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Title: Robin Hood

Compiler: Joseph Ritson

Illustrator: Thomas Bewick
        Edwin Buckman
        Alfred Holst Tourrier

Release date: April 5, 2018 [eBook #56926]

Language: English

Credits: Produced by MWS, RichardW, and the Online Distributed
        Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. Music transcribed
        by Linda Cantoni. (This file was produced from images
        generously made available by The Internet Archive.)


*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ROBIN HOOD ***




Produced by MWS, RichardW, and the Online Distributed
Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net. Music transcribed
by Linda Cantoni. (This file was produced from images
generously made available by The Internet Archive.)









  ROBIN HOOD, a Collection of all the Ancient
  Poems, Songs and Ballads, now extant, Relative
  to that Celebrated English Outlaw; by Joseph
  Ritson; With eighty Wood Engravings by Thomas
  Bewick and nine Etchings from original
  paintings by A.H. Tourrier and E. Buckman.




ROBIN HOOD.


_PUBLISHER’S NOTE._

_Of this fine Large Paper Edition one hundred copies are printed,
each being numbered._

_The portrait and nine etchings are given in duplicate, one being
printed on Whatman paper and the other on Japanese._


 _No._ 61




[Illustration: J. Ritson.]

[Illustration: J. Ritson.]


 _RITSON_

 ROBIN HOOD

 A Collection of all the Ancient Poems,
 Songs and Ballads, now extant, Relative to
 that Celebrated English Outlaw

 TO WHICH ARE PREFIXED HISTORICAL ANECDOTES
 OF HIS LIFE

 BY JOSEPH RITSON

 With Eighty Wood Engravings

 BY THOMAS BEWICK

 PRINTED ON CHINA PAPER

 Also Nine Etchings from Original Paintings

 BY A. H. TOURRIER AND E. BUCKMAN

 LONDON
 JOHN C. NIMMO
 14, KING WILLIAM STREET, STRAND, W.C.
 1885




[Illustration: The Ballantyne Press

Ballantyne & Hanson Edinburgh London]


[Illustration]




_PUBLISHER’S NOTICE._


_This edition of ROBIN HOOD is printed from that published in
1832, which was carefully edited and printed from Mr. RITSON’S own
annotated edition of 1795._

_The original wood engravings, by the celebrated THOMAS BEWICK,
have been again used; and from being printed on China paper, will
be found superior in clearness and beauty to the first impression._

_The nine etchings now given have been newly etched from original
pictures painted by A. H. TOURRIER and E. BUCKMAN._

[Illustration]




CONTENTS.

  THE LIFE OF ROBIN HOOD . . . i

  NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS . . . xiv


  Part the First.

  I. A LYTELL GESTE OF ROBYN HODE . . . 1

  II. ROBIN HOOD [AND THE POTTER] . . . 81

  III. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR . . . 97

  IV. ROBIN HOOD AND GUY OF GISBORNE . . . 114

  V. A TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD . . . 126


  Part the Second.

  I. ROBIN HOOD’S BIRTH, BREEDING, VALOUR, AND
  MARRIAGE . . . 149

  II. ROBIN HOOD’S PROGRESS TO
  NOTTINGHAM . . . 161

  III. THE JOLLY PINDER OF WAKEFIELD, WITH ROBIN
  HOOD, SCARLET, AND JOHN . . . 166

  IV. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP . . . 170

  V. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BUTCHER . . . 175

  VI. ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNER . . . 181

  VII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE TINKER . . . 189

  VIII. ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE . . . 197

  IX. ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD . . . 203

  X. ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTALL FRYER . . . 209

  XI. ROBIN HOOD AND THE STRANGER . . . 217

  XII. ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE . . . 235

  XIII. ROBIN HOOD’S CHASE . . . 244

  XIV. ROBIN HOOD’S GOLDEN PRIZE . . . 249

  XV. ROBIN HOOD RESCUING WILL STUTLY . . . 254

  XVI. THE NOBLE FISHERMAN; OR, ROBIN HOOD’S
  PREFERMENT . . . 262

  XVII. ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT . . . 268

  XVIII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR . . . 274

  XIX. LITTLE JOHN AND THE FOUR BEGGARS . . . 280

  XX. ROBIN HOOD AND THE RANGER . . . 285

  XXI. ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN . . . 290

  XXII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF
  HEREFORD . . . 298

  XXIII. ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW’S THREE
  SONS FROM THE SHERIFF WHEN GOING TO BE
  EXECUTED . . . 303

  XXIV. ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN . . . 309

  XXV. THE KING’S DISGUISE, AND FRIENDSHIP WITH
  ROBIN HOOD . . . 314

  XXVI. ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW . . . 323

  XXVII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE VALIANT
  KNIGHT . . . 330

  XXVIII. ROBIN HOOD’S DEATH AND BURIAL . . . 335


  APPENDIX . . . 341

  GLOSSARY . . . 387

[Illustration]




LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS.

   PORTRAIT OF JOSEPH RITSON . . . _Frontispiece_

   KIRKLEY HALL . . . _Page_ xiv

   COURTESY OF LITTLE JOHN . . . 6

   LITTLE JOHN AND THE KNIGHT . . . 14

   ROBIN HOOD AND THE LADY . . . 58

   THE BANQUET . . . 89

   ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBOT . . . 132

   ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER . . . 168

   THE PRAYER OF THE FRIARS . . . 252

   ROBIN HOOD AND HIS BETRAYER . . . 336

[Illustration]




PREFACE.


The singular circumstance that the name of an outlawed individual
of the twelfth or thirteenth century should continue traditionally
popular, be chanted in ballads, and, as one may say,

 Familiar in our mouth as household words,

at the end of the eighteenth, excited the editor’s curiosity to
retrieve all the historical or poetical remains concerning him that
could be met with: an object which he has occasionally pursued
for many years; and of which pursuit he now publishes the result.
He cannot, indeed, pretend that his researches, extensive as they
must appear, have been attended with all the success he could
have wished; but, at the same time, it ought to be acknowledged
that many poetical pieces, of great antiquity and some merit, are
deservedly rescued from oblivion.

The materials collected for the “Life” of this celebrated
character, which are either preserved at large or carefully
referred to in the “Notes and Illustrations,” are not, it must
be confessed, in every instance, so important, so ancient, or,
perhaps, so authentic, as the subject seems to demand; although the
compiler may be permitted to say, in humble second-hand imitation
of the poet Martial:

 Some there are good, some middling, and some bad;
 But yet they were the best that could be had.

Desirous to omit nothing that he could find upon the subject, he
has everywhere faithfully vouched and exhibited his authorities,
such as they are: it would, therefore, seem altogether uncandid or
unjust to make him responsible for the want of authenticity of such
of them as may appear liable to that imputation.

[Illustration]

{i}

[Illustration]




THE LIFE OF ROBIN HOOD.


It will scarcely be expected that one should be able to offer
an authentic narrative of the life and transactions of this
extraordinary personage. The times in which he lived, the mode of
life he adopted, and the silence or loss of contemporary writers,
are circumstances sufficiently favourable, indeed, to romance,
but altogether inimical to historical truth. The reader must,
therefore, be contented with such a detail, however scanty or
imperfect, as a zealous pursuit of the subject enables one to give;
and which, though it may fail to satisfy, may possibly serve to
amuse.

No assistance has been derived from the labours of his professed
biographers (1);[1] and even the {ii} industrious Sir John
Hawkins, from whom the public might have expected ample
gratification upon the subject, acknowledges that “the history
of this popular hero is but little known, and all the scattered
fragments concerning him, could they be brought together, would
fall far short of satisfying such an inquirer as none but real
and authenticated facts will content. We must,” he says, “take
his story as we find it.” He accordingly gives us nothing but two
or three trite and trivial extracts, with which every one at all
curious about the subject was as well acquainted as himself. It is
not, at the same time, pretended, that the present attempt promises
more than to bring together the scattered fragments to which the
learned historian alludes. This, however, has been done, according
to the best of the compiler’s information and abilities; and the
result is, with a due sense of the deficiency of both, submitted to
the reader’s candour.

       *       *       *       *       *

ROBIN HOOD was born at Locksley, in the county of Nottingham (2),
in the reign of King Henry the Second, and about the year of Christ
1160 (3). His extraction was noble, and his true name ROBERT
FITZOOTH, which vulgar pronunciation easily corrupted into ROBIN
HOOD (4). He is frequently styled, and commonly reputed to have
been, EARL OF HUNTINGDON; a title to which, in the latter part of
his life, at least, he actually appears to have had some sort of
pretension (5). In his youth he {iii} is reported to have been of
a wild and extravagant disposition; insomuch that, his inheritance
being consumed or forfeited by his excesses, and his person
outlawed for debt, either from necessity or choice, he sought
an asylum in the woods and forests, with which immense tracts,
especially in the northern parts of the kingdom, were at that time
covered (6). Of these, he chiefly affected Barnsdale, in Yorkshire,
Sherwood, in Nottinghamshire, and, according to some, Plompton
Park, in Cumberland (7). Here he either found, or was afterward
joined by, a number of persons in similar circumstances—

 “Such as the fury of ungovern’d youth
  Thrust from the company of awful men,” (8)

who appear to have considered and obeyed him as their chief or
leader, and of whom his principal favourites, or those in whose
courage and fidelity he most confided, where Little John (whose
surname is said to have been Nailor), William Scadlock (Scathelock
or Scarlet), George a Green, pinder (or pound-keeper) of Wakefield,
Much, a miller’s son, and a certain monk or frier named Tuck (9).
He is likewise said to have been accompanied in his retreat by a
female, of whom he was enamoured, and whose real or adopted name
was Marian (10).

His company, in process of time, consisted of a hundred archers;
men, says Major, most skilful in battle, whom four times that
number of the boldest fellows durst not attack (11). His manner
of recruiting was somewhat singular; for, in the words of an {iv}
old writer, “whersoever he hard of any that were of unusual
strength and ‘hardines,’ he would desgyse himselfe, and, rather
then fayle, go lyke a begger to become acquaynted with them; and,
after he had tryed them with fyghting, never give them over tyl he
had used means to drawe [them] to lyve after his fashion” (12):
a practice of which numerous instances are recorded in the more
common and popular songs, where, indeed, he seldom fails to receive
a sound beating. In shooting with the long bow, which they chiefly
practised, “they excelled all the men of the land; though, as
occasion required, they had also other weapons” (13).

In those forests, and with this company, he for many years reigned
like an independent sovereign; at perpetual war, indeed, with the
King of England, and all his subjects, with an exception, however,
of the poor and needy, and such as were “desolate and oppressed,”
or stood in need of his protection. When molested, by a superior
force in one place, he retired to another, still defying the power
of what was called law and government, and making his enemies pay
dearly, as well for their open attacks, as for their clandestine
treachery. It is not, at the same time, to be concluded that he
must, in this opposition, have been guilty of manifest treason or
rebellion; as he most certainly can be justly charged with neither.
An outlaw, in those times, being deprived of protection, owed
no allegiance: “his hand was against every man, and every man’s
hand against him” (14). {v} These forests, in short, were his
territories; those who accompanied and adhered to him his subjects:

 “The world was not his friend, nor the world’s law:”

and what better title King Richard could pretend to the territory
and people of England than Robin Hood had to the dominion of
Barnsdale or Sherwood is a question humbly submitted to the
consideration of the political philosopher.

The deer with which the royal forests then abounded (every Norman
tyrant being, like Nimrod, “a mighty hunter before the Lord”)
would afford our hero and his companions an ample supply of food
throughout the year; and of fuel, for dressing their vension, or
for the other purposes of life, they could evidently be in no want.
The rest of their necessaries would be easily procured, partly by
taking what they had occasion for from the wealthy passenger who
traversed or approached their territories, and partly by commerce
with the neighbouring villages or great towns.

It may be readily imagined that such a life, during great part of
the year, at least, and while it continued free from the alarms
or apprehensions to which our foresters, one would suppose, must
have been too frequently subject, might be sufficiently pleasant
and desirable, and even deserve the compliment which is paid to it
by Shakespeare in his comedy of _As you like it_ (act i. scene 1),
where, on Oliver’s asking, “Where will the old duke live?” Charles
answers, “They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and {vi}
a many merry men with him; and there they live like the OLD ROBIN
HOOD OF ENGLAND; . . . and fleet the time carelessly as they did in
the golden world.” Their gallant chief, indeed, may be presumed to
have frequently exclaimed with the banished Valentine, in another
play of the same author:[2]

 “How use doth breed a habit in a man!
  This shadowy desert, unfrequented woods,
  I better brook than flourishing peopled towns:
  Here can I sit alone, unseen of any,
  And, to the nightingale’s complaining notes,
  Tune my distresses and record my woes.”

He would doubtless, too, often find occasion to add:

 “What hallooing and what stir is this to-day?
  These are my mates, that make their wills their law,
  Have some unhappy passenger in chace:
  They love me well; yet I have much to do,
  To keep them from uncivil outrages.”

But, on the other hand, it will be at once difficult and painful to
conceive,

 “――When they did hear
  The rain and wind beat dark December, how,
  In that their pinching cave, they could discourse
  The freezing hours away!” (15).

Their mode of life, in short, and domestic economy, of which no
authentic particulars have been even traditionally preserved,
are more easily to be guessed at than described. They have,
nevertheless, been elegantly sketched by the animating pencil of an
excellent though neglected poet:—

{vii}

   “The merry pranks he play’d, would ask an age to tell,
 And the adventures strange that Robin Hood befell,
 When Mansfield many a time for Robin hath been laid,
 How he hath cousen’d them, that him would have betray’d;
 How often he hath come to Nottingham disguis’d,
 And cunningly escap’d, being set to be surpriz’d.
 In this our spacious isle, I think there is not one,
 But he hath heard some talk of him and Little John;
 And to the end of time, the tales shall ne’er be done,
 Of Scarlock, George a Green, and Much the miller’s son,
 Of Tuck the merry frier, which many a sermon made
 In praise of Robin Hood, his outlaws, and their trade.
 An hundred valiant men had this brave Robin Hood,
 Still ready at his call, that bowmen were right good,
 All clad in Lincoln green (16), with caps of red and blue,
 His fellow’s winded horn not one of them but knew,
 When setting to their lips their little beugles shrill,
 The warbling ecchos wak’d from every dale and hill.
 Their bauldricks set with studs, athwart their shoulders cast,
 To which under their arms their sheafs were buckled fast,
 A short sword at their belt, a buckler scarce a span,
 Who struck below the knee, not counted then a man:
 All made of Spanish yew, their bows were wondrous strong;
 They not an arrow drew, but was a cloth-yard long.
 Of archery they had the very perfect craft,
 With broad-arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft,
 At marks full forty score, they us’d to prick, and rove,
 Yet higher than the breast, for compass never strove;
 Yet at the farthest mark a foot could hardly win:
 At long-outs, short, and hoyles, each one could cleave the pin:
 Their arrows finely pair’d, for timber, and for feather,
 With birch and brazil piec’d to fly in any weather;
 And shot they with the round, the square, or forked pile,
 The loose gave such a twang, as might be heard a mile.
 And of these archers brave, there was not any one,
 But he could kill a deer his swiftest speed upon,
 Which they did boil and roast, in many a mighty wood,
 Sharp hunger the fine sauce to their more kingly food. {viii}
 Then taking them to rest, his merry men and he
 Slept many a summer’s night under the greenwood tree.
 From wealthy abbots’ chests, and churls’ abundant store,
 What oftentimes he took, he shar’d amongst the poor:
 No lordly bishop came in lusty Robin’s way,
 To him before he went, but for his pass must pay:
 The widow in distress he graciously reliev’d,
 And remedied the wrongs of many a virgin griev’d: (17)
 He from the husband’s bed no married woman wan,
 But to his mistress dear, his loved Marian,
 Was ever constant known, which wheresoe’er she came,
 Was sovereign of the woods; chief lady of the game:
 Her clothes tuck’d to the knee, and dainty braided hair,
 With bow and quiver arm’d, she wander’d here and there,
 Amongst the forests wild; Diana never knew
 Such pleasures, nor such harts as Mariana slew.”[3]

That our hero and his companions, while they lived in the woods,
had recourse to robbery for their better support is neither to
be concealed nor to be denied. Testimonies to this purpose,
indeed, would be equally endless and unnecessary. Fordun, in the
fourteenth century, calls him “_ille famosissimus siccarius_,”
that most celebrated robber, and Major terms him and Little John
“_famatissimi latrones_.” But it is to be remembered, according to
the confession of the latter historian, that, in these exertions
of power, he took away the goods of rich men only; never killing
any person, unless he was attacked or resisted: that he would not
suffer a woman to be maltreated; nor ever took anything from the
poor, but charitably fed them with the wealth he drew from the
abbots. I disapprove, says he, of the rapine {ix} of the man:
but he was the most humane and the prince of all robbers (18). In
allusion, no doubt, to this irregular and predatory course of life,
he has had the honour to be compared to the illustrious Wallace,
the champion and deliverer of his country; and that, it is not a
little remarkable, in the latter’s own time (19).

Our hero, indeed, seems to have held bishops, abbots, priests, and
monks, in a word, all the clergy, regular or secular, in decided
aversion.

 “These byshoppes and thyse archebyshoppes,
  Ye shall them bete and bynde,”

was an injunction carefully impressed upon his followers. The Abbot
of Saint Mary’s, in York (20), from some unknown cause, appears to
have been distinguished by particular animosity; and the Sheriff of
Nottinghamshire (21), who may have been too active and officious in
his endeavours to apprehend him, was the unremitted object of his
vengeance.

Notwithstanding, however, the aversion in which he appears to
have held the clergy of every denomination, he was a man of
exemplary piety, according to the notions of that age, and retained
a domestic chaplain (Frier Tuck, no doubt) for the diurnal
celebration of the divine mysteries. This we learn from an anecdote
preserved by Fordun (22), as an instance of those actions which
the historian allows to deserve commendation. One day, as he heard
mass, which he was most devoutly accustomed to do (nor would {x}
he, in whatever necessity, suffer the office to be interrupted,)
he was espied by a certain sheriff and officers belonging to the
king, who had frequently before molested him in that most secret
recess of the wood where he was at mass. Some of his people, who
perceived what was going forward, advised him to fly with all
speed, which, out of reverence to the sacrament, which he was then
most devoutly worshipping, he absolutely refused to do. But the
rest of his men having fled for fear of death, Robin, confiding
solely in Him whom he reverently worshipped, with a very few,
who by chance were present, set upon his enemies, whom he easily
vanquished; and, being enriched with their spoils and ransom, he
always held the ministers of the Church and masses in greater
veneration ever after, mindful of what is vulgarly said:

 “Him God does surely hear
  Who oft to th’ mass gives ear.”

Having, for a long series of years, maintained a sort of
independent sovereignty, and set kings, judges, and magistrates at
defiance, a proclamation was published (23) offering a considerable
reward for bringing him in either dead or alive; which, however,
seems to have been productive of no greater success than former
attempts for that purpose. At length, the infirmities of old age
increasing upon him (24), and desirous to be relieved, in a fit
of sickness, by being let blood, he applied for that purpose to
the Prioress of Kirkleys nunnery in Yorkshire, his {xi} relation
(women, and particularly religious women, being, in those times,
somewhat better skilled in surgery than the sex is at present), by
whom he was treacherously suffered to bleed to death. This event
happened on the 18th of November 1247, being the 31st year of King
Henry III. and (if the date assigned to his birth be correct) about
the 87th of his age (24). He was interred under some trees, at a
short distance from the house; a stone being placed over his grave,
with an inscription to his memory (25).

Such was the end of Robin Hood: a man who, in a barbarous age, and
under a complicated tyranny, displayed a spirit of freedom and
independence which has endeared him to the common people, whose
cause he maintained (for all opposition to tyranny is the cause of
the people), and, in spite of the malicious endeavours of pitiful
monks, by whom history was consecrated to the crimes and follies
of titled ruffians and sainted idiots, to suppress all record of
his patriotic exertions and virtuous acts, will render his name
immortal.

With respect to his personal character: it is sufficiently evident
that he was active, brave, prudent, patient; possessed of uncommon
bodily strength and considerable military skill; just, generous,
benevolent, faithful, and beloved or revered by his followers
or adherents for his excellent and amiable qualities. Fordun,
a priest, extols his piety, Major (as we have seen) pronounces
him the most humane and the prince of all robbers; and Camden,
whose testimony is of {xii} some weight, calls him “_prædonem
mitissimum_,” the gentlest of thieves. As proofs of his universal
and singular popularity: his story and exploits have been made
the subject as well of various dramatic exhibitions (26), as of
innumerable poems, rimes, songs and ballads (27): he has given
rise to divers proverbs (28); and to swear by him, or some of his
companions, appears to have been a usual practice (29): his songs
have been chanted on the most solemn occasions (30); his service
sometimes preferred to the Word of God (31): he may be regarded
as the patron of archery (32); and, though not actually canonised
(a situation to which the miracles wrought in his favour, as well
in his lifetime as after his death, and the supernatural powers
he is, in some parts, supposed to have possessed (33), give him
an indisputable claim), he obtained the principal distinction of
sainthood, in having a festival allotted to him, and solemn games
instituted in honour of his memory, which were celebrated till the
latter end of the sixteenth century; not by the populace only, but
by kings or princes and grave magistrates; and that as well in
Scotland as in England; being considered, in the former country, of
the highest political importance, and essential to the civil and
religious liberties of the people, the efforts of government to
suppress them frequently producing tumult and insurrection (34).
His bow, and one of his arrows, his chair, his cap, and one of
his slippers, were preserved, with peculiar veneration, till
within {xiii} the present century (35); and not only places which
afforded him security or amusement, but even the well at which he
quenched his thirst, still retain his name (36): a name which, in
the middle of the present century, was conferred as a singular
distinction upon the prime minister to the king of Madagascar (37).

After his death his company was dispersed (38). History is silent
in particulars: all that we can, therefore, learn is, that the
honour of Little John’s death and burial is contended for by
rival nations (39); that his grave continued long “celebrous
for the yielding of excellent whetstones;” and that some of his
descendants, of the name of Nailor, which he himself bore, and they
from him, were in being so late as the last century (40).

[Illustration]


FOOTNOTES TO “THE LIFE OF ROBIN HOOD”, pp. i–xiii


 [1] For Notes, &c., see p. xiv. _et seq._


 [2] Two Gentlemen of Verona, act v. scene 4.


 [3] Drayton’s Polyolbion, song xxvi.

{xiv}




NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS REFERRED TO IN THE FOREGOING LIFE.


(1) _“Former biographers,” &c._] Such, that is, as have already
appeared in print, since a sort of manuscript life in the Sloane
Library will appear to have been of some service. The first of
these respectable personages is the author, or rather compiler,
of “The noble birth and gallant achievements of that remarkable
outlaw Robin Hood; together with a true account of the many
merry extravagant exploits he played; in twelve several stories:
newly collected by an ingenious antiquary. London, printed by W.
O.” [William Onley], 4to, black letter, no date. These “several
stories,” in fact, are only so many of the songs in the common
Garland transposed; and the “ingenious antiquary,” who strung them
together, has known so little of his trade, that he sets out with
informing us of his hero’s banishment by King Henry the Eighth. The
above is supposed to be the “small merry book” called Robin Hood,
mentioned in a list of “books, ballads, and histories, printed for
and sold by William Thackeray at the Angel in Duck-lane” (about
1680), preserved in one of the volumes of old ballads (part of
Bagford’s collection) in the British Museum.

Another piece of biography, from which much will not be expected,
is “The lives and heroick atchievements of the renowned Robin Hood
and James Hind, two noted robbers and highwaymen. London, 1752.”
8vo. This, however, is probably nothing more than an extract from
Johnson’s “Lives of the Highwaymen,” in which, as a specimen of the
authors historical authenticity, we have the life and actions of
that noted robber, Sir John Falstaff.

[Illustration: KIRKLEY HALL.]

[Illustration: KIRKLEY HALL.]

{xv}

The principal if not sole reason why our hero is never once
mentioned by Matthew Paris, Benedictus Abbas, or any other
ancient English historian, was most probably his avowed enmity to
churchmen; and history, in former times, was written by none but
monks. They were unwilling to praise the actions which they durst
neither misrepresent nor deny. Fordun and Major, however, being
foreigners, have not been deterred by this professional spirit from
rendering homage to his virtues.


(2) —“_was born at Locksley, in the county of Nottingham._”] “Robin
Hood,” says a MS. in the British Museum (Bib. Sloan. 715), written,
as it seems, toward the end of the sixteenth century, “was borne at
Lockesley in Yorkshyre, or after others in Nottinghamshire.” The
writer here labours under manifest ignorance and confusion, but the
first row of the rubric will set him right:

 “In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
    In merry sweet Locksly town,
  There bold Robin Hood was born and was bred,
    Bold Robin of famous renown.”[4]

Dr. Fuller (Worthies of England, 1662, p. 320) is doubtful as to
the place of his nativity. Speaking of the “Memorable Persons” of
Nottinghamshire, “Robert Hood,” says he, “(if not by birth) by his
chief abode this country-man.”

The name of such a town as Locksley, or Loxley (for so we sometimes
find it spelled), in the county of Nottingham or of York, does
not, it must be confessed, occur either in Sir Henry Spelman’s
Villare Anglicum. in Adams’s Index Villaris, in Whatley’s England’s
Gazetteer,[5] in Thoroton’s History of Nottinghamshire, or in the
Nomina Villarum Eboracensium (York, 1768, 8vo). The silence of
these authorities is not, however, to be regarded as a conclusive
proof that such a place never existed. The names of towns and
villages, of which no trace is now to be found but in ancient
writings, would fill a volume.

{xvi}


(3) —“_in the reign of King Henry the Second, and about the year
of Christ 1160._”] “Robin Hood,” according to the Sloane MS., “was
borne . . . in the dayes of Henry the 2nd, about the yeare 1160.”
This was the 6th year of that monarch; at whose death (anno 1189)
he would, of course, be about 29 years of age. Those writers are
therefore pretty correct who represent him as playing his pranks
(Dr. Fuller’s phrase) in the reign of King Richard the First, and,
according to the last-named author, “about the year of our Lord
1200.”[6] Thus Mair (who is followed by Stowe, Annales, 1592, p.
227), “Circa hæc tempora [sci. Ricardi I.] ut auguror,” &c. A MS.
note in the Museum (Bib. Har. 1233), not, in Mr. Wanley’s opinion,
to be relied on, places him in the same period, “Temp. Rich. I.”
Nor is Fordun altogether out of his reckoning in bringing him down
to the time of Henry III., as we shall hereafter see; and with him
agrees Andrew of Wyntowne, in his “Oryginale Cronykil,” written
about 1420, which, at the year 1283, has the following lines:

 “Lytil Jhon and Robyne Hude
  Wayth-men were commendyd gud:
  In Yngil-wode and Barnysdale
  Thai oysyd all this tyme thare trawale.”

A modern writer (History of Whitby, by Lionel Charlton, York, 1779,
4to), though of no authority in this point, has done well enough to
speak of him as living “in the days of abbot Richard and Peter his
successor;” that is, between the years 1176 and 1211. The author
of the two plays upon the story of our hero, of which a particular
account will be hereafter given, makes him contemporary with King
Richard, who, as well as his brother Prince John, is introduced
upon the scene; which is confirmed by another play, quoted in Note
5. Warner, also, in his Albion’s England, 1602, p. 132, refers his
existence to “better daies, first Richard’s daies.” This, to be
sure, may not be such evidence as would be sufficient to decide the
point in a court of justice; but neither judge nor counsel will
dispute {xvii} the authority of that oracle of the law Sir Edward
Coke, who pronounces that “This Robert Hood lived in the reign of
King R. I.” (3 Institute, 197).

We must not therefore regard what is said by such writers as the
author of “George a Greene, the pinner of Wakefield,” 1599 (see
Note 9), who represents our hero as contemporary with King Edward
IV.,[7] and the compiler of a foolish book called “The noble birth,
&c. of Robin Hood” (see Note 1), who commences it by informing us
of his banishment by King Henry VIII. As well, indeed, might we
suppose him to have lived before the time of Charlemagne, because
Sir John Harington, in his translation of the Orlando Furioso,
1590, p. 391, has made

 “Duke ’Ammon in great wrath thus wise to speake:
  This is a Tale indeed of Robin Hood,
  Which to beleeve, might show my wits but weake;”

or to imagine his story must have been familiar to Plutarch,
because in his Morals, translated by Dr. Philemon Holland, 1603, p.
644, we read the following passage:—“Evenso [_i.e._ as the crane
and fox serve each other in Æsop], when learned men at a table
plunge and drowne themselves (as it were), in subtile problemes and
questions interlaced with logicke, which the vulgar sort are not
able for their lives to comprehend and conceive; whiles they also
againe for their part come in with their foolish songs, and vain
ballads of Robin-Hood and Little John, telling tales of a tubbe, or
of a roasted horse, and such like.” Who, indeed, would be apt to
think that his skill in archery was known to Virgil? And yet, as
interpreted by our facetious friend Mr. Charles Cotton, he tells us
that

 “Cupid was a little tyny,
  Cogging, lying, peevish nynny;
  But with a bow the shit-breecht elf
  Would shoot like Robin Hood himself.”

In a word, if we are to credit translators, he must have {xviii}
existed before the siege of Troy; for thus, according to one of
Homer’s:

 “Then came a choice companion
  Of Robin Hood and Little John,
  Who many a buck and many a doe,
  In Sherwood forest, with his bow,
  Had nabb’d; believe me it is true, sir,
  The fellow’s Christian name was Teucer.”

                          _Iliad_, by Bridges, 4to, p. 231.[8]

This last supposition, indeed, has even the respectable countenance
of Dan Geoffrey Chaucer:

 “Pandarus answerde, it may be well inough,
  And held with him of all that ever he saied,
  But in his hart he thought, and soft lough,
  And to himselfe full soberly he saied,
  From hasellwood there Jolly Robin plaied,
  Shall come all that thou abidest here,
  Ye, farewell all the snow of ferne yere.”

                     _Troilus_ (B. 5), Speght’s edition, 1602.


(4) “_His extraction was noble, and his true name Robert
Fitzooth._”] In “an olde and auncient pamphlet,” which Grafton
the chronicler had seen, it was written that “This man discended
of a noble parentage.” The Sloane MS. says “He was of . . . .
parentage;” and though the material word is illegible, the sense
evidently requires noble. So, likewise, the Harleian note: “It is
said that he was of noble blood.” Leland also has expressly termed
him “nobilis” (Collectanea, i. 54). The following account of his
family will be found sufficiently particular. Ralph Fitzothes,
or Fitzooth, a Norman, who had come over to England with William
Rufus, married Maud or Matilda, daughter of Gilbert de Gaunt, Earl
of Kyme and Lindsey, by whom he had two sons: Philip, afterward
Earl of Kyme, that earldom being part of his mother’s dowry, and
William. Philip the elder died without issue; William was a ward to
Robert de Vere, Earl of Oxford, in whose household he received his
education, and who, by the king’s express command, gave {xix} him
in marriage to his own niece, the youngest of the three daughters
of the celebrated Lady Roisia de Vere, daughter of Aubrey de Vere,
Earl of Guisnes in Normandy, and lord high chamberlain of England
under Henry I., and of Adeliza, daughter to Richard de Clare, Earl
of Clarence and Hertford, by Payn de Beauchamp, baron of Bedford,
her second husband. The offspring of this marriage was our hero,
Robert Fitzooth, commonly called Robin Hood. (See Stukeley’s
Palæographia Britannica, No. I. passim.)

A writer in the Gentleman’s Magazine for March 1793, under the
signature D. H.,[9] pretends that Hood is only a corruption of
“o’ th’ wood, q.d. of Sherwood.” This, to be sure, is an absurd
conceit; but, if the name were a matter of conjecture, it might
be probably enough referred to some particular sort of hood
our hero wore by way of distinction or disguise. See Scot’s
Discoverie of Witchcraft, 1584, p. 522. In Jonson’s masque of “The
king’s entertainment at Welbeck” (Works, 1756, vii. 53), certain
characters are introduced “in livery hoods,” of whom Fitz-ale says,

 “Six hoods they are, and of the blood,
  They tell of ancient Robin Hood.”

It may be remembered that Hugh _Capet_, the first king of France
of the third and last race, obtained that surname from a similar
circumstance. It is unnecessary to add that Hood is a common
surname at this day, as well as a place in Yorkshire, formerly
_Hode_; and that Edward the Third, in the tenth year of his reign,
confirmed to Thomas, the son of _Robert de Hode_, of Hoveden, in
tail-general, certain places of moorland, _&c._ _in vasto de_
Incklesmore, _&c._ (Ro. Pa. 10 E. 3. m. 31).


(5) “_He is frequently styled . . . Earl of Huntingdon, a title
to which, for the latter part of his life at least, he actually
appears to have had some sort of pretension._”] In Grafton’s “olde
and auncient pamphlet,” though the author had, as already noticed,
said “this man discended of a NOBLE PARENTAGE,” he adds, “or
rather beyng of a base stocke {xx} and linage, was for his manhood
and chivalry advaunced to the noble dignitie of an ERLE.”

In the MS. note (Bib. Har. 1233) is the following passage: “It is
said that he was of noble blood no lesse then an earle.” Warner,
in his Albion’s England, already cited, calls him “a county.” The
titles of Mundy’s two plays are: “The downfall” and “The death of
Robert earle of Huntington.” He is likewise introduced in that
character in the same author’s Metropolis Coronata, hereafter
cited. In his epitaph we shall find him expressly styled “Robert,
Earl of Huntingtun.”

In “A pleasant commodie called Looke about you,” printed in 1600,
our hero is introduced, and performs a principal part. He is
represented as the young Earl of Huntington, and in ward to Prince
Richard, though his brother Henry, the young king, complains of his
having “had wrong about his wardship.” He is described as

 “A gallant youth, a proper gentleman;”

and is sometimes called “pretty earle” and “little wag.” One of the
characters thus addresses him:

 “But welcome, welcome, and young Huntington,
  Sweet Robyn Hude, honor’s best flowing bloome,”

and calls him

             “――an honourable youth,
 Vertuous and modest, Huntington’s right heyre.”

It is also said that

 “His father Gilbert was the smoothst fac’t lord
  That ere bare armes in England or in Fraunce.”

In one scene, “Enter Richard and Robert with coronets.”

  “_Rich._ Richard the Prince of England, with his ward,
 The noble Robert Hood, earle Huntington,
 Present their service to your majestie.”

Dr. Percy’s objection, that the most ancient poems make no mention
of this earldom,[10] but only call him a yeoman, will be considered
in another place. How he founded his pretensions to this title will
be seen in his pedigree. Here it is. {xxi}

[Illustration: “THE PEDIGREE OF ROBIN HOOD EARL OF HUNTINGTON.”]

[Transcriber’s Note] The following is a Distributed Proofreaders
transcription of the pedigree chart printed in the original book.

 1 Richard Fitzgilbert de Clare, earl of Brien; m. Roisia.

   11 Robert Fitzgilbert; m. Alice (22).

   12 Roisia; m. Gilbert de Gaunt, earl of Kyme and Lindsey came in
   with the conquerer.

     121 Walter de Gaunt earl of Lindsey.

       1211 Gilbert de Gaunt earl of Lincoln; m. Avis dau. and heir of
       William de Romara e. of Lincoln.

         12111 Alice heiress; m. Simon S. lis III. earl of Huntingdon
         and Northton (2121). ob. s. p 1184.

     122 Maud; m. Ralf Fitzooth a Norman, lord of Kyme.

       1221 Philip Fitzooth, lord of Kyme, ob. s. p.

       1222 William Fitzooth, brought up by Robert earl of Oxford; m. a
       daughter of Payn Beauchamp and lady Roisia de Vere.

         12221 ROBERT FITZOOTH, commonly called ROBIN HOOD, pretended
         earl of Hun­ting­ton, ob. 1274 [1247].[11]

 2 I. Waltheof earl of Northumberland and Hun­ting­ton; m. Judith
 countess of Hun­ting­ton, the conqueror’s niece.

   21 Maud; m. II. Simon de S. lis I. earl of Northampton and
   Huntingdon; m. III. David I. king of Scots, earl of Huntingdon;

     211 IV. Henry earl of Northumberland and Huntingdon; son of Maud
     and David; m. Ada daughter of William earl of Warren.

       2111 VI. Malcolm IV. king of Scots, earl of Northumberland and
       Huntingdon.

       2112 VII. William earl of Huntingdon.

       2113 IX. David earl of “Carrick” and Huntingdon, son of Henry
       IV. (above) earl and of Ada. ob. 1219.

         21131 X. John sirnamed Scot his son, earl of Angus and
         Huntingdon, ob. s. p. 1237.

     212 V. Simon S. lis II.; son of Simon and Maud; m. Isabel dau. of
     Robert Bossu earl of Leicester.

       2121 VIII. Simon S. lis III. earl of Huntingdon and Northton.
       ob. s. P. 1184; m. Alice heiress (12111).

   22 Alice; m. Robert Fizgilbert (11), son of Richard Fitzgilbert and
   Roisia.

[End Transcriber’s Note]

{xxii}


(6) _“In his youth he is reported to have been of a wild and
extravagant disposition,” &c._] Grafton’s pamphlet, after supposing
him to have been “advaunced to the noble dignitie of an erle,”
continued thus: “But afterwardes he so prodigally exceeded in
charges and expences, that he fell into great debt, by reason
whereof, so many actions and sutes were commenced against him
whereunto he answered not, that by {xxiii} order of lawe he was
outlawed.”[12] Leland must undoubtedly have had good authority for
calling him “nobilis ille exlex.”[13] Fordun supposes him in the
number of those deprived of their estates by King Henry III. “Hoc
intempore,” says he, “de exheredatis surrexit & caput erexit ille
famosissimus siccarius Robertus Hode & littill Johanne cum eorum
complicibus” (p. 774). The Sloane MS. says he was “so ryotous that
he lost or sould his patrimony & for debt became an outlawe;”
and the Harleian note mentions his “having wasted his estate in
riotous courses.” The former authority, however, gives a different,
though, it may be, less credible, account of his being obliged to
abscond. It is as follows: “One of his first exployts was the
going abrode into a forrest & bearing with him a bowe of exceeding
great strength, he fell into company with certayne rangers or
woodmen, who fell to quarrel with him, as making showe to use such
a bowe as no man was able to shoote withall. Whereto Robin replyed
that he had two better then that at Lockesley, only he bare that
with him nowe as a byrding bowe. At length the ‘contention’ grewe
so hote that there was a wager layd about the kyllyng of a deere a
greate distance of, for performance whereof Robin offered to lay
his head to a certayne some of money, the advantage of which rash
speach the others presently tooke. So the marke being found out,
one of them, both to make his hart faynt and hand unsteady, as he
was about to shoote urged him with the losse of head if he myst the
marke. Notwithstanding Robyn kyld the deare, and gave every man his
{xxiv} money agayne, save to him which at the poynt of shooting so
upbraided him with danger to loose his hed for that wager; & he
sayd they would drinke togeyther: whereupon the others stomached
the matter and from quarelling they grewe to fighting with him. But
Robin, getting him somewhat of, with shooting dispatch them, and so
fled away; and then betaking himselfe to lyve in the woods,” &c.[14]

That he lurked or infested the woods is agreed by all. “Circa hæc
tempora,” says Major, “Robertus Hudus Anglus & parvus Joannes,
latrones famatissimi, in nemoribus latuerunt.”

Dr. Stukeley says that “Robin Hood took to this wild way of life
in imitation of his grandfather Geoffrey de Mandeville, who being
a favorer of Maud empress, King Stephen took him prisoner at S.
Albans, and made him give up the tower of London, Walden, Plessis,
&c., upon which he lived on plunder” (MS. note in his copy of Robin
Hood’s Garland).


(7) _“Of these, he chiefly affected Barnsdale,” &c._] “Along on
the lift hond,” says Leland, “a iii. miles of betwixt Milburne and
Feribridge I saw the wooddi and famose forrest of Barnesdale, wher
thay say that Robyn Hudde lyvid like an outlaw” (Itinerary, v. 101).

“They haunted about Barnsdale forrest, Compton [r. Plompton]
parke,[15] and such other places” (MS. Sloane).

“His principal residence,” says Fuller, “was in Shirewood forrest
in this county [Notts], though he had another haunt (he is no
fox that hath but one hole) near the sea in the North Riding in
Yorkshire, where Robin Hood’s Bay still retaineth his name: not
that he was any pirat, but a land-thief, who retreated to those
unsuspected parts for his security” (Worthies of England, p. 320).
{xxv}

In Thoroton’s Nottinghamshire, p. 505, is some account of the
ancient and present state of Sherwood forest; but one looks in
vain through that dry detail of land-owners for any particulars
relating to our hero. “In anno domini 1194, King Richard the First,
being a hunting in the forrest of Sherwood, did chase a hart out of
the forrest of Sherwood into Barnesdale in Yorkshire, and because
he could not there recover him, he made proclamation at Tickill
in Yorkshire, and at divers other places there, that no person
should kill, hurt, or chase the said hart, but that he might safely
retorne into forrest againe, which hart was afterwards called a
hart-royall proclaimed” (Manwood’s Forest Laws, 1598, p. 25, from
“an auncient recorde” found by him in the tower of Nottingham
Castle).[16]


(8) _“Here he either found,” &c._] After being outlawed, Grafton
tells us, “for a lewde shift, as his last refuge, [he] gathered
together a companye of roysters and cutters, and practised
robberyes and spoyling of the kinges subjects, and occupied and
frequented the forestes or wild countries.” See also the following
note.


(9) “_Little John, William Scadlock, George a Green, pinder of
Wakefield, Much a miller’s son, and a certain monk or frier named
Tuck._”] Of these, the pre-eminence is incontestably due to Little
John, whose name is almost constantly coupled with that of his
gallant leader. “Robertus Hode & littill Johanne,” are mentioned
together by Fordun as early as 1341; and later instances of the
connection would be almost endless. After the words, “for debt
became an {xxvi} outlaw,” the Sloane MS. adds: “then joyninge to
him many stout fellowes of lyke disposition, amongst whom one
called Little John was principal or next to him, they haunted about
Barnsdale forrest,” &c. See Notes 39, 40.

With respect to Frier Tuck, “thogh some say he was an other kynd
of religious man, for that the order of freyrs was not yet sprung
up” (MS. Sloan.), yet as the Dominican friers (or friers preachers)
came into England in the year 1221, upward of twenty years before
the death of Robin Hood, and several orders of these religious had
flourished abroad for some time, there does not seem much weight
in that objection: nor, in fact, can one pay much regard to the
term frier, as it seems to have been the common title given by
the vulgar (more especially after the Reformation) to all the
regular clergy, of which the friers were at once the lowest and
most numerous. If Frier Tuck be the same person who, in one of the
oldest songs, is called the curtail frier of Fountains-dale, he
must necessarily have been one of the monks of that abbey, which
was of the Cistercian order. However this may be, Frier Tuck is
frequently noticed by old writers as one of the companions of Robin
Hood, and as such was an essential character in the morris-dance
(see Note 34). He is thus mentioned by Skelton, laureat, in his
“goodly interlude” of Magnificence, written about the year 1500,
and with an evident allusion to some game or practice now totally
forgotten and inexplicable:

 “Another bade shave halfe my berde,
  And boyes to the pylery gan me plucke,
  And wolde have made me freer Tucke,
  To preche oute of the pylery hole.”

In the year 1417, as Stow relates, “one, by his counterfeite name,
called Frier Tucke, with manie other malefactors, committed many
robberies in the counties of Surrey & Sussex, whereupon the king
sent out his writs for their apprehension” (Annales, 1592).

George a Green is George o’ the green, meaning perhaps the
town-green, in which the pound or pinfold stood of which he had the
care. He has been particularly celebrated, and {xxvii} “As good as
George a Green” is still a common saying.[17] Drayton, describing
the progress of the river Calder, in the West Riding of Yorkshire,
has the following lines:

 “It chanc’d she in her course on ‘Kirkley’ cast her eye,
  Where merry Robin Hood, that honest thief, doth lie;
  Beholding fitly too before how Wakefield stood,
  She doth not only think of lusty Robin Hood,
  But of his merry man, the pindar of the town
  Of Wakefield, George a Green, whose fames so far are blown
  For their so valiant fight, that every freeman’s song
  Can tell you of the same; quoth she, be talk’d on long,
  For ye were merry lads, and those were merry days.”

Thus, too, Richard Brathwayte, in his poetical epistle “to
all true-bred northerne sparks of the generous society of the
Cottoneers” (Strappado for the Divell, 1615):

 “But haste, my muse, in colours to display
  Some auncient customes in their high-roade way,

         *       *       *       *       *

  At least such places labour to make knowne
  As former times have honour’d with renowne.

         *       *       *       *       *

  The first whereof that I intend to show
  Is merry Wakefield, and her pindar too,
  Which fame hath blaz’d with all that did belong,
  Unto that towne in many gladsome song,
  The pindar’s valour, and how firme he stood
  In th’ townes defence ’gainst th’ rebel Robin Hood,
  How stoutly he behav’d himselfe, and would,
  In spite of Robin, bring his horse to th’ fold,
  His many May-games which were to be seene
  Yearly presented upon Wakefield greene,
  Where lovely Jugge and lustie Tib would go,
  To see Tom-lively turne upon the toe;
  Hob, Lob, and Crowde the fidler would be there,
  And many more I will not speake of here.
  Good God! how glad hath been this hart of mine,
  To see that towne, which hath, in former time,
  So flourish’d and so gloried in her name,
  Famous by th’ pindar who first rais’d the same!
  Yea, I have paced ore that greene and ore
  And th’ more I saw’t I tooke delight the more, {xxviii}
  For where we take contentment in a place,
  A whole daies walke seemes as a cinquepace.
  Yet as there is no solace upon earth
  Which is attended evermore with mirth,
  But when we are transported most with gladnesse,
  Then suddenly our joy’s reduc’d to sadnesse;
  So far’d with me to see the pindar gone,
  And of those jolly laddes that were not one
  Left to survive: I griev’d more then Ile say:
  (But now for Bradford I must hast away).

         *       *       *       *       *

  Unto thy task, my muse, and now make knowne
  The jolly shoo-maker of Bradford towne,
  His gentle craft so rais’d in former time
  By princely journey-men his discipline,
  Where he was wont with passengers to quaffe,
  But suffer none to carry up their staffe
  Upon their shoulders, whilst they past through town,
  For if they did he soon would beat them downe;
  (So valiant was the souter) and from hence
  Twixt Robin Hood and him grew th’ difference;
  Which, cause it is by most stage-poets writ,
  For brevity I thought good to omit.”

In the latter part of this extract, honest Richard evidently
alludes to “A pleasant conceyted comedie of George a Greene, the
pinner of Wakefield; as it was sundry times acted by the servants
of the right honourable the earle of Sussex,” 1599, 4to, which
has been erroneously ascribed to Heywood the epigrammatist, and
is reprinted, with other trash, in the late edition of Dodsley’s
Old Plays; only it unluckily happens that Robin Hood is almost the
only person who has no difference with the souter (or shoemaker) of
Bradford. The play, in short (or at least that part of it which we
have any concern with), is founded on the ballad of Robin Hood and
the Pinder of Wakefield (see part ii. song 3), which it directly
quotes, and is, in fact, a most despicable performance.[18] King
Edward (the Fourth) having taken King James of Scotland prisoner,
after a most bloody battle near Middleham Castle, from which of
30,000 Scots not 5000 had escaped, comes with his royal captive in
disguise to Bradford, where they {xxix} meet Robin Hood and George
a Green, who have just had a stout affray: and after having read
this, and a great deal more such nonsensical stuff, Captain Grose
sagaciously “supposes that this play has little or no foundation
in history;” and very gravely sits down and debates his opinion in
form.

“The history of George a Green, pindar of the town of Wakefield,”
4to, no date,[19] is a modern production, chiefly founded on the
old play just mentioned, of neither authority nor merit.

Our gallant pinder is thus facetiously commemorated by Drunken
Barnaby:

 “Hinc diverso cursu, sero
  Quod audissem de pindero
  Wakefeeldensi; gloria mundi,
  Ubi socii sunt jucundi,
  Mecum statui peragrare
  Georgii fustem visitare.”

 “Turning thence, none could me hinder
  To salute the Wakefield pindar;
  Who indeed is the world’s glory,
  With his comrades never sorry.
  This was the cause, lest you should miss it,
  George’s club I meant to visit.”

