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companions would blame his absence, he made directly for Sherwood Forest, riding through Warwickshire disguised as a page.
Robin being at an inn near Buckingham, heard great singing and dancing, and found it was a country wake, at which were present most of the young men and maids for several miles round about. Robin, pleased at the adventure, put up his horse, and, as he was drinking in the kitchen, an old rich farmer came in with a hundred marks tied up in a bag under his arm. Robin's eyes were more fixed upon the farmer's bag of money than the young folks dancing, and observing in the room where they were that there was a chimney with a large funnel, he went out and communicated his designs to the ostler, who, for a reward, drest a great mastiff dog in a cow's hide he had in his stable, placing the horns just on his forehead, when in the height of their jollity, by the help of a ladder and a rope, he let him hastily down the chimney into the room where they were all assembled. Robin lad returned before the acting of this scene; the dog howled hideously as he descended, and rushing among them in that frightful form, turned all into hurry and confusion; and the old farmer, being in a dreadful fright, dropped his hundred marks, and fled for safety; the meantime Robin securing the money under his cloak, immediately took horse and made the best of his way.
By these and similar depredations he became noted, repelling force by force, and art by cunning. The severity of the forest laws, enacted by the Norman kings, made it necessary for his followers to keep together. Their numbers increased to four hundred of the best marksmen in the kingdom, among whom was the celebrated George Green, the Pindar of Wakefield.
At one time, when the finances of the merry men were very low, they resolved to plunder the rich convent of St. Mary, and to carry off the image of the Holy Virgin, which was of solid silver. Under the disguise of a poor blind minstrel and his mother, Robin Hood and Little John gained admittance to the convent; and, when the nuns and friars had retired to their cells, opened the gates to their companions. The alarm soon spread through the convent, and every one flew to the chapel for protection; but the bowmen having alrendy entered the place, were proceeding to spoil it of what was most valuable, and to take down the silver image, when one of the nuns cried out, "Oh! mercy; will they take away the gift of our queen, even while she is with in our walls? On hearing this, Robin said, "My brave
