Scene I                             (see note); (see note)

		    [Enter Frier Tucke.

	Frier
		      Holla, holla, holla: follow, follow,                 (see note)
5		      followe.    [Like noyse within.
		      Now benedicité, what fowle absur-
		      ditie, follie and foolerie had like to fol-          (see note)
		      lowed mee! I and my mates, are addle 
		      pates, inviting great states, to see         worthy dignitaries
10		      our last play, are hunting the hay, 
		with ho, that way, the goodly heart ranne, with followe          deer
		Little John, Much play the man; and I, like a sot, have 
		wholly forgot the course of our plot; but crosse-bowe 
		lye downe, come on friers gowne, hoode cover my
15		crowne, and with a lowe becke, prevent a sharpe                   bow
		checke.                                                       reproof
		   Blithe sit yee all, and winke at our rude cry,          (see note)
		   Minde where wee left, in Sheerewod merrily,             (see note)
		   The king, his traine, Robin, his yeomen tall
20		   Gone to the wodde to see the fat deare fall.
		   Wee left Maid Marian busie in the bower,
		   And prettie Jinny looking, every hower,                       hour
		   For their returning from the hunting game,
		   And therefore seeke to set each thing in frame. 1
25		   Warman all wofull for his sinne we left.
		   Sir Doncaster, whose villanies and theft
		   You never heard of, but too soone yee shall,
		   Hurt with the Prior; shame them both befall, 2          (see note)
		   They two will make our mirth be short and small.
30		   But least I bring yee sorrowe ere the time,                   lest
		   Pardon I beg of your well judging eyne,                       eyes
		   And take in part bad prologue, and rude play:
		   The hunters holloo, Tucke must needes away.
		Therefore downe weede, howe doe the deede, to make
35		the Stagge bleede, and if my hand speede, hey for a cry,
		with a throate strained hie, and a lowde yall, at the beasts    high
		fall.      [Exit, Holloo within.

		    [Enter King, Ely, Fitzwater, Salsbury, Chester, 
		    Prince John, Little John, Scathlocke.

40	King       Where is our mother?

	Pr. John   Mounted in a stand.                                     (see note)
		   Sir, fallowe deere have dyed by her hand.

	Fitzwater  Three stags I slewe.                                    (see note)

	Ely        Two bucks by me fell downe.

45	Chester    As many dyed by mee.

	Salsbury   But I had three.

	Prince     Scathlocke, wheres Much?

	Scathlocke When last I saw him, may it please your Grace, 
		   He and the Frier footed it apace.        were walking; (see note)

50	Prince     Scathlocke, no Grace, your fellowe and plaine John.

	Lit. John  I warrant you, Much will be here anone.

	Prince     Thinkst thou Little John, that he must Jinny wed?

	Lit. John  No doubt he must.

	Prince     Then to adorne his head, we shall have hornes           (see note)
55		   good store.

	King       God, for thy grace,
		   How could I misse the stagge I had in chase!
		   Twice did I hit him in the very necke,
		   When backe my arrowes flewe, as they had smit
60		   On some sure armour. Where is Robin Hood
		   And the wighte Scarlet? Seeke them Little John. [Exit John.	clever
		   Ile have that stagge before I dine today.

		    [Enter Much.

	Much       O the Frier, the Frier, the Frier.

65	King       Why, how now Much?

	Much       Cry ye mercy, master King. Marry this is the matter;    (see note)
		   Scarlet is following the stagge you hit, and has al-
		   most lodg'd him: now the Frier has the best bowe but   except for
		   yours, in all the field, which and Scarlet had, he would       if
70		   have him straight.

	King       Where is thy master?

	Much       Nay, I cannot tell, nor the Frier neither.

	Scathlocke I heare them holloo, farre off in the wod.

	King       Come Much, canst lead us where as Scarlet is?

75	Much       Never feare you; follow me.      [Exeunt, hollooing.


                                   Scene II

		    [Enter Sir Doncaster, Prior.

	Doncaster  You were resolved to have him poysoned,
		   Or kild, or made away, you car'd not how.
80		   What divell makes you doubtfull to doo't?                   devil

	Prior      Why, Doncaster, his kindnesse in our needes.

	Doncaster  A plague upon his kindnesse, let him die.               (see note)
		   I never temperd poyson in my life, but I imployd it.        mixed
		   By th'masse and I loose this,                           if I lose
85		   For ever looke to loose my company.

	Prior      But will you give it him?

	Doncaster  That cannot bee.
		   The Queene, Earle Chester, and Earle Salsbury,
		   If they once see mee, I am a deade man.
90		   Or did they heare my name, Ile lay my life,
		   They all would hunt me, for my life.

	Prior      What hast thou done to them?

	Doncaster  Faith, some odde toyes,                                     tricks
		   That made me fly the south. But passe wee them.
95		   Here is the poyson. Will you give it Robin?             (see note)

	Prior      Now by this gold I will.                                (see note)

	Doncaster  Or as I said, for ever I defie your company.

	Prior      Well, he shall die, and in his jollity;
		   And in my head I have a policy
100		   To make him die disgrac't.                              (see note)

	Doncaster  O tell it Prior.

	Prior      I will, but not as now.      [Call the Frier within.
		   Weele seeke a place; the wods have many eares,
		   And some methinkes are calling for the Frier.
                                                     [Exeunt.              (see note)


105                                   Scene III

		    [Enter, calling the Frier, as afore.

	John       The Frier, the Frier?

