This is the latest story in our Robin Hood series. In an earlier story (The Sheriff Who Came to Dinner) Little John tricked the Sheriff of Nottingham into coming to dinner with Robin Hood. Before he left, they made him swear an oath never to harm them. In this story, the Sheriff decides to send Robin an invitation he cannot refuse. He holds an archery contest – and the prize is a golden arrow. He feels certain that the outlaw will not be able to resist taking part.
Read by Natasha. Duration 12.41
I’ve told you before how Robin Hood once tricked the Sheriff of Nottingham into coming to dinner with him in Greenwood. At the end of the Dinner Robin forced the Sheriff to swear an oath never to harm Robin or his men. In this story, we shall hear if the Sheriff was true to his word.
The Sheriff of Nottingham did not forget how Robin Hood had invited him to dinner under the trees of Greenwood.
Some time after that memorable dinner, the Sheriff was drinking ale with his friend the Abbott. .
“Let no one say that I am an ill-mannered man, he mused. “One favour deserves another. It is time for me to return an invitation to Robin Hood and pay his hospitality back in kind.”
The Abbott shook his head:
“The outlaw has not remained at large for so long by being a simpleton. I do not think that he will walk so easily into your hospitable trap.”
The Sheriff smiled over the top of his tankard of frothy brown ale and the Abbott realised by the self-satisfied curl of his friend’s upper lip that the sheriff was confident of his plan.
“My dear Abbott,” said the Sherrif. “You are right to say that we are facing no straight-forward villain. I do not have in mind a polite note addressed to Robin Hood in his robber’s layer in Greenwood. I have a more subtle plan. But he shall prove unable to resist my invitation to the gallows – all the more because I shall send it indirectly.”
The Sheriff’s plan came quite naturally to him. Like most men, he loved to watch a good sporting contest. And in those days the most popular sport in England was archery. Everyone knew that the title for the finest archer in all the North of England belonged by right to Robin Hood. The Sheriff decided to give the outlaw a chance to claim his title. He ordered that on a certain day an archery contest would be held on the field outside the city walls. The trophy was to be a arrow, the like of which had not been seen in England. Its shaft was made of white gold, and it was tipped and feathered with yellow gold.
When Robin heard news of the contest, he thought what a fine thing it would be to claim the prize from the hand of the Sheriff himself. The very idea made him chuckle, for all the people of Nottingham would see how their chief law keeper was powerless to arrest the county’s most notorious outlaw.
Robin blew his horn to call his followers to meet around the oldest Yew Tree in Greenwood. He spoke to his faithful outlaws like this:
“Men. In a week’s time we shall go to Nottingham and take part in the Sheriff’s own shooting match, for I crave to bring the golden arrow back to Greenwood.”
The outlaws were far from over-joyed to hear this plan, for in their hearts, they thought it was perhaps a little too bold.
“Have no fear,” said Robin, “For the Sheriff stood under this very Yew Tree and swore an oath by St. Mary that he would never do us any harm.”
To this, Little John added: “Aye that he did, and in a week’s time we shall discover if the Sheriff is a man of his word.”
On the day of the contest Robin and over 100 of his men gathered on the field of the contest. Robin ordered that just he and the five best shots in his band would take part in the match. The others were to crowd round them, so that Robin would not be recognised until he stepped forward to aim at the target. For more disguise, he wore a hood over his head.
Little John, Much the Miller’s Son, and Will Scarlet each stepped forward in turn to aim their long bows. Their aims were good and true. Then it was the turn of Robin. The Sheriff was watching from his chair, and he recognised the villain right away, not from his face which he could not see, but from the way he walked. He said to himself:
“Soon Robin Hood will take his prize, and I shall have mine.”
Posts driven into a mounds of earth served as the targets, and Robin split furthest post with his arrow. Nobody else could strike true from such a great distance.
At the end of the contest, Robin approached the sheriff to claim his prize. He accepted the golden arrow and held it above his head. The word had got round that the victor was none other than the most notorious outlaw in the North of England. Some people in the crowd cheered, others jeered, and still more kept quite, for they did not dare to show their support or opposition for the Sheriff’s deadliest enemy.
While Robin was still holding up the prize, a horn sounded and the sheriff’s men began to rush at Robin. The outlaws of Greenwood were ready for treachery such as this, and held their long bows bent and ready to fire. They shot their into the sheriff’s men, and many of them fell dead. Then arrows began to fly in both directions and most of the crowd – those who did not care to join in the fight on either side – ran for the city gates.
A great many arrows were let loose, a great many tunics were split, and a great many men received wounds. An arrow struck Little John in the knee, and he was unable to stay standing.
“Robin,” he called out. “If I have served you well and true, do not let me fall into the hands of the sheriff while I am still breathing. Take my broad sword and strike me on the head. Cut me deep and wide until no life is left in me.”
But Robin replied: “I would not let you be slain for all the gold in England, even though it were laid out before me.”
And Much the Miller’s son added” “God Forbid that we shall be parted”. And he took Little John up on his back, and walked with him a mile, although he put him down every now and then to loose some arrows from his bow. All Robin Hood’s men were retreating now. They fought their way to the Castle of the good knight whom Robin had helped when he was down on his luck. It was a strong building, with a double moat and high walls. Once the whole band of outlaws were inside, the Knight ordered his guards to rise the draw bridge and shut all the gates.
The Sheriff’s men surrounded the Castle, but they were not strong enough to break their way in, and the Knight welcomed his old friend.
“Dear Robin. Of all the men in the world, I love you most. You shall stay safe in my castle and let the Sheriff lay siege to us if he wishes. We have enough food and drink not just to survive for 40 days, but to feast upon.”
After a while the Sheriff himself came up the gate carrying the white flag of truce, for he wished to negotiate. The knight stood on the walls to hear what he had to say:
“Good Knight,:” he called out, “Do you wish to be a traitor to your king? For you are keeping his enemy safe against the law.”
And the Knight replied:
“I swear by all my lands that I am indeed keeping Robin Hood safe and I will never betray him for he is my truest friend.”
When the Sheriff heard this, he called out that he would depart for London to speak with the King himself. And in this case, he kept his word for straight to London he went. When he reached court, he was granted an Audience with King Richard, just returned for the wars in the Holy Lands. The King heard the story of how the notorious outlaws were being protected by one of his own knights and he said to the Sheriff:
“Go home proud Sheriff and gather the best archers you can find. I shall be in Nottingham within two weeks, and then I shall take this errant knight for he is a traitor to both his King and to the law of the land. And as for Robin Hood – never have I heard of such a popular criminal. And I am curious to know how one man can break so many laws in a single lifetime. It is my royal intention to look this extraordinary outlaw in the eye before he meets his just deserts.”
And that’s the story of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow – and Bertie says that one day soon we shall hear about how Robin Hood met King Richard The Lion Heart.
More than 800 years ago, a coach and horses was passing through Sherwood Forrest. The passengers inside the carriage were a rich and important family, and they were guarded by four soldiers riding on horseback, two out in front, and two behind. Even so, when they came to the part of the forrest known as Greenwood, the father became nervous, because he knew that it was thick with thieves and bandits. His wife noticed that his finger was tapping on his knee, and she put her hand on top of his to calm his nerves. His beautiful daughter, whose name was Marian, closed her eyes and managed to fall asleep to the rocking of the carriage.
“If the bandits attack,” thought the father, “I will give up my gold. But I only pray that they do not touch a hair on the head of my dear Marian !”
And then what he feared, happened. At first, the family did not even realise that they were being attacked. The robbers jumped down from the trees above, and pulled the soldiers off their horses and onto the ground. It was all so skillfully planned that the guards were over-powered in less than a minute. The coach driver tried to whip up the horses to make them fly forward – and that alerted the family – but it was useless for a tree lay across the road and he had to pull them up sharp with a jolt. They were caught in a trap.
