good yeoman should depart without a trial of skill, he was
pleased to appoint them, before leaving the ground, presently to
execute the competition of archery intended for the morrow. To
the best archer a prize was to be awarded, being a bugle-horn,
mounted with silver, and a silken baldric richly ornamented with
a medallion of St Hubert, the patron of silvan sport.

More than thirty yeomen at first presented themselves as
competitors, several of whom were rangers and under-keepers in
the royal forests of Needwood and Charnwood. When, however, the
archers understood with whom they were to be matched, upwards of
twenty withdrew themselves from the contest, unwilling to
encounter the dishonour of almost certain defeat. For in those
days the skill of each celebrated marksman was as well known for
many miles round him, as the qualities of a horse trained at
Newmarket are familiar to those who frequent that well-known
meeting.

The diminished list of competitors for silvan fame still amounted
to eight. Prince John stepped from his royal seat to view more
nearly the persons of these chosen yeomen, several of whom wore
the royal livery. Having satisfied his curiosity by this
investigation, he looked for the object of his resentment, whom
he observed standing on the same spot, and with the same composed
countenance which he had exhibited upon the preceding day.

"Fellow," said Prince John, "I guessed by thy insolent babble
that thou wert no true lover of the longbow, and I see thou
darest not adventure thy skill among such merry-men as stand
yonder."