	Scathlocke Why, where's this Frier?      [Enter Frier.             (see note)

	Frier      Here, sir. What is your desire?

110		    [Enter Robin Hoode.

	Robin      Why, Frier, what a murren dost thou meane?  pestilence; (see note)
		   The King cals for thee. For, a mightie stagge,          (see note)
		   That hath a copper ring about his necke,                (see note)
		   With letters on it, which hee would have read,
115		   Hath Scarlet kild, I pray thee goe thy way.

	Frier      Master, I will; no longer will I stay.      [Exit.

	Robin      Good unkle, be more carefull of your health,
		   And you, Sir Doncaster, your wounds are greene.

	Both       Through your great kindnes, we are comforted.

120	Robin      And, Warman, I advise you to more mirth.
		   Shun solitary walkes, keepe company,
		   Forget your fault: I have forgiven the fault.
		   Good Warman be more blithe, and at this time,
		   A little helpe my Marian and her maide.
125		   Much shall come to you straight. A little now,
		   We must al strive to doe the best we may.      [Exit winding.

	Warman     On you and her Ile waite, untill my dying day.

		    [Exeunt, and as they are going out, Doncaster puls 
		    Warman.

130	Doncaster  Warman, a word. My good Lord Prior and I
		   Are full of griefe, to see thy misery.

	Warman     My misery, Sir Doncaster? Why, I thanke God,
		   I never was in better state than now.

	Prior      Why, what a servile slavish minde hast thou?
135		   Art thou a man, and canst be such a beast,
		   Asse-like to beare the burthen of thy wrong?

	Warman     What wrong have I? Ist wrong to be reliev'd?

	Doncaster  Reliev'd saist thou?
		   Why, shallow witted foole,
140		   Dost thou not see Robins ambitious pride?
		   And how he clymes by pittying, and aspires,
		   By humble lookes, good deedes, and such fond toyes,        tricks
		   To be a monarch, raigning over us,
		   As if wee were the vassals to his will?

145	Warman     I am his vassall, and I will be still.

	Prior      Warman, thou art a foole. I doe confesse,
		   Were these good deedes done in sinceritie,
		   Pittie of mine, thine or this knights distresse,       (see note)
		   Without vaine brags, it were true charitie;
150		   But to relieve our fainting bodies wants,
		   And grieve our soules with quippes, and bitter braids,
		   Is good turnes overturnd. No thanks wee owe
		   To any, whatsoever helps us so.

	Warman     Neither himselfe, nor any that hee keepes,
155		   Ever upbraided mee, since I came last.

	Doncaster  O God have mercie on thee, silly asse.
		   Doth he not say to every gueste that comes:            (see note)
		   "This same is Warman, that was once my steward?"

	Warman     And what of that?

160	Prior      Ist not as much to say:
		   "Why, here he stands that once did mee betray?"

	Doncaster  Did hee not bring a troope to grace himselfe,
		   Like captives waiting on a conquerours chaire,
		   And calling of them out, by one and one,
165		   Presented them, like fairings, to the king? 3          (see note)

	Prior      O, I; there was a rare invention.                      Oh, indeed
		   A plague upon the foole.
		   I hate him worse for that than all the rest.

	Warman     Why should you hate him? Why should you or you
170		   Envie this noble Lord, thus as you doe?                (see note)

	Doncaster  Nay rather, why dost thou not joyne in hate
		   With us, that lately liv'dst like us, in wealthy state?
		   Remember this, remember foolish man,
		   How thou hast bene the Shrieve of Notingham.

175	Prior      Cry to thy thoughts, let this thought never cease,
		   I have bene Justice of my Soveraignes Peace,
		   Lord of faire livings; men with cap and knee,
		   In liveries waited howerly on mee.                         hourly

	Doncaster  And when thou thinkst, thou hast bene such and such,
180		   Thinke then what tis to be a mate to Much,
		   To runne when Robin bids, come at his call,
		   Be mistresse Marians man.

	Prior      Nay thinke withall.

	Warman     What shall I thinke? but thinke upon my need,
185		   When men fed dogs, and me they would not feede,
		   When I despaird through want, and sought to die,
		   My pitious master, of his charitie,
		   Forgave my fault, reliev'd and saved mee.
		   This doe I thinke upon, and you should thinke,
190		   If you had hope of soules salvation,
		   First, Prior, that he is of thy flesh and bloode,
		   That thou art unkle unto Robin Hoode,
		   That by extortion thou didst his lands.                 possessed
		   God and I know how it came to thy hands,
195		   How thou pursu'dst him in his misery,
		   And how heaven plagu'd thy hearts extreamitie.
		   Thinke, Doncaster, when, hired by this Prior,
		   Thou cam'st to take my master with the Frier,
		   And wert thyselfe tane, how he set thee free,               taken
200		   Gave thee an hundred pound to comfort thee,
		   And both bethinke yee how but yesterday,
		   Wounded and naked in the fielde you lay,
		   How with his owne hand he did raise your heads,
		   Powrd balme into your wounds, your bodies fed,             Poured
205		   Watcht when yee slept, wept when he sawe your woe.

	Doncaster  Stay Warman, stay. I grant that he did so,
		   And you, turnd honest, have forsworne the villainé?      villainy

	Warman     Even from my soule, I villany defie.

	Prior      A blessed hower, a fit time now to die!

210	Doncaster  And you shall, Conscience.       
                                            [Stab him, he fals.            (see note)

	Warman     O forgive mee, God,
		   And save my master from their bloodie hands.