The father expected to hear the age old cry of highwaymen “Stand and Deliver” – which meant that they were to get out of the carriage and hand over their valuables. But instead, there was a polite tap on the door of the carriage, and a voice said;
“Dear Sir, be so kind as to step outside.”
“Ah, they mock me,” he said to his wife.”.
As his foot set down on the road, he noticed that his knee was wobbling. He found himself facing a young man dressed in green. Behind him stood six men, dressed in the same colour, and armed with swords and long bows.
“Here,” said the father, “Take this purse of gold, Only, I beg you, do not touch my wife or daughter. I swear by St. Mary and all that is sacred that they have no jewels or valuables about their persons.”
In fact, this was not true. His wife was at that moment busy stuffing her jewels down the front of her dress.
“Good Gracious!’ said the leader of the bandits. “What do you take me for?” I would do no harm to a lady !”
At that moment, Maid Marian jumped down out of the carriage.
“What are you doing? cried the father. Get back dear. This instant.”
But Maid Marian was a high spirited young lady with a fiery temper. She went up to the bandit leader and slapped him around the face.
“Take that you coward,” she said. “Give me a sword and I’ll show you a fight.”
The father was horrified, for he had no idea that his daughter practiced fencing with her brothers, and was more skilled with a sword than any of them. She was no mean shot with a long bow and arrow too – but he had no inkling of that either.
The robber touched the side of his face where she had swiped him. “I would that it were a kiss,” he said, “But your hand stings sweetly all the same. Now my beautiful amazon, spare your temper. In return for the gold your father has just given me – and for which I am truly grateful – my men shall ride behind your carriage to the edge of the forest and ensure that no criminals attack you – for I’m sorry to say that this forrest is full of the worst sort of people.’
Maid Marian slapped him again round the face, and then got back into the carriage with hot tears in her eyes. But the bandits were true to their word, and gave the family their protection to the edge of the forrest. Before they parted, the leader of the robbers once more tapped on the door of the carriage. He wished his victims safe journey to their home.
“And my lady,” he said to Maid Marian, “I so desire to have the pleasure of setting eyes on you once again. Pray, do tell me your name.”
At first she did not want to reply, but then she said softly, “Marian.” And the robber said,
“Well dear Marian. This evening in Greenwood you have won the heart of Robin Hood,” and with that he jumped on his horse and sped away.
“The cheek of it!” said the mother. But the father was almost relieved, for often bandits did far more harm to travelers than they had received.
Two months went past, and Marian’s father and mother decided that it was time for her to wed. They began talks with a rich lord whose eldest son was good looking, but extremely arrogant. When they told Marian that she must marry him, she was furious:
“Do I not have any say in the matter?” she said.
“My dear,” said her father, “You are young and do not know what is best for you.”
But Marian’s character was not the sort that could be forced to do anything unless she wanted it herself. And so she resolved to run away. She knew that many of the local boys from poor families had gone to Sherwood Forrest and become outlaws. Some were robbers, but others lived by hunting the king’s deer, which was against the law. She cut her own hair, dressed herself as a paige boy, armed herself with sword and a long bow, and rode off on the fastest horse in her father’s stable.
Nobody knew better than her that it was dangerous to ride through the forest, especially alone, but she did not care because she was so angry at thought of marrying a man she did not love, or even like.
“If I meet robbers, I shall fight them, ” she said to herself, “And if they kill me, my life will be little loss to me, for I am so unhappy in my heart.’
She rode deep into the woods Eventually, she found a clearing in which there stood an old log-cabbin. It was half fallen down, but she thought that she would mend it and live there. She would survive by hunting and fishing. As she was hungry, she sat down to eat the bread and cheese that she had bought with her. While she was doing this, she heard footsteps, and she jumped to her feet, her sword in hand. A man appeared, dressed in green, and she recognised him right away as Robin Hood who had attacked her family.
“Hold back,” she called out, pointing her sword at him, “for if you try to rob me it will cost you your life.”
Robin was interested to find this spirited lad with no sign of any bristle on his chin.
“Young boy,” he said, “Put down your sword, for I mean you know harm. I am just an innocent forester, and I came here to mend my cabin.”
“No you’re not,” said Marian, “You’re Robin Hood, the notorious outlaw. Take one step closer, and I’ll run you through.”
For in truth, what made Marian so angry was that he had not recognised her. “So much for his sweet words about winning his heart, ” she said to himself. “It was all meaningless hot air. I’ll show him.”
Seeing the sword painting dangerously towards him, Robin drew his own sword, meaning to use it to push Marian’s aside, but she saw what was happening and thrust forward. He only just managed to deflect her sword from cutting his ear.
And then they fought. They clashed, They thrust, they parried, they twirled. Marian drew blood from Robin’s cheek, and that enflamed his anger. Then he fought back with all his strength, but she was nibble footed and skilled; even so, she took a cut above her eye. Now she was blinded by her own blood, and she was cutting wildly about her with her sword. Robin managed to get behind her and wrestle her to the ground.
“Gently, gently,” he was saying. “Calm yourself now. Time to stop fighting and be friends. I could use a boy like you in my band of followers.”
He allowed Marian to turn round and now he was looking into her face.
“You faithless man,” she said, “You do not know me,”
But he did, And he kissed her on the lips.
And that’s the story of how Maid Marian came to join Robin Hood and his men in Sherwood Forrest.
Robin Hood liked to invite guests to dine with him at his table in Sherwood Forrest. If his guests were rich and powerful he would ask them to pay for their dinner with gold or jewels. But if they were poor or down on their luck, he would help them out with money from his own coffers. In this story, I’ll tell you how Robin entertained the Sheriff of Nottingham – and he was very rich and powerful indeed.
Robin Hood’s most trusted outlaw was Little John. In fact, there was nothing little about him at all. He was huge. And if there was one thing that he really loved it was his food. In particular, he liked to eat venison – which is the meat of deer. There were plenty of deer in Sherwood Forrest, but it was forbidden to shoot them by punishment of death. The law didn’t stop Little John, because he feared nothing or nobody.
Sometimes he would arrive at Robin Hood’s lair with a bag full of hares, partridges, and pheasants and he would say to Robin:
“Come on my friend, let’s get a good fire going. I’ll soon have these ready for roasting and what a fine dinner we shall have.”
But quite often Robin would make Little John wait for his dinner until a rich and respectable guest had come to join them. And at those times, when Little John was hungry, he would become very tetchy and bad tempered indeed. All the other robbers who lived with Robin Hood would stay out of his way, because nobody wanted to get into a fight with a man as big and strong as Little John.
One day, Robin asked Little John to go into the city of Nottingham to see if he could pick up any news or gossip. It so happened, that on that same day there was shooting competition in the market place. Little John could not resist a chance to show of his skill with his bow and arrow, and he paid the fee of one penny to join the contest.
Each archer had to shoot an arrow into a post. Those who missed dropped out, and those that hit went on to the next round when the posts were moved further back. Little John split six posts down the middle with his arrows. Nobody else could match him.
The Sheriff of Nottingham gave him the first prize and declared:
“This man is the best archer that I ever did see. Say now, my hearty young man, what is your name and where were you born?”
“I was born in Yorkshire,” replied Little John. “And my name is Reynold Grenelef.
“Well then, Reynold Grenelef,” said the Sheriff, “Come and work for me. I will pay you 20 marks a year and give you food and shelter.”
If he had known who Little John really was, he would have taken him not to his house, but to his gaol, for the Sheriff was the law around those parts, and the law had no greater enemies than Robin Hood and Little John.
At first Little John tried to think of a cheeky reply to the Sheriff’s offer, and then he thought to himself.
“So help me. I shall be the worst servant he ever had.”
And he said out loud: “I thank your Lordship. I shall come to your house this evening and start my service for you. I promise that you will never had another servant the like of Reynold Grenelef.”
