Mother Maudlin was a retched old witch, and Scathlock says he is yet more sure that the raven was she, because in her own form he has just seen her broiling the raven’s bone by the fire, sitting “In the chimley-nuik within.”  While the talk went on Maid Marian had gone away.  Now she returns and begins to quarrel with Robin Hood.  Venison is much too good for such folk as he and his men, she says; “A starved mutton carcase would better fit their palates,” and she orders Scathlock to take the venison to Mother Maudlin.  Those around can scarce believe their ears, for

    “Robin and his Marian are the sum and talk
    Of all that breathe here in the green-wood walk.”

Such is their love for each other.  They are “The turtles of the wood,” “The billing pair.”  No one is more astonished than Robin Hood, as he cries: 

    “I dare not trust the faith of mine own senses,
    I fear mine eyes and ears:  this is not Marian! 
    Nor am I Robin Hood!  I pray you ask her,
    Ask her, good shepherds, ask her all for me: 
    Or rather ask yourselves, if she be she,
    Or I be I.”

But Maid Marian only scolds the more, and at last goes away leaving the others in sad bewilderment.  Of course this was not Maid Marian at all, but Mother Maudlin, the old witch, who had taken her form in order to make mischief.

Meanwhile the real Maid Marian discovers that the venison has been sent away to Mother Maudlin’s.  With tears in her eyes she declares that she gave no such orders, and Scathlock is sent to bring it back.

When Mother Maudlin comes to thank Maid Marian for her present, she is told that no such present was ever intended, and so she in anger curses the cook, casting spells upon him: 

    “The spit stand still, no broches turn
    Before the fire, but let it burn. 
    Both sides and haunches, till the whole
    Converted be into one coal. 
    The pain we call St. Anton’s fire,
    The gout, or what we can desire,
    To cramp a cook in every limb,
    Before they dine yet, seize on him.”

Soon Friar Tuck comes in.  “Hear you how,” he says,
    “Poor Tom the cook is taken! all his joints
    Do crack, as if his limbs were tied with points. 
    His whole frame slackens; and a kind of rack,
    Runs down along the spindils of his back;
    A gout, or cramp, now seizeth on his head,
    Then falls into his feet; his knees are lead;
    And he can stir his either hand no more
    Than a dead stump, to his office, as before.”

He is bewitched, that is certain.  And certain too it is that Mother Maudlin has done it.  So Robin and his men set out to hunt for her, while Friar Tuck and Much the Miller’s son stay to look after the dinner in the poor cook’s stead.  Robin soon meets Mother Maudlin who has again taken the form of Maid Marian.  But this time Robin suspects her.  He seizes the witch by her enchanted belt.  It breaks, and she comes back to her own shape, and Robin goes off, leaving her cursing.