neither ale nor bread. But there is little pleasure in the greenwood

now; time was when a good fellow could live here like a mitred abbot, set

aside the rain and the white frosts; he had his heart's desire both of

ale and wine. But now are men's spirits dead; and this John Amend-All,

save us and guard us! but a stuffed booby to scare crows withal."

"Nay," returned the other, "y' are too set on meat and drinking, Lawless.

Bide ye a bit; the good time cometh."

Look ye," returned the cook, "I have even waited for this good time sith

that I was so high. I have been a grey friar; I have been a king's

archer; I have been a shipman, and sailed the salt seas; and I have been

in greenwood before this, forsooth! and shot the king's deer. What

cometh of it? Naught! I were better to have bided in the cloister.

John Abbot availeth more than John Amend-All. By 'r Lady! here they

come."

One after another, tall, likely fellows began to stroll into the lawn.

Each as he came produced a knife and a horn cup, helped himself from the

caldron, and sat down upon the grass to eat. They were very variously

equipped and armed; some in rusty smocks, and with nothing but a knife

and an old bow; others in the height of forest gallantry, all in Lincoln

green, both hood and jerkin, with dainty peacock arrows in their belts, a

horn upon a baldrick, and a sword and dagger at their sides. They came

in the silence of hunger, and scarce growled a salutation, but fell

instantly to meat.

The Black Arrow