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18 - Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle · Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

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  Speaker 1: Shoots before Queen Eleanor. The high road stretched white and
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  Speaker 1: dusty in the hot summer afternoon sun, and the trees
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  Speaker 1: stood motionless along the roadside. All across the meadow lands,
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  Speaker 1: the hot air danced and quivered, and in the limpid
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  Speaker 1: waters of the Lowland Brook spanned by a little stone bridge,
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  Speaker 1: the fish hung motionless above the yellow gravel, and the
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  Speaker 1: dragonfly sat quite still, perched upon the sharp tip of
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  Speaker 1: a spike of the rushes, with its wings glistening in
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  Speaker 1: the sun. Along the road a youth came riding upon
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  Speaker 1: a fair milk white barb, and the folk that he
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  Speaker 1: had passed stopped and turned and looked after him, For
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  Speaker 1: never had so lovely a lad, or one so gaily clad,
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  Speaker 1: been seening Nottingham before. He could not have been more
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  Speaker 1: than sixteen years of age, and was as fair as
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  Speaker 1: any maiden. His long yellow hair flowed behind him as
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  Speaker 1: he rode along, all clad in silk and velvet, with
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  Speaker 1: jewels flashing and dagger jingling against the pommel of the saddle.
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  Speaker 1: Thus came the Queen's page, Young Richard Partington, from famous
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  Speaker 1: London town down into Nottinghamshire. Upon her Majesty's bidding to
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  Speaker 1: seek robin hood in Sherwood Forest. The road was hot
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  Speaker 1: and dusty, and his journey had been long for that
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  Speaker 1: day he had come all the way from Leicestertown, a
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  Speaker 1: good twenty miles and more. Wherefore, young Partington was right
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  Speaker 1: glad when he saw before him a sweet little inn,
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  Speaker 1: all shady and cool, beneath the trees, in front of
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  Speaker 1: the door of which a sign hung pendant bearing the
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  Speaker 1: picture of a blue boar. Here he drew rein and
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  Speaker 1: called loudly for a poddle of Rhenish wine to be
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  Speaker 1: brought him, for stout country ale was too coarse a
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  Speaker 1: drink for this young gentleman. Five lusty fellows sat upon
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  Speaker 1: the bench beneath the pleasant shade of the wide spreading
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  Speaker 1: oak in front of the inn door, drinking ale and beer,
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  Speaker 1: and all stared amine at this fair and gallant lad
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  Speaker 1: Two of the stoutest of them were clothed in Lincoln green,
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  Speaker 1: and a great heavy oaken staff leaned against the gnarled
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  Speaker 1: oak tree trunk beside each fellow. The landlord came and
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  Speaker 1: brought a pottle of wine and a long narrowed glass
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  Speaker 1: upon a salver, which he held up to the page.
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  Speaker 1: As he sat upon his horse, Young Partington poured forth
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  Speaker 1: the bright yellow wine, and holding the glass aloft, cried,
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  Speaker 1: here is to the health and long happiness of my
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  Speaker 1: royal mistress, the noble Queen Eleanor, and made my journey
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  Speaker 1: and her desirings soon have end, and I find a
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  Speaker 1: certain stout yeoman men call robin hood. At these words
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  Speaker 1: all stared, but presently the two stout yeomen in Lincoln
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  Speaker 1: Green began whispering together. Then one of the two, whom
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  Speaker 1: Partington thought to be the tallest and stoutest fellow he
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  Speaker 1: had ever beheld, spoke up and said, what seekest thou
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  Speaker 1: of robin Hoods, and what does our good Queen Eleanor
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  Speaker 1: wish of him? I ask this of thee not foolishly,
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  Speaker 1: but with reason, for I snow somewhat of this stout yeoman.
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  Speaker 1: An thou knowestought of him, good fellow, said young Partington,
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  Speaker 1: thou wilt do great service to him and great pleasure
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  Speaker 1: to our royal Queen by aiding me to find him.
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  Speaker 1: Then up spake the other yeoman, who was a handsome
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  Speaker 1: fellow with sunburned face and nut brown curling hair. Thou
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  Speaker 1: hast an honest look, Sir Page, and our Queen is
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  Speaker 1: kind and true to all stout yeomen, methinks I am
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  Speaker 1: my friend here might safely guide thee to robin Hood,
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  Speaker 1: for we know where he may be found. Yet I
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  Speaker 1: tell thee plainly we would not, for all merry England
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  Speaker 1: have aught of harm. Befall him. Set thy mind at ease.
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  Speaker 1: I bring Naughteville with me, quoth Richard Partington. I bring
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  Speaker 1: a kind message to him from our Queen. Therefore, an
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  Speaker 1: ye know where he is to be found, I pray
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  Speaker 1: you to God me hither. Then the two yeomen looked
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  Speaker 1: at one another again, and the tall man said, surely
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  Speaker 1: it were safe to do this thing, will whereat another.
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  Speaker 1: The other nodded. Thereupon, both the rose and the tall
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  Speaker 1: yeoman said, we think thou art true, Sir Page, and
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  Speaker 1: meanest no harm. Therefore we will guide thee to robin Hood,
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  Speaker 1: as thou dost wish. Then Partington paid his score, and
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  Speaker 1: the yeomen coming forward, they all straightway departed upon their
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  Speaker 1: way under the greenwood tree, in the cool shade that
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  Speaker 1: spread all around upon the sward, with flickering lights. Here
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  Speaker 1: and there robin Hood and merry many of his band
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  Speaker 1: lay upon the soft green grass, while Allan Adale sang
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  Speaker 1: and played upon his sweetly sounding harp. All listened in silence,
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  Speaker 1: for young Allan singing was one of the greatest joys
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  Speaker 1: in all the world to them. But as they so listen,
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  Speaker 1: there came of a sudden the sound of a horse's feet,
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  Speaker 1: And presently little John and will Stuteley came forth from
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  Speaker 1: the forest path into the open glade, Young Richard Partington
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  Speaker 1: riding between them upon his milk white horse. The three
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  Speaker 1: came toward where Robin Hood sat, all the band staring
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  Speaker 1: with might and main, for never had they seen so
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  Speaker 1: gay a sight as this young page, nor one so
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  Speaker 1: richly clad in silks and velvets and gold and jewels.
