Thinkest thou that the laws of the King of England are to be so evaded by one poor knave without friends or money ?" Then the Bishop spoke again, in his soft, smooth voice: "Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, and believe that I have nought but the good of England and Your Majesty's desirings at heart; but what would it boot though my gracious lord did root up every tree of Sherwood?
Are there not other places for Robin Hood's hiding?
Cannock Chase is not far from Sherwood, and the great Forest of Arden is not far from Cannock Chase.

Beside these are many other woodlands in Nottingham and Derby, Lincoln and York, amid any of which Your Majesty might as well think to seize upon Robin Hood as to lay finger upon a rat among the dust and broken things of a garret.

Nay, my gracious lord, if he doth once plant foot in the woodland, he is lost to the law forever." At these words the King tapped his fingertips upon the table beside him with vexation.

"What wouldst thou have me do, Bishop ?" quoth he.

"Didst thou not hear me pledge my word to the Queen?
Thy talk is as barren as the wind from the bellows upon dead coals." "Far be it from me," said the cunning Bishop, "to point the way to one so clear-sighted as Your Majesty; but, were I the King of England, I should look upon the matter in this wise: I have promised my Queen, let us say, that for forty days the cunningest rogue in all England shall have freedom to come and go; but, lo! I find this outlaw in my grasp; shall I, then, foolishly cling to a promise so hastily given?
Suppose that I had promised to do Her Majesty's bidding, whereupon she bade me to slay myself; should I, then, shut mine eyes and run blindly upon my sword?
Thus would I argue within myself.