ROBIN HOOD AND HIS Crew of SOLDIERS. A COMEDY Acted at Nottingham on the day of His saCRed Majesty's Coronation. Vivat Rex. The Actors names. Robin Hood, Commander. Soldiers. Little John. William. Scadlocke. Messenger from the sheriff. LONDON, Printed for James Davis. 1661. Robin Hood and his crew of Soldiers. A shout without the Bower. Enter Hobin Hood, little John, William, Scadlocke, etc. WHence springs this general joy? What means this noise that makes Heavens Arched vault echo? and the neighbouring woods Return a dreadful answer? With what uneven Measures the amazed Birds cut through the Trembling air? How the whole Forest shakes, As if with us 'twas sensible of wonder, and Astonishment. Shout again. Still the glad noise increases And with it our fear and wonder; Thus when Unruly tempests force the weak banks, Rolling the foamy billows o'er the yielding Strand, fear and amazement, confusion and Distracting cares seize the neighbouring villages, And thus it is with us; the guilty breast Still pants and throbs, when others are at rest. Look out and learn the cause, and in the mean while Each man betake himself to's arms. Exit little John No danger unexpected to a mind Prepared to meet the worst that it can find. Enter little John and Shierifs Messenger. Rob. Speak, what's the news? Little Jo. giveth and Fetters, Hatchets and Halters, stinking prisons, and the death of dogs is all we can expect. Rob. Why, what's the matter? Jo. 'tis the King's Coronation; and now the sheriff with a band of armed men, are marching to reduce us to loyalty, and the miseries of an honest life; this Messenger here can tell you a rueful tale of obedience, that is expected. Rob. Peace, and let him declare his errand. Messen. From my Master I am come to require and command your arms, and a cheerful and ready submission to his Majesty's Laws, with a promise of future obedience; and that forthwith you join with us to solemnize his happy Coronation, which is this day to be celebrated; this done, and the rest of your lives running in a swooth stream of loyalty and honest allegiance, I here bring pardon of all past misdemeanours; but otherwise, expect the miseries of a sudden destruction: this told you, I wait your answer. John. Did not I tell you this? he talks of submission to government, and good Laws, as if we were the sons of peace and idleness, or had been such Whey-blooded fools to live thus long honestly. And hath thy Master so little brain to think that we who know the sweets of theft and roguery, to whom dangers are as pleasant as dried suckets, who have been nursed & fed fat with blood and slaughter, can be content to bear part of your general joy, for that which takes from us the means of our beloved mirth. Will. Shall I change Venison for salt Cats, and make a bounteous meal, with the reversion of a pudding's skin? Or shall I bid adieu to Pheasant and Partridge, and such pleasing Cates, and persuade my hungry maw to satisfaction with the bruis of an Eggshell? Or shall it be said that thou O famous little John becomes the Attendant of a Tripe-woman? John. The very thought of it is dangerous, I have got the gout only with the apprehension, I was born for action, but yet I cannot blow nor thresh, except it be mine enemy; and after all my famed exploits to hang for stealing sheep 'twould grieve me. I hope our worthy Master will not credit the gingling words of pardon, and acts of grace, and fully all his former glories with a surviving repentance; for my part I had rather trust myself then any other with my life. Will. If this gear takes then we may turn our Bows into Fiddle-sticks, or strangle ourselves in the strings, for the days of war and wantonness will be done. Now must I whimper like a breeched Schoolboy, and make a face as sour as an Apes when he eats Crabs; and then learn manners, and to make legs with the patience of a setting-dog; and cry, I forsooth, and no forsooth, like a Country wench at a Churching; Wakes and Bear-baitings, and a little Cudgel-play must be all our comfort, and then in some smoky corner recount our past adventures, whilst the good wives bless themselves at the relation. We must not dream of Venison, but be content like the King's liege-people with crusts and mouldy Cheese. John. Every brave soul is born a King; rule and command o'er the fearful rabble, is nature's stamp; courage and lofty thoughts are not ever confined to Thrones, nor still th' appendages of an illustrious birth, but the thatched hovel or the simple Wood oft times turns forth a mind as fully fraught with Gallantry and true worthy as doth the marble Palace; bounteous nature ties not herself to rules of State, or the hard Laws that cruel men impose; she's free in all her gifts, as the Sun's general light, which when it first peeps o'er the Eastern hills, and glads the widowed earth with its fresh beams, is not strait snatched into a Monarch's Court, and there imprisoned to gild his private luxury, but spreads his welcome rays, and cheers the poor Orphan and dejected Widow, with the same heat it doth the Persian Prince. Rob. Why then should the severities of obedience, and the straight niceties of Law shackle this Noble soul, whom nature meant not only free but soeveraigne, those