	Prior      What, hast thou made him sure?

	Doncaster  Its deade sure: he is dead, if that be sure.

215	Prior      Then let us thrust the dagger in his hand,
		   And when the next comes, cry he kild himselfe.

	Doncaster  That must be now. Yonder comes Robin Hood.
		   No life in him.

	Prior      No, no, not any life.      [Enter Robin.                (see note)
220		   Three mortall wounds have let in piercing ayre,
		   And at their gaps, his life is cleane let out.

	Robin      Who is it, uncle, that you so bemone?

	Prior      Warman, good nephew, whom Sir Doncaster and I
		   Found freshly bleeding, as he now doth lye.
225		   You were scarce gone, when he did stab himselfe.

	Robin      O God, he in his own hand houlds his own harts hurt;
		   I dreaded too much his distressed looke.
		   Belike the wretch despaird and slewe himselfe.

	Doncaster  Nay, thats most sure, yet he had little reason,
230		   Considering how well you used him.

	Robin      Well, I am sorie; but must not be sad,
		   Because the King is comming to my bower.
		   Helpe mee, I pray thee, to remoove his bodie,
		   Least he should come and see him murdered.             (see note)
235		   Sometime anone he shall be buried.	
                         [Exeunt Robin, Doncaster, with body.             (see note)

	Prior      Good, all is good. This is as I desire.
		   Now for a face of pure hypocrisie.
		   Sweete murder, cloath thee in religious weedes,
		   Raigne in my bosome, that with helpe of thee,
240		   I may effect this Robins Tragedie.

		    [Enter Robin, Doncaster.

	Doncaster  Nay, nay, you must not take this thing so heavily.

	Robin      A bodies losse, Sir Doncaster, is much;
		   But a soules, too, is more to be bemon'd.

245	Prior      Truly I wonder at your vertuous minde.
		   O God, to one so kinde, who'ud be unkinde!
		   Let goe this griefe, now must you put on joy,
		   And for the many favours I have found,
		   So much exceeding all conceipt of mine,
250		   Unto your cheere, Ile adde a pretious drinke,            precious
		   Of colour rich, and red, sent mee from Rome.           (see note)
		   There's in it Moly, Syrian Balsamum,                   (see note)
		   Golds rich Elixir--O tis pretious!                     (see note)

	Robin      Where it is uncle?

255	Prior      As yesterday,
		   Sir Doncaster and I rid on our way,
		   Theeves did beset us, bound us as you saw;
		   And, among other things, did take from mee
		   This rich confection. But regardlesly,             without regard
260		   As common drinke, they cast, into a bush,
		   The bottle, which this day Sir Doncaster
		   Fetcht, and hath left it in the inner lodging.
		   I tell you, cosin (I doe love you well),               (see note)
		   A pint of this ransomde the Sophies sonne,   ransomed; (see note)
265		   When he was taken in Natolia.                          (see note)
		   I meant indeede to give it my liege lord,
		   In hope to have his favour; but to you                 (see note)
		   I put myselfe, be my good friend,
		   And, in your owne restoring, mee restore.

270	Robin      Unkle, I will. You neede urge that no more.
		   But whats the vertues of this pretious drinke?

	Prior      It keepes fresh youth, restores diseased sight,
		   Helps natures weakenesse, smothes the scars of wounds,
		   And cooles the intrals with a balmie breath,
275		   When they by thirst or travell boyle with heate.

	Robin      Unkle, I thanke you, pray you let me have
		   A cuppe prepared, gainst the King comes in,                before
		   To coole his heate. Myselfe will give it him.

	Prior      And when he drinkes, be bold to say he drinkes
280		   A richer draught than that dissolved pearle            (see note)
		   Which Cleopatra dranke to Antonie.

	Robin      I have much businesse; let it be your charge
		   To make this rich draught readie for the King,
		   And I will quit it, pray yee doe not faile.	      [Exit.

285	Prior      I warrant you, good nephew.

	Doncaster  Better, and better still.
		   We thought before but to have poysond him,
		   And now shall Robin Hoode destroy the King.
		   Even when the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Lords
290		   Joy in his vertues, this supposed vice
		   Will turne to sharpe hate their exceeding love.

	Prior      Ha, ha, ha, I cannot chuse but laugh,
		   To see my cosin cosend in this sort.
		   Faile him quoth you? Nay hang mee if I doe.
295		   But, Doncaster, art sure the poysons are well mixt?

	Doncaster  Tut, tut, let me alone for poysoning.          you can rely on me
		   I have alreadie turnd ore foure or five                  murdered
		   That angerd mee. But tell mee Prior,
		   Wherefore so deadly dost thou hate thy cosin?

300	Prior      Shall I be plaine? Because if he were deade,
		   I should be made the Earle of Huntington.

	Doncaster  A prettie cause. But thou a church-man art.

	Prior      Tut, man, if that would fall,
		   Ile have a dispensation, and turne temporall.             secular
305		   But tell mee, Doncaster, why dost thou hate him?