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  Speaker 1: Then Robin arose and stepped forth to meet him, and
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  Speaker 1: parting and leaped from his horse, and doffing his cap
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  Speaker 1: of crimson velvet, met Robin as he came. Now welcome,
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  Speaker 1: cried Robin. Now welcome, fair youth, and tell me I prithee,
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  Speaker 1: what bringeest one of so fair a presents and clad
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  Speaker 1: in such noble garb to our poor forest of sherwood.
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  Speaker 1: Then young Partington said, if I er not thou art
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  Speaker 1: the famous Robin Hood, and please thy stout band of
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  Speaker 1: outlawed yeomen to THEE. I bring greetings from our noble
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  Speaker 1: Queen Eleanor oft Tathshis. I heard THEE spoken of and
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  Speaker 1: thy merry doings hereabouts, and fain would she behold thy face.
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  Speaker 1: Therefore she bids me tell THEE that if thou wilt
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  Speaker 1: presently come to London Town, she will do all in
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  Speaker 1: her power to guard THEE against harm, and will send
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  Speaker 1: THEE back safe to sherwood forest again. Four days hence,
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  Speaker 1: in Finsbury Fields, our good King Henry of Great Renown
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  Speaker 1: holdeth a grand shooting match at all the most famous
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  Speaker 1: archers of merry England will be thereat. Our Queen would
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  Speaker 1: fain see THEE strive with these, knowing that if thou
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  Speaker 1: wilt come, thou wilt with little doubt carry off the prize.
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  Speaker 1: Therefore she hath sent me with this greeting, and furthermore
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  Speaker 1: sends THEE as a sign of great good will, this
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  Speaker 1: golden ring from off her own fare thumb, which I
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  Speaker 1: give herethwith into thy hands. Then Robin Hood bowed his head,
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  Speaker 1: and taking the ring, kissed it right loyally. And then
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  Speaker 1: slipped it upon his little finger, quoth he. Sooner would
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  Speaker 1: I lose my life than this ring, And ere it
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  Speaker 1: departs from me, my hand shall be cold in death,
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  Speaker 1: or stricken off at the wrist. Fair Sir Page, I
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  Speaker 1: will do our Queen's bidding, and I will presently hide
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  Speaker 1: with thee to London. But ere we go, I will
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  Speaker 1: feast thee here in the woodlands with the very best
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  Speaker 1: we have. It may not be said the page. We
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  Speaker 1: have no time to tarry. Therefore, get thyself ready straightway.
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  Speaker 1: And if there be any of thy band that thou
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  Speaker 1: wouldst take with thee, our Queen bids me, say that
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  Speaker 1: she will make them right welcome. Likewise, truly thou art right,
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  Speaker 1: quoth Robin. And we have but short time to stay.
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  Speaker 1: Therefore I will get me ready presently. I will choose
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  Speaker 1: three of my men only to go with me, and
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  Speaker 1: these three shall be Little John, my own true right
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  Speaker 1: hand man, will Scarlet my cousin, and Allan Adale, my minstrel.
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  Speaker 1: Go lads, and get you ready straightway, and we will
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  Speaker 1: presently off with all speed that we may come. Will stuteley,
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  Speaker 1: you shall be the chief of the band while I
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  Speaker 1: am gone. Then little John and Will scarlet, and Allanandale
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  Speaker 1: ran leaping full of joy to make themselves ready, while
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  Speaker 1: Robin also prepared himself for the journey. After a while
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  Speaker 1: the all four came forth, and a right fair sight
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  Speaker 1: they made. For Robin was clad in blue from head
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  Speaker 1: to foot, and little John and Will scarlet in good
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  Speaker 1: Lincoln green. And as for Allan a Dale, he was
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  Speaker 1: dressed in scarlet from the crown of his head to
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  Speaker 1: the toes of his pointed shoes. Each man wore beneath
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  Speaker 1: his cap a little head covering of burnet fish steel,
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  Speaker 1: set with rivets of gold, and underneath his jerkin a
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  Speaker 1: coat of linked mail, as fine as carded wool, yet
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  Speaker 1: so tough that no arrow could pierce it. Then, seeing
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  Speaker 1: all was ready, young Partington mounted his horse again, and
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  Speaker 1: the yeomen, having shaken hands all around, the five departed
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  Speaker 1: upon their way. That night they took up their inn
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  Speaker 1: in Melton Melbury in Leicestershire, and the next night they
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  Speaker 1: lodged at Kettering in Northamptonshire, and the next at Bedford Town,
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  Speaker 1: and the next at Saint Albans in Hertfordshire. This place
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  Speaker 1: they left not long after the middle of the night
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  Speaker 1: and traveling fast through the tender dawning of the summer day,
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  Speaker 1: when the dews lay shining on the meadows, and faint
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  Speaker 1: mist hung in the dales, when the birds sang their
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  Speaker 1: sweetest and the cobwebs beneath the hedges glimmered like fairy
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  Speaker 1: cloth of silver. They came at last to the towers
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  Speaker 1: and walls of famous London Town, while the morn was
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  Speaker 1: still young and all golden. Toward the east, Queen Eleanor
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  Speaker 1: sat in her royal bower, through the open casements of
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  Speaker 1: which poured the sweet yellow sunshine in great floods of
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  Speaker 1: golden light. All about her stood her ladies in waiting,
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  Speaker 1: chatting in low voices, while she herself sat dreamily, where
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  Speaker 1: the mild air came softly drifting into the room, laden
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  Speaker 1: with the fresh perfumes of the sweet red roses that
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  Speaker 1: bloomed in the great garden beneath the wall. To her
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  Speaker 1: came one who said that her page, Richard Partington, and
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  Speaker 1: four stout yeomen waited her pleasure in the court below.
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  Speaker 1: Then Queen Eleanor rose joyously and bade them be straightway
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  Speaker 1: shown into her presence. Thus Robin Hood and little John
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  Speaker 1: and will Scarlet and Allanor Adale came before the Queen
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  Speaker 1: into her own royal bower. Then Robin kneeled before the
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  Speaker 1: Queen with his hands folded upon his breast, saying, in
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  Speaker 1: simple phrase, here am I, Robin Hood, Thou didst bid
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  Speaker 1: me come? And lo I do thy bidding. I give
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  Speaker 1: myself to THEE as thy true servant, and will do
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  Speaker 1: thy commanding, even if it be to the shedding of
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  Speaker 1: the last drop of my life's blood. But Queen Eleanor
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  Speaker 1: smiled pleasantly upon him, bidding him to arise. Then she
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  Speaker 1: made them all be seated to rest themselves. After the
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  Speaker 1: long journey. Rich food was brought them, and noble wines,
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  Speaker 1: and she had her own pages to wait upon the
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  Speaker 1: wants of the yeomen. At last, after they had eaten
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  Speaker 1: all they could, she began questioning them of their merry adventures.
