Then all sat down to the woodland feast and talked among themselves of
the merry jest that had been played upon the Sheriff, and of the
adventures that had befallen each member of the band in his disguise.
But when the feast was done, Robin Hood took Little John apart and said,
"Truly am I vexed in my blood, for I heard the Sheriff say today, 'Thou
shootest better than that coward knave Robin Hood, that dared not show
his face here this day.' I would fain let him know who it was who won
the golden arrow from out his hand, and also that I am no coward such as
he takes me to be."
Then Little John said, "Good master, take thou me and Will Stutely, and
we will send yon fat Sheriff news of all this by a messenger such as he
doth not expect."
That day the Sheriff sat at meat in the great hall of his house at
Nottingham Town. Long tables stood down the hall, at which sat men-at-
arms and household servants and good stout villains,[Bond-servants.] in
all fourscore and more. There they talked of the day's shooting as they
ate their meat and quaffed their ale.
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