Behind this litter rode six men-at-arms, the sunlight flashing on their steel caps as they came jingling up the dusty road.
So these also came to the church, and there Sir Stephen leaped from his horse and, coming to the litter, handed fair Ellen out therefrom.

Then Robin Hood looked at her, and could wonder no longer how it came about that so proud a knight as Sir Stephen of Trent wished to marry a common franklin's daughter; nor did he wonder that no ado was made about the matter, for she was the fairest maiden that ever he had beheld.

Now, however, she was all pale and drooping, like a fair white lily snapped at the stem; and so, with bent head and sorrowful look, she went within the church, Sir Stephen leading her by the hand.
"Why dost thou not play, fellow ?" quoth the Bishop, looking sternly at Robin.
"Marry," said Robin calmly, "I will play in greater wise than Your Lordship thinks, but not till the right time hath come." Said the Bishop to himself, while he looked grimly at Robin, "When this wedding is gone by I will have this fellow well whipped for his saucy tongue and bold speech." And now fair Ellen and Sir Stephen stood before the altar, and the Bishop himself came in his robes and opened his book, whereat fair Ellen looked up and about her in bitter despair, like the fawn that finds the hounds on her haunch.

Then, in all his fluttering tags and ribbons of red and yellow, Robin Hood strode forward.

Three steps he took from the pillar whereby he leaned, and stood between the bride and bridegroom.
"Let me look upon this lass," he said in a loud voice.