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  Speaker 1: Then they told her all of the lusty doings herein
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  Speaker 1: spoken of, and among others, that concerning thee Bishop of
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  Speaker 1: Hereford and Sir Richard of the Lee, and how the
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  Speaker 1: Bishop had abided three days in sherwood forest. At this
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  Speaker 1: the Queen and the ladies about her laughed again and
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  Speaker 1: again for they pictured to themselves, the stout Bishop abiding
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  Speaker 1: in the forest and ranging the woods in lusty sport
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  Speaker 1: with Robin and his band. Then, when they had all
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  Speaker 1: told all that they could bring to mind, the Queen
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  Speaker 1: asked Allan to sing to her, for his fame as
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  Speaker 1: a minstrel had reached even to the court at London Town.
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  Speaker 1: So straightway Alan took up his harp in his hand,
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  Speaker 1: and without more asking, touched the strings lightly till they
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  Speaker 1: all rang sweetly. Then he sang, Thus.
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  Speaker 2: Gentle river, gentle river, bright, thy crystal waters flow, sliding
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  Speaker 2: where the aspen shiver, gliding where the lilies blow, singing
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  Speaker 2: over pebbled shallows, kissing blossoms, bending low, breaking neath the
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  Speaker 2: dipping swallows, purpling where the breezes blow. Floating on thy
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  Speaker 2: breastful river, down thy current, I could glide. Grief and
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  Speaker 2: pain should reach me, never on thy bright and gentle tide.
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  Speaker 2: So my aching heart seeks thine love there to find
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  Speaker 2: its rest and peace. For through loving bliss is mine love,
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  Speaker 2: and my many troubles seas.
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  Speaker 1: Thus Allan sang, and as he sang, all eyes dwelled
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  Speaker 1: upon him, and not a sound broke the stillness, and
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  Speaker 1: even after he had done, the silence hung for a
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  Speaker 1: short space, so the time passed till the hour drew
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  Speaker 1: nigh for the holding of the Great Archery Match in
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  Speaker 1: Finsbury Fields a gay sight were fabulous Finsbury Fields on
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  Speaker 1: that bright and sunny morning of lusty summer time. Along
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  Speaker 1: the end of the meadow stood the booths of the
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  Speaker 1: different bands of archers for the King's Yeomen were divided
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  Speaker 1: into companies of four score men, and each company had
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  Speaker 1: a captain over it. So on the bright greenswards stood
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  Speaker 1: ten booths of striped canvas, a booth for each band
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  Speaker 1: of the Royal archers, and at the peak of each
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  Speaker 1: fluttered a flag in the mellow air, and the flag
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  Speaker 1: was the color that belonged to the captain of each band.
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  Speaker 1: From the center booth hung the yellow flag of Tepys,
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  Speaker 1: the famous bowbearer of the King. Next to it, on
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  Speaker 1: one hand was the blue flag of Gilbert of the
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  Speaker 1: White Hand, and on the other the blood red pennant
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  Speaker 1: of Stout Young Clifton of Buckinghamshire. The seven other archer
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  Speaker 1: captains were also men of great renown. Among them were
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  Speaker 1: Egbert of Kenton William of Southampton, but those first names
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  Speaker 1: were most famous of all. The noise of many voices
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  Speaker 1: in talk and laughter came from within the booths, and
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  Speaker 1: in and out ran the attendants like ants about an
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  Speaker 1: ant hill. Some bore ale and beer, and some bundles
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  Speaker 1: of bowstrings or sheaves of arrows. On each side of
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  Speaker 1: the archery range were rows upon rows of seats, reaching
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  Speaker 1: high aloft, And in the center of the north side
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  Speaker 1: was a raised dais for the King and Queen, shaded
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  Speaker 1: by canvas of gay colors, and hung about with streaming
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  Speaker 1: silk and pennants of red and blue, and green and white.
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  Speaker 1: As yet the King and Queen had not come, but
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  Speaker 1: all the other benches were full of people, rising head
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  Speaker 1: above head high aloft, till it made the eye dizzy
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  Speaker 1: to look upon them. Eight score yards distant from the
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  Speaker 1: mark from which the archers were to shoot, stood ten
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  Speaker 1: fair targets, each target marked by a flag of the
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  Speaker 1: colour belonging to the band that was to shoot thereat.
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  Speaker 1: So all was ready for the coming of the King
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  Speaker 1: and Queen. At last a great blast of bugles sounded,
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  Speaker 1: and into the meadow came riding six trumpeters with silver trumpets,
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  Speaker 1: from which hung velvet banners. Heavy with rich workings of
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  Speaker 1: silver and gold thread. Behind these came stout King Henry
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  Speaker 1: upon a dapple gray stallion, with his queen beside him,
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  Speaker 1: upon a milk white palfrey. On either side of them
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  Speaker 1: walked the yeomen of the Guard, the bright sunlight flashing
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  Speaker 1: from the polished blades of the steel halbirds they carried.
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  Speaker 1: Behind these came the court in a great crowd, so
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  Speaker 1: that presently all the lawn was alive with bright colors,
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  Speaker 1: with silk and velvet, with waving plumes, and gleaming gold,
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  Speaker 1: with flashing jewels and sword hilts, a gallant sight on
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  Speaker 1: that bright summer day. Then all the people arose and shouted,
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  Speaker 1: so the voices sounded like the storm upon the Cornish coast,
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  Speaker 1: when the dark waves run upon the shore and leap
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  Speaker 1: and break, surging amid the rocks. So amid the roaring
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  Speaker 1: and surging of the people, and the waving of scarfs
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  Speaker 1: and kerchiefs, the King and Queen came to their place, and,
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  Speaker 1: getting down from their horses, mounted the broad stairs that
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  Speaker 1: led to the raised platform, and there took their seats
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  Speaker 1: on two thrones bedecked with purple silks and cloths of silver,
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  Speaker 1: and of gold. When all was quiet, a bugle sounded,
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  Speaker 1: and straightway the archers came marching in order from their tents.
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  Speaker 1: Forty score they were in all as Stowart. A band
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  Speaker 1: of yeomen as could be fren in all the wide world.
