efore。　　He　could　not　have　been　more　than　sixteen　years　of　age；　and　was　as　fair　as　any　maiden。　　His　long　yellow　hair　flowed　behind　him　as　he　rode　along；　all　clad　in　silk　and　velvet；　with　jewels　flashing　and　dagger　jingling　against　the　pommel　of　the　saddle。　Thus　came　the　Queen's　Page；　young　Richard　Partington；　from　famous　London　Town　down　into　Nottinghamshire；　upon　Her　Majesty's　bidding；　to　seek　Robin　Hood　in　Sherwood　Forest。
  The　road　was　hot　and　dusty　and　his　journey　had　been　long；　for　that　day　he　had　come　all　the　way　from　Leicester　Town；　a　good　twenty　miles　and　more；　wherefore　young　Partington　was　right　glad　when　he　saw　before　him　a　sweet　little　inn；　all　shady　and　cool　beneath　the　trees；　in　front　of　the　door　of　which　a　sign　hung　pendant；　bearing　the　picture　of　a　blue　boar。　　Here　he　drew　rein　and　called　loudly　for　a　pottle　of　Rhenish　wine　to　be　brought　him；　for　stout　country　ale　was　too　coarse　a　drink　for　this　young　gentleman。　Five　lusty　fellows　sat　upon　the　bench　beneath　the　pleasant　shade　of　the　wide…spreading　oak　in　front　of　the　inn　door；　drinking　ale　and　beer；　and　all　stared　amain　at　this　fair　and　gallant　lad。　Two　of　the　stoutest　of　them　were　clothed　in　Lincoln　green；　and　a　great　heavy　oaken　staff　leaned　against　the　gnarled　oak　tree　trunk　beside　each　fellow。
  The　landlord　came　and　brought　a　pottle　of　wine　and　a　long　narrow　glass　upon　a　salver；　which　he　held　up　to　the　Page　as　he　sat　upon　his　horse。　Young　Partington　poured　forth　the　bright　yellow　wine　and　holding　the　glass　aloft；　cried；　〃Here　is　to　the　health　and　long　happiness　of　my　royal　mistress；　the　noble　Queen　Eleanor；　and　may　my　journey　and　her　desirings　soon　have　end；　and　I　find　a　certain　stout　yeoman　men　call　Robin　Hood。〃
  At　these　words　all　stared；　but　presently　the　two　stout　yeomen　in　Lincoln　green　began　whispering　together。　　Then　one　of　the　two；　whom　Partington　thought　to　be　the　tallest　and　stoutest　fellow　he　had　ever　beheld；　spoke　up　and　said；　〃What　seekest　thou　of　Robin　Hood；　Sir　Page？　　And　what　does　our　good　Queen　Eleanor　wish　of　him？　I　ask　this　of　thee；　not　foolishly；　but　with　reason；　for　I　know　somewhat　of　this　stout　yeoman。〃
  〃An　thou　knowest　aught　of　him；　good　fellow；〃　said　young　Partington；　〃thou　wilt　do　great　service　to　him　and　great　pleasure　to　our　royal　Queen　by　aiding　me　to　find　him。〃
  Then　up　spake　the　other　yeoman；　who　was　a　handsome　fellow　with　sunburned　face　and　nut…brown；　curling　hair；　〃Thou　hast　an　honest　look；　Sir　Page；　and　our　Queen　is　kind　and　true　to　all　stout　yeomen。　Methinks　I　and　my　friend　here　might　safely　guide　thee　to　Robin　Hood；　for　we　know　where　he　may　be　found。　　Yet　I　tell　thee　plainly；　we　would　not　for　all　merry　England　have　aught　of　harm　befall　him。〃
  〃Set　thy　mind　at　ease；　I　bring　nought　of　ill　with　me；〃　quoth　Richard　Partington。　　〃I　bring　a　kind　message　to　him　from　our　Queen；　therefore　an　ye　know　where　he　is　to　be　found；　I　pray　you　to　guide　me　thither。〃
  Then　the　two　yeomen　looked　at　one　another　again；　and　the　tall　man　said；　〃Surely　it　were　safe　to　do　this　thing；　Will〃；　whereat　the　other　nodded。　Thereupon　both　arose；　and　the　tall　yeoman　said；　〃We　think　thou　art　true；　Sir　Page；　and　meanest　no　harm；　therefore　we　will　guide　thee　to　Robin　Hood　as　thou　dost　wish。〃
  Then　Partington　paid　his　score；　and　the　yeomen　coming　forward；　they　all　straightway　departed　upon　their　way。
