All language subtitles for The Men of Sherwood Forest (Guest_ Val 1953)_BDRip.1080p.x264.AAC5.1_EN

Oh, yes! Oh, yes!
Oh, yes!

Be it known to all true and
loyal citizens of Nottingham

that the good squire John Fitzroy

has been fouled unto death

by the outlaws of Sherwood Forest,

wherefore His Grace,
the Lord Sheriff of Nottingham,

has resolved to increase yet again
the price put on the head

of their leader,
the man known as Robin Hood.

The Lord Sheriff will pay

5,000 crowns to whomsoever

shall bring him that
murderous thief alive or dead.

God save the King!

Surely someone will betray him
for a fortune like that.

I doubt it,
and so does the Sheriff, I fancy.

The common people have
good reason to love Robin Hood,

but i'd give 10,000 crowns

for what poor Fitzroy was carrying.

The Saracen soldier?

They probably threw it away,
a toy for a child.

Your pleasure, gentlemen?

An ale, Saltire?

A toy that, in the wrong hands,
may cost the King his life.

My good Moraine, for 10,000 crowns
you may have every man in the country

beating every foot of the forest.

Aye, and i'll have Prince John's party
joining in the search.

- But do you think--
- It's bad enough they now know

Fitzroy was in England,

but if they've guessed
what he was bringing me.

Saltire, do you know of any way
that i can get in touch with Robin Hood?

The Sheriff of Nottingham
hasn't found one in ten years.

No, and yet in his own way
Robin Hood is loyal to the King.

I know that.

I'm sure if he knew what that
little toy may mean to Richard...

If i could only talk to Robin Hood.

He must have a hundred hiding places
in Barnsdale and Sherwood.

Aye, but he can only be
in one of them at a time.

Drink up, Saltire, I have an idea.

You still fancy yourself, Tuck?

Aye, indeed, if gambling were not so much
against my principles.

- Well?
- I'd wager six to four i disarm you.

Six to four?

Isn't it lucky that
you're not a gambling man?

Well, who's next?

Stukely, is your skill--

Three times.

Little John!

All is well,
and he's brought us company for supper.

Let us hope it'll be some rich Abbot
who carries plenty of gold.

And has no scruples
against gambling.

Horses to the west!

Aye, clear this place.

- How much further to go?
- A few yards, my Lord Abbot.

Is your leader really there?

Our leader's always there to
welcome distinguished company

and to see they pay their trifling toll
for using the forest.

Welcome, good sirs.

By your dress,
you would appear to be churchmen.

Appearances can deceive, my friend.

I am the Count of Moraine.

This is Sir Nigel Saltire.

You, I presume, are Robin Hood.

I am, my lord.

I may add, in case you
had it in mind to play some other trick,

that among these trees
there are 20 arrows pointed at your heart.

Then i hope your bowmen have steady hands
for i wish you no harm.

Then why this masquerade?

I could think of no other way to find you.

We have travelled this forest
for two whole days

praying for an ambush.

And your men at arms
within call, no doubt.

None nearer than my castle,
and that's ten miles away.

Robin Hood,
I want to talk to you on a matter

that touches the King's safety.

Alright, milords, proceed.

Is there somewhere that
we can be rather more private?

My cave is at your disposal.

Oh, there's nothing to fear,
nothing to fear whatever,

if you keep away from Friar Tuck

and his tricks of chance.

But again, I give you my word, my lord,

that Fitzroy was killed
and robbed by no man of mine.

But the Sheriff's proclamations--

If a leaf falls in Sherwood Forest,

they blame it on Robin Hood,
but i give you my word.

Then we're no nearer to
finding the little Saracen.

I don't understand this little Saracen.

You say it's a toy, and yet it holds
the King's life in its hands?

You can talk more freely here, sir,
than you could at court itself.

And anything that serves the King
and does not serve Prince John,

we're your men.

I trust them.

As you know,
the King has been a prisoner in Germany.

I helped to raise
some of his ransom...

...in my own way.

So i heard.

But what you don't know is that
the King is no longer a prisoner,

no longer in Germany even.

- What?
- He's on his way home.

He plans to return secretly
and be back on the throne

before John has a chance
to seize it for himself.

Do the Prince's party know this?

They may, we hope they don't,
but they may.

What nobody knows,
save the King himself,

is when and where
he plans to land in England.

And that little Saracen figure
can tell us.

It holds the details?

The toy is a puzzle
with a secret to reveal.

If it fell into John's hands
and he solved the trick of reading it...

It's long odds that Richard
would never get a mile from the shore.

- How long would the odds be?
- Silence, you fat miser.

You have some idea
when the King may come?

Soon, but whether next month or next week
or whereabouts on the coast...

That means come
and get your supper, gentlemen.

Well, don't worry, we won't poison you.

We'll talk more of this later.

- You'll do it.
- Do what?

Find the toy and save the King.

- I saw a look in your eyes just now.
- That was hunger.

They say you're a man who loves danger.

I love food too, milord.

You jest when the King's life is--

You want me to find your Saracen
when you and your--

Your band of men have
their ears to the ground.

They learn things that no...

that no...

No honest man could learn?

Oh, I didn't mean to put it like that.

Perhaps you're right, my lord.

I'll try and find your toy.

I promise nothing,
but i do want to serve my King.

I also want to eat.

- News?
- Not of the toy itself,

but certainly of the two men
who may know where it is.

I met Mary, the wench
from The Boar's Head.

He talks as if this was something new.

Aah, when the heart is young.

- Do you wish to hear?
- Continue.

She tells me these two men
have been in every night

since Fitzroy was murdered.

Furthermore, they've been spending
more money than ever before.

Moraine said the murdered man
would have little money on him.

- Then someone must've paid them.
- To hand over the toy.

Who are these men, John?

She calls them Dicken and Hobbes,
vermin by trade and cut-throats by nature.

I should like to talk to
Dicken and Hobbes.

Right, I'll take one or two of the lads
and carry them off from the alehouse.

No, it must be done quietly.

If it were not against my principles
to enter an alehouse--

Ah, but it is, so you shall stay here.

I could sink a principle
for you and the King.

Neither the King
nor i would wish such a thing.