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  Speaker 1: So they came in orderly fashion and stood in front
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  Speaker 1: of the dais, where King Henry and his Queen sat.
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  Speaker 1: King Henry looked up and down their ranks right proudly,
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  Speaker 1: for his heart warmed within him at the sight of
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  Speaker 1: such a gallant band of Yeoman. Then he bade his harold,
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  Speaker 1: Sir Hugh Mowbray, stand forth and proclaim the rules governing
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  Speaker 1: the game. So Sir Hugh stepped to the edge of
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  Speaker 1: the platform and spoke in a loud, clear voice. And
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  Speaker 1: thus he said that each man should shoot seven arrows
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  Speaker 1: at the target that belonged to his band, and of
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  Speaker 1: the four score yeoman of each band, the three that
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  Speaker 1: shot the best should be chosen. These three should shoot
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  Speaker 1: three arrows apiece, and the one that shot the best
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  Speaker 1: should again be chosen. Then each of these should again
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  Speaker 1: shoot three arrows apiece, and the one that shot the
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  Speaker 1: best should have the first prize. The one that shot
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  Speaker 1: the next best should have the second, and the one
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  Speaker 1: that shot the next best should have the third prize.
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  Speaker 1: Each of the others should have four score silver pennies
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  Speaker 1: for his shooting. The first prize was to be two
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  Speaker 1: score and ten golden pounds, a silver bugle horn inlaid
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  Speaker 1: with gold, and aquiver with ten white arrows, tipped with
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  Speaker 1: gold and feathered with a white swan's wing. Therein the
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  Speaker 1: second prize was to be five score of the fattest
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  Speaker 1: bucks that run on Dallen Lee, to be shot when
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  Speaker 1: the yeoman that won them chose. The third prize was
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  Speaker 1: to be two tons of good Rhenish wine. So Sir
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  Speaker 1: Hugh spoke, and when he had done, all the archers
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  Speaker 1: waved their bows aloft and shouted. Then each band turned
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  Speaker 1: and marched in order back to its place. And now
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  Speaker 1: the shooting began, the captain's first taking stand a and
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  Speaker 1: speeding their shafts, and then making room for the men
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  Speaker 1: who shot each in turn after them. Two hundred and
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  Speaker 1: eighty score shafts were shot in all, and so deafly
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  Speaker 1: were they sped that when the shooting was done, each
• 20:15
  Speaker 1: target looked like the back of a hedgehog. When the
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  Speaker 1: farm dog snuff sat it. A long time was taken
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  Speaker 1: in this shooting, and when it was over, the judges
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  Speaker 1: came forward, looked carefully at the targets, and proclaimed in
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  Speaker 1: a loud voice which three had shot the best from
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  Speaker 1: the separate fans. Then a great hubbub of voices arose,
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  Speaker 1: each man among the crowd that looked on, calling for
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  Speaker 1: his favorite archer. Then ten fresh targets were brought forward,
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  Speaker 1: and every sound was hushed as the archers took their
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  Speaker 1: places once more. This time the shooting was more speedily done,
• 20:53
  Speaker 1: for only nine shafts were shot by each band. Not
• 20:57
  Speaker 1: an arrow missed the targets, but in that of Gilbert
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: of the White Hand, five arrows were in the small
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: white spot that marked the center, and of these five
• 21:07
  Speaker 1: three were sped by Gilbert. Then the judges came forward again, and,
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: looking at the targets, called aloud the names of the
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: archer chosen as the best bowmen of each band. Of these,
• 21:20
  Speaker 1: Gilbert of the White Hand led for six of the
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: ten arrows he had shot had lodged in the center,
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: but Stout Tepus and young Clifton trod close upon his heels.
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: Yet the others stood a fair chance for the second
• 21:33
  Speaker 1: or third place. And now amid the roaring of the crowd,
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: those ten stout fellows that were left went back to
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: their tents to rest for a while, and changed their bowstrings.
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: For naught must fail at this next round. No hand
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: must tremble or eye grow dim because of weariness. Then,
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: while the deep buzz and hum of talking sounded all around,
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: like the noise of the wind in the leafy forest,
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: Queen Eleanor turned to the King, and quoth she thinkest
• 22:08
  Speaker 1: thou that these yeomens so chosen are the very best
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: archers in all merry England. Yea truly, said the King, smiling,
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: for he was well pleased with the sport that he
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: had seen. And I tell THEE that not only are
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: they the best archers in all merry England, but in
• 22:26
  Speaker 1: all the wide world beside. What would'st thou say, quoth
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: Queen Eleanor, if I were to find three archers to
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: match the best three yeomen of all thy guard, I
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: would say thou hast done what I could not do,
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: said the King, laughing, For I tell THEE, there lives
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: not in all the world three archers to match tepys
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: and Gilbert and Clifton of Buckinghamshire. Now said the Queen,
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: I know of three yeomen, and in truth I have
• 22:56
  Speaker 1: seen them not long since, that I would not fear
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: to match against any three that thou canst choose from
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: among all thy forty score archers. And moreover, I will
• 23:07
  Speaker 1: match them here this very day. But I will only
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: match them with thy archers, providing that thou wilt God
• 23:14
  Speaker 1: grant a free pardon to all that may come in
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: my behalf. At this, the King laughed loud and long, truly,
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: said he thou art taking up with strange matters for
• 23:27
  Speaker 1: a queen. If thou wilt bring these three fellows that
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: thou speakest of, I will promise faithfully to give them
• 23:34
  Speaker 1: free pardon for forty days to come or to go
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: wheresoever they please, Nor will I harm a hair of
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: their heads in all that time. Moreover, if these that
• 23:44
  Speaker 1: thou bringest shoot better than my yeomen, man for man,
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: they shall have the prizes for themselves according to their shooting.
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: But as thou hast so taken up of a sudden
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: with sports of this kind, hast thou a mind for
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: a way, Why in sooth, said Queen Eleanor, laughing, I
• 24:04
  Speaker 1: know naught of such matters, but if thou hast a
• 24:08
  Speaker 1: mind to do somewhat in that way, I will strive
• 24:11
  Speaker 1: to pleasure thee. What wilt thou wager upon thy men?
