Little John Goes to Nottingham Fair

           SpringhadgonesincetheSheriff’sfeastinSherwood,andsummeralso,andthemellowmonthofOctoberhadcome.Alltheairwascoolandfresh;theharvestsweregatheredhome,theyoungbirdswerefullfledged,thehopswereplucked,andappleswereripe.ButthoughtimehadsosmoothedthingsoverthatmennolongertalkedofthehornedbeaststhattheSheriffwishedtobuy,hewasstillsoreaboutthematterandcouldnotbeartohearRobinHood’snamespokeninhispresence.

           WithOctoberhadcomethetimeforholdingthegreatFairwhichwascelebratedeveryfiveyearsatNottinghamTown,towhichfolkcamefromfarandnearthroughoutthecountry.Atsuchtimesarcherywasalwaysthemainsportoftheday,fortheNottinghamshireyeomenwerethebesthandatthelongbowinallmerryEngland,butthisyeartheSheriffhesitatedalongtimebeforeheissuedproclamationoftheFair,fearinglestRobinHoodandhisbandmightcometoit.AtfirsthehadagreatpartofamindnottoproclaimtheFair,butsecondthoughttoldhimthatmenwouldlaughathimandsayamongthemselvesthathewasafraidofRobinHood,soheputthatthoughtby.Atlasthefixedinhismindthathewouldoffersuchaprizeastheywouldnotcaretoshootfor.Atsuchtimesithadbeenthecustomtoofferahalfscoreofmarksoratunofale,sothisyearheproclaimedthataprizeoftwofatsteersshouldbegiventothebestbowman.