Robin Hood

Chapter 7    Sir Richard Pays the Abbot 

At twelve o'clock the next day, the Abbot of St Mary's was in his 

great dining room. On the table there were bags of gold. He went 

to the window and looked out.

 

‘Sir Richard of Lee is here at the right time, I see,’ he thought.  

‘But his clothes are poor, and his horse is old. Good! I think my 

friend, the sheriff, is right. Sir Richard cannot pay my one 

thousand, one hundred pounds. So this evening, I will be Lord of 

his house and his lands!’

 

A few minutes later, Sir Richard and Little John came into the 

room.

 

‘Well,’ said the abbot, 'you are here at the right time. Do you 

have my money ?’

 

‘My Lord Abbot,’ Sir Richard began, ‘you are a church man. I 

hope you will be kind. Next year ...’

 

‘Stop!’ shouted the abbot. ‘Do not ask for more time! I want my 

money now Pay me the one thousand, one hundred pounds, or your 

house and lands will be mine this evening!’

 

Sir Richard then put six bags of gold on the abbot's table. ‘Here 

are six hundred pounds, My Lord,’ he said quietly. ‘There 

 

 

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is one hundred in each bag. It is a lot of money for me. Next year 

I hope ...’ 

 

‘Not next year, or next month, or next week!’ shouted the abbot 

again. ‘I want all my money today! Do you have my gold -yes or no?’ 

Then Little John put five more bags on the table. 

‘Here you are, My Lord,’ he said. ‘Five hundred more pounds. This 

good man and his family will sleep in their home tonight.’ 

The abbot looked at the money, then he looked at Little John. The 

abbot's face was very red. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. 

What could he say? 

Later, in the forest, Little John told the story to Robin Hood and the 

other men. 

‘The abbot's face was wonderful,’ said Little John. ‘He was angry, 

but he had to take the money’ 

They laughed for a long time, but then Robin said, 

‘This was a fine adventure. But the abbot will tell the sheriff, and the 

sheriff will also be angry. They are dangerous men. Sir Richard has to 

be careful.’