ROBIN HOOD. 361

Robin Hood, “what wilt thou bet on the king's?” “On the
king's side,” said the bishop, “ I will venture all the money in
my purse.”—* Throw thy purse on the ground,” said Robin
Hood, ‘and let us sce what it contains.” It was a hundred
pounds, Robin Hood took a bag of the same value from his
side, and threw it upon the green, When the match was just
going to begin, Queen Eleanor fell upon her knees to the king
her son. “A boon, a boon,” said she, * I must ask a boon of
thee before the trial begins.” —“ What ” said King Richard.
“Why,” replied the queen, “ that you w i
any of those that are of my party ; and that they shall be free
to stay in our court all the days of the match, and shall then
have forty days to retire where they like.” ‘The king agreed
to this. When the keepers of the course were marking out
the distance from which they should shoot at the but, their
captain cried out, like a hoaster as he was, “ Measure no mark
for us, we will shoot at the sun and the moon.”” But he was
mistaken! for Robin Hood and his party cleft with their arrows
every wand and stick that was set up, and won all the money.
Says the bishop of Hereford, * I know very well now who those
fellows are ; they are Robin Hood and his gang.” The king re-
plied, “If I had known that, I would not have granted them
leave to depart: but [ cannot break my word.” Saying this,
King Richard ordered a noble feast for Robin Hood and his
yeomanry, and then sent them away with honour.

King Richard often thought upon what he had seen of
Robin Hood and his fellows. He was very fond of archery :
he had heard many generous actions that were told ahout them,
and he admired their gallant spirit and manners. “If [ could
but.make these men my faithful subjects, what a pride they
would be to my court!” ‘The king at last fixed upon a plan
by which he might see Robin Hood once more. He called