No, I think i know how to get them here,

not a soul the wiser.

Tuck, you shall show me
how to play your shell game.

- Oh, but, Rob--
- Your shell game, Tuck.

Here, now proceed, you villain.

Well...

take three shells.

Mary!

Thank you, my dear.

- Hail, wench.
- Hail, sir.

What kind of game is this?

Oh, a game we used to play
in my training days.

The object is to guess
where the pea is hidden.

Now watch.

There.

Any fool can see it's hidden there.

- Oh, you mean you saw that?
- Of course.

- And i, too.
- A guess!

- You couldn't do it a second time.
- Try us.

Oh, witchcraft.

Five crowns says you can't do it again.

Taken!

Aah, you're a fool, Dicken, it's there.

- Five crowns.
- Five crowns.

Wench!

You must at least let me pay
for your drinks, my friends.

- More ale for these good fellows!
- Hey, don't put it away!

I want to play again.

- Five crowns?
- Five crowns.

- Now, which one?
- This one.

Mary, more ale for my friends!

Not another drop,
I'm as full as a wine skin.

- And you?
- No, no.

Then allow me to help you on your way.

Here we go.

Give him here, Mary.

Ooh, yes, easy does it.

I'll give you a count of 50, Dicken,

and if you still stay dumb,
there's a hempen cure

-for that head of yours.
- Twelve, thirteen, fourteen.

If we tell you,
will you swear to let us free?

I swear to nothing,
except if you don't tell me,

you'll hang for
the murdering dogs you are.

- Thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty.
- I'll tell you everything.

You fool, he'll hang us just the same.

That just may be, but for a full story,

- I might incline to mercy.
- Forty-eight, forty-nine.

Give me a drink.

I'll tell you everything, I swear it.

First then, for whom did you work?

A knight, but we never knew
his name nor saw his face.

- If you lie to me, Hobbes...
- That's the truth.

I swear it, we only saw him twice,
and each time,

-he wore his helmet.
- Twice?

Yes, the first time when
he told us what he wanted,

the second time when we handed it over.

- How much did he pay you?
- You should know, you got most of it.

Ho-ho! So you wish to joke?

Two hundred crowns!

Where did you meet him the second time?

The crossroads by Brinley Falls.

There was a tune we whistled
so that he knew it was us, and he rode up.

Whistle it.

And you never saw his face?

- He wore a helmet.
- He wore no device on his shield?

Oh, yes, he did.

A white eagle on a black shield,
I saw it clearly.

And to him you gave the little Saracen?

- Yes.
- And that's all you wish to tell?

That's all there is, I swear it.

- Confine them close.
- But you promised!

I promised nothing,
I haven't made up my mind yet.

Tuck, Little John!

A white eagle on a black shield.

We'd know who this knight
is if we only understood

this nonsense of Norman heraldry.

I understand enough to know
that those are the arms

-of the Count of Moraine.
- Moraine?

- The man who came...?
- The same.

Only i'll wager a hundred crowns
that it was not Moraine.

No takers.

Whoever hired those killers
was taking care to hide his true identity.

Isn't it a very grave offence to
wear another's coat of arms?

No true knight would do it,

nor would an honest armourer
supply such a shield,

and that, my lads, means only one thing.

A dishonest armourer.

And who is the most
dishonest armourer we know?

Hugo of Nottingham.

Who's there at this time of night?

Someone who can put you in the way
of earning 5,000 crowns.

- How much?
- 5,000 crowns.

Well, plague on it, man,
if you don't want it,

I'll find somebody who does.

No, no, no, no, good sir.

One moment while i lift the bar.

Well met, Hugo.

- Robin Hood and Tuck.
- Good evening, my son.

What a splendid place you have here.

You must be making quite
a lot of money these days.

A mere pittance, a mere pittance,
I assure you.

You must be mad coming into Nottingham
with such a price on your head.

With such a price on my head, Hugo,

Nottingham is the last place
the Sheriff is likely to look.

Of course, if you do want
to make 5,000 crowns...

By betraying you?
I would cut my throat first.

It would certainly be safer to do so.

I want some information from you, Hugo,

about a shield bearing a white eagle
on a black background.

Argent, an eagle rampant sable?
Why, that's the Count of Moraine.

I know it, on a shield
made recently by you.

- I have never made a shield for Moraine.
- I believe you.

I want to know for whom you did make it.

Any armourer who'd lend himself
to a deception like that

would be unworthy of his calling.

Exactly, that's why we came to see you.

What do you want?

The name of the man for whom
you made that shield,

or i'm liable to remember some things
that happened the last time--

No, no, you forgave,
you promised we're all good friends.

Yes, but if we were to remain friends,
I want to know who ordered that shield.

On my most solemn oath, Robin, I have
never made such a shield for anyone.

- Who's that?
- I don't know.

Most of my customers use that knock.
I like them to use it after dark.

Send them away.

No. No, they'll be suspicious.

Let them in. Up here, Tuck.

Get rid of them quickly.

- If you try to slip out--
- No, you can trust me, Robin.

I trust you as far as
i can shoot an arrow,

which is exactly
what i'll do for one false move.

Coming, sir, coming.

Alright, open it up, but one false move.

- Good evening, gentlemen.
- This is milady.

- Pardon, milady.
- Not many footpads

look twice at a soldier and a page.

That's why i wear this uniform.

- We brought back the shield.
- The shield?

Yes, the jest is over
and the wager has been won.

Your... Your ladyship
needn't have troubled.

No trouble, good Hugo.

Having ridden all this way,

you must let me offer you
such poor hospitality...

Thank you for your kindness,
but we must be going. Walter.

But surely you're not travelling
all that way home tonight?

Milady is lodging but
a few yards from here

-with the Lord Sheriff.
- Ah, the Sheriff.

And i think we shall
reach his house in safety,

so if you'll tell me how much i owe you?

Surely a nominal sum, milady.

Shall we say 50 crowns?

I will write you a receipt, yes.

- A thousand thanks, milady.
- Thank you, Hugo.

And should you ever require

any further assistance
in the matter of jests or wagers...

I think it unlikely,
but we'll remember you.

- Yes.
- Walter.

