ACT I, SCENE 1.

Enter SIR JOHN ELTHAM, and knocks at SKELTON'S door.[157]

SIR JOHN. How, Master Skelton; what, at study hard? [Opens the door.

SKEL. Welcome and wish'd-for honest Sir John Eltham. I have sent twice, and either time he miss'd That went to seek you.

ELT. So full well he might: These two hours it pleased his majesty To use my service in surveying maps, Sent over from the good King Ferdinand, That to the Indies, at Sebastian's suit, Hath lately sent a Spanish colony.

SKEL. Then 'twill trouble you, After your great affairs, to take the pain That I intended to entreat you to, About rehearsal of our[158] promis'd play.

ELT. Nay, Master Skelton; for the King himself, As we were parting, bid me take great heed We fail not of our day: therefore, I pray, Send for the rest, that now we may rehearse.

SKEL. O, they are ready all, and dress'd to play. What part play you?

ELT. Why, I play Little John, And came on purpose with this green suit.

SKEL. Holla, my masters! Little John is come.

[At every door all the players run out, some crying "Where? where?" others, "Welcome, Sir John:" among others the boys and Clown.

SKEL. Faith, little Tracy, you are somewhat forward: What, our Maid Marian leaping like a lad? If you remember, Robin is your love— Sir Thomas Mantle yonder—not Sir John.

CLOWN. But, master, Sir John is my fellow, for I am Much the miller's son, am I not?

SKEL. I know ye are, sir; And, gentlemen, since you are thus prepar'd, Go in, and bring your dumb-scene on the stage; And I, as prologue, purpose to express The ground whereon our history is laid.

[Exeunt. Manent SKELTON and SIR JOHN.

Trumpets sound. Enter first KING RICHARD, with drum and ancient, giving ELY a purse and sceptre; his mother, and brother JOHN, CHESTER, LEICESTER, LACY, others at the KING'S appointment doing reverence. The KING goes in: presently ELY ascends the chair: CHESTER, JOHN, and the QUEEN part displeasantly. Enter EGBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTON, leading MARIAN: follows him WARMAN, and after WARMAN the PRIOR; WARMAN ever flattering and making courtesy, taking gifts of the PRIOR behind and his master before. PRINCE JOHN Enters, offereth to take MARIAN. QUEEN ELINOR enters, offering to pull ROBIN from her; but they enfold each other, and sit down within the curtains. WARMAN with the PRIOR, SIR HUGH LACY, LORD SENTLOE, and SIR GILBERT BROUGHTON fold hands, and drawing the curtains, all (but the PRIOR) enter, and are kindly received by ROBIN HOOD. The curtains are again shut.

SKEL. Sir John, once more, bid your dumb shows come in, That, as they pass, I may explain them all.

Enter KING RICHARD, &c.[159]

Richard, call'd Coeur de Lion, takes his leave, Like the Lord's champion, 'gainst the pagan foes, That spoil Juda and rich Palestine. The rule of England and his princely seat He leaves with Ely, then lord chancellor; To whom the Mother Queen, her son, Prince John, Chester, and all the peers are sworn. [Exit RICHARD cum militibus. ELY ascends the chair. Now reverend Ely, like the deputy Of God's great deputy, ascends the throne; Which the Queen Mother and ambitious John Repining at, raised many mutinies: And how they ended, you anon shall hear.

[Exeunt omnes.

Enter ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTON, leading MARIAN, &c.[160]

This youth that leads yon virgin by the hand (As doth the sun the morning richly clad) Is our Earl Robert or your Robin Hood, That in those days was Earl of Huntington. The ill-faced miser, bribed in either hand, Is Warman, once the steward of his house, Who, Judas-like, betrays his liberal lord Into the hands of that relentless Prior, Call'd Gilbert Hood, uncle to Huntington. Those two, that seek to part these lovely friends, Are Elinor the queen and John the prince: She loves Earl Robert, he Maid Marian; But vainly, for their dear affect is such, As only death can sunder their true loves. Long had they lov'd, and now it is agreed, This day they must be troth-plight, after wed. At Huntington's fair house a feast is held; But envy turns it to a house of tears; For those false guests, conspiring with the Prior, To whom Earl Robert greatly is in debt, Mean at the banquet to betray the earl Unto a heavy writ of outlawry. The manner and escape you all shall see.

ELT. Which all, good Skelton?

SKEL. Why, all these lookers on; Whom if we please, the king will sure be pleas'd. Look to your entrance; get you in, Sir John. [Exit SIR JOHN. My shift is long, for I play Friar Tuck; Wherein, if Skelton have but any luck, He'll thank his hearers oft with many a duck. For many talk of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow, But Skelton writes of Robin Hood what he doth truly know.[161]

Therefore I pray ye, Contentedly stay ye, And take no offending, But sit to the ending, Likewise I desire Ye would not admire My rhyme, so I shift; For this is my drift, So mought I well thrive To make ye all blithe: But if ye once frown, Poor Skelton goes down; His labour and cost, He thinketh all lost In tumbling of books Of marry-go-looks. The Sheriff with staves, With catchpoles and knaves, Are coming, I see: High time 'tis for me, To leave off my babble And fond ribble-rabble. Therefore with this court'sy Awhile I will leave ye.[162]