• 24:16
  Speaker 1: Then the merry king laughed again, for he dearly loved
• 24:18
  Speaker 1: goodly jest, So he said, amidst his laughter, I will
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: wager three ten tons of Rhenish wine, ten tons of
• 24:27
  Speaker 1: the stoutest ale, and ten score bows of tempered Spanish,
• 24:31
  Speaker 1: you with quivers and arrows to match. All that stood
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: around smiled at this, for it seemed a merry wager
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: for a king to give a queen. But Queen Eleanor
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: bowed her head quietly. I will take thy wager, said she,
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: for I know right well where to place those things
• 24:49
  Speaker 1: that thou hast spoken of. Now who will be on
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: my side in this matter? As she looked around upon
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: them that stood about, but no one spake or care
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: the wager upon the Queen's side against such archers as
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton. Then the Queen spoke again, Now,
• 25:08
  Speaker 1: who will back me in this wager? Wilt thou, my Lord,
• 25:12
  Speaker 1: Bishop of Hereford, nay, quoth the Bishop hastily, it ill
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: befits one of my cloth to deal in such matters. Moreover,
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: there are no such archers as his majesties in all
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: the world. Therefore I will but lose my money. Methinks
• 25:29
  Speaker 1: the thought of thy gold weigheth more heavily with thee
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: than the wrong to thy cloth, said the Queen, smiling.
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: And at this a ripple of laughter went around, for
• 25:38
  Speaker 1: everyone knew how fond the Bishop was of his money.
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: Then the Queen turned to a knight who stood near,
• 25:45
  Speaker 1: whose name was Sir Robert Lee. Wilt thou back me
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: in this manner? Said she? Thou art surely rich enough
• 25:53
  Speaker 1: to risk so much for the sake of a lady
• 25:57
  Speaker 1: to pleasure my queen. I will do it, said Sir
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: Robert Lee. But for the sake of no other in
• 26:02
  Speaker 1: all the world would I wager a groat? For no
• 26:06
  Speaker 1: man can stand against Tepis and Gilbert and Clifton. Then,
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: turning to the King, Queen Elinor said, I want no
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: such aid as Sir Robert giveth me, But against thy
• 26:18
  Speaker 1: wine in beer and stout bows of you, I wager
• 26:22
  Speaker 1: this girdle, all set with jewels from around my waist,
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: and surely that is worth more than thine. Now I
• 26:29
  Speaker 1: take thy wager, quoth the King, send for thy archers straightway,
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: But here come forth the others. Let them shoot, and
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: then I will match those that win against all the world.
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: So be it, said the Queen, thereupon beckoning to young
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: Richard Partington, she which whispered something in his ear, and
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: straightway the page bowed and left the place, crossing the
• 26:55
  Speaker 1: meadow to the other side of the range, where he
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: was presently lost in the crowd. At this all that
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: stood around whispered to one another, wondering what it all meant,
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: and what three men the Queen was about to set
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: against these famous archers of the King's Guard. And now
• 27:13
  Speaker 1: the ten archers of the King's Guard took their stand again,
• 27:17
  Speaker 1: and all the great crowd was hushed to the stillness
• 27:20
  Speaker 1: of death. Slowly and carefully, each man shot his shafts,
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: and so deep was the silence that you could hear
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: every arrow rap against the target as it struck it. Then,
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: when the last shaft had sped, a great roar went up,
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: and the shooting, I WoT was well worthy of the sound.
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: Once again, Gilbert had lodged three arrows in the white
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: Teppies came second, with two in the white and one
• 27:48
  Speaker 1: in the black ring next to it, But Stout Clifton
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: had gone down and Hubert of Suffolk had taken the
• 27:54
  Speaker 1: third place. For while both of these two good yeomen
• 27:58
  Speaker 1: had lodged two in the white, Clifton had lost one
• 28:01
  Speaker 1: shot upon the fourth ring, and Hubert came in with
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: one in the third. All the arches around Gilbert's booth
• 28:08
  Speaker 1: shouted for joy till their throats were hoarse, tossing their
• 28:12
  Speaker 1: caps aloft and shaking hands with one another. In the
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: midst of all the noise and hubbub, five men came
• 28:19
  Speaker 1: walking across the lawn toward the King's pavilion. The first
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: was Richard Partington and was known to most folk there,
• 28:28
  Speaker 1: but the others were strange to everybody. Beside young Partington
• 28:32
  Speaker 1: walked a yeoman clad in blue, and behind him came
• 28:36
  Speaker 1: three others, two in Lincoln green and one in scarlet.
• 28:40
  Speaker 1: This last yeoman carried three stout bows of yew tree,
• 28:44
  Speaker 1: two fancifully inlaid with silver and one with gold. While
• 28:49
  Speaker 1: these five men came walking across the meadow, a messenger
• 28:52
  Speaker 1: came running from the King's booth and summoned Gilbert in
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: Teppys and Hubert to co with him. And now the
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: shouting and quickly seized, for all saw that something unwanted
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: was toward. So the folk took up in their places
• 29:08
  Speaker 1: and leaned forward to see what was thee do. When
• 29:12
  Speaker 1: Partington and the others came before the spot where the
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: King and Queen sat, the four yeomen bent their knees
• 29:19
  Speaker 1: and doffed their caps unto her. King Henry leaned far
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: forward and stared at them closely. But the Bishop of Hereford,
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: when he saw their faces, started as though stung by
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: a wasp. He opened his mouth as though about to speak,
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: but looking up he saw the Queen gazing at him
• 29:37
  Speaker 1: with a smile upon her lips. So he said nothing
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: but bit his nether lip, while his face was as
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: red as a cherry. Then the Queen leaned forward and
• 29:48
  Speaker 1: spake in a clear voice. Lockley said, she I have
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: made a wager with the King that thou and two
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: of thy men can outshoot any three that he can
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: send against you. Wilt thou do my best for my sake?
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: Yea quoth robin Hood, to whom she spake, I will
• 30:06
  Speaker 1: do my best for thy sake, and if I fail,
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: I make my vow never to finger bowstring more. Now,
• 30:14
  Speaker 1: although Little John had been somewhat abashed in the Queen's bower,
• 30:17
  Speaker 1: he felt himself the sturdy fellow he was when the
• 30:20
  Speaker 1: soles of his feet pressed green grass again. So he
• 30:24
  Speaker 1: said boldly, now, blessings on thy sweet face, say I.
• 30:28
  Speaker 1: And there lived a man that would not do his
• 30:31
  Speaker 1: best for thee. I will say nought, but only I
• 30:34
  Speaker 1: would like to have a cracking of his knave's pate. Peace,
• 30:38
  Speaker 1: little John, said robin Hood hastily, in a low voice.