Goodnight, milady.

- Goodnight, Walter.
- Goodnight.

- Come, Walter.
- Milady, he gave me a paper.

Well, you can't read it in darkness.

It can wait until
we reach the Sheriff's house.

So, on your most solemn oath,
you never made such a shield.

Who is she, Hugo, who sent her to you?

I don't know her name, I don't.

You're a liar, my friend,
and i don't like liars.

- You called her milady.
- Well, she was obviously

a person of quality, but i swear to you--

You do repeatedly and prove
yourself always to be a liar.

- Now, who is she, Hugo?
- I tell you, I don't know.

She came here a few days ago
and said that she wanted

such a shield for
a masquerade in the castle.

- What castle?
- Well, I don't know the name. I...

Tuck.

- A rope?
- Exactly.

- Thin but strong.
- Excellent.

Here, truss him up like...

You mean, he was actually
in the room while i was--

Audacious scoundrel.
Well, this time, he's mine.

Roger, Catley, call out the guard!

May i join them, milady?

I'd give a night's sleep to see
that outlaw brought to book.

- As you will, Walter.
- Thank you, milady.

- How's this?
- Fine.

And when they ask us what we're carrying,
Hugo, we'll say nothing of value.

And we'll throw down the sack
to convince them.

Open in the name of the King!

It's the Sheriff.

The loft!

- Where is he?
- Up in the loft.

The loft? How do you get up there?

Search it!

How do you know he's in the loft?

- With that sack over your head...
- I heard him say, sir, to Friar Tuck...

If he let you hear him say loft,
he's probably in the cellar.

- Shouldn't we go in?
- His orders were definite,

not unless he sounded the call.

- Yes, but--
- We might spoil everything.

- We don't know his plan.
- Well, he didn't plan this.

No, but it's clear they
haven't caught him yet.

We'll give it a little longer, anyway.

You couldn't hide a cat in that loft.

Unless they turned
themselves into cobwebs,

-they're not down there.
- Then they've got away.

With the place surrounded?

- Hugo, is this some stupid jest of yours?
- Jest?

Do you think i tied myself up like this?

Hugo, you said that
Robin Hood and Friar Tuck

were in this house, and they are not.

And as they cannot possibly have come...

...out of it.

By all the saints, they're out there!

A good shot, John, how's this?

After him, men!

And it's 10,000 crowns
if you take him alive!

Well, if it isn't our old friend, Hugo.

Do you want to take him with us?

No need, we'll have
the girl followed in the morning.

Good, I don't feel like
carrying anything heavy tonight.

He says he's the Abbot of St. Jude's,

so we detained him
and his party till your return, Robin.

You did rightly.

I've heard of this Abbot of St. Jude's,
and little to his credit.

His baggage is full of gold

and jewels and fine clothes
past his counting.

It will be a pleasure
to count it for him.

Good morning, Lord Abbot.

I'm sorry i wasn't here
to welcome you last night,

but i'm sure my men did
all they could for your comfort.

If you're the leader
of this scoundrelly band,

I warn you that unless we leave here
unscathed and unrobbed,

you will hang on the highest
gallows in Nottingham.

I know the Lord Sheriff well.

I spent part of last night with him.

You with the Sheriff?

- You lie.
- Oh-ho, no!

He thinks most highly of me,
higher than ever, in fact.

My price has now gone up to 10,000 crowns.

Well, you don't believe me,
ask Friar Tuck.

Where is Tuck?

Tuck!

Surely the Holy Land must be a wonderful
place to produce such beauty, milord.

Look at this, Robin,
the signs of the zodiac

cunningly wrought in
gold and precious gems.

I shall spend many happy hours
with this thing.

That bowl is destined for the high
table in the refectory of St. Jude,

and if you dare--

I've heard much of that same St. Jude's,
master Abbot.

It's one of the richest
monasteries in the north,

while it squeezes the last penny
from the poor people

-who live in its land.
- How dare you!

There are good churchmen
in England, my friend,

but there are evil ones too,

and when the saints send
such a one into our hands,

we deal with them faithfully.

Will Scarlet back from Nottingham.

Come with me, John.

Tuck?

I'll leave it to you to see
that the Abbot pays fittingly

-for his breakfast and bed.
- Delighted.

One half of all that he carries, I think.

- I shall halve it myself.
- I warn you--

You do want to see St. Jude's again,
don't you?

- News, Will?
- Aye, Robin.

Good, we'll hear it inside.

I learned all we wanted to
know from the Sheriff's cook.

The girl was Lady Alys Beausoir,

-the ward of Sir Guy Belton.
- Sir Guy Belton?

I'd always thought he was
one of the King's party.

- Do you know him, Robin?
- No, not yet.

Did Lady Alys go back to the castle, Will?

- She left at dawn.
- Oh, Belton Castle, hmm!

I want that air that false knight used.

That's right.

- What are your plans, Robin?
- Oh, I'll tell you.

This evening, a wandering troubadour
will crave lodging at Belton Castle,

a troubadour called, er...?
What shall we call him?

Gilbert, Gilbert of Lancaster.

♪ I've roamed the world
with my lute in hand ♪

♪ From the isle of the west
to the Holy Land ♪

♪ And all i ask of the saints above ♪

♪ Is a voice that can sing
and a heart that can love ♪

♪ And the smile of my dearest ♪

♪ My dearest lady ♪

Oh, excellent, master troubadour,

though i doubt what you say
about not loving the sword.

You have the look of one who can wield it

as well as you do the lute.

The words were not of
my own making, milady.

Then may we have some that are?

One moment, troubadour,
where heard you that air?

I cannot at the moment remember, Sir Guy,

though it may come back to me.

Shall i sing the words i set to it?

It's the tale of a king
who left his realm.

Another time, the hour grows late,
and my ward is tired.

Not too tired to listen
to another song, sir.

You have my permission to retire, Alys.

Tomorrow, you shall have
a special performance.

Goodnight, master troubadour,
till tomorrow.

Till tomorrow, my lady,
will be a thousand years.

Minstrel, Sir Guy would
have words with you.

- I'm at his service.
- Follow me.

- Who are you?
- I told you, sir,

Gilbert of Lancaster, a humble troubadour.

