SSunmofo pviovj). 123 



with those of a true and loyal knight, and having been 

 reproved for some evil expressions he went away in anger, 

 and vowed revenge. A few short months and the brother of 

 Fitz Walter departed for the Holy Land, taking with him 

 a considerable number of his brother's men-at-arms, when 

 John, watching his opportunity, led on an armed band 

 against the castle, and slew its owner. Marian fled to 

 the green forest, where she wandered all the day, 

 and concealed herself at night among the underwood. 

 The next day, she met the stranger knight, whom 

 she had crowned a short time before, when Baynard 

 castle was in all its pride, and her father presided there. 

 His burnished coat of mail was laid aside, and a simple 

 suit of Lincoln green betokened his mode of life. Soothly 

 did he greet the lady, and told her not to fear, for though 

 he was Robinhood, the outlawed Earl of Huntingdon, 

 at the mention of whose name stern warriors trembled 

 in their halls, and ecclesiastics turned pale, his good 

 men should shield her well. 



Lady Marian laid aside her whimple and her veil, and 

 the better to conceal herself, put on a light kind of 

 armour, such as young men wore on days of festival, for 

 she had not strength to bear the heavy casque and buck- 

 ler. In this garb she encountered King John, who 

 called upon her to surrender ; but he who stood before 

 her was the murderer of her father, and what will not the 

 recollection of such a deed produce in even the gentlest 

 bosom ; in one, too, who, perhaps, had not been taught the 



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