Robin Hood Wins the Sheriff's Golden Arrow

Robin Hood Wins the Sheriff's Golden Arrow

Introduction Robin Hood lived with his band of followers, the Merry Men, deep inside Sherwood Forest. They felt safe there, where they had built shelters of logs and bark. When it wasn't raining, they slept on deerskins outside under the stars. The men cooked their meals over a roaring fire, and ate sitting on the ground or on logs.

More than a hundred men made up Robin Hood's band of followers. They were all rough outlaws but had kind hearts. They were devoted to Robin Hood and his cause, and obeyed his every word. Robin needed only to play a note on his horn and the men would appear. They were the best archers, wrestlers, and swordsmen in all of England. They practiced daily to improve their skills. Robin Hood was the best of all the archers in the land.

Times were bad in England. Cruel(KROO- uhl) lords became rich by taxing the poor. Sometimes they took everything a family owned. As a child, Robin Hood had seen many of his friends' and neighbors' lives ruined. He vowed to make things right when he grew up. He became an outlaw by robbing and fighting the corrupt lords. Robin Hood and his men would steal back the gold taken in unjust taxes. Then they gave the gold back to the poor people. To his enemies, Robin and his men were hated robbers. To the common folk they helped, they were beloved heroes.

The Sheriff of Nottingham The Sheriff of Nottingham hated Robin Hood. The Sheriff wanted nothing more than to catch Robin Hood and hang him in public. Time after time, Robin got away from the Sheriff's traps. The Sheriff grew more angry and spiteful. One day he sent a stout guard with a warrant to arrest Robin Hood. Robin met the guard on the road. He invited the guard to a feast in the forest. The guard ate too much and fell asleep. While the guard slept, Robin stole the warrant out of his pocket. Without a warrant, the guard couldn't arrest Robin Hood. The guard returned to the Sheriff empty-handed.

The Sheriff of Nottingham knew it was no use sending more guards. “ I've got it, " said the Sheriff. “ I'll catch him by trickery. I'll hold a great archery festival. The best archers in England will come here to compete. We'll give a prize of a gold-covered arrow. Robin Hood won't be able to resist the contest. When he comes, I'll arrest and hang him. "