Saying thus, he set spurs to his horse, and, with a nod and smile at Cedric, rode away up the forest path. That afternoon messengers went out from the castle, to bid to the festival the tenantry and all the friends of Mountjoy for ten miles ’round; and an ox was slain for the roasting. Three days later, on another perfect morn without cloud or breath of wind, there assembled in Yew Hedge Meadow, a furlong from the Mountjoy gate, a concourse which might have graced a tournament. The Pelhams were there and the Leicesters and even a half dozen of the Montmorencys, my mother’s kin from Coventry. The yeomanry of the Mountjoy lands had come, e’en to the last man and maid and child, and nigh two hundred of the neighbor folk from Pelham Manor, Leicester and Mannerley. The gentry were gathered on some rows of benches, covered with gay-colored robes, which had been placed on a little hillock at the left; and the commoners stood or walked about on the good brown sward, having many a gay crack and jest between them, and enjoying, methought, a better view of the archery than their betters on the higher ground. Many of the Mountjoy men had brought their cross-bows; and were now taking random shots at the white-centered target, a hundred paces down the meadow. Others had long-bows and the cloth-yard shafts that the forester loves. When Cedric’s father, Elbert of Pelham Wood, came on the ground with his long-bow in his hand a cry went up for a match with that noble weapon to come before the prize shooting of the cross-bow men. My father came and full warmly greeted the Pelham forester, and gave his word for the long-bow trials. Two of our Mountjoy lads shot each five shafts at the three-inch bull’s-eye; and of these Rob of the Rowan Grange was in high delight at thrice fairly striking it. Then Elbert, with a merry grin that showed his toothless jaws, did come to the mark and sent five arrows toward the target, suffering none to touch them till the last was sped. When he had finished there was a shout from all the people, with Rob o’ the Rowan’s voice among the loudest, for every arrow point had pierced the white. Now came Marvin, bonnet in hand, before Lord Mountjoy; and began to speak with a quickness and a shortness of breath that I had ne’er before noted. “My lord, methinks ’twould better the match for those that come to see our archery if we had, besides yonder target, a moving mark. What think’st thou of the rolling ball such as I used a score of years agone, and with which thyself did have much good sport?” “Marry! Well bethought, good Marvin!” cried Father. “Have the lads bring planks from the courtyard and set up the trough as thou bid’st them. We have bowling balls enough. Truly, ’twill make the match a gayer sight. There are many here that never have seen thy skill so displayed.” [Illustration: _THEN ELBERT DID COME TO THE MARK AND, WITH A MERRY GRIN, SENT FIVE ARROWS TOWARD THE TARGET_]