	Doncaster  By the Masse, I cannot tel. O yes, now I ha't.         (see note)
		   I hate thy cousin, Earle of Huntington,
		   Because so many love him as there doe,                 (see note)
		   And I myselfe am loved of so fewe.
310		   Nay, I have other reasons for my hate;                 (see note)
		   Hee is a foole, and will be reconcilde
		   To anie foe hee hath; he is too milde,
		   Too honest for this world, fitter for heaven.
		   Hee will not kill these greedie cormorants, 4          (see note)
315		   Nor strippe base pesants of the wealth they have;
		   He does abuse a thieves name and an outlawes,
		   And is indeede no outlawe, nor no theefe--             (see note)
		   He is unworthy of such reverent names.
		   Besides, he keepes a paltry whinling girle,               whining
320		   And will not bed, forsooth, before he bride.
		   Ile stand too't, he abuses maidenhead,
		   That will not take it, being offered,
		   Hinders the common wealth of able men.
		   Another thing I hate him for againe:
325		   He saies his prayers, fasts eves, gives alms, does good.
		   For these and such like crimes, sweares Doncaster
		   To worke the speedie death of Robin Hoode.

	Prior      Well said, yfaith. Harke, hark, the King returns.
		   To doe this deede, my heart like fuel burns.      [Exeunt.


330                                   Scene IIII

		    [Windehornes. Enter King, Queene, John, Fitzwater,
		    Ely, Chester, Salsbury, Lester, Little John, Frier Tuck, Scar-
		    let, Scathlocke, and Much. Frier Tuck carrying a stags
		    head, dauncing.

335	King       Gramercy, Frier, for thy glee,                              song
		   Thou greatly hast contented mee,
		   What with thy sporting and thy game,
		   I sweare I highly pleased am.

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

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

345	Chester     Was his name Scarlet, that shot off his necke?

	John       Chester, it was this honest fellow Scarlet.
		   This is the fellowe, and a yeoman bold,
		   As ever courst the swift hart on the molde.        pursued; earth

	King       Frier, heres somewhat grav'd upon the ring,
350		   I pray thee reade it. Meanewhile list to mee.

		    [This while, most compassing the Frier about the ring.

		   Scarlet and Scathlock, you bold bretheren,
		   Twelve pence a day I give each for his fee,
		   And henceforth see yee live like honest men.

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

	Much       A boone, a boone, upon my knee,                        (see note)
		   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
360		   a greene. O there dwelleth a jolly pinder, at Wake-    (see note)
		   field all on a greene. Now I would have you, if you wil
		   doe so much for mee, to set mee forward in the way of
		   marriage to Jinny: the mill would not be cast away upon
		   us.

365	King       Much, be thou ever master of that mill;
		   I give it thee for thin inheritance.

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

	John       Here, Frier, here, here it begins.

370	Frier [reads]:  "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 his newe slaine deere!
		   I am sory now it dyde; but let the same
375		   Head, ring and all be sent to Notingham,
		   And in the castle kept for monuments.

	Fitzwater  My Leige, I heard an olde tale long agoe,
		   That Harold being Goodwins sonne of Kent,              (see note)
		   When he had got faire Englands government,
380		   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.

385	Chester     But some, my Lord, affirme
		   That Julius Caesar, many yeares before,
		   Tooke such a stag, and such a poesie writ.

	King       It should not be in Julius Caesars time:                (see note)
		   There was no English bred in this land,
390		   Untill the Saxons came, and this is writ
		   In Saxon characters.

	John       Well, 'twas a goodly beast.

		    [Enter Robin Hoode.

	King       How now Earle Robert?

395	Frier      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.

	Frier      One shall suffice, and this is hee.
400		   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,
405		   That honest yeoman stout and good,
		   On paine of forfetting a marke,
		   That must be paid to me his clarke.                    accountant
		   My liege, my liege, this lawe you broke,
		   Almost in the last word you spoke.
410		   That crime may not acquited bee,
		   Till Frier Tuck receive his fee.      [Casts him purse.

	King       Theres more than twenty marks, mad Frier.

	Frier      If thus you pay the clarke his hire,                         wage
		   Oft may you forfet, I desire.
415		   You are a perfect penitent,
		   And well you doe your wrong repent.
		   For this your Highnesse liberall gift,
		   I here absolve you without shrift.                     confession

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

	Robin      I did my Lord, I sawe it all.
		   But missing this same prating Frier,
425		   And hearing you so much desire
		   To have the lozels companie,                               fool's
		   I went to seeke small honestie.

	Frier      But you found much, when you found mee.

	Robin      I, Much my man, but a jot                                    only
430		   Of honestie in thee, God wot.                               knows

	Queene     Robin, you doe abuse the Frier.

	Frier      Madam, I dare not call him lyer;
		   He may be bold with mee, he knowes.
		   How now, Prince John, how goes, how goes
435		   This wod-mans life with you today?
		   My fellow Wodnet you would bee.

	John       I am thy fellowe, thou dost see.
		   And to be plaine, as God me save,
		   So well I like thee, merry knave,
440		   That I thy company must have.
		   Nay, and I will.

	Frier      Nay, and you shall.

	Robin      My Lord, you neede not feare at all,
		   But you shall have his company,
445		   He will be bold I warrant yee.                         (see note)

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

	Robin      I have a drinke within my bower,
		   Of pleasing taste and soveraigne power.
450		   My reverend uncle gives it mee
		   To give unto your Majestie.

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

	Robin      Runne Frier before, and bid my unkle be in readines.

455	Frier      Gon with a trice, on such good business.	
                                               [Exeunt omnes.              (see note)


                                       Scene V

		    [Enter Marian, with a white apron.

	Marian     What, Much? What, Jinny? Much? I say. 
                                             [Enter Much.                  (see note)

	Much       Whats the matter, mistresse?

460	Marian     I pray thee see the fueller
		   Suffer the cooke to want no wodde.
		   Good Lord, where is this idle girle?
		   Why, Jinny?