You know the coded tune, who sent you?

Waldemar Fitzurse.

Knowing that i am
Prince John's man first and last,

-he thought i might help.
- In what?

In the matter that is
closest to all our hearts.

And what can you do
that i cannot do myself?

Carry a message, perhaps.

Minstrels can pass anywhere unchallenged.

What message?

It wasn't my idea to come here.

I don't know what was in Fitzurse's mind.
I merely obey his orders.

If you don't need me,
I'll return and tell him so.

No, Gilbert, wait.
If Fitzurse sent you, he had a reason,

and it's not for me to question it.

- He sent no other message?
- Not by me.

Oh, well, perhaps an explanation
will arrive tomorrow.

Till then, Garth!

Take my guest to a chamber of honour
and see that he lacks nothing.

- Yes, Sir Guy.
- Thank you.

- Goodnight, Sir Guy.
- Goodnight, Gilbert.

Think he's genuine?

No, Hubert, I do not, but he could be,
and if he's a friend of Fitzurse,

it would go ill with me if i offended him.

I'd do more than offend him
if he proved to be a spy.

Gallows on the castle tide
exist for spies.

Now, do nothing until i'm certain,

but if this troubadour is what i suspect,

he'll find it a great deal harder
to get out of this castle

than he did to get in.

Thank you, my friend.

- And goodnight.
- Goodnight, sir.

I'm beginning to wonder if this thing
really holds a message for us at all.

Would Richard send one of his
best couriers all the way from Germany

just to give someone a doll?
Of course it has a message.

- But how? Where? What?
- I do not know how, where or what,

but a message that surely is
and the puzzle

-must be solved tonight.
- Tonight?

If this minstrel is a spy,
we must move fast.

Now, bring me word as soon
as we've got it solved.

- Do you want something, sir?
- Yes.

There seem to be people
moving about in the woods.

Could that bode ill for the castle?

No one has any right
to be out there at this hour.

Let me look. Where?

Oh, that hurt me much more
than it did you, my friend.

With any luck,
you shouldn't stir for an hour,

and a man can do much in an hour.

By the Rood, Hubert, this is
sooner even than we thought.

How long to get the others here?

A messenger right away could bring them
by nightfall tomorrow.

Nightfall? Yes, that should give us time.
Go down and warn Arthur to be ready.

Arthur! Walter!

Wake up, there's work to be done!

Awake!

Awake!

What's amiss?

Arthur, let's get ready to ride!
Vital despatch to the north.

Help him saddle.

- Awake!
- Come on, good man. Harold!

Awake!

Oh, who hit me?

That did.

It fell on you
when you were right underneath.

I thought it might've killed you.

Take more than that to kill me.

Hubert says i have
the thickest skull in Bolton.

I fancy Hubert's right.

- What news, John?
- It grows urgent.

The King lands shortly,
but when Robin knows not.

We must get word to Count Moraine

and bring our band
to within a mile of here.

- And then?
- Nothing till further orders.

- Aye, John.
- You are the fleetest of us.

Make all speed northwards
to Castle Moraine.

- And there?
- Tell Count Moraine

or his friend Saltire what you know

-and what i have told you.
- I'm there already.

You, Miller, will gather
the rest of the band.

Remember the clearing
where we found the well?

- Aye.
- Camp there.

Will Scarlet and i will wait
for further word from Robin.

- God grant he lives to send it.
- Amen.

Well, shortly, I fear
i must be on my way.

Your hospitality, Sir Guy--

Nonsense, man, you're not leaving yet.

What are a few days here
or there to a troubadour.

I add my voice to that, master Gilbert.

Last night, you promised me
a special performance.

But i cannot trespass
against your guardians.

You're not leaving, Gilbert,
I won't permit it.

You're too kind,

but, really, I was never one to stay long

beneath a roof, any roof.

The open air, the leaves,
the sky overhead.

He'll be here in a moment, Sir Guy.

He's washing off the stains of travel.

Good. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Gilbert,

we have distinguished
company for breakfast,

a traveller like yourself
new returned from the Holy Land.

The Abbot of St. Jude's.

The Abbot of St. Jude's, hm?

- A most learned clerk.
- I'm sure of it.

The poor man was held up
by that villain Robin Hood.

No doubt he'll tell us all about it.

No doubt whatever.

Lady Alys, if you really
want me to sing for you...

Oh, but i must wait and meet the Abbot.

I so want to talk with one
who has really met this Robin Hood.

I've heard so much about him,

and the other night,
I nearly met him myself.

But this Abbot has actually spoken to him

-and knows what he looks like.
- I wager he does.

His Grace, the Lord Abbot of St. Jude's.

Give you a good morning, my children.

What a delicious smell of pork,

a thing one misses in the Holy Land.

The infidel don't breed them,
poor, ignorant wretches.

We claim to breed
the best pigs in England.

- Will you test our claim, my lord?
- Exhaustively.

When you have eaten, my lord,
I for one hope that you will tell us tales

of the mysterious east.

My son, I will tell you tales
such as you've never heard before.

Is it true, milord, that the
Saracens can work witchcraft?

No, not real witchcraft.

No, not as we understand it.

A few simple conjuring tricks
to deceive fools.

There was one i saw where
a man planted a seed in the sand,

and within minutes,
a palm tree had grown up 20 feet.

But what was that compared
to the one i showed him in reply?

Nothing, I wager.

You are right, my son, nothing.

I threw a rope in the air.

It stayed there.

I sent a lad climbing up after it.

He disappeared.

Silly, I grant you,
but as i say, it impresses fools.

Can you do that?

Given the right kind of rope, of course.

Unfortunately, these ropes
are not made in this country,

and the two i brought
back with me were stolen

by these outlaws of Sherwood Forest.

Tell us about that, milord,
your meeting with Robin Hood.

Is he as handsome as they say?

Robin Hood, my child,
is as handsome as the rear end of a horse.

He's a scurvy, black-of-eyes knave,
with a cast in each eye,

few teeth, and all of those rotten,
a slouching, skulky--

But that is not what i heard at all.

Then you've been listening
to the wrong people.

Robin Hood is a subject
i prefer not to discuss,

particularly in the present company.