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: But good Queen Elinor laughed aloud, and a ripple of
• 30:45
  Speaker 1: merriment sounded all over the booth. The Bishop of Hereford
• 30:50
  Speaker 1: did not laugh, neither did the King. But he turned
• 30:53
  Speaker 1: to the Queen and quoth he, who are these men
• 30:57
  Speaker 1: who thou hast brought before us? Then up spake the
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: Bishop hastily, for he could hold his peace no longer,
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: Your majesty, quoth he. Yon. Fellow in blue is a
• 31:09
  Speaker 1: certain outlaw thief of the mid country named Robin Hood. Yon,
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: tall strapping villain go by the name of Little John,
• 31:18
  Speaker 1: and the other fellow in green is a certain backsliding
• 31:21
  Speaker 1: gentleman known as Will Scarlett. The man in red is
• 31:24
  Speaker 1: a rogue of a Northern minstrel named Allan Adale. At
• 31:29
  Speaker 1: the speech, the King's brows drew together blackly, and he
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: turned to the Queen. Is this true? Said he sternly. Yea,
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: said the Queen, smiling. The Bishop hath told the truth,
• 31:41
  Speaker 1: and truly he should know them well, for he and
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: two of his friars spent three days in Merry's sport
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: with Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. I did little think
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: that the good Bishop would so betray his friends. But
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: bear in mind that thou hast pledged thy promise for
• 31:58
  Speaker 1: the safety of these good yeng and for forty days.
• 32:02
  Speaker 1: I will keep my promise, said the King, in a
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: deep voice that showed the anger in his heart. But
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: when these forty days are gone, let this outlaw look
• 32:13
  Speaker 1: to himself, for mayhap things will not go so smoothly
• 32:17
  Speaker 1: with him as he would like. Then he turned to
• 32:20
  Speaker 1: his archers, who stood near the Sherwood Yeoman, listening and
• 32:23
  Speaker 1: wondering at all that passed, quoth he Gilbert, and thou Tepis,
• 32:29
  Speaker 1: and thou Hubert, I have pledged myself that ye shall
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: shoot against these three fellows. If ye outshoot the knaves,
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: I will fill your caps with silver pennies. If ye fail,
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: ye shall lose your prizes that ye have won so fairly.
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: And they go to them that shoot against you, man,
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: de man, do your best, lads, and if ye win
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: this bout, ye shall be glad of it to the
• 32:54
  Speaker 1: last days of your life. Go now and get you
• 32:57
  Speaker 1: gone to the butts. Then the three archers of the
• 33:01
  Speaker 1: king turned and went back to their booths, and Robin
• 33:04
  Speaker 1: and his men went to their places at the mark
• 33:07
  Speaker 1: from which they were to shoot. Then they strung their
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: bows and made themselves ready, looking over their quivers of
• 33:14
  Speaker 1: arrows and picking out the roundest and the best feathered.
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: But when the king's archers went to their tents, they
• 33:22
  Speaker 1: told their friends all that had passed, and how these
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: four men were the famous Robin Hood and three of
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: his band to wit, little John will Scarlett and Alan Adale.
• 33:34
  Speaker 1: The news of this buzzed around the archers and the booths,
• 33:38
  Speaker 1: for there was not a man there that had not
• 33:40
  Speaker 1: heard of these great midcountry yeomen. From the archers, the
• 33:45
  Speaker 1: news was taken up by the crowd that looked on
• 33:47
  Speaker 1: at the shooting, so that at last everybody stood up,
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: craning their necks to catch sight of the famous outlaws.
• 33:56
  Speaker 1: Six fresh targets were now set up, one for each
• 33:59
  Speaker 1: man that was to shoot, whereupon Gilbert and Teppes and
• 34:03
  Speaker 1: Hubert came straightway forth from the booths. Then Robin Hood
• 34:07
  Speaker 1: and Gilbert of the White Hand tossed a farthing aloft
• 34:10
  Speaker 1: to see who should lead in the shooting, and the
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: lot fell to Gilbert's side. Thereupon he called upon Hubert
• 34:17
  Speaker 1: of Suffolk to lead. Hubert took his place, planted his
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: foot firmly and fitted a fair smooth arrow. Then, breathing
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: upon his finger tips, he drew the string slowly and carefully.
• 34:34
  Speaker 1: The arrow sped true and lodged in the white. Again
• 34:38
  Speaker 1: he shot, and again he hit the clout. A third
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: shaft he sped, but this time failed of the center,
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: and but struck the black, yet not more than a
• 34:49
  Speaker 1: finger's breadth from the white. At this a shout went up,
• 34:53
  Speaker 1: for it was the best shooting that Hubert had yet
• 34:55
  Speaker 1: done that day. Mary Robin laughed and quoth he thou
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: wilt have an ill time, bettering that round will, for
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: it is thy turn. Next, brace thy foos, lad, and
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: bring not shame upon sherwood. Then will Scarlet took his place.
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: But because of overcaution he spoiled his target with the
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: very first arrow that he sped, for he hit the
• 35:20
  Speaker 1: next ring to the black, the second from the center.
• 35:24
  Speaker 1: At this Robin bit his lips, Lad, lad, quoth he
• 35:29
  Speaker 1: hold not the string? So long have I not often
• 35:32
  Speaker 1: told thee what gaffer swanthold saith that overcaution spilleth the milk.
• 35:39
  Speaker 1: To this Will Scarlet took heed. So the next arrow
• 35:42
  Speaker 1: he shot lodged fairly in the center ring. Again he shot,
• 35:46
  Speaker 1: and again he smote the center. But for all that stout,
• 35:50
  Speaker 1: Hubert had outshot him and showed the better target. Then
• 35:54
  Speaker 1: all those that looked on clapped their hands for joy,
• 35:58
  Speaker 1: because that Hubert had over come the stranger, quoth the
• 36:03
  Speaker 1: king grimly to the Queen, if thy archers shoot no
• 36:07
  Speaker 1: better than that, thou art like to lose, thy wager lady.
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: But Queen Elinor smiled, for she looked for better things
• 36:14
  Speaker 1: from robin Hood and little John. And now Teppis took
• 36:19
  Speaker 1: his place to shoot. He also took overheed to what
• 36:23
  Speaker 1: he was about, and so he fell into will Scarlett's error.
