Purpling where the breezes blow。
〃Floating on thy breast forever
Down thy current I could glide；
Grief and pain should reach me never
On thy bright and gentle tide。
〃So my aching heart seeks thine； love；
There to find its rest and peace；
For； through loving； bliss is mine； love；
And my many troubles cease_。〃
Thus Allan sang； and as he sang all eyes dwelled upon him and not
a sound broke the stillness； and even after he had done the silence
hung for a short space。 So the time passed till the hour drew nigh
for the holding of the great archery match in Finsbury Fields。
A gay sight were famous Finsbury Fields on that bright and sunny
morning of lusty summertime。 Along the end of the meadow stood
the booths for the different bands of archers； for the King's yeomen
were divided into companies of fourscore men； and each company
had a captain over it； so on the bright greensward stood ten booths
of striped canvas； a booth for each band of the royal archers；
and at the peak of each fluttered a flag in the mellow air；
and the flag was the color that belonged to the captain of each band。
From the center booth hung the yellow flag of Tepus； the famous
bow bearer of the King； next to it； on one hand； was the blue
flag of Gilbert of the White Hand； and on the other the blood…red
pennant of stout young Clifton of Buckinghamshire。 The seven
other archer captains were also men of great renown； among them
were Egbert of Kent and William of Southampton； but those first
named were most famous of all。 The noise of many voices in talk
and laughter came from within the booths； and in and out ran
the attendants like ants about an ant…hill。 Some bore ale
and beer； and some bundles of bowstrings or sheaves of arrows。
On each side of the archery range were rows upon rows of seats
reaching high aloft； and in the center of the north side was a raised
dais for the King and Queen； shaded by canvas of gay colors；
and hung about with streaming silken pennants of red and blue
and green and white。 As yet the King and Queen had not come；
but all the other benches were full of people； rising head above
head high aloft till it made the eye dizzy to look upon them。
Eightscore yards distant from the mark from which the archers
were to shoot stood ten fair targets； each target marked by a flag
of the color belonging to the band that was to shoot thereat。
So all was ready for the coming of the King and Queen。
At last a great blast of bugles sounded； and into the meadow came
riding six trumpeters with silver trumpets； from which hung velvet
banners heavy with rich workings of silver and gold thread。
Behind these came stout King Henry upon a dapple…gray stallion；
with his Queen beside him upon a milk…white palfrey。
On either side of them walked the yeomen of the guard； the bright
sunlight flashing from the polished blades of the steel halberds
they carried。 Behind these came the Court in a great crowd；
so that presently all the lawn was alive with bright colors；
with silk and velvet； with waving plumes and gleaming gold；
with flashing jewels and sword hilts； a gallant sight on that
bright summer day。
Then all the people arose and shouted； so that their voices
sounded like the storm upon the Cornish coast； when the dark
waves run upon the shore and leap and break； surging amid
the rocks； so； amid the roaring and the surging of the people；
and the waving of scarfs and kerchiefs； the King and Queen
came to their place； and； getting down from their horses；
mounted the broad stairs that led to the raised platform；
and there took their seats on two thrones bedecked with purple
silks and cloths of silver and of gold。
When all was quiet a bugle sounded； and straightway the archers came
marching in order from their tents。 Fortyscore they were in all；
as stalwart a band of yeomen as could be found in all the wide world。
So they came in orderly fashion and stood in front of the dais where
King Henry and his Queen sat。 King Henry looked up and down their
ranks right proudly； for his heart warmed within him at the sight
of such a gallant band of yeomen。 Then he bade his herald Sir Hugh
de Mowbray stand forth and proclaim the rules governing the game。
So Sir Hugh stepped to the edge of the platform and spoke in a loud
clear voice； and thus he said：
That each man should shoot seven arrows at the target that belonged
to his band； and； of the fourscore yeomen of each band； the three
that shot the best should be chosen。 These three should shoot three
arrows apiece； and the one that shot the best should again be chosen。
Then each of these should again shoot three arrows apiece；
and the one that shot the best should have the first prize；
the one that shot the next best should have the second；
and the one that shot the next best should have the third prize。
Each of the others should have fourscore silver pennies for his shooting。
The first prize was to be twoscore and ten golden pounds； a silver
bugle horn inlaid with gold； and a quiver with ten white arrows
tipped with gold and feathered with the white swan's…wing therein。