Did you meet any of his band, my lord,
that scoundrel hedge-priest, for instance?

What do they call him, Friar Tuck?

You wrong him, Sir Guy.

A man of quiet dignity and simple faith.

I was greatly impressed by Friar Tuck,

but as i say,

I much prefer to discuss the Saracens.

Did you know that
they were exquisite craftsmen?

- Look at that.
- Oh, but this is beautiful.

It's the signs of the zodiac,
do you see, Lady Alys?

Taurus, Aries, Gemini, Libra.

- Oh, this is a work of art.
- Oh, well may you say so.

Yet to what base uses they put it.

- What then do they use it for?
- Gambling.

Somehow, milord,
I guessed that might be the case.

But how do they gamble with that?

This orb represents the sun,
which, as you know,

passes in turn through
all the houses of the zodiac.

They wager on which house
it will end up in.

Now, clear all that.

First, we need the golden cloth,

the golden cloth of zodiac,

with all the signs upon it.

Aquarius, my own birth sign.

Now, if i'd had a couple
of crowns on that,

- I'd have made twenty.
- Twenty, how's that?

The bank pays ten to one.

Ah, what a sad thing it is
that men should stoop as low--

My star sign is Sagittarius.

- Finish the game, good Abbot.
- Mine is Libra, the balance.

- Master troubadour?
- Thank you, milord,

but gambling is much
against my principles.

Leo!

So you both lose.

Oh, bad luck.

But surely, my lord, mother church
frowns upon this thing.

Oh, she does indeed, Father,
and rightly so,

for it is pernicious and beyond doubt
an invention of the devil.

For instance, I recall one night in Cyprus

when Scorpio had a run of 17,

followed by ten of Capricorn.

You would've thought the thing bewitched.

- Scorpio.
- And i'll take Capricorn.

Scorpio and Capricorn,

the wheel spins.

No more play now, the wheel spins.

Come along, little hope.

I wonder who's going
to be lucky this time.

Now, this is Elvira, my attire woman.

Gilbert of Lancaster is
going to sing for us, Elvira.

Is it your wish that i withdraw, milady?

- Of course not.
- Oh, sorry, milady,

but i remember when young
Brian of Eskdale was here...

Lady Alys is interested
only in my singing, Elvira.

- I know not Brian of Eskdale.
- He is my betrothed.

Oh, then i am guilty of
the deadly sin of envy,

but as that is clearly the only sin
that i shall be allowed to be guilty of,

Elvira may well stay.

You remind me of a minstrel
i knew in my younger days.

He travelled the west country with a score

of scandalous tales running ahead of him

and five score husbands
running behind.

Yes.

Know you any of the ballads of Robin Hood?

You seem most interested in
that worthless outlaw, milady.

I don't think he is worthless.

Two years ago, when my
kinswoman, Alys of Beau Forest,

was to wed an old man she loathed,

Robin and his men
carried her off

and wed her to the man she loved.

- His name was Alan-a-Dale.
- I heard that story.

Well, if he did that,
he can't be worthless, can he?

I hope not, milady.

And as for that fat
Abbot's description of him,

scurvy and black of eyes
with a cast in each eye,

I just don't believe it.

Now, there i am with you.

I don't think i trust that Abbot.

How wise of you, milady.

If only your guardian was equally wise,

it would save him a lot of money.

Taurus wins, bad luck, Hubert.

You were on that last time, weren't you?

What you really want for this game,
you know, is a plan.

Sir!

What do you want, fellow?

Your pardon, sir,
but are you not the knight Saltire,

-friend of the Count Moraine?
- I am.

And you, by your appearance,
are one of the men of Sherwood.

Indeed, sir, and meeting you
has saved me a long journey, I hope,

-for i am on my way to Castle Moraine.
- With news?

A message from Robin Hood, sir.

He says the King lands shortly
and the rebels know it.

How knows he this?

Doubtless, he learned it in Belton Castle.

Robin Hood in Belton?

He's been there these last 20 hours.

Has he, indeed?

You've done your task well, lad,
I'll tell your master so.

You mean, I don't need
to find the Count Moraine?

No need at all, lad,
I'll take your message to him.

Thank you kindly.

- Good luck, sir.
- Good luck.

Now, ride, you fools, to Belton.

Taurus, bad luck again,
gentlemen, bad luck.

Nigel, you're early.

On the contrary, I think i'm late.

At least, Robin Hood
and Friar Tuck are here before me.

- Robin Hood and Friar--
- Taking you for fools.

They're spying for the King.

Watch out!

Tuck!

Thank you, Sir Guy.

Aah!

Bowmen, knot your shots!

Two cloth yards each if you don't yield.

Stand back, you clumsy fools!

I've done that so often myself.

Alright.

Is there a password?

None mentioned in the message, no,
but what's the need?

Met by his loyal subject,
Sir Nigel Saltire.

- What escort shall i take?
- The fewer the better.

I reckon four bowmen should be enough.

The whole thing is for secrecy,

- Richard will suspect nothing.
- Then i'd better be going.

Time is getting short.

You could be there easily
in a couple of hours.

Why wait about on a drafty--

I'd rather wait than lose Richard
by not being there.

Anything may happen, he may land earlier.

We're playing for high stakes, Hubert.

God save Prince John.

God save King John.

- Father David.
- Yes, my child?

Are you going to
visit the outlaws before...

- Well, before...
- I go there at this moment.

Then will you take this rasp to them?

My child, what are you asking me,

that i should help outlaws to escape?

Well, you heard what that
false knight Saltire said.

They're spying for the King.

That means that
this castle is for Prince John.

I take no part in politics, my child.

Well, then for the sake
of common humanity.

I can't do it.

But you're the only person
who can get past the jailers.

And therefore the very first
person on whom Sir Guy

would turn should they escape.

- Oh, Father David.
- No, I can have nothing to do with it.

Jailer!

Jailer, come to the door,
you frightened weakling!

I curse on you, you noisy thief.

Has anyone ever escaped from here?

They have not, nor shall they.

Are you a betting man?

Now, if that's Father David, let him in,

but anyone else, call me.

Oh, Father David.

Oh, thank you, Father.

