ACT III., SCENE I.
Enter PRINCE JOHN, and his Lords, with Soldiers.
JOHN. Now is this comet shot into the sea,
Or lies like slime upon the sullen earth.
Come, he is dead, else should we hear of him.
SAL. I know not what to think herein, my lord.
FITZ. Ely is not the man I took him for:
I am afraid we shall have worse than he.
JOHN. Why, good Fitzwater, whence doth spring your fear.
FITZ. Him for his pride we justly have suppress'd;
But prouder climbers are about to rise.
SAL. Name them, Fitzwater: know you any such?
JOHN. Fitzwater means not anything, I know;
For if he did, his tongue would tell his heart.
FITZ. An argument of my free heart, my lord.
That lets the world be witness of my thought.
When I was taught, true dealing kept the school;
Deeds were sworn partners with protesting words;
We said and did; these say and never mean.
This upstart protestation of no proof—
This, "I beseech you, sir, accept my love;
Command me, use me; O, you are to blame,
That do neglect, my everlasting zeal,
My dear, my kind affect;" when (God can tell)
A sudden puff of wind, a lightning flash,
A bubble on the stream doth longer 'dure,
Than doth the purpose of their promise bide.
A shame upon this peevish, apish age,
These crouching, hypocrite, dissembling times!
Well, well, God rid the patrons of these crimes
Out of this land: I have an inward fear,
This ill, well-seeming sin will be bought dear.
SAL. My Lord Fitzwater is inspired, I think.
JOHN. Ay, with some devil: let the old fool dote.
Enter QUEEN MOTHER, CHESTER, SHERIFF of Kent, Soldiers.
QU. MO. From the pursuing of the hateful priest
And bootless search of Ely are we come.
JOHN. And welcome is your sacred majesty;
And, Chester, welcome too against your will.
CHES. Unwilling men come not without constraint;
But uncompell'd comes Chester to this place,
Telling thee, John, that thou art much to blame,
To chase hence Ely, chancellor to the king;
To set thy footsteps on the cloth of state,
And seat thy body in thy brother's throne.
SAL. Who should succeed the brother but the brother?
CHES. If one were dead, one should succeed the other.
QU. MO. My son is king, my son then ought to reign.
FITZ. One son is king; the state allows not twain.
SAL. The subjects many years the king have miss'd.
CHES. But subjects must not choose what king they list.
QU. MO. Richard hath conquer'd kingdoms in the east.
FITZ. A sign he will not lose this in the west.
SAL. By Salisbury's honour, I will follow John.
CHES. So Chester will, to shun commotion.
QU. MO. Why, John shall be but Richard's deputy.
FITZ. To that Fitzwater gladly doth agree.
And look to't, lady, mind King Richard's love;
As you will answer't, do the king no wrong.
QU. MO. Well-said, old Conscience, you keep still one song.
JOHN. In your contentious humours, noble lords,
Peers and upholders of the English state,
John silent stood, as one that did await
What sentence ye determin'd for my life:
But since you are agreed that I shall bear
The weighty burthen of this kingdom's state,
Till the return of Richard our dread king,
I do accept the charge, and thank ye all,
That think me worthy of so great a place.
ALL. We all confirm you Richard's deputy.
SAL. Now shall I plague proud Chester.
QU. MO. Sit you sure, Fitzwater.
CHES. For peace I yield to wrong.
JOHN. Now, old man, for your daughter.
FITZ. To see wrong rule, my eyes run streams of water.
[A noise within.
Enter COLLIERS, crying, A monster!
COL. A monster! a monster! bring her out, Robin: a monster! a monster!
SAL. Peace, gaping fellow! know'st thou where thou art?
1ST COL. Why, I am in Kent, within a mile of Dover.
'Sblood, where I am! peace, and a gaping fellow!
For all your dagger, wert not for your ging,[193]
I would knock my whipstock on your addle-head.
Come, out with the monster, Robin.
WITHIN. I come, I come. Help me, she scratches!
1ST COL. I'll gee her the lash. Come out, ye bearded witch.
