Ballads of Robin Hood

Scene Six - Sherwood Forest

Cast: Robin Hood, Little John, Much the Miller's son, Will Scarlet,

           Alan a Dale, Eleanor a Dale, Sir Richard at the Lee, Marian

Robin Hood, Little John, Scarlet, Eleanor Dale and Much are waiting under the council tree for Sir Richard at the Lee who has promised to repay his debt to Robin Hood on this very day.

Eleanor: Now master, surely it's time for dinner?

Robin: Nay; I am afraid Our Lady is angry with me this day for she has not sent my pay.

Little John: Never fear, master, the sun has not yet rested. Sir Richard is true to his word and can be trusted.

Robin: Take your bow in your hand and let Much and Will Scarlet go with you up to Watling Street. Find me someone else to share my dinner, anyone you chance to meet - a messenger or a minstrel strolling through the wood, or a poor man for whom I can do some good.

Little John, Scarlet and Much move off, Little John looking annoyed at the knight's absence as he angrily buckles on his sword. They move off.

Robin sings Marian's Song

The three outlaws return with a monk - the High Cellarer from St. Mary's Abbey. Robin throws back his hood in greeting but the monk is too discourteous to do the same.

Little John: There is no bishop riding so royally in this land, of that I am sure, but he is a churl, master; by his word I would set no store. I told him that my master was angry because he made him fast so long and when I informed him my master was Robin Hood he said you were a big thief and of whom he had heard no good.

Robin: Sir monk, it seems of courtesy you have none. How many men did this monk have, Little John?  

Little John: When we met there were fifty two but most of them just flew.

Robin: No matter that you are without courtesy, sir monk, wash and wipe your hands before you sit down to a dinner with me.

Robin Hood, Little John and Eleanor serve the dinner.

Robin: Good appetite, sir monk.

Monk: I am obliged to you, sir.

Robin: Where is your Abbey when you are at home and who is your protector?

Monk: St. Mary's Abbey, though it doesn't seem to count for much around here.

Robin: And what is your office?

Monk: Sir, I am the High Cellarer.

Robin: Then you are all the more welcome - we will both prosper. Fill up with our best wine and you shall drink my health, sir monk, for I have been uneasy all day. I fear Our Lady is angry with me and hasn't sent my pay.

Little John: That your worries are over, master, must surely be. I swear this monk has brought your money for he comes from St. Mary’s Abbey.

Robin: Let me explain, sir monk. Between a knight and me, a sum of money was lent here under the greenwood tree and Our Lady gave security. So if you have brought my silver, I pray you let me see and your friend forever I shall be.

Monk: By the Lord in heaven, this is the first I have heard of your loan.

Robin: Then I swear it is a debt you cannot disown, for God is a righteous and so is Our Lady. You confessed with your own tongue that you are her servant and serve her daily. It is clear that you have been made the messenger to bring my pay and I am grateful that you have come this day. Now tell me in honest truth - how much have you in your coffers?

Monk: Twenty marks, I swear upon my life, is all I have to offer.

Robin: If that is all you have, then I will not take a penny. In truth, if you need more, sir, I will lend it to thee; but if I find you have more, then I think you will have to manage without it - wasting silver I cannot permit. Check it out, Little John, and see if he has more than twenty marks.

Little John spreads out his cloak and counts out more than £800 from the monk's trunk.

Little John: Sir, this monk is honest enough. Our Lady has sent your pay and generously doubled the tariff.

Robin: I swear to God, monk, what did I tell you? I might search the whole of England thorough and not a better borrower could I find. Fill up with the best wine and drink. My compliments to your gracious Lady, so kind. If she ever needs Robin Hood, a true friend she will find. And if she ever needs more silver, come back to me. I swear three times as much she shall have and free. Now, sir monk, where are you going, tell me? I hear you are going to London to plot against Sir Richard at the Lee. Is this not so?   

Monk: No, no! I am visiting our property in this area to settle with our stewards who are dishonest, I gauge.

Robin: Come now, Little John, there is no better yeoman able to search a monk's baggage, so tell me how much money is in his other bag? 

Monk: By Our Lady, it is no courtesy to invite a man to dinner and afterwards torment him this way.

Robin: It is our custom to leave little, you know.

Monk: I will have to be on my way.

Robin: Have one more drink with us before you go.

Monk: No, by God. It’s  been a disaster! I could have eaten more cheaply in Blyth or Doncaster .

The High Cellarer takes off . . . 

Robin shouts after him: Give my compliments to your Abbot and your Prior;  pray send a monk like you to dinner every day!

To everyone's surprise, no sooner had the Prior gone when Sir Richard at the Lee and Marian arrive. The knight courteously throws back his hood and kneels in front of Robin.

Sir Richard: God save you, Robin Hood, and all your company.

Robin: Welcome gentle knight and fair Marian - you are most welcome to me. But why have you come so late in the day?

Sir Richard: Don't be aggrieved because I came so late with your pay but I was delayed by a wrestling match along the way. I helped a poor yeoman who had been wronged.

Robin: My thanks for coming to his rescue. Anyone who helps a good yeoman is a friend of mine good and true.

Sir Richard: Here is the £400 that you lent me and another £20 for your courtesy.

Robin: No, the money is yours now. Enjoy the use of it, that is my advice, for Our Lady has already sent her High Cellarer to repay me and it would shame me to take it twice. The High Cellarer came to dinner this very evening and brought with him my pay - in fact he overpaid me but he couldn’t stay - it seems he needed to see some of his stewards. But truly, gentle knight, you are most welcome. 

Sir Richard: By my truth, this is good cheer, your money is already here!

Robin: Yes. Make good use of the money for you are a noble knight and free and welcome to my council tree. But why have you brought these bows and fine-feathered arrows so free?

Sir Richard: They are a small present for thee.

Robin: Go to my treasury, Little John, and bring me £400 the monk overpaid me. Here Sir Richard, gentle knight and true, buy a good horse and harness and freshly gilt your spurs anew . . . and if you are ever pressed for money, come to Robin Hood - for I will not fail you or your dearest daughter so good . . . and Marian, so good to meet you again; do you not tire of the greenwood?

Marian: I shall never tire of Sherwood Forest : the flashing flight of swifts and the hovering skylarks provide a merry song; the primroses, bluebells, orchids and foxgloves brighten the greenwood; there are herbs to garnish your dinner or cure your headache; various nuts and fruit; mighty oaks and silver birch and glades of grassland for deer to graze. I love Sherwood Forest - I could live here all my life.

Robin: Will your love last forever?

Robin and Marian sing Every Month Is May

Scene Closes

Scene 7