Queen Eleanor’s page, Richard Partington, comes to Sherwood Forest to tell Robin Hood that the queen wants Robin to take part in an archery match in Finsbury Fields, London. Robin gratefully accepts and decides to take with him Little John, Will Scarlet, and Allan a Dale. The queen receives the four men in her royal bower (sitting room). The men have a rich meal; they tell the Queen tales of their exploits; and Allan sings a song.

At the match, the queen makes a bet with the king that the four Merry Men (whose identity he does not know) can outshoot his own royal archers; if they do so, he must grant them a “free pardon” for 40 days. The Merry Men win the match and along with it prizes of a silver bugle, golden arrows, money, and deer. Robin keeps the bugle but gives the other prizes away to the other contestants. When the King learns of the Merry Men’s identity, he becomes angry, and the Bishop of Hereford persuades him to send his guard after them.