[Bring forth ELY, with a yard in his hand and linen cloth, dressed like a woman.
ELY. Good fellows, let me go! there's gold to drink,
I am a man, though in woman's weeds.
Yonder's Prince John: I pray ye, let me go.
QU. MO. What rude companions have we yonder, Salisbury?
1ST COL. Shall we take his money?
2D COL. No, no; this is the thief that robbed Master Michaels, and came in like a woman in labour, I warrant ye.
SAL. Who have ye here, honest colliers?
2D COL. A monster, a monster! a woman with a beard, a man in a petticoat. A monster, a monster!
SAL. What, my good Lord of Ely, is it you?—Ely is taken, here's the chancellor!
1ST COL. Pray God we be not hanged for this trick.
QU. MO. What, my good lord!
ELY. Ay, ay, ambitious lady.
JOHN. Who? My lord chancellor?
ELY. Ay, you proud usurper.
SAL. What, is your surplice turned to a smock?
ELY. Peace, Salisbury, thou changing weather-cock.
CHES. Alas, my lord! I grieve to see this sight.
ELY. Chester, it will be day for this dark night.
FITZ. Ely, thou wert the foe to Huntington:
Robin, thou knew'st, was my adopted son.
O Ely, thou to him wert too-too cruel!
With him fled hence Matilda, my fair jewel.
For their wrong, Ely, and thy haughty pride,
I help'd Earl John; but now I see thee low,
At thy distress my heart is full of woe.
QU. MO. Needs must I see Fitzwater's overthrow.
John, I affect him not, he loves not thee:
Remove him, John, lest thou removed be.
JOHN. Mother, let me alone; by one and one
I will not leave one that envies our good.
My Lord of Salisbury, give these honest colliers
For taking Ely each a hundred marks.
SAL. Come, fellows; go with me.
COL. Thank ye, [i'] faith. Farewell, monster.
[Exeunt SALISBURY, with COLLIERS.
JOHN. Sheriff of Kent, take Ely to your charge.
From shrieve to shrieve send him to Nottingham,
Where Warman, by our patent, is high shrieve.
There, as a traitor, let him be close-kept.
And to his trial we will follow straight.
ELY. A traitor, John?
JOHN. Do not expostulate:
You at your trial shall have time to prate.
[Exeunt cum ELY.
FITZ. God, for thy pity, what a time is here!
JOHN. Right gracious mother, would yourself and Chester
Would but withdraw you for a little space,
While I confer with my good Lord Fitzwater?
QUEEN. My Lord of Chester, will you walk aside?
CHES. Whither your highness please, thither I will.
[Exeunt CHESTER and QUEEN.
JOHN. Soldiers, attend the person of our mother.
[Exeunt SOLDIERS.
Noble Fitzwater, now we are alone,
What oft I have desir'd I will entreat,
Touching Matilda, fled with Huntington.
FITZ. Of her what would you touch? Touching her flight,
She is fled hence with Robert, her true knight.
JOHN. Robert is outlaw'd, and Matilda free;
Why through his fault should she exiled be?
She is your comfort, your old[194] age's bliss;
Why should your age so great a comfort miss?
She is all England's beauty, all her pride;
In foreign lands why should that beauty bide?
Call her again, Fitzwater, call again
Guiltless Matilda, beauty's sovereign.
FITZ. I grant, Prince John, Matilda was my joy,
And the fair sun that kept old Winter's frost
From griping dead the marrow of my bones;
And she is gone; yet where she is, God wot:
Aged Fitzwater truly guesseth not.
But where she is, there is kind Huntington;
With my fair daughter is my noble son.
If he may never be recall'd again,
To call Matilda back it is in vain.
JOHN. Living with him, she lives in vicious state,
For Huntington is excommunicate;
And till his debts be paid, by Rome's decree
It is agreed absolv'd he cannot be;
And that can never be: so ne'er a[195] wife,
But a loathed[196] adulterous beggar's life,
Must fair Matilda live. This you may amend,
And win Prince John your ever-during friend.
FITZ. As how? as how?
