But I am grieved that thou wilt not feast with me, for thou couldst have victuals to thy liking, for there stands thy Cook." Then he led the Sheriff, willy-nilly, to the seat he knew so well beneath the greenwood tree.
"Ho, lads!" cried Robin, "fill our good friend the Sheriff a right brimming cup of sack and fetch it hither, for he is faint and weary." Then one of the band brought the Sheriff a cup of sack, bowing low as he handed it to him; but the Sheriff could not touch the wine, for he saw it served in one of his own silver flagons, on one of his own silver plates.
"How now," quoth Robin, "dost thou not like our new silver service?
We have gotten a bag of it this day." So saying, he held up the sack of silver that Little John and the Cook had brought with them.
Then the Sheriff's heart was bitter within him; but, not daring to say anything, he only gazed upon the ground.

Robin looked keenly at him for a time before he spoke again.

Then said he, "Now, Master Sheriff, the last time thou camest to Sherwood Forest thou didst come seeking to despoil a poor spendthrift, and thou wert despoiled thine own self; but now thou comest seeking to do no harm, nor do I know that thou hast despoiled any man.

I take my tithes from fat priests and lordly squires, to help those that they despoil and to raise up those that they bow down; but I know not that thou hast tenants of thine own whom thou hast wronged in any way.

Therefore, take thou thine own again, nor will I dispossess thee today of so much as one farthing.