The second prize was to be fivescore of the fattest bucks that run
on Dallen Lea； to be shot when the yeoman that won them chose。
The third prize was to be two tuns of good Rhenish wine。
So Sir Hugh spoke； and when he had done all the archers waved
their bows aloft and shouted。 Then each band turned and marched
in order back to its place。
And now the shooting began； the captains first taking stand and speeding
their shafts and then making room for the men who shot； each in turn；
after them。 Two hundred and eighty score shafts were shot in all；
and so deftly were they sped that when the shooting was done each target
looked like the back of a hedgehog when the farm dog snuffs at it。
A long time was taken in this shooting； and when it was over the judges
came forward； looked carefully at the targets； and proclaimed in a
loud voice which three had shot the best from the separate bands。
Then a great hubbub of voices arose； each man among the crowd that
looked on calling for his favorite archer。 Then ten fresh targets
were brought forward； and every sound was hushed as the archers took
their places once more。
This time the shooting was more speedily done； for only nine
shafts were shot by each band。 Not an arrow missed the targets；
but in that of Gilbert of the White Hand five arrows were in the small
white spot that marked the center； of these five three were sped
by Gilbert。 Then the judges came forward again； and looking at
the targets； called aloud the names of the archer chosen as the best
bowman of each band。 Of these Gilbert of the White Hand led；
for six of the ten arrows he had shot had lodged in the center；
but stout Tepus and young Clifton trod close upon his heels；
yet the others stood a fair chance for the second or third place。
And now； amid the roaring of the crowd； those ten stout fellows that were left
went back to their tents to rest for a while and change their bowstrings；
for nought must fail at this next round； and no hand must tremble or eye grow
dim because of weariness。
Then while the deep buzz and hum of talking sounded all around
like the noise of the wind in the leafy forest； Queen Eleanor
turned to the King； and quoth she； 〃Thinkest thou that these yeomen
so chosen are the very best archers in all merry England？〃
〃Yea； truly；〃 said the King； smiling； for he was well
pleased with the sport that he had seen； 〃and I tell thee；
that not only are they the best archers in all merry England；
but in all the wide world beside。〃
〃But what wouldst thou say；〃 quoth Queen Eleanor； 〃if I were to find
three archers to match the best three yeomen of all thy guard？〃
〃I would say thou hast done what I could not do；〃 said the King； laughing；
〃for I tell thee there lives not in all the world three archers to match
Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton of Buckinghamshire。〃
〃Now；〃 said the Queen； 〃I know of three yeomen； and in truth I
have seen them not long since； that I would not fear to match
against any three that thou canst choose from among all thy
fortyscore archers； and； moreover； I will match them here this very day。
But I will only match them with thy archers providing that thou
wilt grant a free pardon to all that may come in my behalf。〃
At this； the King laughed loud and long。 〃Truly；〃 said he；
〃thou art taking up with strange matters for a queen。
If thou wilt bring those three fellows that thou speakest of；
I will promise faithfully to give them free pardon for forty days；
to come or to go wheresoever they please； nor will I harm a hair
of their heads in all that time。 Moreover； if these that thou
bringest shoot better than my yeomen； man for man； they shall
have the prizes for themselves according to their shooting。
But as thou hast so taken up of a sudden with sports of this kind；
hast thou a mind for a wager？〃
〃Why； in sooth；〃 said Queen Eleanor； laughing； 〃I know nought
of such matters； but if thou hast a mind to do somewhat in that way；
I will strive to pleasure thee。 What wilt thou wager upon thy men？〃
Then the merry King laughed again； for he dearly loved goodly jest；
so he said； amidst his laughter； 〃I will wager thee ten tuns of Rhenish wine；
ten tuns of the stoutest ale； and tenscore bows of tempered Spanish yew；
with quivers and arrows to match。〃
All that stood around smiled at this； for it seemed a merry wager for
a king to give to a queen； but Queen Eleanor bowed her head quietly。
〃I will take thy wager；〃 said she； 〃for I know right well where to place
those things that thou hast spoken of。 Now； who will be on my side
in this matter？〃 And she looked around upon them that stood about；
but no one spake or cared to wager upon the Queen's side against
such archers as Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton。 Then the Queen
spoke again； 〃Now； who will back me in this wager？ Wilt thou；
my Lord Bishop of Hereford？〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth the Bishop hastily； 〃it ill befits one of my cloth to deal
in such matters。 Moreover； there are no such archers as His Majesty's
in all the world； therefore I would but lose my money。
〃Methinks the t