 “Veni Wakefield peramænum,
  Ubi quærens Georgium Greenum,
  Non inveni, sed in lignum
  Fixum reperi Georgii signum,
  Ubi allam bibi feram
  Donec Georgio fortior eram.”

 “Strait at Wakefield I was seen a,
  Where I sought for George a Green a;
  But could find not such a creature,
  Yet on a sign I saw his feature,
  Where strength of ale had so much stir’d me,
  That I grew stouter far than Jordie.”

Besides the companions of our hero enumerated in the text, and
whose names are most celebrated and familiar, we find those of
William of Goldsbrough (mentioned by Grafton), Right-hitting Brand
(by Mundy), and Gilbert with the white {xxx}

hand, who is thrice named in the Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode (i.
52, 71), and is likewise noticed by Bishop Gawin Douglas in his
Palice of Honour, printed at Edinburgh in 1579, but written before
1518:

 “Thair saw I Maitlaind upon auld Beird Gray,
  Robene Hude, and Gilbert with the quhite hand,
  How Hay of Nauchton slew, in Madin land.”[20]

As no mention is made of Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William
of Cloudeslie, either in the ancient legend or in more than one of
the numerous songs of Robin Hood, nor does the name of the latter
once occur in the old metrical history of those famous archers
reprinted in Percy’s Reliques, and among pieces of ancient popular
poetry, it is to be concluded that they flourished at different
periods, or at least had no connection with each other. In a poem,
however, intitled, “Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and young
William of Cloudesley, the second part,” 1616, 4to, b. l. (Bib.
Bod. Art. L. 71, being a more modern copy than that in Selden C.
39, which wants the title, but was probably printed with the first
part, which it there accompanies, in 1605; differing considerably
therefrom in several places, and containing many additional
verses), are the following lines (not in the former copy):

 “Now beare thy father’s heart, my boy,
     Said William of Cloudesley then,
 When i was young i car’d not for
     The brags of sturdiest men.
 The pinder of Wakefield, George a Green,
     I try’d a sommer’s day,
 Yet he nor i were victors made
     Nor victor’d went away.
 Old Robin Hood, nor Little John,
     Amongst their merry men all,
 Nor fryer Tuck, so stout and young,
     My courage could appall.”


(10) “_Marian._”] Who or whatever this lady was, it is observable
that no mention of her occurs either in the Lytell Geste of Robyn
Hode, or in any other poem or song {xxxi} concerning him, except
the not very old ballad of Robin Hood’s Golden Prize, where she is
barely named, and a still more modern one of no merit (see part ii.
song 24).[21] She is an important character, however, in the two
old plays of The death and downfall of Robert earl of Huntington,
written before 1600, and is frequently mentioned by dramatic or
other writers about that period. Her presence, likewise, was
considered as essential to the morris-dance. See Note 34.

In the _First Part of King Henry IV._ Falstaff says to the hostess,
“There’s no more faith in thee than in a stew’d prune; nor no more
truth in thee than in a drawn fox; and for womanhood, Maid Marian
may be the deputy’s wife of the ward to thee;” upon which Dr.
Johnson observes, that “Maid Marian is a man dressed like a woman,
who attends the dancers of the morris.” “In the ancient songs of
Robin Hood,” says Percy, “frequent mention is made of Maid Marian,
who appears to have been his concubine. I could quote,” adds he,
“many passages in my old MS. to this purpose, but shall produce
only one:[22]

 ‘Good Robin Hood was living then,
     Which now is quite forgot,
  And so was fayre Maid Marian,’ &c.”

Mr. Steevens, too, after citing the old play of “The downfall of
Robert earl of Huntington,” 1601, to prove “that Maid Marian was
originally a name assumed by Matilda, the daughter of Robert, Lord
Fitzwater, while Robin Hood remained in a state of outlawry,”
observes, that “Shakespeare speaks of Maid Marian in her degraded
state, when she was {xxxii} represented by a strumpet or a clown;”
and refers to figure 2 in the plate at the end of the play, with
Mr. Tollet’s observations on it. The widow, in Sir W. Davenant’s
“Love and Honour,” says, “I have been Mistress Marian in a maurice
ere now;” and Mr. Warton[23] quotes an old piece, entitled “Old
Meg of Herefordshire for a Maid Marian, and Hereford town for a
morris-dance: or 12 morris-dancers in Herefordshire of 1200 years
old,” London, 1609, 4to, which is dedicated, he says, to one Hall,
a celebrated tabourer in that country.[24] See Note 34.


(11) _“His company,” &c._] See the entire passage quoted from Major
in a subsequent note. “By such bootyes as he could get,” says the
writer of the Sloane MS., “his company encreast to an hundred and a
halfe.”


(12) _—“the words of an old writer.”_] The author of the Sloane
manuscript; which adds: “after such maner he procured the pynner
of Wakefeyld to become one of his company, and a freyr called
Muchel [r. Tuck] . . . Scarlock he induced upon this occasion: one
day meeting him as he walket solitary & like to a man forlorne,
because a mayd to whom he was affyanced was taken from [him] by the
violence of her frends, & given to another that was old & welthy,
whereupon Robin, understanding when the maryage-day should be,
came to the church as a begger, & having his own company not far
of, which came in so soone as they hard {xxxiii} the sound of his
horne, he tooke the bryde perforce from him that [bare] in hand
to have marryed her, & caused the preist to wed her & Scarlocke
togeyther.” (See part ii. song 8.) This MS., of which great part
is merely the old legend or Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode turned into
prose, appears to have been written before the year 1600.


(13) _“In shooting,” &c._] MS. Sloan. Grafton also speaks of our
hero’s “excellyng principally in archery or shooting, his manly
courage agreeyng thereunto.”

Their archery, indeed, was unparalleled, as both Robin Hood and
Little John have frequently shot an arrow a measured mile, or 1760
yards, which it is supposed no one, either before or since, was
ever able to do. “Tradition,” says Master Charlton, “informs us
that in one of ‘Robin Hood’s’ peregrinations, he, attended by his
trusty mate Little John, went to dine [at Whitby Abbey] with the
abbot Richard, who, having heard them often famed for their great
dexterity in shooting with the long bow, begged them after dinner
to shew him a specimen thereof; when, to oblige the abbot, they
went up to the top of the abbey, whence each of them shot an arrow,
which fell not far from Whitby-laths, but on the contrary side of
the lane; and in memorial thereof, a pillar was set up by the abbot
in the place where each of the arrows was found, which are yet
standing in these our days; that field where the pillar for Robin
Hood’s arrow stands being still called Robin Hood’s field, and the
other where the pillar for Little John’s arrow is placed, still
preserving the name of John’s field. Their distance from Whitby
Abbey is more than a measured mile, which seems very far for the
flight of an arrow, and is a circumstance that will stagger the
faith of many; but as to the credibility of the story, every reader
may judge thereof as he thinks proper; only I must here beg leave
to observe that these very pillars are mentioned, and the fields
called by the aforesaid names, in the old deeds for that ground,
now in the possession of Mr. Thomas Watson” (History of Whitby,
York, 1779, p. 146).[25] {xxxiv}

Dr. Meredith Hanmer, in his Chronicle of Ireland (p. 179), speaking
of Little John, says, “There are memorable acts reported of him,
which I hold not for truth, that he would shoot an arrow a mile off
and a great deale more; but them,” adds he, “I leave among the lyes
of the land.”[26] See Note 39. {xxxv}


(14) “_An outlaw, in those times, being deprived of protection,
owed no allegiance,” &c._] Such a character was, doubtless, at the
period treated of, in a very critical situation; it being equally
as legal and meritorious to hunt down and dispatch him as it was to
kill a wolf, the head of which animal he was said to bear. “Item
foris facit,” says Bracton (who wrote about the time), “omnia que
pacis sunt, quia a tempore quo utlagatus est caput gerit lupinum,
ita ut impune ab omnibus interfici possit” (l. 2, c. 35). In the
great roll of the exchequer, in the 7th year of King Richard I.,
is an allowance by writ of two marks to Thomas de Prestwude,
for bringing to Westminster the head of William de Elleford, an
outlaw. (See Madox’s History of the Exchequer, 136.) Those who
received or consorted with a person outlawed were subject to the
same punishment. Such was the humane policy of our enlightened
ancestors! See Note 21.


(15)

                    “_――how
   . . . . they could discourse
 The freezing hours away!_”]

(Cymbeline, act iii. scene 3). The chief subjects of our hero’s
conversation are supposed, by a poetical genius of the 16th {xxxvi}
century, to have been the commendation of a forest-life and the
ingratitude of mankind.

   “I have no tales of Robin Hood, though mal-content was he
 In better daies, first Richard’s daies, and liv’d in woods as we
 A Tymon of the world; but not devoutly was he soe,
 And therefore praise I not the man: but for from him did groe
 Words worth the note, a word or twaine of him ere hence we goe.
   Those daies begot some mal-contents, the principall of whome
 A county was, that with a troope of yomandry did rome,
 Brave archers and deliver men, since nor before so good,
 Those took from rich to give the poore, and manned Robin Hood.
 He fed them well, and lodg’d them safe in pleasant caves and bowers,
 Oft saying to his merry men, What juster life than ours?
 Here use we tallents that abroad the churles abuse or hide,
 Their coffers’ excrements, and yeat for common wants denide.
 We might have sterved for their store, & they have dyc’st our bones,
 Whose tongues, driftes, harts, intice, meane, melt, as syrens, foxes,
       stones,
 Yea even the best that betterd them heard but aloofe our mones.
 And redily the churles could prie and prate of our amis,
 Forgetfull of their owne. . . .
 I did amis, not missing friends that wisht me to amend:
 I did amend, but missed friends when mine amis had end:
 My friends therefore shall finde me true, but I will trust no frend.
 Not one I knewe that wisht me ill, nor any workt me well,
 To lose, lacke, live, time, frends, in yncke, an hell, an hell, an
       hell!
 Then happie we (quoth Robin Hood) in merry Sherwood that dwell.”[27]

It has been conjectured, however, that, in the winter season, our
hero and his companions severally quartered themselves in villages
or country-houses more or less remote, with persons of whose
fidelity they were assured. It is not improbable, at the same time,
that they might have tolerably comfortable habitations erected in
the woods.

Archery, which our hero and his companions appear to have carried
to a state of perfection, continued to be cultivated for some
ages after their time, down, indeed, to that of Henry VIII., or
about the year 1540, when, owing to the introduction of artillery
and matchlock-guns, it became neglected, and the bowmen of Cressy
and Agincourt utterly extinct; though it may be still a question
whether a body of expert archers would not, even at this day, be
superior to an equal {xxxvii} number armed with muskets.[28]
The loss sustained from this change by the people at large seems
irreparable. Anciently, the use of the bow or bill qualified every
man for a soldier; and a body of peasants, led on by a Tyler or a
Cade, was not less formidable than any military force that could
be raised to oppose them: by which means the people from time to
time preserved the very little liberty they had, and which their
tyrants were constantly endeavouring to wrest from them. See how
the case stands at present: the sovereign, let him be who or what
he will (kings have been tyrants, and may be so again), has a
standing army, well disciplined and accoutred, while the subjects
or people are absolutely defenceless: as much care having been
taken, particularly since “the glorious revolution,” to deprive
them of arms as was formerly bestowed to enforce their use and
practice.[29] The following extract from Hale’s Historia Placitorum
Coronæ (i. 118) will serve to show how familiar the bow and arrow
was in the 14th century:—“M. 22. E. 3. Rot. 117. coram rege Ebor.
This was the case of Henry Vescy, who had been indicted before
the sheriff in turno suo . . . of divers felonies, whereupon the
sheriff mandavit commissionem suam Henrico de Clyderawe & aliis
ad capiendum prædictum H. Vescy, & salvo ducendum usque castrum
de Ebor.” Vescy would not submit to an arrest, but fled, and
inter fugiendum shot with his bow and arrows at his pursuers,
but in the end was killed by Clyderawe: to which may be added a
remarkable passage in Harison’s “Description of England” (prefixed
to Holinshed’s Chronicle, 1587), to prove how much it had declined
in the 16th. “In times past,” says he, “the {xxxviii} cheefe
force of England consisted in their long bowes. But now we have
in maner generallie given over that kind of artillerie, and for
long bowes in deed doo practise to shoot compasse for our pastime;
which kind of shooting can never yeeld anie smart stroke, nor beat
down our enemies, as our countrymen were woont to doo at everie
time of need. Certes the Frenchmen and Rutters,[30] deriding our
new archerie in respect of their corslets, will not let, in open
skirmish, if anie leisure serve, to turne up their tailes, and
crie, Shoote, English; and all because our strong shooting is
decaied and laid in bed. But if some of our Englishmen now lived
that served King Edward the Third in his warres with France, the
breech[31] of such a varlet should have beene nailed to his bum
with one arrow, and an other fethered in his bowels, before he
should have turned about to see who shot the first” (p. 198).
Bishop Latimer, in his sixth sermon before King Edward VI., gives
an interesting account how the sons of yeomen were, in his infancy,
trained up to the bow. “But now,” says he, “we have taken up
whooring in townes, instead of shooting in the fieldes.”


(16)

 “_All clad in Lincoln green._”]

This species of cloth is mentioned by Spenser (Faerie Queene, VI.
ii. 5):

 “All in a woodman’s jacket he was clad
  Of Lincolne greene, belay’d with silver lace
  And on his head an hood with aglets sprad,
  And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.”

It is likewise noticed by our poet himself, in another place:

 “Swains in shepherds gray, and gyrles in Lincolne greene.”[32]

See Polyolbion, song xxv., where the marginal note says, “Lincolne
anciently dyed the best green in England.” Thus Coventry had
formerly the reputation of dying the best blue. {xxxix} See Ray’s
Proverbs, p. 178. Kendal green is equally famous, and appears to
have been cloth of a similar quality. This colour was adopted
by foresters to prevent their being too readily discovered by
the deer. See Sir John Wynne’s History of the Guedir Family
(Barrington’s Miscellanies), p. 419. Thus the Scotish Highlanders
used to wear brown plaids to prevent their being distinguished
among the heath. It is needless to observe that green has ever been
the favourite dress of an archer, hunter, &c. See Note 34.[33] We
now call it a Saxon or grass green:

 “His coat is of a Saxon green, his waistcoat’s of a plaid” (O. song).

Lincoln green was well known in France in or before the 13th
century. Thus, in an old fabliau, transprosed by M. Le Grand
(Fabliaux ou Contes, iv. 13), “Il mit donc son surcot fourré
d’écureuil, et sa belle robe d’Estanfort teinte en verd.” Estanfort
is Stamford, in Lincolnshire.[34] This cloth is, likewise, often
mentioned by the old Scotish poets under the names of Lincum licht,
Lincum twyne, &c., and appears to have been in universal request:
and yet, notwithstanding this cloud of evidence, Mr. Pinkerton
has had the confidence to assert that “no particular cloth was
ever made at Lincoln.” (See Ancient Scotish Poems, ii. 430.) But,
indeed, this worthy gentleman, as Johnson said of Goldsmith, only
stumbles upon truth by accident. {xl}


(17)

 “_From wealthy abbots’ chests_,” _&c._]

“But who,” exclaims Dr. Fuller, having cited this passage, “made
him a judge? or gave him a commission to take where it might
be best spared, and give where it was most wanted?” That same
power, one may answer, which authorises kings to take where it
can be worst spared, and give it where it is least wanted. Our
hero, in this respect, was a knight-errant; and wanted no other
commission than that of Justice, whose cause he militated. His
power, compared with that of the king of England, was by no means
either equally usurped or equally abused: the one reigned over
subjects (or slaves) as a master (or tyrant), the other possessed
no authority but what was delegated to him by the free suffrage
of his adherents, for their general good: and as for the rest,
it would be absurd to blame in Robin what we should praise in
Richard.[35] The latter, too, warred in remote parts of the
world against nations from which neither he nor his subjects had
sustained any injury; the former at home against those to whose
wealth, avarice, or ambition he might fairly attribute not only
his own misfortunes, but the misery of the oppressed and enslaved
society he had quitted. In a word, every man who has the power has
also the authority to pursue the ends of justice, to regulate the
gifts of fortune, by transferring the superfluities of the rich to
the necessities of the poor; by relieving the oppressed, and even,
when necessary, destroying the oppressor. These are the objects of
the social union, and every individual may, and to the utmost of
his power should, endeavour to promote them. Had our Robin Hood
been, like M’Donald of Barrisdale, a reader of Virgil, he, as well
as that gallant chief, might have inscribed on his baldric— {xli}

 “Hæ tibi erunt artes; pacis componere mores,
  Parcere subjectis, et debellare superbos.”[36]


(18) “_But it is to be remembered_,” _&c._] The passage from
Major’s work, which has been already quoted, is here given entire
(except as to a single sentence introduced in another place).
“Circa hæc tempora [s. Ricardi I.] ut auguror, Robertus Hudus &
Parvus Joannes latrones famatissimi, in nemoribus latuerunt, solum
opulentum virorum bona diripientes. Nullum nisi eos invadentem
vel resistentem pro suarum rerum tuitione occiderunt. Centum
sagittarios ad pugnam aptissimos Robertus latrociniis aluit quos
400 viri fortissimi invadere non audebant. Fæminam nullum opprimi
permisit, nec pauperum bona surripuit, verum eos ex abbatum bonis
ablatis opipare pavit. Viri rapinam improbo sed latronum omnium
humanissimus & princeps erat” (Majoris Britanniæ Historia, Edin.
1740, p. 128).

Stowe, in his Annales, 1592, p. 227, gives an almost literal
version of the above passage; Richard Robinson versifies it;[37]
and Camden slightly refers to it. {xlii}


(19) —“_has had the honour to be compared to the illustrious
Wallace_,” _&c._] In the first volume of Peck’s intended supplement
to the Monasticon, consisting of collections for the history of
Præmonstratensian monasteries, now in the British Museum, is a
very curious riming Latin poem with the following title: “Prioris
Alnwicensis de bello Scotico apud Dumbarr, tempore rigis Edwardi
I. dictamen sive rithmus Latinus, quo de Willielmo Wallace Scotico
illo Robin Whood, plura sed invidiose canit;” and in the margin
are the following date and reference:—“22. Julii 1304. 32. E. 1.
Regist. Prem. fol. 59. a.” This, it maybe observed, is the first
known instance of our hero’s name being mentioned by any writer
whatever; and affords a strong and respectable proof of his early
popularity.


(20) “_The abbot of St. Mary’s in York._”] “In the year 1088, Alan,
Earl of Richmond, founded here a stately abbey for black monks to
the honour of St. Olave; but it was afterwards dedicated to the
Blessed Virgin by the command of king William Rufus. Its yearly
revenues at the suppression amounted to £1550, 7_s._ 9_d._ Dugd.,
£2850, 1_s._ 5_d._ Speed” (Willis’s Mitred Abbeys, i. 214). The
abbots in our hero’s time were—

 Robert de Harpsham (el. 1184), ob. 1198.
 Robert de Longo Campo, ob. 1239.
 William Rondele, ob. 1244.
 Tho. de Wharterhille, ob. 1258.


(21) —“_the sheriff of Nottinghamshire._”] Ralph Murdach was
sheriff of Derby and Nottinghamshires in the first year of King
Richard I., and for the seven years preceding, and William Brewerre
in his sixth year, between which and the first no name appears on
the roll. See Fuller’s Worthies, &c.

In the year 1195, Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, {xliii}
justiciary of all England, sent throughout the kingdom this form
of oath: that all men of the realm of England would keep the peace
of the lord the king to their power; and that they would neither
be thieves nor robbers, nor the receivers of such, nor consent to
them in anything; and that when they were able to know such-like
malefactors, they would take them to the utmost of their power, and
deliver them to the sheriff; who in no wise should be delivered
unless by the lord the king or his chief justice; and if unable to
take them, they should cause the bailiffs of the lord the king to
know who they were: and, cry being raised for pursuing outlaws,
robbers, thieves, or their receivers, all should fully do that
suit to the utmost of their power, &c. Knights were to be assigned
for these purposes, and men chosen and faithful were sent to
execute them in every county, who by the oath of true men of the
vicinages took many and put them in the king’s prisons; but many,
being forewarned, and conscious of evil, left their houses and
possessions and fled (_R. de Hoveden_, p. 757).


(22) —“_an anecdote preserved by Fordun_,” _&c._] “De quo eciam
quædam commendabilia recitantur, sicut patuit in hoc, quod cum
ipse quondam in Barnisdale iram [f. ob iram] regis & fremitum
principis, missam, ut solitus erat, devotissime audiret, nec
aliqua necessitate volebat interrumpere officium, quadam die cum
audiret missam, à quodam vicecomite & ministris regis, sæpius per
prius ipsum infestantibus, in illo secretissimo loco nemorali,
ubi missæ interfuit, exploratus, venientes ad eum qui de suis
hoc perceperunt, ut omni annisu fugeret suggesserunt, qui, ob
reverentiam sacramenti, quod tunc devotissime venerabatur, omnino
facere recusavit. Sed ceteris suis, ob metum mortis trepidantibus,
Robertus tantum confisus in eum, quem coluit reveritus, cum
paucissimis, qui tunc forte ei affuerunt, inimicos congressus &
eos de facili devicit, et de eorum spoliis ac redemptione ditatus,
ministros ecclesiæ & missas semper in majori veneratione semper &
de post habere præelegit, attendens quod wlgariter dictum est:

 Hunc deus exaudit, qui missam sæpius audit.”

J. De Fordun Scotichronicon, à Hearne, Ox. 1722, p. 774. {xliv}

This passage is found in no other copy of Fordun’s Chronicle than
one in the Harleian Library. Its suppression in all the rest may
be fairly accounted for on the principle which is presumed to have
influenced the conduct of the ancient English historians. See Note
1.


(23) —“_a proclamation was published_,” _&c._] “The king att last,”
says the Harleian MS., “sett furth a proclamation to have him
apprehended,” &c. Grafton, after having told us that he “practised
robberyes,” &c., adds, “The which beyng certefyed to the king, and
he beyng greatly offended therewith, caused his proclamation to
be made that whosoever would bryng him quicke or dead, the king
would geve him a great summe of money, as by the recordes in the
Exchequer is to be seene: But of this promise no man enjoyed any
benefite. For the sayd Robert Hood, being afterwardes troubled with
sicknesse,” &c. (p. 85.) See Note 14.


(24) “_At length the infirmities of old age increasing upon him_,”
_&c._] Thus Grafton: “The sayd Robert Hood, beyng troubled with
sicknesse, came to a certain nonry in Yorkshire called Bircklies
[r. Kircklies], where desiryng to be let blood, he was betrayed and
bled to death.” The Sloane MS. says that “[Being] dystempered with
could and age, he had great payne in his lymmes, his bloud being
corrupted, therefore to be eased of his payne by letting bloud, he
repayred to the priores of Kyrkesly, which some say was his aunt, a
woman very skylful in physique & surgery; who, perceyving him to be
Robyn Hood, & waying howe fel an enimy he was to religious persons,
toke reveng of him for her owne howse and all others by letting him
bleed to death. It is also sayd that one Sir Roger of Doncaster,
bearing grudge to Robyn for some injury, incyted the priores, with
whome he was very familiar, in such a maner to dispatch him.” See
the Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode, ad finem. The Harleian MS., after
mentioning the proclamation “sett furth to have him apprehended,”
adds, “At which time it happened he fell sick at a nunnery in
Yorkshire called Birkleys [r. Kirkleys]; & desiring there to be let
blood, hee was betrayed & made bleed to death.”

Kirkleys, Kirklees, or Kirkleghes, formerly Kuthale, in the {xlv}
deanery of Pontefract, and archdeaconry of the West Riding of
Yorkshire, was a Cistercian, or, as some say, a Benedictine
nunnery, founded, in honour of the Virgin Mary and St. James, by
Reynerus Flandrensis in the reign of King Henry II. Its revenues
at the dissolution were somewhat about £20, and the site was
granted (36 Hen. 8.) to John Tasburgh and Henry Savill, from whom
it came to one of the ancestors of Sir George Armytage, Bart.,
the present possessor. The remains of the building (if any) are
very inconsiderable, and its register has been searched after in
vain. See Tanner’s Notitia, p. 674. Thoresby’s Ducatus Leodiensis,
p. 91. Hearne’s “Account of Several Antiquities in and about the
University of Oxford,” at the end of Leland’s Itinerary, vol. ii.
p. 128.

In 1706 was discovered, among the ruins of the nunnery, the
monument of Elisabeth de Staynton, prioress; but it is not certain
that this was the lady from whom our hero experienced such kind
assistance. See Thoresby and Hearne ubi supra.

“One may wonder,” says Dr. Fuller, “how he escaped the hand of
justice, dying in his bed, for ought is found to the contrary;
but it was because he was rather a merry than a mischievous thief
(complementing passengers out of their purses), never murdering any
but deer, and . . . . ‘feasting’ the vicinage with his vension”
(Worthies, p. 320). See the following note.


(25) “_He was interred under some trees at a short distance from
the house; a stone being placed over his grave with an inscription
to his memory._”] “Kirkley monasterium monialium, ubi Ro: Hood
nobilis ille exlex sepultus” (Leland’s Collectanea, i. 54).
“Kirkleys Nunnery, in the Woods, whereof Robin Hood’s grave is, is
between Halifax and Wakefield upon Calder” (Letter from Jo. Savile
to W. Camden, Illus. viro epis. 1691).

                      “――as Caldor comes along,
 It chanced she in her course on ‘Kirkley’ cast her eye,
 Where merry Robin Hood, that honest thief, doth lie.”

                                             (Polyolbion, song 28.)

See also Camden’s Britannia, 1695, p. 709. {xlvi}

In the second volume of Dr. Stukeley’s Itinerarium Curiosum is an
engraving of “the prospect of Kirkley’s abby, where Robin Hood
dyed, from the footway leading to Heartishead church, at a quarter
of a mile distance. A. The New Hall. B. The Gatehouse of the
Nunnery. C. The trees among which Robin Hood was buryed. D. The way
up the Hill were this was drawn. E. Bradley wood. F. Almondbury
hill. G. Castle field. Drawn by Dr. Johnston among his Yorkshire
Antiquitys, p. 54 of the drawings. E. Kirkall, sculp.” It makes
plate 99 of the above work, but is unnoticed in the letterpress.

According to the Sloane MS., the prioress, after “letting him bleed
to death, buryed him under a great stone by the hywayes syde;”
which is agreeable to the account in Grafton’s Chronicle, where it
is said that, after his death, “the prioresse of the same place
caused him to be buried by the highway-side, where he had used to
rob and spoyle those that passed that way. And vpon his grave the
sayde prioresse did lay a very fayre stone, wherein the names of
Robert Hood, William of Goldesborough, and others were graven.
And the cause why she buryed him there was, for that the common
passengers and travailers, knowyng and seeyng him there buryed,
might more safely and without feare take their jorneys that way,
which they durst not do in the life of the sayd outlawes. And at
eyther ende of the sayde tombe was erected a crosse of stone, which
is to be seene there at this present.”

“Near unto ‘Kirklees’ the noted Robin Hood lies buried under a
grave-stone that yet remains near the park, but the inscription
scarce legible” (Thoresby’s Ducatus Leodiensis, fo. 1715, p. 91).
In the Appendix, p. 576, is the following note, with a reference to
“page 91:”—

“Amongst the papers of the learned Dr. Gale, late dean of Yorke,
was found this epitaph of Robin Hood:

 Hear undernead dis laitl stean
 laiz robert earl of Huntingtun
 nea arcir ver az hie sa geud
 an pipl kauld im robin heud {xlvii}
 sick utlawz az hi an iz men
 vil england nivr si agen.

                              obiit 24 [r. 14] kal dekembris 1247.”

The genuineness of this epitaph has been questioned. Dr. Percy,
in the first edition of his “Reliques of Ancient English Poetry”
(1765), says “It must be confessed this epitaph is suspicious,
because in the most ancient poems of Robin Hood there is no mention
of this imaginary earldom.” This reason, however, is by no means
conclusive, the most ancient poem now extant having no pretension
to the antiquity claimed by the epitaph: and indeed the Doctor
himself should seem to have afterward had less confidence in it,
as, in both the subsequent editions, those words are omitted, and
the learned critic merely observes that the epitaph appears to him
suspicious. It will be admitted that the bare suspicion of this
ingenious writer, whose knowledge and judgment of ancient poetry
are so conspicuous and eminent, ought to have considerable weight.
As for the present editor’s part, though he does not pretend to
say that the language of this epitaph is that of Henry the Third’s
time, nor indeed to determine of what age it is, he can perceive
nothing in it from whence one should be led to pronounce it
spurious, _i.e._ that it was never inscribed on the grave-stone
of Robin Hood. That there actually was some inscription upon it
in Thoresby’s time, though then scarce legible, is evident from
his own words: and it should be remembered as well that the last
century was not the era of imposition, as that Dr. Gale was both
too good and too learned a man either to be capable of it himself
or to be liable to it from others.

That industrious chronologist and topographer, as well as
respectable artist and citizen, master Thomas Gent, of York, in
his “List of religious houses,” annexed to “The ancient and modern
state of” that famous city, 1730, 12mo, p. 234, informs us that
he had been told “that his [Robin Hood’s] tombstone, having his
effigy thereon, was order’d, not many years ago, by a certain
knight to be placed as a harth-stone in his great hall. When it
was laid overnight, the next morning it was ‘surprizingly’ removed
[on or to] one side; and {xlviii} so three times it was laid, and
as successively turned aside. The knight, thinking he had done
wrong to have brought it thither, order’d it should be drawn back
again; which was performed by a pair of oxen and four horses, when
twice the number could scarce do it before. But as this,” adds the
sagacious writer, “is a story only, it is left to the reader to
judge at pleasure.” N.B.—This is the second instance of a miracle
wrought in favour of our hero!

In Gough’s Sepulchral Monuments, p. cviii., is “the figure of the
stone over the grave of Robin Hood [in Kirklees park, being a
plain stone with a sort of cross fleuree thereon], now broken and
much defaced, the inscription illegible. That printed in Thoresby,
Ducat. Leod. 576, from Dr. Gale’s papers, was never on it.[38]
The late Sir Samuel Armitage owner of the premises, caused the
ground under it to be dug a yard deep, and found it had never been
disturbed; so that it was probably brought from some other place,
and by vulgar tradition ascribed to Robin Hood” (refers to “Mr.
Watson’s letter in Antiquary Society minutes”). This is probably
the tomb-stone of Elizabeth de Staynton, mentioned in the preceding
note.

The old epitaph is, by some anonymous hand, in a work entitled
“Sepulchrorum inscriptiones; or a curious collection of 900 of the
most remarkable epitaphs,” Westminster, 1727 (vol. ii. p. 73), thus
not inelegantly paraphrased:

 “Here, underneath this little stone,
  Thro’ Death’s assaults, now lieth one,
  Known by the name of Robin Hood,
  Who was a thief, and archer good;
  Full thirteen years, and something more,
  He robb’d the rich to feed the poor: {xlix}
  Therefore, his grave bedew with tears,
  And offer for his soul your prayers.”[39]


(26) —“_various dramatic exhibitions_.”] The earliest of these
performances now extant is “The playe of Robyn Hode, very proper
to be played in Maye games,” which is inserted in the Appendix to
this work, and may probably be as old as the 15th century. That a
different play, however, on the same subject has formerly existed,
seems pretty certain from a somewhat curious passage in “The famous
chronicle of king Edward the first, sirnamed Edward Longshankes,”
&c., by George Peele, printed in 1593.

 “Lluellen . . . . . weele get the next daie from Brecknocke the
 booke of Robin Hood, the frier he shall instruct us in his cause,
 and weele even here . . . wander like irregulers up and down the
 wildernesse, ile be maister of misrule, ile be Robin Hood that
 once, cousin ‘Rice,’ thou shalt be little John, and hers frier
 David, as fit as a die for frier Tucke. Now, my sweet Nel, if you
 will make up the messe with a good heart for maide Marian, and doe
 well with Lluellen under the green-woode trees, with as good a wil
 as in the good townes, why plena est curia.

 [_Exeunt._

 _Enter Mortimor, solus._

   _Mortimor._ . . . . . Maisters, have after gentle Robin Hood,
 You are not so well accompanied I hope,
 But if a potter come to plaie his part,
 Youle give him stripes or welcome good or worse.      [_Exit._

 _Enter Lluellen, Meredith, frier, Elinor, and their traine. They
 are all clad in greene, &c. sing, &c. Blyth and bonny, the song
 ended, Lluellen speaketh._

   _Luellen._ Why so, I see, my mates of olde,
 All were nor lies that Bedlams [beldams] told;
 Of Robin Hood and little John,
 Frier Tucke and maide Marian.”

Mortimer, as a potter, afterwards fights the frier with “flailes.”

2. “The downfall of Robert earle of Huntington, afterward {l}
called Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde: with his love to chaste
Matilda, the lord Fitzwater’s daughter, afterwardes his faire maide
Marian. Acted by the right honourable, the earle of Notingham, lord
high admirall of England, his servants. ¶ Imprinted at London, for
William Leake, 1601.” 4to, b. l.

3. “The death of Robert, earle of Huntington, otherwise called
Robin Hood of merrie Sherwodde: with the lamentable tragedie of
chaste Matilda, his faire maid Marian, poysoned at Dunmowe, by king
John. Acted, &c. ¶ Imprinted &c. [as above] 1601.” 4to, b. l.

These two plays, usually called the first and second part of Robin
Hood, were always, on the authority of Kirkman, falsely ascribed
to Thomas Heywood, till Mr. Malone fortunately retrieved the names
of the true authors, Anthony Mundy and Henry Chettle.[40] As they
seem partly founded on traditions long since forgotten, and refer
occasionally to documents not now to be found; at any rate, as they
are much older than most of the common ballads upon the subject,
and contain some curious and possibly authentic particulars not
elsewhere to be met with, the reader will excuse the particularity
of the account and length of the extracts here given.

The first part, or downfall of Robert earle of Huntington, is
supposed to be performed at the court and command of Henry VIII.,
the poet Skelton being the dramatist, and {li} acting the part of
chorus. The introductory scene commences thus:

 “_Enter Sir John Eltam, and knocke at Skelton’s doore._

 _Sir John._ Howe, maister Skelton! what, at studie hard?

 [_Opens the doore._

 _Skel._ Welcome and wisht for, honest Sir John Eltam,—
 Twill trouble you after your great affairs,

 [i.e. _the surveying of certain maps which his majesty had
 employed him in_;

 To take the paine that I intended to intreate you to,
 About rehearsall of your promis’d play.

 _Elt._ Nay, master Skelton; for the king himselfe,
 As wee were parting, bid mee take great heede
 Wee faile not of our day: therefore I pray
 Sende for the rest, that now we may rehearse.

 _Skel._ O they are readie all, and drest to play.
 What part play you?

 _Elt._ Why, I play little John,
 And came of purpose with this greene sute.

 _Skel._ Holla, my masters, little John is come.

 [_At every doore all the players runne out: some crying_ where?
 where? _others_, Welcome, Sir John: _among others the boyes and
 clowne_.

 _Skel._ Faith, little Tracy, you are somewhat forward.
 What, our maid Marian leaping like a lad!
 If you remember, Robin is your love,
 Sir Thomas Mantle yonder, not Sir John.

 _Clow._ But, master, Sir John is my fellowe, for I am Much the
 miller’s sonne. Am I not?

 _Skel._ I know yee are, sir:—
 And, gentlemen, since you are thus prepar’d,
 Goe in, and bring your dumbe scene on the stage.
 And I, as prologue, purpose to expresse
 The ground whereon our historie is laied.

 [_Exeunt, manet Skelton._

 _Trumpets sounde_, [1] _enter first King Richard with drum and
 auncient, giving Ely a purse and sceptre, his mother and brother
 John, Chester, Lester, Lacie, others at the king’s appointment,
 doing reverence. The king goes in: presently Ely ascends the
 chaire, Chester, John, and the queene part displeasantly._ [2]
 Enter ROBERT, EARLE OF HUNTINGTON, _leading Marian; followes him
 Warman, and after Warman, the prior; Warman ever flattering and
 making curtsie, taking gifts of the prior behinde and his master
 before. Prince John enters, offereth to take Marian; Queen Elinor
 enters, offering to pull Robin from her; but they infolde each
 other, and sit downe within the curteines._ [3] _Warman with the
 prior, Sir Hugh Lacy, Lord Sentloe, and Sir Gilbert Broghton folde
 hands, and drawing the curteins, all_ (_but the prior_) _enter,
 and are kindely received by_ Robin Hoode.”

{lii}

During the exhibition of the second part of the dumb show, Skelton
instructs the audience as follows:

 “This youth that leads yon virgin by the hand
  Is our earle Robert, or your Robin Hoode,
  That in those daies was earle of Huntington;
  The ill-fac’t miser, brib’d in either hand,
  Is Warman, once the steward of his house,
  Who, Judas like, betraies his liberall lord,
  Into the hands of that relentlesse prior,
  Calde Gilbert Hoode, uncle to Huntington.
  Those two that seeke to part these lovely friends,
  Are Elenor the queene, and John the prince,
  She loves earle Robert, he maide Marian,
  But vainely; for their deare affect is such,
  As only death can sunder their true loves.
  Long had they lov’d, and now it is agreed,
  This day they must be troth-plight, after wed:
  At Huntington’s faire house a feast is helde,
  But envie turnes it to a house of teares.
  For those false guestes, conspiring with the prior;
  To whom earle Robert greatly is in debt,
  Meane at the banquet to betray the earle,
  Unto a heavie writ of outlawry:
  The manner and escape you all shall see.

         *       *       *       *       *

  Looke to your entrance, get you in, Sir John.
  My shift is long, for I play Frier Tucke;
  Wherein, if Skelton hath but any lucke,
  Heele thanke his hearers oft with many a ducke.
  For many talk of Robin Hood that never shot in his bowe,
  But Skelton writes of Robin Hood what he doth truly knowe.”

After some Skeltonical rimes, and a scene betwixt the prior,
the sheriff, and justice Warman, concerning the outlawry, which
appears to be proclaimed, and the taking of Earl Huntington at
dinner, “Enter Robin Hoode, little John following him; Robin having
his napkin on his shoulder, as if hee were sodainly raised from
dinner.” He is in a violent rage at being outlawed, and Little John
endeavours to pacify him. Marian being distressed at his apparent
disorder, he dissembles with her. After she is gone, John thus
addresses him:

 “Now must your honour leave these mourning tunes,
  And thus by my areede you shall provide; {liii}
  Your plate and jewels ‘i wil’ straight packe up,
  And toward Notingham convey them hence.
  At Rowford, Sowtham, Wortley, Hothersfield,
  Of all your cattell mony shall be made,
  And I at Mansfield will attend your comming;
  Where weele determine which waie’s best to take.

  _Rob._ Well, be it so; a God’s name, let it be;
  And if I can, Marian shall come with mee.

  _John._ Else care will kill her; therefore if you please,
  At th’ utmost corner of the garden wall,
  Soone in the evening waite for Marian,
  And as I goe ile tell her of the place.
  Your horses at the Bell shall readie bee,
  I meane Belsavage,[41] whence, as citizens
  That ‘meane’ to ride for pleasure some small way,
  You shall set foorth.”

The company now enters, and Robin charges them with the conspiracy,
and rates their treacherous proceedings. Little John in attempting
to remove the goods is set upon by Warman and the sheriff; and
during the fray “Enter Prince John, Ely and the prior, and others.”
Little John tells the prince he but defends the box containing his
own gettings; upon which his royal highness observes,

 “You do the fellow wrong; his goods are his:
  You only must extend upon the earles.

  _Prior._ That was, my lord, but nowe is Robert Hood,
  A simple yeoman as his servants were.”

Ely gives the prior his commission, with directions to make speed,
lest “in his country-house all his heards be solde;” and gives
Warman a patent “for the high sheriffewick of Nottingham.” After
this, “Enter Robin like a citizen; and then the queen and Marian
disguised for each other. Robin takes Marian, and leaves the queen
to Prince John, who is {liv} so much enraged at the deception
that he breaks the head of Ely’s messenger. Sir Hugh, brother to
Lord Lacy, and steward to Ely, who had been deeply concerned in
Huntington’s ruin, is killed in a brawl by Prince John, whom Ely
orders to be arrested; but the prince, producing letters from the
king revoking Ely’s appointment, “lifts up his drawne sworde,” and
“Exit, cum Lester and Lacy,” in triumph. Then “Enter Robin Hoode,
Matilda at one doore, little John and Much the Miller’s sonne at
another doore.” After mutual congratulations, Robin asks if it be

                “――possible that Warman’s spite
 Should stretch so farre, that he doth hunt the lives
 Of bonnie Scarlet, and his brother Scathlock?

 _Much._ O, I, sir. Warman came but yesterday to take charge of the
 jaile at Notingham, and this daie, he saies, he will hang the two
 outlawes. . . .

 _Rob._ Now, by my honour’s hope, . . .
 He is too blame: say, John, where must they die?

 _John._ Yonder’s their mother’s house, and here the tree,
 Whereon, poore men, they must forgoe their lives;
 And yonder comes a lazy lozell frier,
 That is appointed for their confessor,
 Who, when we brought your monie to their mother’s,
 Was wishing her to patience for their deaths.”

Here “Enter Frier Tucke;” some conversation passes, and the frier
Skeltonizes; after which he departs, saying,

                 “――let us goe our way,
 Unto this hanging businesse; would for mee
 Some rescue or repreeve might set them free.

 _Rob._ Heardst thou not, little John, the frier’s speach?

 _John._ He seemes like a good fellow, my good lord.

 _Rob._ He’s a good fellowe, John, upon my word.
 Lend me thy horne, and get thee in to Much,
 And when I blowe this horne, come both and helpe mee.

 _John._ Take heed, my lord: the villane Warman knows you,
 And ten to one he hath a writ against you.

 _Rob._ Fear not: below the bridge a poor blind man doth dwell,
 With him I will change my habit, and disguise,
 Only be readie when I call for yee,
 For I will save their lives, if it may bee. . . .

{lv}

 _Enter Warman, Scarlet and Scathlock bounde, Frier Tuck as
 their confessor, officers with halberts._

 _War._ Master frier, be briefe, delay no time.
 Scarlet and Scatlock, never hope for life;
 Here is the place of execution,
 And you must answer lawe for what is done.

 _Scar._ Well, if there be no remedie, we must:
 Though it ill seemeth, Warman, thou shouldst bee,
 So bloodie to pursue our lives thus cruellie.

 _Scat._ Our mother sav’d thee from the gallows, Warman,
 His father did preferre thee to thy lord:
 One mother had wee both, and both our fathers
 To thee and to thy father were kinde friends. . . .

 _War._ Ye were first outlawes, then ye proved theeves. . . .
 Both of your fathers were good honest men;
 Your mother lives their widowe in good fame:[42]
 But you are scapethrifts, unthrifts, villanes, knaves,
 And as ye liv’d by shifts, shall die with shame.”

To them enters Ralph, the sheriff’s man, to acquaint him that the
carnifex, or executor of the law, had fallen off his “curtall” and
was “cripplefied” and rendered incapable of performing his office;
so that the sheriff was to become his deputy. The sheriff insists
that Ralph shall serve the turn, which he refuses. In the midst of
the altercation, “Enter Robin Hoode, like an old man,” who tells
the sheriff that the two outlaws had murdered his young son, and
undone himself; so that for revenge-sake he desires they may be
delivered to him. They denying the charge, “Robin whispers with
them,” and with the sheriff’s leave, and his man’s help, unbinds
them: then, sounds his horn; and “Enter little John, Much . . .
Fight; the frier, making as if he helpt the sheriffe, knockes down
his men crying, Keepe the king’s peace. Sheriffe [perceiving that
it is “the outlawed earle of Huntington”] runnes away, and his
men.” (See the ballad of “Robin Hood rescuing the widow’s sons,”
part ii. num. xxiii.) {lvi}

 “_Fri._ Farewell, earle Robert, as I am true frier,
 I had rather be thy clarke then serve the prior.

 _Rob._ A jolly fellowe! Scarlet, knowest thou him?

 _Scar._ Hee is of Yorke, and of Saint Maries cloister;
 There where your greedie uncle is lord prior. . . .

 _Rob._ Here is no biding, masters; get yee in. . . .
 John, on a sodaine thus I am resolv’d.
 To keepe in Sherewoodde tille the king’s returne,
 And being outlawed, leade an outlawe’s life. . . .

 _John._ I like your honour’s purpose exceeding well.

 _Rob._ Nay, no more honour, I pray thee, little John;
 Henceforth I will be called Robin Hoode,
 Matilda shall be my maid Marian.”

Then follows a scene betwixt old Fitzwater and Prince John, in the
course of which the prince, as a reason to induce Fitzwater to
recall his daughter Matilda, tells him that she is living in an
adulterous state, for that

 “—Huntington is excommunicate,
  And till his debts be paid, by Rome’s decree,
  It is agreed, absolv’d he cannot be;
  And that can never be.—So never wife,” &c.

Fitzwater, on this, flies into a passion, and accuses the prince
of being already married to “earle Chepstowe’s daughter.” They
“fight; John falles.” Then enter the queen, &c., and John sentences
Fitzwater to banishment: after which “Enter Scathlocke and Scarlet,
winding their hornes at severall doores. To them enter Robin Hoode,
Matilda, all in greene . . . Much, little John; all the men with
bowes and arrowes.[43]

        *       *       *       *       *

 “_Rob._ Wind once more, jolly huntsmen, all your horns,
 Whose shrill sound, with the ecchoing wods assist,
 Shall ring a sad knell for the fearefull deere,
 Before our feathered shafts, death’s winged darts,
 Bring sodaine summons for their fatall ends. {lvii}

 _Scar._ Its ful seaven years since we were outlawed first,
 And wealthy Sherewood was our heritage:
 For all those yeares we raigned uncontrolde,
 From Barnsdale shrogs to Notingham’s red cliffes.
 At Blithe and Tickhill were we welcome guests:
 Good George a Greene at Bradford was our friend,
 And wanton Wakefield’s pinner lov’d us well.[44]
 At Barnsley dwels a potter, tough and strong,
 That never brookt we brethren should have wrong.
 The nunnes of Farnsfield (pretty nunnes they bee)
 Gave napkins, shirts, and bands to him and mee.
 Bateman of Kendall gave us Kendall greene;
 And Sharpe of Leedes sharpe arrows for us made.
 At Rotherham dwelt our bowyer, God him blisse,
 Jackson he hight, his bowes did never misse.
 This for our goode, our scathe let Scathlocke tell,
 In merry Mansfield how it once befell.

 _Scath._ In merry Mansfield, on a wrestling day,
 Prizes there were, and yeomen came to play,
 My brother Scarlet and myselfe were twaine;
 Many resisted, but it was in vaine,
 For of them all we wonne the mastery,
 And the gilt wreathes were given to him and me.
 There by Sir Doncaster of ‘Hothersfield,’
 We were bewraied, beset, and forst to yield;
 And so borne bound from thence to Notingham,
 Where we lay doom’d to death till Warman came.”

Some cordial expressions pass between Robin and Matilda. He
commands all the yeomen to be cheerful; and orders Little John to
read the articles.

 “_Joh._ First, no man must presume to call our master,
 By name of earle, lorde, baron, knight, or squire:
 But simply by the name of Robin Hoode.――
   That faire Matilda henceforth change her name,
 ‘And’ by maid Marian’s name be only cald.
   Thirdly, no yeoman following Robin Hoode
 In Sherewood, shall use widowe, wife, or maid,
 But by true labour, lustfull thoughts expell.
   Fourthly, no passenger with whom ye meete,
 Shall yee let passe till hee with Robin feaste:
 Except a poast, a carrier, or such folke,
 As use with foode to serve the market townes.
   Fiftly, you never shall the poore man wrong. {lviii}
 Nor spare a priest, a usurer, or a clarke.
   Lastly, you shall defend with all your power
 Maids, widowes, orphants, and distressed men.

 _All._ All these we vowe to keepe, as we are men.

 _Rob._ Then wend ye to the greenewod merrily,
 And let the light roes bootlesse from yee runne,
 Marian and I, as soveraigns of your toyles,
 Will wait, within our bower, your bent bowes spoiles.

