Soon after this, King Richard made a grand match in his court, of all the bow-men of his guards and his army. Queen Eleanor thought this a good time to do what she had in her mind; so she called her favourite page, whose name was Richard Partington, and gave him his errand. The page set out straight to Sherwood Forest; and when he came to Robin Hood, he said: “Queen Eleanor greets you well; she bids you post to London, where there is to be a match at the cross-bow, and she has chosen you and your men to be her champions.” On the day of this great match, the king’s bowmen, who were thought the best archers in all England, were ranged on one side. After a time, the queen’s champions came in, and were ranged on the other side; they were all strangers, and no man in the court knew any of them. King Richard then declared what the prize was that should be bestowed upon the conquerors, and the lords of the court began to make bets upon the venture. The bets were three to one in favour of the king’s men. “Is there no knight of the privy council,” said Queen Eleanor, “who will venture his money on my side? Come hither to me, Sir Robert Lee, thou art a knight of high descent.” Sir Robert Lee begged the queen to excuse him from such a trial. “Come hither to me, thou Bishop of Hereford,” said Queen Eleanor, “for thou art a noble priest.” Now this bishop was Robin Hood’s old foe. “By my silver mitre,” said the bishop, “I will not bet a penny.” “If thou wilt not bet on the queen’s side,” said Robin Hood, “what wilt thou bet on the king’s?” “On the king’s side,” said the bishop, “I will venture all the money in my purse.” “Throw thy purse on the ground,” said Robin Hood, “and let us see what it contains.” It was a hundred pounds. Robin Hood took a bag of the same value from his side, and threw it upon the green. When the match was just going to begin, Queen Eleanor fell upon her knees to the king her son. “A boon! a boon!” said she, “I must ask a boon of thee before the trial begins.” “What is it?” said King Richard. “Why,” replied the queen, “that you will not be angry with any of those that are of my party; and that they shall be free to stay in our court all the days of the match, and shall then have forty days to retire when they like.” The king agreed to this. When the keepers of the course were marking out the distance from which they should shoot at the butt, their captain cried out, like a bold boaster as he was, “Measure no mark for us, we will shoot at the sun and the moon.” But he was mistaken; for Robin Hood and his party cleft with their arrows every wand and stick that was set up, and won all the money. Said the Bishop of Hereford, “I know very well now who these fellows are; they are Robin Hood and his gang.” The king replied, “If I had known that, I would not have granted them leave to depart; but I cannot break my word.” Saying this, King Richard ordered a noble feast for Robin Hood and his yeomanry; and then sent them away with honour.