ties that now by a boundless spreading force do equally concern the brave and base; first chief touched the vulgar herd and throng of men, that mass of fear and folly, who therefore closed together, and with an easy fondness suffered themselves to be manacled by Laws, because distrustful of their own free strength, and since being nursed in idleness and soft intemperance, have grown enamoured of their Chains, and caressed their slavery, and dote upon their hateful Bondage. But the bold daring Spirit hath in all times disowned this sneaking lowness, and with a commendable bravery challenged their darling Liberty; and from th' insulting Laws rescued their enslaved honour: Those famous Heroes in this gallant attempt 've boldly followed, and should we now sit down, and whine a vain repentance; or tamely and coldly yield our hands and legs to fetters, and necks to the mercy of the halter, the world might well esteem us rash and heady Men, but never bold or truly Valiant. No we have Swords, and Arms, and Lives equally engaged in our past account, and whilst these Arms can wield our Swords, or our uncurdled blood give vigour to those Arms, hopes of submission are as vain as is the strange request. Mess. Doubtless were the quality of actions the justice or injustice to be measured by the boldness or fear of the undertakers, what now is your shame, would be your greatest glory, and your Rebellion would be worthy of an honourable memory to eternal Ages; for none have begun and managed such wild designs with more unshaken confidence, but since Laws were not made as you formerly imagine, to enslave the Generous, but Curb the Proud and Violent, th' ambitious and unruly nature, your disobedience betrays aboundlesse pride, and desires unfixed as madman's thoughts, and restless as the Seas watery motion. That by the Laws which careful Princes make, we are commanded to do well and live virtuously, free both from giving and receiving injuries, is not to be esteemed slavery but privilege. And since we know the power of doing wrong is seldom ununcompanyed with a will someway answerable, it's our perfection to have that fairly checked that so virtue and justice, the top and compliment of our natures may have their due regard, which is the end of Laws. Nor can a good or just Man, one who dares be virtuous or honest (which is the truest gallantry) think it a loss of freedom to wait and obey the commands of his Prince, especially, when with his regality and Kingly power, are joined the true embellishments of piety and real goodness. A Prince of such an influential sweetness, that every account teaches a virtue, and the meanest Subject by his great example grows up into an Hero, as if his Princely Soul was grown his people's Genius. A King so dear to Heaven as if he was its only care; His birth ushered in by a bright Star, and each minute of his Life linked to the former by a miracle, whose preservation was the amazement of his Enemies: and though the prayer, yet scarce the hope of his most hearty Subjects; One who hath suffered injuries beyond example, yet of such an unparallelled charity, he pardons them beyond hope. Whose Virtue is as great as his Birth and his Goodness unlimited as his Power, To whom the illustrious persons former Ages bragged of were no more comparable than the Night's Glimmering to the noon-days Splendour. This Great, this Gracious Prince is this day Crowned, and offers Life, and Peace, and Honour, if you will quit your wild rebellions, and become what your birth challenges of you, nay what ever your boasted gallantry expects of you that is) loyal subjects. Rob. Ha! whence is this sudden change? That resolution which but now was remoseless as a Rock of Diamonds, and unyielding as the hardened Steel, is now soft and flexible as a weak woman's passions. I am quite another man; thawed into conscience of my Crime & Duty; melted into loyalty & respect to virtue. What an harsh savage beast I was before, not differing from the f●ery Lion or the cruel Bear, but in my knowledge to do greater ill, my strength and eager rashness was all my boast. How all my pride now is undermined? How am I dwarfd in mine own sight? removed from that advantage ground my fancy set me on, and shrunk to mine own low pitch? How am I torn now from myself? sure some power great and uncommon hath quite transformed me, and consumed all that was bad and vicious in me. Methinks these men, companions in former ills, look like those Grecians, th' enchanted cup transformed: 've shapes of beasts, rude, uncomely and very affrightful; yet do I see remorese bud in their blushing brows, as if with me they felt shame and true penitence for their forepast Crimes. Let us all then join in the present sense of our duty, accept the proffered pardon,— and with one voice sing, With hearty Wishes, health unto our King. 3. Voc. Since Heaven with a liberal hand Doth choicest blessings fling, And hath (not only to our Land Restored but) Crowned our KING. Let us to joy and general mirth This glad day set aside, Let the Neighbouring Woods now Echo forth Our shouts and Loyal Pride. May Halters that Man's fate attend That envies this day's Glee And's name meet a perpetual brand For his Disloyalty. Exeunt. FINIS.