Sheriff, upon a raised dais, with many gentlefolk around him. When the archers had taken their places, the herald came forward and proclaimed the rules of the game, and how each should shoot three shots, and to him that should shoot the best the prize of two fat steers was to belong. A score of brave shots were gathered there, and among them some of the keenest hands at the long bow in Lincoln and Nottinghamshire; and among them Little John stood taller than all the rest. “Who is yon stranger clad all in scarlet?” said some; and others answered, “It is he that hath but now so soundly cracked the crown of Eric o’ Lincoln.” Thus the people talked among themselves, until at last it reached even the Sheriffs ears.

And now each man stepped forward and shot in turn; but though each shot well, Little John was the best of all, for three times he struck the clout, and once only the length of a barleycorn from the centre. “Hey for the tall archer!” shouted the crowd; and some among them shouted, “Hey for Reynold Greenleaf!” for this was the name that Little John had called himself that day.

Little John shooteth in the famous Fair at Nottingham Town, and winneth the prize.

Then the Sheriff stepped down from the raised seat and came to where the archers stood, while all doffed their caps that saw him coming. He looked keenly at Little John, but did not know him, though he said, after a while, “How now, good fellow, methinks there is that about thy face that I have seen erewhile.”

The Sheriff talketh to Little John, but knoweth him not.

“Mayhap it may be so,” quoth Little John, “for often have I seen your worship”; and, as he spoke, he looked steadily into the Sheriffs eyes, so that the latter did not suspect who he was.

“A brave blade art thou, good friend,” said the Sheriff, “and I hear that thou hast well upheld the skill of Nottinghamshire against that of Lincoln this day. What may be thy name, good fellow?”

“Men do call me Reynold Greenleaf, your worship,” said Little John; and the old ballad that tells of this, adds, “So in truth, he was a green leaf, but of what manner of tree the Sheriff wotted not.”

“Now, Reynold Greenleaf,” quoth the Sheriff, “thou art the fairest hand at the long bow that mine eyes ever beheld, next to that false knave, Robin Hood, from whose wiles Heaven forfend me! Wilt thou join my service, good fellow? Thou shalt be paid right well, for three suits of clothes shalt thou have a year, with good food and as much ale as thou canst drink; and, beside this, I will pay thee forty marks each Michaelmastide.”

“Then here stand I a free man, and right gladly will I enter thy household,” said Little John; for he thought he might find some merry jest, should he enter the Sheriffs service.

“Fairly hast thou won the fat steers,” said the Sheriff, “and thereunto I will add a butt of good March beer, for joy of having gotten such a man; for, I wot, thou shootest as fair a shaft as Robin Hood himself.”

Little John entereth the Sheriffs service.

“Then,” said Little John, “for joy of having gotten myself into thy service, I will give fat steers and brown ale to all these good folk, to make them merry withal.” At this arose a great shout, many casting their caps aloft, for joy of the gift.

Little John giveth the prize to the folk at the Fair.

Then some built great fires and roasted the steers, and others broached the butt of ale, with which all made themselves merry; then, when they had eaten and drunk as much as they could, and when the day faded and the great moon arose, all red and round, over the spires and towers of Nottingham Town, they joined hands and danced around the fires, to the music of bagpipes and harps. But long before this merrymaking had begun, the Sheriff and his new servant, Reynold Greenleaf, were in the Castle of Nottingham.

III.

How Little John lived at the Sheriffs House.

THUS Little John entered into the Sheriffs service, and found the life he led there easy enough, for the Sheriff made him his right-hand man, and held him in great favor. He sat nigh the Sheriff at meat, and he ran beside his horse when he went a-hunting; so that, what with hunting and hawking a little,