                              [_Exeunt winding their hornes._”

In the next scene, we find Frier Tucke feignedly entering into a
conspiracy with the prior and Sir Doncaster to serve an execution
on Robin in disguise. Jinny, the widow Scarlet’s daughter, coming
in on her way to Sherwood, is persuaded by the frier to accompany
him, “disguised in habit like a pedler’s mort.” Fitzwater enters
like an old man:—sees Robin sleeping on a green bank, Marian
strewing flowers on him; pretends to be blind and hungry, and is
regaled by them. In answer to a question why the fair Matilda
(Fitzwater’s daughter) had changed her name, Robin tells him it is

 “Because she lives a spotlesse maiden life:
  And shall, till Robin’s outlawe life have ende,
  That he may lawfully take her to wife;
  Which, if King Richard come, will not be long.”

“Enter Frier Tucke and Jinny like pedlers singing,” and afterward
“Sir Doncaster and others weaponed.” The frier discovers the plot,
and a fray ensues. The scene then changes to the court, where the
prior is informed of six of his barns being destroyed by fire, and
of the different execrations of all ranks upon him, as the undoer
of “the good lord Robert, earle of Huntington;” that the convent
of St. Mary’s had elected “Olde father Jerome” prior in his place;
and lastly, a herald brings his sentence of banishment, which is
confirmed by the entrance of the prior. Lester brings an account
of the imprisonment of his gallant sovereign, King Richard, by
the Duke of Austria, and requires his ransom to be sent. He then
introduces a description of his matchless valour in the Holy Land.
John not only refuses the ransom-money, but usurps the style of
king; upon which Lester grows furious, {lix} and rates the whole
company. The following is part of the dialogue:

 “_Joh._ (_to Lester_). Darest thou attempt thus proudly in our sight?

  _Lest._ What is’t a subject dares, that I dare not?

  _Sals._ Dare subjects dare, their soveraigne being by?

  _Lest._ O God, that my true soveraigne were ny!

  _Qu._ Lester, he is.

  _Lest._ Madame, by God, you ly.

  _Chest._ Unmanner’d man.

  _Lest._ A plague of reverence!”

After this, and more on the same subject, the scene returns to the
forest, where Ely, being taken by Much, “like a countryman with
a basket,” is examined and detected by Robin, who promises him
protection and service. On their departure:

 “_Joh._ Skelton, a worde or two beside the play.

  _Fri._ Now, Sir John Eltam, what ist you would say?

  _John._ Methinks I see no jeasts of Robin Hoode,
 No merry morices of Frier Tuck,
 No pleasant skippings up and downe the wodde,
 No hunting songs, no coursing of the bucke:
 Pray God this play of ours may have good lucke,
 And the king’s majestie mislike it not!

  _Fri._ And if he doe, what can we doe to that?
 I promis’d him a play of Robin Hoode,
 His honorable life, in merry Sherewod;
 His majestie himselfe survaid the plot,
 And bad me boldly write it, it was good.
 For merry jeasts, they have bene showne before
 As how the frier fell into the well,
 For love of Jinny, that faire bonny bell:
 How Greeneleafe rob’d the shrieve of Notingham,
 And other mirthful matter, full of game.”

“Enter Warman banished.” He laments his fall, and applies to a
cousin, on whom he had bestowed large possessions, for relief; but
receives nothing, except reproaches for his treachery to his noble
master. The jailor of Nottingham, who was indebted to him for his
place, refuses him even a scrap of his dog’s meat, and reviles
him in the severest terms. Good-wife Tomson, whose husband he had
delivered from death, to his great joy, promises him a caudle,
but {lx} fetches him a halter,[45] in which he is about to hang
himself, but is prevented by Fitzwater, and some of Robin Hood’s
men, who crack a number of jokes upon him; Robin puts an end to
their mockery, and proffers him comfort and favour. Then enters
Frier Tucke, with an account of Sir Doncaster and the prior being
stripped and wounded in their way to Bawtrey: Robin, out of love
to his uncle, hastens to the place. After this “Enter Prince John,
solus, in green, bowe and arrowes.

 “_John._ Why this is somewhat like, now may I sing,
 As did the Wakefield pinder in his note;
 At Michaelmas commeth my covenant out,
     My master gives me my fee:
 Then Robin Ile weare thy Kendall greene,
     And wend to the greenewodde with thee.”[46]

He assumes the name of Woodnet, and is detected by Scathlocke and
Frier Tucke. The prince and Scathlocke fight, Scathelocke grows
weary, and the frier takes his place. Marion enters, and perceiving
the frier, parts the combatants. Robin enters, and John submits
to him. Much enters, running, with information of the approach of
“the king and twelve and twenty score of horses.” Robin places his
people in order. The trumpets sound, the king and his train enter,
a general pardon ensues, and the king confirms the love of Robin
and Matilda. Thus the play concludes, Skelton promising the second
part, and acquainting the audience of what it should consist.

The second part, or death of Robert earle of Huntington, is
a pursuit of the same story. The scene, so far as our hero
is concerned, lyes in Sherwood. A few extracts may not be
unacceptable. {lxi}

“Sc. iiii. Winde hornes. Enter king, queene, &c. Frier Tuck
carrying a stag’s head, dauncing.” The frier has been sent for to
read the following incription upon a copper ring round the stag’s
neck:

 “When Harold Hare-foote raigned king,
  About my necke he put this ring.”

The king orders “head, ring, and all” to be sent to Nottingham
Castle, to be kept for monuments. Fitzwater tells him he has heard
“an olde tale,”

 “That Harold, being Goodwin’s sonne of Kent,[47]
  Hunted for pleasure once within this wood,
  And singled out a faire and stately stagge,
  Which, foote to foote, the king in running caught;
  And sure this was the stagge.

  _King._ It was no doubt.

  _Chester._ But some, my lord, affirme,
 That Julius Cæsar, many years before,
 Tooke such a stagge, and such a poesie writ.”[48] {lxii}

Upon which his majesty very sagaciously remarks,

 “It should not be in Julius Cæsar’s time:
  There was no English used in this land
  Untill the Saxons came, and this is writ
  In Saxon characters.”

The next quotation may be of service to Dr. Percy, who {lxiii}
has been pleased to question our hero’s nobility, because “the
most ancient poems make no mention of this earldom,” and the old
legend expressly asserts him “to have been a yeoman.” It is very
true; and we shall here not only find his title established, but
also discover the secret of his not being usually distinguished or
designed by it.

 “_Enter Roben Hoode._

 _King._ How now, earle Robert!

 _Fri._ A forfet, a forfet, my liege lord,
 My master’s lawes are on record,
 The court-roll here your grace may see.

 _King._ I pray thee, frier, read them mee.

 _Fri._ One shall suffice, and this is hee.
 No man that commeth in this wod,
 To feast or dwell with Robin Hood,
 Shall call him earle, lord, knight, or squire,
 He no such titles doth desire,
 But Robin Hood, plain Robin Hoode,
 That honest yoeman, stout and good,
 On paine of forfetting a marke,
 That must be paid to mee his clarke.
 My liege, my liege, this lawe you broke,
 Almost in the last word you spoke;
 That crime may not acquitted bee,
 Till Frier Tuck receive his fee.”

Now, the reason that “the most ancient poems make no mention
of this earldom,” and the old legend expressly asserts him “to
have been a yeoman,” appears, plainly enough, to be, that as,
pursuant to his own injunction, he was never called, either by his
followers, or in the vicinity, by any other name than Robin Hood,
so particularly the minstrels, who were always, no doubt, welcome
to Sherwood,[49] {lxiv} and liberally entertained by him and his
yeomanry, would take special care never to offend against the above
law: which puts an end to the dispute.—Q. E. D.

Our hero is, at length, poisoned by a drink which Doncaster and the
prior, his uncle, had prepared for him to give to the king. His
departing scene and last dying speech are beautiful and pathetic.

 “_Rob._ Inough, inough, Fitzwater, take your child.
 My dying frost, which no sunnes heat can thawe,
 Closes the powers of all my outward parts;
 My freezing blood runnes back into my heart,
 Where it assists death, which it would resist:
 Only my love a little hinders death,
 For he beholds her eyes, and cannot smite.

        *       *       *       *       *

 _Mat._ O let mee looke for ever in thy eyes,
 And lay my warme breath to thy bloodlesse lips,
 If my sight can restraine death’s tyrannies,
 Or keep lives breath within thy bosome lockt.”

He desires to be buried

 “At Wakefield, underneath the abbey-wall;”

directs the manner of his funeral; and bids his yeomen,

 “For holy dirges, sing ‘him’ wodmen’s songs.”

The king, upon the earl’s death, expresses his sorrow for the
tragical event; ratifies the will; repeats the directions for the
funeral; and says,

 “Fall to your wod-songs, therefore, yeomen bold,
  And deck his herse with flowers, that lov’d you deere.”

The whole concludes with the following solemn dirge:

 “Weepe, weepe, ye wod-men waile,
  Your hands with sorrow wring;
  Your master Robin Hood lies deade,
  Therefore sigh as you sing. {lxv}
 “Here lies his primer, and his beades,
  His bent bowe, and his arrowes keene,
  His good sworde and his holy crosse:
  Now cast on flowers fresh and greene.

 “And, as they fall, shed teares and say,
  Well a, well a day, well a, well a day!
  Thus cast yee flowers and sing,
  And on to Wakefield take your way.”

The poet then prosecutes the legend of Matilda, who is finally
poisoned, by the procurement of King John, in Dunmow Priory.

The story of this lady, whom the author of these plays is supposed
to have been the first that converted into the character of Maid
Marian, or connected in any shape with the history of Robin Hood,
is thus related by Stow, under the year 1213: “The chronicle of
Dunmow sayth, this discord arose betwixt the king and his barons,
because of Mawd called the faire, daughter to Robert Fitzwalter,
whome the king loved, but her father would not consent; and
thereupon ensued warre throughout England. . . . . . Whilst Mawd
the faire remayned at Dunmow, there came a messenger unto her
from King John about his suite in love, but because she would not
agree, the messenger poysoned a boyled or potched egge against she
was hungrie, whereof she died” (Annales, 1592). Two of Drayton’s
heroical epistles pass between King John and Matilda. He has also
written her legend.

4. “Robin Hood’s penn’orths, by Wm. Haughton.”[50]

5. “Metropolis coronata, the triumphs of ancient drapery: or, rich
cloathing of England, in a second yeeres performance. In honour of
the advancement of Sir John Jolles, knight, to the high office of
lord maior of London, and taking his oath for the same authoritie,
on Monday being the 30. day of October, 1615. Performed in heartie
affection to him, and at the bountifull charges of his worthy
brethren the truely honourable society of drapers, the first that
received such dignitie, in this citie. Devised and written by A. M.
{lxvi} [Anthony Mundy] citizen and draper of London.” 1615, 4to.

This is one of the pageants formerly usual on Lord Mayor’s day,
and of which several are extant, written as well by our author
Mundy,[51] as by Middleton, Dekker, Heywood, and other hackney
dramatists of that period. They were thought of such consequence
that the City had for some time (though probably not till after
the Restoration) a professed laureat for their composition; an
office which expired with Elkanah Settle in 1723–24. They consisted
chiefly of machinery, allegorical or historical personages, songs
and speeches.

“After all these shewes, thus ordered in their appointed places,
followeth another device of huntsmen, all clad in greene, with
their bowes, arrowes and bugles, and a new slaine deere, carried
among them. It savoureth of earle Robert de la Hude, sometime
the noble earle of Huntington, and sonne in law (by marriage) to
old Fitz-Alwine,[52] raised by the muses all-commanding power,
to honour this triumph with his father. During the time of his
out-lawed life in the forest of merry Shirwood, and elsewhere,
while the cruel oppression of a most unnatural and covetous brother
hung heavy upon him, Gilbert de la Hude, lord abbot of Christall
[r. Kirkstall] abbey, who had all or most of his lands in mortgage:
he was commonly called Robin Hood, and had a gallant company of
men (out-lawed in the like manner) that followed his downecast
fortunes; as little John, Scathlocke, Much the miller’s son,
Right-hitting Brand, fryar Tuck, and many more. In which condition
of life we make instant use of him, and part of his brave bowmen,
fitted with bowes and arrowes, of the like strength and length, as
good records {lxvii} deliver testimonie, were then used by them in
their killing of deere. . . . .

“Afterward, [viz. after “Fitz-Alwine’s speech to the lord maior at
night,”] as occasion best presenteth itselfe, when the heate of
all other employments are calmly overpast, earle Robin Hood, with
fryer Tuck, and his other brave huntesmen, attending (now at last)
to discharge their duty to my lord, which the busie turmoile of the
whole day could not before affoord: they shewe themselves to him in
this order, and earle Robin himselfe thus speaketh.

The speech spoken by Earl Robert de la Hude, commonly called Robin
Hood.

 Since graves may not their dead containe,
 Nor in their peacefull sleepes remaine,
 But triumphes and great showes must use them,
 And we unable to refuse them;
 It joyes me that earle Robert Hood,
 Fetcht from the forrest of merrie Shirwood,
 With these my yeomen tight and tall,
 Brave huntsmen and good archers all,
 Must in this joviall day partake,
 Prepared for your honour’s sake.
 No sooner was i raysde from rest,
 And of my former state possest
 As while i liv’d, but being alone,
 And of my yeomen seeing not one,
 I with my bugle gave a call,
 Made all the woods to ring withall.
 Immediately came little John,
 And Scathlock followed him anon,
 With Much the honest miller’s sonne;
 And ere ought else could be done,
 The frollicke frier came tripping in,
 His heart upon a merrie pinne.
 Master (quoth he) in yonder brake,
 A deere is hid for Marian’s sake,
 Bid Scathlock, John, or honest Brand,
 That hath the happy hitting hand,
 Shoote right and have him: and see, my lord,
 The deed performed with the word.
 For Robin and his bow-men bold,
 Religiously did ever holde,
 Not emptie-handed to be seene,
 Were’t but at feasting on a greene; {lxviii}
 Much more then, when so high a day
 Calls our attendance: all we may
 Is all too little, tis your grace
 To winke at weakenesse in this case:
 So, fearing to be over-long,
 End all with our old hunting song.

        *       *       *       *       *

The song of Robin Hood and his huntes-men.

 Now wend we together, my merry men all,
   Unto the forrest side a;
 And there to strike a buck or a doae,
   Let our cunning all be tried a.

 Then goe we merrily, merrily on,
   To the green-wood to take up our stand [a],
 Where we will lye in waite for our game,
   With our best bowes all in our hand [a].

 What life is there like to bold Robin Hood?
   It is so pleasant a thing a:
 In merry Shirwood he spends his dayes,
   As pleasantly as a king a.

 No man may compare with bold Robin Hood,
   With Robin Hood, Scathlocke and John [a]:
 Their like was never, nor never will be,
   If in case that they were gone [a].

 They will not away from merry Shirwood,
   In any place else to dwell [a]:
 For there is neither city nor towne,
   That likes them half so well [a].

 Our lives are wholly given to hunt,
   And haunt the merry greene-wood [a];
 Where our best service is daily spent,
   For our master Robin Hood [a].”

6. “Robin Hood and his pastoral May games.” 1624.

7. “Robin Hood and his crew of soldiers.” 1627.

These two titles are inserted among the plays mentioned by Chetwood
in his British Theatre (p. 67) as written by anonymous authors in
the 16th century to the Restoration. But neither Langbaine, who
mentions both, nor any other person, pretends to have ever seen
either of them. The former, indeed, may possibly be “The playe
of Robyn {lxix} Hode,” already noticed; and the other is probably
a future article. Langbaine, it is to be observed, gives no date
to either piece; so that it may be fairly concluded those above
specified are of Chetwood’s own invention, which appears to have
been abundantly fertile in every species of forgery and imposture.

8. “The sad shepherd, or a tale of Robin Hood.”

The story of our renowned archer cannot be said to have been wholly
occupied by bards without a name, since, not to mention Mundy or
Drayton, the celebrated Ben Jonson intended a pastoral drama on
this subject, under the above title; but dying, in the year 1637,
before it was finished, little more than the two first acts have
descended down to us. His last editor (Mr. Whalley), while he
regrets that it is but a fragment, speaks of it in raptures, and,
indeed, not without evident reason, many passages being eminently
poetical and judicious.

“The persons of the play,” so far as concerns our immediate
purpose, are: [1] “Robin Hood, the chief woodman [i.e. forester],
master of the feast. [2] Marian, his lady, the mistress. [3] Friar
Tuck, the chaplain and steward. [4] Little John, bow-bearer. [5,
6] Scarlet, Scathlocke,[53] two brothers, huntsmen. [7] George a
Green, huisher of the bower. [8] Much, Robin Hood’s bailiff or
acater.” The rest are the guests invited, the witch of Paplewick,
her daughter, the swin’ard her son, Puck Hairy or Robin Goodfellow,
their hind, and lastly a devout hermit. “The scene, Sherwood,
consisting of a landscape of a forest, hills, valleys, cottages,
a castle, a river, pastures, herds, flocks, all full of country
simplicity; Robin Hood’s bower, his well, &c.” “The argument of
the first act” is as follows: “Robin Hood, having invited all the
shepherds and shepherdesses of the vale of Be’voir to a feast in
the forest of Sherwood, and trusting to his mistress, Maid Marian,
with her woodmen, to kill him venison against the day; having
left the like charge with Friar Tuck, his chaplain and steward,
to command the rest of his merry men to see the bower made {lxx}
ready, and all things in order for the entertainment: ‘meets’
with his guests at their entrance into the wood, and conducts
them to his bower: where, by the way, he receives the relation of
the sad shepherd Æglamour, who is fallen into a deep melancholy
for the loss of his beloved Earine, reported to have been drowned
in passing over the Trent, some few days before. . . . . In the
meantime Marian is come from hunting. . . . . Robin Hood inquires
if she hunted the deere at force, and what sport he made? how long
he stood? and what head he bore? all which is briefly answered,
with a relation of breaking him up, and the raven, and her bone.
The suspect had of that raven to be Maudlin the witch of Paplewick,
whom one of the huntsmen met i’ the morning at the rousing of the
deer, and is confirmed by her being then in Robin Hood’s kitchen,
i’ the chimney corner, broiling the same bit which was thrown
to the raven at the quarry or fall of the deer. Marian, being
gone in to shew the deer to some of the shepherdesses, returns
discontented; sends away the venison she had killed to her they
call the witch; quarrels with her love Robin Hood, abuseth him,
and his guests the shepherds; and so departs, leaving them all in
wonder and perplexity.”

By “the argument of the second act” it appears that the witch had
“taken the shape of Marian to abuse Robin Hood and perplex his
guests.” However, upon an explanation of the matter with the true
Marian, the trick is found out, the venison recovered, and “Robin
Hood dispatches out his woodmen to hunt and take her: which ends
the act.” The third act was designed to be taken up with the chase
of the witch, her various schemes to elude the pursuers, and the
discovery of Earine in the swineherd’s enchanted oak. Nothing
more of the author’s design appearing, we have only to regret
the imperfect state of a pastoral drama, which, according to the
above learned and ingenious editor, would have done honour to the
nation.[54] {lxxi}

9. “Robin Hood and his crew of souldiers, a comedy acted at
Nottingham on the day of his saCRed majesties corronation. Vivat
rex. The actors names: Robin Hood, commander; Little John, William
Scadlocke, souldiers; messenger from the sheriffe. London, printed
for James Davis, 1661.” 4to.

This is an interlude, of a few pages and no merit, alluding to the
late rebellion, and the subject of the day. The outlaws, convinced
by the reasoning of the sheriff’s messenger, become loyal subjects.

10. “Robin Hood. An opera, as it is perform’d at Lee’s and Harper’s
great theatrical booth in Bartholomew-fair.” 1730. 8vo.

11. “Robin Hood.” 1751. 8vo.

This was a ballad-farce, acted at Drury-lane Theatre, in which the
following favourite song was originally sung by Mr. Beard, in the
character of Robin Hood:

 As blithe as the linnet sings in the green wood,
     So blithe we’ll wake the morn;
 And through the wide forest of merry Sherwood
     We’ll wind the bugle horn.

 The sheriff attempts to take bold Robin Hood,
     Bold Robin disdains to fly;
 Let him come when he will, we’ll, in merry Sherwood,
     Or vanquish, boys, or die.

 Our hearts they are stout, and our bows they are good,
     As well their masters know;
 They’re cull’d in the forest of merry Sherwood,
     And never will spare a foe.

 Our arrows shall drink of the fallow deer’s blood,
     We’ll hunt them all o’er the plain!
 And through the wide forest of merry Sherwood,
     No shaft shall fly in vain.

 Brave Scarlet, and John, who ne’er were subdu’d,
     Give each his hand so bold;
 We’ll range through the forest of merry Sherwood,
     What say my hearts of gold?

12. “Robin Hood; or Sherwood forest: a comic opera. As performed
at the theatre-royal in Covent-garden. By Leonard Mac Nally, esq.”
1784. 8vo. {lxxii}

This otherwise insignificant performance was embellished with some
fine music by Mr. Shield. It has been since reduced to, and is
still frequently acted as, an after-piece.

A drama on the subject of Robin Hood, under the title of The
Foresters, has been long expected from the elegant author of The
School for Scandal. The first act, said to have been written many
years ago, is, by those who have seen or heard it, spoken of with
admiration.[55]


(27) —“_innumerable poems, rimes, songs and ballads._”] The
original and most ancient pieces of this nature have all perished
in the lapse of time, during a period of between five and six
hundred years’ continuance; and all we now know of them is that
such things once existed. In the Vision of Pierce Plowman, an
allegorical poem, thought to have been composed soon after the
year 1360, and generally ascribed to Robert Langeland, the author
introduces an ignorant, idle, and drunken secular priest, the
representative, no doubt, of the parochial clergy of that age, in
the character of Sloth, who makes the following confession:

 “I cannot parfitli mi paternoster, as the preist it singeth,
  But I can ryms of Roben Hode, and ‘Randolf’ erl of Chester,
  But of our lorde or our lady I lerne nothyng at all.”[56]

{lxxiii}

Fordun, the Scotish historian, who wrote about 1340, speaking
of Robin Hood and Little John, and their accomplices, says, “of
whom the foolish vulgar in comedies and tragedies make lewd
entertainment, and are delighted to hear the jesters and minstrels
sing them above all other ballads;”[57] and Mair (or Major),
whose history was published by himself in 1521, observes that
“The exploits of this Robert are celebrated in songs throughout
all Britain.”[58] So, likewise, Maister Johne Bellendene, the
translator of “that noble clerk Maister Hector Boece” (Bois or
Boethius), having mentioned “that waithman Robert Hode with his
fallow litil Johne,” adds, “of quhom ar mony fabillis and mery
sportis soung amang the vulgar pepyll.”[59] Whatever may have been
the nature of the compositions alluded to by the above writers,
several of the pieces printed in the present collection are {lxxiv}
unquestionably of great antiquity; not less, that is, than between
three and four hundred years old. The Lytell Geste, which is first
inserted, is probably the oldest thing upon the subject we now
possess;[60] but a legend, apparently of the same species, was once
extant, of, perhaps, a still earlier date, of which it is some
little satisfaction to be able to give even the following fragment,
from a single leaf, fortunately preserved in one of the volumes of
old printed ballads in the British Museum, in a handwriting as old
as Henry the Sixth’s time. It exhibits the characters of our hero
and his _fidus Achates_ in the noblest point of view.

 “He say_d_ Robyn Hod . . . . yne the preson,
 And owght off hit was g_on_.

 The porter rose a-non certeyn,
   As sone as he hard Johan call;
 Lytyll Johan was redy with a sword,
   And bare hym throw to the wall.

 Now will I be jayler, sayd lytyll Johan,
   And toke the keys in hond;
 He toke the way to Robyn Hod,
   And sone he hyme unbond.

 He gaffe hym a good swerd in his hond,
   His hed ther-with for to kepe;
 And ther as the wallis wer lowest,
   Anon down ther they lepe.

        *       *       *       *       *

   To Robyn . . . . . sayd:

 I have d_one_ the a god torne for an . . .
   Quit me when thow may;
 I have done the a gode torne, sayd lytyll [Johan],
   Forsothe as I the saye; {lxxv}
 I have browghte the under the gren wod . . .
   Farewell & have gode daye.

 Nay, be my trowthe, sayd Robyn,
   So schall it never bee;
 I make the master, sayd Robyn,
   Off all my men & me.
 Nay, be my trowthe, sayd lytyll Johan,
   So schall it never bee.”

This, indeed, may be part of the “story of Robin Hood and Little
John,” which M. Wilhelm Bedwell found in the ancient MS. lent him
by his much honoured good friend M. G. Withers, whence he extracted
and published “The Turnament of Tottenham,” a poem of the same age,
and which seemed to him to be done (perhaps but transcribed) by Sir
Gilbert Pilkington, formerly, as some had thought, parson of that
parish.[61]

That poems and stories on the subject of our hero and his
companions were extraordinarily popular and common before and
during the 16th century is evident from the testimony of divers
writers. Thus, Alexander Barclay, priest, in his translation of The
Shyp of Folys, printed by Pynson in 1508, and by John Cawood in
1570,[62] says:

 “I write no jeste ne tale of Robin Hood.”

Again:

 “For goodlie scripture is not worth an hawe,
  But tales are loved ground of ribaudry;
  And many are so blinded with their foly,
  That no scriptur thinke they so true nor gode,
  As is a foolish jest of Robin Hode.”

Again:

 “And of all fables and jestes of Robin Hood,
  Or other trifles.”

{lxxvi}

The same Barclay, in the fourth of his Egloges, subjoined to the
last edition of The Ship of Foles, but originally printed soon
after 1500, has the following passage:

 “Yet would I gladly heare some mery fit
  Of maide Marion, or els of Robin Hood,
  Or Benteleyes ale, which chafeth well the blood,
  Of Perte of Norwich, or Sauce of Wilberton,
  Or buckishe Joly[63] well stuffed as a ton.”

Robert Braham, in his epistle to the reader, prefixed to Lydgate’s
Troy-book, 1555, is of opinion that “Caxton’s recueil” [of Troy]
is “worthye to be numbred amongest the trifelinge tales and
barrayne luerdries of Robyn Hode and Bevys of Hampton.” (See Ames’s
Typographical Antiquities, by Herbert, p. 849.)

“For one that is sand blynd,” says Sir Thomas Chaloner, “would take
an asse for a moyle, or another prayse a rime of Robyn Hode for
as excellent a making as Troylus of Chaucer, yet shoulde they not
straight-waies be counted madde therefore?” (Erasmus’s Praise of
Folye, sig. h.)

“If good lyfe,” observes Bishop Latimer, “do not insue and folowe
upon our readinge to the example of other, we myghte as well spende
that tyme in reading of prophane hystories, of Canterburye tales,
or a fit of Roben Hode” (Sermons, sig. A. iiii.)

The following lines, from a poem in the Hyndford MS. compiled
in 1568, afford an additional proof of our hero’s popularity in
Scotland:

 “Thair is no story that I of heir,
  Of Johne nor Robene Hude,
  Nor zit of Wallace wicht but weir,
  That me thinkes half so gude,
  As of thre palmaris,” &c.

That the subject was not forgotten in the succeeding age, can be
testifyed by Drayton, who is elsewhere quoted, and in his sixth
eclogue makes Gorbo thus address “old Winken de Word:” {lxxvii}

 “Come, sit we down under this hawthorn-tree,
  The morrow’s light shall lend us day enough,
  And let us tell of Gawen, or Sir Guy,
  Of Robin Hood, or of old Clem a Clough.”

Richard Johnson, who wrote “The History of Tom Thumbe,” in prose
(London, 1621, 12mo, b. l.), thus prefaces his work: “My merry muse
begets no tales of Guy of Warwicke, &c. nor will I trouble my penne
with the pleasant glee of Robin Hood, little John, the fryer, and
his Marian; nor will I call to mind the lusty Pinder of Wakefield,
&c.”

In “The Calidonian Forrest,” a sort of allegorical or mystic tale,
by John Hepwith, gentleman, printed in 1641, 4to, the author says,

 “Let us talke of Robin Hoode,
  And little John in mery Shirewoode,” &c.[64]

Of one very ancient, and undoubtedly once very popular, song this
single line is all that is now known to exist: {lxxviii}

 “Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood.”

However, though but a line, it is of the highest authority in
Westminster Hall, where, in order to the decision of a knotty
point, it has been repeatedly cited, in the most solemn manner, by
grave and learned judges.

M. 6 Jac. B. R. Witham _v._ Barker, Yelv. 147. Trespass, for
breaking plaintif’s close, &c. Plea. Liberum tenementum of Sir
John Tyndall, and justification as his servant and by his command.
Replication, That it is true it is his freehold, but that long
before the time when &c. he leased to plaintif at will, who
entered and was possessed until, &c. traversing, that defendant
entered, &c. by command of Sir John. Demurrer: and adjudged
against plaintif, on the ground of the replication being bad, as
not setting forth any seisin or possession in Sir John, out of
which a lease at will could be derived. For a title made by the
plea or replication should be certain to all intents, because it
is traversable. Here, therefor, he should have stated Sir John’s
seisin, as well as the lease at will; which is not done here: “mes
tout un come il ust replie Robin Whood in Barnwood stood, absque
hoc q def. p commandement Sir John. Quod nota. Per Fenner, Williams
et Crook justices sole en court. Et judgment done accordant. Yelv.
p def.”

In the case of Bush _v._ Leake, B. R. Trin. 23 G. 3, Buller,
justice, cited the case of Coulthurst _v._ Coulthurst, C. B.
Pasch. 12 G. 3 (an action on bond), and observed, “There a case in
Yelverton was alluded to, where the court said, you might as well
say, by way of inducement to a traverse, Robin Hood in Barnwood
stood.”

It is almost unnecessary to observe, because it will be shortly
proved, that Barnwood, in the preceding quotations, ought to be
Barnsdale.[65] With respect to Whood, the reader {lxxix} will
see, under Note 19, a remarkable proof of the antiquity of that
pronunciation, which actually prevails in the metropolis at this
day. See also the word “whodes” in Note 34. So, likewise, Bale, in
his _Actes of English Votaries_, 1560, says, “the monkes had their
cowles, caprones or whodes;” and in Stow’s _Survey_, 1598, p. 120,
have “a fooles whoode.”

This celebrated and important line occurs as the first of a foolish
mock-song, inserted in an old mortality, intitled “A new interlude
and a mery of the nature of the iiii elementes,” supposed to
have been printed by John Rastall about 1520; where it is thus
introduced:

 “_Hu_[_manyte_]. ――let us some lusty balet syng.

 _Yng_[_norance_]. Nay, syr, by the hevyn kyng:
        For me thynkyth it servyth for no thyng,
        All suche pevysh prykeryd song.

 _Hu._ Pes, man, pryk-song may not be dyspysyd,
        For therwith God is well plesyd.

        *       *       *       *       *

 _Yng._ Is God well pleasyd, trowest thou, therby?
        Nay, nay, for there is no reason why.
        For is it not as good to say playnly
        Gyf me a spade,
        As gyf me a spa ve va ve va ve vade?
        But yf thou wylt have a song that is good,
        I have one of Robyn Hode,
        The best that ever was made. {lxxx}

 _Hu._ Then a feleshyp, let us here it.

 _Yng._ But there is a bordon, thou must here it,
        Or ellys it wyll not be.

 _Hu._ Than begyn, and care not for . . .
              Downe downe downe, &c.

 _Yng._ Robyn Hode in Barnysdale stode,
        And lent hym tyl a mapyll thystyll;
        Than cam our lady & swete saynt Andrewe;
        Slepyst thou, wakyst thou, Geffrey Coke?[66]

        A c. wynter the water was depe,
        I can not tell you how brode;
        He toke a gose nek in his hande,
        And over the water he went.

        He start up to a thystell top,
        And cut hym downe a holyn clobbe;
        He stroke the wren betwene the hornys,
        That fyre sprange out of the pygges tayle.

        Jak boy is thy bow i-broke,
        Or hath any man done the wryguldy wrange?
        He plukkyd muskyllys out of a wyllowe,
        And put them in to his sachell.

        Wylkyn was an archer good,
        And well coude handell a spade;
        He toke his bend bowe in his hand,
        And set him downe by the fyre.

        He toke with hym lx. bowes and ten,
        A pese of befe, another of baken.
        Of all the byrdes in mery Englond,
        So merely pypys the mery bottel.”

“The lives, stories, and giftes of men which are contained in the
bible, they [the papists] read as thinges no more pertaining unto
them than a tale of Robin Hood” (Tyndale, Prologue to the prophecy
of Jonas, about 1531).

Gwalter Lynne, printer, in his dedication to Ann, Duchess of
Somerset, of “The true beliefe in Christ and his sacramentes,”
1550, says, “I woulde wyshe tharfore that al men, {lxxxi} women,
and chyldren, would read it. Not as they haue bene here tofore
accustomed to reade the fained storyes of Robin-hode, Clem of the
Cloughe, wyth such lyke to passe the tyme wythal,” &c.

In 1562, John Alde had license to print “a ballad of Robyn god,” a
mistake, it is probable, for Robyn Hod.

Alexander Hume, minister of Logie, about 1599, says in one of his
“Hymnes or Sacred Songs,” printed in that year, that

 ――“much to blame are those of carnal brood,
 Who loath to taste of intellectual food,
 Yet surfeit on old tales of Robin Hood.”

           Complaint of Scotland, Edin. 1801, Dissertation, p. 221.

 “Exclude the scriptures, and bid them read the story
  Of Robin Hood and Guy, which was both tall and stout,
  And Bevis of Southampton, to seek the matter out.
  Suffer all slander against God and his truth,
  And praise the old fashion in king Arthur’s days,
  Of abbays and monasteries how it is great ruth
  To have them plucked down, and so the eldest says;
  And how it was merry when Robin Hood’s plays
  Was in every town, the morrice and the fool,
  The maypole and the drum, to bring the calf from school,
  With Midge, Madge and Marion, about the pole to dance,
  And Stephen, that tall stripling, to lead Volans dance,
  With roguing Gangweeke, a goodly remembrance,
  With beads in every hand, our prayers stood by tale:
  This was a merry work, talk among our meany,
  And then of good eggs ye might have twenty for a penny.”

                          L. Ramsey’s Practice of the Divell, b. l.

All the entire poems and songs known to be extant will be found
in the following collection; but many more may be traditionally
preserved in different parts of the country which would have
added considerably to its value.[67] That {lxxxii} some of these
identical pieces, or others of the like nature, were great
favourites with the common people in the time of Queen Elizabeth,
though not much esteemed, it would seem, by the refined critic,
may, in addition to the testimonies already cited, be inferred
from a passage in Webbe’s Discourse {lxxxiii} of English Poetrie,
printed in 1586. “If I lette passe,” says he, “the unaccountable
rabble of ryming ballet-makers and compylers of sencelesse sonets,
who be most busy to stuffe every stall full of grosse devises
and unlearned pamphlets, I trust I shall with the best sort be
held excused. For though many such can frame an alehouse-song of
five or sixe score verses, hobbling uppon some tune of a northern
jygge, or Robyn Hoode, or La lubber, &c. and perhappes observe
just number of sillables, eyght in one line, sixe in an other,
and therewithall an A to make a jercke in the ende, yet if these
might be accounted poets (as it is sayde some of them make meanes
to be promoted to the lawrell), surely we shall shortly have whole
swarmes of poets; and every one that can frame a booke in ryme,
though, for want of matter, it be but in commendations of copper
noses, or bottle ale, wyll catch at the garlande due to poets:
whose potticall (poeticall, I should say) heades, I woulde wyshe,
at their worshipfull comencements, might, in steede of lawrell,
be gorgiously garnished with fayre greene barley, in token of
their good affection to our Englishe malt.” The chief object of
this satire seems to be William Elderton, the drunken {lxxxiv}
ballad-maker, of whose compositions all but one or two have
unfortunately perished.[68]

Most of the songs inserted in the second half of this volume were
common broad-sheet ballads, printed in black letter, with woodcuts,
between the Restoration and the Revolution; though copies of some
few have been found of an earlier date. “Who was the author of the
collection intitled Robin Hood’s Garland, no one,” says Sir John
Hawkins, “has yet pretended to guess. As some of the songs have in
them more of the spirit of poetry than others, it is probable,” he
thinks, “it is the work of various hands: that it has from time to
time been varied and adapted to the phrase of the times,” he says,
“is certain.” None of these songs, it is believed, were collected
into a garland till after the Restoration; as the earliest that
has been met with, a copy of which is in the possession of Francis
Douce, Esq., was printed by W. Thackeray, a noted ballad-monger,
in 1670. This, however, contains no more than sixteen songs, some
of which, very falsely as it seems, are said to have been “never
before printed.” “The latest edition of any worth,” according to
Sir John Hawkins, “is that of 1719.” None of the old editions of
this garland have any sort of preface: that prefixed to the modern
ones, of Bow or Aldermary churchyard, being {lxxxv} taken from the
collection of old ballads, 1723, where it is placed at the head of
Robin Hood’s birth and breeding. The full title of the last London
edition of any note is—“Robin Hood’s Garland: being a complete
history of all the notable and merry exploits performed by him and
his men on many occasions: To which is added a preface [_i.e._ the
one already mentioned] giving a more full and particular account
of his birth, &c., than any hitherto published. [Cut of archers
shooting at a target.]

 I’ll send this arrow from my bow,
   And in a wager will be bound
 To hit the mark aright, although
   It were for fifteen hundred pound.
 Doubt not I’ll make the wager good,
 Or ne’er believe bold Robin Hood.

Adorned with twenty-seven neat and curious cuts adapted to the
subject of each song. London, Printed and sold by R. Marshall,
in Aldermary church-yard, Bow-lane.” 12mo. On the back of the
title-page is the following Grub-street address:

 “To all gentlemen archers.

 “This garland has been long out of repair,
   Some songs being wanting, of which we give account;
  For now at last, by true industrious care,
   The sixteen songs to twenty-seven we mount;
  Which large addition needs must please, I know,
     All the ingenious ‘yeomen’ of the bow.
  To read how Robin Hood and Little John,
     Brave Scarlet, Stutely, valiant, bold and free,
  Each of them bravely, fairly play’d the man,
     While they did reign beneath the green-wood tree;
  Bishops, friars, likewise many more,
  Parted with their gold, for to increase their store,
  But never would they rob or wrong the poor.”

The last seven lines are not by the author of the first six, but
were added afterwards; perhaps when the twenty-four songs were
increased to twenty-seven.[69] {lxxxvi}


(28) —“_has given rise to divers proverbs._”] Proverbs, in all
countries, are, generally speaking, of very great antiquity; and
therefore it will not be contended that those concerning our hero
are the oldest we have. It is highly probable, however, that they
originated in or near his own time, and of course have existed
for upwards of 500 years, which is no modern date. They are here
arranged, not, perhaps, according to their exact chronological
order, but by the age of the authorities they are taken from.

1. “Good even, good Robin Hood.”

The allusion is to civility extorted by fear. It is preserved by
Skelton, in that most biting satire against Cardinal Wolsey, “Why
come ye not to court?” (Works, 1736, p. 147).

 “He is set so hye,
  In his hierarchy,

         *       *       *       *       *

  That in the chambre of stars
  All matters there he mars;
  Clapping his rod on the borde,
  No man dare speake a word;
  For he hath all the saying,
  Without any renaying: {lxxxvii}
  He rolleth in his recordes,
  He saith, How say ye my lordes?
  Is not my reason good?
  Good even, good Robin Hood.”[70]

2. “Many men talk of Robin Hood that never shot in his bow.”

“That is, many discourse (or prate rather) of matters wherein they
have no skill or experience. This proverb is now extended all over
England, though originally of Nottinghamshire extraction, where
Robin Hood did principally reside in Sherwood forest. He was an
arch-robber, and withal an excellent archer; though surely the
poet[71] gives a twang to the loose of his arrow, making him shoot
one a cloth-yard long, at full forty score mark, for compass never
higher than the breast, and within less than a foot of the mark.
But herein our author hath verified the proverb, talking at large
of Robin Hood, in whose bow he never shot” (Fuller’s Worthies, p.
315).

“One may justly wonder,” adds the facetious writer, “this archer
did not at last hit the mark, I mean, come to the gallows for his
many robberies.”

The proverb is mentioned, and given as above, by Sir Edward Coke in
his 3d Institute, p. 197. See also Note 26. It is thus noticed by
Jonson in “The king’s entertainment at Welbeck in Nottinghamshire,
1633:”

 “This is . . . . . father Fitz-Ale, herald of Derby, &c.
  He can fly o’er hills and dales,
  And report you more odd tales
  Of our out law Robin Hood,
  That revell’d here in Sherewood,
  And more stories of him show,
  (Though he ne’er shot in his bow)
  Than au’ men or believe, or know.”

{lxxxviii}

We likewise meet with it in Epigrams, &c., 1654:

               “In Vertutem.

 “Vertue we praise, but practice not her good,
  (Athenian-like) we act not what we know;
  So many men doe talk of Robin Hood,
  Who never yet shot arrow in his bow.”

On the back of a ballad in Anthony a Wood’s collection he has
written,

 “There be some that prate
  Of Robin Hood, and of his bow,
  Which never shot therein, I trow.”

Ray gives it thus:

 “Many talk of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow,
  And many talk of little John, that never did him know:”

which Kelly has varied, but without authority.

Camden’s printer has separated the lines, as distinct proverbs
(Remains, 1674):

 “Many speak of Robin Hood that never shot in his bow.

 “Many a man talks of little John that never did him know.”

This proverb likewise occurs in The downfall of Robert earle of
Huntington, 1600, and is alluded to in a scarce and curious old
tract intitled “The contention betwyxte Church-yeard and Camell,
upon David Dycer’s Dreame,” &c. 1560, 4to, b. l.

 “Your sodain stormes and thundre claps, your boasts and braggs so loude:
  Hath doone no harme thogh Robin Hood spake with you in a cloud.
  Go learne againe of litell Jhon, to shute in Robyn Hods bowe,
  Or Dicars dreame shall be unhit, and all his whens, I trowe.”[72]

The Italians appear to have a similar saying:

 Molti parlan di Orlando
 Chi non viddero mai suo brando.

{lxxxix}

3. “To overshoot Robin Hood.”

“And lastly and chiefly, they cry out with open mouth as if they
had overshot Robin Hood, that Plato banished them [_i.e._ poets]
out of his commonwealth” (Sir P. Sidney’s Defence of Poesie).

4. “Tales of Robin Hood are good [enough] for fools.”

This proverb is inserted in Camden’s Remains, printed originally in
1605; but the word in brackets is supplied from Ray.

5. “To sell Robin Hood’s pennyworths.”

“It is spoken of things sold under half their value; or if you
will, half sold, half given. Robin Hood came lightly by his
ware, and lightly parted therewith; so that he could afford the
length of his bow for a yard of velvet. Whithersoever he came, he
carried a fair along with him; chapmen crowding to buy his stollen
commodities. But seeing the receiver is as bad as the thief, and
such buyers are as bad as receivers, the cheap pennyworths of
plundered goods may in fine prove dear enough to their consciences”
(Fuller’s Worthies, p. 315).

This saying is alluded to in the old North-country song of Randal a
Barnaby:

 “All men said, it became me well,
  And Robin Hood’s pennyworths I did sell.”

6. “Come, turn about, Robin Hood.”

Implying that to challenge or defy our hero must have been the _ne
plus ultra_ of courage. It occurs in “Wit and Drollery,” 1661:

 “O love, whose power and might,
     No creature ere withstood,
  Thou forcest me to write,
     Come turn about Robin-hood.”

7. “As crook’d as Robin Hood’s bow.”

That is, we are to conceive, when bent by himself. The following
stanza of a modern Irish song is the only authority for this
proverb that has been met with:

 “The next with whom I did engage,
  It was an old woman worn with age, {xc}
  Her teeth were like tobacco pegs,
  Besides she had two bandy legs,
  Her back more crook’d than Robin Hood’s bow,
  Purblind and decrepid, unable to go;
  Altho’ her years were sixty-three,
  She smil’d at the humours of Soosthe Bue.”

8. “To go round by Robin Hood’s barn.”

This saying, which now first appears in print, is used to imply the
going of a short distance by a circuitous method, or the farthest
way about.


(29) —“_to swear by him, or some of his companions, appears to
have been a usual practice._”] The earliest instance of this
practice occurs in a pleasant story among “Certaine merry tales of
the mad-men of Gottam,” compiled in the reign of Henry VIII. by
Dr. Andrew Borde, an eminent physician of that period, which here
follows verbatim, as taken from an old edition in black letter,
without date (in the Bodleian Library), being the first tale in the
book.

“There was two men of Gottam, and the one of them was going to
the market at Nottingham to buy sheepe, and the other came from
the market; and both met together upon Nottingham bridge. Well
met, said the one to the other. Whither be yee going? said he that
came from Nottingham. Marry, said he that was going thither, I
goe to the market to buy sheepe. Buy sheepe! said the other, and
which way wilt thou bring them home? Marry, said the other, I will
bring them over this bridge. By Robin Hood, said he that came from
Nottingham, but thou shalt not. By Maid Marrion, said he that was
going thitherward, but I will. Thou shalt not, said the one. I
will, said the other. Ter here! said the one. Shue there! said the
other. Then they beate their staves against the ground, one against
the other, as there had beene an hundred sheepe betwixt them. Hold
in, said the one. Beware the leaping over the bridge of my sheepe,
said the other. I care not, said the other. They shall not come
this way, said the one. But they shall, said the other. Then said
the other, & if that thou make much to doe, I will put my finger in
thy mouth. A turd thou wilt, said the other. And as they were at
that contention, another man of Gottam {xci} came from the market,
with a sacke of meale upon a horse, and seeing and hearing his
neighbours at strife for sheepe, and none betwixt them, said, Ah
fooles, will you never learn wit? Helpe me, said he that had the
meale, and lay my sack upon my shoulder. They did so; and he went
to the one side of the bridge, and unloosed the mouth of the sacke,
and did shake out all his meale into the river. Now, neighbours,
said the man, how much meale is there in my sacke now? Marry, there
is none at all, said they. Now, by my faith, said he, even as much
wit is in your two heads, to strive for that thing you have not.
Which was the wisest of all these three persons, judge you.”[73]

“By the bare scalp of Robin Hood’s fat frier,” is an oath put
by Shakespeare into the mouth of one of his outlaws in the _Two
Gentlemen of Verona_, act iv. scene 1. “Robin Hood’s fat frier” is
Frier Tuck; a circumstance of which Doctor Johnson, who set about
explaining that author with a very inadequate stock of information,
was perfectly ignorant.


(30) —“_his songs have been preferred, not only on the most
solemn occasion to the psalms of David, but in fact to the New
Testament._”] [“On Friday, March 9th, 1733] was executed at
Northampton William Alcock for the murder of his wife. He never
own’d the fact, nor was at all concern’d at his approaching death,
refusing the prayers and assistance of any persons. In the morning
he drank more than was sufficient, yet sent and paid for a pint of
wine, which being deny’d him, he would not enter the cart before he
had his money return’d. On his way to the gallows he sung part of
an old song of Robin Hood, with the chorus, Derry, derry, down,[74]
&c., and swore, kick’d and spurn’d at every person {xcii} that laid
hold of the cart; and before he was turn’d off, took off his shoes,
to avoid a well-known proverb; and being told by a person in the
cart with him, it was more proper for him to read, or hear some
body read to him, than so vilely to swear and sing, he struck the
book out of the person’s hands, and went on damning the spectators,
and calling for wine. Whilst psalms and prayers were performing at
the tree, he did little but talk to one or other, desiring some to
remember him, others to drink to his good journey; and to the last
moment declared the injustice of his case” (Gentleman’s Magazine,
vol. iii. P. 154).

To this maybe added, that at Edinburgh, in 1565, “Sandy Stevin
menstrall [_i.e._ musician] was convinced of blasphemy, alledging,
That he would give no moir credit to The new testament, then to
a tale of Robin Hood, except it wer confirmed be the doctours of
the church” (Knox’s Historie of the Reformation in Scotland, Edin.
1732, p. 368).

William Roy, in a bitter satire against Cardinal Wolsey, intitled,
“Rede me and be nott wrothe For I saye nothynge but trothe,”
printed abroad, about 1525, speaking of the bishops, says:

 “Their frantyke foly is so pevisshe,
  That they contempne in Englisshe,
     To have the new testament;
  But as for tales of Robyn Hode,
  With wother jestes nether honest nor goode,
     They have none impediment.”

