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The Shooting Match at Nottingham Town
ThentheSheriffcamedownfromhisdaisanddrewnear,inallhissilksandvelvets,towherethetatteredstrangerstoodleaninguponhisstoutbow,whilethegoodfolkcrowdedaroundtoseethemanwhoshotsowondrouslywell."Here,goodfellow,"quoththeSheriff,"takethoutheprize,andwellandfairlyhastthouwonit,Ibow.Whatmaybethyname,andwhencecomestthou?"
"MendocallmeJocko’Teviotdale,andthenceamIcome,"saidthestranger.
"Then,byOurLady,Jock,thouartthefairestarcherthate’ermineeyesbeheld,andifthouwiltjoinmyserviceIwillclothetheewithabettercoatthanthatthouhastuponthyback;thoushalteatanddrinkofthebest,andateveryChristmastidefourscoremarksshallbethywage.ItrowthoudrawestbetterbowthanthatsamecowardknaveRobinHood,thatdarednotshowhisfaceherethisday.Say,goodfellow,wiltthoujoinmyservice?"
"Nay,thatwillInot,"quoththestrangerroughly."Iwillbemineown,andnomaninallmerryEnglandshallbemymaster."
"Thengettheegone,andamurrainseizethee!"criedtheSheriff,andhisvoicetrembledwithanger."Andbymyfaithandtroth,Ihaveagoodpartofamindtohavetheebeatenforthineinsolence!"Thenheturneduponhisheelandstrodeaway.
ItwasarightmotleycompanythatgatheredaboutthenoblegreenwoodtreeinSherwood’sdepthsthatsameday.Ascoreandmoreofbarefootfriarswerethere,andsomethatlookedliketinkers,andsomethatseemedtobesturdybeggarsandrustichinds;andseateduponamossycouchwasoneallcladintatteredscarlet,withapatchoveroneeye;andinhishandheheldthegoldenarrowthatwastheprizeofthegreatshootingmatch.
