"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.
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