This gave the knight a good excuse to pursue him,
which he did with great celerity, calling, "Stop, you rascal."
When the squire fancied himself safe out of the reach of pursuit,
he checked his speed, and allowed the knight to come up with him.
They rode on several miles in silence, till they discovered
the towers and spires of Nottingham, where the knight introduced
himself to the sheriff, and demanded an armed force to assist in
the apprehension of the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon. The sheriff,
who was willing to have his share of the prize, determined to accompany
the knight in person, and regaled him and his man with good store
of the best; after which, they, with a stout retinue of fifty men,
took the way to Gamwell feast.
"God's my life," said the sheriff, as they rode along,
"I had as lief you would tell me of a service of plate.
I much doubt if this outlawed earl, this forester Robin,
be not the man they call Robin Hood, who has quartered
himself in Sherwood Forest, and whom in endeavouring
to apprehend I have fallen divers times into disasters.
He has gotten together a band of disinherited prodigals,
outlawed debtors, excommunicated heretics, elder sons that
have spent all they had, and younger sons that never had any
thing to spend; and with these he kills the king's deer,
and plunders wealthy travellers of five-sixths of their money;
but if they be abbots or bishops, them he despoils utterly.
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