"
Then he unstrung his bow, and slipped it into its case.
Now, at length, the silence was broken, and in good earnest. Men,
especially those of Dunwich, screamed and shouted, hurling up their
caps. Jack Green, for all jealousy was forgotten at the sight of this
wondrous skill, ran to Dick, clasped him in his arms, and, dragging the
badge from off his breast, tried to pin it to his rough doublet. The
young Prince came and clapped him on the shoulder, saying:
"Be my man! Be my man!"
But Dick only growled, "Paws off! What have I done that I have not done
a score of times before with no fine folk to watch me? I shot to please
my master and for the honour of Suffolk, not for you, and because some
dogs keep their tails too tightly curled."
"A sulky fellow," said the Prince, "but, by heaven, I like him!"
Then the King pushed his horse through the throng, and all fell back
before his Grace.
"Richard Archer," he said, "never has such marksmanship as yours
been seen in England since we sat upon the throne, nor shall it go
unrewarded. The twenty angels that you said you would stake last night
shall be paid to you by the treasurer of our household. Moreover, here
is a gift from Edward of England, the friend of archers, that you may be
pleased to wear," and taking his velvet cap from off his head, the King
unpinned from it a golden arrow of which the barbed head was cut from a
ruby, and gave it to him.
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