“One bale of silk velvet for the Abbey of Beaumont.”

“What do these priests want of silk velvet?” quoth Robin.  “Nevertheless, though they need it not, I will not take all from them.  Measure it off into three lots, one to be sold for charity, one for us, and one for the abbey.”  So this, too, was done as Robin Hood bade.

“Twoscore of great wax candles for the Chapel of Saint Thomas.”

“That belongeth fairly to the chapel,” quoth Robin, “so lay it to one side.  Far be it from us to take from the blessed Saint Thomas that which belongeth to him.”  So this, also, was done according to Robin’s bidding, and the candles were laid to one side, along with honest Quentin’s unopened bales of silk.  So the list was gone through with, and the goods adjudged according to what Robin thought most fit.  Some things were laid aside untouched, and many were opened and divided into three equal parts, for charity, for themselves, and for the owners.  And now all the ground in the torchlight was covered over with silks and velvets and cloths of gold and cases of rich wines, and so they came to the last line upon the tablet—­“A box belonging to the Lord Bishop of Hereford.”

At these words the Bishop shook as with a chill, and the box was set upon the ground.

“My Lord Bishop, hast thou the key of this box?” asked Robin.

The Bishop shook his head.

“Go, Will Scarlet,” said Robin, “thou art the strongest man here—­bring a sword straightway, and cut this box open, if thou canst.”  Then up rose Will Scarlet and left them, coming back in a short time, bearing a great two-handed sword.  Thrice he smote that strong, ironbound box, and at the third blow it burst open and a great heap of gold came rolling forth, gleaming red in the light of the torches.  At this sight a murmur went all around among the band, like the sound of the wind in distant trees; but no man came forward nor touched the money.

Quoth Robin, “Thou, Will Scarlet, thou, Allan a Dale, and thou, Little John, count it over.”

A long time it took to count all the money, and when it had been duly scored up, Will Scarlet called out that there were fifteen hundred golden pounds in all.  But in among the gold they found a paper, and this Will Scarlet read in a loud voice, and all heard that this money was the rental and fines and forfeits from certain estates belonging to the Bishopric of Hereford.

“My Lord Bishop,” said Robin Hood, “I will not strip thee, as Little John said, like a winter hedge, for thou shalt take back one third of thy money.  One third of it thou canst well spare to us for thy entertainment and that of thy train, for thou art very rich; one third of it thou canst better spare for charity, for, Bishop, I hear that thou art a hard master to those beneath thee and a close hoarder of gains that thou couldst better and with more credit to thyself give to charity than spend upon thy own likings.”