Page:Celebrated history of the renowned Robin Hood (2).pdf/16

 men, and the courtiers began to offer bets of six to one in favour of the king’s men; but no one would bet against them. "Will no knight venture his money on my side?” said the queen. "Come, Sir Robert Lee, you must try your fortune;” but the knight begged to be excused, as there was no chance of success. The queen then asked the Bishop of Hereford, Robin Hood’s old foe; but he swore by his silver mitre that he would not bet one penny. "If you won’t bet on the queen’s side, how much will you venture on the king’s?” said Robin. "All the gold I have with me, which is five hundred pounds,” replied the bishop^ and he laid the money on the ground. Robin immediately produced a bag of the same value, and threw it down upon the green.

Before the bowmen began, Queen Eleanor craved this boon from the king—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 or- dered the targets to be placed. The king’s archers lodged about forty arrows in the target; but Robin’s bowmen, to the aston- ishment of all the court, placed all their arrows in the mark.

The captain of the king’s archers, chal-