  Under　the　greenwood　tree；　in　the　cool　shade　that　spread　all　around　upon　the　sward；　with　flickering　lights　here　and　there；　Robin　Hood　and　many　of　his　band　lay　upon　the　soft　green　grass；　while　Allan　a　Dale　sang　and　played　upon　his　sweetly　sounding　harp。　All　listened　in　silence；　for　young　Allan's　singing　was　one　of　the　greatest　joys　in　all　the　world　to　them；　but　as　they　so　listened　there　came　of　a　sudden　the　sound　of　a　horse's　feet；　and　presently　Little　John　and　Will　Stutely　came　forth　from　the　forest　path　into　the　open　glade；　young　Richard　Partington　riding　between　them　upon　his　milk…white　horse。　The　three　came　toward　where　Robin　Hood　sat；　all　the　band　staring　with　might　and　main；　for　never　had　they　seen　so　gay　a　sight　as　this　young　Page；　nor　one　so　richly　clad　in　silks　and　velvets　and　gold　and　jewels。　Then　Robin　arose　and　stepped　forth　to　meet　him；　and　Partington　leaped　from　his　horse　and　doffing　his　cap　of　crimson　velvet；　met　Robin　as　he　came。　〃Now；　welcome！〃　cried　Robin。　　〃Now；　welcome；　fair　youth；　and　tell　me；　I　prythee；　what　bringeth　one　of　so　fair　a　presence　and　clad　in　such　noble　garb　to　our　poor　forest　of　Sherwood？〃
  Then　young　Partington　said；　〃If　I　err　not；　thou　art　the　famous　Robin　Hood；　and　these　thy　stout　band　of　outlawed　yeomen。　To　thee　I　bring　greetings　from　our　noble　Queen　Eleanor。　　Oft　hath　she　heard　thee　spoken　of　and　thy　merry　doings　hereabouts；　and　fain　would　she　behold　thy　face；　therefore　she　bids　me　tell　thee　that　if　thou　wilt　presently　come　to　London　Town；　she　will　do　all　in　her　power　to　guard　thee　against　harm；　and　will　send　thee　back　safe　to　Sherwood　Forest　again。　Four　days　hence；　in　Finsbury　Fields；　our　good　King　Henry；　of　great　renown；　holdeth　a　grand　shooting　match；　and　all　the　most　famous　archers　of　merry　England　will　be　thereat。　Our　Queen　would　fain　see　thee　strive　with　these；　knowing　that　if　thou　wilt　come　thou　wilt；　with　little　doubt；　carry　off　the　prize。　Therefore　she　hath　sent　me　with　this　greeting；　and　furthermore　sends　thee；　as　a　sign　of　great　good　will；　this　golden　ring　from　off　her　own　fair　thumb；　which　I　give　herewith　into　thy　hands。〃
  Then　Robin　Hood　bowed　his　head　and　taking　the　ring；　kissed　it　right　loyally；　and　then　slipped　it　upon　his　little　finger。　Quoth　he；　〃Sooner　would　I　lose　my　life　than　this　ring；　and　ere　it　departs　from　me；　my　hand　shall　be　cold　in　death　or　stricken　off　at　the　wrist。　　Fair　Sir　Page；　I　will　do　our　Queen's　bidding；　and　will　presently　hie　with　thee　to　London；　but；　ere　we　go；　I　will　feast　thee　here　in　the　woodlands　with　the　very　best　we　have。〃
  〃It　may　not　be；〃　said　the　Page；　〃we　have　no　time　to　tarry；　therefore　get　thyself　ready　straightway；　and　if　there　be　any　of　thy　band　that　thou　wouldst　take　with　thee；　our　Queen　bids　me　say　that　she　will　make　them　right　welcome　likewise。〃
  〃Truly；　thou　art　right；〃　quoth　Robin；　〃and　we　have　but　short　time　to　stay；　therefore　I　will　get　me　ready　presently。　I　will　choose　three　of　my　men；　only；　to　go　with　me；　and　these　three　shall　be　Little　John；　mine　own　true　right…hand　man；　Will　Scarlet；　my　cousin；　and　Allan　a　Dale；　my　minstrel。　Go；　lads；　and　get　ye　ready　straightway；　and　we　will　presently　off　with　all　speed　that　we　may。　　Thou；　Will　Stutely；　shall　be　the　chief　of　the　band　while　I　am　gone。〃
  Then　Little　John　and　Will　Scarlet　and　Allan　a　Dale　ran　leaping；　full　of　joy；　to　make　themselves　ready；　while　Robin　also　prepared　himself　for　the　journey。　After　a　while　they　all　four　came　forth；　and　a　right　fair　sight　they　made；　for　Robin　was　clad　in　blue　from　head　to　foot；　and　Little　John　and　Will　Scarlet　in　good　Lincoln　green；　and　as　for　Allan　a　Dale；　he　was　dressed　in　scarlet　from　the　crown　of　his　head　to　the　toes　of　his　pointed　shoes。　Each　man　wore　beneath　his　cap　a　little　head　covering　of　burnished　steel　set　with　rivets　of　gold；　and　underneath　his　jerkin　a　coat　of　linked　mail；　as　fine　as　carded　wool；　yet　so　tough　that　no　arrow　could　pierce　it。　Then；　seeing　all　were　ready；　young　Partington　mounted　his　horse　again；　and　the　yeomen　having　shaken　hands　all　around；　the　five　departed　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