When Robin questioned him in regard to his dejection, Sir Richard of the Lee explained that his son, having accidentally wounded his opponent in a tournament, had been obliged to pay a fine of L600 in gold and make a pilgrimage to Palestine.

To raise the money for the fine, the father had mortgaged his estates, and was now about to be despoiled of them by the avaricious prior of Emmet, who demanded an immediate payment of L400 or the estate.
Robin, ever ready to help the poor and sorrowful, bade the knight cheer up and promised to discover some way to raise the L400.

Meantime Little John and Friar Tuck--who had joined Robin's band--caught the Bishop of Hereford, travelling through the forest with a train of pack horses, one of which was laden with an iron-bound chest.

After entertaining these forced guests at dinner, Robin had them witness his archers' skill and listen to Allan a Dale's music, ere he set forth the knight's predicament and appealed to the bishop to lend him the necessary money.

When the bishop loudly protested he would do so gladly had he funds, Robin ordered his baggage examined and divided into three equal shares, one for the owner, one for his men, and one for the poor.
Such was the value of the third set aside for the poor that Robin could lend Sir Richard L500.