"Originally the law was held that no man should be admitted to the privilege of clergy, but such as had the habitum et tonsuram clericalem. But in process of time a much wider and more comprehensive criterion was established; every one that could read (a mark of great learning in those days of ignorance and her sister superstition) being accounted a clerk or clericus, and allowed the benefit of clerkship, though neither initiated in holy orders, nor trimmed with the clerical tonsure."—Blackstone's "Com.," iv. b. iv, ch. 28. We have already seen that the king and nobles in this play called in the aid of Friar Tuck to read the inscription on the stag's collar, though the king could ascertain that it was in Saxon characters.
[287] This account of the death of Robin Hood varies from all the popular narratives and ballads. The MS. Sloan, 715, nu. 7, f. 157, agrees with the ballad in Ritson, ii. 183, that he was treacherously bled to death by the Prioress of Kirksley.
[288] The first act has already occupied too much space, but it was difficult to divide it: in fact, as Friar Tuck says, it is a "short play," complete in itself. What follows is an induction to the rest of the story, the Friar continuing on the stage after the others have gone out.
[289] The 4to. reads thus—
"Apollo's master doone I invocate,"
but probably we ought to read—
"Apollo's masterdom I invocate,"
and the text has been altered accordingly. Masterdom means power, rule; to invocate Apollo's masterdom is therefore to invocate Apollo's power to assist the Friar in his undertaking.
[290] Enter in black is the whole of the stage direction, and those who enter are afterwards designated by the letters Cho. Perhaps the principal performers arrive attired in black, and are mentioned as Chorus, one speaking for the rest. Cho. may, however, be a misprint for Chester, who was sent in to "attire him."
[291] [In the new edit. of Nares the present passage is cited for ill-part, which is queried to mean ill-conditioned. Perhaps it is equivalent to malapert.]