in Lincoln green。
〃How now； good master；〃 cried Little John； 〃what need hast thou
that thou dost wind thy horn so loudly？〃
〃There stands a tinker；〃 quoth Robin； 〃that would fain take me to Nottingham；
there to hang upon the gallows tree。〃
〃Then shall he himself hang forthwith；〃 cried Little John；
and he and the others made at the Tinker； to seize him。
〃Nay； touch him not；〃 said Robin； 〃for a right stout man is he。
A metal man he is by trade； and a mettled man by nature； moreover； he doth
sing a lovely ballad。 Say； good fellow； wilt thou join my merry men all？
Three suits of Lincoln green shalt thou have a year； besides forty
marks in fee； thou shalt share all with us and lead a right merry life
in the greenwood； for cares have we not； and misfortune cometh not upon
us within the sweet shades of Sherwood； where we shoot the dun deer
and feed upon venison and sweet oaten cakes； and curds and honey。
Wilt thou come with me？〃
〃Ay； marry； will I join with you all；〃 quoth the Tinker；
〃for I love a merry life； and I love thee； good master；
though thou didst thwack my ribs and cheat me into the bargain。
Fain am I to own thou art both a stouter and a slyer man than I；
so I will obey thee and be thine own true servant。〃
So all turned their steps to the forest depths； where the Tinker
was to live henceforth。 For many a day he sang ballads
to the band； until the famous Allan a Dale joined them；
before whose sweet voice all others seemed as harsh as a raven's；
but of him we will learn hereafter。
The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town
THEN THE SHERIFF was very wroth because of this failure to take
jolly Robin； for it came to his ears； as ill news always does；
that the people laughed at him and made a jest of his thinking
to serve a warrant upon such a one as the bold outlaw。
And a man hates nothing so much as being made a jest of； so he said：
〃Our gracious lord and sovereign King himself shall know of this；
and how his laws are perverted and despised by this band of rebel outlaws。
As for yon traitor Tinker； him will I hang； if I catch him；
upon the very highest gallows tree in all Nottinghamshire。〃
Then he bade all his servants and retainers to make ready to go
to London Town； to see and speak with the King。
At this there was bustling at the Sheriff's castle； and men
ran hither and thither upon this business and upon that；
while the forge fires of Nottingham glowed red far into the night
like twinkling stars； for all the smiths of the town were busy
making or mending armor for the Sheriff's troop of escort。
For two days this labor lasted； then； on the third； all was ready
for the journey。 So forth they started in the bright sunlight；
from Nottingham Town to Fosse Way and thence to Watling Street；
and so they journeyed for two days； until they saw at last
the spires and towers of great London Town； and many folks stopped；
as they journeyed along； and gazed at the show they made
riding along the highways with their flashing armor and gay
plumes and trappings。
In London King Henry and his fair Queen Eleanor held their court；
gay with ladies in silks and satins and velvets and cloth of gold；
and also brave knights and gallant courtiers。
Thither came the Sheriff and was shown into the King's presence。
〃A boon； a boon；〃 quoth he； as he knelt upon the ground。
〃Now what wouldst thou have？〃 said the King。 〃Let us hear
what may be thy desires。〃
〃O good my Lord and Sovereign；〃 spake the Sheriff； 〃in Sherwood Forest
in our own good shire of Nottingham； liveth a bold outlaw whose name
is Robin Hood。〃
〃In good sooth；〃 said the King； 〃his doings have reached even our own
royal ears。 He is a saucy； rebellious varlet； yet； I am fain to own；
a right merry soul withal。〃
〃But hearken； O my most gracious Sovereign；〃 said the Sheriff。 〃I sent
a warrant to him with thine own royal seal attached； by a right
lusty knave； but he beat the messenger and stole the warrant。
And he killeth thy deer and robbeth thine own liege subjects even upon
the great highways。〃
〃Why； how now；〃 quoth the King wrathfully。 〃What wouldst thou have me do？
Comest thou not to me with a great array of men…at…arms and retainers；
and yet art not able to take a single band of lusty knaves without armor
on breast； in thine own county！ What wouldst thou have me do？ Art thou
not my Sheriff？ Are not my laws in force in Nottinghamshire？ Canst thou
not take thine own course against those that break the laws or do any
injury to thee or thine？ Go； get thee gone； and think well； devise some
plan of thine own； but trouble me no further。 But look well to it；
Master Sheriff； for I will have my laws obeyed by all men within my kingdom；
and if thou art not able to enforce them thou art no sheriff for me。
So look well to thyself； I say； or ill may befall thee as well as all
the thieving knaves in Nottinghamshire。 When the flood cometh it sweepeth
away grain as well as chaff。〃
Then the Sheriff turned away with a sore and troubled heart；
and sadly he rued his fine show of retainers； for he saw that
