Enter MUCH.

MUCH.  O, the Friar, the Friar, the Friar!

KING.  Why, how now, Much?

MUCH.  Cry ye mercy, Master King:[262] marry, this is the matter.  Scarlet is following the stag you hit, and has almost lodged him:  now, the Friar has the best bow but yours in all the field; which and Scarlet had, he would have him straight.

KING.  Where is thy master?

MUCH.  Nay, I cannot tell, nor the Friar neither.

SCATH.  I hear them halloo far off in the wood.

KING.  Come, Much, can’st lead us where as Scarlet is?

MUCH.  Never fear you:  follow me.

[Exeunt hallooing.

SCENE II.

Enter SIR DONCASTER, PRIOR.

DON.  You were resolv’d to have him poisoned,
Or kill’d, or made away, you car’d not how: 
What devil makes you doubtful now to do’t?

PRIOR.  Why, Doncaster, his kindness in our needs.

DON.  A plague upon his kindness! let him die. 
I never temper’d poison in my life,
But I employ’d it.  By th’mass, and I lose this,
For ever look to lose my company.

PRIOR.  But will you give it him?

DON.  That cannot be. 
The queen, Earl Chester, and Earl Salisbury,
If they once see me, I am a dead man: 
Or did they hear my name, I’ll lay my life,
They all would hunt me for my life.

PRIOR.  What hast thou done to them?

DON.  Faith, some odd toys,
That made me fly the south:  but pass we them. 
Here is the poison; will you give it Robin?

PRIOR.  Now, by this gold, I will.

DON.  Or, as I said,
For ever I’ll defy your company.

PRIOR.  Well, he shall die, and in his jollity: 
And in my head I have a policy
To make him die disgrac’d.

DON.  O, tell it, Prior!

PRIOR.  I will, but not as now;
                  [Call the FRIAR within. 
We’ll seek a place:  the woods have many ears,
And some, methinks, are calling for the Friar.[263]

Enter LITTLE JOHN and SCATHLOCK, calling the
FRIAR, as before.

LIT.  JOHN.  The Friar! the Friar!

SCATH.  Why, where’s this Friar?

    Enter FRIAR TUCK.

FRIAR.  Here, sir:  what is your desire?

    Enter ROBIN HOOD and WARMAN.[264]

ROB.  H. Why, Friar, what a murrain dost thou mean? 
The king calls for thee; for a mighty stag
(That hath a copper-ring about his neck
With letters on it, which he would have read)
Hath Scarlet kill’d.  I pray thee, go thy way.

FRIAR.  Master, I will:  no longer will I stay.

    [Exit FRIAR TUCK, LITTLE JOHN, and SCATHLOCK.

ROB.  H. Good uncle, be more careful of your health,
And yours, Sir Doncaster; your wounds are green.