That evening, Little John settled into his new home in the servant’s quarters in the mansion belonging to the Sherriff of Nottingham. He had not eaten all day, and so he called out to the steward who was in charge of the dining hall:
“Good Steward I pray, when will dinner be?”
To which the Steward replied:
“There will be no dinner for you till the master gets back.”
“And when will that be?” asked Little John.
“Not till next week, for he’s gone hunting with the Abbot.”
At this, Little John picked up the steward and began to shake him:
“What? A whole week without food? That will be the worse for my temper, and your head, for I swear I’ll take a crowbar and beat you with it.”
The butler heard the row, and came to give the new servant a clout round the ears, but when I saw the size of Little John, he held back. Little John pushed past him and kicked door open.
Inside the kitchen he found a keg of wine, which he cracked open and began to guzzle from. Then he seized a leg of lamb out of the pantry, and started to tear chunks of meat off it with his teeth.
The cook had not seen Little John before, and was amazed that a stranger should dare to burst into his kitchen and help himself to food and drink. He came up to Little John and gave him three good punches in the belly:
“Little John looked up and said:
“Give me more of those. I liked them well.”
Then the cook drew his sword, and Little John drew his, and as neither would back away, they set about each other with their blades.
Out on the road they fought, and across the green. Their clashing steel made so much noise that you might have thought that two whole armies were in battle. Their swords were made thick and strong for breaking open armour. But neither man grew tiered as they wielded their heavy weapons for over an hour.
“I swear by my true life,” said Little John, “That you are the best swordsman that I ever did see. If only you can shoot as well with a bow, then you should come with me to Green Wood and join the band of Robin Hood. You’ll have three new sets of clothes a year and 20 marks for your purse.”
And the cook replied:
“Set down your sword and we shall be friends.”
And as they were both hungry after the fight, they went back to the Sheriff’s house and stuffed themselves with sweetmeats from the pantry. After that, they gathered all the precious things that they could find around the house. They took goblets and plates, trays and caskets. Nor did they forget the silver spoons. They found a crowbar and broke into the safe where they fond plenty of money in gold coins. All this they put into a chest and rode off with it to Green Wood and Robin Hood.
Robin was greatly amused by Little John’s story of his time in the service of the Sheriff, and he was indeed pleased with the chest full of loot. But he said:
“I cannot eat off the Sheriff’s plate unless his Lordship joins us here in Green Wood for dinner.”
And thinking this over, Little John said:
“Then let me fetch the Sheriff to you.”
He rode off across the forest to the Sheriff’s hunting lodge, and waited for him to return back from the day’s hunting with his hounds. When the Sheriff saw his new servant the said:
“So look who it is. Reynold Grenelef. What brings you here my man?”
Little John knelt before him and said:
“Good master. Five miles from here is one of the fairest sights I ever did see : Tender young hares and a herd of sixty or more deer. I did not dare aim my arrows for fear of the law, but thought I’d come and to tell you what I saw.”
The Sheriff replied that it would be a delight to watch Little John display his hunting skills with the Long Bow and arrow and added:
“Fear not the law, for I am the law here and I would love to see this sport.”
Then Little John led the Sheriff across the forest but not to the hunting grounds, for he took him instead to the camp of Robin Hood and his band of outlaws.
When the Sheriff saw that he was surrounded by brigands he exclaimed:
“Reynold Grenelef. You have betrayed me!”\
And Little John replied.
“Master, I swear it was not my fault, for your steward and your butler would not give me dinner.”
Then Little John made the Sheriff take off his fine clothes and gave them to his cook, who put them on.
Robin invited the Sheriff, just wearing his shirt and britches, to sit down at his table, with this cook on one side and his “servant”, Little John, on the other. He placed before him his own silver plate, and filled his own goblet with wine. The feast was a good one, but the Sheriff had lost his appetite. He did not believe that he would leave the forest alive.
“Cheer up Lord Sheriff,” said Robin, “For I give you your life. You can live here with me for a year and I’ll teach you to be an outlaw.”
The Sheriff replied: “Better that in the morning you cut off my head.”
And Robin said: “Better in the morning that you should go free. But first you must swear an oath by St. Mary that you will never do any harm to me or my men.”
The Sheriff was too proud to agree to such a promise right away, but in the morning, after a night as the guest of Robin Hood, he thought better of it, and he agreed to swear the oath:
“For as long as I live I shall be Robin Hood’s best friend, and if any day or night, by water or by land, I shall ever find Robin Hood or any of his men, I shall help them in any way I can.”
And when he had sworn his oath, the Sheriff went on his way home, still wearing just his shirt and britches, and riding on mule.
Who hasn’t heard of Robin Hood? He could make a claim to be the most famous Englishman who ever lived. His story has been told and retold many times. We have tried to stay true in spirt to one of the earliest ballads about the famous robber, The Gest of Robin Hood.
The word “gest” is old English, and a bit of a pun. It could mean a “jest” or a “guest” and it has an ancient meaning as a “heroic deed”.
Normally Robin likes to entertain his guests in Sherwood Forrest with food and wine, before relieving them of their gold. But in this story his guest is a sad Knight who has no money to surrender. Instead, Robin lends him money so that he can repay a loan to the cruel Abbot.
As in all Robin Hood stories, anybody in authority is a baddie (except King Richard) – and that includes the leaders of the church who are abusing their power.
More episodes will follow
Read by Natasha. Duration 14.18
Of all the thieves and high-way robbers who have ever lived, by far the politest was Robin Hood. He liked to entertain those he robbed as guests in his own home. And although his home was a rough camp in Green Wood, which was the thickest and darkest part of Sherwood forest, his table was always heavy with rich food and wine. He was very choosy about those whom he invited to his layer. He only liked to rob the best sort of people – nobles, knights, barons, and leading figures of the church. He treated his victims with such great courtesy and hospitality, that afterwards some of them said that it had been a privilege to have robbed by Robin Hood.
One day, Robin and his men had been out shooting game in the King’s Forest. It was this habit that had made them outlaws in the first place – for for the King’s brother, John, had declared that all the forests belonged to him – and anyone who hunted there without his permission would face severe punishment. King Richard himself would not have deprived the foresters of food, but he was away fighting wars oversees. And while he was away, his brother John ruled England with cruelty and injustice.
On this day, the hunting had been good, and Robin Hood and his men were looking forward to a fine dinner.
“But let us not be greedy and keep all this fine food to ourselves,” said Robin. “I will not eat until I have a worthy guest at my table. Little John, go and find me a fitting guest and invite him to dine with us.”
Little John’s real name was John Little, but everyone called him Little John because he was so huge. He was six foot five inches tall and as broad as a tree. He was Robin’s most trusted partner in crime, and feared nothing and nobody – not even Robin. Although he was hungry, he agreed to go and find a guest. He took two of the best men – Will Scarlock and Much the Miller’s son, and went up to the highway to wait for a suitable guest to come along.
The road was quiet and they waited an hour or more for a suitable victim. At last a Knight came riding down the road. As he drew near they saw that he was lost in thought, and that there was a look of great sadness on his face. The three men jumped out and pointed their arrows at his chest. Their long bows were so powerful that they could easily pass through any armoured breast plate or chain-mail.
“Cheer Up Gentle Sir Knight,” called out Little John. “You Are invited to the table of my master for dinner tonight.”
The Knight was startled and replied: “But I plan to dine in Barnslydale tonight, for tomorrow I must go to see the Abbot on urgent business.”
“T’is a pity,” said Little John, still aiming his arrow at the Knight’s chest, “For my master will take great offence should you refuse his kind invitation.”
“And who might your master be?” asked the Knight.
“His name should be known to all who pass by Sherwood forest, for it is Robin Hood.”
“In that case I shall come,” said the Knight, “For I have heard much about him.”
