There, as he rambled along the sunlit road, he met a lusty young butcher driving a fine mare and riding in a stout new cart, all hung about with meat.

Merrily whistled the Butcher as he jogged along, for he was going to the market, and the day was fresh and sweet, making his heart blithe within him.
"Good morrow to thee, jolly fellow," quoth Robin, "thou seemest happy this merry morn." "Ay, that am I," quoth the jolly Butcher, "and why should I not be so?
Am I not hale in wind and limb?
Have I not the bonniest lass in all Nottinghamshire?
And lastly, am I not to be married to her on Thursday next in sweet Locksley Town ?" "Ha," said Robin, "comest thou from Locksley Town?
Well do I know that fair place for miles about, and well do I know each hedgerow and gentle pebbly stream, and even all the bright little fishes therein, for there I was born and bred.

Now, where goest thou with thy meat, my fair friend ?" "I go to the market at Nottingham Town to sell my beef and my mutton," answered the Butcher.

"But who art thou that comest from Locksley Town ?" "A yeoman am I, and men do call me Robin Hood." "Now, by Our Lady's grace," cried the Butcher, "well do I know thy name, and many a time have I heard thy deeds both sung and spoken of.

But Heaven forbid that thou shouldst take aught of me! An honest man am I, and have wronged neither man nor maid; so trouble me not, good master, as I have never troubled thee." "Nay, Heaven forbid, indeed," quoth Robin, "that I should take from such as thee, jolly fellow! Not so much as one farthing would I take from thee, for I love a fair Saxon face like thine right well--more especially when it cometh from Locksley Town, and most especially when the man that owneth it is to marry a bonny lass on Thursday next.