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ranks right proudly； for his heart warmed within him at the sight
of such a gallant band of yeomen。 Then he bade his herald Sir Hugh
de Mowbray stand forth and proclaim the rules governing the game。
So Sir Hugh stepped to the edge of the platform and spoke in a loud
clear voice； and thus he said：
That each man should shoot seven arrows at the target that belonged
to his band； and； of the fourscore yeomen of each band； the three
that shot the best should be chosen。 These three should shoot three
arrows apiece； and the one that shot the best should again be chosen。
Then each of these should again shoot three arrows apiece；
and the one that shot the best should have the first prize；
the one that shot the next best should have the second；
and the one that shot the next best should have the third prize。
Each of the others should have fourscore silver pennies for his shooting。
The first prize was to be twoscore and ten golden pounds； a silver
bugle horn inlaid with gold； and a quiver with ten white arrows
tipped with gold and feathered with the white swan's…wing therein。
The second prize was to be fivescore of the fattest bucks that run
on Dallen Lea； to be shot when the yeoman that won them chose。
The third prize was to be two tuns of good Rhenish wine。
So Sir Hugh spoke； and when he had done all the archers waved
their bows aloft and shouted。 Then each band turned and marched
in order back to its place。
And now the shooting began； the captains first taking stand and speeding
their shafts and then making room for the men who shot； each in turn；
after them。 Two hundred and eighty score shafts were shot in all；
and so deftly were they sped that when the shooting was done each target
looked like the back of a hedgehog when the farm dog snuffs at it。
A long time was taken in this shooting； and when it was over the judges
came forward； looked carefully at the targets； and proclaimed in a
loud voice which three had shot the best from the separate bands。
Then a great hubbub of voices arose； each man among the crowd that
looked on calling for his favorite archer。 Then ten fresh targets
were brought forward； and every sound was hushed as the archers took
their places once more。
This time the shooting was more speedily done； for only nine
shafts were shot by each band。 Not an arrow missed the targets；
but in that of Gilbert of the White Hand five arrows were in the small
white spot that marked the center； of these five three were sped
by Gilbert。 Then the judges came forward again； and looking at
the targets； called aloud the names of the archer chosen as the best
bowman of each band。 Of these Gilbert of the White Hand led；
for six of the ten arrows he had shot had lodged in the center；
but stout Tepus and young Clifton trod close upon his heels；
yet the others stood a fair chance for the second or third place。
And now； amid the roaring of the crowd； those ten stout fellows that were left
went back to their tents to rest for a while and change their bowstrings；
for nought must fail at this next round； and no hand must tremble or eye grow
dim because of weariness。
Then while the deep buzz and hum of talking sounded all around
like the noise of the wind in the leafy forest； Queen Eleanor
turned to the King； and quoth she； 〃Thinkest thou that these yeomen
so chosen are the very best archers in all merry England？〃
〃Yea； truly；〃 said the King； smiling； for he was well
pleased with the sport that he had seen； 〃and I tell thee；
that not only are they the best archers in all merry England；
but in all the wide world beside。〃
〃But what wouldst thou say；〃 quoth Queen Eleanor； 〃if I were to find
three archers to match the best three yeomen of all thy guard？〃
〃I would say thou hast done what I could not do；〃 said the King； laughing；
〃for I tell thee there lives not in all the world three archers to match
Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton of Buckinghamshire。〃
〃Now；〃 said the Queen； 〃I know of three yeomen； and in truth I
have seen them not long since； that I would not fear to match
against any three that thou canst choose from among all thy
fortyscore archers； and； moreover； I will match them here this very day。
But I will only match them with thy archers providing that thou
wilt grant a free pardon to all that may come in my behalf。〃
At this； the King laughed loud and long。 〃Truly；〃 said he；
〃thou art taking up with strange matters for a queen。
If thou wilt bring those three fellows that thou speakest of；
I will promise faithfully to give them free pardon for forty days；
to come or to go wheresoever they please； nor will I harm a hair
of their heads in all that time。 Moreover； if these that thou
bringest shoot better than my yeomen； man for man； they shall
have the prizes for themselves according to their shooting。
But as thou hast so taken up of a sudden with sports of this kind；
hast thou a mind for a wager？〃
〃Why； in sooth；〃 said Queen Eleanor； laughing； 〃I know nought
of such matters； but if thou hast a mind to do somewhat in that way；
I will strive to pleasure thee。 What wilt thou wager upon thy men？〃
Then the merry King laughed again； for he dearly loved goodly jest；
so he said； amidst his laughter； 〃I will wager thee ten tuns of Rhenish wine；
ten tuns of the stoutest ale； and tenscore bows of tempered Spanish yew；
with quivers and arrows to match。〃
All that stood around smiled at this； for it seemed a merry wager for
a king to give to a queen； but Queen Eleanor bowed her head quietly。
〃I will take thy wager；〃 said she； 〃for I know right well where to place
those things that thou hast spoken of。 Now； who will be on my side
in this matter？〃 And she looked around upon them that stood about；
but no one spake or cared to wager upon the Queen's side against
such archers as Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton。 Then the Queen
spoke again； 〃Now； who will back me in this wager？ Wilt thou；
my Lord Bishop of Hereford？〃
〃Nay；〃 quoth the Bishop hastily； 〃it ill befits one of my cloth to deal
in such matters。 Moreover； there are no such archers as His Majesty's
in all the world； therefore I would but lose my money。
〃Methinks the thought of thy gold weigheth more heavily
with thee than the wrong to thy cloth；〃 said the Queen；
smiling； and at this a ripple of laughter went around；
for everyone knew how fond the Bishop was of his money。
Then the Queen turned to a knight who stood near； whose name was
Sir Robert Lee。 〃Wilt thou back me in this manner？〃 said she。
〃Thou art surely rich enough to risk so much for the sake
of a lady。〃
〃To pleasure my Queen I will do it；〃 said Sir Robert Lee；
〃but for the sake of no other in all the world would I wager a groat；
for no man can stand against Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton。〃
Then turning to the King； Queen Eleanor said； 〃I want no such aid
as Sir Robert giveth me； but against thy wine and beer and stout bows
of yew I wager this girdle all set with jewels from around my waist；
and surely that is worth more than thine。〃
〃Now； I take thy wager；〃 quoth the King。 〃Send for thy archers straightway。
But here come forth the others； let them shoot； and then I will match
those that