Tuck, let's not be gloomy
on our last night.

A rousing stave, lad, come on!

♪ There was a gay forester
lived in a wood ♪

♪ He never knew harm
and he never knew good ♪

♪ He never knew sorrow
and he never knew fear ♪

♪ And he spent all his days
a-chasing the deer ♪

♪ With a folderol, folderol,
folderol, folderol ♪

That's little
encouragement for Father David.

They're gonna sing
a different song in the morning.

Should these two prisoners escape,

- Sir Guy will probably hang me.
- Fiddle-faddle.

Lady Alys would never
let you take the blame,

even if she got whipped for it,
as she will.

But Sir Guy may not have the patience
to ask who's responsible.

Father, you're meeting trouble halfway.

Wait till they're free,
and they're nothing like it yet.

- Now, keep your legs covered.
- Oh.

♪ There was a gay friar
who lived in a dell ♪

♪ He carolled all day
for he lived very well ♪

♪ He had venison aplenty
that came from the King ♪

♪ And he thought that his life
was a wonderful thing ♪

♪ With a folderol, folderol,
folderol, folderol ♪

♪ Folderol, folderol, folderol ♪

♪ And we sing,
hey, for a forester's life ♪

♪ Oh, there was a gay minstrel
who lived in a glade ♪

♪ And he won every heart
with the songs that he made ♪

Well?

It worked, it worked, Elvira.
They'll be free in a few minutes.

- Oh, oh my!
- I mean free of their bonds.

How they'll get out of the cell,
I don't know.

Oh, my grateful thanks for the loan
of the clothes, Father.

Oh, my child,
when Sir Guy hears of this...

Oh, you need have no fears.

The blame is all mine
and i shall own it gladly,

and if you're worried about not having
discharged your priestly office,

well, you can do it in the morning,

if Robin and Tuck are still here,

which God send they won't be.

May i leave now, milady?

Of course,

and if you'll take my advice,
you'll go straight to bed

and think no more of Robin Hood
until you have to.

- Oh, I'll try.
- Goodnight, Father.

Goodnight, my daughters.

- Oh, Elvira!
- Oh-ho!

I haven't had such an
exciting night since--

Since young Brian of
Eskdale went to France.

That's not what i was going to say at all.

Oh, but isn't it exciting, Elvira?

♪ There was a gay forester
lived in a wood ♪

♪ He never did harm
and he never did good ♪

I thought that was what you were humming,

but i couldn't believe my ears.

May i ask, milady,
where you heard such a song as that?

Well, the outlaws sang it
to drown the noise of the rasp.

What's wrong with it?

Did they sing the verse about the hermit?

Hermit? No, I don't think so.

Oh, then perhaps it is alright.

♪ There was a gay hermit, uh,
forester lived in the wood ♪

♪ And we sing, hey,
for a forester's life ♪

♪ Oh ♪

♪ There was a gay hermit
who ate only grout ♪

Peace, Tuck, peace,
I'm tired of this singing.

But i thought you wanted to be merry

this night before we die?

I've changed my mind,
and i've changed my mind about dying, too.

Jailer!

Jailers!

What's amiss?

Have a mind to make your fortune, friend?

How might that be?

In roaming the forest for ten years,
I've laid up quite a store of treasure.

Aye, that i warrant.

It's all yours
if you'll let us escape from here.

Ho-ho-ho! And have Sir Guy
flay the skin from my body?

Listen, my friend,
we could be 30 miles from here

before Sir Guy missed us,

and once you had my treasure
in your hands,

you could laugh at him
and the whole chivalry of England.

It's a trick.

- Once free of this place--
- Of course it's a trick,

but he's not the only one
who can play tricks.

What proof have i that your band
will let me collect the treasure?

Because my band doesn't know
where my private treasure is hid.

- I can tell you--
- Why, you trusty rat, you!

What, you tell these dogs what
you refuse to tell your own comrades?

- You yellow--
- Hold your peace!

It's both our necks i'm buying. Well?

Will you tell me first where
the treasure is hidden?

Aye, if you promise
to let us go afterwards.

Of course, I will,

and Wamba here will bear me as witness.

Then come in and i'll tell you.

Why must i come in?

Would you rather i shout it
so the Tuck here

can tell the rest of the band
and have them stop you?

No, that sounds like sense.

Come here and let me whisper.

Look!

There are guards coming this way.

Can you squeeze through there?

Not if i starve for a month,
but you could, quick.

No, we stand and fall together.

Robin, one man free
is worth two in chains.

- Go on, hurry.
- No, Tuck, but i can't.

You there, bring the key!

I'll have you out before dawn.

Try not to be late, will you?

A chilly evening, gentlemen.
Freed, by the Rood!

- Where's Robin Hood?
- Where are the jailers?

The jailers are where
jailers ought to be, in jail.

I am afraid we mislaid the key,

but you could always break the door down.

Where is Robin Hood?

If you didn't meet him on the stairs,
I can't think.

- Here's your answer, sir.
- After him, all of you!

No, Walter, you i want.

The rest of you, take every
man who's on our guard

and scour the fields and forests.

If that knave is still free by the dawn,

the friar shall have other
company on the gallows.

Take him to the guardroom, Walter,
and don't take your eyes off him

for the rest of the night!

Trust me, sir. Come on.

Tell me, Walter, are you a gambling man?

- Gambling?
- Yes, come on.

I admire your spirit, for i am.

We of the guard will keep you company
for the last few hours.

Well, lads, we have
clerkly company tonight.

I bid you good evening, my sons.

And right brave company he is too,
for all he's an outlaw.

What shall it be, Friar?

A merry catch
that speeds you towards heaven?

Thank you, my son,
but it is time that i compose my soul.

If i may sit apart a little?

Away from the door,
you may do as you please.

Over there by the window will do.

Thank you.

Thank you, my sons.

Do you hear me, Tuck?

Do you remember the game you taught us
in the Greenwood last year?

You must teach it to the guard,

then in an hour or so,
I'll sound the alarm.

If you play as you did before,

I doubt they'll be in
a state to answer it.

That's when you make your bid, understood?

The saints be with you, Tuck.

- What have you there, Friar?
- What? These?

