All the forest glades rang with the shout that went up
as the Knight and the yeomen marched off through the woodland with glare
of torches and gleam of steel, and so were gone.
Then up spake the Bishop of Hereford in a mournful voice, "I, too, must
be jogging, good fellow, for the night waxes late."
But Robin laid his hand upon the Bishop's arm and stayed him. "Be not so
hasty, Lord Bishop," said he. "Three days hence Sir Richard must pay
his debts to Emmet; until that time thou must be content to abide with
me lest thou breed trouble for the Knight. I promise thee that thou
shalt have great sport, for I know that thou art fond of hunting the dun
deer. Lay by thy mantle of melancholy, and strive to lead a joyous
yeoman life for three stout days. I promise thee thou shalt be sorry to
go when the time has come."
So the Bishop and his train abided with Robin for three days, and much
sport his lordship had in that time, so that, as Robin had said, when
the time had come for him to go he was sorry to leave the greenwood. At
the end of three days Robin set him free, and sent him forth from the
forest with a guard of yeomen to keep freebooters from taking what was
left of the packs and bundles.
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