Will Scarlock placed a blindfold over the knight’s eyes, and they led him through the forest to the hide-away. Robin greeted the knight with great courtesy;
“Welcome to Green Wood Gentle Sir Knight, all ours is yours.”. They washed their hands together in the stream, and then they dined on Pheasant, trout, cuts of venison, and barley bread, and swilled it down with plenty of red wine.
“I have not eaten such a dinner in these last three months,” declared the Knight. “And if you visit my castle, I shall make you a fine feast in return.”
“Ah,” said Robin, “I would much prefer, Kind Sir, that you paid before you leave – for it is the custom in Green Wood that a peasant’s son such as I should not pay for a knight.”
The sad expression returned to the Knight’s face.
“I have but ten shillings,” he said.
Robin had not entertained such a poor guest at his table before.
“If what you say is true,” he said, “I will not take one penny off you. Indeed, I shall lend you money from my own coffers.”
And he sent Little John to look through the Knight’s belongings. When he had checked them, he said.
“Our gentle Knight is indeed a pauper.”
“How come so poor?” asked Robin.
And the sad Knight told his story. He had a son who was a fine, strong, but hot-tempered young man. He liked to joust, and in a contest he had killed the son of a Baron. The Baron demanded blood-money of four hundred pounds, and if it was not paid, the Knight’s son would be put on trial for murder and executed. In those days, four hundred pounds was a great deal of money, and although the knight had a steady income from his lands, he did not have such a sum ready to give. He was forced to borrow from a wealthy churchman, the Abbot of the Monastery of St. Mary.. The Abbot gave the Knight just three months to repay the loan, and if he failed to pay back the money in that time, the Knight must give the Abbot all his land instead. The time of the loan was almost up, and the Knight was travelling to the Abbot to plead for more time to pay,
“But the Abbot did not become rich by showing mercy,” said the Knight, “And therefore I fully expect that by tomorrow evening I will truly be a landless pauper. I plan to take a ship join King Richard who is fighting in the Holy Lands.”
“Too many good knights are overseas,” said Robin, “Which is why there is so much injustice at home. No, by St. Mary who is dear to me, I shall make you a loan of four hundred pounds and you shall repay the Abbot.’
The next day, at the Monastery of St. Mary, a monk spoke to the Abbot:
“Your worshipful Grace. . Today the Knight must repay his loan or forfeit his lands.”
“He will surely forfeit, ” replied the Abbot, “For I do not think he will find Four Hundred Pounds in so short a time.”
When the Knight and Little John arrived outside the Monastery, they changed into their poor clothes again, before entering and asking to see the Abbot.
The porter at the gate said: “That surely is the shabbiest and saddest looking Knight that I ever did see.”
Inside the main hall, the Knight knelt down before Abbot. The Abbot did not greet him, but said straight out:
“Well, have you brought my money?”
“Not one penny,” replied the knight.
The monk said: “Then why did you come to waste his Grace’s time like this? Your lands are lost. Go away.’
“I came, ” said the knight, “To ask for mercy and more time to pay.”
“You shall not have a minute more,” said the Abbot. “Your lands are mine. Be off.”
“If you give me more time, I shall serve you faithfully,” said the Knight. “Show mercy. For it is good help one who has need.”
At this the Abbot swore a great oath and roundly cursed him.
“Out false Knight ! Speed out of my hall!” he shouted.
“I am no false knight,” replied the debtor. And with that he opened his bag and emptied the gold onto the floor. “If you had shown mercy, I would have repaid your debt and served you faithfully, but as it is, here is your money. Now the papers to my land, your Grace, if you please.”
And the Abbot had no choice but to hand back the deeds to the Knight’s land – -although he was sorry to do so – for it was worth a good deal more than four hundred pounds in gold.
Two day’s later, the Knight returned to his castle wearing his sad expression. “Are we paupers?” asked his wife. “No,” said he brightening up,”We are saved. And God Bless Robin Hood!”
A year passed, and the Knight gathered together four hundred pounds to repay his debt to Robin. He also made 100 arrows and had them plumbed with peacock feathers as a gift to show his gratitude.
A good friar arranged a meeting with Robin beneath a great oak tree in Green Wood. On the way, the Knight stopped to watch a wrestling match between the son of a nobleman and a peasant. The two men, pushed, grappled, arm-locked, tripped, and threw each other, but the peasant was the stronger, and he soon had the nobleman’s son pinned to the ground and unable to move. He claimed his prize – a pound in gold – but the nobleman’s friends would not pay. Instead, the judge of the contest drew his sword and was about to kill the peasant for his impudence.
Seeing this, the Knight rode up and declared. “The man that harms the victor of this match will have to contend with me!” The nobleman’s friends did not want to take on a knight, and they released the peasant.
“Follow me,” said the Knight, “And I will take you to join Robin Hood and his men.”
The peasant agreed, for he knew that if he did not, the noblemen would get him later.
The Knight arrived late for his meeting with Robin, and when he explained what had delayed him on the way, Robin said.
“Gentle Sir Knight, Consider the four hundred pounds a gift, for I will not accept a penny from a man who stands up for justice.”
“Then take these,” said the Knight, and he showed Robin the 100 arrows plumbed with peacock feathers.
That evening the gentle Knight was a guest at Robin’s table for a second time, and they feasted until they could eat no more.
This is a rather puzzling story; puzzling in the sense that it has three tricky riddles in it. It’s also about a rather unusual dragon who has a human grandmother who is even trickier than he is, but who has a kinder heart. The story was originally by the Brothers Grimm and also appeared in the Yellow Fairy Book of Andrew Lang. We’ve slightly adapted the riddles drawing on the famous riddle of the Sphinx from Oedipus Rex and a couple of old rhyming riddles which we hope you will find fun.
Read by Natasha. Duration 14.61. Sponsored by AudibleKids
There was once a great war, and the King had a great many soldiers, but he gave them so little pay that they could not live upon it. Then three of them decided to run away from the army.
One of them said to the others, ‘If we are caught, we shall be hanged on the gallows; how shall we set about it?’ The other said, ‘Do you see that large cornfield there? If we were to hide ourselves in that, no one could find us. The army cannot come into it, and to-morrow it is to march on.’
They crept into the corn, but the army did not march on, but remained encamped close around them. They sat for two days and two nights in the corn, and grew so hungry that they nearly died; but if they were to venture out, it was certain death.
They said at last, ‘What use was it our deserting from the army? We must die here miserably.’
Whilst they were speaking a fiery dragon came flying through the air. It hovered near them, and asked why they were hidden there.
They answered, ‘We are three soldiers, and have deserted because our pay was so small. Now if we remain here we shall die of hunger, and if we move out we shall be strung up on the gallows.’
‘If you will serve me for seven years,’ said the dragon, I will lead you through the midst of the army so that no one shall catch you.’ ‘We have no choice, and must take your offer,’ said they. Then the dragon seized them in his claws, took them through the air over the army, and set them down on the earth a long way from it.
He gave them a little whip, saying, ‘Whip and slash with this, and as much money as you want will jump up before you. You can then live as great lords, keep horses, and drive about in carriages. But after seven years you are mine.’ Then he put a book before them, which he made all three of them sign. ‘I will then give you three riddles,’ he said; ‘if you guess them, you shall be free and out of my power.’ The dragon then flew away, and they journeyed on with their little whip. They had as much money as they wanted, wore grand clothes, and made their way into the world. Wherever they went they lived in merrymaking and splendour, drove about with horses and carriages, ate and drank, but did nothing wrong.
The time passed quickly away, and when the seven years were nearly ended two of them grew terribly anxious and frightened, but the third made light of it, saying, ‘Don’t be afraid, brothers, I wasn’t born yesterday; I will guess the riddles.’
