outlaws to beg for a truce.

Robin now secured Friar Tuck to celebrate Allan's marriage and laid
clever plans to rescue Ellen from an unwelcome bridegroom. So all
proceeded secretly or openly to the church where the marriage was to
take place. Pretending to be versed in magic, Robin swore to the
ecclesiastics present that, if they would only give him the jewels
they wore, he would guarantee the bride should love the bridegroom.
Just as the reluctant Ellen was about to be united to the rich old
squire by these churchmen, Robin interfered, and (the angry bridegroom
having flounced out of church), bribed the father to allow Friar Tuck
to unite Ellen and Allan a Dale. Because the bride undoubtedly loved
her spouse, Robin claimed the jewels promised him, and bestowed them
upon the happy couple, who adopted Sherwood Forest for their home.

Weary of the same company, Robin once despatched his men into the
forest with orders to arrest any one they met and bring him to their
nightly banquet. Robin himself sallied out too, and soon met a
dejected knight, who declared he felt too sad to contribute to the
outlaw's amusement. When Robin questioned him in regard to his
dejection, Sir Richard of the Lee explained that his son, having
accidentally wounded his opponent in a tournament, had been obliged to
pay a fine of £600 in gold and make a pilgrimage to Palestine. To
raise the money for the fine, the father had mortgaged his estates,
and was now about to be despoiled of them by the avaricious prior of
Emmet, who demanded an immediate payment of £400 or the estate.

Robin, ever ready to help the poor and sorrowful, bade the knight
cheer up and promised to discover some way to raise the £400. Meantime
Little John and Friar Tuck--who had joined Robin's band--caught the