16 King Richard Dines in Sherwood Forest

CHAPTER 16 King Richard Dines in Sherwood Forest After the death of good King Henry, his son Richard, known as Lionheart because of his bravery on the battlefield, took the throne. He decided to make a royal tour across England so that he could better get to know both the country and his subjects. Everyone felt sure that he would visit Nottingham on his journey. Soon messengers went riding back and

forth between the sheriff and the king, until at last a date was agreed on for the king to come to Nottingham. To prepare for the king's arrival, great arches were built across the streets that Richard would pass, and many of these arches were draped with silk banners and streamers of many colors. In the town's Guild Hall, where a great feast was being prepared, the best carpenters built a throne where the king would sit at the head of the table, with the sheriff at his side. On the morning of King Richard's visit, the bright sun shone down into the stony streets, now alive with a restless sea of people, country and town folk alike. They were packed together so close that the sheriff's men could hardly push them back to leave space for the king's path. Among the crowd stood many men in Lincoln green, for Robin and his companions greatly admired

their new king. After a long wait, the clear sounds of many bugles came winding down the street, and all the people turned their heads and began looking in the direction from which the sounds came. At long last, the king's men-at-arms galloped into the center of town as all the people began to cheer. Never had Nottingham seen a more wonderful sight than when a hundred noble knights, all dressed in polished armor that sparkled brightly in the sun, proudly rode down the streets. The clattering sounds that the massive hooves of their great warhorses made on the cobblestone only added to the marvel. Behind the valiant knights came the great nobles of the land, dressed in robes made of silk and gold, and with golden chains around their neck. They were followed by vast

swarm of men-at-arms holding spears in their hands as they marched past the crowd. In the midst of this procession came two riders, side by side. One of them was the Sheriff of Nottingham, dressed in the great robes of his office. The other, who was a head taller than the sheriff, wore a rich but simple garb, with a broad, heavy chain around his neck. His hair and beard were like gold and his eyes were as blue as the summer sky. As he rode along, he bowed first to the right and then to the left. A mighty roar of voices followed him as he passed; for this was King Richard. Robin and his men cheered the king the loudest. That night the great dinner to honor King Richard's visit was held in the Guild Hall. A thousand lights gleamed along a huge table, where lords and nobles and knights feasted with delight. At the head of the table, upon a throne covered with gold cloth, sat King

Richard, with the Sheriff of Nottingham just beside him. After a time, King Richard turned to the sheriff and said, "I have heard about a band of outlaws in these parts, led by a man named Robin Hood. Can you tell me anything about him?" Hearing these words, the sheriff's face turned gloomy. He then said, "I can tell your majesty little about those naughty rogues, except that they are the boldest lawbreakers in the land." One of the king's favorite men, Sir Henry of the Lea, now spoke up. "May it please your majesty," he said, "when I was away in France, I often heard from my father. Most of the time my father told me about this very fellow, Robin Hood. If your majesty would like, I will tell you a certain adventure of this outlaw."

Then the king, with a smile on his face, gave permission to Sir Henry to continue. Sir Henry then spoke about how Robin Hood had helped his father, Sir Richard of the Lea. King Richard laughed when he heard that Robin Hood had used the Bishop of Hereford's money to pay Sir Richard's debts. The bishop, who sat beside the king, turned redder and redder with each sentence. Seeing how much the king had truly enjoyed such a merry tale, others at the table also began to tell stories about Robin Hood. "By the hilt of my sword," the king declared after hearing their stories, "this is the boldest merry knave I have ever heard of." Later that night, the king sat up talking with Sir Henry and some of his other knights. His mind was still on Robin Hood. "I would give one hundred pounds to meet this Robin Hood and see some of his doings in Sherwood Forest."