King Richard often thought upon what he had seen of Robin Hood and his fellows. He was very fond of archery; he had heard of many generous actions that were told about them, and he admired their gallant spirit and manners. Thought he, If I could but make these men my faithful subjects, what a pride they would be to my court! The king at last fixed upon a plan by which he might see Robin Hood once more. He called twelve lords of his court, and told his plan to them; and then he and his lords all dressed themselves like so many monks, and away they rode to Sherwood Forest. Robin Hood saw them at a distance, as they were coming, and resolved to rob them. The king was taller than the rest, and Robin Hood judged that he was the abbot; so he took the king’s horse by the bridle, and said, “Abbot. I bid you stand: it was a priest that first worked my ruin, and I have sworn to spare none of his fellows.” “But we are going on a message from the king,” said Richard. Robin Hood then let go the bridle, and said, “God save the king! and confound all his foes!” “Thou cursest thyself,” said Richard, “for thou art a robber, an outlaw, and a traitor.” “If you were not his servant,” said the other, “I should say, You lie; for I never yet hurt man that was honest and true, but only those who give their minds to live upon other people’s earnings. I never hurt the farmer who tills the ground; I protect women and children; and the poor for twenty miles round are the better for me.” Robin Hood then asked the strangers to dine with him. “You would not be used so,” said he, “if you were not the king’s servants: yet, for King Richard’s sake, if you had as much money as ever I told, I would not deprive you of a penny.” Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth, and blew a shrill blast, when a hundred and ten of his company came marching all in a row. The king thought, This is a fine sight: these men of Robin Hood’s obey their captain better than his people did him. After dinner, the king said to Robin, “What would you give, my brave fellow, if I could get your pardon from the king? Would you set your mind firmly in every thing to be a true and useful subject?” This was the very thing that Robin wanted; it was the wish that had haunted his thoughts night and day: it was with the hope of this that he made the rich present to Queen Eleanor. “My friend,” said Robin, “I am tired of the lawless life that I lead: I never loved it. Other men may praise my bold adventures and generous actions; but I hate my way of living, and every thing that belongs to it. King Richard is a noble prince and a gallant soldier; and, if he would take me into his favour, he should never have reason to repent it, but should find me the most faithful and loving of all his subjects.” “I am King Richard,” said the stranger: and, when he had said this, Robin and all his company fell upon their knees before him.