	Jinny [within]   I come, forsooth.

465	Marian     I pray thee bring the flowers forth.

	Much       Ile goe send her mistres, and help the cookes, if
		   they have any neede.      [Exit Much.

	Marian     Dispatch, good Much. What, Jin, I say?                       Hurry

		    [Enter Jinny.

470	Much       Hie thee, hie thee: she cals for life.                      Hasten

	Marian     Indeede, indeede, you doe me wrong,
		   To let me cry and call so long.

	Jinny      Forsooth, I strawed the dining bowers                   (see note)
		   And smoth'd the walkes with hearbes and flowers,
475		   The yeomens tables I have I have spied,
		   Drest salts, laid trenchers, set on bread--
		   Nay all is well, I warrant you.

	Marian     You are not well, I promise you,
		   Your forsleeves are not pind (fie, fie)
480		   And all your hed-geere stands awry.
		   Give me the flowers. Goe in for shame,
		   And quickly see you mend the same.	      [Exit Jinny.

		    [Marian strewing flowers. Enter Sir Doncaster, Prior.

	Doncaster  How busie mistresse Marian is?
485		   She thinkes this is her day of blisse.

	Prior      But it shall be the wofull'st day
		   That ever chancst her, if I may.

	Marian     Why are you two thus in the ayre?
		   Your wounds are greene,
490		   Good cuz, have care.

	Prior      Thanks for your kindnesse, gentle maid.
		   My cosin Robert us hath praid
		   To helpe him in this businesse.

		    [Enter Frier.

495	Frier      Sir Doncaster, Sir Doncaster?

	Doncaster  Holla.

	Frier      I pray you, did you see the Prior?

	Prior      Why, here I am. What wouldst thou, Frier?

	Frier      The King is heated in the chace,                           chase
500		   And posteth hitherward apace.
		   He told my master he was dry,
		   And hee desires ye presently
		   To send the drinke whereof ye spake.      [Hornes blowe.

	Prior      Come, it is here; haste let us make.

505		    [Exeunt Prior, Doncaster, and Frier.                  (see note)

		    [Enter King, John, Queene, Scarlet, Scathlocke, Ely, Fitz-
		    water, Salsbury, Chester. Marian kneeles downe.

	Marian     Most gratious Soveraigne, welcome once again.
		   Welcome to you and all your princely traine.

510	King       Thanks, lovely hostesse; we are homely guests.
		   Wheres Robin Hood? He promised me some drinke.

	Marian     Your handmaid. Robin will not then be long.
		   The Frier indeede came running to his unkle,
		   Who with Sir Doncaster were here with mee,
515		   And altogether went for such a drinke.

	King       Well, in a better time it could not come,
		   For I am very hot and passing dry.                    exceedingly

		    [Enter Robin Hoode, a cuppe, a towell, leading Doncaster. 
		    Tuck, and Much pulling the Prior.]                    (see note)

520	Robin      Traitor, Ile draw thee out before the King.            expose you

	Frier      Come, murderous Prior.

	Much       Come yee, dogges face.

	King       Why, how now Robin? Wheres the drink you bring?

	Robin      Lay holde on these.
525		   Farre be it I should bring your Majestie,
		   The drinke these two prepared for your taste.

	King       Why, Robin Hoode, be briefe and answere mee.
		   I am amazed at thy troubled lookes.

	Robin      Long will not my ill lookes amaze your Grace.
530		   I shortly looke, never to looke againe.

	Marian     Never to looke? What will it still be night?
		   If thou looke never, day can never be.
		   What ailes my Robin? Wherefore dost thou faint?

	Robin      Because I cannot stand; yet now I can.
                                        [King and Marian support him.     (see note)
535		   Thanks to my King, and thanks to Marian.               (see note)

	King       Robin, be briefe, and tell us what hath chanst?

	Robin      I must be briefe, for I am sure of death,
		   Before a long tale can be halfeway tolde.

	Fitzwater  Of death, my sonne, bright sunne of all my joy?
540		   Death cannot have the power of vertuous life.

	Robin      Not of the vertues, but the life it can.

	King       What dost thou speak of death? How shouldst thou die?

	Robin      By poison and the Priors treachery.

	Queene     Why, take this soveraigne pouder at my hands,
545		   Take it and live in spite of poysons power.

	Doncaster  I, set him forward. Powders, quoth ye? Hah,                   Aye
		   I am a foole then, if a little dust,
		   The shaving of a horne, a Bezars stone,                (see note)
		   Or any antidote have power to stay
550		   The execution of my hearts resolve.
		   Tut, tut, you labour, lovely Queene, in vaine,
		   And on a thanklesse groome your toyle bestowe.         (see note)
		   Now hath your foe reveng'd you of your foe;               even if
		   Robin shall die, if all the world sayd no.

555	Marian     How the wolfe howles! Fly like a tender kid            (see note)
		   Into thy sheepeheards bosome. Shield mee love.
		   Canst thou not, Robin? Where shall I be hid?
		   O God, these ravens will seaze upon thy dove.

	Robin      They cannot hurt thee, pray thee do not feare,
560		   Base curres will couch, the Lyon being neare.          (see note)

	Queene     How workes my powder?

	Robin      Very well, faire Queene.

	King       Dost thou feele any ease?

	Robin      I shall, I trust, anone:
565		   Sleepe fals upon mine eyes.
		   O I must sleepe, and they that love me, do not waken me.

	Marian     Sleepe in my lap, and I will sing to thee.