To the same effect is the following passage in another old libel
upon the priests, intitled “I playne Piers which can not flatter, a
plowe-man men me call,” &c. b. l. n. d. printed in the original as
prose:

 “No Christen booke,
  Maye thou on looke,
     Yf thou be an Englishe strunt, {xciii}
  Thus dothe alyens us loutte,
  By that ye spreade aboute,
     After that old sorte and wonte.
  You allowe they saye,
  Legenda aurea,
     Roben Hoode, Bevys, & Gower,
  And all bagage be syd,
  But God’s word ye may not abyde,
     These lyese are your churche ‘dower.’”

See also before, p. lxxii.[75]

So in Laurence Ramsey’s “Practise of the Divell” (n. d. 4to, b. l.):

 “Exclude the scriptures, and byd them reade the storie
  Of Robin Hood, and Guye, which was both tall and stout,
  And Bevis of Southampton, to seeke the matter out.”


(31) “_His service to the Word of God._”] “I came once myselfe,”
says Bishop Latimer (in his sixth sermon before King Edward VI.),
“to a place, riding on a jorney homeward from London, and I sent
worde over night into the towne that I would preach there in
the morning, bicause it was a holy day, and methought it was an
holydayes worke. The churche stode in my way; and I tooke my horse
and my company and went thither (I thought I should have found a
great companye in the churche), and when I came there, the churche
dore was faste locked. I taried there half an hower and more; at
last the keye was founde; and one of the parishe commes to me, and
sayes, Sir, this is a busie day with us, we cannot heare you; it is
Robin Hoodes daye. The parishe are gone abroad to gather for Robin
Hoode, I pray you let them not. I was fayne there to geve place
to Robin Hoode. I thought my rochet shoulde have bene regarded,
thoughe I were not; but it woulde not serve, it was fayne to geve
place to Robin Hodes men. {xciv}

“It is no laughyng matter, my frendes, it is a weepyng matter, a
heavy matter, under the pretence for gatherynge for Robin Hoode,
a traytour[76] and a theefe, to put out a preacher, to have
his office lesse esteemed, to preferre Robin Hoode before the
ministration of God’s worde, and all this hath come of unpreaching
prelates. Thys realme hath bene ill provided for, that it hath had
suche corrupte judgementes in it, to preferre Robin Hoode to God’s
worde. If the bishoppes had bene preachers, there shoulde never
have bene any such thing,” &c.


(32) —“_may be called the patron of archery._”] The bow and arrow
makers, in particular, have always held his memory in the utmost
reverence. Thus, in the old ballad of London’s Ordinary:

 “The hosiers will dine at the Leg,
   The drapers at the sign of the Brush,
  The fletchers to Robin Hood will go,
   And the spendthrift to Beggar’s-bush.”[77]

The picture of our hero is yet a common sign in the country, and,
before hanging-signs were abolished in London, must have been still
more so in the City; there being at present no less than a dozen
alleys, courts, lanes, &c., to which he or it has given a name.
(See Baldwin’s New Complete Guide, 1770.) The Robin Hood Society,
a club or assembly for public debate, or school for oratory, is
well known. It was held at a public-house, which had once borne the
sign, and still retained the name of this great man, in Butcher
Row, near Temple Bar.

It is very usual in the North of England for a publican whose name
fortunately happens to be John Little to have {xcv} the sign
of Robin Hood and his constant attendant, with this quibbling
subscription:

 “You gentlemen, and yeomen good,
  Come in and drink with Robin Hood;
  If Robin Hood be not at home,
  Come in and drink with Little John.”[78]

An honest countryman, admiring the conceit, adopted the lines, with
a slight, but, as he thought, necessary alteration, viz.:

 “If Robin Hood be not at home,
  Come in and drink with—Simon Webster.”

Drayton, describing the various ensigns or devices of the English
counties at the battle of Agincourt, gives to

 “Old Nottingham, an archer clad in green,
  Under a tree with his drawn bow that stood,
  Which in a chequer’d flag far off was seen;
  It was the picture of old Robin Hood.”


(33) —“_the supernatural powers he is, in some parts, supposed to
have possessed._”] “In the parish of Halifax is an immense stone
or rock, supposed to be a Druidical monument, there called Robin
Hood’s pennystone, which he is said to have used to pitch with at a
mark for his amusement. There is likewise another of these stones,
of several tons weight, which the country-people will tell you he
threw off an adjoining hill with a spade as he was digging. Every
thing of the marvellous kind being here attributed to Robin Hood,
as it is in Cornwall to King Arthur” (Watson’s History of Halifax,
p. 27).

At Birchover, six miles south of Bakewell, and four from Haddon, in
Derbyshire, among several singular groups of rocks, are some stones
called Robin Hood’s stride, being two {xcvi} of the highest and
most remarkable. The people say Robin Hood lived here.


(34) —“_having a festival allotted to him, and solemn games
instituted in honour of his memory_,” _&c._] These games, which
were of great antiquity and different kinds, appear to have been
solemnised on the first and succeeding days of May, and to owe
their original establishment to the cultivation and improvement
of the manly exercise of archery, which was not, in former times,
practised merely for the sake of amusement.

“I find,” says Stow, “that in the moneth of May, the citizens of
London, of all estates, lightlie in every parish, or sometimes
two or three parishes joyning together, had their severall
mayinges, and did fetch in Maypoles, with divers warlike shewes,
with good archers, morrice-dancers, and other devices for pastime
all the day long: and towards the evening they had stage-playes
and bonefires in the streetes. . . . . These greate Mayinges and
Maygames, made by the governors and masters of this citie, with the
triumphant setting up of the greate shafte (a principall Maypole in
Cornhill, before the parish church of S. Andrew, therefore called
Undershafte) by meane of an insurrection of youthes against alianes
on Mayday 1517, the ninth of Henry the Eight, have not beene so
freely used as afore” (Survey of London, 1598, p. 72).

The disuse of these ancient pastimes, and the consequent “neglect
of archerie,” are thus pathetically lamented by Richard Niccolls,
in his London’s Artillery, 1616:

[Sidenote: A description of one drawing a bow.]

 “How is it that our London hath laid downe
  This worthy practise, which was once the crowne
  Of all her pastime, when her Robin Hood
  Had wont each yeare, when May did clad the wood,
  With lustie greene, to lead his yong men out,
  Whose brave demeanour, oft when they did shoot,
  Invited royall princes from their courts,
  Into the wilde woods to behold their sports!
  Who thought it then a manly sight and trim,
  To see a youth of cleane compacted lim,
  Who, with a comely grace, in his left hand
  Holding his bow, did take his stedfast stand,
  Setting his left leg somewhat foorth before,
  His arrow with his right hand nocking sure, {xcvii}
  Not stooping, nor yet standing streight upright,
  Then, with his left hand little ’bove his sight,
  Stretching his arm out, with an easie strength,
  To draw an arrow of a yard in length.”[79]

The lines,

 “Invited royall princes from their courts
  Into the wild woods to behold their sports,”

may be reasonably supposed to allude to Henry VIII., who appears
to have been particularly attached, as well to the exercise of
archery as to the observance of May. Some short time after his
coronation, says Hall, he “came to Westminster with the quene, and
all their traine: and on a tyme being there, his grace therles of
Essex, Wilshire, and other noble menne, to the numbre of twelve,
came sodainly in a mornyng into the quenes chambre, all appareled
in short cotes of Kentish Kendal, with hodes on their heddes, and
hosen of the same, every one of them his bowe and arrowes, and a
sworde and a bucklar, like outlawes, or ‘Robyn’ Hodes men; whereof
the quene, the ladies, and al other there were abashed, aswell for
the straunge sight, as also for their sodain commyng: and after
certayn daunces and pastime made thei departed” (Hen. VIII. fo.
6, b). The same author gives the following curious account of “A
maiynge” in the 7th year of this monarch (1516): “The kyng & the
quene, accompanied with many lordes & ladies, roade to the high
grounde on Shoters hil to take the open ayre, and as they passed
by the way they espied a company of tall yomen, clothed all in
grene, with grene whodes & bowes and arrowes, to the number of ii.
C. Then one of them whiche called hymselfe Robyn Hood, came to the
kyng, desyring hym to se his men shote, & the kyng was content.
Then he whisteled, and all the ii. C. archers shot & losed at
once; and then he whisteled again, and they likewyse shot agayne;
their arrowes whisteled by craft of the {xcviii} head, so that
the noyes was straunge and great, and muche pleased the kyng, the
quene, and all the company. All these archers were of the kynges
garde, and had thus appareled themselves to make solace to the
kynge. Then Robyn Hood desyred the kyng and quene to come into the
grene wood, and to se how the outlawes lyve. The kyng demaunded
of the quene and her ladyes, if they durst adventure to go into
the wood with so many outlawes. Then the quene said, if it pleased
hym, she was content. Then the hornes blewe tyll they came to the
wood under Shoters-hill, and there was an arber made of bowes,
with a hal, and a great chamber, and an inner chamber, very well
made and covered with floures and swete herbes, which the kyng
muche praised. Then sayd Robyn Hood, Sir, outlawes brekefastes
is venyson, and therefore you must be content with such fare
as we use. Then the kyng and quene sate doune, and were served
with venyson and vyne by Robyn Hood and his men, to their great
contentacion. Then the kyng departed and his company, and Robyn
Hood and his men them conduicted: and as they were returnyng, there
met with them two ladyes in a ryche chariot drawen with v. horses,
and every horse had his name on his head, and on every horse sat
a lady with her name written . . . . and in the chayre sate the
lady May, accompanied with lady Flora, richely appareled; and they
saluted the kyng with diverse goodly songes, and so brought hym
to Grenewyche. At this maiyng was a greate number of people to
beholde, to their great solace and confort” (fo. lvi. b).

That this sort of May-games was not peculiar to London appears
from a passage in Richard Robinson’s “Third assertion Englishe
historicall, frendly in favour and furtherance of English
archery:”[80] {xcix}

 “And, heare because of archery I do by penne explane,
  The use, the proffet, and the praise, to England by the same,
  Myselfe remembreth of a childe in contreye native mine,  (1553)
  A May-game was of Robyn Hood, and of his traine that time,  (7. E. 6.)
  To traine up young men, stripplings, and eche other younger childe,
  In shooting, yearely this with solempne feast was by the guylde
  Or brotherhood of townsmen don, with sport, with joy, and love,
  To proffet which in present tyme, and afterward did prove.”

The games of Robin Hood seem to have been occasionally of a
dramatic cast. Sir John Paston, in the time of King Edward IV.,
complaining of the ingratitude of his servants, mentions one who
had promised never to desert him, “and ther uppon,” says he, “I
have kepyd hym thys iii yer to pleye seynt Jorge, and Robyn Hod and
the sheryf off Notyngham,[81] and now when I wolde have good horse
he is goon into Bernysdale, and I withowt a keeper.”

In some old accounts of the churchwardens of St. Helen’s at
Abingdon, Berks, for the year 1556, there is an entry For setting
up Robin Hoodes Bower; I suppose, says {c} Warton, for a parish
interlude. (See History of English Poetry, ii. 175.)[82] {ci}

In some places, at least, these games were nothing more, in
effect, than a morris-dance, in which Robin Hood, Little John, Maid
Marian, and Frier Tuck were the principal personages; the others
being a clown or fool, the hobby-horse (which appears, for some
reason or other, to have been frequently forgot[83]), the taborer,
and the dancers, who were more or less numerous. Thus Warner:

 “At Paske began our morrise, and ere penticost our May,
  Tho Roben Hood, liell John, frier Tuck, and Marian deftly play,
  And lard and ladie gang till kirke with lads and lasses gay.”[84]

Perhaps the clearest idea of these last-mentioned games, about the
beginning of the 16th century, will be derived from some curious
extracts given by Mr. Lysons in his valuable work intitled “The
Environs of London” (vol. i. 1792, p. 226), from the contemporary
accounts of the “churchwardens of the parish of Kingston upon
Thames.”

“Robin Hood and May-game.

   “23 Hen. 7. To the menstorell upon May-day      0  0   4
 ―― For paynting of the mores garments and for
        sarten gret leveres[85]                    0  2   4 {cii}
 ―― For paynting of a bannar for Robin Hode        0  0   3
 ―― For 2 M. & ½ pynnys                            0  0  10
 ―― For 4 plyts and ½ of laun for the mores
        garments                                   0  2  11
 ―― For orseden[86] for the same                   0  0  10
 ―― For a goun for the lady                        0  0   8
 ―― For bellys for the dawnsars                    0  0  12
 24 Hen. 7. For little John’s cote                 0  8   0
  1 Hen. 8. For silver paper for the mores
        dawnsars                                   0  0   7
 ―― For Kendall for Robyn Hode’s cote              0  1   3
 ―― For 3 yerds of white for the frere’s[87] cote  0  3   0 {ciii}
 ―― For 4 yards of kendall for mayde Marian’s[88]
        huke[89]                                   0  3   4
 ―― For saten of sypers for the same huke          0  0   6
 ―― For 2 payre of glovys for Robin Hode and
        mayde Maryan                               0  0   3
 ―― For 6 brode arovys                             0  0   6
 ―― To mayde Maryan for her labour for two
        years                                      0  2   0
 ―― To Fygge the taborer                           0  6   0
 ―― Rec^d for Robyn Hod’s gaderyng 4
        marks[90] {civ}
  5 Hen. 8. Rec^d for Robin Hood’s gaderyng at
        Croydon                                    0  9   4
 11 Hen. 8. Paid for three broad yerds of rosett
        for maykng the frer’s cote                 0  3   6
 ―― Shoes for the mores daunsars, the frere and
        mayde Maryan at 7^d a payre                0  5   4
 13 Hen. 8. Eight yerds of fustyan for the mores
        daunsars coats                             0 16   0
 A dosyn of gold skynnes for the morres[91]        0  0  10
 15 Hen. 8. Hire of hats for Robynhode             0  0  16
 ―― Paid for the hat that was lost                 0  0  10
 16 Hen. 8. Rec^d at the church-ale and Robyn-hode
        all things deducted                        3 10   6
 ―― Paid for 6 yerds ¼ of satyn for Robyn
        Hode’s coyts                               0 12   6
 ―― For makyng the same                            0  2   0
 ―― For 3 ells of locram[92]                       0  1   6
 21 Hen. 8. For spunging and brushing
        Robyn-hode’s cotys                         0  0   2
 28 Hen. 8. Five hats and 4 porses for the
        daunsars                                   0  0   4½
 ―― 4 yerds of cloth for the fole’s cote           0  2   0
 ―― 2 ells of worstede for mayde Maryans kyrtle    0  6   8
 ―― For 6 payre of double sollyd showne            0  4   6
 ―― To the mynstrele                               0 10   8
 ―― To the fryer and the piper for to go to
        Croydon                                    0  0   8
 29 Hen. 8. Mem. Lefte in the keping of the
        wardens nowe beinge.

A fryers cote of russet and a kyrtele of worstyde weltyd with red
cloth, a mowrens[93] cote of buckram, and 4 morres {cv} daunsars
cotes of white fustian spangelyd and two gryne saten cotes and a
dysardd’s[94] cote of cotton and 6 payre of garters with bells.”

These games appear to have been discontinued at Kingston, as
a parochial undertaking at least, after the above period, as the
industrious inquirer found no further entries relating to them.

Some of the principal characters of the morris seem to have
gradually disappeared, so that at length it consisted only of the
dancers, the piper, and the fool. In Mr. Tollet’s window we find
neither Robin Hood nor Little John, though Marian and the frier
are still distinguished performers.[95] But in the scene of one,
introduced in the old play of Jacke Drum’s Entertainment, first
printed in 1601, there is not the least symptom of any of the
four.[96] “The taber and pipe strike up a morrice. A shoute within:
A lord, a lord, a lord, who![97]

 _Ed._ Oh, a morrice is come, observe our country sports,
 ’Tis _Whitson tyde_,[98] and we must frolick it.

{cvi}

 _Enter the morrice._

 The song.

 Skip it, and trip it, nimbly, nimbly,
 Tickle it, tickle it lustily,
 Strike up the taber, for the wenches favour,
 Tickle it, tickle it lustily.
 Let us be seen, on Hygate greene,
   To dance for the honour of Holloway.
 Since we are come hither, let’s spare for no leather,
   To dance for the honour of Holloway.

 _Ed._ Well said, my boyes, I must have my lord’s livory: what
 is’t? a maypole? Troth, ’twere a good body for a courtier’s
 impreza, if it had but this life, Frustra florescit. Hold, cousin,
 hold.

 [_He gives the fool money._

 _Foole._ Thankes, cousin, when the lord my father’s audit comes,
 wee’l repay you againe. Your benevolence too, sir.

 _Mam._ What! a lord’s sonne become a begger!

 _Foole._ Why not? when beggers are become lord’s sons. Come, ’tis
 but a trifle.

 _Mam._ Oh, sir, many a small make a great.

 _Foole._ No, sir, a few great make a many small. Come, my lords,
 poore and neede hath no law.

 _S. Ed._ Nor necessitie no right. Drum, downe with them into the
 celler. Rest content, rest content; one bout more, and then away.

 _Foole._ ‘Spoke’ like a true heart: I kisse thy foote, sweet
 knight.

 _The morrice sing and dance and exeunt._”

It is therefore highly probable, as hath been already suggested,
that the _May-game of Robin Hood_ and the _morris-dance_ had
originally no sort of connection; that the performers had united
their forces, because their joint efforts proved more successful,
lucrative, or agreeable; and that, in fine, the latter gradually
shook off companions from whose association they no longer derived
any advantage.[99]

An old writer, describing a country bridal show exhibited before
Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth Castle in 1575, {cvii} mentions
“a lively moris dauns, according too the auncient manner, six
daunsers, mawd Marion, and the fool.”

Stubbs’s chapter, upon “Lords of mis-rule” (Anatomie of Abuses,
1583) contains a singular description of a grand parochial
morris-dance, which is worthy of perusal.

It is observable that, in the sham second part of _Hudibras_,
published 1663, this place is said to be

 “Highly famed for _Hocktide games_.”

(Grey’s edition of _Hudibras_, ii. 90.) Of what nature these were
(at Kingston) we are not informed. See Plot’s Natural History of
Oxfordshire; Leland’s Collectanea, v. Roas.

_Hocktide_ or _Hock-day_ was the Tuesday fortnight after Easter.
Two falsehoods are asserted of this festival: one, that its
celebration was owing to the general joy excited by the death of
Hardecnute, which in fact took place on the 8th of June: the other,
that it was the anniversary of the general slaughter of the Danes
in 1042; which Henry of Huntingdon and others expressly fix on St.
Brice’s day, being the 13th of November.

It plainly appears, by these extracts, that _Robyn Hode_, _Little
John_, _the frere_, and _mayde Maryan_ were fitted out at the same
time with _the mores daunsars_, and, consequently, it would seem,
united with them in one and the same exhibition.[100]

“Also it was said, that the ladie hir selfe, the same daie hir
husband and she should be crowned, said that she feared they
should prove but as a summer king and queene, such as in countrie
townes the yoong folks choose for short to danse about maipoles”
(Holinshed, at the year 1306).

As to the original institution of May-poles, or king and queen
of May,—in a word, of the primitive purpose and celebration of a
popular festival at that season,—nothing {cviii} satisfactory or
consequential can be discovered. The curious reader, at the same
time, may consult Spelman’s Glossary, _voce_ MAIUMA, and Ducange,
_vv._ MAJUMA, MAIUS.

In an old manuscript music-book given lately by Mr. Dalziel to the
Advocates’ Library are the following scraps of songs about Robin
Hood:

 “First when Robin good bow bare,
  Was never bairne so bold,
   Doune, doune, berrie, doune, doune.”

 “Now will ye hear a jollie jest,
  How Robin Hood was pope of Rome,
  And Wallace king of France.”

 “Jolly Robin goe to the green wood to thy lemman.”

 “The nock is out of Johnes bow, Joly, joly,” &c.

Much curious matter on the subject of the morris-dance is to be
found in “Mr. Tollet’s opinion concerning the Morris-dancers upon
his Window.” (See Steevens’s Shakespeare, v. 425, edition 1778,
or viii. 596, edition 1793. See also Mr. Waldron’s notes upon the
Sad Shepherd, 1783, p. 255.) Morris-dancers are said to be yet
annually seen in Norfolk,[101] and make their constant appearance
in Lancashire.[102]

In Scotland, “The game of Robin Hood was celebrated in the month
of May. The populace assembled previous to {cvix} the celebration
of this festival, and chose some respectable[103] member of the
corporation to officiate in the character of Robin Hood, and
another in that of Little John his squire. Upon the day appointed,
which was a Sunday or holyday, the people assembled in military
array, and went to some adjoining field, where, either as actors
or spectators, the whole inhabitants of the respective towns were
convened. In this field they probably amused themselves with a
representation of Robin Hood’s predatory exploits, or of his
encounters with the officers of justice [rather, perhaps, in feats
of archery or military exercises].

“As numerous meetings for disorderly mirth are apt to engender
tumult, when the minds of the people came to be agitated with
religious controversy, it was found necessary to repress the
game[104] of Robin Hood by public statute. The populace were by no
means willing to relinquish their favourite amusement. Year after
year the magistrates of Edinburgh were obliged to exert their
authority[105] in repressing this game; often ineffectually. In the
year 1561, the mob were so enraged at being disappointed in making
a Robin Hood, that they rose in mutiny, seized on the city gates,
committed robberies upon strangers; and one of the {cx} ringleaders
being condemned by the magistrates to be hanged, the mob forced
open the jail, set at liberty the criminal and all the prisoners,
and broke in pieces the gibbet erected at the cross for executing
the malefactor. They next assaulted the magistrates, who were[106]
sitting in the council-chamber, and who fled to the Tolbooth for
shelter, where the mob attacked them, battering the doors, and
pouring stones through the windows. Application was made to the
deacons of the corporations to appease the tumult. Remaining,
however, unconcerned spectators, they made this answer: ‘They
will be magistrates alone; let them rule the people alone.’ The
magistrates were kept in confinement till they made proclamation
be published, offering indemnity to the rioters upon laying down
their arms. Still, however, so late as the year 1592, we find the
General Assembly complaining of the profanation of the sabbath, by
making[107] of Robin Hood plays” (Arnot’s History of Edinburgh, p.
77).

Notwithstanding the above representation, it is certain that these
amusements were considerably upon the decline before the year
1568. This appears from a poem by Alexander Scot, preserved in the
Hyndford MS. (in the Advocates’ Library, compiled and written in
that identical year), and inaccurately printed in The Evergreen:

 “In May quhen men zeid everichone
  With Robene Hoid and Littill Johne,
  To bring in bowis and birkin bobbynis:
  Now all sic game is fastlingis gone,
  But gif it be amangis clovin Robbynis.”


(35) —“_His bow, and one of his arrows, his chair, his cap, and one
of his slippers were preserved till within the present century._”]
“We omitted,” says Ray, “the sight of Fountain’s Abbey, where Robin
Hood’s bow is kept” (Itineraries, 1760, p. 161).

“Having pleased ourselves with the antiquities of ‘Notingham,’
we took horse and went to visit the well and {cxi} ancient chair
of Robin Hood, which is not far from hence, within the forest of
Sherwood. Being placed in the chair, we had a cap, which they say
was his, very formally put upon our heads, and having performed
the usual ceremonies befitting so great a solemnity, we receiv’d
the freedom of the chair, and were incorporated into the society
of that renowned brotherhood” (Brome’s Travels over England, &c.,
1700, p. 85).

“On one side of this forest [sci. of Sherwood] towards Nottingham,”
says the author of “The Travels of Tom Thumb over England and
Wales” (_i.e._ Robert Dodsley), “I was shewn a chair, a bow, and
arrow, all said to have been his [Robin Hood’s] property” (p. 82).

“I was pleased with a slipper, belonging to the famous Robin Hood,
shewn me, fifty years ago, at St. Ann’s well, near Nottingham, a
place upon the borders of Sherwood forest, to which he resorted”
(Journey from Birmingham to London, by W. Hutton, Bir. 1785, p.
174).


(36) —“_Not only places which afforded him security or amusement,
but even the well at which he quenched his thirst, still retain his
name._”] Robin Hood’s Bay is both a bay and a village on the coast
of Yorkshire, between Whitby and Scarborough. It is mentioned by
Leland as “a fischer tounlet of 20. bootes caullid Robyn Huddes
bay, a dok or bosom of a mile yn length” (Itinerary, i. 53). “When
his robberies,” says Master Charlton, “became so numerous, and
the outcries against him so loud, as almost to alarm the whole
nation, parties of soldiers were sent down from London to apprehend
him: and then it was, that fearing for his safety, he found it
necessary to desert his usual haunts, and, retreating northward, to
cross the moors that surrounded Whitby [one side whereof happens,
a little unfortunately, to lie open to the sea], where, gaining
the sea-coast, he always had in readiness near at hand some small
fishing vessels, to which he could have refuge, if he found himself
pursued; for in these, putting off to sea, he looked upon himself
as quite secure, and held the whole power of the English nation
at defiance. The chief place of his resort {cxii} at these times,
where his boats were generally laid up, was about six miles from
Whitby, to which he communicated his name, and which is still
called Robin Hood’s Bay. There he frequently went a fishing in the
summer season, even when no enemy appeared to annoy him, and not
far from that place he had buts or marks set up, where he used to
exercise his men in shooting with the long-bow.”[108]

Near Gloucester is “a famous hill” called “Robin Hood’s hill,”
concerning which there is a very foolish modern song. Another
hill of the same name exists in the neighbourhood of Castleton,
Derbyshire.

“Over a spring call’d Robin Hoods well (3 or 4 miles [on] this side
[_i.e._ north] of Doncaster, and but a quarter of a mile only from
2 towns call’d Skelbrough and Bourmallis) is a very handsome stone
arch, erected by the Lord Carlisle, where passengers from the coach
frequently drink of the fair water, and give their charity to two
people who attend there” (Gent’s History of York. York, 1730, p.
234).[109] {cxiii}

Though there is no attendance at present, nor is the water
altogether so fair as it might and should be, the case was
otherwise in the days of honest Barnaby.

 “Veni Doncaster, &c.
  Nescit sitis artem modi,
  Puteum Roberti Hoodi
  Veni, & liquente vena
  Vincto[110] catino catena,
  Tollens sitim, parcum odi,
  Solvens obolum custodi.”

 “Thence to Doncaster, &c.
  Thirst knowes neither meane nor measure,
  Robin Hood’s well was my treasure;
  In a[111] common dish enchained,
  I my furious thirst restrained:
  And because I drunk the deeper,
  I paid two farthings to the keeper.”

{cxiv}

He mentions it again:

 “Nunc longinquos locus odi,
  Vale fons Roberti Hoodi.”

 “Now I hate all foreign places,
  Robin Hood’s well, and his chaces.”

A different well, sacred either to Robin Hood or to St. Ann, has
been already mentioned.

“Not far [off Bitham, in Lincolnshire] is _Robyn Huddes cros_, a
_limes_ of the shires” (Leland’s Itinerary, i. 25).


(37) —“_conferred as a singular distinction upon the prime minister
to the king of Madagascar._”] The natives of this island, who
have dealings with our people, pride themselves, it seems, in
English names, which are bestowed upon them at the discretion or
caprice of the sailors: and thus a venerable minister of state,
who should have been called Sir Robert Walpole or Cardinal Fleury,
acquired the name of Robin Hood. Mr. Ives, by whom he is frequently
mentioned, relates the following anecdote:—

“The reader will excuse my giving him another instance . . . .
which still more strikingly displays the extreme sensibility of
these islanders, in respect to their king’s dignity. Robin Hood
(who seemed to act as prime minister, and negotiate most of the
king’s concerns with our agent-victualler) was one day transacting
business with another gentleman of the squadron, and they happened
to differ so much about the value of a certain commodity, that high
words arose, and at length Robin Hood in the greatest agitation
started from the ground where he was sitting, and swore that
he would immediately acquaint the king of Baba with what had
passed. Our English gentleman, too much heated with this threat,
and the violent altercation which had preceded it, unguardedly
replied, ‘D―n the king of Baba.’ The eyes of Robin Hood flashed
like lightning, and in the most violent wrath he retorted, ‘D―n
King George.’ At the same instant he left the spot, hurrying away
towards the Madagascarian cottages. Our countryman was soon struck
with the impropriety of his behaviour, followed and overtook the
disputant, and having {cxv} made all proper concessions, the affair
was happily terminated.”[112]


(38) “_After his death his company was dispersed._”] They and their
successors, disciples, or followers are supposed to have been
afterward distinguished, from the name of their gallant leader,
by the title of Roberdsmen. Lord Coke, who is somewhat singular
in accusing him of living “by robbery, burning of houses, felony,
waste and spoil, and principally by and with vagabonds, idle
wanderers, night-walkers, and draw-latches,” says that “albeit he
lived in Yorkshire, yet men of his quality took their denomination
of him, and were called Roberdsmen throughout all England.
Against these men,” continues he, “was the statute of Winchester
made in 13 E. 1. [c. 14], for preventing of robbery, murders,
burning of houses, &c. Also the statute of 5 E. 3. [c. 14], which
‘recites’ the statute of Winchester, and that there had been
divers manslaughters, felonies, and robberies done in times past,
by people that be called Roberdsmen, wasters and draw-latches;
and remedy [is] provided by that act for the arresting of them.
At the parliament holden 50 E. 3.,” he adds, “it was petitioned
to the king that ribauds and sturdy beggars might be banished out
of every town. The answer of the king in parliament was, touching
ribauds: The statute of Winchester and the declaration of the same
with other statutes of Roberdsmen, and for such as make themselves
gentlemen, and men of armes, and archers, if they cannot so prove
theirselves, let them be driven to their occupation or service,
or to the place from whence they came.” He likewise notices the
statute of 7 R. 2. [c. 5], by which it is provided “that the
statutes of Roberdsmen and draw-latches be firmly holden and kept”
(3 Inst. 197).

These Roberdsmen are mentioned in Pierce the Ploughman’s Crede,
written about 1400:

 “And right as Robartesmen raken aboute.”[113]

{cxvi}

Mr. Warton, who had once thought that the friers Robertines were
here meant, observes that “the expression of Robin Hoode’s men,
in Bishop Latimer’s sermon, is not without an allusion to the bad
sense of Roberdsmen” (H. E. P. ii. additions, sig. d. 4). It does
not, however, appear that the latter word has been ever used in a
good one; nor is there, after all, sufficient ground for concluding
that these people were so named after Robin Hood.


(39) —“_the honour of Little John’s death and burial is contended
for by rival nations._”] I. By England.—At the village of
Hathersage, about six miles from Castleton, in Derbyshire, is
Little John’s grave. A few years ago some curious person caused it
to be opened, when there were found several bones of an uncommon
size, which he preserved; but, meeting afterwards with many unlucky
accidents, he carefully replaced them; partly at the intercession
of the sexton, who had taken them up for him, and who had in like
manner been visited with misfortunes: upon restoring the bones
all these troubles ceased. Such is the tradition at Castleton. E.
Hargrove, in his “Anecdotes of Archery,” York, 1792, asserts that
“the grave is distinguished by a large stone placed at the head,
and another at the feet, on each of which are yet some remains
of the letters I. L.” (p. 26).[114] II. By Scotland.—“In Murray
land,” according to that most veracious historian Maister Hector
Bois, “is the kirke of Pette, quhare the banis of lytill Johne
remanis in gret admiratioun of pepill. He hes bene fourtene fut
of hycht[115] with square membris effering thairto. Vi. zeris,”
continues he, “afore the cumyng of this {cxvii} werk to lycht
we saw his hanche-bane, als mekill as the haill bane of ane man:
for we schot our arme in the mouth thairof. Be quhilk apperis
how strang and square pepill grew in our regioun afore thay were
effeminat with lust and intemperance of mouth.”[116] III. By
Ireland.—“There standeth,” as Stanihurst relates, “in Ostmantowne
greene an hillocke, named little John his shot. The occasion,” he
says, “proceeded of this.

“In the yeare one thousand one hundred foure score and nine, there
ranged three robbers and outlaws in England, among which Robert
Hood and Little John weere cheefeteins, of all theeves doubtlesse
the most courteous. Robert Hood being betrayed at a nunrie in
Scotland called Bricklies, the remnant of the crue was scattered,
and everie man forced to shift for himselfe. Whereupon Little
John was faine to flee the realme by sailing into Ireland, where
he sojornied for a few daies at Dublin. The citizens being doone
to understand the wandering outcast to be an excellent archer,
requested him hartilie to trie how far he could shoot at random;
who yeelding to their behest, stood on the bridge of Dublin, and
shot to that mole hill, leaving behind him a monument, rather
by his posteritie to be woondered, than possiblie by anie man
living to be counterscored. But as the repaire of so notorious a
champion to anie countrie would soone be published, so his abode
could not be long concealed: and therefore to eschew the danger of
[the] lawes, he fled into Scotland, where he died at a towne or
village called Moravie.”[117] Thus Stanihurst, who is quoted by Dr.
Hanmer in his Chronicle of Ireland, p. 179, but Mr. Walker, after
observing that “poor Little John’s great practical skill in archery
could not save him from an ignominious fate,” says, “it appeared,
from some records in the Southwell family, that {cxviii} he was
publicly executed for robbery on Arbor Hill, Dublin.”[118]


(40) —“_some of his descendants of the name of Nailor_,” _&c._] See
the preface to the History of George a Green. As surnames were by
no means in general use at the close of the twelfth century, Little
John may have obtained that of Nailor from his original profession.

 (“Ye boasted worthies of the knuckle,
   To Maggs and to the Nailor truckle.”)

But however this, or the fact itself may be, a bow, said to have
belonged to Little John, with the name of Naylor upon it, is now,
as the editor is informed, in the possession of a gentleman in the
West Riding of Yorkshire.

The quotation about whetstones is from the Sloane MS. Those,
indeed, who recollect the equivocal meaning of the word may think
that this production has not been altogether confined to the grave
of Little John.

[Illustration]


FOOTNOTES TO “NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS”, pp. xiv–cxviii


 [4] See Part II. Ballad 1.


 [5] All three mention a Loxley in Warwickshire, and another in
 Staffordshire (“near Needwood forest; the manor and seat of the
 Kinardsleys”).


 [6] It is 1100 in the original, but that is clearly an error of the
 press.


 [7] King Edward, it is true, is introduced in the “Lytell Geste,”
 &c., but the author has unquestionably meant the _first_ of that
 name.


 [8] Thus, likewise, in a much earlier version from the same
 immortal bard (_Homer a la mode_, 1664), we read of

   “――greate Apollo, who’s as good
    At pricks and buts as _Robin Hood_.”


 [9] _Alias_ R. G., the scurrilous and malignant editor of that
 degraded publication.


 [10] The authority cited by Grafton in 1569 as then “olde and
 auncient” must have been at least of equal antiquity with the most
 ancient poems that Dr. P. is acquainted with.


 [11] Stukeley’s Palæographia Britannica, No. II. p. 115. In an
 interleaved copy of Robin Hood’s Garland formerly belonging to Dr.
 Stukeley, and now in the possession of Francis Douce, esquire,
 opposite the second page of the first song, is the following note
 in his own hand:

  “Guy earl of Warwick.

  George Gamwell             Joanna =
  of Gamwell hall _magna_           │ Fitz Odoth
  esq.                              │
                                    │
              +─────────────────────+
              │
      Robin Fitz Odoth

  Gamwell the king’s forester in Yorkshire,
  mentioned in Camden.

  See my answer, No. II. of Lady Roisia,
  where is Robin Hood’s true pedigree.”

 The Doctor seems, by this pedigree, to have founded our hero’s
 pretensions on his descent from Roisia, sister of Robert
 Fitzgilbert, husband of Alice, youngest daughter of Judith,
 Countess of Huntingdon, which, whatever it might do in those times,
 would scarcely be thought sufficient to support such a claim at
 present. Beside, though John the Scot died without issue, he left
 three sisters, all married to powerful barons, either in Scotland
 or in England, none of whom, however, assumed the title. It is,
 therefore, probable, after all, that Robin Hood derived his earldom
 by some other channel.

 Dr. Stukeley, whose learned labours are sufficiently known and
 esteemed, was a professed antiquary, and a beneficed clergyman
 of the Church of England. He has not, it is true, thought it
 necessary to cite any ancient or other authority in support of
 the above representations; nor is it in the editor’s power to
 supply the deficiency. Perhaps, indeed, the Doctor might think
 himself entitled to expect that his own authority would be deemed
 sufficient: upon that, however, they must be content to rest. _Sit
 fides penes auctorem!_ Mr. Parkin, who published “A reply to the
 peevish, weak, and malevolent objections brought by Dr. Stukeley in
 his Origines Roystonianæ, No. 2” (Norwich, 1748, 4to), terms “his
 pedigree of Robin Hood, quite jocose, an original indeed!” (See pp.
 27, 32.)

 Otho and Fitz-Otho, it must be confessed, were common names among
 the Anglo-Normans,* but no such name as Othes, Ooth, Fitz-Othes,
 or Fitz-Ooth, has been elsewhere met with. Philip de Kime, also,
 was certainly a considerable landholder in the county of Lincoln in
 the time of King Henry II., but it nowhere appears, except from Dr.
 Stukeley, that his surname was Fitz-Ooth.

 The Doctor likewise informs us that the arms of Ralph Fitz-Ooth,
 and consequently of our hero, were “g. two bendlets engrailed, o.”

 ――――
 * “Filius Roberti filii Odonis est in custodia Domini Regis, et
 est vj annorum, et ipse est heres decime partis unius militis, et
 vix possunt inde habere victum suum ipse et mater sua.” Rotulus de
 vidius, &c. (31 H. 2) MSS. Har. 624.


 [12] Grafton’s Chronicle, p. 85.


 [13] Collec. i. 54.


 [14] See Robin Hood’s Progress to Nottingham, part ii. ballad 2.


 [15] Plompton Park, upon the banks of the Peterill, in Cumberland,
 was formerly very large, and set apart by the kings of England
 for the keeping of deer. It was disafforested or disparked by
 Henry VIII. See Camden’s Britannia, by Bishop Gibson, who seems to
 confound this park with Inglewood forest, a district of sixteen
 miles in length, reaching from Carlisle to Penrith, where the kings
 of England used to hunt, and Edward I. is reported to have killed
 200 bucks in one day (_Ibid._)


 [16] _Anno 1194_] _Vicesima nona die mensis martii_ Richardus
 rex Angliæ _projectus est videre_ Clipestone, & _forrestas de_
 Sirewode, _quas ipse nunquam viderat antea: & placuerunt ei multum,
 & eodem die rediit ad_ Notingham (R. de Hoveden, Annales, p. 736).

 Drayton (Polyolbion, song 26) introduces Sherwood in the character
 of a nymph, who, out of disdain at the preference shown by the poet
 to a sister-forest,

   “All self praise set apart, determineth to sing
   That lusty Robin Hood, who long time like a king
   Within her compass liv’d, and when he list to range,
   For some rich booty set, or else his air to change,
   To Sherwood still retir’d, his only standing court.”


 [17] It occurs in “Tarlton’s Newes out of Purgatory,” 1630, 4to
 (entered on the Stationers’ books in 1590).


 [18] It likewise gives the proverb noticed in a preceding page thus:

   “Were he as good as George a Greene, I would strike him sure.”


 [19] There is an edition in 1706, 8vo.


 [20] Scotish Poems, i. 122.


 [21] Surely the “lady” alluded to in the old May-game cannot be
 our Maid Marian. The earliest notice of her occurs in Barclay’s
 _Egloges_, about 1500, where she is evidently connected with Robin
 Hood. See Note 26.


 [22] Without “the ancient songs,” to which the Doctor refers,
 are confined to his “old MS.,” he evidently asserts what he
 would probably find it difficult to prove. As for the passage
 he produces, it seems nothing to the purpose; as, in the first
 place, it is apparently not “antient,” and, in the second, it is
 apparently not from a “song of Robin Hood.”


 [23] Mr. Warton, having observed that “The play of Robin and Marian
 is said to have been performed by the school-boys of Angiers,
 according to annual custom, in the year 1392: The boys were
 deguisiez, says the old French record; and they had among them un
 fillette desguisee (Carpent. Du Cange, v. Robinet-Pentecoste),”
 adds, “Our old character of Mayd Marian may be hence illustrated”
 (His. En. po. i. 245). This, indeed, seems sufficiently plausible;
 but unfortunately the Robin and Marian of Angiers are not the Robin
 and Marian of Sherwood. The play is still extant. See Fabliaux
 ou Contes, Paris, 1781, ii. 144. There are, likewise, some very
 ancient pastoral ballads on the subject of these two lovers. See
 La Borde, _Essai sur la Musique_, ii. 163, 215. But, in fact,
 the names of _Robin_ and _Marion_ seem to have been used by the
 _chansonniers_ of antiquity like those of _Colin_ and _Phœbe_, &c.


 [24] In 1592, Richard Jones, stationer, entered on the Company’s
 books, “A plesant fancie, or merrie conceyt, called the passion et
 morrys, daunst by a crue of 8 couple of wores.


 [25] “The quarry from whence King Wolfere fetched stones for his
 royal structure [_i.e._ Peterborough] was undoubtedly that of
 Bernach near unto Stamford . . . . And I find in the charter of
 K. Edward the Confessor, which he granted to the abbot of Ramsey,
 that the abbot of Ramsey should give to the abbot and convent of
 Peterburgh 4000 eeles in the time of Lent, and in consideration
 thereof the abbot of Peterburgh should give to the abbot of Ramsey
 as much freestone from his pitts in Bernack, and as much ragstone
 from his pitts in Peterburgh as he should need. Nor did the abbot
 of Peterburgh from these pits furnish only that but other abbies
 also, as that of St. Edmunds-Bury: in memory whereof there are
 two long stones yet standing upon a balk in Castor-field, near
 unto Gunwade-ferry; which erroneous tradition hath given out to be
 draughts of arrows from Alwalton churchyard thither; the one of
 Robin Hood, and the other of Little John; but the truth is, they
 were set up for witnesses, that the carriages of stone from Bernack
 to Gunwade-ferry, to be conveyed to S. Edmunds-Bury, might pass
 that way without paying toll; and in some old terrars they are
 called S. Edmund’s stones. These stones are nicked in their tops
 after the manner of arrows, probably enough in memory of S. Edmund,
 who was shot to death with arrows by the Danes” (Gunton’s History
 of the Church of Peterburgh, 1686, p. 4).


 [26] “In this relation,” Mr. Walker observes, “the Doctor not only
 evinces his credulity, but displays his ignorance of archery; for
 the ingenious and learned Mr. Barrington, than whom no man can be
 better informed on the subject, thinks that eleven score and seven
 yards is the utmost extent that an arrow can be shot from a long
 bow” (Archæologia, vol. viii.) According to tradition, he adds,
 Little John shot an arrow from the Old-bridge, Dublin, to the
 present site of St. Michael’s church, a distance not exceeding, he
 believes, that mentioned by Mr. Barrington (Historical Essay on the
 Dress of the Ancient and Modern Irish, p. 129).

 What Mr. Barrington “thinks” may be true enough, perhaps, of the
 Toxophilite Society and other modern archers; but people should not
 talk of Robin Hood who never shot in his bow. The above ingenious
 writer’s censure of Dr. Hanmer’s credulity and ignorance, seems to
 be misapplied, since he cannot be supposed to believe what he holds
 not for truth, and actually leaves among the lyes of the land.

 See also the old song, printed in the Appendix, No. 3. Drayton, who
 wrote before archery had fallen into complete disuse, says—

   “At marks full forty score they us’d to prick and rove.”

 That Mr. Barrington, indeed, was very ill informed on the subject
 is evident from a most scarce book in the editor’s possession,
 intitled “Aime for the archers of St. George’s fields, containing
 the names of all the marks in the same fields, with their true
 distances according to the dimensuration of the line. Formerly
 gathered by Richard Hannis, and now corrected by Thomas Bick and
 others. London, Printed by N. Howell for Robert Minehard and
 Benjamin Brownsmith, and are to be sold at the sign of the man in
 the moon in Blackman street, 1664,” 16mo, where the distance from
 _Alpha_ to _Bick’s memorial_ is 18 score 16 yards; and 11 score 7
 yards (though there are inferior numbers, the lowest being 9, 12)
 appears to be a very moderate shot indeed. Two of these marks are
 _Robin Hood_ and _Little John_. See also Shakespeare’s _Second
 Part of K. Henry IV._, act iii. scene 2, where it is said that
 _Old Double_ “would have clapp’d i’ the clout at _twelve score_;
 and carry’d you a forehand shaft a _fourteen_ and _fourteen and a
 half_;” and the notes upon the passage in Steevens’s edition, 1793.
 It is probable, after all, that the word _forty_ in Drayton is an
 error, of the transcriber or pressman, for _fourteen_.

 Whatever Robin Hood’s father might do, there can be no question
 that the author of the old ballad in which he is mentioned (part
 ii. song 1) has “shot in a lusty strong bow” when he speaks of

   “Two north-country miles and an inch at a shot.”


 [27] Warner’s Albion’s England, 1602, p. 132. It is part of the
 hermit’s speech to the Earl of Lancaster.


 [28] Sir Roger Williams, in his _Briefe discourse of warre_, 1590,
 has a chapter “To prooue bow-men the worst shot vsed in these
 daies.” Sir John Smythe, however, was of a different opinion. See
 his “Discourses concerning the formes and effects of divers sorts
 of weapons, &c. As also, of the great sufficiencie, excellencie,
 and wonderful effects of archers,” 1590, 4to. See also a different
 treatise by him upon the same subject in Num. 132 of the Harleian
 MSS.


 [29] “A prince who fills the throne with a disputed title dares not
 arm his subjects, the only method of securing a people fully both
 against domestic oppression and foreign conquest” (Hume’s _Essays_,
 “Of the Protestant Succession”).


 [30] Flemings.


 [31] Breeches.


 [32] Thus also in part ii. ballad 1:

   “She got on her holyday kirtle and gown
    They were of a light Lincolne green.”


 [33] In the sign of The green man and still, we perceive a huntsman
 in a green coat standing by the side of a still; in allusion,
 as it has been facetiously conjectured, to the partiality shown
 by that description of gentry to a morning dram. The genuine
 representation, however, should be the green-man (or man who deals
 in green herbs) with a bundle of peppermint or penny-royal under
 his arm, which he brings to have distilled.

  “And farewell all gaie garments now,
       With jewels riche of rare devise:
   Like Robin Hood, I wot not how,
       I must goe raunge in woodmen’s wyse,
   Cladde in a cote of greene or gray,
       And gladde to get it if i maye.”

     The workes of a young wyt, Done by N. B. Gent. 1577, 4to, b. l.


 [34] There appears, however, to be a town of this name in Flanders,
 which may be the place here meant. The above conjecture, therefore,
 will be received for no more than it is worth.


 [35] When Bulas, or Felix, the robber, was brought before Papinian,
 the latter asked him why he gave himself up to robbing and
 spoiling: “And why, sir,” was the answer, “are you ‘a governor’?”
 See Dio Cassius in Severus.

 “Because I do that,” said the pirate to Alexander, “with a single
 ship which thou dost with a great fleet, I am called a thief, and
 thou art called a king.”


 [36] See Pennant’s Tour in Scotland MDCCLXXII. part i. p. 404. The
 original reading, whether altered by mistake or design, is—

  “—pacisque imponere morem.”

 One might, to the same purpose, address our hero in the words of
 Plautus (Trinummus, act iv. scene x):

  “Atque hanc tuam gloriam jam ante auribus acceperam, et nobiles apud
       homines,
   Pauperibus te parcere solitum, divites damnare atque domare.
   Abi, laudo, scis ordine, ut æquom’st,
   Tractare homines, hoc dis dignum’st, semper mendicis modesti sint.”

                  “――I’ve heard before
   This commendation of you, and from great ones,
   That you were wont to spare the indigent,
   And crush the wealthy.—I applaud your justice
   In treating men according to their merits.—
   ’Tis worthy of the gods to have respect
   Unto the poor.”