Oh, it's just a gift i had
from a dear friend

the night before he was hanged,
a series of pictures

showing the whole of
chivalry and heraldry. See?

Argent, a lozenge gules. Ermine.

Here is a knight,
and here the queen of beauty.

By the Rood, these are wondrous clear.

Look, argent three leaf sable,

the arms of my former master,
Count Beauvoir.

There's a king in all his panoply.

Tell me, Friar,
what use are these things for?

Well, as a matter fact,

quite an amusing little game
can be played,

and if any of you bold lads
would care for a little flutter.

Since when have our soldiers
had the means for that?

Oh, you don't need money,
I've none myself.

No, in the Greenwood,
we play for garments.

- Garments?
- Yes, garments.

It's child's play to understand.

There are but nine hands
to memorise.

One pair, two pairs, three of a kind...

Oh, but i think
you'll learn as we go along.

It's long past your
hour of bedtime, milady.

How can i think of bed
when there's so much stirring?

You saw the soldiers spreading
out towards the woods.

They must have escaped.

Oh, I wish i dared go down and find out.

Yes, but soon Sir Guy will start wondering
how they escaped.

Let us sit down
while we can still do so in comfort.

I pray they've reached
the safety of the woods.

A summons to judgement, I fear.

Mind if i come in?

- Robin!
- None other.

I came to express my thanks
to the debt we owe you.

- Please, the window.
- Why are you still here?

Tuck is still a prisoner,

and i have much to do
in the matter of serving my King.

- And there i hope you can help me.
- I'm most willing.

Is there a man in this
castle that you can trust,

a man that could take a message
to my lads in the forest?

And i don't want a fool,
there can be no mistakes in this matter.

I'll find someone. What is your message?

As yet i'm not quite sure.

I want a few more details first,
from Hubert, for choice.

Where does he sleep?

- The room at the end of the west passage.
- Good.

You're going there now, is it safe?

Nothing is safe, milady,
with the King's life at stake.

The west passage?

When you come back,
I'll have your messenger waiting.

Brian of Eskdale.

No, I cannot believe it was Father David,
and yet he was their only visitor.

- Hubert!
- Oh! Yeah. Oh, sorry.

Aye, if you're to be
of any use to me tomorrow,

you'd better go to your room
and sleep this off.

To your room, man. Garth!

- Sir?
- Wake Father David and fetch him here.

Yes, sir.

You cry and you'll finish it in heaven.

All i want is some information, Hubert.
What's happening to the King?

- What's happening to the King?
- Saltire is meeting him.

Where and when?

- At noon at Hull Beach.
- And then?

They plan to resist his landing.

I see, shoot him down like a dog

while he's clamouring ashore.
By the Rood, Hubert!

It was not my plan.

- How many men has Saltire with him?
- Forty.

If i thought you were lying to me...

I'm not, Robin, it's true.
I swear it by my hopes of heaven.

A slender enough thing
for you to swear by.

Alright, turn around. Turn around!

I'll see what you hold.

Four knights, Friar, thy robe.

Four aces, Walter, thy britches.

Your messenger, Sir.

Lady Alys, this is not a woman's work.
Is there no man--

None that i trust as i trust myself,
so write your message.

- But i can't allow you--
- The message, Robin!

Oh.

So, you let two women make you a prisoner.

I'm but a little man, Sir Guy,

and that great Amazon
has the strength of ten!

- Alright, you can go.
- Thank you, my son.

Garth!

Aye, sir.

Fetch me the Lady Alys
and her attire woman,

and this time you need not be gentle
or give them time to dress.

- Bring them as they are.
- At once, sir.

You sure you can get out
of the castle alright?

There's a south door
by the side of the moat.

Good.

But just in case,
there's a small clearing

due west of here,
but a few paces into the wood.

Go there and call for Little John.

Little John?

A summons from Sir Guy.

Get up and wake your mistress, wench!

My mistress is on her
way to the forest, friend.

Fine, now sweep him up.

He claims to have the
thickest skull in the castle,

so hit him again every count of 50
just for luck,

and don't worry about Sir Guy.

He'll have other things to
think about in a moment.

- You ready, my lady?
- Ready.

Robin, if i do this successfully for you,

will you do something for me?

Anything, my lady, name it.

Teach me the verse about the hermit.

That would come much
better from Brian of Eskdale.

Godspeed.

If Robin Hood's within a mile of here,
I'm King of Scotland.

He's halfway to Sherwood by now.

I would be if i were he.

The Friar will hang, but that's his lot.

For myself, I am going
back to report the failure.

I am with you, poking around these woods

as if outlaws grew on trees, come on.

Come here, stripling, come here.

- Why, it's Lady Alys.
- Indeed it is.

And i'll ask you to unhand me
or Sir Guy shall hear.

It's of my mind, milady, Sir Guy
will be most surprised to hear of it.

I'll warrant you're here on no business
of his in these clothes.

Think you, Peter, she might be
trysting with Robin Hood himself?

From what i know of noble ladies,
nothing would surprise me less.

Come, mistress, with us and Sir Guy
shall judge between us.

- And if we're at fault, we'll pay for it.
- Well, leave me!

Leave me alone!

Little John!

- Little John!
- You want me?

Are you Little John?

Aye, milady,
a name they gave me in jest methinks.

I think so, too.

A message from Robin Hood.

Where is Hull Beach, milady?

Hull Beach is on the Wash,

half a day's ride from here,
north-westerly.

Then we've no time to lose,

for Robin says we must be there
before the King lands at noon.

He says he and Tuck will
catch us up on the way.

Does that mean Tuck has escaped?

No, but Robin has a plan to free him.

Thank you, milady,
you've done a fine night's work for us.

I hope so.

Hubert!

Hubert, where the devil are you, man?

Hubert, Hubert!

What? By the Rood!

The alarm, by all the saints!

Give me my britches.

Rouse yourself, man,
can't you hear the alarm?

The castle is in danger
and you slumber like an ox.

Ah!

Walter! What is this madness?

- And where's the friar?
- The friar?

He was here a moment ago, sir.

Aye, and so was Robin Hood too,
I'll warrant, but they're not here now.

