in with Marian； and Scarlet with the baron； and the venison smoked； and the ale frothed； and the wine sparkled； and the sun went down on their unwearied festivity： which they wound up with the following song； the friar leading and the foresters joining chorus：
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 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。
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； 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。
〃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 baron； 〃shall I not call my own daughter Mawd？ Methinks there should be a special exception in my favour。〃
〃It must not be；〃 said Robin Hood： 〃our constitution admits no privilege。〃
〃But I will commute；〃 said the friar； 〃for twenty marks a year duly paid into my ghostly pocket you shall call your daughter Mawd two hundred times a day。〃
〃Gramercy；〃 said the baron； 〃and I agree； honest friar； when I can get twenty marks to pay： for till Prince John be beaten from Nottingham； my rents are like to prove but scanty。〃
〃I will trust；〃 said the friar； 〃and thus let us ratify the stipulation； so shall our laws and your infringement run together in an amicable parallel。〃
〃But；〃 said Little John； 〃this is a bad precedent； master friar。 It is turning discipline into profit； penalty into perquisite； public justice into private revenue。 It is rank corruption； master friar。〃
〃Why are laws made？〃 said the friar。 〃For the profit of somebody。 Of whom？ Of him who makes them first； and of others as it may happen。 Was not I legislator in the last article； and shall I not thrive by my own law？〃
〃Well then； sweet Mawd；〃 said the baron； 〃I must leave you； Mawd： your life is very well for the young and the hearty； but it squares not with my age or my humour。 I must house； Mawd。 I must find refuge： but where？ That is the question。〃
〃Where Sir Guy of Gamwell has found it；〃 said Robin Hood； 〃near the borders of Barnsdale。 There you may dwell in safety with him and fair Alice； till King Richard return； and Little John shall give you safe conduct。 You will have need to travel with caution； in disguise and without attendants； for Prince John commands all this vicinity； and will doubtless lay the country for you and Marian。 Now it is first expedient to dismiss your retainers。 If there be any among them who like our life； they may stay with us in the greenwood； the rest may return to their homes。〃
Some of the baron's men resolved to remain with Robin and Marian； and were furnished accordingly with suits of green； of which Robin always kept good store。
Marian now declared that as there was danger in the way to Barnsdale； she would accompany Little John and the baron； as she should not be happy unless she herself saw her father placed in security。 Robin was very unwilling to consent to this； and assured her that there was more danger for her than the baron： but Marian was absolute。
〃If so； then；〃 said Robin； 〃I shall be your guide instead of Little John； and I shall leave him and Scarlet joint…regents of Sherwood during my absence； and the voice of Friar Tuck shall be decisive between them if they differ in nice questions of state policy。〃 Marian objected to this； that there was more danger for Robin than either herself or the baron： but Robin was absolute in his turn。
〃Talk not of my voice；〃 said the friar； 〃