کمک رابین به سر ریچارد لی

CHAPTER 6 - Robin Hood Helps Sir Richard of Lee

Autumn went and winter came. One cold but sunny day in January, a man came slowly over the Great North Road on an old horse. The snow on the forest trees shone in the winter sunshine. But the man did not look at the forest. He looked only at the road in front of him.

‘It is a beautiful morning,’ he heard suddenly. ‘Why are you so sad ?’

Will Scarlet came out of the forest and stood in the middle of the road. The man looked up.

‘Who are you ?’ he asked.

‘My name is Will Scarlet,’ said Will, ‘and I am Robin Hood’s man. Are you afraid ?’

‘No, I am not afraid,’ said the man. ‘I know that Robin Hood helps poor people. But he cannot help me.’

Will Scarlet laughed.

‘Perhaps we can help you, and perhaps we can’t. Robin Hood and his men love dangerous adventures. Come and eat with us! Tell us your problems!’

So Will Scarlet took the man to Robin Hood. First, they gave him food and drink. He was very hungry.

‘You eat well in your forest home,’ said the man. ‘You eat as well as the King - perhaps better! Thank you for this good food.’ Then he stood up.

‘Wait,’ said Robin. ‘Can’t you pay us something for your dinner? With a little gold I can help many poor families.’ The man did not answer for some time.

Then he said, ‘I have gold in my bags - six hundred pounds! But I cannot give it to you. I am going to St Mary’s Abbey. This money is for the abbot.’

‘That is a lot of money,’ said Will, ‘and the church has too much gold.’

‘That is my problem,’ said the man. ‘The abbot wants more -five hundred pounds more — and I cannot pay him this year. Perhaps he will wait another year, but I think not. I think that he will ask for my lands - and my home too.’

‘Yes,’ said Robin, ‘the abbot is a greedy man. Tell us your name, friend, and tell us your story too. Perhaps we can help.’ So the man told his story. His name was Richard of Lee, and his son killed a man in a fight. The man died, and the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men took the boy away.

‘Ah, the sheriff,’ said Robin. ‘Another greedy man! Did he ask for money ?’

‘You know him well,’ answered Richard of Lee. ‘He said, “Pay me one thousand pounds or your son will die!” I am not a rich man, but the Abbot of St Mary’s paid the money for me. This happened last year. Now I have to pay the abbot. He wants one thousand, one hundred pounds - and I can only give him six hundred.’

Robin laughed. ‘I can give you the money. But first, let’s try something … perhaps the good abbot is not a bad man. Tell him that you do not have the money. Ask him to help you. Ask him to wait another year!’

Then Robin turned to his men.

‘Who will go with this man and listen to the abbot’s answer?’ ‘I will go with him,’ said Little John. ‘I am ready for an adventure!’