Page:Celebrated history of the famous Robin Hood.pdf/19



that he should not be angry with any of her archers; but that they should be free to stay at court during the match, and afterwards to have forty days to retire to where they pleased. King Richard agreed to this ; and then ordered the targets to be placed. The king's archers lodged about 40 arrows in the target; but Robin’s bowmen, to the astonishment of all the court, placed all their arrows in the mark. The captain of the king’s archers, challenged Robin to shoot three arrows with him for 100 pounds; to which Robin agreed, on condition that he would shoot one at the mark he produced. A fresh target was set up, and the captain, amidst thunders of applause, fixed his three arrows in the very centre of the target; but Robin, with seeming carelessness, let fly his first arrow, which split the centre one to shivers, and stuck in its place. Robin then caused two willow wands to be stuck in the ground at double distance, observing, that this was the kind of mark he was accustomed to, and challenged all the king’s archers to a trial; but, as none of them durst venture after what they had seen, Robin,