Page 363 - the-merry-adventures-of-robin-hood

a gallant array of men came gleaming into sight, and the
cheering of the people ran down the crowd as the fire runs
in dry grass.
Eight and twenty heralds in velvet and cloth of gold came
riding forward. Over their heads fluttered a cloud of snow-
white feathers, and each herald bore in his hand a long silver
trumpet, which he blew musically. From each trumpet hung
a heavy banner of velvet and cloth of gold, with the roy-
al arms of England emblazoned thereon. After these came
riding fivescore noble knights, two by two, all fully armed,
saving that their heads were uncovered. In their hands they
bore tall lances, from the tops of which fluttered pennons of
many colors and devices. By the side of each knight walked
a page clad in rich clothes of silk and velvet, and each page
bore in his hands his master’s helmet, from which waved
long, floating plumes of feathers. Never had Nottingham
seen a fairer sight than those fivescore noble knights, from
whose armor the sun blazed in dazzling light as they came
riding on their great war horses, with clashing of arms and
jingling of chains. Behind the knights came the barons and
the nobles of the mid-country, in robes of silk and cloth of
gold, with golden chains about their necks and jewels at
their girdles. Behind these again came a great array of men-
at-arms, with spears and halberds in their hands, and, in
the midst of these, two riders side by side. One of the horse-
men was the Sheriff of Nottingham in his robes of office.
The other, who was a head taller than the Sheriff, was clad
in a rich but simple garb, with a broad, heavy chain about
his neck. His hair and beard were like threads of gold, and

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood