HOW THE OUTLAWS SHOT IN KING HARRY

The canada goose outlet vip King is into Finsbury Field Marching in battle ‘ray, And after follows bold Robin Hood, And all his yeomen gay.

cheap Canada Goose The morning of the great archery contest dawned fair and bright, bringing with it a fever of impatience to every citizen of London town, from the proudest courtier to the lowest kitchen wench. Aye, and all the surrounding country was early awake, too, and began to wend their way to Finsbury Field, canada goose outlet store calgary a fine broad stretch of practice ground near Moorfields. Around three sides canada goose parka outlet of the Field were erected tier upon tier of seats, for the spectators, with the royal boxes and booths for the nobility and gentry in the center. Down along one end were pitched gaily colored tents for the different bands of King’s archers. There were ten of these bands, each containing a score of men headed by a captain of great renown; so to day there were ten of the pavilions, each bearing aloft the Royal Arms and vari colored pennants which canada goose outlet mall fluttered lightly in the fresh morning breeze. cheap Canada Goose

Each captain’s flag was of peculiar color and device. First came the royal purple streamer of Tepus, own bow bearer to the King, and canada goose outlet online reviews esteemed the finest archer in all the land. Then came the yellow of Clifton of Buckinghamshire; and the blue of Gilbert of the White Hand he who was renowned in Nottinghamshire; and the green of Elwyn the Welshman; and the White of Robert of Cloudesdale; and, after them, five other captains of bands, each a man of proved prowess. As the Queen had said aforetime, the King was mightily proud of his archers, and now held this tourney to show their skill and, mayhap, to recruit their forces.

The uprising tiers of seats filled early, upon this summer morning, and the merry chatter of the people went abroad like the hum of bees canada goose outlet sale in a hive. The royal party had not yet put in an appearance, nor were any of the King’s archers visible. So the crowd was content to hide its impatience by laughing jibes passed from one section to another, and crying the colors of their favorite archers. In and out among the seats went hawkers, their arms laden with small pennants to correspond with the rival tents. Other vendors of pie and small canada goose outlet real cakes and cider also did a thrifty business, for so canada goose outlet store montreal eager had some of the people been to get good seats, that they had rushed away from home without their breakfast.

Suddenly the gates at the far end, canada goose outlet near me next the tents, opened wide, and a courier in scarlet and gold, mounted upon a white horse, rode in blowing lustily canada goose outlet store quebec upon the trumpet at his lips; and behind him came six standard canada goose outlet legit bearers riding abreast. The populace arose with a mighty cheer. King Harry had entered the arena. He bestrode a fine white charger and was clad in a rich dark suit of slashed velvet with satin and gold facings. His hat bore canada goose parka uk a long curling ostrich plume of pure white and he doffed it graciously in answer to the shouts of the people. canada goose outlet online uk By his side rode Queen Eleanor, looking regal and charming in her long brocade riding habit; while immediately behind them came Prince Richard and Prince John, each attired in knightly coats of canada goose outlet price mail and helmets. Lords and ladies of the canada goose outlet los angeles realm followed; and finally, the ten companies of archers, whose progress round the field was canada goose outlet greeted with hardly less applause than that given the King himself.

The King and Queen dismounted from their steeds, ascended the steps of the royal box, and seated themselves upon two thrones, decked with purple and gold trapping, upon a dais sheltered by striped canvas. In the booths at each side the members of the Court took their places; while comely pages ran hither and thither bearing the royal buy canada goose uk commands. ‘Twas a lordly sight, I ween, this shifting of proud courtiers, flashing of jeweled fans, and commingling of bright colors with costly gems!

Canada Goose sale Now the herald arose to command peace, and soon the clear note of canada goose outlet in vancouver his bugle rose above the roar of the crowd and hushed it to silence. The tenscore archers ranged themselves in two long rows on each side of the lists a gallant array while their captains, as a special mark of favor, stood near the royal box. Canada Goose sale

canada goose coats on sale “Come hither, Tepus,” said the King to his bow bearer. “Come, measure me out this line, canada goose outlet uk how long our mark must be.” canada goose coats on sale

Canada Goose Jackets “What is the reward?” then asked the Queen. Canada Goose Jackets

“That will the herald presently canada goose outlet location proclaim,” answered the King. “For first prize we have offered a purse containing twoscore golden pounds; for second, a purse containing twoscore silver pennies; and for third a silver bugle, inlaid with gold. Moreover, if the King’s companies keep these canada goose outlet miami prizes, the winning companies shall have, first, two tuns of Rhenish wine; second, two tuns of English beer; and, third, five of the fattest harts that run on Dallom Lea. Methinks that is a princely wager,” added King Harry laughingly.

