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Edith of Lincoln, were celebrated in the priory of Newstead, in full opposition to the interdict. And although Friar Clement slily rebuked Father Nicholas, for aiding in the ceremony, he also took care to lend his aid in setting aside part of the sentence; and for two days paid no regard to the fasts, but eat and drank like a very friar. And if rumour belies not so holy a man, on the third morning when summoned to chaunt matins, he had drank away all remembrance of his Latin, and to the great horror of the holy brothers present, burst forth in one of those godless staves, which, in the night, he had been chiming with Royston Gower over their wine-cups; and for which he was doomed to bread and water, a dark cell, and to those stripes, in the healing efficacy of which he much doubted.

Amid the turmoil of future times, John of Chester and Hugh de Lacy became again reconciled, and, together with Henry of Gloom

glendell, clung closely to the interests of King John, during his long controversy with the Pope, and were even present, when the monarch and Cardinal Langton feasted together, after the sentence of excommunication was withdrawn. Nor did they fall from the side of the sovereign, until he had filled the country with foreign troops, and wasted it with fire and sword.

Elwerwolf continued to reside with Hereward the Saxon, nor had the honest thane farther

any

quarrels with the rangers, as Edwin of Clifton became, by right, the Lord Keeper of Sherwood forest, and Chief Justice of the Court of Eyre; and although some of the outlaws still continued to send a shaft among the dun deer; yet never did the war-cry of Clifton sound, but they were found arranged under his banner.

Robin Hood was still their leader; but times had changed, and the bold outlaw's face had become familiar to King John; and in after years, when mustering his merry men, at the

summons of the Baron of Clifton, he assembled them before the mansion of Hereward the Saxon.

Elfrida would often be seen at the door, holding in her arms a little dark-eyed urchin, while the thane held the hand of another; and Robin Hood would pat their little heads, and mayhap press the cheek of the young Saxon mother at parting, and his eyes would brighten as he turned to reply to one or other of the youngsters as they exclaimed, "Father, speed home quickly." His sons were, for ages afterwards, celebrated in the forest for being good drawers of the longbow; nor does the authority from which we quote, make any mention of the outlaw being bled to death by the abbess of Kirkley. Whatever might be his title as Earl of Huntington, et cetera, we can find no estate to match his name at that period, but believe that he lived beloved by Elfrida, or May-rain, as she was called by the outlaws, through her sweet and

gentle temper, and which might, after the worthy matron's death, be converted into maid Marian. But the Hoods of Hucknall believe not this; and as they are, doubtless, descendants of the bold outlaw's, having resided in the forest of Sherwood for centuries, (for which see the parish records,) their word ought to have some weight. Nevertheless, it is recorded that after the outlaw chief had espoused the daughter of the Saxon, he performed many a bold deed, and feathered many a shaft at the hearts of the invaders, let loose over England by King John.

Walter-the-one-handed, and Little John, never lacked a warm nook, or a pasty, while Hereward and his brave son-in-law kept open door at Papplewick; but they still preferred to empty their evening cup over a red fire in the

forest.

"Wottest thou aught of Lincolnsire?" said Will Scarlett, as they were one night seated

around their green hearth in the old glade, soon after the marriage of Edith.

"Ay, marry do I," answered Little John; "from the edge of the Humber to the castle of Newark, which I hold to be somewhat beyond the meers of the shire."

"Is the land right pleasant?" continued Will; "hath its air as sweet a smell as our own forest, and doth it abound in goodly woods and herds of stately deer?"

"Monks and monasteries are somewhat plentiful," replied Little John; "for, by the mass, never was sky so be-pricked by spire and tower as that over the shire of Lincoln; the very clouds are doomed to penance, from the Foss-dyke to the fall of the Trent. You have scarce room to fly an hawk; for ten to one that the quarry dasheth out its brains against a steeple before it is struck by the falcon. But why dost thou inquire? surely thou art not going to forsake the sweet shades of old Sherwood?"

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