	John       He should not sleepe.

	Robin      I must, for I must die.
570		   While I live therfore let me have some rest.

	Fitzwater  I, let him rest; the poyson urges sleepe.
		   When he awakes, there is no hope of life.

	Doncaster  Of life? Now by the little time I have to live,
		   He cannot live one hower for your lives.

575	King       Villaine, what art thou?

	Doncaster  Why, I am a knight.                                    (see note)

	Chester    Thou wert indeede.
		   If it so please your Grace,
		   I will describe my knowledge of this wretch.

580	King       Doe, Chester.

	Chester    This Doncaster, for so the fellon hight,
		   Was, by the king your father, made a knight,           (see note)
		   And well in armes he did himselfe behave.
		   Many a bitter storme, the winde of rage
585		   Blasted this realme with, in those woful daies,
		   When the unnaturall fights continued,
		   Betweene your kingly father and his sonnes.
		   This cut-throat, knighted in that time of woe,
		   Seaz'd on a beautious nunne at Barkhamsted
590		   As wee were marching toward Winchester
		   After proud Lincolne was compeld to yield;
		   Hee tooke this virgine straying in the field,
		   For all the nunnes and every covent fled
		   The daungers that attended on our troopes.
595		   For those sad times too oft did testifie,
		   Wars rage hath no regard of pietie.
		   She humbly praid him, for the love of heaven,
		   To guid her to her fathers, two miles thence.
		   He swore he would, and very well he might,
600		   For to the campe he was a forager.
		   Upon the way they came into a wood,
		   Wherein, in briefe, he stript this tender maid
		   Whose lust, when she in vaine had long withstood,
		   Being by strength and torments overlaid,
605		   He did a sacrilegious deede of rape
		   And left her bath'd in her owne teares and blood.
		   When she reviv'd, she to her fathers got,
		   And got her father to make just complaint
		   Unto your mother, being then in campe.

610	Queene     Is this the villaine Chester, that defilde
		   Sir Eustace Stutuiles chast and beautious childe?

	Doncaster  I, Madam, this is hee,
		   That made a wench daunce naked in a wood;
		   And for shee did denie what I desirde,
615		   I scourg'd her for her pride till her faire skinne
		   With stripes was checkred like a vintners grate.       (see note)
		   And what was this? A mighty matter sure.
		   I have a thousand more than she defilde,
		   And cut the squeaking throats of some of them:
620		   I grieve I did not hirs.

	Queene     Punish him, Richard.
		   A fairer virgine never sawe the sunne.
		   A chaster maid was never sworne a nunne.

	King       How scap't the villaine punishment, that time?

625	Fitzwater  I rent his spurres off, and disgraded him.              (see note)

	Chester     And then he raild upon the Queene and mee.
		   Being committed, he his keeper slue,                         slew
		   And to your father fled, who pardond him.

	Richard    God give his soule a pardon for that sinne.

630	Salsbury     O had I heard his name, or seene his face,
		   I had defended Robin from this chance.
		   Ah villaine, shut those gloomy lights of thine,
		   Remembrest thou a little sonne of mine,
		   Whose nurse at Wilton first thou ravishedst
635		   And slew'st two maids that did attend on them?

	Doncaster  I grant, I dasht the braines out of a brat,
		   Thine if he were, I care not; had he bin
		   The first borne comfort of a royall king,
		   And should have yald when Doncaster cried peace,
640		   I would have done by him as then I did.

	King       Soone shall the world be rid of such a wretch.
		   Let him be hangd alive, in the high way that joyneth to
		   the bower.                                             (see note)

	Doncaster  Alive or deade, I reck not how I die.
645		   You, them, and these, I desperately defie.

	Ely        Repent, or never looke to be absolv'd,
		   But die accurst as thou deservest well.

	Doncaster  Then give me my desert; curse one by one.

	Ely        First I accurse thee, and, if thou persist,
650		   Unto damnation leave thee wretched man.

	Doncaster  What doe I care for your damnation?
		   Am I not doom'd to death? What more damnation
		   Can there insue your loud and yelling cryes?

	Prior      Yes divell. Heare thy fellowe spirit speake,                 devil
655		   Who would repent. O faine he would repent.
		   After this bodies bitter punishment,
		   There is an ever-during endlesse woe,
		   A quenchlesse fire, and unconsuming paine,
		   Which desperate soules and bodies must indure.

660	Doncaster  Can you preach this, yet set me on, Sir Prior,
		   To runne into this endlesse, quenchlesse fier?

	Prior      High heavens, shewe mercie to my many ils.
		   Never had this bene done, but like a fiend,
		   Thou temptedst me with ceaselesse divelish thoughts.
665		   Therefore I curse, with bitternesse of soule,
		   The hower wherein I saw thy balefull eyes.                   hour
		   My eyes I curse, for looking on those eyes.
		   My eares I curse, for harkning to thy tongue.
		   I curse thy tongue for tempting of myne eares,
670		   Each part I curse, that wee call thine or mine:
		   Thine for enticing mine, mine following thine.

	Doncaster  A holy prayer. What collect have we next?                offering

		    [This time Robin stirres.

	Fitzwater  My Marian wanteth words, such is her woe;
675		   But old Fitzwater for his girle and him
		   Begs nothing, but worlds plague for such a foe,
		   Which causelesse harmd a vertuous noble man,
		   A pitier of his griefes, when he felt griefe.
		   Therefore bethinke thee of thy hatefull deede,
680		   Thou faithlesse Prior, and thou this ruthlesse theefe.