canada goose clearance Up spake bold Clifton, secure in the King’s favor. “Measure no marks for us, most sovereign liege,” quoth he; “for such largess as that, we’ll shoot at the sun and the moon.” canada goose clearance

Canada Goose Outlet “‘Twill not be so far as that,” said the King. “But get a line of good length, Tepus, and set up the targets at tenscore paces.” Canada Goose Outlet

buy canada goose jacket Forthwith, Tepus bowed low, and set up ten targets, each bearing the canada goose outlet trillium parka black pennant of a different company, while the herald stood forth again and proclaimed the rules and prizes. The entries were open to all comers. Each man, also, of the King’s archers should shoot three canada goose outlet las vegas arrows at the target bearing the colors of his band, canada goose outlet us until the best bowman in each band should be chosen. These ten chosen archers should then enter a contest for an open target three shots apiece and here any other bowman whatsoever was asked to try his skill. The https://www.canadagoosejacketonlines.ca result at the open targets should decide the tourney. buy canada goose jacket

canada goose coats Then all the people shouted again, in token that the terms of the contest pleased them; and the archers waved their bows aloft, and wheeled into position facing their respective targets. canada goose coats

Canada Goose online The shooting now began, upon all the targets at once, and the multitude had so much ado to watch them, that they forgot to shout. Besides, silence was commanded during the shooting. Of all the fine shooting that morning, I have not now space to tell you. The full score of men shot three times at each target, and then three times again to decide a tie. For, more than once, the arrow shot by one man would be split wide open by his successor. Every man’s shaft bore his number to ease the counting; and so close would they stick at the end of a round, that the target looked like a big bristle hairbrush. Then must the spectators relieve their tense spirits by great cheering; while the King looked mighty proud of his skilled bowmen. Canada Goose online

canada goose black friday sale At last the company targets were decided, and Tepus, as was expected, led the score, having made six exact centers in succession. Gilbert of the White Hand followed with five, and Clifton with four. canada goose jacket outlet store Two other captains had touched their center four times, but not roundly. While in the other companies it so chanced that the captains had been out shot by some of the men under them. canada goose black friday sale

The winners then saluted the King and Queen, and withdrew for a space to rest and renew their bow strings for the keenest contest of all; while the lists were cleared and a new target the open one was set up at twelvescore paces. At the bidding of the King, the herald announced that the open target was to be shot at, to decide the title of the best archer in all England; and any man there present was privileged to try for it. But so keen had been the previous shooting, that many yeomen who had come to enter the lists now would not do so; and only a dozen men stepped forth to give in their names.

canada goose store “By my halidom!” said the King, “these must be hardy men to pit themselves against my archers!” canada goose store

canada goose clearance sale “Think you that your ten chosen fellows are the best bowmen canada goose outlet belgium in all England?” asked the Queen. canada goose clearance sale

canada goose “Aye, and in all the world beside,” answered the King; “and thereunto canada goose outlet toronto address I would stake five hundred pounds.” canada goose

Canada Goose Parka “I am minded to take your wager,” said the Queen musingly, “and will e’en do so if you grant me a boon.” Canada Goose Parka

canadian goose jacket “What is it?” asked the King. canadian goose jacket

“If I produce five archers who can out shoot your ten, will you grant my men full grace and amnesty?”

“Assuredly!” quoth the King in right good humor. “Nathless, I canada goose outlet black friday sale tell you now, your wager is in jeopardy, for there never were canada goose outlet toronto location such bowmen as Tepus and Clifton and Gilbert!”

“Hum!” said the Queen puckering her brow, still as though lost in thought. “I must see if there be none present canada goose outlet nyc to aid me in my wager. Boy, call hither Sir Richard of the Lea canada goose outlet edmonton and my lord Bishop of Hereford!”

canada goose deals The two summoned ones, who had been witnessing the sport, came forward. canada goose deals

“Sir Richard,” said she, “thou art a full knight and good. Would’st advise me to meet a wager of the King’s, that I can produce other archers as good as Tepus and Gilbert and Clifton?”

“Nay, Your Majesty,” he said, bending his knee. “There be none present that can match them. Howbeit,” he added dropping his voice ‘I have heard of some who lie hid in Sherwood Forest who could show them strange targets.”.