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Thus he shouted； and all crowded around； laughing； while the brown ale flowed； and they called Little John a brave fellow； each swearing that he loved him as his own brother； for when one has entertainment with nothing to pay； one loves the man that gives it to one。
Then he strolled to the platform where they were at cudgel play； for he loved a bout at quarterstaff as he loved meat and drink； and here befell an adventure that was sung in ballads throughout the mid…country for many a day。
One fellow there was that cracked crowns of everyone who threw cap into the ring。 This was Eric o' Lincoln； of great renown； whose name had been sung in ballads throughout the countryside。 When Little John reached the stand he found none fighting； but only bold Eric walking up and down the platform； swinging his staff and shouting lustily； 〃Now； who will come and strike a stroke for the lass he loves the best； with a good Lincolnshire yeoman？ How now； lads？ Step up！ Step up！ Or else the lasses' eyes are not bright hereabouts； or the blood of Nottingham youth is sluggish and cold。 Lincoln against Nottingham； say I！ For no one hath put foot upon the boards this day such as we of Lincoln call a cudgel player。〃
At this； one would nudge another with his elbow； saying； 〃Go thou； Ned！〃 or 〃Go thou； Thomas！〃 but no lad cared to gain a cracked crown for nothing。
Presently Eric saw where Little John stood among the others； a head and shoulders above them all； and he called to him loudly； 〃Halloa； thou long…legged fellow in scarlet！ Broad are thy shoulders and thick thy head； is not thy lass fair enough for thee to take cudgel in hand for her sake？ In truth； I believe that Nottingham men do turn to bone and sinew； for neither heart nor courage have they！ Now； thou great lout； wilt thou not twirl staff for Nottingham？〃
〃Ay；〃 quoth Little John； 〃had I but mine own good staff here； it would pleasure me hugely to crack thy knave's pate； thou saucy braggart！ I wot it would be well for thee an thy cock's comb were cut！〃 Thus he spoke； slowly at first； for he was slow to move； but his wrath gathered headway like a great stone rolling down a hill； so that at the end he was full of anger。
Then Eric o' Lincoln laughed aloud。 〃Well spoken for one who fears to meet me fairly； man to man；〃 said he。 〃Saucy art thou thine own self； and if thou puttest foot upon these boards； I will make thy saucy tongue rattle within thy teeth！〃
〃Now；〃 quoth Little John； 〃is there never a man here that will lend me a good stout staff till I try the mettle of yon fellow？〃 At this； half a score reached him their staves； and he took the stoutest and heaviest of them all。 Then； looking up and down the cudgel； he said； 〃Now； I have in my hand but a splint of wooda barley straw； as it wereyet I trow it will have to serve me； so here goeth。〃 Thereupon he cast the cudgel upon the stand and； leaping lightly after it； snatched it up in his hand again。
Then each man stood in his place and measured the other with fell looks until he that directed the sport cried； 〃Play！〃 At this they stepped forth； each grasping his staff tightly in the middle。 Then those that stood around saw the stoutest game of quarterstaff that e'er Nottingham Town beheld。 At first Eric o' Lincoln thought that he would gain an easy advantage； so he came forth as if he would say； 〃Watch； good people； how that I carve you this cockerel right speedily〃； but he presently found it to be no such speedy matter。 Right deftly he struck； and with great skill of fence； but he had found his match in Little John。 Once； twice； thrice； he struck； and three times Little John turned the blows to the left hand and to the right。 Then quickly and with a dainty backhanded blow； he rapped Eric beneath his guard so shrewdly that it made his head ring again。 Then Eric stepped back to gather his wits； while a great shout went up and all were glad that Nottingham had cracked Lincoln's crown； and thus ended the first bout of the game。
Then presently the director of the sport cried； 〃Play！〃 and they came together again； but now Eric played warily； for he found his man was of right good mettle； and also he had no sweet memory of the blow that he had got； so this bout neither Little John nor the Lincoln man caught a stroke within his guard。 Then； after a while； they parted again； and this made the second bout。
Then for the third time they came together； and at first Eric strove to be wary； as he had been before； but； growing mad at finding himself so foiled； he lost his wits and began to rain blows so fiercely and so fast that they rattled like hail on penthouse roof； but； in spite of all； he did not reach within Little John's guard。 Then at last Little John saw his chance and seized it right cleverly。 Once more； with a quick blow； he rapped Eric beside the head； and ere he could regain himself； Little John slipped his right hand down to his left and； with a swinging blow； smote the other so sorely upon the crown that down he fell as though he would never move again。
Then the people shouted so loud that folk came running from all about to see what was the ado； while Little John leaped down from the stand and gave the staff back to him that had lent it to him。 And thus ended the famous bout between Little John and Eric o' Lincoln of great renown。
But now the time had come when those who were to shoot with the longbow were to take their places； so the people began flocking to the butts where the shooting was to be。 Near the target； in a good place； sat the Sheriff upon a raised dais； with many gentlefolk around him。 When the archers had taken their places； the herald came forward and proclaimed the rules of the game； and how each should shoot three shots； and to him that should shoot the best the prize of two fat steers was to belong。 A score of brave shots were gathered there； and among them some of the keenest hands at the longbow in Lincoln and Nottinghamshire； and among them Little John stood taller than all the rest。 〃Who is yon stranger clad all in scarlet？〃 said some； and others answered； 〃It is he that hath but now so soundly cracked the crown of Eric o' Lincoln。〃 Thus the people talked among themselves； until at last it reached even the Sheriff's ears。
And now each man stepped forward and shot in turn； but though each shot well； Little John was the best of all； for three times he struck the clout； and once only the length of a barleycorn from the center。 〃Hey for the tall archer！〃 shouted the crowd； and some among them shouted； 〃Hey for Reynold Greenleaf！〃 for this was the name that Little John had called himself that day。
Then the Sheriff stepped down from the raised seat and came to where the archers stood； while all doffed their caps that saw him coming。 He looked keenly at Little John but did not know him； though he said； after a while； 〃How now； good fellow； methinks there is that about thy face that I have seen erewhile。〃
〃Mayhap it may be so；〃 quoth Little John； 〃for often have I seen Your Worship。〃 And； as he spoke； he looked steadily into the Sheriff's eyes so that the latter did not suspect who he was。
〃A brave blade art thou； good friend；〃 said the Sheriff； 〃and I hear that thou hast well upheld the skill of Nottinghamshire against that of Lincoln this day。 What may be thy name； good fellow？〃
〃Men do call me Reynold Greenleaf； Your Worship；〃 said Little John； and the old ballad that tells of this； adds； 〃So； in truth； was he a green leaf； but of what manner of tree the Sheriff wotted not。〃
〃Now； Reynold Greenleaf；〃 quoth the Sheriff； 〃thou art the fairest hand at the longbow that mine eyes ever beheld； next to that false knave； Robin Hood； from whose wiles Heaven forfend me！ Wilt thou join my service； good fellow？ Thou shalt be paid right well； for three suits of clothes shalt thou have a year； with good food and as much ale as thou canst drink； and； besides this； I will pay thee forty marks each Michaelmastide。〃
〃Then here stand I a free man； and right gladly will I enter thy household；〃 said Little John； for he thought he might find some merry jest； should he enter the Sheriff's service。
〃Fairly hast thou won the fat steers；〃 said the Sheriff； 〃and 〃hereu