Another winter came and went. There was not much snow on the ground and people could again use the Great North Road.
“One day Sir Richard of Lee will pay us the abbot's money,' said Robin to Little John and Will Scarlet. ‘But perhaps we can get the money back from the church first.'
‘A good plan, Robin,' answered Little John. 'I will find a rich churchman and invite him to a forest dinner. Then he can pay us five hundred pounds. That is not too expensive for our best forest
deer, our whitest bread and our finest wine!'
The next evening, Little John went to the road and waited at the robbers' usual place behind a tree. He didn't have to wait long. Two churchmen on beautiful white horses were on the road. The two men wore expensive clothes.They were afraid, and they often looked into the forest.
Little John came out of the forest and moved to the middle of the road.
‘Good evening, brothers,' he called. ‘Are you going to St Mary's Abbey?'
They stopped their horses and the younger churchman answered, 'Yes, we are going to visit the abbot. Are we near the abbey? We don't want to be on this road at night. People say robbers live in the forests near here!'
‘I am the abbot's man,' said Little John. 'I can show you a quick way to the abbey. Follow me!'
So the two men followed Little John into the forest. After a few minutes they saw smoke and then a fire. Robin's men were there.
‘Where are we?' cried the churchmen. ‘Who are these men? This is not the abbey!'
‘Good evening, brothers!' said Robin. ‘Don't be afraid, we will not hurt you. We hope you will stay for dinner!'
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