JOHN. Call her from him: bring her to England's court,
Where, like fair Phoebe, she may sit as queen
Over the sacred, honourable maids
That do attend the royal queen, my mother.
There shall she live a prince's Cynthia,
And John will be her true Endymion.
FITZ. By this construction she should be the moon,
And you would be the man within the moon!
JOHN. A pleasant exposition, good Fitzwater:
But if it so fell out that I fell in,
You of my full joys should be chief partaker.
FITZ. John, I defy thee! by my honour's hope,
I will not bear this base indignity!
Take to thy tools! think'st thou a nobleman
Will be a pander to his proper[197] child?
For what intend'st thou else, seeing I know
Earl Chepstow's daughter is thy married wife.
Come, if thou be a right Plantaganet,
Draw and defend thee. O our Lady, help
True English lords from such a tyrant lord!
What, dost thou think I jest? Nay, by the rood,
I'll lose my life, or purge thy lustful blood.
JOHN. What, my old ruffian, lie at your ward?[198]
Have at your froward bosom, old Fitzwater.
[Fight: JOHN falls.
Enter QUEEN, CHESTER, SALISBURY, hastily.
FITZ. O, that thou wert not royal Richard's brother,
Thou shouldst here die in presence of thy mother.
[JOHN rises: all compass FITZWATER; FITZWATER chafes.
What, is he up? Nay, lords, then give us leave.
CHES. What means this rage, Fitzwater?
QUEEN. Lay hands upon the Bedlam, trait'rous wretch!
JOHN. Nay, hale him hence! and hear you, old Fitzwater:
See that you stay not five days in the realm.
For if you do, you die remediless.
FITZ. Speak, lords: do you confirm what he hath said?
ALL. He is our prince, and he must be obey'd.
FITZ. Hearken, Earl John! but one word will I say.
JOHN. I will not hear thee; neither will I stay. Thou know'st thy time. [Exit JOHN.
FITZ. Will not your highness hear?
QUEEN. No: thy Matilda robb'd me of my dear. [Exit QUEEN.
FITZ. I aided thee in battle, Salisbury.
SAL. Prince John is mov'd; I dare not stay with thee.
[Exit SALISBURY.[199]
FITZ. 'Gainst thee and Ely, Chester, was I foe,
And dost thou stay to aggravate my woe?
CHES. No, good Fitzwater; Chester doth lament
Thy wrong, thy sudden banishment.
Whence grew the quarrel 'twixt the prince and thee?
FITZ. Chester, the devil tempted old Fitzwater
To be a pander to his only daughter;
And my great heart, impatient, forc'd my hand,
In my true honour's right to challenge him.
Alas the while! wrong will not be reprov'd.
CHES. Farewell, Fitzwater: wheresoe'er thou be, By letters, I beseech thee, send to me. [Exit CHESTER.
FITZ. Chester, I will, I will.
Heavens turn to good this woe, this wrong, this ill.
[Exit.
SCENE II.
Enter SCATHLOCK and SCARLET, winding their horns, at several doors. To them enter ROBIN HOOD, MATILDA, all in green, SCATHLOCK'S MOTHER, MUCH, LITTLE JOHN: all the men with bows and arrows.
ROB. H. Widow, I wish thee homeward now to wend,
Lest Warman's malice work thee any wrong.
WID. Master, I will; and mickle good attend
On thee, thy love, and all these yeomen strong.
MAT. Forget not, widow, what you promis'd me.
MUCH. O, ay, mistress; for God's sake let's have Jenny.
WID. You shall have Jenny sent you with all speed.
Sons, farewell, and, by your mother's reed,
Love well your master: blessing ever fall
On him, your mistress, and these yeomen tall.
[Exit.
MUCH. God be with you, mother: have much mind, I pray, on Much your son, and your daughter Jenny.
ROB. H. Wind once more, jolly huntsmen, all your horns;
Whose shrill sound, with the echoing wood's assist,
Shall ring a sad knell for the fearful deer,
Before our feathered shafts, death's winged darts,
Bring sudden summons for their fatal ends.