They went into a field, sat down, and the two pulled long faces. An old woman passed by, and asked them why they were so sad. ‘Alas! what have you to do with it? You cannot help us.’ ‘Who knows?’ she answered.
Then they told her that they had become the servants of the Dragon for seven long years, and how he had given them money as plentifully as blackberries; but as they had signed their names they were his, unless when the seven years had passed they could guess a riddle. The old woman said, ‘If you would help yourselves, one of you must go into the wood, and there he will come upon a tumble-down building of rocks which looks like a little house. He must go in, and there he will find help.’
The two melancholy ones thought, ‘That won’t save us!’ and they remained where they were. But the third and merry one jumped up and went into the wood till he found the rock hut. In the hut sat a very old woman, who was the Dragon’s grandmother. She asked him how he came, and what was his business there. He told her all that happened, and because she was pleased with him she took compassion on him, and said she would help him.
She lifted up a large stone which lay over the cellar, saying, ‘Hide yourself there; you can hear all that is spoken in this room. Only sit still and don’t stir. When the Dragon comes, I will ask him what the riddle is, for he tells me everything; then listen carefully what he answers.’
At midnight the Dragon flew in, and asked for his supper. His grandmother laid the table, and brought out food and drink till he was satisfied, and they ate and drank together. Then in the course of the conversation she asked him what he had done in the day, and how many souls he had conquered.
‘I haven’t had much luck to-day,’ he said, ‘but I have a tight hold on three soldiers.’
‘Indeed! three soldiers!’ said she. ‘Who cannot escape you?’
‘They are mine,’ answered the Dragon scornfully, ‘for I shall only give them three riddles which they will never be able to guess.’
‘What sort of a riddles are it?’ she asked.
“The first is like this,” said the dragon, “What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs at noon, and on three legs in the evening?”
The old lady looked quite baffled and said: “Tell me my fiery grandchild. What does go on four legs in the morning, on two legs and noon, and on three legs in the evening?”
“Why?” laughed the dragon. “A person does. He crawls on all fours as a baby, walks on two legs as an adult, and walks with two legs and a stick in old age.”
‘And the old lady exclaimed “Noone else has riddles as cunning as yours. They are unlikely to guess the answer to that one for sure. But if they do, what is your second riddle?”.
And the dragon replied that his second riddle was just as devious and even prettier for it was in the form of a rhyme that went like this:
Though of great age, I’m kept in a cage, Having a long tail and one ear, My mouth it is round, And when joys do abound, O, then I sing wonderful clear. What am I?
“Can’t you guess the answer? Why I am a bell of course DONG! ” said the Dragon.
The old lady shook her head in wonderment at her grandson’s ingenuity. “Oh you are quite the most cunning dragon who ever lived and breathed fire !” she exclaimed. And what do you have for your final and most difficult riddle?”
“oh just some simple arithmetic” said the dragon.
As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives, Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats, Every cat had seven kits - Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?
And as the old lady could not answer he said “Only one was going to St. Ives. All the others were going the other way ! HA ! The souls of the three soldiers are mine for sure” And then the dragon ate his supper of hot coals and soup made from boiling oil and went to bed.
When the Dragon was soundly asleep, his old grandmother pulled up the stone and let out the soldier.
‘Did you pay attention to everything?’
‘Yes,’ he replied, ‘I know enough, and can help myself splendidly.’
Then he went by another way through the window secretly, and in all haste back to his comrades. He told them how the Dragon had been outwitted by his grandmother, and how he had heard from his own lips the answer to the riddles.
Then they were all delighted and in high spirits, took out their whip, and cracked so much money that it came jumping up from the ground. When the seven years had quite gone, the fiendish dragon came to the soldiers with his book, and, pointing at the signatures, said, And now you must answer my riddles or your souls shall be mine for all eternity. What goes on four legs in the morning, on two legs and noon, and on three legs in the evening?”
And first soldier replied, “A person.”
The Dragon was much annoyed, and hummed and hawed a good deal, and asked the next riddle.
Though of great age, I’m kept in a cage, Having a long tail and one ear, My mouth it is round, And when joys do abound, O, then I sing wonderful clear. What am I?
“A bell” said the second soldier.
The Dragon-made a face, and growled again three times, ‘Hum, hum, hum,’ and said to the third, ‘
As I was going to St. Ives, I met a man with seven wives, Every wife had seven sacks, Every sack had seven cats, Every cat had seven kits - Kits, cats, sacks, and wives, How many were going to St. Ives?
“Only One” replied the third soldier.
Then the Dragon flew away with a loud shriek, and had no more power over them. But the three soldiers took the little whip, whipped as much money as they wanted, and lived happily to their lives end.
The brave little tailor kills seven flies with one blow, and manages to convince both giants and kings that he is indeed a force to be reckoned with. The hero in this story by the Brothers Grimm is armed with whit, cunning and a sense of humour. He conquers all before him, including a giant, a unicorn, and a princess.
Read by Natasha. Story by the Brothers Grimm. Duration 16.48.
One summer’s morning a little tailor was sitting on his table by the window; he was in good spirits, and sewed with all his might. Then came a peasant woman down the street crying: ‘Good jams, cheap! Good jams, cheap!’ This rang pleasantly in the tailor’s ears; he stretched his delicate head out of the window, and called: ‘Come up here, dear woman; here you will get rid of your goods.’ The woman came up the three steps to the tailor with her heavy basket, and he made her unpack all the pots for him. He inspected each one, lifted it up, put his nose to it, and at length said: ‘The jam seems to me to be good. I’ll buy a jar.” The women, who had hoped to sell far more jam, gave him what he wanted but went away grumbling.
‘Now, this jam shall be blessed by God,’ cried the little tailor, ‘and give me health and strength’; so he brought the bread out of the cupboard, cut himself a piece right across the loaf and spread the jam over it. ‘This won’t taste bitter,’ said he, ‘but I will just finish the jacket before I take a bite.’ He laid the bread near him, sewed on, and in his joy, made bigger and bigger stitches. In the meantime the smell of the sweet jam rose to where the flies were sitting in great numbers, and they were attracted and descended on it in hosts. ‘Hey! who invited you?’ said the little tailor, and drove the unbidden guests away. The flies, however, understood no German, and came back again in ever-increasing companies. The little tailor at last lost all patience, and drew a piece of cloth from the hole under his work-table, and saying: ‘Wait, and I will give it to you,’ struck it mercilessly on them. When he drew it away and counted, there lay before him no fewer than seven flies, dead and with legs stretched out.
The taylor looked at the flies that he had killed, and could not help admiring his own bravery. ‘The whole town shall know of this!’ he said. And the little tailor hastened to cut himself a belt, stitched it, and embroidered on it in large letters: ‘Seven dead at one stroke!’ ‘What, the town, the whole world shall hear of it!’ he exclaimed. and his heart wagged with joy like a lamb’s tail. The tailor put on the girdle, and resolved to go forth into the world, because he thought his workshop was too small for his valour. Before he went away, he looked around the house to see if there was anything which he could take with him; however, he found nothing but an old cheese, and that he put in his pocket. In front of the door he observed a bird which had caught itself in the thicket. It had to go into his pocket with the cheese. Now he took to the road boldly, and as he was light and nimble, he felt no tiredness. The road led him up a mountain, and when he had reached the highest point of it, there sat a powerful giant looking peacefully about him. The little tailor went bravely up, spoke to him, and said: ‘Good day, comrade, so you are sitting there overlooking the wide-spread world! I am just on my way there, and want to try my luck. How about you come with me?’ The giant looked contemptuously at the tailor, and said: ‘You wretch! You miserable creature!’
