Приключения Робин Гуда

           Eightandtwentyheraldsinvelvetandclothofgoldcameridingforward.Overtheirheadsflutteredacloudofsnow-whitefeathers,andeachheraldboreinhishandalongsilvertrumpet,whichheblewmusically.Fromeachtrumpethungaheavybannerofvelvetandclothofgold,withtheroyalarmsofEnglandemblazonedthereon.Afterthesecameridingfivescorenobleknights,twobytwo,allfullyarmed,savingthattheirheadswereuncovered.Intheirhandstheyboretalllances,fromthetopsofwhichflutteredpennonsofmanycolorsanddevices.Bythesideofeachknightwalkedapagecladinrichclothesofsilkandvelvet,andeachpageboreinhishandshismaster’shelmet,fromwhichwavedlong,floatingplumesoffeathers.NeverhadNottinghamseenafairersightthanthosefivescorenobleknights,fromwhosearmorthesunblazedindazzlinglightastheycameridingontheirgreatwarhorses,withclashingofarmsandjinglingofchains.Behindtheknightscamethebaronsandthenoblesofthemid-country,inrobesofsilkandclothofgold,withgoldenchainsabouttheirnecksandjewelsattheirgirdles.Behindtheseagaincameagreatarrayofmen-at-arms,withspearsandhalberdsintheirhands,and,inthemidstofthese,tworiderssidebyside.OneofthehorsemenwastheSheriffofNottinghaminhisrobesofoffice.Theother,whowasaheadtallerthantheSheriff,wascladinarichbutsimplegarb,withabroad,heavychainabouthisneck.Hishairandbeardwerelikethreadsofgold,andhiseyeswereasblueasthesummersky.