• 36:28
  Speaker 1: The first arrow he struck into the center ring, but
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: the second missed its mark and smote the black The
• 36:35
  Speaker 1: last arrow was tipped with luck, for it smote the
• 36:38
  Speaker 1: very center of the clout upon the black spot that
• 36:41
  Speaker 1: marked it. Quoth Robin Hood, that is the sweetest shot
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: that hath been sped this day. But nevertheless, Friend teppis
• 36:50
  Speaker 1: thy cake is burned. Methinks Little John, it is thy
• 36:54
  Speaker 1: turn next. So Little John took his place as bidden,
• 36:59
  Speaker 1: and shot him his three arrows quickly. He never let
• 37:03
  Speaker 1: lowered his bow arm in all the shooting, but fitted
• 37:06
  Speaker 1: each shaft with his longbow raised. Yet all three of
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: his arrows smote the center within easy distance of the
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: black At this no sound of shouting was heard, for
• 37:18
  Speaker 1: although it was the best shooting that had been done
• 37:20
  Speaker 1: that day, the folk of London Town did not like
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: to see the stout Tepys overcome by a fellow from
• 37:27
  Speaker 1: the countryside, even were he as famous as Little John.
• 37:32
  Speaker 1: And now stout Gilbert of the White Hand took his
• 37:35
  Speaker 1: place and shot with the greatest care, and again, for
• 37:39
  Speaker 1: the third time in one day, he struck all three
• 37:42
  Speaker 1: shafts into the clout. Well done, Gilbert, quoth Robin Hood,
• 37:47
  Speaker 1: smiting him upon the shoulder. I make my vow thou
• 37:51
  Speaker 1: art one of the best archers that ever mine eyes beheld.
• 37:55
  Speaker 1: Thou shouldst be a free and merry ranger like us lad,
• 37:58
  Speaker 1: for thou art better fitted for the greenwood then for
• 38:01
  Speaker 1: the cobblestones and gray walls of London town. So saying,
• 38:06
  Speaker 1: he took his place and drew a fair round arrow
• 38:09
  Speaker 1: from his quiver, which he turned over and over. Ere
• 38:12
  Speaker 1: he fitted it to his bowstring. Then the king muttered
• 38:16
  Speaker 1: in his beard. Now blessed Saint Hubert, if thou wilt
• 38:20
  Speaker 1: but jog that rogue's elbow, so as to make him
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: smite even the second ring, I will give eight score
• 38:27
  Speaker 1: waxing candles, three fingers breadth in thickness to thy chapel,
• 38:32
  Speaker 1: nigh matching. But it may be Saint Hubert's ears were
• 38:37
  Speaker 1: stuffed with tao, for he seemed not to hear the
• 38:40
  Speaker 1: King's prayer. This day, having gotten three shafts to his liking,
• 38:46
  Speaker 1: Mary Robin looked carefully to his bowstring. Ere he shot yea,
• 38:51
  Speaker 1: quoth he to Gilbert, who stood nigh him to watch
• 38:53
  Speaker 1: his shooting. Thou shouldst pay us a visit at mary Sherwood.
• 38:58
  Speaker 1: Here he drew the bowstring to his ear. In London,
• 39:02
  Speaker 1: here he loosed his shaft. Thou canst find not to
• 39:05
  Speaker 1: shoot at but rooks and DAWs. There one can tickle
• 39:08
  Speaker 1: the ribs of the noblest stags in England. So he
• 39:12
  Speaker 1: shot even while he talked. Yet the shaft lodged not
• 39:15
  Speaker 1: more than half an inch from the very center. By
• 39:19
  Speaker 1: my soul, cried Gilbert Art, Thou the devil in blue,
• 39:23
  Speaker 1: to shoot him that wise? Nay, quoth Robin, laughing, not
• 39:27
  Speaker 1: quite so well as that, I trust. And he took
• 39:30
  Speaker 1: up another shaft and fitted it to the string. Again
• 39:34
  Speaker 1: he shot, and again he smote his arrow close beside
• 39:38
  Speaker 1: the center. A third time he loosed his bowstring and
• 39:42
  Speaker 1: dropped his arrow just betwixt the other two and into
• 39:45
  Speaker 1: the very center, so that the feathers of all three
• 39:49
  Speaker 1: were ruffled together, seeming from a distance to be one
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: thick shaft. And now a low murmur ran all among
• 39:58
  Speaker 1: that great crowd. For never before had London seen such
• 40:01
  Speaker 1: shooting as this, and never again would see it. After
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: Robin Hood's day had gone. All saw that the King's
• 40:09
  Speaker 1: archers were fairly beaten and stout. Gilbert clapped his palm
• 40:13
  Speaker 1: to Robin's, owning that he could never hope to draw
• 40:16
  Speaker 1: such a bowstring as Robin Hood or Little John. But
• 40:21
  Speaker 1: the King, full of wrath would not have it. So
• 40:24
  Speaker 1: though he knew in his mind that his men could
• 40:27
  Speaker 1: not stand against those fellows, nay cried he clenching his
• 40:32
  Speaker 1: hands upon the arms of his seat. Gilbert is not
• 40:35
  Speaker 1: yet beaten. Did he not strike the clock thrice? Although
• 40:40
  Speaker 1: I have lost my wager, he hath not yet lost
• 40:43
  Speaker 1: the first prize. They shall shoot again, and still again,
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: till either he or that knave robin Hood cometh off
• 40:51
  Speaker 1: the best. Go thou, Sir Hugh, and bid them shoot
• 40:55
  Speaker 1: another round and another until one or the other is overcome. Then,
• 41:01
  Speaker 1: Sir Hugh, seeing how wroth the king was, said never
• 41:05
  Speaker 1: a word, but went straightway to do his bidding. So
• 41:09
  Speaker 1: he came to where Robin Hood and the others stood,
• 41:12
  Speaker 1: and told them what the King had said. With all
• 41:15
  Speaker 1: my heart, quoth Mary Robin, I will shoot from this
• 41:19
  Speaker 1: time till tomorrow day, if it can pleasure my most
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: gracious Lord and King. Take thy place, Gilbert lad and shoot.