‘Oh, indeed?’ answered the little tailor, and unbuttoned his coat, and showed the giant the belt, ‘there may you read what kind of a man I am!’ The giant read: ‘Seven dead at one stroke,’ and thought that they had been men whom the tailor had killed, and began to feel a little respect for the tiny fellow. Nevertheless, he wished to try him first, and took a stone in his hand and squeezed it together so that water dropped out of it. ‘Do that,’ said the giant, ‘if you have strength.’ ‘Is that all?’ said the tailor, ‘that is child’s play !’ and put his hand into his pocket, brought out the soft cheese, and pressed it until the liquid ran out of it. The giant did not know what to say, and could not believe it of the little man. Then the giant picked up a stone and threw it so high that the eye could scarcely follow it. ‘Now, little mite of a man, do that,’ ‘Well thrown,’ said the tailor, ‘but after all the stone came down to earth again; I will throw you one which shall never come back at all,’ and he put his hand into his pocket, took out the bird, and threw it into the air. The bird, delighted with its liberty, rose, flew away and did not come back. ‘How does that shot please you, comrade?’ asked the tailor. ‘You can certainly throw,’ said the giant, ‘but now we will see if you are able to carry anything properly.’ He took the little tailor to a mighty oak tree which lay there felled on the ground, and said: ‘If you are strong enough, help me to carry the tree out of the forest.’ ‘Readily,’ answered the little man; ‘take you the trunk on your shoulders, and I will raise up the branches and twigs; after all, they are the heaviest.’ The giant took the trunk on his shoulder, but the tailor seated himself on a branch, and the giant, who could not look round, had to carry away the whole tree, and the little tailor into the bargain: he behind, was quite merry and happy, and whistled the song: ‘Three tailors rode forth from the gate,’ as if carrying the tree were child’s play. The giant, after he had dragged the heavy burden part of the way, could go no further, and cried: ‘Now I shall have to let the tree fall!’ The tailor sprang nimbly down, seized the tree with both arms as if he had been carrying it, and said to the giant: ‘You are such a great fellow, and yet cannot even carry the tree!’
The giant said: ‘If you are such a brave fellow, come with me into our cave and spend the night with us.’ The little tailor was willing, and followed him. When they went into the cave, other giants were sitting there by the fire, and each of them had a roasted sheep in his hand and was eating it. The little tailor looked round and thought: ‘It is much more spacious here than in my workshop.’ The giant showed him a bed, and said he was to lie down in it and sleep. The bed, however, was too big for the little tailor; he did not lie down in it, but crept into a corner. When it was midnight, and the giant thought that the little tailor was lying in a sound sleep, he got up, took a great iron bar, cut through the bed with one blow, and thought he had finished off the grasshopper of a man for good. With the earliest dawn the giants went into the forest, and had quite forgotten the little tailor, when all at once he walked up to them quite merrily and boldly. The giants were terrified, they were afraid that he would strike them all dead, and ran away in a great hurry.
The little tailor went onwards, always following his own pointed nose. After he had walked for a long time, he came to the courtyard of a royal palace, and as he felt weary, he lay down on the grass and fell asleep. Whilst he lay there, the people came and inspected him on all sides, and read on his belt: ‘Seven dead with one stroke.’ ‘Ah!’ said they, ‘what does the great warrior want here in the midst of peace? He must be a mighty lord.’ Soon the Taylor was brought before the king how had a request to make of him.
“In the forest roams a magical horse with one horn – a unicorn which does great harm attacking people all around. If you can can rid me of this unicorn, you shall have the hand of my daughter in marriage and half my kingdom.” And the Taylor thought to himself, “It is not every day that I receive an offer such as that” and he replied.
I do not fear one unicorn. Seven at one blow, is my kind of affair.’ He took a rope and an axe with him, went forth into the forest. The unicorn soon came towards him, and rushed directly on the tailor, as if it would gore him with its horn without more ado. ‘Softly, softly; it can’t be done as quickly as that,’ said he, and stood still and waited until the animal was quite close, and then sprang nimbly behind the tree. The unicorn ran against the tree with all its strength, and stuck its horn so fast in the trunk that it had not the strength enough to draw it out again, and thus it was caught. ‘Now, I have got it,’ said the tailor, and came out from behind the tree and put the rope round its neck, and then with his axe he hewed the horn out of the tree, and when all was ready he led the beast away and took it to the king.
But the kind was sorry that he had promised his daughter to the little man, and and made another demand. Before the wedding the tailor was to catch him a wild boar that made great havoc in the forest. And so the taylor went into the forrest where the boar was roaming.
When the boar saw the tailor, it ran on him with foaming mouth and sharp tusks, and was about to throw him to the ground, but the hero fled and sprang into a chapel which was near and up to the window at once, and in one bound out again. The boar ran after him, but the tailor ran round outside and shut the door behind it, and then the raging beast, which was much too heavy and awkward to leap out of the window, was caught. The hero, went to the king, who was now, whether he liked it or not, obliged to keep his promise, and gave his daughter and the half of his kingdom. The wedding was held with great magnificence and small joy, and out of a tailor a king was made.
After some time the young queen heard her husband say in his dreams at night: ‘Boy, make me the jacket , and patch the trousers”. The next morning complained of her wrongs to her father, and begged him to help her to get rid of her husband, who was nothing else but a tailor. The king comforted her and said: ‘Leave your bedroom door open this night, and my servants shall stand outside, and when he has fallen asleep shall go in, bind him, and take him on board a ship which shall carry him into the wide world.’ The woman was satisfied with this; but the king’s armour-bearer, who had heard all, was friendly with the young lord, and informed him of the whole plot. ‘I’ll put a screw into that business,’ said the little tailor. At night he went to bed with his wife at the usual time, and when she thought that he had fallen asleep, she got up, opened the door, and then lay down again. The little tailor, who was only pretending to be asleep, began to cry out in a clear voice: ‘Boy, make me the jacket , and patch the trousers”.. I smote seven at one blow. I killed two giants, I brought away one unicorn, and caught a wild boar, and am I to fear those who are standing outside the room.’ When these men heard the tailor speaking thus, they were overcome by a great fear, and ran as if the wild huntsman were behind them, and none of them would venture anything further against him. So the little tailor remained a king to the end of his life.
And that was the tale of the Brave Little Taylor by the Brothers Grimm. I do hope that you enjoyed it. And don’t forget, there are loads more stories at Storynory.com. Until next time, from me, Natasha, Bye Bye.
IN a town in Persia there lived two brothers, one named Cassim, the other Ali Baba. Cassim was married to a rich wife and lived in luxury, while Ali Baba had to maintain his wife and children by cutting wood in a neighboring forest and selling it in the town. One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, he saw a troop of men on horseback, coming toward him in a cloud of dust. He was afraid they were robbers, and climbed into a tree for safety. When they came up to him and dismounted, he counted forty of them.
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This story from the One Thousand and One nights is not without bloodshed, but all the same, children will love its exciting plot. The name of Ali Baba will forever be associated with thieves, perhaps unfairly as Ali only steals from robbers. The true hero turns out to be a woman – Morgiana the slavegirl.
At a shade under half an hour, this is a longer story than we usual publish – and we have an introduction from the pond where Bertie lives.
This Version by Andrew Lang. Read by Natasha Lee Lewis. Duration 29 Minutes.
This text might differ slightly from the one read by Natasha
IN a town in Persia there dwelt two brothers, one named Cassim, the other Ali Baba. Cassim was married to a rich wife and lived in plenty, while Ali Baba had to maintain his wife and children by cutting wood in a neighboring forest and selling it in the town. One day, when Ali Baba was in the forest, he saw a troop of men on horseback, coming toward him in a cloud of dust. He was afraid they were robbers, and climbed into a tree for safety. When they came up to him and dismounted, he counted forty of them. They unbridled their horses and tied them to trees. The finest man among them, whom Ali Baba took to be their captain, went a little way among some bushes, and said: “Open, Sesame!”[1] so plainly that Ali Baba heard him. A door opened in the rocks, and having made the troop go in, he followed them, and the door shut again of itself. They stayed some time inside, and Ali Baba, fearing they might come out and catch him, was forced to sit patiently in the tree. At last the door opened again, and the Forty Thieves came out. As the Captain went in last he came out first, and made them all pass by him; he then closed the door, saying: “Shut, Sesame!” Every man bridled his horse and mounted, the Captain put himself at their head, and they returned as they came.