	Prior      Will no man curse me, giving so much cause?
		   Then, Doncaster, ourselves ourselves accurse,
		   And let no good betide to thee or mee.

		    [All the yeomen, Frier, Much, Jinny cry.

685	All        Amen, amen: accursed may ye bee,
		   For murdring Robin, flower of curtesie.

		    [Robin sits up.

	Robin      O ring not such a peale for Robins death;
		   Let sweete forgivenesse be my passing bell.            (see note)
690		   Art thou there, Marian? Then fly forth my breath.
		   To die within thy armes contents me well.

	Prior      Keepe in, keepe in a little while thy soule,
		   Till I have powr'd my soule forth at thy feete.            poured

	Robin      I slept not, unkle; I your griefe did hear.
695		   Let Him forgive your soule that bought it deare.
		   Your bodies deede, I in my death forgive,
		   And humbly begge the King that you may live.
		   Stand to your cleargie, unkle, save your life, 5
		   And lead a better life than you have done.

700	Prior      O gentle nephew, ah my brothers sonne,
		   Thou dying glory of old Huntington,
		   Wishest thou life to such a murdrous foe?
		   I will not live, sith thou must life forgoe.
		   O happie Warman, blessed in thy end,
705		   Now too too late thy truth I doe commend.
		   O nephew, nephew, Doncaster and I
		   Murdred poore Warman, for he did denie
		   To joyne with us in this blacke tragedy.

	Robin      Alas, poore Warman. Frier, Little John,
710		   I told ye both where Warmans bodie lay.
		   And of his buriall Ile dispose anone.

	King       Is there no lawe, Lord Ely, to convict
		   This Prior, that confesseth murders thus?

	Ely        He is a hallowed man and must be tried                  (see note)
715		   And punisht by the censure of the Church.

	Prior      The Church therin doth erre: God doth allowe
		   No canon to preserve a murderers life.
		   Richard, King Richard, in thy grandsires daies,
		   A law was made, the Cleargie sworne thereto,
720		   That whatsoever Church-man did commit
		   Treason, or murder, or false felonie,
		   Should like a seculer be punished.
		   Treason we did, for sure we did intend
		   King Richards poisoning, soveraigne of this land.
725		   Murder we did in working Warmans end,
		   And my deare nephewes, by this fatall hand,
		   And theft we did, for we have robd the King,
		   The state, the nobles, commons, and his men,
		   Of a true peere, firme piller, liberall lord.
730		   Fitzwater we have robd of a kinde sonne,
		   And Marians love-joyes we have quite undoone.

	Doncaster  Whoppe, what a coyle is here with your confession?

	Prior      I aske but judgement for my foule transgression.

	King       Thy own mouth hath condemned thee.
735		   Hence with him.
		   Hang this man dead, then see him buried;
		   But let the other hang alive in chaines.               (see note)

	Doncaster  I thank you, sir.

		    [Exeunt yeomen, Frier, prisoners, Much.

740	John       Myselfe will goe, my Lord,
		   And see sharpe justice done upon these slaves.

	Robin      O goe not hence, Prince John. A word or two
		   Before I die I faine would say to you.

	King       Robin, wee see what we are sad to see,
745		   Death like a champion treading downe thy life.
		   Yet in thy end somwhat to comfort thee,
		   Wee freely give to thy betrothed wife,
		   Beautious and chast Matilda, all those lands,
		   Falne by thy folly, to the Priors hands,
750		   And by his fault now forfetted to mee.
		   Earle Huntington, she shall thy Countesse bee,
		   And thy wight yeomen, they shall wend with mee,             stout
		   Against the faithlesse enemies of Christ.              (see note)

	Robin      Bring forth a beere, and cover it with greene,               bier

755		    [A beere is brought in.

		   That on my death-bed I may here sit downe.

		    [Beere brought, he sits.

		   At Robins buriall let no blacke be seene,
		   Let no hand give for him a mourning gowne:
760		   For in his death, his King hath given him life,
		   By this large gift, given to his maiden wife.
		   Chaist Maid Marilda, Countess of account,              (see note)
		   Chase, with thy bright eyes, all these clouds of woe
		   From these faire cheekes, I pray thee sweete do so.
765		   Thinke it is bootelesse folly to complaine,
		   For that which never can be had againe.
		   Queene Elianor, you once were Matilds foe;
		   Prince John, you long sought her unlawfull love;
		   Let dying Robin Hood intreat you both,
770		   To change those passions: Madame, turne your hate,
		   To princely love; Prince John, convert your love
		   To vertuous passions, chast and moderate.
		   O that your gratious right hands would infolde,
		   Matildas right hand, prisoned in my palme,
775		   And sweare to doe what Robin Hood desires.

	Queene     I sweare I will, I will a mother be,
		   To faire Matildas life and chastitie.

	John       When John solicites chaste Matildaes eares
		   With lawlesse sutes, as he hath often done,
780		   Or offers to the altars of her eyes,
		   Lascivious poems, stuft with vanities,                    stuffed
		   He craves to see but short and sower daies,                  sour
		   His death be like to Robins he desires,
		   His perjur'd body prove a poysoned prey,
785		   For cowled monkes, and barefoote begging friers.

	Robin      Inough, inough. Fitzwater, take your child.
		   My dying frost which no sunnes heat can thawe
		   Closes the powers of all my outward parts;
		   My freezing blood runnes backe unto my heart,
790		   Where it assists death, which it would resist.
		   Only my love a little hinders death.
		   For he beholds her eyes and cannot smite.
		   Then goe not yet, Matilda, stay a while.
		   Frier, make speede, and list my latest will.

