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upon their way。
That night they took up their inn in Melton Mowbray； in Leicestershire；
and the next night they lodged at Kettering； in Northamptonshire；
and the next at Bedford Town； and the next at St。 Albans；
in Hertfordshire。 This place they left not long after the middle
of the night； and traveling fast through the tender dawning of
the summer day； when the dews lay shining on the meadows and faint
mists hung in the dales； when the birds sang their sweetest and
the cobwebs beneath the hedges glimmered like fairy cloth of silver；
they came at last to the towers and walls of famous London Town；
while the morn was still young and all golden toward the east。
Queen Eleanor sat in her royal bower； through the open casements of
which poured the sweet yellow sunshine in great floods of golden light。
All about her stood her ladies…in…waiting chatting in low voices；
while she herself sat dreamily where the mild air came softly
drifting into the room laden with the fresh perfumes of the sweet
red roses that bloomed in the great garden beneath the wall。
To her came one who said that her page； Richard Partington；
and four stout yeomen waited her pleasure in the court below。
Then Queen Eleanor arose joyously and bade them be straightway
shown into her presence。
Thus Robin Hood and Little John and Will Scarlet and Allan a Dale came
before the Queen into her own royal bower。 Then Robin kneeled before
the Queen with his hands folded upon his breast； saying in simple phrase；
〃Here am I； Robin Hood。 Thou didst bid me come； and lo； I do thy bidding。
I give myself to thee as thy true servant； and will do thy commanding；
even if it be to the shedding of the last drop of my life's blood。〃
But good Queen Eleanor smiled pleasantly upon him； bidding him to arise。
Then she made them all be seated to rest themselves after their long journey。
Rich food was brought them and noble wines； and she had her own pages
to wait upon the wants of the yeomen。 At last； after they had eaten
all they could； she began questioning them of their merry adventures。
Then they told her all of the lusty doings herein spoken of； and among
others that concerning the Bishop of Hereford and Sir Richard of the Lea；
and how the Bishop had abided three days in Sherwood Forest。 At this；
the Queen and the ladies about her laughed again and again； for they
pictured to themselves the stout Bishop abiding in the forest and ranging
the woods in lusty sport with Robin and his band。 Then； when they had
told all that they could bring to mind； the Queen asked Allan to sing
to her； for his fame as a minstrel had reached even to the court at
London Town。 So straightway Allan took up his harp in his hand； and；
without more asking； touched the strings lightly till they all rang sweetly；
then he sang thus：
〃_Gentle river； gentle river；
Bright thy crystal waters flow；
Sliding where the aspens shiver；
Gliding where the lilies blow；
〃Singing over pebbled shallows；
Kissing blossoms bending low；
Breaking 'neath the dipping swallows；
Purpling where the breezes blow。
〃Floating on thy breast forever
Down thy current I could glide；
Grief and pain should reach me never
On thy bright and gentle tide。
〃So my aching heart seeks thine； love；
There to find its rest and peace；
For； through loving； bliss is mine； love；
And my many troubles cease_。〃
Thus Allan sang； and as he sang all eyes dwelled upon him and not
a sound broke the stillness； and even after he had done the silence
hung for a short space。 So the time passed till the hour drew nigh
for the holding of the great archery match in Finsbury Fields。
A gay sight were famous Finsbury Fields on that bright and sunny
morning of lusty summertime。 Along the end of the meadow stood
the booths for the different bands of archers； for the King's yeomen
were divided into companies of fourscore men； and each company
had a captain over it； so on the bright greensward stood ten booths
of striped canvas； a booth for each band of the royal archers；
and at the peak of each fluttered a flag in the mellow air；
and the flag was the color that belonged to the captain of each band。
From the center booth hung the yellow flag of Tepus； the famous
bow bearer of the King； next to it； on one hand； was the blue
flag of Gilbert of the White Hand； and on the other the blood…red
pennant of stout young Clifton of Buckinghamshire。 The seven
other archer captains were also men of great renown； among them
were Egbert of Kent and William of Southampton； but those first
named were most famous of all。 The noise of many voices in talk
and laughter came from within the booths； and in and out ran
the attendants like ants about an ant…hill。 Some bore ale
and beer； and some bundles of bowstrings or sheaves of arrows。
On each side of the archery range were rows upon rows of seats
reaching high aloft； and in the center of the north side was a raised
dais for the King and Queen； shaded by canvas of gay colors；
and hung about with streaming silken pennants of red and blue
and green and white。 As yet the King and Queen had not come；
but all the other benches were full of people； rising head above
head high aloft till it made the eye dizzy to look upon them。
Eightscore yards distant from the mark from which the archers
were to shoot stood ten fair targets； each target marked by a flag
of the color belonging to the band that was to shoot thereat。
So all was ready for the coming of the King and Queen。
At last a great blast of bugles sounded； and into the meadow came
riding six trumpeters with silver trumpets； from which hung velvet
banners heavy with rich workings of silver and gold thread。
Behind these came stout King Henry upon a dapple…gray stallion；
with his Queen beside him upon a milk…white palfrey。
On either side of them walked the yeomen of the guard； the bright
sunlight flashing from the polished blades of the steel halberds
they carried。 Behind these came the Court in a great crowd；
so that presently all the lawn was alive with bright colors；
with silk and velvet； with waving plumes and gleaming gold；
with flashing jewels and sword hilts； a gallant sight on that
bright summer day。
Then all the people arose and shouted； so that their voices
sounded like the storm upon the Cornish coast； when the dark
waves run upon the shore and leap and break； surging amid
the rocks； so； amid the roaring and the surging of the people；
and the waving of scarfs and kerchiefs； the King and Queen
came to their place； and； getting down from their horses；
mounted the broad stairs that led to the raised platform；
and there took their seats on two thrones bedecked with purple
silks and cloths of silver and of gold。
When all was quiet a bugle sounded； and straightway the archers came
marching in order from their tents。 Fortyscore they were in all；
as stalwart a band of yeomen as could be found in all the wide world。
So they came in orderly fashion and stood in front of the dais where
King Henry and his Queen sat。 King Henry looked up and down their
ranks right proudly； for his heart warmed within him at the sight
of