16
ged her to save his life. She immediately exchanged clothes with him, and as the Bishop came in with his men, Robin passed by them and got clear off. When he came in sight of his band, one of the bowmen, who observed him coming, cried out, "A witch, & witch!" and was about to let fly an arrow at him, wheu Robin discovered himself. He then told Little John to kill a fat deer, as the Bishop of Hereford was to dine with them, and taking his bowmen along with him, went to a particular spot to wait for his guest.
When the Bishop entered the cottage, he seized the old woman, who was in Robin's clothes, and said, "I know you are one of Rohin Hood's gang, therefore take me to where he is, and your life sball be saved." The old woman who had got her directions from Robin, agreed to take him; and being soon mounted, they rode on to an opening in the
Forest, where Robin's bowmen were all drawn up, when the Bishop asked, "Who are these?" "I think it is Robin Hood, whom you want, and his merry men,” replied she; but I cannot be certain, for I am only a poor old woman, who changed clothes with him." The Bishop, after bestowing a hearty malediction on the old woman, was turning to ride off; but Robin bronght him down from his horse, and forced him to go and partake of their good cheer. After dinner he made the Bishop dance a hornpipe, to the no small diversion of the bowmen; and having eased him of five hundred pounds, as payment of his reckoning, they led him and his followers to the high road, where the bowmen gave three cheers, and then returned to the forest.
Robin Hood once being at Stratford, he met with a country dealer travelling into Lancashire to buy goods. Robin and this rider afterwards got acquainted together on the road.
