yeoman in all Merry England he wished more to see. After that, the king gave Little John and Much twenty pounds and made them yeomen of the Crown, he also gave Little John his seal for identification purposes and told him to go to the sheriff at Nottingham and bring Robin to him.
Arriving in Nottingham the sheriff received the two men courteously and asked after the monk, only to be told the king’s pleasure was such that he had made him abbot and lord of Westminster Abbey. On hearing that, the sheriff offered both men hospitality and after they had drunk their fill, the sheriff fell into a drunken stupor. Taking the opportunity, Little John and Much the miller’s son went to the jail where they roused the sleeping jailer with the cry that Robin had escaped. Taking the bait, he let them into the jail and as soon as they were in, Little John killed the jailer. Taking the porter’s keys, he released Robin. The three men made haste and climbing over the city wall escaped to Sherwood.
When the king heard what had happened, he remembered the hospitality and the money he had given them as well as making them Yeomen of the Crown and he realised he had been well and truly tricked. Remembering the loyalty of Robin’s men and Robin’s loyalty to them, the king, who was full of admiration for Robin Hood and the Merry men decided to draw a veil over the whole affair and let matters rest.
NEXT PAGE Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby
On entering, St. Mary’s church a great-headed monk who recognised Robin claimed he had been robbed by him. The monk raised the alarm, he bared the town gates and alerted the sheriff who, along with his men broke into the church where a fight ensued. Robin killed twelve of the sheriff’s men with his two-handed long-sword, but disaster followed when Robin was captured and thrown into jail. Further, accusations were made against him by other monks who all wrote letters of complaint against Robin to be taken to the king.
In the next scene, the outlaws heard Robin had been captured and jailed, so Little John, set off with Much the miller’s son to find the monk they knew had been sent to report Robin’s capture to the king. Finding the monk Little John killed him and took the letters from off his body while Much killed the page who would identify them. Little John and Much carried the monk’s letters to the king, telling him the monk had died on the way. After reading the letters, the king exclaimed there was never a yeoman in all Merry England he wished more to see. After that, the king gave Little John and Much twenty pounds and made them yeomen of the Crown, he also gave Little John his seal for identification purposes and told him to go to the sheriff at Nottingham and bring Robin to him.
Arriving in Nottingham the sheriff received the two men courteously and asked after the monk, only to be told the king’s pleasure was such that he had made him abbot and lord of Westminster Abbey. On hearing that, the sheriff offered both men hospitality and after they had drunk their fill, the sheriff fell into a drunken stupor. Taking the opportunity, Little John and Much the miller’s son went to the jail where they roused the sleeping jailer with the cry that Robin had escaped. Taking the bait, he let them into the jail and as soon as they were in, Little John killed the jailer. Taking the porter’s keys, he released Robin. The three men made haste and climbing over the city wall escaped to Sherwood.
When the king heard what had happened, he remembered the hospitality and the money he had given them as well as making them Yeomen of the Crown and he realised he had been well and truly tricked. Remembering the loyalty of Robin’s men and Robin’s loyalty to them, the king, who was full of admiration for Robin Hood and the Merry men decided to draw a veil over the whole affair and let matters rest.
NEXT PAGE Copyright © 2014, Graham Kirkby