Description

"And what of Peter the Ploughman? He was agood friend of mine."
"Alack, Peter the Ploughman hath been hanged and his wife andlittle ones turned out of their home to beg."
The father of young Robin Hood with his little son at his side, hadmet a man from his old home and was eagerly questioning him aboutthe welfare of his old neighbors. But much of the news was sad, forthe times were evil in England. The Normans had conquered thecountry and were the lords and officials in the land, and theycruelly oppressed the common people, who were Saxons. The fathersaid not a word although his face grew very sad, but the boy besidehim burst out indignantly.
"But why should such a thing be done? Peter the Ploughman was oneof the best men I ever knew and his wife was as good and kind as anangel. Why should such a dreadful thing be done to them?"
"Because he shot deer in the king's forest. But indeed he had anexcuse for breaking the law if ever a man did. His crops had beendestroyed by the huntsmen riding through them. The tax collectorhad taken all that he had, and his children were crying for hunger.He shot the deer that they might have food to eat; but the sheriffcaught him and hung him for it. As to the reason why his wife wasturned out from her home with her orphan children, the abbot wantedthat bit of ground for an extension to his garden, so out the poorfolks must go."