Then Ali Baba climbed down and went to the door concealed among the bushes, and said: “Open, Sesame!” and it flew open. Ali Baba, who expected a dull, dismal place, was greatly surprised to find it large and well lighted, hollowed by the hand of man in the form of a vault, which received the light from an opening in the ceiling. He saw rich bales of merchandise–silk, stuff-brocades, all piled together, and gold and silver in heaps, and money in leather purses. He went in and the door shut behind him. He did not look at the silver, but brought out as many bags of gold as he thought his asses, which were browsing outside, could carry, loaded them with the bags, and hid it all with fagots. Using the words: “Shut, Sesame!” he closed the door and went home.
Then he drove his asses into the yard, shut the gates, carried the money-bags to his wife, and emptied them out before her. He bade her keep the secret, and he would go and bury the gold. “Let me first measure it,” said his wife. “I will go borrow a measure of someone, while you dig the hole.” So she ran to the wife of Cassim and borrowed a measure. Knowing Ali Baba’s poverty, the sister was curious to find out what sort of grain his wife wished to measure, and artfully put some suet at the bottom of the measure. Ali Baba’s wife went home and set the measure on the heap of gold, and filled it and emptied it often, to her great content. She then carried it back to her sister, without noticing that a piece of gold was sticking to it, which Cassim’s wife perceived directly her back was turned. She grew very curious, and said to Cassim when he came home: “Cassim, your brother is richer than you. He does not count his money, he measures it.” He begged her to explain this riddle, which she did by showing him the piece of money and telling him where she found it. Then Cassim grew so envious that he could not sleep, and went to his brother in the morning before sunrise. “Ali Baba,” he said, showing him the gold piece, “you pretend to be poor and yet you measure gold.” By this Ali Baba perceived that through his wife’s folly Cassim and his wife knew their secret, so he confessed all and offered Cassim a share. “That I expect,” said Cassim; “but I must know where to find the treasure, otherwise I will discover all, and you will lose all.” Ali Baba, more out of kindness than fear, told him of the cave, and the very words to use. Cassim left Ali Baba, meaning to be beforehand with him and get the treasure for himself. He rose early next morning, and set out with ten mules loaded with great chests. He soon found the place, and the door in the rock. He said: “Open, Sesame!” and the door opened and shut behind him. He could have feasted his eyes all day on the treasures, but he now hastened to gather together as much of it as possible; but when he was ready to go he could not remember what to say for thinking of his great riches. Instead of “Sesame,” he said: “Open, Barley!” and the door remained fast. He named several different sorts of grain, all but the right one, and the door still stuck fast. He was so frightened at the danger he was in that he had as much forgotten the word as if he had never heard it.
About noon the robbers returned to their cave, and saw Cassim’s mules roving about with great chests on their backs. This gave them the alarm; they drew their sabres, and went to the door, which opened on their Captain’s saying: “Open, Sesame!” Cassim, who had heard the trampling of their horses’ feet, resolved to sell his life dearly, so when the door opened he leaped out and threw the Captain down. In vain, however, for the robbers with their sabres soon killed him. On entering the cave they saw all the bags laid ready, and could not imagine how anyone had got in without knowing their secret. They cut Cassim’s body into four quarters, and nailed them up inside the cave, in order to frighten anyone who should venture in, and went away in search of more treasure.
As night drew on Cassim’s wife grew very uneasy, and ran to her brother-in-law, and told him where her husband had gone. Ali Baba did his best to comfort her, and set out to the forest in search of Cassim. The first thing he saw on entering the cave was his dead brother. Full of horror, he put the body on one of his asses, and bags of gold on the other two, and, covering all with some fagots, returned home. He drove the two asses laden with gold into his own yard, and led the other to Cassim’s house. The door was opened by the slave Morgiana, whom he knew to be both brave and cunning. Unloading the ass, he said to her: “This is the body of your master, who has been murdered, but whom we must bury as though he had died in his bed. I will speak with you again, but now tell your mistress I am come.” The wife of Cassim, on learning the fate of her husband, broke out into cries and tears, but Ali Baba offered to take her to live with him and his wife if she would promise to keep his counsel and leave everything to Morgiana; whereupon she agreed, and dried her eyes.
Morgiana, meanwhile, sought an apothecary and asked him for some lozenges. “My poor master,” she said, “can neither eat nor speak, and no one knows what his distemper is.” She carried home the lozenges and returned next day weeping, and asked for an essence only given to those just about to die. Thus, in the evening, no one was surprised to hear the wretched shrieks and cries of Cassim’s wife and Morgiana, telling everyone that Cassim was dead. The day after Morgiana went to an old cobbler near the gates of the town who opened his stall early, put a piece of gold in his hand, and bade him follow her with his needle and thread. Having bound his eyes with a handkerchief, she took him to the room where the body lay, pulled off the bandage, and bade him sew the quarters together, after which she covered his eyes again and led him home. Then they buried Cassim, and Morgiana his slave followed him to the grave, weeping and tearing her hair, while Cassim’s wife stayed at home uttering lamentable cries. Next day she went to live with Ali Baba, who gave Cassim’s shop to his eldest son.
The Forty Thieves, on their return to the cave, were much astonished to find Cassim’s body gone and some of their money-bags. “We are certainly discovered,” said the Captain, “and shall be undone if we cannot find out who it is that knows our secret. Two men must have known it; we have killed one, we must now find the other. To this end one of you who is bold and artful must go into the city dressed as a traveler, and discover whom we have killed, and whether men talk of the strange manner of his death. If the messenger fails he must lose his life, lest we be betrayed.” One of the thieves started up and offered to do this, and after the rest had highly commended him for his bravery he disguised himself, and happened to enter the town at daybreak, just by Baba Mustapha’s stall. The thief bade him good-day, saying: “Honest man, how can you possibly see to stitch at your age?” “Old as I am,” replied the cobbler, “I have very good eyes, and will you believe me when I tell you that I sewed a dead body together in a place where I had less light than I have now.” The robber was overjoyed at his good fortune, and, giving him a piece of gold, desired to be shown the house where he stitched up the dead body. At first Mustapha refused, saying that he had been blindfolded; but when the robber gave him another piece of gold he began to think he might remember the turnings if blindfolded as before. This means succeeded; the robber partly led him, and was partly guided by him, right in front of Cassim’s house, the door of which the robber marked with a piece of chalk. Then, well pleased, he bade farewell to Baba Mustapha and returned to the forest. By and by Morgiana, going out, saw the mark the robber had made, quickly guessed that some mischief was brewing, and fetching a piece of chalk marked two or three doors on each side, without saying anything to her master or mistress.
