Robin Hood and the Great Archery Contest

To Catch a Fox

He fled his home in deepest night
To hide from wretched villains sight.
Who sought his life with greatest zeal
To bring his rebel ways to heel.

They scoured the country far and wide.
To seek the den where prey did hide.
Yet efforts yielded smallest boon
And fails to bring their prey to doom.

He turns to bandit ways in woods
And dressed himself in greenest hood.
And soon to self he gathers men
Who seek to bring the tyrants end.

To peasant kind the thief was good
Who shouted "bless the Robin Hood!"
He stole from rich to meet their needs
With slyest plots and daring deeds.

So robber's legend spreads the fief
That tells of cunning trickster thief.
Whose subtle ways can foil a prince
Then steal away to forest dense.

And sheriffs anger grew with time
He sought to end the bandits crimes
"In cruelest guile my hate I'll wrap
For even foxes fall for traps.

I'll take the Marian maid he craves
Her lively form will lead to grave.
I'll offer kiss from maiden fair
To bait my wretched evil snare.

I'll draw the rat from hole he hides
By using archers fickle pride.
I'll host a meet of great acclaim
To draw all bowmen seeking fame.

With golden arrow as greatest prize
To cover up my awful lies."
Then sent he servants forth from keep
To tell the world of vaunted meet.