Across 18 short chapters, there's cracking dialogue and a lot of action – sword and shield, wrestling, boxing, quarterstaff.

Chairs at precisely half-past ten o'clock and I must request you, my lords, ladies and gentlemen, to warn your chairmen that quarterstaff play with the poles will be visited with your acutest displeasure.

The outlaws—for such they seemed—were roughly clad in gray homespun and Lincoln green, and armed with bows and quarterstaves.

In his right hand he carried a quarterstaff, which he used as a walking-stick.

And yet none quicker than he at ball or quintain, none braver at quarterstaff.