WithOctoberhadcomethetimeforholdingthegreatFairwhichwascelebratedeveryfiveyearsatNottinghamTown，towhichfolkcamefromfarandnearthroughoutthecountry。
Atsuchtimesarcherywasalwaysthemainsportoftheday，fortheNottinghamshireyeomenwerethebesthandatthelongbowinallmerryEngland，butthisyeartheSheriffhesitatedalongtimebeforeheissuedproclamationoftheFair，fearinglestRobinHoodandhisbandmightcometoit。
AtfirsthehadagreatpartofamindnottoproclaimtheFair，butsecondthoughttoldhimthatmenwouldlaughathimandsayamongthemselvesthathewasafraidofRobinHood，soheputthatthoughtby。Atlasthefixedinhismindthathewouldoffersuchaprizeastheywouldnotcaretoshootfor。
Atsuchtimesithadbeenthecustomtoofferahalfscoreofmarksoratunofale，sothisyearheproclaimedthataprizeoftwofatsteersshouldbegiventothebestbowman。
WhenRobinHoodheardwhathadbeenproclaimedhewasvexed，andsaid，\"NowbeshrewthisSheriffthatheshouldoffersuchaprizethatnonebutshepherdhindswillcaretoshootforit！