795	Matilda    O let mee looke forever in thy eyes,
		   And lay my warme breath to thy bloodlesse lips,
		   If my sight can restraine deaths tyrannies,
		   Or keepe lives breath within thy bosome lockt.

	Robin      Away, away,
800		   Forbeare, my love; all this is but delay.

	Fitzwater  Come, maiden daughter, from my maiden sonne,
		   And give him leave to doe what must be done.

	Robin      First I bequeath my soule to all soules Saver,            Saviour
		   And will my bodie to be buried
805		   At Wakefield, underneath the abbey wall.
		   And in this order make my funerall:                    (see note)
		   When I am dead, stretch me upon this beere,
		   My beades and primer shall my pillowe bee;    rosary; prayer book
		   On this side lay my bowe, my good shafts here,
810		   Upon my brest the crosse, and underneath
		   My trustie sworde, thus fastned in the sheath.
		   Let Warmans bodie at my feete be laid,
		   Poore Warman, that in my defence did die;
		   For holy dirges, sing me wodmens songs
815		   As ye to Wakefield walke, with voices shrill.
		   This for myselfe. My goods and plate I give
		   Among my yeomen; them I doe bestowe
		   Upon my Soveraigne, Richard. This is all.
		   My liege farewell, my love, farewell, farewell.
820		   Farewell, faire Queene, Prince John and noble lords.
		   Father Fitzwater, heartily adieu,
		   Adieu, my yeomen tall.
		   Matilda, close mine eyes.
		   Frier farewell, farewell to all.

825	Matilda    O must my hands with envious death conspire,
		   To shut the morning gates of my lives light?

	Fitzwater  It is a duetie, and thy loves desire,                        duty
		   Ile helpe thee girle to close up Robins sight.

	King       Laments are bootelesse, teares cannot restore
830		   Lost life. Matilda, therefore weepe no more.
		   And since our mirth is turned into mone,                     moan
		   Our merry sport, to tragick funerall,
		   Wee will prepare our power for Austria,
		   After Earle Roberts timelesse buriall.                   untimely
835		   Fall to your wod-songs therefore, yeoman bold,         (see note)
		   And deck his herse with flowers, that lov'd you deare,
		   Dispose his goods as hee hath them dispos'd.
		   Fitzwater and Matilda, bide you here.
		   See you the bodie unto Wakefield borne,
840		   A little wee will beare yee company,
		   But all of us at London point to meete.
		   Thither, Fitzwater, bring Earle Robins men:
		   And Frier, see you come along with them.

	Frier      Ah, my liege Lord, the Frier faints,
845		   And hath no words to make complaints;
		   But since he must forsake this place,
		   He will awaite, and thanks, your Grace.

		   Song:  Weepe, weepe, ye wod-men waile,
		      Your hands with sorrow wring:
850		      Your master Robin Hood lies deade,
		      Therefore sigh as you sing.
		   Here lies his primer and his beades,                  prayer book
		   His bent bowe and his arrowes keene,
		   His good sworde and his holy crosse,
855		   Now cast on flowers fresh and greene:
		      And as they fall, shed teares and say,
		      Wella, wella day, wella, wella day;
		      Thus cast yee flowers and sing,
		      And on to Wakefield take your way.
                                  [Exeunt all except Frier.               (see note)

	Frier      Here dothe the Frier leave with grievance.
		   Robin is deade, that grac't his entrance;
		   And being dead he craves his audience,
		   With this short play, they would have patience.

		    [Enter Chester.

865	Chester     Nay, Fryer, at request of thy kinde friend,
		   Let not thy Play so soone be at an end.
		   Though Robin Hoode be deade, his yeomen gone,
		   And that thou thinkst there now remaines not one,
		   To act an other Sceane or two for thee;
870		   Yet knowe full well, to please this company,
		   We meane to end Matildaes Tragedie.                    (see note)

	Frier      Off then, I with you, with your Kendall greene:        (see note)
		   Let not sad griefe in fresh aray be seene.
		   Matildaes storie is repleat with teares,
875		   Wrongs, desolations, ruins, deadly feares.
		   In, and attire yee. Though I tired be,
		   Yet will I tell my mistresse Tragedie.

	Bruse      Of Windsor Castle here the keyes I yield.               (see note)

3035	King John  Thanks, Bruse. Forgive mee, and I pray thee see
		   Thy mother and thy brother buried.                      (see note)

		    [Bruse offers to kisse [the dead] Matilda.

		   In Windsor Castle Church, doe kisse her cheeke.
		   Weepe thou on that, on this side I will weepe.

3040	Queene     Chaste virgine, thus I crowne thee with these flowers.  (see note)

	King John  Let us goe on to Dunmow with this maid;                 (see note)
		   Among the hallowed nunnes let her be laide.
		   Unto her tombe, a monthly pilgrimage
		   Doth King John vowe in penance for this wrong.
3045		   Goe forward maids; on with Matildaes herse,
		   And on her toombe see you ingrave this verse:
		      Within this marble monument, doth lye
		      Matilda martyrde for her chastitie.      [Exeunt.   (see note)

                                  Epilogus.
3050		   Thus is Matildaes story showne in act.
		   And rough heawen out by an uncunning hand,
		   Being of the most materiall points compackt,
		   That with the certainst state of truth doe stand.

                                      FINIS.