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and property of every woman sacred, and always took the part of the weak and injur- ed. By the poor people he was adored, for he generously supplied their wants from his own private purse.
Robin Hood, wholoved a good joke as well as good booty, meeting one day a jolly-look- ing butcher on horseback, who was going to Nottingham fair, with panniers on each side, made a bargain tor the mare and panniers,, and an exchange of clothes. The butcher having put on the fine green uniform, Robin dressed and mounted as a butcher, and rode straight to Nottingham market, where he hired a stall, and began to dispose of his; meat, giving more for one penny than the butchers could do for five, so that they sold nothing. The butchers supposing him to be some senseless spendthrift, and that a good bargain might be got off him, asked him to dine with them. Robin consented, and after dinner insisted on paying the bill; which was no sooner observed by the Sheriff, a cunning old miser, who was master both of the market and tavern, than he determined to take advantage of it, and said to him, "Good fellow, hast thou any horned beast to sell?” "Yes, good Master Sheriff,” re- plied Robin, "if you will please to go and see them.” The Sheriff immediately ordered out his
