“Whence comest thou, lad?” asked the Dumb man.

“Why,” quoth Robin, “I came this morning from sleeping overnight in Sherwood.”

“Is it even so?” said the Deaf man.  “I would not for all the money we four are carrying to Lincoln Town sleep one night in Sherwood.  If Robin Hood caught one of our trade in his woodlands he would, methinks, clip his ears.”

“Methinks he would, too,” quoth Robin, laughing.  “But what money is this that ye speak of?”

Then up spake the Lame man.  “Our king, Peter of York,” said he, “hath sent us to Lincoln with those moneys that—­”

“Stay, brother Hodge,” quoth the Blind man, breaking into the talk, “I would not doubt our brother here, but bear in mind we know him not.  What art thou, brother?  Upright-man, Jurkman, Clapper-dudgeon, Dommerer, or Abraham-man?”

At these words Robin looked from one man to the other with mouth agape.  “Truly,” quoth he, “I trust I am an upright man, at least, I strive to be; but I know not what thou meanest by such jargon, brother.  It were much more seemly, methinks, if yon Dumb man, who hath a sweet voice, would give us a song.”

At these words a silence fell on all, and after a while the Blind man spoke again.  Quoth he, “Thou dost surely jest when thou sayest that thou dost not understand such words.  Answer me this:  Hast thou ever fibbed a chouse quarrons in the Rome pad for the loure in his bung?"[4]

  [4] I.E., in old beggar’s cant, “beaten a man or gallant upon the
  highway for the money in his purse.”  Dakkar’s ENGLISH VILLAINIES.

“Now out upon it,” quoth Robin Hood testily, “an ye make sport of me by pattering such gibberish, it will be ill for you all, I tell you.  I have the best part of a mind to crack the heads of all four of you, and would do so, too, but for the sweet Malmsey ye have given me.  Brother, pass the pottle lest it grow cold.”

But all the four beggars leaped to their feet when Robin had done speaking, and the Blind man snatched up a heavy knotted cudgel that lay beside him on the grass, as did the others likewise.  Then Robin, seeing that things were like to go ill with him, albeit he knew not what all the coil was about, leaped to his feet also and, catching up his trusty staff, clapped his back against the tree and stood upon his guard against them.  “How, now!” cried he, twirling his staff betwixt his fingers, “would you four stout fellows set upon one man?  Stand back, ye rascals, or I will score your pates till they have as many marks upon them as a pothouse door!  Are ye mad?  I have done you no harm.”

“Thou liest!” quoth the one who pretended to be blind and who, being the lustiest villain, was the leader of the others, “thou liest!  For thou hast come among us as a vile spy.  But thine ears have heard too much for thy body’s good, and thou goest not forth from this place unless thou goest feet foremost, for this day thou shalt die!  Come, brothers, all together!  Down with him!” Then, whirling up his cudgel, he rushed upon Robin as an angry bull rushes upon a red rag.  But Robin was ready for any happening.  “Crick!  Crack!” he struck two blows as quick as a wink, and down went the Blind man, rolling over and over upon the grass.