 [37]

  “Richard Cœur de Lyon cald a king and conquerour was,
   With Phillip king of France who did unto Jerusalemm passe:

          *       *       *       *       *

   In this king’s time was Robyn Hood, that archer and outlawe,
   And little John his partener eke, unto them which did drawe
   One hondred tall and good archers, on whom foure hondred men,
   Were their power never so strong, could not give onset then;
   The abbots, monkes, and carles rich these onely did molest,
   And reskewd woemen when they saw of theeves them so opprest;
   Restoring poore men’s goods, and eke abundantly releeved
   Poore travellers which wanted food, or were with sicknes greeved.”

                           (Third Assertion, &c., quoted elsewhere.)


 [38] That this epitaph had been printed, or was well known, at
 least, long before the publication of Mr. Thoresby’s book, if not
 before either he or Dr. Gale was born, appears from the “True Tale
 of Robin Hood” by Martin Parker, written, if not printed, as early
 as 1631. (See _post_, p. 126.) That dates, about this period,
 were frequently by _ides_ and _kalends_, see Madox’s _Formulare
 Anglicanum_ (Dissertation), p. xxx. Even Arabic figures are
 produced in some of still greater antiquity; see _Collectanea de
 rebus Hibernicis_, ii. 331. Robert Grosthead, Bishop of Lincoln,
 makes use of these figures about the year 1240. Astle’s _Origin of
 Writing_, p. 188.


 [39] In “The Travels of Tom Thumb over England and Wales” [by Mr.
 Robert Dodsley], p. 106, is another though inferior version:

  “Here, under this memorial stone,
   Lies Robert earl of Huntingdon;
   As he, no archer e’er was good,
   And people call’d him Robin Hood:
   Such outlaws as his men and he
   Again may England never see.”


 [40] In “a large folio volume of accounts kept by Mr. Philip
 Henslowe, who appears to have been proprietor of the Rose theatre
 near the Bankside in Southwark,” he has entered—

  “Feb. 1597–8. The first part of Robin Hood, by Anthony Mundy.
  The second part of the downfall of earl Huntington, sirnamed
  Robinhood, by Anthony Mundy and Henry Chettle.”

 In a subsequent page is the following entry: “Lent unto Robarte
 Shawe, the 18 of Novemb. 1598, to lend unto Mr. Cheattle, upon the
 mending of the first part of Robart Hoode, the sum of xs.;” and
 afterwards—“For mending of Robin Hood for the corte.” See Malone’s
 edition of “The Plays and Poems of William Shakespeare,” 1790, vol.
 i. part ii. (Emendations and additions.)


 [41] That is, the inn so called, upon Ludgate Hill. The modern
 sign, which, however, seems to have been the same 200 years ago,
 is a bell and a wild man; but the original is supposed to have
 been a beautiful Indian; and the inscription, _La belle sauvage_.
 Some, indeed, assert that the inn once belonged to a Lady Arabella
 Savage; and others, that its name, originally _The bell and
 savage_, arose (like _The George and blue boar_) from the junction
 of two inns, with those respective signs. Non nostrûm est tantas
 componere lites.


 [42] She is called the Widow Scarlet; so that Scathlocke was the
 elder brother. In fact, however, it was mere ignorance in the
 author to suppose the Scathlocke and Scarlet of the story distinct
 persons, the latter name being an evident corruption of the former;
 Scathlock, Scadlock, Scarlock, Scarlet.


 [43] In “The booke of the inventary of the goods of my lord
 admeralles men tacken the 10 of Marche in the yeare 1598,” are
 the following properties for Robin Hood and his retinue in this
 identical play:

  “_Item_, . . . . i green gown for Maryan.
   _Item_, vi grene cottes for Roben Hoode, and iiii knaves sewtes.
   _Item_, i hatte for Robin Hoode, i hobihorse.
   _Item_, Roben Hoodes sewtte.
   _Item_, the fryers trusse in Roben Hoode.”

                         Malone’s _Shak._ II. ii. (Emen. & ad.)


 [44] George a Greene and Wakefield’s pinner were one and the same
 person. The shoemaker of Bradford is anonymous.


 [45] Which, by the way, was termed a _hempen caudle_. See the
 _Second Part of K. H. VI._, act iv. scene 7. Lord-Chancellor
 Jeffries, at the revolution, was treated much in the same manner.
 One day, during his confinement in the Tower, he received a barrel
 of oysters, upon which he observed to his keeper, “Well, you see, I
 have yet some friends left:” at the bottom of the barrel, however,
 he found a halter; which changed his countenance, and is even
 thought to have hastened his death.


 [46] See the ballad of “The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield,” part ii.
 num. iii.


 [47] Fitzwater confounds one man with another; Harold Harefoot was
 the son and successor of Canute the great.


 [48] This tradition is referred to, and the inscription given,
 in Ray’s Itineraries, 1760, p. 153:—“We rode through a bushet or
 common called Rodwell-hake, two miles from Leeds, where (according
 to the vulgar tradition) was once found a stag, with a ring of
 brass about its neck, having this inscription:

  When Julius Cæsar here was king,
  About my neck he put this ring;
  Whosoever doth me take,
  Let me go for Cæsar’s sake.”

 In The Midwife, or Old Woman’s Magazine (vol. i. p. 250), Mrs.
 Midnight, in a letter “To the venerable society of antiquarians,”
 containing a description of Cæsar’s camp on Windsor forest, has
 the following passage: “There have been many extraordinary things
 discovered about this camp. One thing, I particularly remember, was
 a deer of about sixteen hundred years old. . . . . . This deer it
 seems was a favourite of Cæsar’s, and on that account he bedecked
 her neck with a golden collar and an inscription, which I shall by
 and by take notice of; she had been frequently taken, but when the
 hunters, the peasants, and poor people saw the golden collar on her
 neck, they readily let her go again. However, as she continually
 increased in strength and in bulk, as well as in age, after the
 course of about fifteen or sixteen centuries, the flesh and skin
 were entirely grown over this collar, so that it could not be
 discover’d till after she was kill’d, and then to the surprise of
 the virtuosi it appear’d with this inscription:

  When Julius Cæsar reigned here,
  Then was I a little deer;
  If any man should me take,
  Let me go for Cæsar’s sake.

 “This collar, which is of pure gold, I am told weighs thirty
 ounces, and as the blood of the creature still appears fresh upon
 it, I believe it may be as valuable as any of your gimcracks;
 however, there will be no harm in my sending of it to you; and if
 I can procure it, you may depend on my taking the utmost care of
 it.” As no notice is announced of this wonderful piece of antiquity
 in the voluminous and important lucubrations of the above learned
 body, it most probably never came into their possession; which
 is very much to be lamented, as it would have been an admirable
 companion for _Hardecnute’s chamber-pot_, _King Edward the first’s
 finger_, and other similar curiosities.

 Juvenal des Ursins gravely relates that in the year 1380 a hart was
 taken at Senlis with a chain about his neck inscribed “_Cæsar hoc
 me donavit_.”*

 Upton, to be even with him, supposes a hart to have been taken at
 Bagshot near Windsor, with a motto on the collar in the French
 language, which proves the ancient Romans were familiar therewith
 long before it existed:

  “_Julius Cæsar, quant jeo fus petis,
   Cest coler suz mon col ad mys._Ӡ

 This _dictator perpetuo_, in fact, seems to have collared every
 hart he took. The family of _Pompei_ in Italy use two harts for
 their supporters on whose collars were the letters N. M. T., in
 memory of one on whose collar were these words: “N_emo_ M_e_
 T_angat_, _Cæsaris sum_.” Anstis, ii. 113.

 The original of all these stories is to be found in Pliny, who
 says: “It is generally held and confessed that the stagge or hind
 live long; for an hundred yeer after Alexander the great, some
 were taken with golden collars about their necks, overgrowne now
 with haire and growne within the skin: which collars the said king
 had done upon them” (Naturall Historie, by Holland, 1601, B. 8,
 c. 32). Pausanias, moreover, speaking of one Leocydas, who fought
 for the Megalopolitans, in conjunction with Lydiades, against
 the Lacedæmonians (about the year 243 before Christ), says he
 was reported to be the descendant in the ninth degree of that
 Arcesilaus, who living in Lycosura saw that stag which is sacred to
 the goddess Despoine worn out with old age. This stag, he adds, had
 a collar on its neck with the following inscription:

  Caught young, when Agapenor sail’d for Troy.

 By which, he concludes, it is evident that a stag lives much longer
 than an elephant (B. 8, c. 10).

 ――――
 * Histoire de Charles VI.

 † Upton de re militari, p. 119.


 [49] Robin, in the old legend, expresses his regard for this order
 of men (concerning which the reader may consult an ingenious
 “Essay” in the Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, vol. i., and
 some “Observations” in a collection of ancient songs, printed in
 1790):

  “Whether he be messengere,
    Or a man that myrthes can,
  Or yf he be a pore man,
    Of my good he shall have some.”


 [50] This play is entered in Master Henslowe’s account-book with
 the date of December 1600. See Malone’s Shakespeare, vol. ii. part
 ii. (Emen. & ad.)


 [51] “The Triumphes of Reunited Britannia. A pageant in honour of
 Sir Leonard Holliday, lord mayor.” 1605.


 [52] Henry Fitz-Alwine Fitz-Liefstane, goldsmith, first mayor of
 London, was appointed to that office by King Richard I. in 1189,
 and continued therein till the 15th of King John, 1212, when he
 “deceased, and was buried in the priorie of the holy trinitie,
 neare unto Aldgate” (Stow’s Survey, 1598, p. 418). His relationship
 with Robin Hood is merely poetical, and invented by Mundy “for
 the nonce;” though it is by no means improbable that they were
 acquainted, and that our hero might have occasionally dined at the
 Mansion-house on a Lord Mayor’s day.


 [53] Jonson was led into this mistake by the old play of Robin
 Hood. See before, p. lv.


 [54] This play appears to have been performed upon the stage after
 the Restoration. The prologue and epilogue (spoken by Mr. Portlock)
 are to be found in num. 1009 of the Sloane MSS. It was republished,
 with a continuation and notes, by Mr. Waldron, of Drury-lane
 Theatre, in 1783.


 [55] A most stupid pantomime on this subject, under the title of
 “Merry Sherwood, or Harlequin, forester,” was performed in December
 1795, at the Theatre-royal, Covent-garden.


 [56] 1st edit. 1550, fo. xxvi. b. (Randolf is misprinted Rand
 of.) Subsequent editions, even of the same year, reading only
 “Randall of Chester.” Mr. Warton (History of English Poetry, ii.
 179) makes this genius, whom he calls a frier, say “that he is
 well acquainted with the rimes of Randall of Chester;” and these
 rimes he, whimsically enough, conjectures to be the old Chester
 Whitsun plays; which, upon very idle and nonsensical evidence,
 he supposes to have been written by Randal Higden, the compiler
 of the Polychronicon. Of course, if this absurd idea were at all
 well founded, the rimes of Robin Hood must likewise allude to
 certain Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire plays, written by himself.
 The “Randolf erl of Chester” here meant is Randal Blundevile, the
 last earl of that name, who had been in the Holy Land, was a great
 warrior and patriot, and died in 1231.

 The reading of the original edition is confirmed by a very old
 manuscript in the Cotton Library (Vespasian, B. XVI.) differing
 considerably from the printed copies, which gives the passage thus:

  “I can nouzt perfiitli my pater-noster as a prest it syngeth:
   I can rymes of Robyn Hood, of Rondolf erl of Chestre,
   Ac of oure lorde ne of oure ladi the leste that ever was maked.”

 (See also Caligula, A. XI.)

 The speaker himself could have told Mr. Warton he was no frier:

  “I have ben prieste & person passynge thyrty winter,
   Yet can I nether solfe, ne singe, ne sayntes lyves read;
   But I can find in a fielde or in a furlong an hare,
   Better than in Beatus vir or in Beati omnes
   Construe one clause well, & kenne it to my parishens.”


 [57] “De quibus stolidum wigus hianter in comœdiis & tragædiis
 prurienter festum faciunt, & super ceteras ‘romancias mimos &
 bardanos cantitare delectantur” (Scotichronicon, à Hearne, p. 774).
 Comedies and tragedies are—not dramatic compositions, but—poems of
 a comic or serious cast. Romance in Spanish, and romance in French,
 signify—not a tale of chivalry, but—a vulgar ballad, at this day.


 [58] “Rebus hujus Roberti gestis tota Britannia in cantibus utitur”
 (Majoris Britanniæ Historia, Edin. 1740, p. 128).


 [59] Hystory of Scotland, Edin. 1541, fo. The word “waithman” was
 probably suggested by Andrew of Wyntown (see before, Note 3).
 It seems equivalent to the English vagabond, or perhaps outlaw.
 Waith is waif; and it is to be remembered that, in the technical
 language of the English courts, a woman is said to be waived, and
 not outlawed. “In our auld Scottish langage,” says Skene, “ane
 _Vothman_ is ane out-law, or ane fugitive fra the lawes” (_De
 verborum significatione_, Edin. 1597). It is from þæðan, _venari_,
 _fugare_. See Lye’s Dictionary. The passage above quoted does not
 occur in Boise’s original work.


 [60] Of this poem there have been at least five editions at London
 or Westminster, and one at Edinburgh. In a list of “bookes printed
 and . . . sold by Jane Bell, at the east end of Christ-church
 [1655],” in company with Frier Rush, The frier and the boy, &c.,
 is “a book of Robin Hood and Little John.” Captain Cox of Coventry
 appears to have had a copy of some old edition: see Laneham’s
 Letter from Killingworth, 1575.


 [61] “Description of the Town of Tottenham-high-crosse,” &c. London
 (1631, 4to), 1781, 8vo. The invaluable MS. alluded to has been
 since discovered; and the entire poem, of which Mr. Ritson has here
 given a fragment, will be found in the Appendix.—ED.


 [62] The book, under the same title, printed by Wynken de Worde, in
 1517, is a different translation in prose.


 [63] Mr. Warton reads _Toby_; and so, perhaps, it may be in former
 editions.


 [64] Honest Barnaby, _i.e._ Richard Brathwayte, who wrote or
 travelled about 1640, was well acquainted with our hero’s story.

  “Veni Nottingham tyrones
   Sherwoodenses sunt latrones.
   Instar Robin Hood, & servi
   Scarlet & Joannis Parvi;
   Passim, sparsim, peculantur,
   Cellis, sylvis deprædantur.”

  “Thence to Nottingham, where rovers,
   Highway riders, Sherwood drovers,
   Like old Robin Hood and Scarlet,
   Or like Little John his varlet;
   Here and there they shew them doughty,
   In cells and woods to get their booty.”

 Whitlock relates that “the [parliament] committee who carried the
 propositions of peace to Oxford, had the king’s answer sealed up
 and sent to them. They, upon advice together, thought it not fit
 for them to receive an answer in that manner . . . and made an
 address to his majesty that they might know what his answer was,
 and have a copy of it: to which his majesty replied, What is that
 to you, who are but to carry what I send, and if I will send the
 song of _Robin Hood and Little John_, you must carry it? To which
 the commissioners only said, that the business about which they
 came was of somewhat more consequence than that song” (_Memorials_,
 p. 115).


 [65] There is, in fact, such a place as Barnwood forest, in
 Buckinghamshire; but no one, except Mr. Hearne, has hitherto
 supposed that part of the country to have been frequented by our
 hero. Barnwood, in the case reported by Yelverton, has clearly
 arisen from a confusion of Barnsdale and green wood. “Robin Hood in
 the greenwood stood” was likewise the beginning of an old song now
 lost (see _post_, p. 197): and it is not a little remarkable that
 Jefferies, serjeant, on the trial of Pilkington and others, for a
 riot, in 1683, by a similar confusion, quotes the line in question
 thus:

  “Robin Hood upon Greendale stood” (State-trials, iii. 634).

 A third corruption has taken place in Parker, p. 131 (King _v._
 Cotton), though expressly cited from Yelverton, viz.

  “Robin Hood in Barnwell stood.”

 The following most vulgar and indecent rime, current among the
 peasantry in the North of England, may have been intended to
 ridicule the perpetual repetition of “Robin Hood in greenwood
 stood:”

  Robin Hood
  In green-wood stood.
      With his back against a tree;
  He fell flat
  Into a cow-plat,
      And all besh—n was he


 [66] It is possible that, amid these absurdities, there may be
 other lines of the old song of Robin Hood, which is the only reason
 for reviving them.

  “O sleepst thou, or wakst thou, Jeffery Cooke?”

 occurs, likewise, in a medley of a similar description, in Pammelia
 1609.


 [67] In “_Heraclitus ridens_, or a discourse between Jest and
 Earnest,” a periodical paper against the Whigs, published in 1681,
 and collected and republished in 1713 (No. 34), Jest begins singing:

  “Bills, bows, and axes, quoth Robin Hood,
      But I have not time to tell;
   Yonder’s the sheriff and his company,
      But I hope all will be well.
                Hei, down, derry, derry, down;”

 and says, “I hope I may sing of old Robin without offending a grand
 jury, or being presented for disuniting Protestants.”

 In The Gentleman’s Magazine for December 1790 is the first verse
 of a song used by the inhabitants of Helston in Cornwall on the
 celebration of an annual festivity on the 8th of May, called the
 Furry-day, supposed Flora’s day, not, it is imagined, “as many
 have thought, in remembrance of some festival instituted in honour
 of that goddess, but rather from the garlands commonly worn on
 that day.” (See the same publication for June and October 1790.)
 This verse was the whole that Mr. Urban’s correspondent could then
 recollect, but he thought he might be afterwards able “to send all
 that is known of it, for,” he says, “it formerly was very long, but
 is now much forgotten.” The stanza is as follows:

  “Robin Hood and Little John
   They are both gone to fair O;
   And we will go to the merry green-wood,
   To see what they do there O.
           With hel an tow,
           And rum-be-low,
   And chearily we’ll get up,
   As soon as any day O,
   All for to bring the summer home,
   The summer and the May O.”

 “After which,” he adds, “there is something about the grey goose
 wing; from all which,” he concludes, “the goddess Flora has
 nothing to say to it.” She may have nothing to say to the song,
 indeed, and yet a good deal to do with the thing. But the fact
 is, that the first eight days of May, or the first day and the
 eighth, seem to have been devoted by the Celtic nations to some
 great religious ceremony. Certain superstitious observances of
 this period still exist in the Highlands of Scotland, where it is
 called the Bel-tein; Beltan, in that country, being a common term
 for the beginning of May, as “between the Beltans” is a saying
 significant of the first and eighth days of that month. The games
 of Robin Hood, as we shall elsewhere see, were, for whatever
 reason, always celebrated in May.—N.B. “Hel-an-tow,” in the above
 stanza, should be heave and how. Heave and how, and Rumbelow, was
 an ordinary chorus to old ballads, and is at least as ancient as
 the reign of Edward II., since it occurs in the stanza of a Scotish
 song, preserved by some of our old historians, on the battle of
 Bannockburn.

 To lengthen this long note: Among the Harleian MSS. (num. 367)
 is the fragment of “a tale of Robin Hood dialouge-wise beetweene
 Watt and Jeffry. The morall is the overthrowe of the abbyes; the
 like being attempted by the Puritane, which is the wolfe, and
 the politician, which is the fox, agaynst the bushops. Robin
 Hood, bushop; Adam Bell, abbot; Little John, colleagues of the
 university.” This seems to have been a common mode of satirising
 both the old Church and the reformers. In another MS. of the same
 collection (N. 207), written about 1532, is a tract entitled “The
 banckett of John the reve, unto Peirs Ploughman, Laurens Laborer,
 Thomlyn Tailyor, and Hobb of the Hille, with others;” being, as Mr.
 Wanley says, a dispute concerning transubstantiation by a Roman
 Catholic. The other, indeed, is much more modern: it alludes to the
 indolence of the abbots, and their falling off from the original
 purity in which they were placed by the bishops, whom it inclines
 to praise. The object of its satire seems to be the Puritans; but
 here it is imperfect, though the lines preserved are not wholly
 destitute of poetical merit.—“Robin Hood and the Duke of Lancaster,
 a ballad, to the tune of The Abbot of Canterbury,” 1727, is a
 satire on Sir Robert Walpole.


 [68] Chatterton, in his “Memoirs of a Sad Dog,” represents “Baron
 Otranto” (meaning the honourable Horace Walpole, now Earl of
 Orford), when on a visit to “Sir Stentor,” as highly pleased with
 Robin Hood’s ramble, “melodiously chaunted by the knight’s groom
 and dairy-maid, to the excellent music of a two-stringed violin and
 bag-pipe,” which transported him back “to the age of his favourite
 hero, Richard the Third;” whereas, says he, “the songs of Robin
 Hood were not in being till the reign of Queen Elizabeth.” This,
 indeed, may be in a great measure true of those which we now have,
 but there is sufficient evidence of the existence and popularity of
 such-like songs for ages preceding; and some of these, no doubt,
 were occasionally modernised or new-written, though most of them
 must be allowed to have perished.

 The late Dr. Johnson, in controverting the authenticity of Fingal,
 a composition in which the author, Mr. Macpherson, has made great
 use of some unquestionably ancient Irish ballads, said, “He would
 undertake to write an epick poem on the story of Robin Hood, and
 half England, to whom the names and places he should mention in
 it are familiar, would believe and declare they had heard it from
 their earliest years” (Boswell’s Journal, p. 486).


 [69] The following note is inserted in the fourth edition of the
 Reliques of Ancient English Poetry, published in July 1795 (vol. i.
 p. xcvii.):

 “Of the 24 songs in what is now called ‘Robin Hood’s Garland,’
 many are so modern as not to be found in Pepys’s collection,
 completed only in 1700. In the [editor’s] folio MS. are ancient
 fragments of the following, viz.—Robin Hood and the beggar.—Robin
 Hood and the butcher.—Robin Hood and fryer Tucke.—Robin Hood and
 the pindar.—Robin Hood and queen Catharine, in two parts.—Little
 John and the four beggars, and “Robine Hood his death.” This last,
 which is very curious, has no resemblance to any that have yet
 been published; [it is probably num. xxviii. of part ii.], and the
 others are extremely different from the printed copies; but they
 unfortunately are in the beginning of the MS. where half of every
 leaf hath been torn away.”

 As this MS. “contains several songs relating to the civil war
 in the last century,” the mere circumstance of its comprising
 fragments of the above ballads is no proof of a higher antiquity;
 any more than its not containing “one that alludes to the
 Restoration” proves its having been compiled before that period; or
 than, because some of these 24 songs are not to be found in Pepys’s
 collection, they are more modern than 1700. If the MS. could be
 collated, it would probably turn out that many of its contents have
 been inaccurately and unfaithfully transcribed, by some illiterate
 persons, from printed copies still extant, and, consequently, that
 it is, so far, of no authority. See the advertisement prefixed.


 [70] Mr. Warton has mistaken and misprinted this line so as to make
 it absolute nonsense.

  “Is not my reason good?
   Good—even good—Robin Hood.”

                                             (His. En. po. vol. ii.)


 [71] Drayton’s Polyolbion, song 26, p. 122 (supra, p. vii.)


 [72] In Churchyard’s “Replication onto Camel’s Objections” he tells
 the latter:

  “Your knowledge is great, your judgement is good,
   The most of your study hath ben of Robyn Hood;
   And Bevys of Hampton, and syr Launcelot de Lake,
   Hath taught you full oft your verses to make.”


 [73] See the original story, in which two brothers, of whom one had
 wished for as many oxen as he saw stars, the other for a pasture
 as wide as the firmament, kill each other about the pasturage of
 the oxen (from Camer. oper. subscis. cent. 1, c. 92, p. 429), in
 Wanley’s Little World of Man, edition of 1774, p. 426. Camerarius,
 it seems, had the story from Scardeonius _de claris civibus
 Patavinis_, whence it is also related in the notes to Upton _de
 studio militari_; and an older, of the like kind, is in the Facetiæ
 of Poggius.


 [74] “Derry down is the burden of the old songs of the Druids sung
 by their Bards and Vaids, to call the people to their religious
 assemblys in the groves. Doire in Irish (the old Punic) is a grove:
 corrupted into derry. A famous Druid grove and academy at the place
 since called Londonderry from thence.”—MS. note by Dr. Stukeley,
 in his copy of Robin Hood’s Garland. “Paul, Paul, thou art beside
 thyself!”


 [75] Mr. Boyd, the famous preacher in Childsdale, finding that
 several of his hearers went away after the forenoon sermon, had
 this expression in his afternoon prayers: “Now, Lord, thou seest
 that many people go away from hearing thy Word; but had we told
 them stories of Robin Hood or Davie Lindsay, they had stayed; and
 yet none of these are near so good as thy Word that I preach”
 (Scotch Presbyterian Eloquence, 1714, p. 156).


 [76] The Bishop grows scurrilous. “I never heard,” says Coke,
 attorney-general, “that Robin Hood was a traitor, they say he was
 an outlaw.” (State Trials, i. 218.—Raleigh had said, “Is it not
 strange for me to make myself a Robin Hood, a Kett, or a Cade?”)


 [77] This ballad seems to have been written in imitation of a song
 in Heywood’s Rape of Lucrece, 1630, beginning—

  “The gentry to the King’s-head,
   The nobles to the crown,” &c.


 [78] In Arnold’s Essex Harmony (ii. 98) he gives the inscription,
 as a catch for three voices, of his own composition, thus:

  “My beer is stout, my ale is good,
   Pray stay and drink with Robin Hood;
   If Robin Hood abroad is gone,
   Pray stay and drink with Little John.”


 [79] This description is finely illustrated by an excellent
 woodcut at the head of one of Anthony a Wood’s old ballads in the
 Ashmoleian Museum. The frontispiece to Gervas Markham’s Archerie,
 1634, is likewise a man drawing a bow.


 [80] See “The auncient order societie and unitie laudable of prince
 Arthure and his knightly armory of the round table . . . Translated
 and collected by R. R. London, Imprinted by John Wolfe dwelling
 in Distaffe-lane neere the signe of the Castle, 1583.” 4to, b. l.
 It appears from this publication that on the revival of London
 archery in Queen Elizabeth’s time, “the worshipfull socyety of
 archers,” instead of calling themselves after Robin Hood and his
 companions, took the names of “the magnificent prince Arthure and
 his knightly traine of the round table.” It is, probably, to one of
 the annual meetings of this identical society that Master Shallow
 alludes in the _Second Part of King Henry IV._ “I remember,”
 says he, “at Mile-end Green [their usual place of exercise],—I
 was then Sir Dagonet in Arthur’s shew,” &c. (See also Steevens’s
 Shakespeare, 1793, ix. 142.) The successors of the above “friendly
 and frank fellowship” assumed the ridiculous appellations of Duke
 of Shoreditch, Marquis of Clerkenwell, Earl of Pankridge, &c. See
 Wood’s Bowman’s Glory, 1682.


 [81] Meaning that his sole or chief employment had been in
 Christmas or May games, Whitsun-ales, and such like idle
 diversions. See Original Letters, &c., ii. 134.

 In an old circular woodcut, preserved on the title of Robin Hood’s
 Garland, 1670, as well as on that of Adam Bell, &c., printed at
 Newcastle in 1772, is the apparent representation of a May-game,
 consisting of the following personages: 1. A bishop. 2. Robin
 Hood. 3. The potter (or beggar). 4. Little John. 5. Frier Tuck. 6.
 Maid Marian. Figures 2 and 4 are distinguished by their bows and
 different size. The frier holds out a cross; and Marian has flowing
 hair, and wears a sort of coronet. But the execution of the whole
 is too rude to merit a copy.

 At Lord Fitzwilliams’s at Richmond there is, or lately was, a
 curious painting by Vinckenbooms, representing old Richmond palace,
 with a group of morris-dancers. It has been badly engraved by
 Godfrey, who reduced the figures to too small a scale. Mr. Douce
 has a tracing from the original picture with all the figures
 distinctly marked. See a poem at the end of Hall’s Downfall of
 May-games, 1661, 4to.


 [82] The precise purpose or meaning of setting up Robin Hood’s
 bower has not been satisfactorily ascertained. Mr. Hearne, in an
 attempt to derive the name of “The Chiltern country” (ciltern,
 Saxon) from silex, a flint, has the following words: “Certe
 Silcestriam, &c. _i.e._ Certainly Silchester, in Hampshire,
 signifies nothing but the city of flints (that is, a city composed
 or built of flint-stones). And what is more, in that very Chiltern
 country you may frequently see houses built of flints, in erecting
 which, in ancient times, I suppose that many persons involved
 themselves deeply in debt, and that, in order to extricate
 themselves, they took up money at interest of I know not what great
 men, which so far disturbed their minds that they would become
 thieves and do many things in no wise agreeable to the English
 government. Hence, the nobility ordered that large woods in the
 Chiltern country should in a great measure be cut down, lest they
 should conceal any considerable body of robbers, who were wont to
 convert the same into lurking places. It concerns this matter to
 call to mind that of this sort of robbers was that Robin or Robert
 Hood, of whom the vulgar dayly sing so many wonderful things.
 He (being now made an outlaw) before he retired into the north
 parts, frequently robbing in the Chiltern country, lurked in the
 thickets thereof on purpose that he should not be taken. Thence it
 was that to us boys (exhilarating, according to custom, the mind
 with sports) certain countrymen, with whom we had accidentally
 some conversation, shewed us that sort of den or retreat (vulgarly
 called Robin Hood’s bower) in Maydenhead-thicket; which thicket is
 the same that Leland in his Itinerary called Frith, by which name
 the Anglo-Saxons themselves spoke of thickets. For although frið
 in reality signifies peace, yet since numerous groves with them
 (as well as before with the Britons) were deemed sacred, it is by
 no means to be wondered at that a great wood (because manifestly
 an asylum) should, in the judgment of the Anglo-Saxons, be called
 by no other name than fr ðes: and that Maydenhead-thicket was
 esteemed among the greater woods Leland himself is a witness.
 Rightly therefore did Robin Hood (as frið-bena) reckon himself to
 abide there in security” (Chronicon de Dunstaple, p. 387). What he
 means by all this is, doubtless, sufficiently obscure: the mere
 name, however, of Robin Hood’s bower seems a very feeble authority
 for concluding that gallant outlaw to have robbed or skulked in the
 Chiltern hundreds.

 It may seem, perhaps, from a passage in Browne’s _Britannia’s
 Pastorals_ (Song 4), that _Robin Hood’s bower_ was prepared for the
 reception of himself and his Marian, as king and queen of May. The
 lines are these:

  “As I have seene the lady of the May
   _Set in an arbour_, on a holy-day,
   Built by the May-pole, where the jocund swains,
   Dance with the maidens to the bagpipe’s strains.”


 [83] See Steevens’s Shakespeare, 1793, x. 186.


 [84] Albion’s England, 1602, p. 121. It is part of the “Northerne
 man’s speech against the friers.” He adds:

  “At Baptis-day with ale and cakes bout bonfires neighbours stood,
   At Martle masse wa turnd a crabbe, thilke told of Roben Hood,
   Till after long time myrke, when blest were windowes, dares and lights,
   And pails were fild, and hathes were swept, gainst fairie elves and
         sprits:
   Rock and plow Mondaies gams . . . with saint-feasts and kirk-lights.”

 A very learned and ingenious gentleman conceives that the
 enumeration of characters in the passage quoted in the text
 belongs solely to the _May_, and has no relation whatever to the
 _morrise_. That the two games, however, though essentially distinct
 in their origin, got somehow or other blended together appears
 unquestionable.

 “As fit as a _morris_ for _May-day_” is one of the clown’s similes
 in _All’s well that ends well_ (act ii. scene 2).


 [85] “The word livery was formerly used to signify anything
 delivered; see the Northumberland Household Book, p. 60. If it ever
 bore such an acceptation at that time, one might be induced to
 suppose, from the following entries, that it here meant a badge, or
 something of that kind:

  15 C. of leveres for Robin Hode   0  5   0
  For leveres, paper and sateyn     0  0  20
  For pynnes and leveres            0  6   5
  For 13 C. of leverys              0  4   4
  For 24 great lyvereys             0  0   4

 We are told that formerly, in the celebration of May-games, the
 youth divided themselves into two troops, the one in winter
 livery, the other in the habit of the spring. See Brand’s Popular
 Antiquities, p. 261.” This quotation is misapplied. Liveries,
 in the present instance, are pieces of paper or sateyn with
 some device thereon, which were distributed for money among the
 spectators. So in a passage which will be shortly quoted from Jack
 Drum’s Entertainment: “Well said, my boyes, I must have my lord’s
 livory; what is’t? a May-pole?” See also Stubbs’s Anatomie of
 Abuses, 1583, sig. M. 2 _b_, and Skelton’s Don Quixote, part ii.
 chap. 22.


 [86] “Though it varies considerably from that word, this may be a
 corruption of orpiment, which was much in use for colouring the
 morris garments.” How orseden can be a corruption of orpiment is
 not very easy to conceive: it may as well be supposed to mean
 worsted or buckram. Mr. Steevens thinks that this _orseden_ is the
 _Arse-dine_ of old Joan Trash, in Jonson’s Bartholomew Fair, and
 means _flame-coloured paint_, used to _hobby-horses_. The four
 giants for the revived Midsummer shew at Chester, in 1668, were “to
 be cullered _tinsille arsedine_” (MSS. Har. 2150, fo. 373, b.)


 [87] “The friar’s coat was generally of russet, as it appears by
 the following extracts . . . .” The coat of this mock frier would,
 doubtless, be made of the same stuff as that of a real one.


 [88] “Marian was the assumed name of the beloved mistress of
 Robert, Earl of Huntingdon, whilst he was in a state of outlawry,
 as Robin Hood was his. See Mr. Steevens’s note to a passage in
 Shakespeare’s _Henry IV._ This character in the morris-dances was
 generally represented by a boy. See Strutt’s View of Customs and
 Manners, vol. iii. p. 150. It appears by one of the extracts, given
 above, that at Kingston it was performed by a woman, who was paid a
 shilling each year for her trouble.”


 [89] “Mr. Steevens suggests, _with great probability_, that this
 word may have the same meaning as howve or houve, used by Chaucer
 for a head-dress; Maid Marian’s head-dress was always very fine:
 indeed some persons have derived her name from the Italian word
 morione, a head-dress.” Mr. Steevens was never less happy than he
 is in this very probable conjecture. The word howve or houve, in
 Chaucer, is a mere variation of hood: and Maid Marian’s head-dress
 must, to be sure, have been “very fine” when made of four yards of
 broad cloth! A huke is a woman’s gown or habit. (Huke, palla, toga,
 palium Belgicis feminis usitatum.—_Skin._) Skelton mentions it in
 his Elinour Rumming:

  “Her _huke_ of Lyncole grene.”

 “All women in generall,” says Moryson, speaking of the Netherlands,
 “when they goe out of the house, put on a _hoyke_ or vaile, which
 covers their heads, and hangs downe vpon their backs to their
 legges,” &c. (Itinerary, 1617, part 3, p. 169).

 Sir John Cullum seems to have mistaken Rose Sparkes’ “best hook”
 for a “hook worn at the bottom of the stays, to regulate the
 sitting of the apron” (History of Hawsted, p. 25). Morione,
 in Italian, signifies a murrion or scull-cap; and though the
 derivation alluded to appears to have the sanction of Blount’s
 Glosographia, nothing can be more completely absurd. _Marian_ is
 _Mary_.

  “And _Marian’s_ nose looks rede and raw.”


 [90] “It appears that this, as well as other games, was made a
 parish concern.”


 [91] “Probably gilt leather, the pliability of which was
 particularly accommodated to the motion of the dancers.”


 [92] “A sort of coarse linen.”


 [93] “Probably a Moor’s coat; the word Morion is sometimes used to
 express a Moor.—The morris dance is by some supposed to have been
 originally derived from Moorish-dance. Black buckram appears to
 have been much used for the dresses of the ancient mummers. One of
 the figures in Mr. Tollet’s window is supposed to be a morisco.”


 [94] “Disard is an old word for a fool.”


 [95] In Ben Jonson’s Masque of the Metamorphosed Gipsies, presented
 to King James in 1621 (the very date, by the way, which appears
 on Mr. Tollet’s window), we have the following dialogue between
 _Cockret_ and _Clod_:

 “_Coc._ Oh the lord! what be these? . . .

 _Clo._ They should be morris-dancers by their gingle, but they have
 no napkins.

 _Coc._ No, nor a hobby-horse.

 _Clo._ Oh, he’s often forgotten, that’s no rule; but there is no
 _maid Marian_ nor _friar_ amongst them, which is the surer mark.

 _Coc._ Nor a _fool_ that I see.”—(_Tollet’s Memoir._)


 [96] Neither is any notice taken of them, where the characters of
 the morris-dance are mentioned, in _The Two Noble Kinsmen_, by
 Shakespeare and Fletcher.


 [97] This was a usual cry on occasions of mirth and jollity. Thus,
 in the celebration of St. Stephen’s day in the Inner-Temple hall,
 as we find it described in Dugdale’s Origines Juridiciales: “Supper
 ended, the constable-marshall ‘presenteth’ himself with drums afore
 him, mounted upon a scaffold, born by four men; and goeth three
 times round about the harthe, crying out aloud, A lord, a lord, &c.
 Then he descendeth and goeth to dance,” &c. (p. 156).


 [98]

  ――“’Tis meet we all go forth,
  To view the sick and feeble parts of France:
  And let us do it with no show of fear;
  No, with no more, that if we heard that England
  Were busied with a _Whitsun morris-dance_.”

                           Shak. _K. Hen. V._, act ii. scene 4.


 [99] Perhaps also, Robin Hood and his party had never appeared in
 company with the morris-dancers but at one particular period, in
 the beginning of May, whereas we find that _Whitsuntide_ was no
 less devoted to the latter.


 [100] It must be confessed that no other direct authority has been
 met with for constituting _Robin Hood_ and _Little John_ integral
 characters of the morris-dance. That _Maid Marian_, however, and
 the _Frier_, were almost constantly such, is proved beyond the
 possibility of a doubt; and why or how they should become so,
 without Robin Hood, at least, is unaccountable.


 [101] This county would seem to have been famous for their
 exertions a couple of centuries ago. Will Kemp the player was
 a celebrated morris-dancer; and in the Bodleian Library is the
 following scarce and curious tract by him: “Kemp’s nine daies
 wonder performed in a daunce from London to Norwich. Containing the
 pleasure, paines and kind entertainment of William Kemp between
 London and that city in his late morrice. Wherein is somewhat set
 downe worth note; to reproove the slaunders spred of him, many
 things merry, nothing hurtfull. Written by himself to satisfie
 his friends. London, printed by E. A. for Nicholas Ling, 1600”
 4to, b. l. On the title-page is a woodcut figure of Kemp as a
 morrice-dancer, preceded by a fellow with a pipe and drum, whom
 he, in the book, calls Thomas Slye his taberer.—See, in Richard
 Brathwayte’s Remains after Death, 1618, some lines “upon Kempe and
 his morice, with his epitaph.”


 [102] “On Monday [July 30] the morris-dancers of Pendleton paid
 their annual visit in Salford. They were adorned with all the
 variety of colours that a profusion of ribbons could give them, and
 had a very showy garland.”—_Star_, Aug. 9, 1792.


 [103] “Council Register, v. 1, p. 30.”


 [104] “Mary, parliament 6, c. 61, A.D. 1555.” “Anentis Robert Hude,
 and abbot of Unreason. Item, It is statute and ordained, that in
 all times cumming, na maner of person be chosen Robert Hude, nor
 Little John, abbot of unreason, queenis of Maij, nor utherwise,
 nouther in burgh, nor to landwart, in onie time to cum: and gif
 ony provest, baillies, councell, and communitie, chuse sik ane
 personage as Robert Hude, Little John, abbotis of unreason, or
 queenis of Maij, within burgh, the chusers of sik sall tine their
 freedome for the space of five zeires; and utherwise salbe punished
 at the queenis grace will; and the acceptar of sik like office
 sall be banished foorth of the realme; and gif ony sik persones
 . . . . beis chosen out-with burgh, and uthers landward townes,
 the chusers sall pay to our soveraine ladie ten poundes, and their
 persones [be] put in waird there to remaine during the queenis
 grace pleasure.” Abbot of unreason is the character better known
 in England by the title of abbot or lord of misrule, “who,” says
 Percy, “in the houses of our nobility presided over the Christmas
 gambols, and promoted mirth and jollity at that festive season”
 (Northumberland Household Book, notes, p. 441).


 [105] “Council Register, v. 4, p. 4, 30.”


 [106] “Knox’s History, p. 270.”


 [107] “Book of Universal Kirk, p. 414.” See also Keith’s History of
 Scotland, p. 216.


 [108] History of Whitby, York, 1779, p. 146. “It was always
 believed,” adds the worthy pedagogue, “that these butts had been
 erected by him for that very purpose, till the year 1771, when this
 popular notion was discovered to be a mistake; they being no more
 than the barrows or tumuli thrown up by our pagan predecessors
 on interring their leaders or the other persons of distinction
 amongst them. However, notwithstanding this discovery, there is
 no doubt but Robin Hood made use of those houes or butts when he
 was disposed to exercise his men, and wanted to train them up in
 hitting a mark.” Be that as it may, there are a few hillocks of a
 similar nature not far from Guisbrough, which likewise bear the
 name of Robin Hood’s butts; and others, it is imagined, may be met
 with in other parts.


 [109]

  Epigram on Robin Hood’s well, “a fine spring on the road,
  ornamented by Sir John Vanbrugh;” by Roger Gale, Esq. (Bib. Topo.
  Britan. No. II. part iii. p. 427).

  “Nympha fui quondam latronibus hospita sylvæ
      Heu nimium sociis nota, Robine, tuis.
   Me pudet innocuos latices fudisse scelestis,
      Jamque viatori pocula tuta fero,
   En pietatis honos! Comes hanc mihi Carliolensis
      Ædem sacravit quâ bibis, hospes, aquas.”

 The same author (Gent), in his “long and pathetick prologue,”
 setting forth “the contingencies, vicissitudes or changes of this
 transitory life,” “spoken, for the most part, on Wednesday and
 Friday the 18th and 20th of February 1761, at the deep tragedy of
 beautiful, eloquent, tender-hearted, but unfortunate Jane Shore,
 . . . . uttered and performed at his benefit” . . . (being then
 ætatis 70, and far declined into the vale of sorrow,*) has very
 artfully contrived to introduce our hero and his famous well.

  “The concave hall, ’mongst sources never view’d,
   Nor heard the goddesses, in merry mood,
   At their choice viands sing bold Robin Hood:†
   Whose tomb at Kirkley’s nunnery display’d,
   A false, hard-hearted, irreligious maid,
   Who bled, and to cold death that earl betray’d.
   But fame still lasts, while country folks display
   His limpid fountain, and loud-surging bay.”

 ――――
 * He died in 1778, aged 87.

 † “Omnes agnovere deam; lætique receptant
    Alcæum musæ comitem, ponuntur Iâcchi
    Crateres; flaventque scyphis Cerealia vina:
    Accedunt vultus hilares; festique lepores,
    Et jocus, et risus: dulci testudine Naias
    Pulchra modos variat; furtisque insignis et arcu
    Hodi latronis, fluvios bene nota per istos,
    Ludicra gesta canit: resonant laquearia plausu.”


 [110]

  “Viventes venæ, spine, catinusque catenæ,
   Sunt Robin Hoodi nota trophæa sui.”


 [111]

  “A well, thorne, dish, hung in an iron chaine,
   For monuments of Robin Hood remaine.”


 [112] Voyage from England to India, 1773, p. 8. In a subsequent
 page this great man is employed in a commerce of a more delicate,
 indeed, but, according to European notions, less honourable nature,
 which he manages with consummate address.


 [113] They likewise seem alluded to in the Vision, fo. 1, b:

  “And ryse wyth ribaudy as Rebertes knaves.”


 [114] “On a loose paper, in Mr. Ashmole’s handwriting, in the
 museum at Oxford, is the following little anecdote:—

 “The famous Little John (Robin Hood’s companion) lyes buried in
 Fethersedge churchyard, in the peak of Derbyshire, one stone at
 his head, another at his feet, and part of his bow hangs up in the
 chancell. Anno 1652.” H. E[llis]. European Magazine, October 1794,
 p. 295.


 [115] This seems the established size of an ancient hero. The
 grave of Gawin, King Arthur’s nephew, discovered in the time of
 William the Conqueror, was, according to Malmesbury, “_quatuor
 decim pedes longum_” (De gestis regum, l. 3). Bois, from the above
 circumstance, conceives our “Litil Jhon” to have been so called
 “_per ironiam_.” See his original work, fo. ix.


 [116] Historie of Scotland, translatit be Maister Johne Bellenden,
 Edin. 1541, fo. The luxury of his countrymen will appear a strange
 complaint in the mouth of a Scotishman of the 16th century, to such
 as believe, with the late Dr. Johnson, that they learned to plant
 kail from Cromwell’s soldiers, and that “when they had not kail
 they probably had nothing” (Journey to the Western Islands, p. 55).


 [117] Description of Ireland, in Holinshed’s Chronicle, 1587.


 [118] Historical Essay, &c., p. 129. This allegation demands what
 the lawyers call a _profert in curiam._ It is, however, certain
 that there have been persons who usurped the name of Little John.
 In the year 1502, “about mydsomer, was taken a felow whyche had
 renued many of Robyn Hodes pagentes, which named himselfe Grenelef”
 (Fabyan’s Chronicle, 1559). Therefore, beware of counterfeits!


ROBIN HOOD.

Part I.

[Illustration]

{1}




ROBIN HOOD.

Part I.


I.

A LYTELL GESTE OF ROBYN HODE.

This ancient legend is printed from the copy of an edition, in
4to and black letter, by Wynken de Worde, preserved in the public
library at Cambridge; compared with, and, in some places, corrected
by, another impression (apparently from the former), likewise in
4to and black letter, by William Copland, a copy of which is among
the late Mr. Garrick’s old plays, now in the British Museum. The
full title of the first edition is as follows: “Here beginneth
a mery geste of Robyn Hode and his meyne, {2} and of the proude
sheryfe of Notyngham;” and the printer’s colophon runs thus:
“Explycit. Kynge Edwarde and Robyn hode and Lytell Johan Enprented
at London in Flete strete at the sygne of the sone By Wynken de
Worde.” To Copland’s edition is added “a newe playe for to be
played in Maye games very plesaunte and full of pastyme;” which
will be found at large in another place. No other copy of either
edition is known to be extant; but, by the favour of the Reverend
Dr. Farmer, the editor had in his hands and gave to Mr. Douce a
few leaves of an old 4to black letter impression by the above
Wynken de Worde, probably in 1489, and totally unknown to Ames
and Herbert. Another edition was printed at Edinburgh by Androw
Myllar and Walter Chepman in 1508, a fragment whereof is in the
Advocates’ Library there. This is probably the edition noticed
among the tales enumerated in Wedderburn’s Complainte of Scotland,
printed at St. Andrews in 1549, under the title of “Robene Hude and
litil Jhone.” Among the Doctor’s numerous literary curiosities was
likewise another edition, “printed,” after Copland’s, “for Edward
White” (4to, black letter, no date, but entered in the Stationers’
books 13 May 1594), which hath been collated, and every variation
worthy of notice either adopted or remarked in the margin. The only
deviation from all the copies (except in necessary corrections)
is the division of stanzas, the indenting of the lines, the
addition of points, the disuse of abbreviations, and the occasional
introduction or rejection of a capital letter; liberties, if they
may be so called, which have been taken with most of the other
poems in this collection.

       *       *       *       *       *

 Lithe and lysten, gentylmen,
   That be of frebore blode ;
 I shall you tell of a good yemàn,
   His name was Robyn Hode. {3}

 Robyn was a proude outlawe,
   Whyles he walked on grounde,
 So curteyse an outlawe as he was one
   Was never none yfounde.

 Robyn stode in Bernysdale,
   And lened hym to a tree,
 And by hym stode Lytell Johan,
   A good yeman was he ;

 And also dyde good Scathelock,
   And Much the millers sone ;
 There was no ynche of his body,
   But it was worthe a grome.

 Than bespake hym Lytell Johan
   All unto Robyn Hode,
 Mayster, yf ye wolde dyne betyme,
   It wolde do you moch good.

 Then bespake good Robyn,
   To dyne I have no lust,
 Tyll I have some bolde baròn,
   Or some unketh gest,

 [Or els some byshop or abbot][119]
   That may paye for the best ;
 Or some knyght or some squyere
   That dwelleth here by west. {4}

 A good maner than had Robyn,
   In londe where that he were,
 Every daye or he woulde dyne
   Thre messes wolde he here :

 The one in the worshyp of the fader,
   The other of the holy goost,
 The thyrde was of our dere lady,
   That he loved of all other moste.

