midnight
In fact the anchorite and his guest were performing , at the full extent of their very powerful lungs , an old drinking song , of which this was the burden : -- `` Come , trowl the brown bowl to me , Bully boy , bully boy , Come , trowl the brown bowl to me : Ho ! jolly Jenkin , I spy a knave in drinking , Come , trowl the brown bowl to me . '' `` Now , that is not ill sung , '' said Wamba , who had thrown in a few of his own flourishes to help out the chorus . `` But who , in the saint 's name , ever expected to have heard such a jolly chant come from out a hermit 's cell at midnight ! '' `` Marry , that should I , '' said Gurth , `` for the jolly Clerk of Copmanhurst is a known man , and kills half the deer that are stolen in this walk . Men say that the keeper has complained to his official , and that he will be stripped of his cowl and cope altogether , if he keeps not better order . '' While they were thus speaking , Locksley 's loud and repeated knocks had at length disturbed the anchorite and his guest .