Robin Hood

Chapter 8
Lady Marian and the Sheriff of Nottingham
Every year in summer, Marian's father had a great party. Lords and 
ladies and the people from the villages came. They ate and drank. This 
year, the Sheriff of Nottingham came too, with fifty of his men. He 
watched Marian carefully. 
‘She is very beautiful,’ he thought, ‘and Robin Hood loves her. I 
know he will come today. Then my men can catch him.’ 
The music started and people began to dance. A man went to Marian 
and spoke to her. She smiled and gave him her hand. 
The sheriff stood up and called loudly to his men, ‘That's him! That's 
Robin Hood! Take him!’ 
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Then Little John put five more bags on the table.

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The sheriff's men took out their swords and moved through the dancers. 
Suddenly ten of the dancers ran for their swords too. They were, of course, 
Robin's men, and a great fight began. Robin's men were better fighters than 
the sheriff's. Marian wanted to fight too, but her father stopped her. 
‘Marian, what are you doing? Put down that sword! I am sorry about 
Robin — no other man will marry you. You are only interested in fighting!’ 
The sheriff heard Marian's father and smiled. 
‘Lady Marian is really very lovely,’ he thought. ‘Her father wants to find 
another husband for her? Good. I will marry her, then she will help me find 
Robin Hood.’ 
 
Chapter 9 The Sheriff's Visit
The next day, the sheriff arrived at Lord Fitzwalter's house with twenty 
horsemen. Lord Fitzwalter watched them through a window. He was not 
happy. 
‘He wants to talk about yesterday's fight,’ he said to his daughter, ‘and 
you nearly fought too! Please go to your room. I will speak to him.’ 
‘I do not want to speak to the sheriff, father,’ said Marian, ‘but I will 
listen behind the door!’ 
Marian left the room, and a minute later, the sheriff walked in. 
‘My Lord Sheriff,’ began Lord Fitzwalter, ‘I am sorry about the fight 
yesterday, but your men…’ 
‘No, no, I do not want to talk about that,’ said the sheriff. He put his 
hand on Lord Fitzwalter's arm and smiled. ‘I want to speak to you about 
your daughter, the Lady Marian.’ 
‘Ah, Marian,’ said Lord Fitzwalter unhappily. ‘Marian is a good girl but 
she does not always listen to me. Perhaps one day a husband will...’ 
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‘Ah yes!’ said the sheriff and smiled. ‘Well, I am looking for a wife, 
and I would like to marry your daughter. I like a strong woman - and 
Marian is also very beautiful. I will be a good husband. I have lands, 
money - and important friends.’ 
‘My Lord, what can I say?’ said Marian's father. He was now 
very unhappy. Marian wanted to marry Robin and no other 
man - he knew that. ‘You are very kind. I will talk to Marian 
but...’
‘I will come back tomorrow,’ said the sheriff. ‘Remember -Prince 
John is my very good friend. He can be your friend too. Think 
carefully!’ 
♦
That evening, Marian and her father talked for a long time about Robin, 
the sheriff and Prince John. 
‘Marian, why don't you marry the sheriff?’ said her father. ‘He is 
rich and important, and he is a friend of Prince John. I am afraid of the 
prince. Please marry the sheriff, and forget Robin Fitzooth.’ 
Marian took her father's hand. ‘Father, I am sorry to bring you so 
many problems. I will not marry the sheriff, but he will be angry with 
me, not you. Listen. Tomorrow I will leave the house very early and 
stay with my uncle. The sheriff will come late in the morning. Tell your 
men to look for me. Look in every room. Be very angry. Then the 
sheriff will think that you know nothing!’ 
‘You are right, Marian,’ said her father. ‘You will have to marry the 
sheriff or leave here. Go then to my brother's house. But who will go 
with you?’ 
‘Good Friar Tuck is staying here tonight,’ answered Marian. ‘He will 
help me.’ 
‘That fat churchman ?’ said her father. ‘He is a strange friar. He 
fights too well for a churchman. People say that the Abbot of St Mary's 
hates him. The friar had to leave the abbey.’ 
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‘Friar Tuck does not like the abbot because the abbot takes a lot of 
money from the villagers,’ answered Marian. ‘Friar Tuck says that the 
church has to help poor people.’ 
‘Mm,’ said her father.! ‘The abbot does live very well. He is a greedy 
man. Friar Tuck is greedy too - he eats more than ten men! But he is a 
brave man and very strong. Yes, take Friar Tuck with you.’