 Robyn loved our dere lady,
   For doute of dedely synne ;
 Wolde he never do company harme
   That only woman was ynne.

 Mayster, than sayd Lytell Johan,
   And we our borde shall sprede,
 Tell us whether we shall gone,
   And what lyfe we shall lede ;

 Where we shall take, where we shall leve,
   Where we shall abide behynde,
 Where we shall robbe, where we shall reve,
   Where we shall bete and bynde.

 Ther of no fors, sayd Robyn,
   We shall do well ynough ;
 But loke ye do no housbonde harme
   That tylleth with his plough ; {5}

 No more ye shall no good yemàn,
   That walketh by grene wode shawe,
 Ne no knyght, ne no squyèr,
   That wolde be a good felawe.

 These bysshoppes, and thyse archebysshoppes,
   Ye shall them bete and bynde ;
 The hye sheryfe of Notynghame,
   Hym holde in your mynde.

 This worde shall be holde, sayd Lytyll Johan,
   And this lesson shall we lere ;
 It is ferre dayes, god sende us a gest,
   That we were at our dynere.

 Take thy good bowe in thy hande, said Robyn,
   Let Moche wende with the,
 And so shall Wyllyam Scathelocke,
   And no man abyde with me ;

 And walke up to the Sayles,
   And so to Watlynge-strete,[120]
 And wayte after some unketh gest,
   Up-chaunce ye mowe them mete. {6}

 Be he erle or ony baròn,
   Abbot or ony knyght,
 Brynge hym to lodge to me,
   Hys dyner shall be dyght.

 They wente unto the Sayles,
   These yemen all thre,
 They loked est, they loked west,
   They myght no man see.

 But as they loked in Barnysdale,
   By a derne strete,
 Then came there a knyght rydynge,
   Full sone they gan hym mete.

 All dreri then was his[121] semblaunte,
   And lytell was hys pryde,
 Hys one fote in the sterope stode,
   That other waved besyde.

 Hys hode hangynge over hys eyen two,
   He rode in symple aray ;
 A soryer man than he was one
   Rode never in somers-day.

 Lytell Johan was curteyse,
   And set hym on his kne :
 Welcome be ye, gentyll knyght,
   Welcome are you to me.

[Illustration: COURTESY OF LITTLE JOHN.]

[Illustration: COURTESY OF LITTLE JOHN.]

{7}

 Welcome be thou to grene wood,
   Hende knyght and fre ;
 My mayster hath abyden you fastynge,
   Syr, all these oures thre.

 Who is your mayster ? sayd the knyght.
   Johan saydé, Robyn Hode.
 He is a good yeman, sayd the knyght,
   Of hym I have herde moch good.

 I graunte, he sayd, with you to wende,
   My brethren all in-fere ;[122]
 My purpose was to have deyned to day
   At Blythe or Dankastere.

 Forthe than went this[123] gentyll knyght,
   With a carefull chere,
 The teres out of his eyen ran,
   And fell downe by his lere.[124]

 They brought hym unto the lodge dore,
   When Robyn gan hym se,
 Full curteysly dyde of his hode,
   And set hym on his kne.

 Welcome, syr knyght, then said Robyn,
   Welcome thou arte to me,
 I haue abyde you fastynge, syr,
   All these houres thre.

 Then answered the gentyll knyght,
   With wordes fayre and fre,
 God the save, good Robyn,
   And all thy fayre meynè.

 They washed togyder and wyped bothe,
   And set tyll theyr dynere ;
 Brede and wyne they had ynough,
   And nombles of the dere ;

 Swannes and fesauntes they had full good,
   And foules of the revere ;
 There fayled never so lytell a byrde,
   That ever was bred on brere.

 Do gladly, syr knyght, sayd Robyn.
   Gramercy, syr, sayd he,
 Suche a dyner had I not
   Of all these wekes thre ;

 If I come agayne, Robyn,
   Here by this countrè,
 As good a dyner I shall the make,
   As thou hast made to me.

 Gramercy, knyght, sayd Robyn,
   My dyner whan I have,
 I was never so gredy, by dere worthy god,
   My dyner for to crave. {9}

 But pay or ye wende, sayd Robyn,
   Me thynketh it is good ryght ;
 It was never the maner, by dere worthy god,
   A yeman to pay[125] for a knyght.

 I have nought in my cofers, sayd the knyght,
   That I may profer for shame.
 Lytell Johan, go loke, sayd Robyn,[126]
   Ne let not for no blame.

 Tell me trouth, sayd Robyn,
   So god hath parte of the.
 I have no more but ten shillings, sayd the knyght,
   So god hath parte of me.

 Yf thou have no more, sayd Robyn,
   I wyll not one peny ;
 And yf thou have nede of ony more,
   More shall I len the.

 Go now forth, Lytell Johan,
   The trouthe tell thou me,
 Yf there be no more but ten shillings,
   Not one peny that I se.

 Lytell Johan spred downe his mantèll
   Full fayre upon the grounde,
 And there he founde in the knyghtes cofer
   But even halfe a pounde. {10}

 Lytyll Johan let it lye full styll,
   And went to his mayster full lowe.
 What tydynge Johan ? sayd Robyn.
   “Syr, the knyght is trewe inough.”

 Fyll of the best wyne, sayd Robyn,
   The knyght shall begynne ;
 Moch wonder thynketh me
   Thy clothynge is so thynne.

 Tell me one worde, sayd Robyn,
   And counsell shall it be ;
 I trowe thou were made a knyght of forse,
   Or elles of yemanry ;

 Or elles thou hast ben a sory housband,
   And leved in stroke and stryfe ;
 An okerer, or elles a lechoure, sayd Robyn,
   With wronge hast thou lede thy lyfe.

 I am none of them, sayd the knyght,
   By god that made me ;
 An hondreth wynter here before,
   Myne aunsetters knyghtes have be.

 But ofte it hath befal, Robyn,
   A man hath be dysgrate ;
 But god that syteth in heven above
   May amend his state. {11}

 Within two or thre yere,[127] Robyn, he sayd,
   My neyghbores well it ‘kende,’[128]
 Foure hondreth pounde of good money
   Full wel than myght I spende.

 Now have I no good, sayd the knyght,
   But my chyldren and my wyfe ;
 God hath shapen such an ende,
   Tyll god ‘may amende[129] my lyfe.’

 In what maner, sayd Robyn,
   Hast thou lore thy rychès ?
 For my grete foly, he sayd,
   And for my kindenesse.

 I had a sone, for soth, Robyn,
   That sholde have ben my eyre,
 When he was twenty wynter olde,
   In felde wolde juste full feyre ;

 He slewe a knyght of Lancastshyre,[130]
   And a squyre bolde ;
 For to save hym in his ryght
   My goodes beth sette and solde ;

 My londes beth set to wedde, Robyn,
   Untyll a certayne daye,
 To a ryche abbot here besyde,
   Of Saynt Mary abbay. {12}

 What is the somme ? sayd Robyn,
   Trouthe than tell thou me.
 Syr, he sayd, foure hondred pounde,
   The abbot tolde it to me.

 Now, and thou lese thy londe, sayd Robyn,
   What shall fall of the ?
 Hastely I wyll me buske, sayd the knyght,
   Over the salte see,

 And se where Cryst was quycke and deed,
   On the mounte of Caluarè.
 Fare well, frende, and have good daye,
   It may noo[131] better be――

 Teeres fell out of his eyen two,
   He wolde haue gone his waye―
 Farewell, frendes, and have good day,
   I ne have more to pay.

 Where be[132] thy friendes ? sayd Robyn.
   “Syr, never one wyll me know ;[133]
 Whyle I was ryche inow at home
   Grete bost then wolde they blowe,

 And now they renne awaye fro me,
   As bestes on a rowe ;
 They take no more heed of me
   Then they me never sawe.”[134] {13}

 For ruthe then wepte Lytell Johan,
   Scathelocke and Much ‘in fere.’[135]
 Fyll of the best wyne,[136] sayd Robyn,
   For here is a symple chere.

 Hast thou ony frendes, sayd Robyn,
   Thy borowes that wyll be ?
 I have none, then sayd the knyght,
   But god that dyed on a tree.

 Do waye thy japes, sayd Robyn,
   Therof wyll I right none ;
 Wenest thou I wyll have god to borowe ?
   Peter, Poule or Johan ?

 Nay, by hym that me made,
   And shope both sonne and mone,
 Fynde a better borowe, sayd Robyn,
   Or mony getest thou none.

 I have none other, sayd the knyght,
   The sothe for to say,
 But yf it be our dere lady,
   She fayled me never or this day.

 By dere worthy god, sayd Robyn,
   To seche all Englond thorowe,
 Yet founde I never to my pay,
   A moch better borowe. {14}

 Come now forthe, Lytell Johan,
   And goo to my tresourè,
 And brynge me foure hondred pounde,
   And loke that it well tolde be.

 Forthe then wente Lytell Johan,
   And Scathelocke went before,
 He tolde out foure houndred pounde,
   By eyghtene score.[137]

 Is this well tolde ? sayd lytell Much.
   Johan sayd, What greveth the ?
 It is almes to helpe a gentyll knyght
   That is fall in povertè.

 Mayster, than sayd Lytell Johan,
   His clothynge is full thynne,
 Ye must gyve the knyght a lyveray,
   To ‘lappe’[138] his body ther in.

 For ye have scarlet and grene, mayster,
   And many a ryche aray,
 There is no marchaunt in mery Englònde
   So ryche, I dare well saye.

 Take hym thre yerdes of every coloure,
   And loke that well mete it be.
 Lytell Johan toke none other mesure
   But his bowe tre,

[Illustration: LITTLE JOHN AND THE KNIGHT.]

[Illustration: LITTLE JOHN AND THE KNIGHT.]

{15}

 And of every handfull that he met
   He lept ouer fotes thre.
 What devilkyns draper, sayd litell Much,
   Thynkyst thou to be ?

 Scathelocke stoode full styll and lough,
   And sayd, By god allmyght,
 Johan may gyve hym the better mesure,
   By god, it cost him but lyght.

 Mayster, sayd Lytell Johan,
   All unto Robyn Hode,
 Ye must gyve that knight an hors,
   To lede home al this good.

 Take hym a gray courser, sayd Robyn,
   And a sadell newe ;
 He is our ladyes messengere,
   God lene[139] that he be true.

 And a good palfraye, sayd lytell Moch,
   To mayntayne hym in his ryght.
 And a payre of botes, sayd Scathelocke,
   For he is a gentyll knyght.

 What shalt thou gyve hym, Lytel Johan ? sayd Robyn.
   Syr, a payre of gylte spores clene,
 To pray for all this company :
   God brynge hym out of tene ! {16}

 Whan shall my daye be, sayd the knyght,
   Syr, and your wyll be ?
 This daye twelve moneth, sayd Robyn,
   Under this grene wode tre.

 It were grete shame, sayd Robyn,
   A knyght alone to ryde,
 Without squyer, yeman or page,
   To walke by hys syde.

 I shall the lene Lytyll Johan my man,
   For he shall be thy knave ;
 In a yemans steed he may the stonde,
   Yf thou grete nede have.


THE SECONDE FYTTE.

 Nowe is the knyght went on this way,
   This game he thought full good,
 When he loked on Bernysdale,
   He blyssed Robyn Hode ;

 And whan he thought on Bernysdale,
   On Scathelock, Much, and Johan,
 He blyssed them for the best company
   That ever he in come. {17}

 Then spake that gentyll knyght,
   To Lytel Johan gan he saye,
 To morowe I must to Yorke toune,
   To Saynt Mary abbay ;

 And to the abbot of that place
   Foure hondred pounde I must pay :
 And but I be there upon this nyght
   My londe is lost for ay.

 The abbot sayd to his covent,
   There he stode on grounde,
 This day twelfe moneth came there a knyght
   And borowed foure hondred pounde.

 [He borowed foure hondred pounde,]
   Upon all his londe fre,
 But he come this ylke day
   Dysherytye shall he be.

 It is full erely, sayd the pryoure,[140]
   The day is not yet ferre gone,
 I had lever to pay an hondred pounde,
   And lay it downe a none.

 The knyght is ferre be yonde the see,
   In Englonde is his ryght,
 And suffreth honger and colde
   And many a sory nyght ; {18}

 It were grete pytè, sayd the pryoure,
   So to have his londe,
 And ye be so lyght of your conseyence
   Ye do to him moch wronge.

 Thou arte euer in my berde, sayd the abbot,
   By god and saynt Rycharde.[141]
 With that cam in a fat-heded monke,
   The heygh selerer ;

 He is dede or hanged, sayd the monke,
   By god that bought me dere,
 And we shall have to spende in this place
   Foure hondred pounde by yere.

 The abbot and the hy selerer,
   Sterte forthe full bolde,
 The high justyce of Englonde
   The abbot there dyde holde. {19}

 The hye justyce and many mo
   Had take into their honde
 Holy all the knyghtes det,
   To put that knyght to wronge.

 They demed the knyght wonder sore,
   The abbot and hys meynè :
 “But he come this ylke day
   Dysheryte shall he be.”

 He wyll not come yet, sayd the justyce,
   I dare well undertake.
 But in sorowe tyme for them all
   The knyght came to the gate.

 Than bespake that gentyll knyght
   Untyll hys meynè,
 Now put on your symple wedes
   That ye brought fro the see.

 [They put on their symple wedes,]
   And came to the gates anone,
 The porter was redy hymselfe,
   And welcomed them everychone.

 Welcome, syr knyght, sayd the portèr,
   My lorde to mete is he,
 And so is many a gentyll man,
   For the love of the. {20}

 The porter swore a full grete othe,
   By god that made me,
 Here be the best coresed hors
   That ever yet sawe I me.

 Lede them into the stable, he sayd,
   That eased myght they be.
 They shall not come therin, sayd the knyght,
   By god that dyed on a tre.

 Lordes were to mete isette
   In that abbotes hall,
 The knyght went forth and kneled downe,
   And salved them grete and small.

 Do gladly, syr abbot, sayd the knyght,
   I am come to holde my day.
 The fyrst word the abbot spake,
   Hast thou brought my pay ?

 Not one peny, sayd the knyght,
   By god that maked me.
 Thou art a shrewed dettour, sayd the abbot :
   Syr justyce, drynke to me.

 What doost thou here, sayd the abbot,
   But thou haddest brought thy pay ?
 For god, than sayd the knyght,
   To pray of a lenger daye. {21}

 Thy daye is broke, sayd the justyce,
   Londe getest thou none.
 “Now, good syr justyce, be my frende,
   And fende me of my fone.”

 I am holde with the abbot, sayd the justyce,
   Bothe with cloth and fee.
 “Now, good syr sheryf, be my frende.”
   Nay for god, sayd he.

 “Now, good syr abbot, be my frende,
   For thy curteysè,
 And holde my londes in thy honde
   Tyll I have made the gree ;

 And I wyll be thy true servaunte,
   And trewely serve the,
 Tyl ye have foure hondred pounde
   Of money good and free.”

 The abbot sware a full grete othe,
   By god that dyed on a tree,
 Get the londe where thou may,
   For thou getest none of me.

 By dere worthy god, then sayd the knyght,
   That all this worlde wrought,
 But I have my londe agayne
   Full dere it shall be bought ; {22}

 God, that was of a mayden borne
   Lene us[142] well to spede !
 For it is good to assay a frende
   Or that a man have nede.

 The abbot lothely on hym gan loke
   And vylaynesly hym gan ‘call ;’[143]
 Out, he sayd, thou false knyght,
   Spede the out of my hall !

 Thou lyest, then sayd the gentyll knyght,
   Abbot in thy hal ;
 False knyght was I never,
   By god that made us all.

 Up then stode that gentyll knyght,
   To the abbot sayd he,
 To suffre a knyght to knele so longe,
   Thou canst no curteysye ;

 In joustes and in tournement
   Full ferre than have I be,
 And put myselfe as ferre in prees
   As ony that ever I se.

 What wyll ye gyve more ? sayd the justyce,
   And the knyght shall make a releyse ;
 And elles dare I safly swere
   Ye holde never your londe in pees. {23}

 An hondred pounde, sayd the abbot.
   The justyce said, Gyve him two.
 Nay, be god, sayd the knyght,
   Yet gete[144] ye it not soo :

 Though ye wolde gyve a thousande more,
   Yet were ‘ye’[145] never the nere :
 Shall there never be myn eyre,
   Abbot, justyse, ne frere.

 He sterte hym to a borde anone,
   Tyll a table rounde,
 And there he shoke out of a bagge
   Even foure hondred pounde.

 Have here thy golde, syr abbot, sayd the knyght,
   Which that thou lentest me ;
 Haddest thou ben curteys at my comynge,
   Rewarde sholdest thou have be.

 The abbot sat styll, and ete no more,
   For all his ryall chere,
 He caste his hede on his sholdèr,
   And fast began to stare.

 Take me my golde agayne, sayd the abbot,
   Syr justyce, that I toke the.
 Not a peny, sayd the justyce,
   By god, that dyed on a tree. {24}

 “Syr abbot, and ye men of lawe,
   Now have I holde my daye,
 Now shall I have my londe agayne,
   For ought that you can saye.”

 The knyght stert out of the dore,
   Awaye was all his care,
 And on he put his good clothynge,
   The other he lefte there.

 He wente hym forthe full mery syngynge,
   As men have tolde in tale,
 His lady met hym at the gate,
   At home in ‘Wierysdale.’[146]

 Welcome, my lorde, sayd his lady ;
   Syr, lost is all your good ?
 Be mery, dame, sayd the knyght,
   And praye for Robyn Hode,

 That ever his soule be in blysse,
   He holpe me out of my tene ;
 Ne had not be his kyndenesse,
   Beggers had we ben.

 The abbot and I acordyd ben,
   He is served of his pay,
 The good yeman lent it me,
   As I came by the way. {25}

 This knyght than dwelled fayre at home,
   The soth for to say,
 Tyll he had got foure hondreth pounde
   All redy for too paye.

 He purveyed hym an hondred bowes,
   The strenges [were] welle dyght,
 An hondred shefe of arowes good,
   The hedes burnyshed full bryght,

 And every arowe an elle longe,
   With pecocke well ydyght,
 Inocked all with whyte sylvèr,
   It was a semly syght.

 He purveyed hym an hondreth men,
   Well harneysed in that stede,
 And hymselfe in that same sete,[147]
   And clothed in whyte and rede.

 He bare a launsgay in his honde,
   And a man ledde his male,
 And reden with a lyght songe,
   Unto Bernysdale.

 As he went at a brydge ther was a wrastelyng,
   And there taryed was he,
 And there was all the best yemèn,
   Of all the west countree. {26}

 A full fayre game there was upset,
   A whyte bull up ipyght ;[148]
 A grete courser with sadle and brydil,
   With golde burneyshed full bryght ;

 A payre of gloves, a rede golde rynge,
   A pype of wyne, in good fay :
 What man bereth him best, I wys,
   The pryce shall bere away.

 There was a yeman in that place,
   And best worthy was he,
 And for he was ferre and frend bestad,
   Islayne he sholde have be.

 The knyght had reuth of this yemàn,
   In place where that he stode,
 He said that yoman sholde have no harme,
   For love of Robyn Hode.

 The knyght presed into the place,
   An hondred folowed hym ‘fre,’[149]
 With bowes bent, and arowes sharpe,
   For to shende that company.

 They sholdred all, and made hym rome,
   To wete that he wolde say,
 He toke the yeman by the honde,
   And gave hym all the playe ; {27}

 He gave hym fyve marke for his wyne,
   There it laye on the molde,
 And bad it sholde be sette a broche,
   Drynke who so wolde.

 Thus longe taryed this gentyll knyght,
   Tyll that playe was done,
 So longe abode Robyn fastynge,
   Thre houres after the none.


THE THYRDE FYTTE.

 Lyth and lysten, gentyll men,
   All that now be here,
 Of Lytell Johan, that was the knyghtes man,
   Good myrthe ye shall here.

 It was upon a mery day,
   That yonge men wolde go shete,[150]
 Lytell Johan fet his bowe anone,
   And sayd he wolde them mete.

 Thre tymes Lytell Johan shot about,
   And alway cleft[151] the wande,
 The proude sheryf of Notyngham
   By the markes gan stande. {28}

 The sheryf swore a full grete othe,
   By hym that dyed on a tree,
 This man is the best archere
   That yet sawe I me.

 Say me now, wyght yonge man,
   What is now thy name ?
 In what countre were thou[152] born,
   And where is thy wonnynge wan ?

 “In Holdernesse I was bore,
   I wys all of my dame,
 Men call me Reynolde Grenelefe,
   Whan I am at hame.”

 “Say me, Reynaud Grenelefe,
   Wolte thou dwell with me ?
 And every yere I wyll the gyve
   Twenty marke to thy fee.”

 I have a mayster, sayd Lytell Johan,
   A curteys knyght is he,
 May ye gete leve of hym,
   The better may it bee.

 The sheryfe gate Lytell Johan
   Twelve monethes of the knyght,
 Therfore he gave him ryght anone
   A good hors and a wyght. {29}

 Now is Lytel Johan the sheryffes man,
   He gyve us well to spede,
 But alway thought Lytell Johan
   To quyte hym well his mede.

 Now so god[153] me helpe, sayd Lytel Johan,
   And be my trewe lewtè,
 I shall be the worste servaunte to hym
   That ever yet had he.

 It befell upon a wednesday,
   The sheryfe on hontynge was gone,
 And Lytel Johan lay in his bed,
   And was foryete at home.

 Therfore he was fastynge
   Tyl it was past the none,
 Good syr stuard, I pray the,
   Geve me to dyne, sayd Lytel Johan,

 It is to long for Grenelefe,
   Fastynge so long to be ;
 Therfore I pray the, stuarde,
   My dyner gyve thou me.

 Shaly thou never ete ne drynke, sayd the stuarde,
   Tyll my lord be come to towne.
 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Lytell Johan,
   I had lever to cracke thy crowne. {30}

 The butler was ful uncurteys,
   There he stode on flore,
 He sterte to the buttery,
   And shet fast the dore.

 Lytell Johan gave the buteler such a rap,
   His backe yede nygh on two,
 Tho he lyved an hundreth wynter,
   The wors he sholde go.

 He sporned the dore with his fote,
   It went up wel and fyne,
 And there he made a large lyveray
   Both of ale and wyne.

 Syth ye wyl not dyne, sayd Lytel Johan,
   I shall gyve you to drynke,
 And though ye lyve an hondred wynter,
   On Lytell Johan ye shall thynk.

 Lytell Johan ete, and Lytell [Johan] dronke,
   The whyle that he wolde.
 The sheryfe had in his kechyn a coke,
   A stoute man and a bolde.

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd the coke,
   Thou arte a shrewde hynde,
 In an housholde to dwel,
   For to ask thus to dyne. {31}

 And there he lent Lytel Johan,
   Good strokes thre.
 I make myn avowe, sayd Lytell Johan,
   These strokes lyketh well me.

 Thou arte a bolde man and an hardy,
   And so thynketh me ;
 And or I passe fro this place,
   Asayed better shalt thou be.

 Lytell Johan drewe a good swerde,
   The coke toke another in honde ;
 They thought nothynge for to fle,
   But styfly for to stonde.

 There they fought sore togyder,
   Two myle way and more,[154]
 Myght neyther other harme done,
   The mountenaunce of an houre.

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Lytell Johan,
   And be my trewe lewtè,
 Thou art one of the best swerdemen,
   That ever yet sawe I me.

 Coowdest thou shote as well in a bowe,
   To grene wood thou sholdest with me,
 And two tymes in the yere thy clothynge
   Ichaunged sholde be ; {32}

 And every yere of Robyn Hode
   Twenty marke to thy fee.
 Put up thy swerde, sayd the coke,
   And felowes wyll we be.

 Then he fette to Lytell Johan
   The numbles of a doo,
 Good brede and full good wyne,
   They ete and dranke therto.

 And whan they had dronken well,
   Ther trouthes togyder they plyght,
 That they wolde be with Robyn
   That ylke same day at nyght.

 The dyde[155] them to the tresure hous,
 As fast as they myght gone,
 The lockes that were of good stele
 They brake them everychone ;

 They toke away the sylver vessell,
   And all that they myght get,
 Peces, masars, and spones,
   Wolde they non forgete ;

 Also they toke the good pence,
   Thre hondred pounde and three ;
 And dyde them strayt to Robyn Hode,
   Under the grene wode tre. {33}

 “God the save, my dere maystèr,
   And Cryst the save and se.”
 And than sayd Robyn to Lytell Johan,
   Welcome myght thou be ;

 And also be that fayre yemàn
   Thou bryngest there with the.
 What tydynges fro Notyngham ?
   Lytell Johan, tell thou me.

 “Well the greteth the proude sheryfe,
   And sende the here by me
 His coke and his sylver vessell,
   And thre hondred pounde and thre.”

 I make myn avow to god, sayd Robyn,
   And to the trenytè,
 It was never by his good wyll,
   This good is come to me.

 Lytell Johan hym there bethought,
   On a shrewed wyle,[156]
 Fyve myle in the forest he ran,
   Hym happed at his wyll ;

 Than he met the proud sheryf,
   Huntynge with hounde and horne,
 Lytell Johan coud his curteysye,
   And kneled hym beforne : {34}

 “God the save, my dere maystèr,
   And Cryst the save and see.”
 Raynolde Grenelefe, sayd the sheryfe,
   Where hast thou nowe be ?

 “I have be in this forest,
   A fayre syght can I se,
 It was one of the fayrest syghtes[157]
   That ever yet sawe I me ;

 Yonder I se a ryght fayre hart,
   His coloure is of grene,
 Seven score of dere upon an herde
   Be with hym all bedene ;

 His tynde are so sharp, maystèr,
   Of sexty and well mo,
 That I durst not shote for drede
   Lest they wolde me sloo.”

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd the sheryf,
   That syght wolde I fayn se.
 “Buske you thyderwarde, my dere maystèr,
   Anone, and wende with me.”

 The sheryfe rode, and Lytell Johan
   Of fote he was full smarte,
 And whan they came afore Robyn :
   “Lo, here is the mayster harte !” {35}

 Styll stode the proude sheryf,
   A sory man was he :
 “Wo worthe the,[158] Raynolde Grenelefe !
   Thou hast now betrayed me.”

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Mayster, ye be to blame,
 I was mysserved of my dynere,
   When I was with you at hame.

 Soone he was to super sette,
   And served with sylver whyte ;
 And whan the sheryf se his vessell,
   For sorowe he myght not ete.

 Make good chere, sayd Robyn Hode,
   Sheryfe, for charytè,
 And for the love of Lytell Johan,
   Thy lyfe is graunted to the.

 When they had supped well,
   The day was all agone,
 Robyn commaunded Lytell Johan
   To drawe of his hosen and his shone,

 His kyrtell and his cote a pye,
   That was furred well fyne,
 And take him a grene mantèll,
   To lappe his body therin. {36}

 Robyn commaunded his wyght yong men,
   Under the grene wood tre,
 They shall lay in that same sorte ;
   That the sheryf myght them se.

 All nyght laye that proud sheryf,
   In his breche and in his sherte,
 No wonder it was in grene wode,
   Tho his sydes do smerte.

 Make glad chere, sayd Robyn Hode,
   Sheryfe, for charytè,
 For this is our order I wys,
   Under the grene wood tre.

 This is harder order, sayd the sheryfe,
   Than ony anker or frere ;
 For al the golde in mery Englonde
   I wolde not longe dwell here.

 All these twelve monethes, sayd Robyn,
   Thou shake dwell with me ;
 I shall the teche, proud sheryfe,
   An outlawe for to be.

 Or I here another nyght lye, sayd the sheryfe,
   Robyn, nowe I praye the,
 Smyte of my hede rather to-morne,
   And I forgyve it the. {37}

 Lete me go, then sayd the sheryf,
   For saynt Charytè,
 And I wyll be thy best frende
   That ever yet had the.

 Thou shalte swere me an othe, sayd Robyn,
   On my bryght bronde,
 Thou shalt never awayte me scathe,
   By water ne by londe ;

 And if thou fynde ony of my men,
   By nyght or by day,
 Upon thyne othe thou shalt swere,
   To helpe them that thou may.

 Now have the sheryf iswore his othe,
   And home he began to gone,
 He was as full of grene wode
   As ever was hepe of stone.


THE FOURTH FYTTE.

 The sheryf dwelled in Notynghame,
   He was fayne that he was gone,
 And Robyn and his mery men
   Went to wode anone. {38}

 Go we to dyner, sayd Lytell Johan.
   Robyn Hode sayd, Nay ;
 For I drede our lady be wroth with me,
   For she sent me not my pay.

 Have no dout, mayster, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Yet is not the sonne at rest,
 For I dare saye, and saufly swere,
   The knyght is trewe and trust.

 Take thy bowe in thy hande, sayd Robyn,
   Let Moch wende with the,
 And so shall Wyllyam Scathelock,
   And no man abyde with me,

 And walke up into the Sayles,
   And to Watlynge-strete,
 And wayte after ‘some’[159] unketh gest,
   Up-chaunce ye may them mete.

 Whether he be messengere,
   Or a man that myrthes can,
 Or yf he be a pore man,
   Of my good he shall have some.

 Forth then stert Lytel Johan,
   Half in tray and tene,
 And gyrde hym with a full good swerde,
   Under a mantel of grene. {39}

 They went up to the Sayles,
   These yemen all thre ;
 They loked est, they loked west,
   They myght no man se.

 But as ‘they’[160] loked in Bernysdale,
   By the hye waye,
 Than were they ware of two blacke monkes,
   Eche on a good palferay.

 Then bespake Lytell Johan,
   To Much he gan say,
 I dare lay my lyfe to wedde,
   That these monkes have brought our pay.

 Make glad chere, sayd Lytell Johan,
   And frese our bowes of ewe,
 And loke your hertes be seker and sad,
   Your strynges trusty and trewe.

 The monke hath fifty two men,
   And seven somers full stronge,
 There rydeth no bysshop in this londe
   So ryally, I understond.

 Brethern, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Here are no more but we thre :
 But we brynge them to dyner,
   Our mayster dare we not se. {40}

 Bende your bowes, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Make all yon[161] prese to stonde,
 The formost monke, his lyfe and his deth
   Is closed in my honde.

 Abyde, chorle monke, sayd Lytell Johan,
   No ferther that thou gone ;
 Yf thou doost, by dere worthy god,
   Thy death is in my honde.

 And evyll thryfte on thy hede, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Ryght under thy hattes bonde,
 For thou hast made our mayster wroth,
   He is fastynge so longe.

 Who is your mayster ? sayd the monke.
   Lytell Johan sayd, Robyn Hode.
 He is a stronge thefe, sayd the monke,
   Of hym herd I never good.

 Thou lyest, than sayd Lytell Johan,
   And that shall rewe the ;
 He is a yeman of the forèst,
   To dyne he hath bode the.

 Much was redy with a bolte,
   Redly and a none,
 He set[162] the monke to fore the brest,
   To the grounde that he can gone. {41}

 Of fyfty two wyght yonge men,[163]
   There abode not one,
 Saf a lytell page, and a grome
   To lede the somers with Johan.[164]

 They brought the monke to the lodge dore,
   Whether he were loth or lefe,
 For to speke with Robyn Hode,
   Maugre in theyr tethe.

 Robyn dyde adowne his hode,
   The monke whan that he se ;
 The monke was not so curteyse,
   His hode then let he be.

 He is a chorle, mayster, by dere worthy god,
   Than said Lytell Johan.
 Thereof no force, sayd Robyn,
   For curteysy can he none.

 How many men, sayd Robyn,
   Had this monke, Johan ?
 “Fyfty and two whan that we met,
   But many of them be gone.”

 Let blowe a horne, sayd Robin,
   That felaushyp may us knowe ;
 Seven score of wyght yemen,
   Came pryckynge on a rowe, {42}

 And everych of them a good mantèll
   Of scarlet and of raye,
 All they came to good Robyn,
   To wyte what he wolde say.

 They made the monke to wasshe and wype,
   And syt at his denere,
 Robyn Hode and Lytel Johan
   They served ‘him’[165] bothe in fere.

 Do gladly, monke, sayd Robyn.
   Gramercy, syr, said he.
 “Where is your abbay, whan ye are at home,
   And who is your avowè ?”

 Saynt Mary abbay, sayd the monke,
   Though I be symple here.
 In what offyce ? sayd Robyn.
   “Syr, the hye selerer.”

 Ye be the more welcome, sayd Robyn,
   So ever mote I the.
 Fyll of the best wyne, sayd Robyn,
   This monke shall drynke to me.

 But I have grete mervayle, sayd Robyn,
   Of all this longe day,
 I drede our lady be wroth with me,
   She sent me not my pay. {43}

 Have no doute, mayster, sayd Lytell Johan,
   Ye have no nede I saye,
 This monke it hath brought, I dare well swere,
   For he is of her abbay.

 And she was a borowe, sayd Robyn,
   Betwene a knyght and me,
 Of a lytell money that I hym lent,
   Under the grene wode tree ;

 And yf thou hast that sylver ibroughte,
   I praye the let me se,
 And I shall helpe the eftsones,
   Yf thou have nede of[166] me.

 The monke swore a full grete othe,
   With a sory chere,
 Of the borowehode thou spekest to me,
   Herde I never ere.

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Robyn,
   Monke, thou arte to blame,
 For god is holde a ryghtwys man,
   And so is his dame.

 Thou toldest with thyn owne tonge,
   Thou may not say nay,
 How thou arte her servaunt,
   And servest her every day : {44}

 And thou art made[167] her messengere,
   My money for to pay,
 Therfore I cun the more thanke,
   Thou arte come at thy day.

 What is in your cofers ? sayd Robyn,
   Trewe than tell thou me.
 Syr, he sayd, twenty marke,
   Al so mote I the.

 Yf there be no more, sayd Robyn,
   I wyll not one peny ;
 Yf thou hast myster of ony more,
   Syr, more I shall lende to the ;

 And yf I fynde more, sayd Robyn,
   I wys thou shalte it forgone ;
 For of thy spendynge sylver, monk,
   Therof wyll I ryght none.

 Go nowe forthe, Lytell Johan,
   And the trouth tell thou me ;
 If there be no more but twenty marke,
   No peny that I se.

 Lytell Johan spred his mantell downe,
   As he had done before,
 And he tolde out of the monkes male,
   Eyght hundreth pounde[168] and more. {45}

 Lytell Johan let it lye full styll,
   And went to his mayster in hast ;
 Syr, he sayd, the monke is trewe ynowe,
   Our lady hath doubled your cost.

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Robyn,
   Monke, what tolde I the ?
 Our lady is the trewest womàn,
   That ever yet founde I me.

 By dere worthy god, sayd Robyn,
   To seche all Englond thorowe,
 Yet founde I never to my pay
   A moche better borowe.

 Fyll of the best wyne, do hym drynke, sayd Robyn ;
   And grete well thy lady hende,
 And yf she have nede of[169] Robyn Hode,
   A frende she shall hym fynde ;

 And yf she nedeth ony more sylvèr,
   Come thou agayne to me,
 And, by this token she hath me sent,
   She shall have such thre.

 The monke was going to London ward,
   There to holde grete mote,
 The knyght that rode so hye on hors,
   To brynge hym under fote. {46}

 Whether be ye away ? sayd Robyn.
   “Syr, to maners in this londe,
 Too reken with our reves,
   That have done moch wronge.”

 “Come now forth, Lytell Johan,
   And harken to my tale,
 A better yeman I knowe none
   To seke a monkes male.”

 How moch is in yonder other ‘cofer ?’[170] sayd Robyn,
   The soth must we see.
 By our lady, than sayd the monke,
   That were no curteysye,

 To bydde a man to dyner,
   And syth hym bete and bynde.
 It is our olde maner, sayd Robyn,
   To leve but lytell behynde.

 The monke toke the hors with spore,
   No lenger wolde he abyde.
 Aske to drynke, than sayd Robyn,
   Or that ye forther ryde.

 Nay, for god, than sayd the monke,
   Me reweth I cam so nere,
 For better chepe I myght have dyned,
   In Blythe or in Dankestere. {47}

 Grete well your abbot, sayd Robyn,
   And your pryour, I you pray,
 And byd hym send me such a monke,
   To dyner every day.

 Now lete we that monke be styll,
   And speke we of that knyght,
 Yet he came to holde his day
   Whyle that it was lyght.

 He dyde hym streyt to Bernysdale,
   Under the grene wode tre,
 And he founde there Robyn Hode,
   And all his mery meynè.

 The knyght lyght downe of his good palfrày,
   Robyn whan he gan see,
 So curteysly he dyde adoune his hode,
   And set hym on his knee.

 “God the save, good Robyn Hode,
   And al this company.”
 “Welcome be thou, gentyll knyght,
   And ryght welcome to me.”

 Than bespake hym Robyn Hode,
   To that knyght so fre,
 What nede dryveth the to grene wode ?
   I pray the, syr knyght, tell me. {48}

 And welcome be thou, gentyl knyght,
   Why hast thou be so longe ?
 “For the abbot and the hye justyce
   Wolde have had my londe.”

 Hast thou thy lond agayne ?[171] sayd Robyn,
   Treuth than tell thou me.
 Ye, for god, sayd the knyght,
   And that thanke I god and the.

 But take not a grefe, I have be so longe ;[172]
   I came by a wrastelynge
 And there I dyd holpe a pore yemàn,
   With wronge was put behynde.

 Nay, for god, sayd Robyn,
   Syr knyght, that thanke I the ;
 What man that helpeth a good yemàn,
   His frende than wyll I be.

 Have here foure hondred pounde, than sayd the knyght,
   The whiche ye lent to me ;
 And here is also twenty marke
   For your curteysy.

 Nay, for god, than sayd Robyn,
   Thou broke it well for ay,
 For our lady, by her selerer,
   Hath sent to me my pay ;

{49}

 And yf I toke it twyse,[173]
   A shame it were to me :
 But trewely, gentyll knyght,
   Welcom arte thou to me.

 Whan Robyn had tolde his tale,
   He leugh and had good chere.
 By my trouthe, then sayd the knyght,
   Your money is redy here.

 Broke it well, sayd Robyn,
   Thou gentyll knyght so fre ;
 And welcome be thou, gentill knyght,
   Under my trystell[174] tree.

 But what shall these bowes do ? sayd Robyn,
   And these arowes ifedered fre ?
 By god, than sayd the knyght,
   A pore present to the.

 “Come now forth, Lytell Johan,
   And go to my treasurè,
 And brynge me there foure hondred pounde,
   The monke over-tolde it me.

 Have here foure hondred pounde,
   Thou gentyll knyght and trewe,
 And bye hors and harnes good,
   And gylte thy spores all newe : {50}

 And yf thou fayle ony spendynge,
   Com to Robyn Hode,
 And by my trouth thou shalt none fayle
   The whyles I have any good.

 And broke well thy four hundred pound,
   Whiche I lent to the,
 And make thy selfe no more so bare,
   By the counsell of me.”

 Thus than holpe hym good Robyn,
   The knyght all of his care.[175]
 God, that sytteth[176] in heven hye,
   Graunte us well to fare.


THE FYFTH FYTTE.

 Now hath the knyght his leve itake,
   And wente hym on his way ;
 Robyn Hode and his mery men
   Dwelled styll full many a day.

 Lyth and lysten, gentil men,
   And herken what I shall say,
 How the proud sheryfe of Notyngham
   Dyde crye a full fayre play ; {51}

 That all the best archers of the north
   Sholde come upon a day,
 And ‘he’ that shoteth ‘alder’ best[177]
   The game shall bere away.

 “He that shoteth ‘alder’[178] best
   Furthest fayre and lowe,
 At a payre of fynly buttes,
   Under the grene wode shawe,

 A ryght good arowe he shall have,
   The shaft of sylver whyte,
 The heade and the feders of ryche red golde,
   In Englond is none lyke.”

 This then herde good Robyn,
   Under his trystell tre :
 “Make you redy, ye wyght yonge men,
   That shotynge wyll I se.

 Buske you, my mery yonge men,
   Ye shall go with me ;
 And I wyll wete the shryves fayth,
   Trewe and yf he be.”

 Whan they had theyr bowes ibent,
   Theyr takles fedred fre,
 Seven score of wyght yonge men
   Stode by Robyns kne. {52}

 Whan they cam to Notyngham,
   The buttes were fayre and longe,
 Many was the bolde archere
   That shoted with bowes stronge.

 “There shall but syx shote with me,
   The other shal kepe my hede,
 And stande with good bowes bent
   That I be not desceyved.”

 The fourth outlawe his bowe gan bende,
   And that was Robyn Hode,
 And that behelde the proude sheryfe,
   All by the but he stode.

 Thryes Robyn shot about,
   And alway he slist[179] the wand,
 And so dyde good Gylberte,
   With the whyte hande.

 Lytell Johan and good Scatheloke
   Were archers good and fre ;
 Lytell Much and good Reynolde,
   The worste wolde they not be.

 Whan they had shot aboute,
   These archours fayre and good,
 Evermore was the best,
   Forsoth, Robyn Hode. {53}

 Hym was delyvered the goode aròw,
   For best worthy was he ;
 He toke the yeft so curteysly,
   To grene wode wolde he.

 They cryed out on Robyn Hode,
   And great hornes gan they blowe.
 Wo worth the, treason ! sayd Robyn,
   Full evyl thou art to knowe.

 And we be thou, thou proud sheryf,
   Thus gladdynge thy gest,
 Other wyse thou behote me
   In yonder wylde forest ;

 But had I the in grene wode,
   Under my trystell tre,
 Thou sholdest leve me a better wedde
   Than thy trewe lewtè.

 Full many a bowe there was bent,
   And arowes let they glyde,
 Many a kyrtell there was rent,
   And hurt many a syde.

 The outlawes shot was so stronge,
   That no man myght them dryve,
 And the proud sheryfes men
   They fled away full blyve.[180] {54}

 Robyn sawe the busshement to-broke,
   In grene wode he wolde have be,
 Many an arowe there was shot
   Amonge that company.

 Lytell Johan was hurte full sore,
   With an arowe in his kne,
 That he myght neyther go nor ryde ;
   It was full grete pytè.

 Mayster, then sayd Lytell Johan,
   If ever thou lovest me,
 And for that ylke lordes love,
   That dyed upon a tre,

 And for the medes of my servyce
   That I have served the,
 Lete never the proude sheryf
   Alyve now fynde me ;

 But take out thy browne swerde,
   And smyte all of my hede,
 And gyve me woundes dede and wyde,
   No lyfe on me be lefte.[181]

 I wolde not that, sayd Robyn,
   Johan, that thou were slawe,
 For all the golde in mery Englond,
   Though it lay now on a rawe {55}

 God forbede, sayd lytell Much,
   That dyed on a tre,
 That thou sholdest, Lytell Johan,
   Parte our company.

 Up he toke him on his backe,
   And bare hym well a myle,
 Many a tyme he layd hym downe
   And shot another whyle.

 Then was there a fayre castèll,
   A lytell within the wode,
 Double-dyched it was about,
   And walled, by the rode ;

 And there dwelled that gentyll knyght,
   Syr Rychard at the Lee,
 That Robyn had lent his good,
   Under the grene wode tree.

 In he toke good Robyn,
   And all his company :
 “Welcome be thou, Robyn Hode,
   Welcome arte thou [to] me ;

 And moche [I] thanke the of thy comfort,
   And of thy curteysye,
 And of thy grete kyndenesse,
   Under the grene wode tre ; {56}

 I love no man in all this worlde
   So moch as I do the ;
 For all the proud sheryf of Notyngham,
   Ryght here shalt thou be.

 Shyt the gates, and drawe the bridge,
   And let no man com in ;
 And arme you well, and make you redy,
   And to the walle ye wynne.

 For one thyng, Robyn, I the behote,
   I swere by saynt Quyntyn,
 These twelve dayes thou wonest with me,
   To suppe, ete, and dyne.”

 Bordes were layed, and clothes spred,
   Reddely and anone ;
 Robyn Hode and his mery men
   To mete gan they gone.


THE SYXTE FYTTE.


 Lythe and lysten, gentylmen,
   And herken unto your songe ;
 How the proude sheryfe of Notyngham,
   And men of armes stronge, {57}

 Full faste came to the hye sheryfe,
   The countre up to rout,
 And they beset the knyghts castèll,
   The walles all about.

 The proude sheryf loude gan crye,
   And sayd, Thou traytour knyght,
 Thou kepeste here the kynges enemye,
   Agayne the lawes and ryght.

 “Syr, I wyll avowe that I have done,
   The dedes that here[182] be dyght,
 Upon all the londes that I have,
   As I am a trewe knyght.

 Wende forthe, syrs, on your waye,
   And doth no more to me,
 Tyll ye wytte our kynges wyll
   What he woll say to the.”

 The sheref thus had his answere,
   With out ony leasynge,
 Forthe he yode to London toune,
   All for to tel our kynge.

 There he tolde him of that knyght,
   And eke of Robyn Hode,
 And also of the bolde archeres,
   That noble were and good. {58}

 “He wolde avowe that he had done,
   To mayntayne the outlawes stronge,
 He wolde be lorde, and set you at nought,
   In all the north londe.”

 I woll be at Notyngham, sayd the kynge,
   Within this fourtynyght,
 And take I wyll Robyn Hode,
   And so I wyll that knyght.

 Go home, thou proud sheryf,
   And do as I bydde the,[183]
 And ordayne good archeres inowe,
   Of all the wyde countree.

 The sheryf had his leve itake,
   And went hym on his way :
 And Robyn Hode to grene wode [went]
   Upon a certayn day ;

 And Lytell Johan was hole of the arowe,
   That shote was in his kne,
 And dyde hym strayte to Robyn Hode,
   Under the grene wode tre.

 Robyn Hode walked in the foreste,
   Under the leves grene,
 The proude sheryfe of Notyngham,
   Therfore he had grete tene.

[Illustration: _E. Buckman sc._

ROBIN HOOD AND THE LADY.]

[Illustration: _E. Buckman sc._

ROBIN HOOD AND THE LADY]

{59}

 The sheryf there fayled of Robyn Hode,
   He myght not have his pray,
 Then he awayted that gentyll knyght,
   Bothe by nyght and by daye.

 Ever he awayted that gentyll knyght,
   Syr Rychard at the Lee ;
 As he went on haukynge by the ryver syde,
   And let his haukes flee,

 Toke he there this gentyll knyght,
   With men of armes stronge,
 And lad hym home to Notyngham warde,
   Ibonde both fote and honde.[184]

 The sheryf swore a full grete othe,
   By hym that dyed on a tre,
 He had lever than an hondrede pounde,
   That Robyn Hode had he.[185]

 Then the lady, the knyghtes wyfe,
   A fayre lady and fre,
 She set her on a gode palfrày,
   To grene wode anon rode she.

 When she came to the forèst,
   Under the grene wode tre,
 Founde she there Robyn Hode,
   And all his fayre meynè. {60}

 “God the save, good Robyn Hode,[186]
   And all thy company ;
 For our dere ladyes[187] love,
   A bone graunte thou me.

 Let[188] thou never my wedded lorde
   Shamfully slayne to be ;[189]
 He is fast ibounde to Notyngham warde,
   For the love of the.”

 Anone then sayd good Robyn,
   To that lady fre,
 What man hath your lorde itake ?
   The proude shirife, than sayd she.[190]

 [The proude sheryfe hath hym itake]
   Forsoth as I the say ;
 He is not yet thre myles,
   Passed on ‘his’[191] waye.

 Up then sterte good Robyn,
   As a man that had be wode :
 “Buske you, my mery younge men,
   For hym that dyed on a rode ; {61}

 And he that this sorowe forsaketh,
   By hym that dyed on a tre,
 And by him that al thinges maketh,
   No lenger shall dwell with me.”[192]

 Sone there were good bowes ibent,
   Mo than seven score,
 Hedge ne dyche spared they none,
   That was them before.

 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Robyn,
   The knyght wolde I fayn se,
 And yf I may hym take,
   Iquyt than shall he[193] bee.

 And whan they came to Notyngham,
   They walked in the strete,
 And with the proud sheryf, I wys,
   Sone gan they mete.

 Abyde, thou proud sheryf, he sayd,
   Abyde and speake with me,
 Of some tydynges of our kynge,
   I wolde fayne here of the.