the King was angry because he had so many men about him and yet
could not enforce the laws。 So； as they all rode slowly back
to Nottingham； the Sheriff was thoughtful and full of care。
Not a word did he speak to anyone； and no one of his men
spoke to him； but all the time he was busy devising some plan
to take Robin Hood。
〃Aha！〃 cried he suddenly； smiting his hand upon his thigh 〃I have it now！
Ride on； my merry men all； and let us get back to Nottingham Town as speedily
as we may。 And mark well my words： before a fortnight is passed； that evil
knave Robin Hood will be safely clapped into Nottingham gaol。〃
But what was the Sheriff's plan？
As a usurer takes each one of a bag of silver angels； feeling each coin
to find whether it be clipped or not； so the Sheriff； as all rode slowly
and sadly back toward Nottingham； took up thought after thought in turn；
feeling around the edges of each but finding in every one some flaw。
At last he thought of the daring soul of jolly Robin and how； as he the
Sheriff knew； he often came even within the walls of Nottingham。
〃Now；〃 thought the Sheriff； 〃could I but persuade Robin nigh
to Nottingham Town so that I could find him； I warrant I would lay
hands upon him so stoutly that he would never get away again。〃
Then of a sudden it came to him like a flash that were he to
proclaim a great shooting match and offer some grand prize；
Robin Hood might be overpersuaded by his spirit to come to the butts；
and it was this thought which caused him to cry 〃Aha！〃 and smite
his palm upon his thigh。
So； as soon as he had returned safely to Nottingham； he sent
messengers north and south； and east and west； to proclaim
through town； hamlet； and countryside； this grand shooting match；
and everyone was bidden that could draw a longbow； and the prize
was to be an arrow of pure beaten gold。
When Robin Hood first heard the news of this he was in Lincoln Town；
and hastening back to Sherwood Forest he soon called all his merry
men about him and spoke to them thus：
〃Now hearken； my merry men all； to the news that I have brought from
Lincoln Town today。 Our friend the Sheriff of Nottingham hath proclaimed
a shooting match； and hath sent messengers to tell of it through
all the countryside； and the prize is to be a bright golden arrow。
Now I fain would have one of us win it； both because of the fairness
of the prize and because our sweet friend the Sheriff hath offered it。
So we will take our bows and shafts and go there to shoot； for I know
right well that merriment will be a…going。 What say ye； lads？〃
Then young David of Doncaster spoke up and said； 〃Now listen； I pray thee；
good master； unto what I say。 I have come straight from our friend Eadom o'
the Blue Boar； and there I heard the full news of this same match。
But； master； I know from him； and he got it from the Sheriff's man Ralph o'
the Scar； that this same knavish Sheriff hath but laid a trap for thee
in this shooting match and wishes nothing so much as to see thee there。
So go not； good master； for I know right well he doth seek to beguile thee；
but stay within the greenwood lest we all meet dole and woe。〃
〃Now；〃 quoth Robin； 〃thou art a wise lad and keepest thine ears
open and thy mouth shut； as becometh a wise and crafty woodsman。
But shall we let it be said that the Sheriff of Nottingham
did cow bold Robin Hood and sevenscore as fair archers as are
in all merry England？ Nay； good David； what thou tellest me
maketh me to desire the prize even more than I else should do。
But what sayeth our good gossip Swanthold？ Is it not ‘A hasty man
burneth his mouth； and the fool that keepeth his eyes shut falleth
into the pit'？ Thus he says； truly； therefore we must meet guile
with guile。 Now some of you clothe yourselves as curtal friars；
and some as rustic peasants； and some as tinkers； or as beggars；
but see that each man taketh a good bow or broadsword； in case
need should arise。 As for myself； I will shoot for this same
golden arrow； and should I win it； we will hang it to the branches
of our good greenwood tree for the joy of all the band。
How like you the plan； my merry men all？〃
Then 〃Good； good！〃 cried all the band right heartily。
A fair sight was Nottingham Town on the day of the shooting match。
All along upon the green meadow beneath the town wall stretched
a row of benches； one above the other； which were for knight
and lady； squire and dame； and rich burghers and their wives；
for none but those of rank and quality were to sit there。
At the end of the range； near the target； was a raised seat bedecked
with ribbons and scarfs and garlands of flowers； for the Sheriff
of Nottingham and his dame。 The range was twoscore paces broad。
At one end stood the target； at the other a tent of striped canvas；
from the pole of which fluttered many…colored flags and streamers。
In this booth were casks of ale； free to be broached by any
of the archers who might wish to quench their thirst。
Across the range from where the seats for the better folk
were raised was a railing to keep the poorer people from
crowding in front of the target。