Volume II Part 25 (1/2)

THE SHERIFF OF NOTTINGHAM.

FITZWALTER Father of Marian, known as ”Maid Marian.”

SHADOW-OF-A-LEAF A Fool.

ARTHUR PLANTAGENET Nephew to Prince John, a boy of about ten years of age.

QUEEN ELINOR Mother of Prince John and Richard Lion-Heart.

MARIAN FITZWALTER Known as Maid Marian, betrothed to Robin Hood.

JENNY Maid to Marian.

WIDOW SCARLET Mother of Will Scarlet.

PRIORESS OF KIRKLEE.

Fairies, merry men, serfs, peasants, mercenaries, an abbot, a baron, a novice, nuns, courtiers, soldiers, retainers, etc.

ACT I

SCENE I. _Night. The borders of the forest. The smouldering embers of a Saxon homestead. The SHERIFF and his men are struggling with a SERF._

SERF

No, no, not that! not that! If you should blind me G.o.d will repay you. Kill me out of hand!

[_Enter PRINCE JOHN and several of his retainers._]

JOHN

Who is this night-jar?

[_The retainers laugh._]

Surely, master Sheriff, You should have cut its tongue out, first. Its cries Tingle so hideously across the wood They'll wake the King in Palestine. Small wonder That Robin Hood evades you.

SHERIFF

[_To the SERF._]

Silence, dog, Know you not better than to make this clamour Before Prince John?

SERF

Prince John! It is Prince John!

For G.o.d's love save me, sir!

JOHN

Whose thrall is he?

SHERIFF

I know not, sir, but he was caught red-handed Killing the king's deer. By the forest law He should of rights be blinded; for, as you see,