 This seven yere, by dere worthy god,
   Ne yede I so fast on fote,
 I make myn avowe to god, thou proud sheryfe,
   ‘It’[194] is not for thy good. {62}

 Robyn bent a good bowe,
   An arrowe he drewe at his wyll,
 He hyt so the proud sheryf,
   Upon the grounde he lay full styll ;

 And or he myght up aryse,
   On his fete to stonde,
 He smote of the sheryves hede,
   With his bryght bronde.

 “Lye thou there, thou proud sheryf,
   Evyll mote thou thryve ;
 There myght no man to the trust,
   The whyles thou were alyve.”

 His men drewe out theyr bryght swerdes,
   That were so sharpe and kene,
 And layde on the sheryves men,
   And dryved them downe bydene.

 Robyn stert to that knyght,
   And cut a two his bonde,[195]
 And toke hym in his hand a bowe,
   And bade hym by hym stonde.

 “Leve thy hors the behynde,
   And lerne for to renne ;
 Thou shalt with me to grene wode,
   Through myre, mosse and fenne ; {63}

 Thou shalt with me to grene wode,
   Without ony leasynge,
 Tyll that I have gete us grace,
   Of Edwarde our comly kynge.”


THE SEVENTH FYTTE

 The kynge came to Notynghame,
   With knyghtes in grete araye,
 For to take that gentyll knyght,
   And Robyn Hood, yf[196] he may.

 He asked men of that countrè,
   After Robyn Hode,
 And after that gentyll knyght,
   That was so bolde and stout.

 Whan they had tolde hym the case,
   Our kynge understonde ther tale,
 And seased in his honde
   The knyghtes londes all,

 All the passe of Lancasshyre,
   He went both ferre and nere,
 Tyll he came to Plomton parke,
   He faylyd many of his dere {64}

 There our kynge was wont to se
   Herdes many one,
 He coud unneth fynde one dere,
   That bare ony good horne.

 The kynge was wonder wroth withall,
   And swore by the trynytè,
 “I wolde I had Robyn Hode,
   With eyen I myght hym se ;

 And he that wolde smyte of the knyghtes hede
   And brynge it to me,
 He shall have the knyghtes londes,
   Syr Rycharde at the Le ;

 I gyve it hym with my chartèr,
   And sele it with my honde,
 To have and holde for ever-more,
   In all mery Englonde.”

 Than bespake a fayre olde knyght,
   That was treue in his fay,
 A, my lege lorde the kynge,
   One worde I shall you say ;

 There is no man in this countrè
   May have the knyghtes londes,
 Whyle Robyn Hode may ryde or gone,
   And here a bowe in his hondes ; {65}

 That he ne shall lese his hede,
   That is the best ball in his hode :
 Give it no man, my lorde the kynge,
   That ye wyll any good.

 Half a yere dwelled our comly kynge,
   In Notyngham, and well more,
 Coude he not here of Robyn Hode,
   In what countre that he were ;

 But alway went good Robyn
   By halke and eke by hyll,
 And alway slewe the kynges dere,
   And welt them at his wyll.

 Than bespake a proude fostere,
   That stode by our kynges kne,
 If ye wyll se good Robyn,
   Ye must do after me ;

 Take fyve of the best knyghtes
   That be in your lede,
 And walke downe by ‘yon’[197] abbay,
   And gete you monkes wede.

 And I wyll be your ledes man,
   And lede you the way,
 And or ye come to Notyngham,
   Myn hede then dare I lay, {66}

 That ye shall mete with good Robyn,
   On lyve yf that he be,
 Or ye come to Notyngham,
   With eyen ye shall hym se.

 Full hastly our kynge was dyght,
   So were his knyghtes fyve,
 Everych of them in monkes wede,
   And hasted them thyder blyth.

 Our kynge was grete above his cole,
   A brode hat on his crowne,
 Ryght as he were abbot-lyke,
   They rode up in-to the towne.

 Styf botes our kynge had on,
   Forsoth as I you say,
 He rode syngynge to grene wode,
   The covent was clothed in graye,

 His male hors, and his grete somèrs,
   Folowed our kynge behynde,
 Tyll they came to grene wode,
   A myle under the lynde,

 There they met with good Robyn,
   Stondynge on the waye,
 And so dyde many a bolde archere,
   For soth as I you say. {67}

 Robyn toke the kynges hors,
   Hastely in that stede,
 And sayd, Syr abbot, by your leve,
   A whyle ye must abyde ;

 We be yemen of this foreste,
   Under the grene wode tre,
 We lyve by our kynges dere,
   Other shyft have not we ;[198]

 And ye have chyrches and rentes both,
   And gold full grete plentè ;
 Gyve us some of your spendynge,
   For saynt Charytè.[199]

 Than bespake our cumly kynge,
   Anone than sayd he,
 I brought no more to grene wode,
   But forty pounde with me ; {68}

 I have layne at Notyngham,
   This fourtynyght with our kynge,
 And spent I have full moche good,
   On many a grete lordynge ;

 And I have but forty pounde,
   No more than have I me,
 But yf I had an hondred pounde,
   I would geve it to the.[200]

 Robyn toke the forty pounde,
   And departed it in two partye,
 Halfendell he gave his mery men,
   And bad them mery to be.

 Full curteysly Robyn gan say,
   Syr, have this for your spendyng,
 We shall mete a nother day.
   Gramercy, than sayd our kynge ;

 But well the greteth Edwarde our kynge,
   And sent to the his seale,
 And byddeth the com to Notyngham,
   Both to mete and mele.

 He toke out the brode tarpe,[201]
   And sone he lete hym se ;
 Robyn coud his courteysy,
   And set hym on his kne : {69}

 “I love no man in all the worlde
   So well as I do my kynge,
 Welcome is my lordes seale ;
   And, monke, for thy tydynge,

 Syr abbot, for thy tydynges,
   To day thou shalt dyne with me,
 For the love of my kynge,
   Under my trystell tre.”

 Forth he lad our comly kynge,
   Full fayre by the honde,
 Many a dere there was slayne,
   And full fast dyghtande.

 Robyn toke a full grete horne,
   And loude he can blowe,
 Seven score of wyght yonge men,
   Came redy on a rowe,

 All they kneeled on theyr kne,
   Full fayre before Robyn.
 The kygne sayd hymselfe untyll,
   And swore by saynt Austyn,

 Here is a wonder semely syght,
   Me thynketh, by goddes pyne ;
 His men are more at his byddynge,
   Then my men be at myn. {70}

 Full hastly was theyr dyner idyght,
   And therto gan they gone,
 They served our kynge with al theyr myght,
   Both Robyn and Lytell Johan.

 Anone before our kynge was set
   The fatte venyson,
 The good whyte brede, the good red wyne,
   And therto the fyne ale browne.[202]

 Make good chere, sayd Robyn,
   Abbot, for charytè ;
 And for this ylke tydynge,
   Blyssed mote thou be.

 Now shalte thou se what lyfe we lede,
   Or thou hens wende,
 Than thou may enfourme our kynge,
   Whan ye togyder lende.

 Up they sterte all in hast,
   Theyr bowes were smartly bent,
 Our kynge was never so sore agast,
   He wende to have be shente.

 Two yerdes there were up set,
   There to gan they gange ;
 By fifty pase, our kynge sayd,
   The merkes were to longe. {71}

 On every syde a rose garlonde,
   They shot under the lyne.
 Who so fayleth of the rose garlonde, sayd Robyn,
   His takyll he shall tyne,

 And yelde it to his mayster,
   Be it never so fyne,
 For no man wyll I spare,
   So drynke I ale or wyne.

 And bere a buffet on his hede
   I wys[203] ryght all bare.
 And all that fell in Robyns lote,
   He smote them wonder sare.

 Twyse Robyn shot aboute,
   And ever he cleved the wande,
 And so dyde good Gylberte,
   With the whyte[204] hand.

 Lytell Johan and good Scathelocke,
   For nothyng wolde they spare,
 When they fayled of the garlonde,
   Robyn smote them full sare.

 At the last shot that Robyn shot,
   For all his frendes fare,
 Yet he fayled of the garlonde,
   Thre fyngers and mare. {72}

 Than bespake good Gylberte,
   And thus he gan say :
 Mayster, he sayd, your takyll is lost,
   Stand forth and take your pay.

 If it be so, sayd Robyn,
   That may no better be ;
 Syr abbot, I delyver the myn arowe,
   I pray the, syr, serve thou me.

 It falleth not for myn order, sayd our kynge,
   Robyn, by thy leve,
 For to smyte no good yemàn,
   For doute I sholde hym greve.

 Smyte on boldely, sayd Robyn,
   I give the large leve.
 Anone our kynge, with that worde,
   He folde up his sleve,

 And sych a buffet he gave Robyn,
   To grounde he yede full nere.
 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Robyn,
   Thou arte a stalworthe frere ;

 There is pith in thyn arme, sayd Robyn,
   I trowe thou canst well shote.
 Thus our kynge and Robyn Hode
   Togeder than they met. {73}

 Robyn behelde our comly kynge
   Wystly in the face,
 So dyde syr Richarde at the Le,
   And kneled downe in that place ;

 And so dyde all the wylde outlawes,
   Whan they se them knele.
 “My lorde the kynge of Englonde,
   Now I knowe you well.”

 Mercy, then Robyn sayd to our kynge,
   Under your trystyll tre,
 Of thy goodnesse and thy grace,
   For my men and me !

 Yes, for god, sayd Robyn,
   And also god me save ;
 I aske mercy, my lorde the kynge,
   And for my men I crave.

 Yes, for god, than sayd our kynge,
   Thy peticion I graunt the,
 With that thou leve the grene wode,
   And all thy company :

 And come home, syr, to my courte,
   And there dwell with me.[205]
 I make myn avowe to god, sayd Robyn,
   And ryght so shall it be ; {74}

 I wyll come to your courte,
   Your servyse for to se,
 And brynge with me of my men
   Seven score and thre.

 But me lyke well your servyse,
   I come agayne full soone,
 And shote at the donne dere,
   As I am wonte to done.


THE EIGHTH FYTTE.

 Haste thou ony grene cloth, sayd our kynge,
   That thou wylte sell nowe to me ?
 Ye, for god, sayd Robyn,
   Thyrty yerdes and thre.

 Robyn, sayd our kynge,
   Now pray I the,
 To sell me some of that cloth,
   To me and my meynè.

 Yes, for god,[206] then sayd Robyn,
   Or elles I were a fole ;
 Another day ye wyll me clothe,
   I trowe, ayenst the Yole. {75}

 The kynge kest of his cote then,
   A grene garment he dyde on,
 And every knyght had so, I wys,
   They clothed them full soone.[207]

 Whan they were clothed in Lyncolne grene,
   They kest away theyr graye.
 Now we shall to Notyngham,
   All thus our kynge gan say.

 Theyr bowes bente and forth they went,
   Shotynge all in-fere,
 Towarde the towne of Notyngham,
   Outlawes as they were.

 Our kynge and Robyn rode togyder,
   For soth as I you say,
 And they shote plucke-buffet,
   As they went by the way ;

 And many a buffet our kynge wan
   Of Robyn Hode that day ;
 And nothynge spared good Robyn
   Our kynge in his pay.

 So god me helpe, sayd our kynge,
   Thy game is nought to lere,
 I sholde not get a shote of the,
   Though I shote all this yere. {76}

 All the people of Notyngham
   They stode and behelde,
 They sawe nothynge but mantels of grene
   That covered all the felde ;

 Than every man to other gan say,
   I drede our kynge be slone ;
 Come Robyn Hode to the towne, I wys,
   On lyve he leveth not one.[208]

 Full hastly they began to fle,
   Both yemen and knaves,
 And olde wyves that myght evyll goo,
   They hypped on theyr staves.

 The kynge loughe[209] full fast,
   And commanded theym agayne ;
 When they se our comly kynge,
   I wys they were full fayne.

 They ete and dranke, and made them glad,
   And sange with notes hye.
 Than bespake our comly kynge
   To syr Rycharde at the Lee :

 He gave hym there his londe agayne,
   A good man he bad hym be.
 Robyn thanked our comly kynge,
   And set hym on his kne. {77}

 Had Robyn dwelled in the kynges courte
   But twelve monethes and thre,
 That he had spent an hondred pounde,
   And all his mennes fe.

 In every place where Robyn came,
   Ever more he layde downe,
 Both for knyghtes and for squyres,
   To gete hym grete renowne.

 By than the yere was all agone,
   He had no man but twayne,
 Lytell Johan and good Scathelocke,
   Wyth hym all for to gone.

 Robyn sawe yonge men shote,
   Full fayre[210] upon a day,
 Alas ! than sayd good Robyn,
   My welthe is went away.

 Somtyme I was an archere good,
   A styffe and eke a stronge,
 I was commytted[211] the best archere,
   That was in mery Englonde.

 Alas ! then sayd good Robyn,
   Alas and well a woo !
 Yf I dwele lenger with the kynge,
   Sorowe wyll me sloo. {78}

 Forth than went Robyn Hode,
   Tyll he came to our kynge :
 “My lorde the kynge of Englonde,
   Graunte me myn askynge.

 I made a chapell in Bernysdale,
   That semely is to se,
 It is of Mary Magdalene,
   And thereto wolde I be ;

 I myght never in this seven nyght,
   No tyme to slepe ne wynke,
 Nother all these seven dayes,
   Nother ete ne drynke.

 Me longeth sore to Bernysdale,
   I may not be therfro,
 Barefote and wolwarde I have hyght
   Thyder for to go.”

 Yf it be so, than sayd our kynge,
   It may no better be ;
 Seven nyght I gyve the leve,
   No lengre, to dwell fro me.

 Gramercy, lorde, then sayd Robyn,
   And set hym on his kne ;
 He toke his leve full courteysly,
   To grene wode then went he. {79}

 Whan he came to grene wode,
   In a mery mornynge,
 There he herde the notes small
   Of byrdes mery syngynge.

 It is ferre gone, sayd Robyn,
   That I was last here,
 Me lyste a lytell for to shote
   At the donne dere.

 Robyn slewe a full grete harte,
   His horne than gan he blow,
 That all the outlawes of that forèst,
   That horne coud they knowe,

 And gadred them togyder,
   In a lytell throwe,
 Seven score of wight yonge men,
   Came redy on a rowe ;

 And fayre dyde of theyr hodes,
   And set them on theyr kne :
 Welcome, they sayd, our maystèr,
   Under this grene wode tre.

 Robyn dwelled in grene wode,
   Twenty yere and two,
 For all drede of Edwarde our kynge
   Agayne wolde he not goo. {80}

 Yet he was begyled, I wys,
   Through a wycked womàn,
 The pryoresse of Kyrkesly,
   That nye was of his kynne,

 For the love of a knyght,
   Syr Roger of Donkestèr,[212]
 That was her owne speciall,
   Full evyll mote they ‘fare.’[213]

 They toke togyder theyr counsell
   Robyn Hode for to sle,
 And how they myght best do that dede,
   His banis for to be.

 Than bespake good Robyn,
   In place where as he stode,
 To morow I muste to Kyrkesley,
   Craftely to be leten blode.

 Sir Roger of Donkestere,
   By the pryoresse he lay,
 And there they betrayed good Robyn Hode
   Through theyr false playe.

 Cryst have mercy on his soule,
   That dyed on the rode !
 For he was a good outlawe,
   And dyde pore men moch god.

{81}

[Illustration]


II.

ROBYN HODE [AND THE POTTER].

This curious, and hitherto unpublished, and even unheard of, old
piece is given from a manuscript among Bishop More’s collections,
in the public library of the University of Cambridge (Ee. 4. 35).
The writing, which is evidently that of a vulgar and illiterate
person, appears to be of the age of Henry the Seventh, that is,
about the year 1500; but the composition (which he has irremediably
corrupted) is probably of an earlier period, and much older, no
doubt, than “The Play of Robyn Hode,” which seems allusive to the
same story. At the end of the original is “Expleycyt Robyn Hode.”
{82}

 In schomer, when the leves spryng,
   The bloschems on every bowe,
 So merey doyt the berdys syng,
   Yn wodys merey now.

 Herkens, god yemen,
   Comley, cortessey, and god,
 On of the best that yever bar bou,
   Hes name was Roben Hode.

 Roben Hood was the yemans name,
   That was boyt corteys and fre ;
 For the loffe of owr ladey,
   All wemen werschep ‘he.’[214]

 Bot as the god yeman stod on a day,
   Among hes mery manèy,
 He was war of a prowd potter,
   Cam dryfyng owyr the ‘ley.’[215]

 Yonder comet a prod potter, seyde[216] Roben,
   That long hayt hantyd this wey,
 He was never so corteys a man
   On peney of pawage to pay. {83}

 Y met hem bot at Wentbreg, seyde[217] Lytyll John,
   And therfor yeffell mot he the,
 Seche thre strokes he me gafe,
   Yet they cleffe by my seydys.

 Y ley forty shillings, seyde Lytyll John,
   To pay het thes same day,
 Ther ys nat a man among hus[218] all
   A wed schall make hem ley.[219]

 Her ys forty shillings, seyde Robèn,
   Mor, and thow dar say,
 That y schall make that prowde pottèr,
   A wed to me schall he ley.

 Ther thes money they leyde,
   They toke het a yeman to kepe ;
 Roben befor the potter he breyde,
   ‘And up to hem can lepe.’[220]

 Handys apon hes horse he leyde,
   And bad ‘hem’[221] stonde foll stell.
 The potter schorteley to hem seyde,
   Felow, what ys they well ?

 All thes thre yer, and mor, potter, he seyde,
   Thow hast hantyd thes wey,
 Yet wer tow never so cortys a man
   One peney of pauage to pay. {84}

 What ys they name, seyde the potter,
   For pauage thow aske of me ?
 “Roben Hod ys mey name,
   A wed schall thow leffe me.”

 Wed well y non leffe, seyde the potter,
   Nor pavag well y non pay ;
 Awey they honde fro mey horse,
   Y well the tene eyls, be mey fay.

 The potter to hes cart he went,
   He was not to seke,
 A god to-hande staffe therowt he hent,
   Befor Roben he ‘lepe.’[222]

 Roben howt with a swerd bent,
   A bokeler on hes honde [therto] ;
 The potter to Roben he went,
   And seyde, Felow, let mey horse go.

 Togeder then went thes two yemen,
   Het was a god seyt to se ;
 Therof low Robyn hes men,
   Ther they stod onder a tre.

 Leytell John to hes felowhes[223] seyde,
   Yend potter welle steffeley stonde.
 The potter, with a caward stroke,
   Smot the bokeler owt of hes honde ; {85}

 And[224] ar Roben meyt get hen agen,
   Hes bokeler at hes fette,
 The potter yn the neke hem toke,
   To the gronde sone he yede.

 That saw Roben hes men,
   As thay stode ender a bow ;
 Let us helpe owr master, seyed Lytell John,
   Yonder potter els well[225] hem sclo.

 These yemen went[226] with a breyde,
   To ‘ther’[227] master they cam.
 Leytell John to hes master seyde,
   Ho haet the wager won ?

 Schall y haff yowr forty shillings, seyde Lytel[228] John,
   Or ye, master, schall haffe myne ?
 Yeff they wer a hundred, seyde Robèn,
   Y feythe, they ben all theyne.

 Het ys fol leytell cortesey, seyde the potter,
   As y haffe harde weyse men saye,
 Yeff a por yeman com drywyng ower the wey,
   To let hem of hes gorney.

 Be mey trowet, thow seys soyt, seyde Roben,
   Thow seys god yemenrey ;[229]
 And thow dreyffe forthe yevery day,
   Thow schalt never be let for me. {86}

 Y well prey the, god potter,
   A felischepe well thow haffe ?
 Geffe me they clothyng, and thow schalt hafe myne ;
   Y well go to Notynggam.

 Y grant[230] therto, seyde the potter,
   Thow schalt feynde me a felow gode ;
 Bot thow can sell mey pottes well,
   Com ayen as thow yode.[231]

 Nay, be mey trowt, seyde Roben,
   And then y bescro mey hede,
 Yeffe y bryng eney pottes ayen,
   And eney weyffe well hem chepe.

 Than spake Leytell John,
   And all hes felowhes heynd,
 Master, be well war of the screffe of Notynggam,
   For he ys leytell howr frende.

 Thorow the helpe of howr ladey,
   Felowhes, let me alone ;
 Heyt war howte, seyde Roben,
   To Notynggam well y gon.

 Robyn went to Notynggam,
   Thes pottes for to sell ;
 The potter abode with Robens men,
   Ther he fered not eylle.[232] {87}

 Tho Roben droffe on hes wey,
   So merey ower the londe.
 Heres mor and affter ys to saye,
   The best ys beheynde.


[THE SECOND FIT.]

 When Roben cam to Notynggam,
   The soyt yef y scholde saye,
 He set op hes horse anon,
   And gaffe hem hotys and haye.

 Yn the medys of the towne,
   Ther he schowed hes war,
 Pottys ! pottys ! he gan crey foll sone,
   Haffe hansell for the mar.

 Foll effen agenest the screffeys gate,
   Schowed he hes chaffar ;
 Weyffes and wedowes abowt hem drow,
   And chepyd fast of hes war.

 Yet, Pottys, gret chepe ! creyed Robyn,
   Y loffe yeffell thes to stonde.
 And all that saw[233] hem sell,
   Seyde he had be no potter long. {88}

 The pottys that wer werthe pens feyfte,
   He solde tham for pens thre :
 Preveley seyde man and weyffe,
   Ywnder potter schall never the.

 Thos Roben solde foll fast,
   Tell he had pottys bot feyffe ;
 Op he hem toke of his car,
   And sende hem to the screffeys weyffe.

 Therof sche was foll fayne,
   Gereamarsey, sir, than seyde sche,[234]
 When ye com to thes contre ayen,
   Y schall bey of ‘they’[235] pottys, so mot y the.

 Ye schall haffe of the best, seyde Roben,
   And swar be the treneytè.
 Foll corteysley ‘she’[236] gan hem call,
   Come deyne with the screfe and me.

 Godamarsey, seyde Roben,
   Yowr bedyng schall be doyn.
 A mayden yn the pottys gan ber,
   Roben and the screffe weyffe folowed anon.

 Whan Roben ynto the hall cam,
   The screffe sone he met,
 The potter cowed of corteysey,
   And sone the screffe he gret.

[Illustration: THE BANQUET.]

[Illustration: THE BANQUET.]

{89}

 “Loketh[237] what thes potter hayt geffe yow and me !
   Feyffe pottys smalle and grete !”
 He ys fol welcom, seyd the screffe,
   Let os was, and ‘go’[238] to mete.

 As they sat at her methe,
   With a nobell cher,
 Two of the screffes men gan speke
   Off a gret wagèr,

 Was made the thother daye,
   Off a schotyng was god and feyne,[239]
 Off forty shillings, the soyt to saye,
   Who scholde thes wager wen.

 Styll than sat thes prowde potter,
   Thos than thowt he,
 As y am a trow Cerstyn man,
   Thes schotyng well y se.

 When they had fared of the best,
   With bred and ale and weyne,
 To the ‘bottys they’[240] made them prest,
   With bowes and boltys[241] foll feyne.

 The screffes men schot foll fast,
   As archares that weren godde,
 Ther cam non ner ney the marke
   Bey halfe a god archares bowe. {90}

 Stell then stod the prowde potter,
   Thos than seyde he,
 And y had a bow, be the rode,
   On schot scholde yow se.

 Thow schall haffe a bow, seyde the screffe,
   The best that thow well cheys of thre :
 Thow semyst[242] a stalward and a stronge,
   Asay schall thow be.

 The screffe comandyd a yeman that stod hem bey
   Affter bowhes to wende ;
 The best bow that the yeman browthe
   Roben set on a stryng.

 “Now schall y wet and thow be god,
   And polle het op to they ner.”
 So god me helpe, seyde the prowde pottèr,
   Thys ys bot rygzt weke ger.

 To a quequer Roben went,
   A god bolt owthe he toke,
 So ney on to the marke he went,
   He fayled not a fothe.

 All they schot abowthe agen,
   The screffes men and he,
 Off the marke he welde not fayle,
   He cleffed the preke on thre. {91}

 The screffes men thowt gret schame,
   The potter the mastry wan ;
 The screffe lowe and made god game,
   And seyde, Potter, thow art a man ;
 Thow art worthey to ber a bowe,
   Yn what plas that thow ‘gang.’[243]

 Yn mey cart y haffe a bowe,
   Forsoyt, he seyde, and that a godde ;
 Yn mey cart ys the bow
   That ‘I had of Robyn Hode.’[244]

 Knowest thow Robyn Hode ? seyde the screffe,
   Potter, y prey the tell thou me.
 “A hundred torne y haffe schot with hem,
   Under hes tortyll tre.”

 Y had lever nar a hundred ponde, seyde the screffe,
   And swar be the trenitè,
 [Y had lever nar a hundred ponde, he seyde,]
   That the fals owtelawe stod be me.

 And ye well do afftyr mey red, seyde the potter,
   And boldeley go with me,
 And to morow, or we het bred,
   Roben Hode wel we se. {92}

 Y well queyt the, kod the screffe,
   And swere be god of meythe.[245]
 Schetyng thay left, and hom they went,
   Her scoper was redey deythe.

 Upon the morow, when het was day,
   He boskyd hem forthe to reyde ;
 The potter hes carte forthe gan ray,
   And wolde not [be] leffe beheynde.

 He toke leffe of the screffys wyffe,
   And thankyd her of all thyng :
 “Dam, for mey loffe, and ye well thys wer,
   Y geffe yow her a golde ryng.”

 Gramarsey, seyde the weyffe,
   Sir, god eylde het the.
 The screffes hart was never so leythe,
   The feyr forest to se.

 And when he cam ynto the foreyst,
   Yonder the leffes grene,
 Berdys ther sange on bowhes prest,
   Het was gret goy to sene.

 Her het ys merey to be,[246] seyde Roben,
   For a man that had hawt to spende :
 Be mey horne ‘we’[247] schal awet
   Yeff Roben Hode be ‘ner hande.’ {93}

 Roben set hes horne to hes[248] mowthe,
   And blow a blast that was foll god,
 That herde hes men that ther stode,
   Fer[249] downe yn the wodde.
 I her mey master, seyde Leytyll John :
   They ran as thay wer wode.

 Whan thay to thar master cam,
   Leytell John wold not spar :
 “Master, how haffe yow far yn Notynggam ?
   Haffe[250] yow solde yowr war ?”

 “Ye, be mey trowthe, Leytyll[251] John,
   Loke thow take no car ;
 Y haffe browt the screffe of Notynggam,
   For all howr chaffar.”

 He ys foll wellcom, seyde Lytyll John,
   Thes tydyng ys foll godde.
 The screffe had lever nar a hundred ponde
   [He had never sene Roben Hode].

 “Had I west[252] that beforen,
   At Notynggam when we wer,
 Thow scholde not com yn feyr forest
   Of all thes thowsande eyr.” {94}

 That wot y well, seyde Roben,
   Y thanke god that y be[253] her ;
 Therfor schall ye leffe yowr horse with hos,
   And all your hother ger.

 That fend I godys forbode, kod the screffe,
   So to lese mey godde.
 “Hether ye[254] cam on horse foll hey,
   And hom schall ye go on fote ;
 And gret well they weyffe at home,
   The woman ys foll godde.

 Y schall her sende a wheyt palffrey,[255]
   Het hambellet as the weynde ;
 Ner for the loffe of yowr weyffe,
   Off mor sorow scholde yow seyng.”

 Thes parted Robyn Hode and the screffe,
   To Notynggam he toke the waye ;
 Hes weyffe feyr welcomed hem hom,
   And to hem gan sche saye :

 Seyr, how haffe yow fared yn grene foreyst ?
   Haffe ye browt Roben hom ?
 “Dam, the deyell spede hem, bothe bodey and bon,
   Y haffe hade a foll grete skorne. {95}

 Of all the god that y haffe lade to grene wod,
   He hayt take het fro me,
 All bot this feyr palffrey,
   That he hayt sende to the.”

 With that sche toke op a lowde lawhyng,
   And swhar be hem that deyed on tre :
 “Now haffe you payed for all the pottys
   That Roben gaffe to me.

 Now ye be com hom to Notynggam,
   Ye schall haffe god ynowe.”
 Now speke we of Roben Hode,
   And of the pottyr onder the grene bowhe.[256]

 “Potter, what was they pottys worthe
   To Notynggam that y ledde with me ?”
 They wer worth two nobellys, seyd he,
   So mot y treyffe or the ;
 So cowde y had for tham,
   And y had ther be.[257]

 Thow schalt hafe ten ponde, seyde Roben,
   Of money feyr and fre :
 And yever whan thow comest to grene wod,
   Wellcom, potter, to me. {96}

 Thes partyd Robyn, the screffe, and the potter,
   Ondernethe the grene wod tre.
 God haffe mersey on Roben Hodys solle,
   And saffe all god yemanrey ! {97}

[Illustration]

[Illustration]


III.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR.

This poem, a North-country (or perhaps Scotish) composition of
some antiquity, is given from a modern copy printed at Newcastle,
where it was accidentally picked up: no other edition having
been ever seen or heard of. The corruptions of the press being
equally numerous and minute, some of the most trifling have been
corrected without notice. But it may be proper to mention that each
line of the printed copy is here thrown into two: a step which,
though absolutely necessary from the narrowness of the page, is
sufficiently justified by the frequent recurrence of the double
rime. The division of stanzas was conceived to be a still further
improvement.—The original title is, “A Pretty Dialogue betwixt
Robin Hood and a Beggar.”

A similar story (“Comment un moine se débarasse des voleurs”) may
be found in “Le Moyen de Parvenir,” i. 304 (edit. 1739). {98}

 Lyth and listen, gentlemen,
   That be of high born blood,
 I’ll tell you of a brave bootìng
   That befell Robin Hood.

 Robin Hood upon a day,
   He went forth him alone,
 And as he came from Barnsdale
   Into fair evenìng,

 He met a beggar on the way,
   Who sturdily could gang ;
 He had a pike-staff in his hand
   That was both stark and strang ;

 A clouted clock about him was,
   That held him frae the cold,
 The thinnest bit of it, I guess,
   Was more than twenty fold.

 His meal-poke hang about his neck,
   Into a leathern whang,
 Well fasten’d to a broad bucle,
   That was both stark and ‘strang.’

 He had three hats upon his head,
   Together sticked fast,
 He car’d neither for wind nor wet,
   In lands where’er[258] he past. {99}

 Good Robin cast him in the way,
   To see what he might be,
 If any beggar had monèy,
   He thought some part had he.

 Tarry, tarry, good Robin says,
   Tarry, and speak with me.
 He heard him as he heard him not,
   And fast on his way can hy.

 ’Tis be not so, says [good] Robìn,
   Nay, thou must tarry still.
 By my troth, said the bold beggàr,
   Of that I have no will.

 It is far to my lodging house,
   And it is growing late,
 If they have supt e’er I come in
   I will look wondrous blate.

 Now, by my truth, says good Robìn,
   I see well by thy fare,
 If thou shares well to thy suppèr,
   Of mine thou dost not care,

 Who wants my dinner all this day
   And wots not where to ly,
 And would I to the tavern go,
   I want money to buy. {100}

 Sir, you must lend me some monèy
   Till we meet again.
 The beggar answer’d cankardly,
   I have no money to lend :

 Thou art a young man as I,
   And seems to be as sweer ;
 If thou fast till thou get from me,
   Thou shalt eat none this year.

 Now, by my truth, says [good] Robìn,
   Since we are assembled so,
 If thou hast but a small farthìng,
   I’ll have it e’er thou go.

 Come, lay down thy clouted cloak,
   And do no longer stand,
 And loose the strings of all thy pokes,
   I’ll ripe them with my hand.

 And now to thee I make a vow,
   If ‘thou’ make any din,
 I shall see a broad arròw,
   Can pierce a beggar’s skin.

 The beggar smil’d, and answer made,
   Far better let me be ;
 Think not that I will be afraid,
   For thy nip crooked tree ; {101}

 Or that I fear thee any whit,
   For thy curn nips of sticks,
 I know no use for them so meet
   As to be puding-pricks.

 Here I defy thee to do me ill,
   For all thy boisterous fair,
 Thou’s get nothing from me but ill,
   Would’st thou seek evermair.

 Good Robin bent his noble bow,
   He was an angery man,
 And in it set a broad arròw ;
   Lo ! e’er ’twas drawn a span,

 The beggar, with his noble tree,
   Reach’d him so round a rout,
 That his bow and his broad arròw
   In flinders flew about.

 Good Robin bound him to his brand,
   But that prov’d likewise vain,
 The beggar lighted on his hand
   With his pike-staff again :

 [I] wot he might not draw a sword
   For forty days and mair.
 Good Robin could not speak a word,
   His heart was ne’er so sair. {102}

 He could not fight, he could not flee,
   He wist not what to do ;
 The beggar with his noble tree
   Laid lusty slaps him to.

 He paid good Robin back and side,
   And baist him up and down,
 And with his pyke-staff laid on loud,
   Till he fell in a swoon.

 Stand up, man, the beggar said,
   ’Tis shame to go to rest ;
 Stay till thou get thy money told,
   I think it were the best :

 And syne go to the tavern house,
   And buy both wine and ale ;
 Hereat thy friends will crack full crouse,
   Thou hast been at the dale.

 Good Robin answer’d ne’er a word,
   But lay still as a stane ;
 His cheeks were pale as any clay,
   And closed[259] were his een.

 The beggar thought him dead but fail,
   And boldly bound his way.—
 I would ye had been at the dale,
   And gotten part of the play. {103}


THE SECOND PART.

 Now three of Robin’s men, by chance,
   Came walking by the way,
 And found their master in a trance,
   On ground where that he lay.

 Up have they taken good Robìn,
   Making a piteous bear,
 Yet saw they no man there at whom
   They might the matter spear.

 They looked him all round about,
   But wound on him saw ‘nane,’
 Yet at his mouth came bocking out
   The blood of a good vain.

 Cold water they have gotten syne,
   And cast unto his face ;
 Then he began to hitch his ear,
   And speak within short space.

 Tell us, dear master, said his men,
   How with you stands the case.
 Good Robin sigh’d e’er he began
   To tell of his disgrace. {104}

 “I have been watchman in this wood
   Near hand this twenty year,
 Yet I was never so hard bestead
   As ye have found me here ;

 A beggar with a clouted clock,
   Of whom I fear’d no ill
 Hath with his pyke-staff cla’d my back,
   I fear ’twill never be well.

 See, where he goes o’er yon hill,
   With hat upon his head ;
 If e’er ye lov’d your master well,
   Go now revenge this deed ;

 And bring him back again to me,
   If it lie in your might,
 That I may see, before I die,
   Him punish’d in my sight :

 And if you may not bring him back,
   Let him not go loose on ;
 For to us all it were great shame
   If he escape again.”

 “One of us shall with you remain,
   Because you’re ill at ease,
 The other two shall bring him back,
   To use him as you please.” {105}

 Now, by my truth, says good Robìn,
   I true there’s enough said ;
 And he get scouth to wield his tree,
   I fear you’ll both be paid.

 “Be not fear’d, our mastèr,
   That we two can be dung
 With any bluter base beggàr,
   That has nought but a rung.

 His staff shall stand him in no stead,
   That you shall shortly see,
 But back again he shall be led,
   And fast bound shall he be,
 To see if ye will have him slain,
   Or hanged on a tree.”

 “But cast you sliely in his way,
   Before he be aware,
 And on his pyke-staff first hands lay,
   Ye’ll speed the better far.”

 Now leave we Robin with this man,
   Again to play the child,
 And learn himself to stand and gang
   By halds, for all his eild.

 Now pass we to the bold beggàr,
   That raked o’er the hill,
 Who never mended his pace more,
   Then he had done no ill. {106}

 . . . . . . . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . .
 And they have taken another way,[260]
   Was nearer by miles three.

 They stoutly ran with all their might,
   Spared neither dub ‘nor’ mire,
 They started at neither how nor height,
   No travel made them tire,

 Till they before the beggar wan,
   And cast them in his way ;
 A little wood lay in a glen,
   And there they both did stay ;

 They stood up closely by a tree,
   In each side of the gate,
 Untill the beggar came them nigh,
   That thought of no such late :

 And as he was betwixt them past,
   They leapt upon him baith ;
 The one his pyke-staff gripped fast,
   They feared for its skaith.

 The other he held in his sight
   A drawen durk to his breast,
 And said, False ‘carel,’ quit thy staff,
   Or I shall be thy priest. {107}

 His pyke-staff they have taken him frae,
   And stuck it in the green,
 He was full loath to let it gae,
   An better might it been.

 The beggar was the feardest man
   Of any that e’er might be,
 To win away no way he can,
   Nor help him with his tree.

 Nor wist he wherefore he was ta’en,
   Nor how many was there ;
 He thought his life days had been gane,
   He grew into dispair.

 Grant me my life, the beggar said,
   For him that dy’d on the tree,
 And hold away that ugly knife,
   Or else for fear I’ll die.

 I griev’d you never in all my life,
   Neither by late or air,
 You have great sin if you would slay
   A silly poor beggàr.

 Thou lies, false lown, they said again,
   For all that may be sworn ;
 Thou hast ‘near’ slain the gentlest man
   Of one that e’er was born ; {108}

 And back again thou shall be led,
   And fast bound shalt thou be,
 To see if he will have thee slain,
   Or hanged on a tree.

 The beggar then thought all was wrong,
   They were set for his wrack,
 He saw nothing appearing then
   But ill upon warse back.

 Were he out of their hands, he thought,
   And had again his tree,
 He should not be led back for nought,
   With such as he did see.

 Then he bethought him on a wile,
   If it could take effect,
 How he might the young men beguile,
   And give them a begeck.[261]

 Thus to do them shame for ill
   His beastly breast was bent,
 He found the wind blew something shrill,
   To further his intent.

 He said, Brave gentlemen, be good,
   And let a poor man be :
 When ye have taken a beggar’s blood,
   It helps you not a flee. {109}

 It was but in my own defence,
   If he has gotten skaith ;
 But I will make a recompence
   Is better for you baith.

 If ye will set me fair and free,
   And do me no more dear,
 An hundred pounds I will you give,
   And much more odd silvèr,

 That I have gather’d this many years,
   Under this clouted cloak,
 And hid up wonder privately,
   In bottom of my poke.

 The young men to the council yeed,[262]
   And let the beggar gae ;
 They wist full well he had no speed
   From them to run away.

 They thought they would the money take,
   Come after what so may ;
 And yet they would not take him back,
   But in that place him slay.

 By that good Robin would not know
   That they had gotten coin,
 It would content him [well] to show
   That there they had him slain, {110}

 They said, False carel, soon have done,
   And tell forth thy monèy,
 For the ill turn that thou hast done
   It’s but a simple plee.

 And yet we will not have thee back,
   Come after what so may,
 If thou will do that which thou spak,[263]
   And make us present pay.

 O then he loosed his clouted clock,
   And spread it on the ground,
 And thereon lay he many a poke,
   Betwixt them and the wind.

 He took a great bag from his hals,[264]
   It was near full of meal,
 Two pecks in it at least there was,
   And more, I wot full well.

 Upon this cloak he set it down,
   The mouth he opened wide,
 To turn the same he made him bown,[265]
   The young men ready spy’d ;

 In every hand he took a nook
   Of that great leathren ‘mail,’[266]
 And with a fling the meal he shook
   Into their face all hail : {111}

 Wherewith he blinded them so close,
   A stime they could not see ;
 And then in heart he did rejoice,
   And clap’d his lusty tree.

 He thought if he had done them wrong,
   In mealing of their cloaths,[267]
 For to strike off the meal again
   With his pyke-staff he goes.

 E’er any of them could red their een,
   Or a glimmring might see,
 Ilke one of them a dozen had,
   Well laid on with his tree.

 The young men were right swift of foot,
   And boldly bound away,
 The beggar could them no more hit,
   For all the haste he may.

 What’s all this haste ? the beggar said,
   May not you[268] tarry still,
 Untill your money be received ?
   I’ll pay you with good will.

 The shaking of my pokes, I fear,
   Hath blown into your een ;
 But I have a good pyke-staff here
   Can ripe them out full clean. {112}

 The young men answered never a word,
   They were dum as a stane ;
 In the thick wood the beggar fled,
   E’er they riped their een :

 And syne the night became so late,
   To seek him was in vain :
 But judge ye if they looked blate
   When they cam home again.

 Good Robin speer’d how they had sped.[269]
   They answered him, Full ill.
 That can not be, good Robin says,
   Ye have been at the mill.

 The mill it is a meat-rife part,
   They may lick what they please,
 Most like ye have been at the art,
   Who would look at your ‘claiths.’[270]

 They hang’d their heads, they drooped down,
   A word they could not speak.
 Robin said, Because I fell a-sound,
   I think ye’ll do the like.

 Tell on the matter, less or more,
   And tell me what and how
 Ye have done with the bold beggàr
   I sent you for right now. {113}

 And when they told him to an end,
   As i have said before,
 How that the beggar did them blind,
   What ‘mister’ presses more ?

 . . . . . . . . . . .
 . . . . . . . . . . .
 And how in the thick woods he fled,
   E’er they a stime could see ;

 And how they scarcely could win home,
   Their bones were baste so sore ;
 Good Robin cry’d, Fy ! out ! for shame !
   We’re sham’d for evermore.

 Altho good Robin would full fain
   Of his wrath revenged be,
 He smil’d to see his merry young men
   Had gotten a taste of the tree.

[Illustration]

{114}

[Illustration]


IV.

ROBIN HOOD AND GUY OF GISBORNE,

is reprinted from the “Reliques of Ancient English Poetry,”
published by Dr. Percy (vol. i. p. 81), who there gives it from
his “folio MS.” as “never before printed, and ‘carrying’ marks of
much greater antiquity than any of the common popular songs on this
subject.”

As for Guy of Gisborne, the only further memorial which has
occurred concerning him is in an old satirical piece by William
Dunbar, a celebrated Scotish poet of the 15th century, on one
“Schir Thomas Nory” (MS. Maitland, p. 3; MSS. More, Ll. 5, 10),
where he is named along with our hero, Adam Bell, and other
worthies, it is conjectured, of a similar stamp, but whose merits
have not, less fortunately, come to the knowledge of posterity.
{115}

 “Was nevir WEILD ROBEINE under bewch,
 Nor yitt Roger of Clekkinslewch,
   So bauld a bairne as he ;
 GY OF GYSBURNE, na Allane Bell,
 Na Simones sones of Quhynsell,
   Off thocht war nevir so slie.”

Gisborne is a market-town in the West Riding of the county of York,
on the borders of Lancashire.

In the fourth edition of the publication above referred to, which
appeared in July 1795, it is acknowleged that “some liberties
were, by the editor, taken with this ballad, which in this edition
hath been brought nearer to the folio MS.” The new readings have
therefore been introduced into the present text.

 Whan shaws beene sheene, and shraddes[271] full fayre,
   And leaves both large and longe,
 Itt’s merrye walkyng in the fayre forrèst
   To heare the small birdes songe.

 The woodweele sang, and wold not cease,
   Sitting upon the spraye,
 Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood,
   In the greenwood where he lay.

 Now, by my faye, sayd jollye Robìn,
   A sweaven I had this night ;
 I dreamt me of tow wighty yemèn,
   That fast with me can fight. {116}

 Methought they did me beate and binde,
   And tooke my bowe me froe ;
 Iff I be Robin alive in this lande,
   Ile be wroken on them towe.

 Sweavens are swift, master, quoth John,
   As the wind that blowes ore a hill ;
 For iff itt be never so loude this night,
   To-morrow it may be still.

 “Buske yee, bowne yee, my merry men all,
   And John shall goe with mee,
 For Ile goe seeke yond wighty yeomèn,
   In greenwood where they bee.”

 Then they cast on theyr gownes of grene,
   And tooke theyr bowes each one ;
 And they away to the greene forrèst
   A shooting forth are gone ;

 Untill they came to the merry greenwood,
   Where they had gladdest to bee,
 There they were ware of a wight yeomàn,
   His body leaned to a tree.

 A sword and a dagger he wore by his side,
   Of manye a man the bane ;
 And he was clad in his capull hyde,
   Topp and tayll and mayne. {117}

 Stand you still, master, quoth Little John,
   Under this tree so grene,
 And I will go to yond wight yeomàn,
   To know what he doth meane.

 “Ah ! John, by me thou settest noe store,
   And that I farley finde :
 How offt send I my men before,
   And tarry my selfe behinde ?

 It is no cunning a knave to ken,
   And a man but heare him speake ;
 And it were not for bursting of my bowe,
   John, I thy head wold breake.”

 As often wordes they breeden bale,
   So they parted Robin and John :
 And John is gone to Barnesdale ;
   The gates he knoweth eche one.

 But when he came to Barnesdale,
   Great heavinesse there he hadd,
 For he found tow of his own fellòwes,
   Were slaine both in a slade.

 And Scarlette he was flying a-foote
   Fast over stocke and stone,
 For the proud sheriffe with seven score men
   Fast after him is gone. {118}

 One shoote now I will shoote, quoth John,
   With Christ his might and mayne ;
 Ile make yond sheriffe that flyes soe fast,
   To stopp he shall be fayne.

 Then John bent up his long bende-bowe,
   And fetteled him to shoote :
 The bow was made of tender boughe,
   And fell downe at his foote.

 “Woe worth, woe worth thee, wicked wood,
   That ever thou grew on a tree !
 For now this day thou art my bale,
   My boote when thou shold bee.”

 His shoote it was but loosely shott,
   Yet flewe not the arrowe in vaine,
 For itt mett one of the sheriffes men,
   Good William a Trent was slaine.

 It had bene better of William a Trent
   To have bene abed with sorrowe,
 Than to be that day in the greenwood slade
   To meet with Little Johns arrowe.

 But as it is said, when men be mett
   Fyve can doe more than three,
 The sheriffe hath taken Little John,
   And bound him fast to a tree. {119}

 “Thou shalt be drawen by dale and downe,
   And hanged hye on a hill.”
 But thou mayst fayle of thy purpose, quoth John,
   If it be Christ his will.

 Lett us leave talking of Little John,
   And thinke of Robin Hood,
 How he is gone to the wight yeomàn,
   Where under the leaves he stood.

 Good morrowe, good fellowe, sayd Robin so fayre,
   Good morrowe, good fellow, quo’ he :[272]
 Methinkes by this bowe thou beares in thy hande,
   A good archere thou sholdst bee.

 I am wilfulle of my waye, quo’ the yemàn,
   And of my morning tyde.
 Ile lead thee through the wood, sayd Robin ;
   Good fellow, Ile be thy guide.

 I seeke an outlawe, the straunger sayd,
   Men call him Robin Hood ;
 Rather Ild meet with that proud outlàwe
   Than fortye pound soe good. {120}

 “Now come with me, thou wighty yemàn
   And Robin thou soone shalt see ;
 But first let us some pastime find
   Under the greenwood tree.

 First let us some masterye make
   Among the woods so even,
 We may chance to meet with Robin Hood
   Here at some unsett steven.”

 They cutt them down two summer shroggs,
   That grew both under a breere,
 And sett them threescore rood in twaine,
   To shoote the prickes y-fere.

 Leade on, good fellowe, quoth Robin Hood,
   Leade on, I do bidd thee.
 Nay, by my faith, good fellowe, hee sayd,
   My leader thou shalt bee.

 The first time Robin shot at the pricke,
   He mist but an inch it fro :
 The yeoman he was an archer good,
   But he cold never shoote soe.

 The second shoote had the wightye yemàn,
   He shot within the garlànd :
 But Robin he shott far better than hee,
   For he clave the good pricke-wande. {121}

 A blessing upon thy heart, he sayd ;
   Good fellowe, thy shooting is goode ;
 For an thy hart be as good as thy hand,
   Thou wert better than Robin Hoode.

 Now tell me thy name, good fellowe, sayd he,
   Under the leaves of lyne.
 Nay, by my faith, quoth bold Robin,
   Till thou have told me thine.

 I dwell by dale and downe, quoth hee,
   And Robin to take Ime sworne ;
 And when I am called by my right name
   I am Guy of good Gisbòrne.

 My dwelling is in this wood, sayes Robin,
   By thee I set right nought :
 I am Robin Hood of Barnèsdale,
   Whom thou so long hast sought.