SCAR. It's full seven years since we were outlaw'd first,
And wealthy Sherwood was our heritage:
For all those years we reigned uncontroll'd,
From Barnsdale shrogs to Nottingham's red cliffs;
At Blithe and Tickhill were we welcome guests.
Good George-a-Greene at Bradford was our friend,
And wanton Wakefield's Pinner[200] lov'd us well.
At Barnsley dwells a potter tough and strong,
That never brook'd we brethren should have wrong.
The nuns of Farnsfield (pretty nuns they be)
Gave napkins, shirts, and bands to him and me.
Bateman of Kendal gave us Kendal green,
And Sharpe of Leeds sharp arrows for us made:
At Rotheram dwelt our bowyer, God him bless;
Jackson he hight, his bows did never miss.
This for our good—our scathe let Scathlock tell,
In merry Mansfield how it once befell.
SCATH. In merry Mansfield, on a wrestling day,
Prizes there were, and yeomen came to play;
My brother Scarlet and myself were twain.
Many resisted, but it was in vain,
For of them all we won the mastery,
And the gilt wreaths were given to him and me.
There by Sir Doncaster of Hothersfield
We were bewray'd, beset, and forc'd to yield,
And so borne bound from thence to Nottingham,
Where we lay doom'd to death till Warman came.
ROB. H. Of that enough. What cheer, my dearest love?
MUCH. O, good cheer anon, sir; she shall have venison her bellyful.
MAT. Matilda is as joyful of thy good
As joy can make her: how fares Robin Hood?
ROB. H. Well, my Matilda, and if thou agree,
Nothing but mirth shall wait on thee and me.
MAT. O God, how full of perfect mirth were I
To see thy grief turn'd to true jollity!
ROB. H. Give me thy hand; now God's curse on me light,
If I forsake not grief, in griefs despite.
Much, make a cry, and, yeomen, stand ye round:
I charge ye never more let woful sound
Be heard among ye; but whatever fall,
Laugh grief to scorn, and so make sorrow small,
Much, make a cry, and loudly: Little John.
MUCH. O God, O God! help, help, help! I am undone, I am undone!
LIT. JOHN. Why, how now, Much? Peace, peace, you roaring slave.
MUCH. My master bad me cry, and I will cry till he bid me leave.
Help, help, help! Ay, marry will I.
ROB. H. Peace, Much. Read on the articles, good John.
LIT. JOHN. First, no man must presume to call our master
By name of Earl, Lord, Baron, Knight, or Squire;
But simply by the name of Robin Hood.
ROB. H. Say, yeomen, to this order will ye yield?
ALL. We yield to serve our master, Robin Hood.
LIT. JOHN. Next, 'tis agreed, if thereto she agree,
That fair Matilda henceforth change her name,
And while it is the chance of Robin Hood
To live in Sherwood a poor outlaw's life,
She by Maid Marian's name be only call'd.
MAT. I am contented; read on, Little John:
Henceforth let me be nam'd Maid Marian.
LIT. JOHN. Thirdly, no yeoman, following Robin Hood
In Sherwood, shall [ab]use widow, wife, or maid;
But by true labour lustful thoughts expel.
ROB. H. How like ye this?
ALL. Master, we like it well.
MUCH. But I cry no to it. What shall I do with Jenny then?
SCAR. Peace, Much: go forward with the orders, fellow John.
LIT. JOHN. Fourthly, no passenger with whom ye meet
Shall ye let pass, till he with Robin feast;
Except a post, a carrier, or such folk
As use with food to serve the market towns.
ALL. An order which we gladly will observe.
LIT. JOHN. Fifthly, you never shall the poor man wrong,
Nor spare a priest, a usurer, or a clerk.
MUCH. Nor a fair wench, meet we her in the dark!
LIT. JOHN. Lastly, you shall defend with all your power
Maids, widows, orphans, and distressed men.
ALL. All these we vow to keep as we are men.
ROB. H. Then wend ye to the greenwood merrily,
And let the light roes bootless from ye run.
Marian and I, as sovereigns of your toils,
Will wait within our bower your bent bows' spoils.
MUCH. I will among them, master.
