Page:Celebrated history of the renowned Robin Hood (2).pdf/12

 Robin tied his horse to a tree, and coming up to the friar, said, "Carry me over this river, thou brawny friar, or I will crack thy crown.” The friar returned no answer, but immediately took Robin upon his back, and carried him to the other side without speak- ing a single word. Robin leapt off the friar’s back, and pretended to be going away; but the friar stopped him, saying, "Carry me back again, thou fine fellow, or it shall breed thee pain.” Robin took the friar on his back; and having carried him across the water, he then insisted on the monk taking him over again, or he would break his bones. The friar took Robin on his back; but on coming to the middle of the water, he threw him in, saying, "Now my fine fellow, take your choice, whether thou will sink or swim,” Robin, however, got to land as soon as the friar; and challenged him to wrestle, shoot, and to a bout at quarter-staff; but at none of these could he beat the friar, nor the friar him. Robin was so well pleased with the friar, that he wanted him to join the merry men; but the friar would not consent, and even tried to persuade Robin to turn monk; so they shook hands, and parted good friends.

One day, as Robin was in search of ad- ventures near the skirts of the Forest, he met a priest well mounted, with a fat buck