Page 42 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

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 be-
neath 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 Notting-
ham 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. Already, while it was early,
the benches were beginning to fill with people of quality,
who kept constantly arriving in little carts or upon pal-
freys that curveted gaily to the merry tinkle of silver bells at
bridle reins. With these came also the poorer folk, who sat
or lay upon the green grass near the railing that kept them
from off the range. In the great tent the archers were gather-
ing by twos and threes; some talking loudly of the fair shots
each man had made in his day; some looking well to their
bows, drawing a string betwixt the fingers to see that there
was no fray upon it, or inspecting arrows, shutting one eye

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