[Exeunt winding their horns.
ROB. H. Marian, thou seest, though courtly pleasures want,
Yet country sport in Sherwood is not scant:
For the soul-ravishing, delicious sound
Of instrumental music we have found
The winged quiristers with divers notes
Sent from their quaint recording[201] pretty throats,
On every branch that compasseth our bow'r,
Without command contenting us each hour.
For arras hangings and rich tapestry
We have sweet nature's best embroidery.
For thy steel glass, wherein thou wont'st to look,
Thy crystal eyes gaze in a crystal brook.
At court a flower or two did deck thy head,
Now with whole garlands is it circled.
For what in wealth we want, we have in flowers,
And what we lose in halls, we find in bowers.
MAR. Marian hath all, sweet Robert, having thee,
And guesses thee as rich in having me.
ROB. H. I am indeed;
For, having thee, what comfort can I need?
MAR. Go in, go in.
To part such true love, Robin, it were sin.
[Exeunt.
Enter PRIOR, SIR DONCASTER, FRIAR TUCK.
PRIOR. To take his body, by the blessed rood,
'Twould do me more than any other good.
DON. O, 'tis an unthrift, still the churchmen's foe;
An ill-end will betide him, that I know.
'Twas he that urged the king to 'sess the clergy,
When to the holy land he took his journey;
And he it is that rescued those two thieves,
Scarlet and Scathlock, that so many griefs
To churchmen did: and now, they say,
He keeps in Sherwood, and himself doth play
The lawless reaver:[202] hear you, my Lord Prior,
He must be taken, or it will be wrong.
TUCK. Ay, ay, soon said;
But ere he be, many will lie dead,
Except it be by sleight.
DON. Ay, there, there, Friar.
TUCK. Give me, my lord, your execution.
The widow Scarlet's daughter, lovely Jenny,
Loves, and is belov'd of Much, the miller's son.
If I can get the girl to go with me,
Disguis'd in habit like a pedlar's mort,[203]
I'll serve this execution, on my life,
And single out a time alone to take
Robin, that often careless walks alone.
Why, answer not; remember what I said:
Yonder, I see, comes Jenny, that fair maid.
If we agree, then back me soon with aid.
Enter JENNY with a fardel.
PRIOR. Tuck, if thou do it—
DON. Pray, you do not talk:
As we were strangers let us careless walk.
JEN. Now to the green wood wend I, God me speed.
TUCK. Amen, fair maid, and send thee, in thy need,
Much, that is born to do thee much good deed.
JEN. Are you there, Friar? nay then, i'faith, we have it.
TUCK. What, wench? my love?
JEN. Ay, gi't me when I crave it.
TUCK. Unask'd I offer; prythee, sweet girl, take it.
JEN. Gifts stink with proffer: foh! Friar, I forsake it.
TUCK. I will be kind.
JEN. Will not your kindness kill her?
TUCK. With love?
JEN. You cog.
TUCK. Tut, girl, I am no miller:
Hear in your ear.
DON. The Friar courts her. [Standing behind.
PRIOR. Tush, let them alone;
He is our Lady's Chaplain, but serves Joan.
DON. Then, from the Friar's fault, perchance, it may be
The proverb grew, Joan's taken for my lady.
PRIOR. Peace, good Sir Doncaster, list to the end.
JEN. But mean ye faith and troth? shall I go wi' ye?
TUCK. Upon my faith, I do intend good faith.
JEN. And shall I have the pins and laces too,
If I bear a pedlar's pack with you?
TUCK. As I am holy Friar, Jenny, thou shalt.
JEN. Well, there's my hand; see, Friar, you do not halt.
TUCK. Go but before into the miry mead,
And keep the path that doth to Farnsfield lead;
I'll into Southwell and buy all the knacks,
That shall fit both of us for pedlar's packs.
JEN. Who be they two that yonder walk, I pray?
TUCK. Jenny, I know not: be they what they may,
Scare not for them; prythee, do not stay,
But make some speed, that we were gone away.
JEN. Well, Friar, I trust you that we go to Sherwood.
