The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-07-28

luiu dDOul uitu Is ~ '''
true Is quite another matter 1t IS
hard in writing of Robin Hood to slit
fact from legend. This story can but
tell the popular version of his career
without vouching for Its entire truth
Robin Hood is said to have been
born in 1IG0. and to have been no.
bleman's son who, through injustice,
was outlawed. He too krefuge In
Sherwood forest, In Nottinghamshire,
England. There he gathered about
him band of unfortunate men as des-
perate as himself. and prepared to
makexwar on the world at large.
II was a rude, violent age. Human
life was held lightly. Laws were bar
barous. For shooting deer In the roy
al forests the penalty was torture and
tor the second offense( death. The
barons and other rich and powerful
men could overtax and ill-use the poor
almost without restraint Persons who
suffered under such tyranny had usu-
ally no redress. Often they revenged
themselves by plundering their for
mer masters and by preying on human
fly at large. Says one old historian
(Stow).
In this time were many robbers and
outlaws, among which Robin Hood and
Little John, renowned thieves, contin-
ued in the woods, despoyling and rob-
bling the goodies Of the rich. The said
Robin suffered no woman to be OPP
pressed or molested. Poore mems
goodies he spared, abundantlie reliev-
ing them with that which by theft he
got from the houses of the rich. OF
all thieves Major ian early writer) at
firmeth him to be the prince and the
most gentle theefe."
Robin and his band dwelt In the
greenwood, patrolling the highroads
and holding up rich travellers. Espe.
eially did they enjoy capturing dishon-
est money I@nders and cruel landlords.
Robin lav0rite method with such pris.
oners was to conduct them to his Sc
cret glade and there regale them with
a feast. (The food consisted largely
Of stolen deer and dainties filched
from noblenen's larders,) After the
meal he would suggest that they pay
for their entertainment By giving him
all their money and jewels At other
times he would 60, disguised, to some
town, make friends with Il local rich
man and under some pretext lure him
to the forest.
That Robin did not steal from the
poor was not an especially noble trait
The poor had nothing worth stealing
Moreover. by helping the peasants
with a little money now and then he
made them his friends and gave them
an interest in warning him against his
pursuers.
Robin and his men were splendid
archers. Their skill with bow and
arrow reached the kings ears. His
majesty is said to have been so much
pleased with the bands archery that
he pardoned them all. But Robin
could not long remain out Of trouble
He fell foul of the law once more, and
the sheriff of Nottingham was sent
to crush him. In the woodland battle
that followed the sheriff's men were
beaten off. Soon afterward Robin fell
dangerously ILL., There was no surgeon
nearby. So his men carried him to a
convent, where his cousin was lay
sister. She had great repute in medi.
cine and Robin thought she might save
him. She dared not refuse shelter to
the sick man for fear of his followers
wrath. But she dared not cure him,
lest the king should hear that the
convent had harbored and aided an
outlaw. So. according to the story, she
opened a vein in his arm and left him
to bleed to death.
When the dying man learned Of her
treachery he set his bugle to his lips
and blew feeble blast. Little John.
hts lieutenant, heard 1t, and rushed to
the sick room. Robin, so runs the old
ballad, forbade Little John to take ven
geance on the convent. Then, setting
arrow to bow for the last time, be
sent the shaft whizzing out through an
open window and begged to be buried
at the spot where his arrow should
strike earth.
A likeable, rollicking, sentimental
outlaw. His life story teven stripped
of all legend and folklore) seems to
entkle him to goodly place among
Historic Biac hpuards