"
Saint Bottle, then, was the saint of Friar Tuck, who did not yield
even to Robin and Marian in the assiduity of his devotions to his
chosen patron. Such was their summer life, and in their winter caves
they had sufficient furniture, ample provender, store of old wine,
and assuredly no lack of fuel, with joyous music and pleasant discourse
to charm away the season of darkness and storms.
[6] Alcofribas Nasier: an anagram of Francois Rabelais,
and his assumed appellation.
The reader who desires to know more about this oracular divinity,
may consult the said doctor Alcofribas Nasier, who will usher him
into the adytum through the medium of the high priestess Bacbuc.
Many moons had waxed and waned, when on the afternoon of a lovely
summer day a lusty broad-boned knight was riding through the forest
of Sherwood. The sun shone brilliantly on the full green foliage,
and afforded the knight a fine opportunity of observing picturesque
effects, of which it is to be feared he did not avail himself.
But he had not proceeded far, before he had an opportunity of observing
something much more interesting, namely, a fine young outlaw leaning,
in the true Sherwood fashion, with his back against a tree.
The knight was preparing to ask the stranger a question, the answer
to which, if correctly given, would have relieved him from a doubt
that pressed heavily on his mind, as to whether he was in the right
road or the wrong, when the youth prevented the inquiry by saying:
"In God's name, sir knight, you are late to your meals.
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