TUCK. Ay, by my beads, and unto Robin Hood.
JEN. Make speed, good Friar.
TUCK. Jenny, do not fear. [Exit JENNY.
Lord Prior, now you hear,
As much as I. Get me two pedlar's packs,
Points, laces, looking-glasses, pins and knacks;
And let Sir Doncaster with some wight lads
Follow us close; and, ere these forty hours,
Upon my life Earl Robert shall be ours.
PRIOR. Thou shalt have anything, my dearest Friar;
And in amends I'll make thee my sub-prior.
Come, good Sir Doncaster, and if we thrive,
We'll frolic with the nuns of Leeds, belive.[204]
[Exeunt.
Enter FITZWATER, like an old man.
FITZ. Well did he write, and mickle did he know,
That said this world's felicity was woe,
Which greater states can hardly undergo.
Whilom Fitzwater, in fair England's court,
Possess'd felicity and happy state,
And in his hall blithe fortune kept her sport,
Which glee one hour of woe did ruinate.
Fitzwater once had castles, towns, and towers,
Fair gardens, orchards, and delightful bowers;
But now nor garden, orchard, town, nor tower,
Hath poor Fitzwater left within his power.
Only wide walks are left me in the world,
Which these stiff limbs will hardly let me tread;
And when I sleep, heaven's glorious canopy
Me and my mossy couch doth overspread.
Of this injurious John cannot bereave me;
The air and earth he (while I live) must leave me;
But from the English air and earth, poor man,
His tyranny hath ruthless thee exiled.
Yet e'er I leave it, I'll do what I can
To see Matilda, my fair luckless child.
[Curtains open:—ROBIN HOOD sleeps on a green bank,
and MARIAN strewing flowers on him.
And in good time, see where my comfort stands,
And by her lies dejected Huntington.
Look how my flow'r holds flowers in her hands,
And flings those sweets upon my sleeping son.
I'll close mine eyes as if I wanted sight,
That I may see the end of their delight.
[Goes knocking with his staff.
MAR. What aged man art thou? or by what chance
Cam'st thou thus far into the wayless wood?
FITZ. Widow or wife, or maiden if thou be,
Lend me thy hand; thou seest I cannot see:
Blessing betide thee, little feel'st thou want;
With me, good child, food is both hard and scant.
These smooth even veins assure me he is kind,
Whate'er he be, my girl, that thee doth find.
I, poor and old, am reft of all earth's good,
And desperately am crept into this wood
To seek the poor man's patron, Robin Hood.
MAR. And thou art welcome: welcome, aged man,
Ay, ten times welcome to Maid Marian.
Sit down, old father, sit, and call me daughter.
O God, how like he looks to old Fitzwater!
[Runs in.
FITZ. Is my Matilda call'd Maid Marian?
I wonder why her name is changed thus.
[MARIAN brings wine, meat.
MAR. Here's wine to cheer thy heart; drink, aged man:
There's ven'son and a knife, here's manchet[205] fine:
Drink, good old man, I pray you, drink more wine.
My Robin stirs; I must sing him asleep.
ROB. H. Nay, you have wak'd me, Marian, with your talk.
What man is that's come within our walk?
MAR. An aged man, a silly, sightless man,
Near pin'd with hunger: see, how fast he eats.
ROB. H. Much good may't do him: never is good meat
Ill-spent on such a stomach. Father, proface;[206]
To Robin Hood thou art a welcome man.
FITZ. I thank you, master. Are you Robin Hood?
ROB. H. Father, I am.
FITZ. God give your soul much good
For this good meat Maid Marian hath given me.
But hear me, master; can you tell me news,
Where fair Matilda is, Fitzwater's daughter?
ROB. H. Why, here she is; this Marian is she.
FITZ. Why did she change her name?
ROB. H. What's that to thee?
FITZ. Yes, I could weep for grief that it is so,
But that my tears are all dried up with woe.
ROB. H. Why, she is called Maid Marian, honest friend,
Because she lives a spotless maiden life;
And shall, till Robin's outlaw life have end,
That he may lawfully take her to wife;
Which, if King Richard come, will not be long,
For in his hand is power to right our wrong.