The thief, meantime, told his comrades of his discovery. The Captain thanked him, and bade him show him the house he had marked. But when they came to it they saw that five or six of the houses were chalked in the same manner. The guide was so confounded that he knew not what answer to make, and when they returned he was at once beheaded for having failed. Another robber was dispatched, and, having won over Baba Mustapha, marked the house in red chalk; but Morgiana being again too clever for them, the second messenger was put to death also. The Captain now resolved to go himself, but, wiser than the others, he did not mark the house, but looked at it so closely that he could not fail to remember it. He returned, and ordered his men to go into the neighboring villages and buy nineteen mules, and thirty-eight leather jars, all empty except one, which was full of oil. The Captain put one of his men, fully armed, into each, rubbing the outside of the jars with oil from the full vessel. Then the nineteen mules were loaded with thirty-seven robbers in jars, and the jar of oil, and reached the town by dusk. The Captain stopped his mules in front of Ali Baba’s house, and said to Ali Baba, who was sitting outside for coolness: “I have brought some oil from a distance to sell at to-morrow’s market, but it is now so late that I know not where to pass the night, unless you will do me the favor to take me in.” Though Ali Baba had seen the Captain of the robbers in the forest, he did not recognize him in the disguise of an oil merchant. He bade him welcome, opened his gates for the mules to enter, and went to Morgiana to bid her prepare a bed and supper for his guest. He brought the stranger into his hall, and after they had supped went again to speak to Morgiana in the kitchen, while the Captain went into the yard under pretense of seeing after his mules, but really to tell his men what to do. Beginning at the first jar and ending at the last, he said to each man: “As soon as I throw some stones from the window of the chamber where I lie, cut the jars open with your knives and come out, and I will be with you in a trice.” He returned to the house, and Morgiana led him to his chamber. She then told Abdallah, her fellow-slave, to set on the pot to make some broth for her master, who had gone to bed. Meanwhile her lamp went out, and she had no more oil in the house. “Do not be uneasy,” said Abdallah; “go into the yard and take some out of one of those jars.” Morgiana thanked him for his advice, took the oil pot, and went into the yard. When she came to the first jar the robber inside said softly: “Is it time?”
Any other slave but Morgiana, on finding a man in the jar instead of the oil she wanted, would have screamed and made a noise; but she, knowing the danger her master was in, bethought herself of a plan, and answered quietly: “Not yet, but presently.” She went to all the jars, giving the same answer, till she came to the jar of oil. She now saw that her master, thinking to entertain an oil merchant, had let thirty-eight robbers into his house. She filled her oil pot, went back to the kitchen, and, having lit her lamp, went again to the oil jar and filled a large kettle full of oil. When it boiled she went and poured enough oil into every jar to stifle and kill the robber inside. When this brave deed was done she went back to the kitchen, put out the fire and the lamp, and waited to see what would happen.
In a quarter of an hour the Captain of the robbers awoke, got up, and opened the window. As all seemed quiet, he threw down some little pebbles which hit the jars. He listened, and as none of his men seemed to stir he grew uneasy, and went down into the yard. On going to the first jar and saying, “Are you asleep?” he smelt the hot boiled oil, and knew at once that his plot to murder Ali Baba and his household had been discovered. He found all the gang was dead, and, missing the oil out of the last jar, became aware of the manner of their death. He then forced the lock of a door leading into a garden, and climbing over several walls made his escape. Morgiana heard and saw all this, and, rejoicing at her success, went to bed and fell asleep.
At daybreak Ali Baba arose, and, seeing the oil jars still there, asked why the merchant had not gone with his mules. Morgiana bade him look in the first jar and see if there was any oil. Seeing a man, he started back in terror. “Have no fear,” said Morgiana; “the man cannot harm you: he is dead.” Ali Baba, when he had recovered somewhat from his astonishment, asked what had become of the merchant. “Merchant!” said she, “he is no more a merchant than I am!” and she told him the whole story, assuring him that it was a plot of the robbers of the forest, of whom only three were left, and that the white and red chalk marks had something to do with it. Ali Baba at once gave Morgiana her freedom, saying that he owed her his life. They then buried the bodies in Ali Baba’s garden, while the mules were sold in the market by his slaves.
The Captain returned to his lonely cave, which seemed frightful to him without his lost companions, and firmly resolved to avenge them by killing Ali Baba. He dressed himself carefully, and went into the town, where he took lodgings in an inn. In the course of a great many journeys to the forest he carried away many rich stuffs and much fine linen, and set up a shop opposite that of Ali Baba’s son. He called himself Cogia Hassan, and as he was both civil and well dressed he soon made friends with Ali Baba’s son, and through him with Ali Baba, whom he was continually asking to sup with him. Ali Baba, wishing to return his kindness, invited him into his house and received him smiling, thanking him for his kindness to his son. When the merchant was about to take his leave Ali Baba stopped him, saying: “Where are you going, sir, in such haste? Will you not stay and sup with me?” The merchant refused, saying that he had a reason; and, on Ali Baba’s asking him what that was, he replied: “It is, sir, that I can eat no victuals that have any salt in them.” “If that is all,” said Ali Baba, “let me tell you that there shall be no salt in either the meat or the bread that we eat to-night.” He went to give this order to Morgiana, who was much surprised. “Who is this man,” she said, “who eats no salt with his meat?” “He is an honest man, Morgiana,” returned her master; “therefore do as I bid you.” But she could not withstand a desire to see this strange man, so she helped Abdallah to carry up the dishes, and saw in a moment that Cogia Hassan was the robber Captain, and carried a dagger under his garment. “I am not surprised,” she said to herself, “that this wicked man, who intends to kill my master, will eat no salt with him; but I will hinder his plans.”
She sent up the supper by Abdallah, while she made ready for one of the boldest acts that could be thought on. When the dessert had been served, Cogia Hassan was left alone with Ali Baba and his son, whom he thought to make drunk and then to murder them. Morgiana, meanwhile, put on a head-dress like a dancing-girl’s, and clasped a girdle round her waist, from which hung a dagger with a silver hilt, and said to Abdallah: “Take your tabor, and let us go and divert our master and his guest.” Abdallah took his tabor and played before Morgiana until they came to the door, where Abdallah stopped playing and Morgiana made a low courtesy. “Come in, Morgiana,” said Ali Baba, “and let Cogia Hassan see what you can do”; and, turning to Cogia Hassan, he said: “She’s my slave and my housekeeper.” Cogia Hassan was by no means pleased, for he feared that his chance of killing Ali Baba was gone for the present; but he pretended great eagerness to see Morgiana, and Abdallah began to play and Morgiana to dance. After she had performed several dances she drew her dagger and made passes with it, sometimes pointing it at her own breast, sometimes at her master’s, as if it were part of the dance. Suddenly, out of breath, she snatched the tabor from Abdallah with her left hand, and, holding the dagger in her right hand, held out the tabor to her master. Ali Baba and his son put a piece of gold into it, and Cogia Hassan, seeing that she was coming to him, pulled out his purse to make her a present, but while he was putting his hand into it Morgiana plunged the dagger into his heart.
“Unhappy girl!” cried Ali Baba and his son, “what have you done to ruin us?”
“It was to preserve you, master, not to ruin you,” answered Morgiana. “See here,” opening the false merchant’s garment and showing the dagger; “see what an enemy you have entertained! Remember, he would eat no salt with you, and what more would you have? Look at him! he is both the false oil merchant and the Captain of the Forty Thieves.”
Ali Baba was so grateful to Morgiana for thus saving his life that he offered her to his son in marriage, who readily consented, and a few days after the wedding was celebrated with greatest splendor.
At the end of a year Ali Baba, hearing nothing of the two remaining robbers, judged they were dead, and set out to the cave. The door opened on his saying: “Open Sesame!” He went in, and saw that nobody had been there since the Captain left it. He brought away as much gold as he could carry, and returned to town. He told his son the secret of the cave, which his son handed down in his turn, so the children and grandchildren of Ali Baba were rich to the end of their lives.
Read by Natasha. Duration 12.22
Who hasn’t heard of Robin Hood? He could make a claim to be the most famous Englishman who ever lived. His story has been told and retold many times. We have tried to stay true in spirt to one of the earliest ballads about the famous robber, 
This is a rather puzzling story; puzzling in the sense that it has three tricky riddles in it. It’s also about a rather unusual dragon who has a human grandmother who is even trickier than he is, but who has a kinder heart. The story was originally by the Brothers Grimm and also appeared in the Yellow Fairy Book of Andrew Lang. We’ve slightly adapted the riddles drawing on the famous riddle of the Sphinx from Oedipus Rex and a couple of old rhyming riddles which we hope you will find fun. 
