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comrades, desist, and let not disloyalty be ranked among our errors, this house and all withinet are rendered sacred by the presence of Queen Eleanor!” The bowmen instantly obeyed their leader, and as they quitted the convent, Robin told the nuns to bless the queen for preserving their image, which otherwise would have bought wine to the Sherwood venison.
When the queen heard of the behaviour of Robin Hood, and that his respect for her alone had saved the convent from being plundered, she was so much pleased, that she determined to be a friend to him and his men.
Soon after King Richard's return from Palestine, he proclaimed a grand shooting match to take place in the palace grounds, and prizes were to be awarded to the best marksmen. Queen Eleanor, thinking this a favourable opportunity to execute her design in favour of Robin Hood, told the king that she could bring one hundred men, who would beat the most skilful of his archers. The king requested her to bring forward her champions, and if they were victorious, he would not only bestow on them the prizes but grant her any boon she asked. The queen immediately despatched the following
message to Robin Hood:-"Queen Eleanor greets you well, requesting that you will take one hundred of your bowmen with you, and hasten to London: for a great match at the bow is to take place there, and she has chosen you and your men to be her champions."
On the appointed day, in presence of the whole court, the king's archers, who were thought to be the best in the kingdom, ranged themselves on one side; while the queen's champions, all clad in green, with Robin Hood at their head, took their station on the other; but the queen was the only person there who knew them. After sounding the trumpets,