FITZ. If it be thus, I joy in her name's change:
So pure love in these times is very strange.
MAR. Robin, I think it is my aged father. [Aside.
ROB. H. Tell me, old man, tell me in courtesy,
Are you no other than you seem to be?
FITZ. I am a wretched aged man, you see,
If you will do me aught for charity:
Further than this, sweet, do not question me.
ROB. H. You shall have your desire. But what be these?
Enter FRIAR TUCK and JENNY_, like pedlars, singing.
What lack ye? what lack ye?
What is it you will buy?
Any points, pins or laces,
Any laces, points or pins?
Fine gloves, fine glasses,
Any busks or masks?
Or any other pretty things?
Come, cheap for love, or buy for money.
Any coney, coney-skins?
For laces, points or pins?
Fair maids, come choose or buy.
I have pretty poking-sticks,[207]
And many other tricks,
Come, choose for love, or buy for money_.
ROB. H. Pedlar, I prythee set thy pack down here:
Marian shall buy, if thou be not too dear.
TUCK. Jenny, unto thy mistress show thy pack.
Master, for you I have a pretty knack,
From far I brought, please you see to the same.
[Exeunt ROBIN HOOD, MARIAN, and FITZWATER.
Enter SIR DONCASTER and others, weaponed.[208]
FRIAR. Sir Doncaster, are not we pedlar-like?
DON. Yes, passing fit; and yonder is the bower.
I doubt not we shall have him in our power.
FRIAR. You and your company were best stand close.
DON. What shall the watchword be to bring us forth?
FRIAR. Take it, I pray, though it be much more worth:
When I speak that aloud, be sure I serve
The execution presently on him.
DON. Friar, look to't.
FRIAR. Now, Jenny, to your song. [Sings.
Enter MARIAN, ROBIN.
MAR. Pedlar, what pretty toys have you to sell?
FRIAR. Jenny, unto your mistress show your ware.
MAR. Come in, good woman. [Exeunt.
FRIAR. Master, look here,
And God give ear,
So mote I the[209],
To her and me,
If ever we,
Robin, to thee,
That art so free.
Mean treachery.
ROB. H. On, pedlar, to thy pack;
If thou love me, my love thou shalt not lack.
FRIAR. Master, in brief,
There is a thief,
That seeks your grief.
God send relief
To you in need.
For a foul deed,
If not with speed
You take good heed,
There is decreed.
In yonder brake
There lies a snake,
That means to take
Out of this wood
The yeoman good,
Call'd Robin Hood.
ROB. H. Pedlar, I prythee be more plain.
What brake? what snake? what trap? what train?
FRIAR. Robin, I am a holy friar,
Sent by the Prior,
Who did me hire,
For to conspire
Thy endless woe
And overthrow:
But thou shalt know,
I am the man
Whom Little John
From Nottingham
Desir'd to be
A clerk to thee;
For he to me
Said thou wert free,
And I did see
Thy honesty,
From gallow-tree
When thou didst free
Scathlock and Scarlet certainly[210].
ROB. H. Why, then, it seems that thou art Friar Tuck.
FRIAR. Master, I am.
ROB. H. I pray thee, Friar, say,
What treachery is meant to me this day?
FRIAR. First wind your horn; then draw your sword.
[ROBIN HOOD winds his horn.
For I have given a friar's word,
To take your body prisoner,
And yield you to Sir Doncaster,
The envious priest of Hothersfield,
Whose power your bushy wood doth shield;
But I will die ere you shall yield.
Enter LITTLE JOHN, &c.
And sith your yeomen do appear,
I'll give the watchword without fear.
Take it, I pray thee, though it be more worth.
Rush in SIR DONCASTER with his crew.
DON. Smite down! lay hold on outlaw'd Huntington!
LIT. JOHN. Soft, hot-spurr'd priest, 'tis not so quickly done.
DON. Now, out alas! the friar and the maid
Have to false thieves Sir Doncaster betray'd.
[Exeunt omnes.[211]