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Oh！ bold Robin Hood is a forester good； As ever drew bow in the
merry greenwood： At his bugle's shrill singing the echoes are ringing；
The wild deer are springing for many a rood： Its summons we follow；
through brake； over hollow； The thrice…blown shrill summons of bold
Robin Hood。
And what eye hath e'er seen such a sweet Maiden Queen； As
Marian； the pride of the forester's green？ A sweet garden…flower； she
blooms in the bower； Where alone to this hour the wild rose has been：
We hail her in duty the queen of all beauty： We will live； we will die； by
our sweet Maiden queen。
And here's a grey friar； good as heart can desire； To absolve all our
sins as the case may require： Who with courage so stout； lays his oak…
plant about； And puts to the rout all the foes of his choir： For we are
his choristers； we merry foresters； Chorussing thus with our militant friar
And Scarlet cloth bring his good yew…bough and string； Prime
minister is he of Robin our king： No mark is too narrow for little John's
arrow； That hits a cock sparrow a mile on the wing； Robin and Marion；
Scarlet； and Little John； Long with their glory old Sherwood shall ring。
Each a good liver； for well…feathered quiver Doth furnish brawn；
venison； and fowl of the river： But the best game we dish up； it is a fat
bishop： When his angels we fish up； he proves a free giver： For a
prelate so lowly has angels more holy； And should this world's false
angels to sinners deliver。
Robin and Marion； Scarlet and Little John； Drink to them one by
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one； drink as ye sing： Robin and Marion； Scarlet and Little John； Echo
to echo through Sherwood shall fling： Robin and Marion； Scarlet and
Little John； Long with their glory old Sherwood shall ring。
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CHAPTER XII
A single volume paramount： a code： A master spirit： a determined
road。 WORDSWORTH。
The next morning Robin Hood convened his foresters； and desired
Little John； for the baron's edification； to read over the laws of their forest
society。 Little John read aloud with a stentorophonic voice。
〃At a high court of foresters； held under the greenwood tree； an hour
after sun…rise； Robin Hood President； William Scarlet Vice…President；
Little John Secretary： the following articles； moved by Friar Tuck in his
capacity of Peer Spiritual； and seconded by Much the Miller； were
unanimously agreed to。
〃The principles of our society are six： Legitimacy； Equity； Hospitality；
Chivalry； Chastity； and Courtesy。
〃The articles of Legitimacy are four：
〃I。 Our government is legitimate； and our society is founded on the one
golden rule of right； consecrated by the universal consent of mankind； and
by the practice of all ages； individuals； and nations： namely； To keep
what we have； and to catch what we can。
〃II。 Our government being legitimate； all our proceedings shall be
legitimate： wherefore we declare war against the whole world； and every
forester is by this legitimate declaration legitimately invested with a
roving commission； to make lawful prize of every thing that comes in his
way。
〃III。 All forest laws but our own we declare to be null and void。
〃IV。 All such of the old laws of England as do not in any way
interfere with； or militate against； the views of this honourable assembly；
we will loyally adhere to and maintain。 The rest we declare null and void
as far as relates to ourselves； in all cases wherein a vigour beyond the law
may be conducive to our own interest and preservation。〃
〃The articles of Equity are three：
〃I。 The balance of power among the people being very much deranged；
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by one having too much and another nothing； we hereby resolve ourselves
into a congress or court of equity； to restore as far as in us lies the said
natural balance of power； by taking from all who have too much as much
of the said too much as we can lay our hands on； and giving to those who
have nothing such a portion thereof as it may seem to us expedient to part
with。
〃II。 In all cases a quorum of foresters shall constitute a court of
equity； and as many as may be strong enough to manage the matter in
hand shall constitute a quorum。
〃III。 All usurers； monks； courtiers； and other drones of the great hive
of society； who shall be found laden with any portion of the honey
whereof they have wrongfully despoiled the industrious bee； shall be
rightfully despoiled thereof in turn； and all bishops and abbots shall be
bound and beaten；＇5＇ especially the abbot of Doncaster； as shall also all
sheriffs； especially the sheriff of Nottingham。
＇5＇ 〃These byshoppes and these archbyshoppes Ye shall them bete
and bynde；〃
says Robin Hood； in an old ballad。 Perhaps； however； thus is to be
taken not in a literal； but in a figurative sense from the binding and beating
of wheat： for as all rich men were Robin's harvest； the bishops and
archbishops must have been the finest and fattest ears among them； from
which Robin merely proposes to thresh the grain when he directs them to
be bound and beaten： and as Pharaoh's fat kine were typical of fat ears of
wheat； so may fat ears of wheat； mutatis mutandis； be typical of fat kine。
〃The articles of Hospitality are two：
〃I。 Postmen； carriers and market…folk； peasants and mechanics； farmers
and millers； shall pass through our forest dominions without let or
molestation。
〃II。 All other travellers through the forest shall be graciously invited
to partake of Robin's hospitality； and if they come not willingly they shall
be compelled； and the rich man shall pay well for his fare； and the poor
man shall feast scot free； and peradventure receive bounty in proportion to
his desert and necessity。
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〃The article of Chivalry is one：
〃I。 Every forester shall； to the extent of his power； aid and protect
maids； widows； and orphans； and all weak and distressed persons
whomsoever： and no woman shall be impeded or molested in any way； nor
shall any company receive harm which any woman is in。
〃The article of Chastity is one：
〃I。 Every forester； being Diana's forester and minion of the moon； shall
commend himself to the grace of the Virgin； and shall have the gift of
continency on pain of expulsion： that the article of chivalry may be secure
from infringement； and maids； wives； and widows pass without fear
through the forest。
〃The article of Courtesy is one：
〃I。 No one shall miscall a forester。 He who calls Robin Robert of
Huntingdon； or salutes him by any other title or designation whatsoever
except plain Robin Hood； or who calls Marian Matilda Fitzwater； or
salutes her by any other title or designation whatsoever except plain Maid
Marian； and so of all others； shall for every such offence forfeit a mark； to
be paid to the friar。
〃And these articles we swear to keep as we are good men and true。
Carried by acclamation。 God save King Richard。 〃LITTLE JOHN；
Secretary。〃
〃Excellent laws；〃 said the baron： 〃excellent； by the holy rood。
William of Normandy； with my great great grandfather Fierabras at his
elbow； could not have made better。 And now； sweet Mawd〃
〃A fine； a fine；〃 cried the friar； 〃a fine； by the article of courtesy。〃
〃Od's life；〃 said the bar