will have naught to do with fair Ellen, and so leaves the church.

Then the Bishop of Hereford spoke hastily: “I, too, have no business here, and so will depart”; and he made as though he would go. But Robin Hood laid hold of his clothes and held him. “Stay, my Lord Bishop,” said he, “I have yet somewhat to say to thee.” The Bishop’s face fell, but he stayed as Robin bade him, for he saw he could not go.

Robin Hood will not let the Bishop go.

Then Robin Hood turned to stout Edward of Deirwold, and said he: “Give thy blessing on thy daughter’s marriage to his yeoman, and all will be well. Little John, give me the bags of gold. Look, farmer. Here are two hundred bright golden angels; give thy blessing, as I say, and I will count them out to thee as thy daughter’s dower. Give not thy blessing, and she shall be married all the same, but not so much as a cracked farthing shall cross thy palm. Choose.”

Then Edward looked upon the ground with bent brows, turning the matter over and over in his mind; but he was a shrewd man and one, withal, that made the best use of a cracked pipkin; so at last he looked up and said, but in no joyous tone, “If the wench will go her own gait, let her go. I had thought to make a lady of her; yet if she chooses to be what she is like to be, I have naught to do with her henceforth. Ne’ertheless I will give her my blessing when she is duly wedded.”

Robin offers two hundred angels to Edward for his blessing.

“It may not be,” spake up one of those of Emmet. “The banns have not been duly published, neither is there any priest here to marry them.”

“How sayst thou?” roared Tuck from the choir loft. “No priest? Marry, here stands as holy a man as thou art, any day of the week, a clerk in orders, I would have thee know. As for the question of banns, stumble not over that straw, brother, for I will publish them.” So saying, he called the banns; and, says the old ballad, lest three times should not be enough, he published them nine times o’er. Then straightway he came down from the loft, and forthwith performed the marriage service; and so Allan and Ellen were duly wedded.

Friar Tuck marries Allan and Ellen.

And now Robin counted out two hundred golden angels to Edward of Deirwold, and he, upon his part, gave his blessing, yet not, I wot, as though he meant it with overmuch good will. Then the stout yeomen crowded around and grasped Allan’s palm, and he, holding Ellen’s hand within his own, looked about him all dizzy with his happiness.

Then at last jolly Robin turned to the Bishop of Hereford, who had been looking on at all that passed with a grim look. “My Lord Bishop,” quoth he, “thou mayst bring to thy mind that thou didst promise me that did I play in such wise as to cause this fair lass to love her husband, thou wouldst give me whatsoever I asked in reason. I have played my play, and she loveth her husband, which she would not have done but for me; so now fulfil thy promise. Thou hast upon thee that which, methinks, thou wouldst be the better without, therefore, I prythee, give me that golden chain that hangeth about thy neck as a wedding present for this fair bride.”

Then the Bishop’s cheeks grew red with rage and his eyes flashed. He looked at Robin with a fell look, but saw that in the yeoman’s face which bade him pause. Then slowly he took the chain from about his neck and handed it to Robin, who flung it over Ellen’s head so that it hung glittering about her shoulders. Then said merry Robin, “I thank thee, on the bride’s part, for thy handsome gift, and truly thou thyself art more seemly without it. Now, shouldst thou ever come nigh to Sherwood I much hope that I shall give thee there such a feast as thou hast ne’er had in all thy life before.”

“May Heaven forfend!” cried the Bishop, earnestly; for he knew right well what manner of feast it was that Robin Hood gave his guests in Sherwood forest.

The Bishop of Hereford, though unwilling, giveth fair Ellen a wedding gift.

But now Robin Hood gathered his men together, and,