THE DOWNFALL OF ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTON.

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.