University of Virginia Library

SCEANE. IIII.

Winde hornes. Enter King, Queene, Iohn, Fitzwater, Ely, Chester, Salsbury, Lester, little Iohn, Frier Tuck, Scarlet, Scathlocke, and Much, Frier Tuck carrying a Stags head, dauncing.
King.
Gramercy Frier for thy glee,
Thou greatly hast contented mee,
What with thy sporting and thy game,
I sweare I highly pleased am.

Fri.
It was my masters whole desire
That maiden, yeoman, swaine and frier
Their arts and wits should all apply,
For pleasure of your Maiestie.

Qu.
Sonne Richard, looke I pray you on the ring,
That was about the necke of the last stagge.

Chest.
Was his name Scarlet, that shot off his necke?

Iohn.
Chester, it was this honest fellow Scarlet:
This is the fellowe, and a yeoman bold,
As euer courst the swift Hart on the molde.

King.
Frier, heres somewhat grau'd vpon the Ring,
I pray thee reade it. Meane while list to mee;
This while, most compassing the Frier about the Ring.
Scarlet and Scathlock, you bold bretheren,
Twelue pence a day I giue each for his fee,
And henceforth see yee liue like honest men.

Both.
We will my Liege, else let vs dye the death.

Much.
A boone, a boone, vpon my knee,
Good king Richard, I begge of thee.

For indeede sir, the troth is, Much is my father, and hee
is one of your tenants in Kings Mill at Wakefield all on
a greene: O there dwelleth a iolly pinder, at Wakefield
all on a greene: Now I would haue you, if you wil
doe so much for mee, to set mee forward in the way of
marriage to Iinny: the mill would not be cast away vpon
vs.

King.
Much, be thou euer master of that mill,
I giue it thee for thine inheritance.

Much.
Thanks pretious Prince of curtesie.
Ile to Inny, and tell her of my lands yfaith.

Exit
Ioh.
Here Frier, here, here it begins,

Fri.
read.
When Harold hare-foote raigned king,
About my necke he put this ring.

King.
In Harolds time, more than a hundred yeare,
Hath this ring bene about this newe slaine Deere!
I am sory now it dyde: but let the same
Head, ring and all be sent to Notingham,
And in the Castle kept for monuments.

Fitz.
My Liege, I heard an olde tale long agoe,
That Harold being Goodwins sonne of Kent,
When he had got faire Englands gouernment,
Hunted for pleasure once within this wood,
And singled out a faire and stately Stagge,
Which foote to foote, the king in running caught:
And sure this was the Stagge.

King.
It was no doubt.

Chest.
But some my Lord affirme,
That Iulius Cæsar many yeares before,
Tooke such a Stag, and such a Poesie writ.

King.
It should not be in Iulius Cæsars time:
There was no English vsed in this Land,
Untill the Saxons came, and this is writ
In Saxon characters.

Ioh.
Well, 'twas a goodly beast.

Enter Robin Hoode.
King.
How now earle Robert?

Fri,
A forfet, a forfet, my liege Lord.
My masters lawes are on record,
The Court-roll here your Grace may see.

King.
I pray thee Frier, read them mee.

Fri.
One shall suffice, and this is hee.
No man that commeth in this wod,
To feast, or dwell with Robin Hood,
Shall call him Earle, Lord, Knight, or Squire,
He no such titles doth desire,
But Robin Hood, plaine Robin Hoode,
That honest yeoman stout and good,
On paine of forfetting a marke,
That must be paid to mee his Clarke,
My liege, my liege, this lawe you broke,
Almost in the last word you spoke.
That crime may not acquited bee,
Till Frier Tuck receiue his fee.

(Casts him purse.
King.
Theres more than twenty marks, mad Frier.

Fri.
If thus you pay ye Clarke his hire,
Oft may you forfet, I desire.
You are a perfect penitent,
And well you doe your wrong repent:
For this your Highnesse liberall gift,
I here absolue you without shrift.

King.
Gramercies Frier. Now Robin Hood,
Sith Robin Hood it needes must bee,
I was about to aske before,
If thou didst see the great Stags fall.

Rob.
I did my Lord, I sawe it all.
But missing this same prating Frier,
And hearing you so much desire
To haue the lozels companie,
I went to seeke Small honestie.

Fri.
But you found much, when you found mee.

Rob.
I, Much my man: but not a iot
Of honestie in thee, God wot.

Qu.
Robin, you doe abuse the Frier.

Fri.
Madam, I dare not call him lyer,
He may be bold with mee, he knowes.
How now Prince Iohn, how goes, how goes
This wod-mans life with you to day?
My fellow Wodnet you would bee.

Ioh.
I am thy fellowe, thou dost see:
And to be plaine, as God me saue,
So well I like thee, merry knaue,
That I thy company must haue:
Nay, and I will.

Fri.
Nay, and you shall.

Rob.
My Lord, you neede not feare at all,
But you shall haue his company,
He will be bold I warrant you.

King.
Know you where ere a spring is nie?
Faine would I drink, I am right dry.

Rob.
I haue a drinke within my bower,
Of pleasing taste, and soueraigne power:
My reuerend vncle giues it mee,
To giue vnto your Maiestie.

King.
I would be loath indeede, being in heate,
To drinke cold water. Let vs to thy bower.

Ro.
Runne Frier before, & bid my vnkle be in readines.

Fr.
Gon wt a trice, on such good businesse.

Exeūt omnes.