By the Rood, there shall be
a reckoning for this,

-but first, we must retake these outlaws.
- No need.

If you really want them,
we can retake them at our leisure

and with the whole band thrown in.

- Are you mad, where?
- At Hull Beach.

He's gone there to prevent
Saltire from assassinating the King

when he tries to land.

Hull Beach, but the King lands
on the flood tide at Fosdyke.

You mean, you told him Hull Beach
and he believed you?

I've long had a talent
for lying most convincingly.

So, there's no need to scatter the men
all round the countryside.

You are right.

- Hal! House Torman!
- Your will, sir?

- Give the men their woodland garb.
- Aye, sir.

- All ready, Walter?
- In a few moments, sir.

Hal, give out the masks!

- Milady!
- All is well,

What's happening in the courtyard?

Your pardon, but is my sword here?

Aye, but for what mischief
are you dressed like that?

Do you think i make a handsome forester?

Come and get your sword, Garth.

Thank you, milady.

But why the Greenwood cloak?

So that when we Kill the King,

everyone will think it was done
by Robin Hood's outlaws.

One of the King's companions
will be allowed to escape--

But the King lands at Hull Beach.

That's but a tale that Hubert told.

No, the King lands on
the flood tide at Fosdyke.

Garth!

- Coming, sire! Coming!
- Hurry, man!

Your servant, my lady.

As soon as they've gone,
go down and saddle my horse.

Robin must be warned, quick!

Will we be in good time, Robin?

We should be, a half day's ride,

an hour on our way already.

I'd give a gold piece
to see Sir Guy's face

when he found the guards
with not a stitch upon 'em.

- Everything ready, sir.
- Then forward to Marley Wood.

Forward, men!

How shall we know the ship, sir?

By the pennants on her masthead,
the three lions of England.

According to the sun, it should be soon.

Our sovereign lord back in
the bosom of his loyal subjects.

Here, Guy?

Yes, there's good cover.

- Walter!
- Sir?

Dispose of your men to the best advantage
and tell them all to put their masks up.

And make sure they've
got their orders clear.

At least one of the King's companions
is to be allowed to escape

to tell who was responsible
for Richard's death.

Yes, sir, but suppose none
of the King's companions tries to escape?

Then one of them
must be left gravely wounded,

and i myself will find him
in time to hear his story,

but whatever else happens,
Richard must die.

Yes, sir.

Nigel!

Your Majesty's most devoted subject.

Rise up, man.

It's good to see a friendly face again.

You know Sir Henry
and young Brian of Eskdale.

Where's Moraine?

He craves your pardon
for his absence, sire,

but an inflammation
of the leg keeps him to his room.

He waits to welcome you to his castle.

And i am all eagerness to get there.

- You have horses, I see.
- At Your Majesty's pleasure.

Then to horse, and let me look once again
upon my beloved England.

Robin, a horse!

All right, lads, clear!

Lady Alys.

Oh, Robin, thank heaven i found you.

- Something terribly important.
- What do you mean?

Hubert tricked you,
the King lands at Fosdyke.

He may be there by this time.

Sir Guy's men are to ambush him
in Marley Woods.

Marley Woods?

We shall never get there in time.

It's but an hour's march from Fosdyke,

but from here it's three times that.

- We six might do it.
- That's impossible.

- Sir Guy has 20 men with him.
- Nevertheless, we must try.

You heard how we've been tricked, lads.
To Marley Woods with you!

Lady Alys, you stay here

and rest your horse
and come back at leisure.

We'll go on ahead, and God save the King!

Surely this is not our best route
to Castle Moraine, is it, Nigel?

Not our shortest, sire,
but certainly our safest.

While you've been abroad,
the outlaws in your realm have multiplied,

and one particular band,
led by a scoundrel called Robin Hood,

have made Sherwood and Barnsdale
a death trap for honest travellers.

- Say you so?
- Yes, sire.

I thought it best to make
a day tour to avoid them

until we have sufficient force
to deal with them as they deserve.

Yes, yes, you were probably wise.

Which way then are we taking?

Through yonder, sire.
They call it Marley Woods.

Alright, the rest of you over there.

Alright?

Alright.

More under cover.

All ready, sir.

We should not have
very much longer to wait.

- See if Harold has any news for us.
- Yes, sir.

- Any sign of them, Harold?
- Not yet, Captain.

Well, keep your eye skinned, I'll wait.

Walter, horsemen, two knights in the lead.

I'm almost certain,
I can see their devices in the sun.

It's Saltire and the King.

Good man.

I'm alright, back to the trees.

Charge!

Quick! Charge, Robin!

Come on, hey, hey!

Sir Guy is down, boys, the battle's lost.

It's every man for himself.

Who are these stout fellows, Brian?

I'm afraid, sire,
that they are the very outlaws

against whom we were warned.

I've seen Robin Hood before
at Alan-a-Dale's wedding,

and from the look of them,
the two behind him

must be Friar Tuck and Little John.

With a score of such fellows behind me,

I'd have escaped from Germany years ago.

I look forward to making
their better acquaintance.

And that, sire, is the whole story,

and for our many crimes against your laws,
we crave your pardon.

From all accounts, you have much need to,

and i have much need to thank you

for the trifling gift of my life.

Rise up, man,
your crimes are forgiven you.

For your share in the matter, Lady Alys,

you have our warmest
gratitude now and always.

- Brian.
- Sire?

Belton Castle is forfeit, of course.

I need a man to hold it for me.

I had thought that you might be that man,

but as you seem to have found
something better to hold...

- We are betrothed, sire.
- Oh?

Well, in that case,

we'll speed the bands
and you can hold both.

- Robin!
- Sire?

The one part of your story

I don't follow is how
a solitary friar, unarmed,

could put 12 men out of action
and give them the slip

in a lighted guardroom.

I shall be delighted to demonstrate
to Your Majesty and, indeed,

to any other gentlemen
who fancies a sporting investment...

They tell me, Moraine,
that in spite of all the game laws,

there are still sturdy rogues
who risk their necks

by killing our royal deer
in the royal forest.

I fear that is true, sire.

In that case, Robin, I feel sure
you can give us all a right royal supper.

Sire!

Away you go, men!