Thou shalt carry me on thy back over the water, and receive nothing but a cracked sconce for thy trouble." "A bargain," said the friar: "for the water is low, the labour is light, and the reward is alluring." And he stooped down for Robin, who mounted his back, and the friar waded with him over the river.
"Now, fine fellow," said the friar, "thou shalt carry me back over the water, and thou shalt have a cracked sconce for thy trouble." Robin took the friar on his back, and waded with him into the middle of the river, when by a dexterous jerk he suddenly flung him off and plunged him horizontally over head and ears in the water.

Robin waded to shore, and the friar, half swimming and half scrambling, followed.
"Fine fellow, fine fellow," said the friar, "now will I pay thee thy cracked sconce." "Not so," said Robin, "I have not earned it: but thou hast earned it, and shalt have it." It was not, even in those good old times, a sight of every day to see a troubadour and a friar playing at single-stick by the side of a river, each aiming with fell intent at the other's coxcomb.

The parties were both so skilled in attack and defence, that their mutual efforts for a long time expended themselves in quick and loud rappings on each other's oaken staves.

At length Robin by a dexterous feint contrived to score one on the friar's crown: but in the careless moment of triumph a splendid sweep of the friar's staff struck Robin's out of his hand into the middle of the river, and repaid his crack on the head with a degree of vigour that might have passed the bounds of a jest if Marian had not retarded its descent by catching the friar's arm.
"How now, recreant friar," said Marian; "what have you to say why you should not suffer instant execution, being detected in open rebellion against your liege lord?
Therefore kneel down, traitor, and submit your neck to the sword of the offended law." "Benefit of clergy," said the friar: "I plead my clergy.

And is it you indeed, ye scapegraces?
Ye are well disguised: I knew ye not, by my flask.