Learn English through classic literature • Five-line readings • Clear US narration
VELMORA ACADEMY
Academy of Archival Languages & Memory Studies
Menu Close
Robin Hood
Robin Hood

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Robin Hood is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Cover illustration for Robin Hood
Context Illustration Reading 1/53 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.
Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.
So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.
In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.
These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.
0:00 / 0:00
Speed 0.75x
AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Robin Hood

Chapter I · Chapter 1

Chapter 1 of Robin Hood is here in full — 269 sentences across 54 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/53 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.
Line 2
Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.
Line 3
So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.
Line 4
In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.
Line 5
These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

Blood noun US /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading “List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.”

All words in this reading · 88

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

a

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

abbey

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

an

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

and

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

as

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

aside

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

authority

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

be

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

Bishop

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

bloodnounUS /blʌd/

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

but

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

by

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

certain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

chief

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

courteous

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

days

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

death

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

deer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

each

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

else

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

England

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

equal

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

even

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

for

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

Foresters

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

forests

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

found

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

free-born

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

gentlemen

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

good

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

ground

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

guarded

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

Harry

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

he

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

hearken

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

His

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

Hood

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

hunting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

I

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

In

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

King

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

King's

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

List

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

lord

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

mean

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

might

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

my

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

name

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

never

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

no

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

none

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

north

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

of

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

on

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

one

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

or

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

outlaw

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

penalty

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

proud

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

Robin

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

Second

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

set

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

shall

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

Sheriff

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

shoot

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

So

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading So courteous an outlaw as he was one Was never none else found.

sons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

tell

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

That

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

the

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

therein

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

These

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

to

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

town

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

under

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

walked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

walled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

warring

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

was

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

were

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the days of good King Harry the Second of England--he of the warring sons--there were certain forests in the north country set aside for the King’s hunting, and no man might shoot deer therein under penalty of death.

While

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Robin was a proud outlaw, While as he walked on the ground.

whom

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

wood

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading These forests were guarded by the King’s Foresters, the chief of whom, in each wood, was no mean man but equal in authority to the Sheriff in his walled town, or even to my lord Bishop in his abbey.

yeoman

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

you

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading List and hearken, gentlemen, That be of free-born blood, I shall you tell of a good yeoman, His name was Robin Hood.

Chapter 1 of Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden holds 269 sentences, grouped into 54 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the public-domain source, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 1 of Robin Hood contain?

Chapter 1 holds 269 sentences of Robin Hood, unabridged, divided into 54 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 1 of Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden exactly as it stands in the public-domain source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 269 sentences, grouped into 54 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 1 of Robin Hood?

Work through the 54 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 54 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 1 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 1 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading Robin Hood

Common questions about reading Robin Hood by J. Walker (Joseph Walker) McSpadden on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of Robin Hood?

Yes. All 3512 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #832 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of Robin Hood is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #832, a public-domain edition. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does Robin Hood take to read?

About 292 minutes of reading across 703 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read Robin Hood section by section

How to work through Robin Hood section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 24 chapters of Robin Hood to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in Robin Hood

Words and structures a reader meets early in Robin Hood, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Hearken
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Robin Hood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Gentlemen
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Robin Hood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Free-born
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Robin Hood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Blood
A word that appears in the opening chapter of Robin Hood; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.