This school-year at our English outside reading lessons we had read many
interesting stories about Robin Hood. The most interesting story is a
story about Golden Arrow. In the 11th century England was conquered by
the Normans who had come from the North of France. They began to take
away lands and homes from the Saxons, the native population of the
British Islands. The Saxons suffered very much from the Normans and
hated their new masters. Many of them had to run away into the forests
and to become outlaws. There are many legends and songs about one of
these outlaws – Robin Hood. Robin Hood with his 300 men, so the legends
say, lived in the Sherwood Forest, not far from the town of Nottingham.
He often attacked the rich Normans, but he was a friend of the poor and
helped them as much, as he could. The Sheriff of Nottingham wanted to
catch Robin Hood. He journeyed to London to ask Prince John for help.
Prince John said him that it was his task and he had to deal with it
quickly. The Sheriff did not argue and went back to Nottingham, angrier
than ever. He was worried by what Prince John had said. As he was not a
brave man, his thoughts soon turned to trickery. He decided to have a
shooting match and hoped that Robin Hood and his men would appear there
to try their luck. He decided to make a beautiful gold arrow as the
prize for the best archer. He was right: when the news of the golden
arrow travelled to Sherwood, Robin decided to enter the competition. But
his friend David said him that it was only a trick of the Sheriff. Then
Little John, Robin’s great friend said that he had a plan. He suggested
to dress in different colours, because Sheriff expected to see them in
green. Thus, dressed in many colours Robin Hood and his men went to
Nottingham. The sheriff was actually looking for people in green. He
thought Robin Hood was a coward and did not come. The archery started
and Robin Hood was better than all the rest, and won the golden arrow.
Some days later the Sheriff was seated at his dinner table and boasting
that Robin was afraid to show his face in Nottingham. Suddenly through
the window flew in an arrow. It hit the big fat goose. It had a message.
The Sheriff read the message and understood that once again Robin Hood
had outwitted him.
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