• 41:28
  Speaker 1: So Gilbert took his place once more, but this time
• 41:31
  Speaker 1: he failed, for a sudden little wind, arising his shaft,
• 41:36
  Speaker 1: missed the center ring, but by not more than the
• 41:39
  Speaker 1: breadth of a barley straw. Thy eggs are cracked, Gilbert,
• 41:44
  Speaker 1: quoth Robin, laughing, and straightway he loosed the shaft and
• 41:48
  Speaker 1: once more smote the white circle of the center. Then
• 41:53
  Speaker 1: the King arose from his place, and not a word
• 41:56
  Speaker 1: said he, but he looked around with a baleful look,
• 42:00
  Speaker 1: and it would have been an ill day for any
• 42:02
  Speaker 1: one that he saw with a joyous or a merry
• 42:04
  Speaker 1: look upon his face. Then he and his queen and
• 42:08
  Speaker 1: all the court left the place, but the King's heart
• 42:12
  Speaker 1: was brimming full of wrath. After the king had gone,
• 42:17
  Speaker 1: all the yeomen of the Archer Guard came crowding around
• 42:20
  Speaker 1: Robin and Little John and Will and allan to snatch
• 42:23
  Speaker 1: a look at these famous fellows from the mid country.
• 42:27
  Speaker 1: And with them came many that had been onlookers at
• 42:29
  Speaker 1: the sport for the same purpose. Thus it happened presently
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: that the yeomen to whom Gilbert stood talking were all
• 42:38
  Speaker 1: surrounded by a crowd of people that formed a ring
• 42:40
  Speaker 1: about them. After a while the three judges that had
• 42:45
  Speaker 1: the giving away of the prizes came forward, and the
• 42:48
  Speaker 1: chief of them all spoke to Robin and said, according
• 42:52
  Speaker 1: to agreement, the first prize belongeth rightly to THEE.
• 42:57
  Speaker 2: So here I give.
• 42:57
  Speaker 1: THEE the silver bugle, the quiver of ten golden arrows,
• 43:02
  Speaker 1: and here a purse of two score and ten golden pounds.
• 43:07
  Speaker 1: And as he spake, he added those things to Robin,
• 43:10
  Speaker 1: and then turned to little John. To THEE, he said,
• 43:15
  Speaker 1: belongeth the second prize, to wit five score of the
• 43:19
  Speaker 1: finest hearts that run on dalen Lee. Thou mayst shoot
• 43:23
  Speaker 1: them whensoever thou dost list. Last of all, he turned
• 43:27
  Speaker 1: to stout Hubert. Thou, he said, hast held thine own
• 43:31
  Speaker 1: against the Yeoman, from which thou didst shoot, And so
• 43:35
  Speaker 1: thou hast kept the prize duly thine to wit two
• 43:39
  Speaker 1: tons of good Rhenish wine. These shall be delivered to
• 43:43
  Speaker 1: THEE whensoever thou dost list. Then he called upon the
• 43:46
  Speaker 1: other seven of the King's archers who had last shot,
• 43:50
  Speaker 1: and gave each four score silver pennies. Then up spake Robin,
• 43:55
  Speaker 1: and quoth he this silver bugle I keep in honor
• 43:59
  Speaker 1: of the shooting match. But thou Gilbert art the best
• 44:02
  Speaker 1: archer of all the King's guard. And to THEE, I
• 44:05
  Speaker 1: freely give this purse of gold. Take it, man, and
• 44:09
  Speaker 1: would it ten times as much for thou art a
• 44:12
  Speaker 1: right yeoman, good and true. Furthermore, to each of the
• 44:17
  Speaker 1: ten that last shot, I give one of these golden
• 44:20
  Speaker 1: shafts apiece. Keep them always by you, so that ye
• 44:24
  Speaker 1: may tell your grandchildren, and ye are ever blessed with them,
• 44:28
  Speaker 1: that ye are the stoutest yeoman in all the wide world.
• 44:32
  Speaker 1: At this, all shout it aloud, for it pleased them
• 44:35
  Speaker 1: to hear Robin speak so of them. Then up spake
• 44:39
  Speaker 1: little John good friend Deppis, said he I want not
• 44:43
  Speaker 1: those hearts of dallen Lee that yon Stout Judge spoke of.
• 44:47
  Speaker 1: But now, for in truth we have an ow and
• 44:50
  Speaker 1: more than an hour in our own country to score.
• 44:53
  Speaker 1: And ten I give to THEE for thine own shooting.
• 44:56
  Speaker 1: In five I give to each band for their pleasure.
• 45:00
  Speaker 1: Had this, another great shout went up, and many tossed
• 45:03
  Speaker 1: their caps aloft and swore among themselves that no better
• 45:07
  Speaker 1: fellows ever walked the side than Robin Hood and his
• 45:10
  Speaker 1: stout yeomen. While they so shouted with loud voices, a tall,
• 45:16
  Speaker 1: burly yeoman of the King's guard came forward and plucked
• 45:19
  Speaker 1: Robin by the sleeve. Good Master, quoth he, I have
• 45:23
  Speaker 1: somewhat to tell THEE in thine ear. A silly thing. God,
• 45:27
  Speaker 1: what for one stout yeoman to tell another? But a
• 45:31
  Speaker 1: young peacock of a page. One Richard Partington, was seeking
• 45:35
  Speaker 1: THEE without a vail in the crowd, and not being
• 45:39
  Speaker 1: able to find THEE, told me that he bore a
• 45:42
  Speaker 1: message to THEE from a certain lady. That thou wottest
• 45:45
  Speaker 1: of this message, he bade me tell THEE privily, word
• 45:50
  Speaker 1: for word, And thus it was. Ah, let me see,
• 45:54
  Speaker 1: I trust ye have not forgot it yet yet this
• 45:58
  Speaker 1: it was the lie, growls, Beware thy head, is it so?
• 46:05
  Speaker 1: Quoth Robin, starting, for he knew right well that it
• 46:08
  Speaker 1: was the Queen sent the message, and that she spake
• 46:11
  Speaker 1: of the King's wrath. Now I thank THEE, good fellow,
• 46:14
  Speaker 1: for thou hast done me greater service than thou knowest
• 46:17
  Speaker 1: of this day. Then he called his three yeomen together
• 46:21
  Speaker 1: and told them privately that they had best be jogging,
• 46:25
  Speaker 1: as it was to be ill, for them so nigh
• 46:27
  Speaker 1: merry London Town, so without tearrying longer, they made their
• 46:32
  Speaker 1: way through the crowd until they had come out from
• 46:34
  Speaker 1: the press. Then, without stopping, they left London Town and
• 46:39
  Speaker 1: started away northward. This is the end of chapter eighteen.