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thy land and get thee gone from out my hall。〃
Then Sir Richard arose to his feet。 〃Thou false； lying priest！〃 said he in so stern a voice that the man of law shrunk affrighted； 〃I am no false knight； as thou knowest full well； but have even held my place in the press and the tourney。 Hast thou so little courtesy that thou wouldst see a true knight kneel for all this time； or see him come into thy hall and never offer him meat or drink？〃
Then quoth the man of law in a trembling voice； 〃This is surely an ill way to talk of matters appertaining to business； let us be mild in speech。 What wilt thou pay this knight； Sir Prior； to give thee release of his land？〃
〃I would have given him two hundred pounds；〃 quoth the Prior； 〃but since he hath spoken so vilely to my teeth； not one groat over one hundred pounds will he get。〃
〃Hadst thou offered me a thousand pounds； false prior；〃 said the Knight； 〃thou wouldst not have got an inch of my land。〃 Then turning to where his men…at…arms stood near the door； he called； 〃Come hither；〃 and beckoned with his finger； whereupon the tallest of them all came forward and handed him a long leathern bag。 Sir Richard took the bag and shot from it upon the table a glittering stream of golden money。 〃Bear in mind； Sir Prior；〃 said he； 〃that thou hast promised me quittance for three hundred pounds。 Not one farthing above that shalt thou get。〃 So saying； he counted out three hundred pounds and pushed it toward the Prior。
But now the Prior's hands dropped at his sides and the Prior's head hung upon his shoulder； for not only had he lost all hopes of the land； but he had forgiven the Knight one hundred pounds of his debt and had needlessly paid the man of law fourscore angels。 To him he turned； and quoth he； 〃Give me back my money that thou hast。〃
〃Nay；〃 cried the other shrilly； 〃it is but my fee that thou didst pay me； and thou gettest it not back again。〃 And he hugged his gown about him。
〃Now； Sir Prior；〃 quoth Sir Richard； 〃I have held my day and paid all the dues demanded of me； so； as there is no more betwixt us； I leave this vile place straightway。〃 So saying； he turned upon his heel and strode away。
All this time the Sheriff had been staring with wide…open eyes and mouth agape at the tall man…at…arms； who stood as though carved out of stone。 At last he gasped out； 〃Reynold Greenleaf！〃
At this； the tall man…at…arms； who was no other than Little John； turned； grinning； to the Sheriff。 〃I give thee good den； fair gossip；〃 quoth he。 〃I would say； sweet Sheriff； that I have heard all thy pretty talk this day； and it shall be duly told unto Robin Hood。 So； farewell for the nonce； till we meet again in Sherwood Forest。〃 Then he； also； turned and followed Sir Richard down the hall； leaving the Sheriff； all pale and amazed； shrunk together upon his chair。
A merry feast it was to which Sir Richard came； but a sorry lot he left behind him； and little hunger had they for the princely food spread before them。 Only the learned doctor was happy； for he had his fee。
Now a twelvemonth and a day passed since Prior Vincent of Emmet sat at feast； and once more the mellow fall of another year had come。 But the year had brought great change； I wot； to the lands of Sir Richard of the Lea； for； where before shaggy wild grasses grew upon the meadow lands； now all stretch away in golden stubble； betokening that a rich and plentiful crop had been gathered therefrom。 A year had made a great change in the castle； also； for； where were empty moats and the crumbling of neglect； all was now orderly and well kept。
Bright shone the sun on battlement and tower； and in the blue air overhead a Hock of clattering jackdaws flew around the gilded weather vane and spire。 Then； in the brightness of the morning； the drawbridge fell across the moat with a rattle and clank of chains； the gate of the castle swung slowly open； and a goodly array of steel…clad men…at…arms； with a knight all clothed in chain mail； as white as frost on brier and thorn of a winter morning； came flashing out from the castle courtyard。 In his hand the Knight held a great spear； from the point of which fluttered a blood…red pennant as broad as the palm of one's hand。 So this troop came forth from the castle； and in the midst of them walked three pack horses laden with parcels of divers shapes and kinds。
Thus rode forth good Sir Richard of the Lea to pay his debt to Robin Hood this bright and merry morn。 Along the highway they wended their way； with measured tramp of feet and rattle and jingle of sword and harness。 Onward they marched till they came nigh to Denby； where； from the top of a hill； they saw； over beyond the town； many gay flags and streamers floating in the bright air。 Then Sir Richard turned to the man…at…arms nearest to him。 〃What is toward yonder at Denby today？〃 quoth he。
〃Please Your Worship；〃 answered the man…at…arms； 〃a merry fair is held there today； and a great wrestling match； to which many folk have come； for a prize hath been offered of a pipe of red wine； a fair golden ring； and a pair of gloves； all of which go to the best wrestler。〃
〃Now； by my faith；〃 quoth Sir Richard； who loved good manly sports right well； 〃this will be a goodly thing to see。 Methinks we have to stay a little while on our journey； and see this merry sport。〃 So he turned his horse's head aside toward Denby and the fair； and thither he and his men made their way。
There they found a great hubbub of merriment。 Flags and streamers were floating； tumblers were tumbling on the green； bagpipes were playing； and lads and lasses were dancing to the music。 But the crowd were gathered most of all around a ring where the wrestling was going forward； and thither Sir Richard and his men turned their steps。
Now when the judges of the wrestling saw Sir Richard coming and knew who he was； the chief of them came down from the bench where he and the others sat； and went to the Knight and took him by the hand； beseeching him to come and sit with them and judge the sport。 So Sir Richard got down from his horse and went with the others to the bench raised beside the ring。
Now there had been great doings that morning； for a certain yeoman named Egbert； who came from Stoke over in Staffordshire； had thrown with ease all those that came against him； but a man of Denby； well known through all the countryside as William of the Scar； had been biding his time with the Stoke man； so； when Egbert had thrown everyone else； stout William leaped into the ring。 Then a tough bout followed； and at last he threw Egbert heavily； whereat there was a great shouting and shaking of hands； for all the Denby men were proud of their wrestler。
When Sir Richard came； he found stout William； puffed up by the shouts of his friends； walking up and down the ring； daring anyone to come and try a throw with him。 〃Come one； come all！〃 quoth he。 〃Here stand I； William of the Scar； against any man。 If there is none in Derbyshire to come against me； come all who will； from Nottingham； Stafford； or York； and if I do not make them one and all root the ground with their noses like swine in the forests； call me no more brave William the wrestler。〃
At this all laughed； but above all the laughter a loud voice was heard to cry out； 〃Sin' thou talkest so big； here cometh one from Nottinghamshire to try a fall with thee； fellow〃； and straightway a tall youth with a tough quarterstaff in his hand came pushing his way through the crowd and at last leaped lightly over the rope into the ring。 He was not as heavy as stout William； but he was taller and broader in the shoulders； and all his joints were well knit。 Sir Richard looked upon him keenly； then； turning to one of the judges； he said； 〃Knowest thou who this youth is？ Methinks I have seen him before。〃
〃Nay；〃 said the judge； 〃he is a stranger to me。〃
Meantime； without a word； the young man； laying aside his quarterstaff； began to take off his jerkin and body clothing until he presently stood with naked arms and body； and a comely sight he was when so bared to the view； for his muscles were cut round and smooth and sharp like swift…running water。
And now each man spat upon his hands and； clapping them upon his knees；