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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.
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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
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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.
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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. Already, while it was early,
the benches were beginning to fill with people of quality, who kept
constantly arriving in little carts or upon palfreys that curveted
gaily to the merry tinkle of silver bells at bridle reins.
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