Enter SCARLET, LITTLE JOHN, and FRIAR TUCK.

FRIAR.  Scarlet and John, so God me save,
No mind unto my beads I have: 
I think it be a luckless day,
For I can neither sing nor say;
Nor have I any power to look
On portace or on matin book.

SCAR.  What is the reason, tell us, Friar?

FRIAR.  And would ye have me be no liar?

LIT.  JOHN.  No.  God defend that you should lie: 
A churchman be a liar?—­fie!

FRIAR.  Then, by this hallow’d crucifix,
The holy water and the pix,
It greatly at my stomach sticks,
That all this day we had no gues’,[226]
And have of meat so many a mess.

    MUCH brings out ELY, like a countryman with a basket.

MUCH.  Well, and ye be but a market, ye are but a market-man.

ELY.  I am sure, sir, I do you no hurt, do I?

SCAR.  We shall have company, no doubt: 
My fellow Much hath found one out.

FRIAR.  A fox, a fox! as I am friar,
Much is well worthy of good hire.

LIT.  JOHN.  Say, Friar, soothly, know’st thou him!

FRIAR.  It is a wolf in a sheep’s skin. 
Go, call our master, Little John;
A glad man will he be anon. 
It’s Ely, man, the chancellor. [Aside.]

LIT.  JOHN.  God’s pity! look unto him, Friar.
                 [Aside.  Exit LITTLE JOHN.

MUCH.  What, ha’ ye eggs to sell, old fellow?

ELY.  Ay, sir, some few; and those my need constrains me bear to
Mansfield, that I may sell them there to buy me bread.

SCAR.  Alas, good man!  I prythee, where dost dwell?

ELY.  I dwell in Oxon, sir.

SCAR.  I know the town.

MUCH.  Alas, poor fellow! if thou dwell with oxen, it’s strange they do not gore thee with their horns.

ELY.  Masters, I tell ye truly where I dwell,
And whither I am going; let me go. 
Your master would be much displeas’d, I know,
If he should hear you hinder poor men thus.

FRIAR.  Father, one word with you, before we part.

MUCH.  Scarlet, the Friar will make us have anger all. 
Farewell; and bear me witness, though I stay’d him,
I stay’d him not.  An old fellow and a market man! [Exit.

FRIAR.  Whoop! in your riddles, Much? then we shall ha’t.

SCAR.  What dost thou, Friar? prythee, let him go.

FRIAR.  I prythee, Scarlet, let us two alone.

[Exit SCAR.

ELY.  Friar, I see thou know’st me:  let me go,
And many a good turn I to thee will owe.

FRIAR.  My master’s service bids me answer no,
Yet love of holy churchmen wills it so. 
Well, good my lord, I will do what I may
To let your holiness escape away.

Enter ROBIN HOOD and LITTLE JOHN.[227]

Here comes my master:  if he question you,
Answer him like a plain man, and you may pass.