“_Joh._ Skelton, a worde or two beside the play.
_Fri._ Now, Sir John Eltam, what ist you would say?
_John._ Methinks I see no jeasts of Robin Hoode, No merry morices of Frier Tuck, No pleasant skippings up and downe the wodde, No hunting songs, no coursing of the bucke: Pray God this play of ours may have good lucke, And the king’s majestie mislike it not!
_Fri._ And if he doe, what can we doe to that? I promis’d him a play of Robin Hoode, His honorable life, in merry Sherewod; His majestie himselfe survaid the plot, And bad me boldly write it, it was good. For merry jeasts, they have bene showne before As how the frier fell into the well, For love of Jinny, that faire bonny bell: How Greeneleafe rob’d the shrieve of Notingham, And other mirthful matter, full of game.”
“Enter Warman banished.” He laments his fall, and applies to a cousin, on whom he had bestowed large possessions, for relief; but receives nothing, except reproaches for his treachery to his noble master. The jailor of Nottingham, who was indebted to him for his place, refuses him even a scrap of his dog’s meat, and reviles him in the severest terms. Good-wife Tomson, whose husband he had delivered from death, to his great joy, promises him a caudle, but { lx} fetches him a halter,[45] in which he is about to hang himself, but is prevented by Fitzwater, and some of Robin Hood’s men, who crack a number of jokes upon him; Robin puts an end to their mockery, and proffers him comfort and favour. Then enters Frier Tucke, with an account of Sir Doncaster and the prior being stripped and wounded in their way to Bawtrey: Robin, out of love to his uncle, hastens to the place. After this “Enter Prince John, solus, in green, bowe and arrowes.
“_John._ Why this is somewhat like, now may I sing, As did the Wakefield pinder in his note; At Michaelmas commeth my covenant out, My master gives me my fee: Then Robin Ile weare thy Kendall greene, And wend to the greenewodde with thee.”[46]
He assumes the name of Woodnet, and is detected by Scathlocke and Frier Tucke. The prince and Scathlocke fight, Scathelocke grows weary, and the frier takes his place. Marion enters, and perceiving the frier, parts the combatants. Robin enters, and John submits to him. Much enters, running, with information of the approach of “the king and twelve and twenty score of horses.” Robin places his people in order. The trumpets sound, the king and his train enter, a general pardon ensues, and the king confirms the love of Robin and Matilda. Thus the play concludes, Skelton promising the second part, and acquainting the audience of what it should consist.