Robin hood homework

Coongta

• Hood

Pel 11) London

spring of the second year of his 'nst the High Sheriff of Nottingham vi took a walk in Sherwood For- , he pondered the progress of the

'sposition of his forces, the Sheriff's the options that confronted him.

'against the Sheriff had begun as a . It erupted out of Robin's conflict

Sheriff and his administration. However, ood could do little. He therefore

with grievances and a deep sense

he welcomed all who came, asking d demanding only a willingness to

he believed, lay in numbers. first year forging the group into a united in enmity against the Sheriff

outside the law. The band's organi- le. Robin ruled supreme, making all

it decisions. He delegated specific tasks to

Will Scarlett was in charge of intelli- g. His main job was to shadow the

n, always alert to their next move. information on the travel plans of

tax collectors. Little John kept dis-

men and saw to it that their archery

ak that their profession demanded. of the finances, converting loot

$hares of the take, and finding suit-

s for the surplus. Finally. Much the

the difficult task of provisioning the

nd of Merry Men. g size of the hand was a source

Robin. hut also a source of con-

t. his Merry Men was spreading ,

were pouring in from every corner

A corned

of England. As the hand grew larger. their small his- 1111:1C became a major encampment. Between raids the men milled about, talking mid playing games. Vigi- lance was in decline, and discipline was becoming harder to enforce. "Why?' Robin reflected. "I don't know half the men I run into these days."

The growing band was also beginning to exceed the food capacity of the forest. Game was becoming scarce, and supplies had to be obtained from outlying villages. The cost of buying food was beginning to drain the band's financial reserves at the very moment when revenues were in decline. Travelers, especially those with the most to lose, were now giving the for- est a wide berth. This was costly and inconvenient to them, but it was preferable to having all their goods

confiscated. Robin believed that the time had come for the

Merry Men to change their policy of outright confis- cation of goods to one of a fixed transit tax. His lieu- tenants strongly resisted this idea. They were proud of the Merry Men's famous motto: "Rob the rich and give to the poor." "The farmers and the towns- people?' they argued, "are our most important allies How can we tax them, and still hope for their help if

our fight against the Sheriff?" Robin wondered how long the Merry Men coup

keep to the ways and methods of their early days The Sheriff was growing stronger and becoming bet ter organized. He now had the money and the me and was beginning to harass the band, probing for i

weaknesses. The tide of events was beginning to tut against the Merry Men. Robin felt that the campait must be decisively concluded before the Sheriff

PART 2 CAWS

tee to deliver a mortal blow. "Hut how." he !red. "could this he done.' thin had often entertained the possibility of the Sheriff. but the chances for this seemed

ingly remote. Resides. killing the Sherift might his personal thirst for resenge. hut it would some the situation. Robin had hoped that the tal state of unrest and the Sheriff's failure to taxes would lead to his removal from office. . the Sheriff used his political connections to eintOrcement. He had powerful friends at court s well regarded by the regent, Prince John. tee John was vicious and volatile, He wa.s ed by his unpopularity among the people, rated the imprisoned King Richard hack. He d in constant fear of the barons. who had first

given hint the regemy pule hisclaim to the au- had set out to culltxt the to King Richard the Lainheart Robin was ended to jinn the future amneidy. It was a iintrigsnow. vincial banditr. was one thing. coun nan:;ue +mina

Prince John had spies every-whole. and he was Inniail for his sindictiwrichs. If the conspirators 0.411,,,,,

the pursuit would be relentless aid retnhunoas The sound of the supper hom startled Roman

from his thoughts. There was the smell of maim* venison in the air. Nothing was resolved or sealed Robin headed for camp promising Mona that he would give these problems his utmost atiennon tomorrow's raid

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