 He that had neyther beene kythe nor kin,
   Might have seen a full fayre fight,
 To see how together these yeomen went
   With blades both browne and bright.

 To see how these yeomen together they fought
   Two howres of a summers day :
 Yett neither Robin Hood nor sir Guy
   Them fettled to flye away. {122}

 Robin was reachles on a roote
   And stumbled at that tyde ;
 And Guy was quicke and nimble withall,
   And hitt him ore the left syde.

 Ah, deere ladye, sayd Robin Hood tho,
   Thou art both[273] mother and may,
 I think it was never mans destinye
   To dye before his day.

 Robin thought on our ladye deere,
   And soone leapt up againe,
 And strait he came with a[n] awkwarde[274] stroke,
   And he sir Guy[275] hath slayne.

 He took sir Guys head by the hayre,
   And sticked itt upon his bowes end :
 “Thou hast beene a traytor all thy life,
   Which thing must have an end.” {123}

 Robin pulled forth an Irish knife,
   And nicked sir Guy in the face,
 That he was never on woman born
   Cold tell whose head it was.

 Sayes, Lye there, lye there, now sir Guye,
   And with me be not wrothe ;
 Iff thou have had the worst strokes at my hand,
   Thou shalt have the better clothe.

 Robin did off his gown of greene,
   And on sir Guy did it throwe,
 And he put on that capull hyde,
   That cladd him topp to toe.

 “The bowe, the arrowes, and little horne,
   Now with me I will beare ;
 For I will away to Barnèsdale,
   To see how my men doe fare.”

 Robin Hood sett Guyes horne to his mouth,
   And a loude blast in it did blow :
 That beheard the sheriffe of Nottingham,
   As he leaned under a lowe.

 Hearken, hearken, sayd the sheriffe,
   I heare nowe tydings good,
 For yonder I heare sir Guyes horne blow,
   And he hath slaine Robin Hoode. {124}

 Yonder I heare sir Guyes horne blowe,
   Itt blowes soe well in tyde,
 And yonder comes that wightye yeomàn,
   Cladd in his capull hyde.

 Come hyther, come hyther, thou good sir Guy,
   Aske what thou wilt of mee.
 O I will none of thy gold, sayd Robin,
   Nor I will none of thy fee :

 But now I have slaine the master, he sayes,
   Let me goe strike the knave ;
 For this is all the meede I aske ;
   Nor no other will I have.

 Thou art a madman, sayd the sheriffe,
   Thou sholdst have had a knightes fee :
 But seeing thy asking hath beene soe bad,
   Well granted it shal bee.

 When Little John heard his master speake,
   Well knewe he it was his steven :
 Now shall I be looset, quoth Little John,
   With Christ his might in heaven.

 Fast Robin hee hyed him to Little John,
   He thought to loose him belive ;
 The sheriffe and all his companye
   Fast after him did drive. {125}

 Stand abacke, stand abacke, sayd Robìn ;
   Why draw you mee so neere ?
 It was never the use in our countryè,
   Ones shrift another shold heere.

 But Robin pulled forth an Irish knife,
   And losed John hand and foote,
 And gave him sir Guyes bow into his hand,
   And bade it be his boote.

 Then John he took Guyes bow in his hand,
   His boltes and arrowes eche one :
 When the sheriffe saw Little John bend his bow,
   He fettled him to be gone.

 Towards his house in Nottingham towne,
   He fled full fast away ;
 And soe did all the companye :
   Not one behind wold stay.

 But he cold neither runne soe fast,
   Nor away soe fast cold ryde,
 But Little John with an arrowe soe broad,
   He shott him into the ‘backe’-syde.[276]

{126}

[Illustration]


V.

A TRUE TALE OF ROBIN HOOD:

OR,

A briefe touch of the life and death of that renowned outlaw Robert
earl of Huntingdon, vulgarly called Robin Hood, who lived and dyed
in A. D. 1198,[277] being the 9th year of king Richard the first,
commonly called Richard Cœur de Lyon.

Carefully collected out of the truest writers of our English
Chronicles: and published for the satisfaction of those who desire
truth from falshood.

BY MARTIN PARKER. {127}

This poem, given from an edition in black letter printed for I.
Clarke, W. Thackeray, and T. Passinger, 1686, remaining in the
curious library left by Anthony a Wood, appears to have been first
entered on the hall-book of the Stationers’ Company the 29th of
February 1631.

Martin Parker was a great writer of ballads, several of which, with
his initials subjoined, are still extant in the Pepysian and other
collections. (See “Ancient Songs,” 1829, ii. p. 263.) Dr. Percy
mentions a little miscellany intitled, “The garland of withered
roses, by Martin Parker, 1656.” The editor has, likewise, seen
“The nightingale warbling forth her own disaster, or the rape of
Philomela: newly written in English verse by Martin Parker, 1632;”
and, on the 24th of November 1640, Mr. Oulton enters at Stationers’
Hall “a book called The true story of Guy earle of Warwicke, in
prose, by Martyn Parker.”

At the end of this poem the author adds “The epitaph which the
prioress of the monastry of Kirkslay in Yorkshire set over Robin
Hood, which,” he says, “(as is before mentioned) was to be read
within these hundred years, though in old broken English, much to
the same sence and meaning.” He gives it thus:

“Decembris quarto die, 1198. anno regni Richardi primi 9.

 “Robert earl of Huntington
 “Lies under this little stone,
 “No archer was like him so good;
 “His wildness named him Robin Hood;
 “Full thirteen years, and something more,
 “These northern parts he vexed sore;
 “Such outlaws as he and his men
 “May England never know again.”

“Some other superstitious words,” he adds, “were in, which I,” says
he, “thought fit to leave out.” Now, under this precise gentleman’s
favour, one would be glad to know what these same “superstitious
words” were; there not being anything of the {128} kind in Dr.
Gale’s copy, which seems to be the original, and which is shorter
by two lines than the above. Thirteen should be thirty.

 Both gentlemen, and yeomen bold,
   Or whatsoever you are,
 To have a stately story told
   Attention now prepare :

 It is a tale of Robin Hood,
   Which i to you will tell ;
 Which, being rightly understood,
   I know will please you well.

 This Robin (so much talked on)
   Was once a man of fame,
 Instiled earl of Huntington,
   Lord Robin Hood by name.

 In courtship and magnificence
   His carriage won him praise,
 And greater favour with his prince
   Than any in ‘those’[278] days.

 In bounteous liberality
   He too much did excell,
 And loved men of quality
   More than exceeding well. {129}

 His great revenues all he sold
   For wine and costly chear ;
 He kept three hundred bow-men bold,
   He shooting lov’d so dear.

 No archer living in his time
   With him might well compare ;
 He practis’d all his youthful prime
   That exercise most rare.

 At last, by his profuse expence,
   He had consum’d his wealth ;
 And, being outlaw’d by his prince,
   In woods he liv’d by stealth.

 The abbot of Saint Maries rich,
   To whom he money ought,
 His hatred to the earl was such
   That he his downfal wrought.

 So being outlaw’d (as ’tis told)
   He with a crew went forth
 Of lusty cutters stout and bold,
   And robbed in the North.

 Among the rest one Little John,
   A yeoman bold and free,
 Who could (if it stood him upon)
   With ease encounter three. {130}

 One hundred men in all he got,
   With whom (the story says)
 Three hundred common men durst not
   Hold combat any waies.

 They Yorkshire woods frequented much,
   And Lancashire also,
 Wherein their practises were such
   That they wrought muckle woe.

 None rich durst travel to and fro,
   Though ne’r so strongly arm’d,
 But by these thieves (so strong in show)
   They still were rob’d and harm’d.

 His chiefest spight to th’ clergy was,
   That liv’d in monstrous pride :
 No one of them he would let pass
   Along the highway side,

 But first they must to dinner go,
   And afterwards to shrift :
 Full many a one he served so,
   Thus while he liv’d by theft.

 No monks nor fryers he would let go
   Without paying their fees :
 If they thought much to be used so,
   Their stones he made them lese. {131}

 For such as they the country fill’d
   With bastards in those days :
 Which to prevent, these sparks did geld
   All that came in their ways.[279]

 But Robin Hood so gentle was,
   And bore so brave a mind,
 If any in distress did pass,
   To them he was so kind,

 That he would give and lend to them,
   To help them in their need ;
 This made all poor men pray for him,
   And wish he well might speed.

 The widow and the fatherless
   He would send means unto ;
 And those whom famine did oppress
   Found him a friendly foe. {132}

 Nor would he do a woman wrong,
   But see her safe convey’d :
 He would prótect with power strong
   All those who crav’d his aid.

 The abbot of Saint Maries then,
   Who him undid before,
 Was riding with two hundred men,
   And gold and silver store :

 But Robin Hood upon him set,
   With his couragious sparks,
 And all the coyn perforce did get,
   Which was twelve thousand marks.

 He bound the abbot to a tree,
   And would not let him pass,
 Before that to his men and he
   His lordship had said mass :

 Which being done, upon his horse
   He set him fast astride,
 And with his face towàrds his a—
   He forced him to ride.

 His men were forced to be his guide,
   For he rode backward home :
 The abbot, being thus villify’d,
   Did sorely chafe and fume.

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBOT.]

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBOT.]

{133}

 Thus Robin Hood did vindicate
   His former wrongs receiv’d :
 For ’twas this covetous prelàte
   That him of land bereav’d.

 The abbot he rode to the king,
   With all the haste he could ;
 And to his grace he every thing
   Exactly did unfold :

 And said that if no course were ta’n,
   By force or stratagem,
 To take this rebel and his train,
   No man should pass for them.

 The king protested by and by
   Unto the abbot then,
 That Robin Hood with speed should dye,
   With all his merry men.

 But e’re the king did any send,
   He did another feat,
 Which did his grace much more offend,
   The fact indeed was great :

 For in a short time after that
   The kings receivers went
 Towards London with the coyn they got
   For’s highness northern rent : {134}

 Bold Robin Hood and Little John,
   With the rest of their train,
 Not dreading law, set them upon,
   And did their gold obtain.

 The king much moved at the same,
   And the abbots talk also,
 In this his anger did proclaim,
   And sent word to and fro,

 That whosoever alive or dead
   Could bring bold Robin Hood,
 Should have one thousand marks well paid
   In gold and silver good.

 This promise of the king did make
   Full many yeomen bold
 Attempt stout Robin Hood to take
   With all the force they could.

 But still when any came to him
   Within the gay green wood,
 He entertainment gave to them
   With venison fat and good ;

 And shew’d to them such martial sport
   With his long bow and arrow,
 That they of him did give report,
   How that it was great sorow {135}

 That such a worthy man as he
   Should thus be put to shift,
 Being a late lord of high degree,
   Of living quite bereft.

 The king to take him more and more
   Sent men of mickle might ;
 But he and his still beat them sore,
   And conquered them in fight :

 Or else with love and courtesie,
   To him he won their hearts.
 Thus still he liv’d by robbery
   Throughout the northern parts ;

 And all the country stood in dread
   Of Robin Hood and’s men :
 For stouter lads ne’r liv’d by bread
   In those days, nor since then.

 The abbot, which before i nam’d,
   Sought all the means he could
 To have by force this rebel ta’n,
   And his adherents bold.

 Therefore he arm’d five hundred men,
   With furniture compleat ;
 But the outlaws slew half of them,
   And made the rest retreat, {136}

 The long bow and the arrow keen
   They were so us’d unto
 That still he kept the forrest green
   In spight o’ th’ proudest foe.

 Twelve of the abbots men he took,
   Who came to have him ta’n,
 When all the rest the field forsook,
   These he did entertain

 With banqueting and merriment,
   And, having us’d them well,
 He to their lord them safely sent,
   And will’d them him to tell,

 That if he would be pleas’d at last
   To beg of our good king,
 That he might pardon what was past,
   And him to favour bring,

 He would surrender back again
   The mony which before
 Was taken by him ‘and his’ men
   From him and many more.

 Poor men might safely pass by him,
   And some that way would chuse,
 For well they knew that to help them
   He evermore did use. {137}

 But where he knew a miser rich
   That did the poor oppress,
 To feel his coyn his hands did itch,
   He’d have it, more or less :

 And sometimes, when the high-way fail’d,
   Then he his courage rouzes,
 He and his men have oft assaild
   Such rich men in their houses :

 So that, through dread of Robin then,
   And his adventurous crew,
 The misers kept great store of men,
   Which else maintain’d but few.

 King Richard, of that name the first,
   Sirnamed Cœur de Lyon,
 Went to defeat the Pagans curst,
   Who kept the coasts of Sion.

 The bishop of Ely, chancellor,
   Was left a vice-roy here,
 Who, like a potent emperor,
   Did proudly domineer.

 Our chronicles of him report,
   That commonly he rode
 With a thousand horse from court to court,
   Where he would make abode. {138}

 He, riding down towards the north,
   With his aforesaid train,
 Robin and his men did issue forth,
   Them all to entertain ;

 And with the gallant gray-goose wing
   They shew’d to them such play
 That made their horses kick and fling,
   And down their riders lay,

 Full glad and fain the bishop was,
   For all his thousand men,
 So seek what means he could to pass
   From out of Robins ken.

 Two hundred of his men were kill’d,
   And fourscore horses good,
 Thirty, who did as captives yield,
   Were carried to the green wood ;

 Which afterwards were ransomed,
   For twenty marks a man :
 The rest set spurs to horse and fled
   To th’ town of Warrington.

 The bishop, sore inraged, then
   Did, in king Richards name,
 Muster up a power of northern men,
   These outlaws bold to tame. {139}

 But Robin with his courtesie
   So won the meaner sort,
 That they were loath on him to try
   What rigour did import.

 So that bold Robin and his train
   Did live unhurt of them,
 Until king Richard came again
   From fair Jerusalem :

 And then the talk of Robin Hood
   His royal ears did fill ;
 His grace admir’d that i’ th’ green wood
   He was continued still.

 So that the country far and near
   Did give him great applause ;
 For none of them need stand in fear,
   But such as broke the laws.

 He wished well unto the king,
   And prayed still for his health,
 And never practis’d any thing
   Against the common-wealth.

 Only, because he was undone
   By th’ cruel clergy then,
 All means that he could think upon
   To vex such kind of men, {140}

 He enterpriz’d with hateful spleen ;
   For which he was to blame,
 For fault of some to wreak his teen
   On all that by him came.

 With wealth that he by roguery got
   Eight alms-houses he built,
 Thinking thereby to purge the blot
   Of blood which he had spilt.

 Such was their blind devotion then,
   Depending on their works ;
 Which if ’twere true, we Christian men
   Inferiour were to Turks.

 But, to speak true of Robin Hood,
   And wrong him not a jot,
 He never would shed any mans blood
   That him invaded not.

 Nor would he injure husbandmen,
   That toil at cart and plough ;
 For well he knew wer’t not for them
   To live no man knew how.

 The king in person, with some lords,
   To Nottingham did ride,
 To try what strength and skill affords
   To crush this outlaws pride. {141}

 And, as he once before had done,
   He did again proclaim,
 That whosoever would take upon
   To bring to Nottingham,

 Or any place within the land,
   Rebellious Robin Hood,
 Should be preferr’d in place to stand
   With those of noble blood.

 When Robin Hood heard of the same,
   Within a little space,
 Into the town of Nottingham
   A letter to his grace

 He shot upon an arrow head,
   One evening cunningly ;
 Which was brought to the king, and read
   Before his majesty.

 The tenour of this letter was
   That Robin would submit,
 And be true liegeman to his grace
   In any thing that’s fit,

 So that his highness would forgive
   Him and his merry men all ;
 If not, he must i’ th’ green wood live,
   And take what chance did fall. {142}

 The king would feign have pardoned him,
   But that some lords did say,
 This president will much condemn
   Your grace another day.

 While that the king and lords did stay
   Debating on this thing,
 Some of these outlaws fled away
   Unto the Scottish king.

 For they suppos’d, if he were ta’n
   Or to the king did yield,
 By th’ commons all the rest of ’s train
   Full quickly would be quell’d.

 Of more than full an hundred men,
   But forty tarried still,
 Who were resolv’d to stick to him,
   Let Fortune work her will.

 If none had fled, all for his sake
   Had got their pardon free ;
 The king to favour meant to take
   His merry men and he.

 But e’re the pardon to him came
   This famous archer dy’d :
 His death and manner of the same
   I’le presently describe. {143}

 For, being vext to think upon
   His followers revolt,
 In melancholy passiòn
   He did recount his fault.

 Perfidious traytors ! said he then,
   In all your dangers past
 Have i you guarded as my men,
   To leave me thus at last !

 This sad perplexity did cause
   A feaver, as some say,
 Which him unto confusion draws,
   Though by a stranger way.

 This deadly danger to prevent,
   He hie’d him with all speed
 Unto a nunnery, with intent
   For his healths-sake to bleed.

 A faithless fryer did pretend
   In love to let him blood,
 But he by falshood wrought the end
   Of famous Robin Hood.

 The fryer, as some say, did this
   To vindicate the wrong
 Which to the clergy he and his
   Had done by power strong. {144}

 Thus dyed he by treachery,
   That could not die by force ;
 Had he liv’d longer, certainly
   King Richard, in remorse,

 Had unto favour him receiv’d,
   ‘His’ brave men elevated :
 ’Tis pitty he was of life bereav’d
   By one which he so hated.

 A treacherous leach this fryer was,
   To let him bleed to death ;
 And Robin was, methinks, an ass
   To trust him with his breath.

 His corps the prioress of the place,
   The next day that he dy’d,
 Caused to be buried, in mean case,
   Close by the high-way side.

 And over him she caused a stone
   To be fixt on the ground,
 An epitaph was set thereon,
   Wherein his name was found ;

 The date o’ th’ year and day also,
   She made to be set there :
 That all, who by the way did go,
   Might see it plain appear. {145}

 That such a man as Robin Hood
   Was buried in that place ;
 And how he lived in the green wood
   And robbed for a space.

 It seems that though the clergy he
   Had put to mickle woe,
 He should not quite forgotten be
   Although he was their foe.

 This woman, though she did him hate,
   Yet loved his memory ;
 And thought it wondrous pitty that
   His fame should with him dye.

 This epitaph, as records tell,
   Within this hundred years,
 By many was discerned well,
   But time all things out-wears.

 His followers, when he was dead,
   Were some repriev’d to grace ;
 The rest to foreign countries fled,
   And left their native place.

 Although his funeral was but mean,
   This woman had in mind,
 Least his fame should be buried clean
   From those that came behind. {146}

 For certainly, before nor since,
   No man e’re understood,
 Under the reign of any prince,
   Of one like Robin Hood.

 Full thirteen years, and something more,
   These outlaws lived thus ;
 Feared of the rich, loved of the poor :
   A thing most marvellous.

 A thing impossible to us
   This story seems to be ;
 None dares be now so venturous,
   But times are chang’d we see.

 We that live in these later days
   Of civil government,
 If need be, have an hundred ways
   Such outlaws to prevent.

 In those days men more barbarous were,
   And lived less in awe ;
 Now (god be thanked) people fear
   More to offend the law.

 No waring guns were then in use,
   They dreamt of no such thing ;
 Our Englishmen in fight did use
   The gallant gray-goose wing ; {147}

 In which activity these men,
   Through practise, were so good,
 That in those days none equal’d them,
   Especially Robin Hood.

 So that, it seems, keeping in caves,
   In woods and forests thick,
 They’d beat a multitude with staves,
   Their arrows did so prick :

 And none durst neer unto them come,
   Unless in courtesie ;
 All such he bravely would send home
   With mirth and jollity :

 Which courtesie won him such love,
   As i before have told,
 ’Twas the chief cause that he did prove
   More prosperous than he could.[280]

 Let us be thankful for these times
   Of plenty, truth and peace ;
 And leave our great and horrid crimes,
   Least they cause this to cease.

 I know there’s many feigned tales
   Of Robin Hood and ’s crew ;
 But chronicles, which seldome fails,
   Reports this to be true. {148}

 Let none then think this is a lye,
   For, if ’twere put to th’ worst,
 They may the truth of all descry
   I’ th’ reign of Richard the first.

 If any reader please to try,
   As i direction show,
 The truth of this brave history,
   He’l find it true I know.

 And i shall think my labour well
   Bestow’d to purpose good,
 When’t shall be said that i did tell
   True tales of Robin Hood.

[Illustration]


FOOTNOTES TO “PART THE FIRST”, pp. 1–148


 [119] The irregularity or defect of the versification, in this and
 similar passages, is probably owing to the loss of a line.


 [120] This seems to have been, and, in many parts, is still, the
 name generally used by the vulgar for Erming Street. The course of
 the real Watling Street was from Dover to Chester.

 The Sayles appears to be some place in the neighbourhood of
 Barnsdale, but no mention of it has elsewhere occurred: though, it
 is believed, there is a field so called not far from Doncaster.


 [121] All his. PCC.


 [122] So R. [Rastall.] all thre. W. C. [de Worde and Copland.]


 [123] This. R. that. W. C.


 [124] Ere. R.


 [125] To pay. R. pay. W. C.


 [126] Robyn. R. Robyn Hoode. W. C.


 [127] Two yere. R.


 [128] Knowe. OCC.


 [129] It may amende. OCC.


 [130] Lancasesshyre. R.


 [131] Not. W. C.


 [132] By. W. C.


 [133] So R. knowe me. W. C.


 [134] The fragment of Rastall’s edition ends here.


 [135] Also. PCC.


 [136] Wyme. PCC.


 [137] _i.e._ by so many score to the hundred, or three hundred
 for one. It is certainly a very hyperbolical expression: but he
 measures the cloth in the same way.


 [138] Helpe. W. wrappe. C.


 [139] Leue. W. lende. C.


 [140] The prior, in an abbey, was the officer immediately under the
 abbot; in priories and conventual cathedrals he was the superior.


 [141] This was a “S. Richard, king and confessour, sonne to
 Lotharius king of Kent, who, for the love of Christ, taking upon
 him a long peregrination, went to Rome for devotion to that sea,
 and in his way homward, died at Luca, about the year of Christ,
 seaven hundred and fifty, where his body is kept untill this day
 with great veneration, in the oratory and chappell of S. Frigidian,
 and adorned with an epitaph both in verse and prose” (English
 Martyrologe, 1608).

 There were other saints of the same name, as Richard de la Wich,
 bishop of Chichester, canonised in 1262; and Richard, bishop of St.
 Andrews in Calabria. See Drayton’s Polyolbion, song 24.


 [142] Leue. W. Sende us. C.


 [143] Loke. W. C.


 [144] Grete. W. get. C.


 [145] Thou. PCC.


 [146] Uterysdale. O. CC. Wierysdale is the name of a forest in
 Lancashire: though it appears, in a subsequent part of this poem,
 that the knight’s castle was in Nottinghamshire.


 [147] Sute. C.


 [148] I up pyght. W. up ypyght. C.


 [149] Fere. W. in fere. C.


 [150] Shote. W.


 [151] He sleste (sliced?) W.


 [152] Thou wast. C. wast thou. Wh.


 [153] Ge. W. f. God.


 [154] _i.e._ while a man might have walked two miles and upward.


 [155] Hyed, C.


 [156] Whyle. W.


 [157] Syght. W. sightes. C.


 [158] Wo the worth. W.


 [159] Such. W.


 [160] He. Old copies.


 [161] You. W. Make you yonder preste. C.


 [162] Set. ‘shet’?


 [163] Yemen. C.


 [164] Lytell Johan, O. CC.


 [165] Them. O. CC.


 [166] To. W.


 [167] Nade. W. not in C.


 [168] Eyght pounde. W.


 [169] To. W.


 [170] Corser. W. courser. C.


 [171] Gayne. W.


 [172]

  But take not a grefe, sayd the knyght,
    That I have be so longe.
                             O. CC.


 [173] I twyse. W.


 [174] Thi trusty. C.


 [175] This care. W.


 [176] Syt. W.


 [177]

  And that shoteth al ther best. W.

  And they that shote al of the best. C.


 [178] Al theyre. W. al of the. C.


 [179] They slist. W. he clefte. C.


 [180] Belyve. C.


 [181] That I after eate no bread. C.


 [182] Thou. W.


 [183] The bydde. OCC.


 [184] Honde and fote. W. foote and hande. C.


 [185] That he had Robyn Hode. W.


 [186] God the good Robyn. W.


 [187] Lady. W.


 [188] Late.


 [189] Shamly I slayne be. W.


 [190] For soth as I the say. W.


 [191] Your. W. You may them over take. C.


 [192] Shall he never in grene wode be Nor longer dwell with me. W.


 [193] It. W.


 [194] At. W. That. C.—good] boote. Wh.


 [195] Hoode. W. bande. C.


 [196] And yf. W.


 [197] Your. OCC.


 [198] Under the grene wode tre. W.


 [199] This saint is also mentioned by Chaucer in the Sompnour’s
 tale; by Spenser, in his 5th eclogue; in the Downfall of Robert
 Earl of Huntington, 1601; and in one of Ophelia’s songs in Hamlet.
 (See a note upon this last passage in the edition of 1793, vol. xv.
 p. 163.) Mr. Steevens’s assertion that “Saint Charity is a known
 saint among the Roman Catholics,” may be supported by infallible
 authority. “We read,” says Dr. Douglas, “in the Martyrology on
 the first of August—Romæ passio sanctarum virginum, Fidei, Spei,
 et Charitatis, quæ sub Hadriano principe martyris coronam adeptæ
 sunt” (Criterion, p. 68). Pierre Nadal, commonly called Petrus de
 Natalibus, in his Catalogus Sanctorum, has given the history of the
 saints Faith, Hope, and Charity, the daughters of St. Sophia (or
 Wisdom). Nothing can be too absurd for superstition.


 [200] I vouche it halfe on the. W.


 [201] Seale. C.


 [202] And browne. W.


 [203] A wys, W. For that shall be his fyne. C.


 [204] Good whyte. W. lilly white. C.


 [205] And therto sent I me. W.


 [206] Good. OCC.


 [207] Another had full sone. W.


 [208] Lefte never one. W.


 [209] Lughe. W.


 [210] Ferre. W.


 [211] Commended for. C.


 [212] Donkesley. W.


 [213] The. OCC.


 [214] Ye.


 [215] Lefe.


 [216] Syde.


 [217] Syde.


 [218] Hys.


 [219] Leffe.


 [220] A bad hem stond stell.


 [221] The potter.


 [222] Leppyd.


 [223] Felow he.


 [224] A.


 [225] Seyde hels.


 [226] Went yemen.


 [227] Thes.


 [228] Lytl.


 [229] Yemerey.


 [230] Grat.


 [231] Yede.


 [232] This stanza is misplaced in the MS., coming after the first
 verse at top of page.


 [233] Say.


 [234] Seyde sche s’ than.


 [235] The.


 [236] He.


 [237] Loseth.


 [238] To.


 [239] These two lines are transposed in the MS.


 [240] Pottys the.


 [241] Bolt yt.


 [242] Senyst.


 [243] Goe.


 [244] That Robyng gaffe me.


 [245] Mey they.


 [246] Se.


 [247] He.


 [248] Her.


 [249] For.


 [250] How haffe.


 [251] I leyty.


 [252] He had west.


 [253] That ye be.


 [254] y.


 [255] The MS. repeats this line after the following: Het ambellet
 be mey sey.


 [256] Bowhes.


 [257] Be ther.


 [258] Wher’e.


 [259] Closd. We might read: And clos’d were [baith] his een.


 [260] The preceding lines of this stanza are wanting in the
 original.


 [261] Gave, begack.


 [262] Yeen.


 [263] Spok.


 [264] Half.


 [265] Bound.


 [266] Bag.


 [267] Cloath.


 [268] Thou.


 [269] Speed.


 [270] Cloaths.


 [271] “It should perhaps be swards, _i.e._ the surface of the
 ground, viz. ‘when the fields are in their beauty.’”—PERCY. Rather
 shrobbes (shrubs). The plural of sward was never used by any writer
 whatever. For shaws the MS. has shales.


 [272] Dr. Percy, by the marks he has bestowed on this line, seems
 to consider it as the yeoman’s reply; but it seems rather a
 repetition of Robin’s complimentary address.


 [273] This in the three former editions of the “Reliques” is
 improperly altered to ‘but.’


 [274] So, according to Percy, reads his MS. He has altered it to
 ‘backward.’


 [275] The title of SIR, Dr. Percy says, was not formerly peculiar
 to knights; it was given to priests, and sometimes to very inferior
 personages. If the text did not seem to be in favour of the latter
 part of this assertion, one might reasonably question its truth.
 Another instance, at least, it is believed, admitting this to be
 one, which is by no means certain, cannot be produced.


 [276] Sic PC. quere the MS.


 [277] An absurd mistake, scarcely worth notice in this place, and
 which the reader will have it in his own power to correct.


 [278] Our.


 [279] There is no authority for imputing this execrable practice
 to our hero or his companions, in any one single instance. If,
 however, the lex talionis were at all justifiable, they certainly
 had sufficient provocation to exercise it—not, indeed, upon the
 clergy, in particular, but upon the king, his ministers, judges,
 and nobles. “The ancient punishment for killing the king’s deer,”
 says Dr. Percy, “was loss of eyes and castration: a punishment far
 worse than death!”


 [280] _i.e._ than he could otherwise have been.

{149}

[Illustration]




ROBIN HOOD.

Part II.


I.

ROBIN HOOD’S BIRTH, BREEDING, VALOUR, AND MARRIAGE.

From a black letter copy in the large and valuable collection of
old ballads late belonging to Thomas Pearson, Esq., and now in
the possession of the Duke of Roxburghe. This is the collection
mentioned in the Harleian Catalogue, and would seem to be the
greater part of that originally made by old Bagford (see Hearne’s
Appendix to Hemingi Chartularium, p. 662), another volume or two
having come, with the rest of his typographical collections, to the
British Museum. The three vols. which went to Osborne were probably
bought of him by Mr. West, at whose sale they {150} were purchased
by Major Pearson, by whom the collection was new-arranged,
ornamented, and improved.

In reading this song, we are admonished by the editor of the
collection of old ballads printed in 1723 (who thinks it “the most
beautiful and one of the oldest extant, written on that subject”)
to observe one thing, “and that is, between some of the stanzas
we must suppose a considerable time to pass. Clorinda,” he says,
“might be [thought] a very forward girl, if between Robin Hood’s
question and her answer we did not suppose two or three hours
to have been spent in courtship; and between Robin Hood’s being
entertained at Gamwell-hall and his having ninety-three bowmen in
Sherwood, we must allow some years.”

With respect to its antiquity, Dr. Percy, in the new edition of his
“Reliques of Ancient English Poetry” (vol. i. p. xcvii.), expresses
a very different opinion; since, according to him, it “seems of
much later date than most of the others, and can scarce be older
than the reign of King Charles I.; FOR,” says he, “King James I.
had no issue after his accession to the throne of England:” an
observation which, if any way to the purpose, is certainly NOT
TRUE. “It may even,” he continues, “have been written since the
Restoration, and only express the wishes of the nation for issue on
the marriage of their favourite King Charles II. on his marriage
(_sic_) with the infanta of Portugal.” However this may be, the
writer’s having deviated from “all the old traditions concerning
this celebrated outlaw,” is no proof that he was “ignorant” of
them; and that Dr. Percy chooses to “think it is not found in
the Pepys Collection” only shows conjecture to be easier than
investigation. ☞ In the second volume of that collection, any
person disposed to the search will find at least TWO COPIES of it,
both in black letter.

The full title of the original is: “A new ballad of bold Robin
Hood; shewing his birth, breeding, valour, and marriage at Titbury
Bull-running. Calculated for the meridian of Staffordshire, but may
serve for Derbyshire or Kent.” {151}

 Kind gentlemen, will you be patient awhile ?
   Ay, and then you shall hear anon
 A very good ballad of bold Robin Hood,
   And of his man brave Little John.

 In Locksly town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
   In merry sweet Locksly town,
 There bold Robin Hood he was born and was bred,
   Bold Robin of famous renown.

 The father of Robin a forrester was,
   And he shot in a lusty strong bow
 Two north-country miles and an inch at a shot,
   As the Pinder of Wakefield does know.

 For he brought Adam Bell, and Clim of the Clugh,
   And William of ‘Clowdesle,’[281]
 To shoot with our forrester for forty mark,
   And the forrester beat them all three.

 His mother was neece to the Coventry knight,
   Which Warwickshire men call sir Guy ;
 For he slew the blue bore that hangs up at the gate,
   Or mine host of the Bull tells a lie. {152}

 Her brother was Gamwel, of Great Gamwel-hall,
   A noble house-keeper was he,
 Ay, as ever broke bread in sweet Nottinghamshire,
   And a ’squire of famous degree.

 The mother of Robin said to her husbànd,
   My honey, my love, and my dear,
 Let Robin and I ride this morning to Gamwel,
   To taste of my brother’s good cheer.

 And he said, I grant thee thy boon, gentle Joan,
   Take one of my horses, I pray :
 The sun is arising, and therefore make haste,
   For to-morrow is Christmas-day.

 Then Robin Hood’s father’s grey gelding was brought,
   And sadled and bridled was he ;
 God-wot a blue bonnet, his new suit of cloaths,
   And a cloak that did reach to his knee.

 She got on her holyday kirtle and gown,
   They were of a light Lincoln green ;
 The cloath was homespun, but for colour and make
   It might ‘have beseemed’[282] our queen.

 And then Robin got on his basket-hilt sword,
   And his dagger on his tother side ;
 And said, My dear mother, let’s haste to be gone,
   We have forty long miles to ride. {153}

 When Robin had mounted his gelding so grey,
   His father, without any trouble,
 Set her up behind him, and bad her not fear,
   For his gelding ‘had’ oft carried double.

 And when she was[283] settled, they rode to their neighbours,
   And drank and shook hands with them all ;
 And then Robin gallopt, and never gave o’re,
   Till they lighted at Gamwel-hall.

 And now you may think the right worshipful squire
   Was joyful his sister to see ;
 For he kist her, and kist her, and swore a great oath,
   Thou art welcome, kind sister, to me.

 To-morrow, when mass had been said at the chappel,
   Six tables were covered in the hall,
 And in comes the squire, and makes a short speech,
   It was, Neighbours, you’re welcome all.

 But not a man here shall taste my March beer,
   Till a Christmas carrol he does sing.
 Then all clapt their hands, and theys houted and sung,
   Till the hall and the parlour did ring.

 Now mustard and brawn, roast beef and plumb pies
   Were set upon every table ;
 And noble George Gamwel said, Eat and be merry,
   And drink too as long as you’re able. {154}

 When dinner was ended, his chaplain said grace,
   And, Be merry, my friends, said the squire ;
 It rains and it blows, but call for more ale,
   And lay some more wood on the fire.

 And now call ye Little John hither to me,
   For Little John is a fine lad,
 At gambols and juggling, and twenty such tricks,
   As shall make you both merry and glad.

 When Little John came, to gambols they went,
   Both gentlemen, yeomen, and clown ;
 And what do you think ? Why, as true as I live,
   Bold Robin Hood put them all down.

 And now you may think the right worshipful squire
   Was joyful this sight for to see ;
 For he said, Cousin Robin, thou’st go no more home,
   But tarry and dwell here with me :

 Thou shalt have my land when I die, and till then,
   Thou shalt be the staff of my age.
 Then grant me my boon, dear uncle, said Robin,
   That Little John may be my page.

 And he said, Kind cousin, I grant thee thy boon ;
   With all my heart, so let it be.
 Then come hither, Little John, said Robin Hood,
   Come hither my page unto me : {155}

 Go fetch me my bow, my longest long bow,
   And broad arrows, one, two, or three.
 For when ’tis fair weather we’ll into Sherwood,
   Some merry pastime to see.

 When Robin Hood came into merry Sherwood,
   He winded his bugle so clear ;
 And twice five and twenty good yeomen and bold,
   Before Robin Hood did appear.

 Where are your companions all ? said Robin Hood,
   For still I want forty and three.
 Then said a bold yeoman, Lo, yonder they stand,
   All under the[284] green wood tree.

 As that word was spoke, Clorinda came by,
   The queen of the shepherds was she ;
 And her gown was of velvet as green as the grass,
   And her buskin did reach to her knee.

 Her gate it was graceful, her body was straight,
   And her countenance free from pride ;
 A bow in her hand, and a quiver of arrows
   Hung dangling by her sweet side.

 Her eye-brows were black, ay, and so was her hair,
   And her skin was as smooth as glass ;
 Her visage spoke wisdom, and modesty too :
   Sets with Robin Hood such a lass ! {156}

 Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, whither away ?
   O whither, fair lady, away ?
 And she made him answer, To kill a fat buck ;
   For to-morrow is Titbury day.

 Said Robin Hood, Lady fair, wander with me
   A little to yonder green bower ;
 There set down to rest you, and you shall be sure
   Of a brace or a ‘leash’[285] in an hour.

 And as we were going towàrds the green bower,
   Two hundred good bucks we espy’d ;
 She chose[286] out the fattest that was in the herd,
   And she shot him through side and side.

 By the faith of my body, said bold Robin Hood,
   I never saw woman like thee ;
 And com’st thou from east, or com’st thou from west,
   Thou needst not beg venison of me.

 However, along to my bower you shall go,
   And taste of a forrester’s meat :
 And when we came thither we found as good cheer
   As any man needs for to eat.

 For there was hot venison, and warden pies cold,
   Cream clouted, and honey-combs plenty ;
 And the servitors they were, besides Little John,
   Good yeomen, at least four and twenty. {157}

 Clorinda said, Tell me your name, gentle sir :
   And he said, ’Tis bold Robin Hood :
 Squire Gamwel’s my uncle, but all my delight
   Is to dwell in the merry Sherwood ;

 For ’tis a fine life, and ’tis void of all strife.
   So ’tis, sir, Clorinda reply’d.
 But oh ! said bold Robin, how sweet would it be,
   If Clorinda would be my bride !

 She blusht at the motion ; yet, after a pause,
   Said, Yes, sir, and with all my heart.
 Then let us send for a priest, said Robin Hood,
   And be married before we do part.

 But she said, It may not be so, gentle sir,
   For I must be at Titbury feast ;
 And if Robin Hood will go thither with me,
   I’ll make him the most welcome guest.

 Said Robin Hood, Reach me that buck, Little John,
   For I’ll go along with my dear ;
 And bid my yeomen kill six brace of bucks,
   And meet me to-morrow just here.

 Before he had ridden five Staffordshire miles,
   Eight yeomen, that were too bold,
 Bid Robin Hood stand, and deliver his buck :
   A truer tale never was told. {158}

 I will not, faith, said bold Robin ; come, John,
   Stand by me, and we’ll beat ’em all.
 Then both drew their swords, and so cut ’em, and slasht ’em,
   That five out of them did fall.

 The three that remain’d call’d to Robin for quarter,
   And pitiful John begg’d their lives :
 When John’s boon was granted, he gave them good counsel,
   And sent them all home to their wives.

 This battle was fought near to Titbury town,
   When the bagpipes baited the bull ;
 I’m the king of the fidlers, and I swear ’tis truth,
   And I call him that doubts it a gull :[287]

 For I saw them fighting, and fiddled the while ;
   And Clorinda sung “Hey derry down !
 The bumkins are beaten, put up thy sword, Bob,
   And now let’s dance into the town.”

 Before we came in we heard a great shouting,
   And all that were in it look’d madly ;
 For some were on bull-back, some dancing a morris,
   And some singing _Arthur-a-Bradley_.[288] {159}

 And there we see Thomas, our justices clerk,
   And Mary, to whom he was kind ;
 For Tom rode before her, and call’d Mary madam,
   And kiss’d her full sweetly behind :

 And so may your worships. But we went to dinner,
   With Thomas and Mary, and Nan ;
 They all drank a health to Clorinda, and told her,
   Bold Robin Hood was a fine man.

 When dinner was ended, sir Roger, the parson
   Of Dubbridge, was sent for in haste :
 He brought his mass-book, and he bad them take hands,
   And joyn’d them in marriage full fast.

 And then, as bold Robin Hood and his sweet bride
   Went hand in hand to the green bower,
 The birds sung with pleasure in merry Sherwood,
   And ’twas a most joyful hour.

 And when Robin came in sight of the bower,
   Where are my yeomen ? said he :
 And Little John answer’d, Lo, yonder they stand,
   All under the green-wood-tree.

 Then a garland they brought her by two and by two,
   And plac’d them all on the bride’s head :
 The music struck up, and we all fell to dance,
   ’Till the bride and bridegroom were a-bed. {160}

 And what they did there must be counsel to me,
   Because they lay long the next day ;
 And I had haste home, but I got a good piece
   Of bride-cake, and so came away.

 Now, out, alas ! I had forgotten to tell ye,
   That marry’d they were with a ring ;
 And so will Nan Knight, or be buried a maiden :
   And now let us pray for the king ;

 That he may get children, and they may get more,
   To govern and do us some good :
 And then I’ll make ballads in Robin Hood’s bower
   And sing ’em in merry Sherwood.

[Illustration]

{161}

[Illustration]


II.

ROBIN HOOD’S PROGRESS TO NOTTINGHAM.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.
It is there said to go “To the tune of Bold Robin Hood;” and the
chorus is repeated in every stanza. To the above title are added
the following doggerel lines:

 Where hee met with fifteen forresters all on a row,
 And hee desired of them some news for to know,
 But with crosse grain’d words they did him thwart,
 For which at last hee made them smart.

       *       *       *       *       *

 Robin Hood he was and a tall young man,
           _Derry derry down_,
   And fifteen winters old ;
 And Robin Hood he was a proper young man,
   Of courage stout and bold.
           _Hey down, derry derry down._ {162}

 Robin hee[1] would and to fair Nottingham,
   With the general for to dine ;
 There was hee aware of fifteen forrestèrs,
   And a drinking bear, ale, and wine.

 What news ? What news ? said bold Robin Hood.
   “What news fain wouldest thou know ?”
 Our king hath provided a shooting match,
   And I’m ready with my bow.

 We hold it in scorn, said the forrestèrs,
   That ever a boy so young
 Should bear a bow before our king,
   That’s not able to draw one string.

 I’le hold you twenty marks, said bold Robin Hood,
   By the leave of our lady,
 That I’le hit a mark a hundred rod,
   And I’le cause a hart to dye.

 We’l hold you twenty mark, then said the forrestèrs,
   By the leave of our lady,
 Thou hit’st not the marke a hundred rod,
   Nor causest a hart to dye.

 Robin he[289] bent up a noble bow,
   And a broad arrow he let flye,
 He hit the mark a hundred rod,
   And he caused a hart to dye. {163}

 Some say hee brake ribs one or two,
   And some say hee brake three ;
 The arrow within the hart would not abide,
   But it glanced in two or three.

 The hart did skip, and the hart did leap,
   And the hart lay on the ground ;
 The wager is mine, said bold Robin Hood,
   If’t were for a thousand pound.

 The wager’s none of thine, then said the forrestèrs,
   Although thou beest in haste ;
 Take up thy bow, and get thee hence,
   Lest wee thy sides do baste.

 Robin Hood hee took up his noble bow,
   And his broad arrows all amain ;
 And Robin he[1] laught, and begun [for] to smile,
   As hee went over the plain.

 Then Robin he[1] bent his noble bow,
   And his broad arrows he let flye,
 Till fourteen of these fifteen forrestèrs
   Upon the ground did lye.

 He that did this quarrel first begin
   Went tripping over the plain ;
 But Robin he[290] bent his noble bow,
   And hee fetcht him back again. {164}

 You said I was no archer, said Robin Hood,
   But say so now again :
 With that he sent another arròw,
   That split his head in twain.

 You have found mee an archer, saith Robin Hood,
   Which will make your wives for to wring,
 And wish that you had never spoke the word,
   That I could not draw one string.

 The people that lived in fair Nottinghàm
   Came running out amain,
 Supposing to have taken bold Robin Hood,
   With the forresters that were slain.

 Some lost legs, and some lost arms,
   And some did lose their blood ;
 But Robin hee took up his noble bow,
   And is gone to the merry green wood.

 They carried these forresters into fair Nottinghàm,
   As many there did know ;
 They dig’d them graves in their church-yard,
   And they buried them all a-row.

⁂ The paragraph of which the following is an extract appeared in
the evening paper intitled “The Star,” April 23, 1796: “A few
days ago as some labourers were digging in a garden at Fox-lane,
near Nottingham, they discovered six human skeletons entire,
deposited in regular order side by side, supposed {165} to be
part of the fifteen foresters that were killed by Robin Hood.
Near the above place anciently stood a church, built in the early
ages of Christianity, dedicated to St. Michael, which was totally
demolished at the Reformation. . . . No doubt but the bones in
question were properly buried in St. Michael’s churchyard. The
proprietors of the garden humanely ordered the pit where the bones
were found to be filled up, being unwilling to disturb the relics
of humanity and the ashes of the dead.”

[Illustration]

{166}

[Illustration]


III.

THE JOLLY PINDER OF WAKEFIELD, WITH ROBIN HOOD, SCARLET, AND JOHN.

From an old black letter copy in Anthony a Wood’s collection,
compared with two others in the British Museum, one in black
letter. It should be sung “To an excellent tune,” which has not
been recovered.

Several lines of this ballad are quoted in the two old plays of
the “Downfall” and “Death of Robert, Earle of Huntington,” 1601,
4to, b. l., but acted many years before. It is also alluded to in
Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor, act i. scene 1, and again in
his Second Part of King Henry IV., act v. scene 3.

In 1557 certain “ballets” are entered on the books of the
Stationers’ Company “to John Wallye and Mrs. Toye,” one of which is
entitled “Of wakefylde and a grene:” meaning apparently the ballad
here reprinted. {167}

 In Wakefield there lives a jolly pindèr,
     In Wakefield all on a green,
     In Wakefield all on a green :

 There is neither knight nor squire, said the pindèr,
     Nor baron that is so bold,
     Nor baron that is so bold,
 Dare make a trespàss to the town of Wakefield,
     But his pledge goes to the pinfold, &c.

 All this beheard three witty young men,
   ’Twas Robin Hood, Scarlet, and John ;
 With that they espy’d the jolly pindèr,
   As he sat under a thorn.

 Now turn again, turn again, said the pindèr,
   For a wrong way you have gone ;
 For you have forsaken the kings highway,
   And made a path over the corn.

 O that were a shame, said jolly Robin,
   We being three, and thou but one.
 The pinder leapt back then thirty good foot,
   ’Twas thirty good foot and one.

 He leaned his back fast unto a thorn,
   And his foot against a stone, {168}

 And there he fought a long summers day,
   A summers day so long,
 Till that their swords on their broad bucklèrs
   Were broke fast into their hands.[291]

 Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said bold Robin Hood,
   And my merry men every one ;
 For this is one of the best pindèrs,
   That ever I tryed with sword.

 And wilt thou forsake thy pinders craft,
   And live in the green-wood with me ?
 “At Michaelmas next my cov’nant comes out,
   When every man gathers his fee ;

 Then I’le take my blew blade all in my hand,
   And plod to the green-wood with thee.”
 Hast thou either meat or drink, said Robin Hood,
   For my merry men and me ?

 I have both bread and beef, said the pindèr,
   And good ale of the best.
 And that is meat good enough, said Robin Hood,
   For such unbidden ‘guests.’

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER.]

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER.]

{169}

 “O wilt thou forsake the pinder his craft,
   And go to the green-wood with me ?
 Thou shalt have a livery twice in the year,
   The one green, the other brown.”

 “If Michaelmas day was come and gone,
   And my master had paid me my fee,
 Then would I set as little by him,
   As my master doth by me.”

[Illustration]

{170}

[Illustration]


IV.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP,

“Shewing how Robin Hood went to an old woman’s house and changed
cloaths with her to scape from the bishop; and how he robbed the
bishop of all his gold, and made him sing a mass. To the tune of
Robin Hood and the Stranger.” From an old black letter copy in the
collection of Anthony a Wood.

 Come, gentlemen all, and listen awhile,
       _Hey down, down, an a down_,
   And a story ile to you unfold ;
 Ile tell you how Robin Hood served the bishop,
   When he robbed him of his gold. {171}

 As it fell out on a sun-shining day,
   When Phœbus was in ‘his’ prime,
 Then Robin Hood, that archer good,
   In mirth would spend some time.

 And as he walk’d the forrest along,
   Some pastime for to spy,
 There was he aware of a proud bishòp,
   And all his company.

 O what shall I do, said Robin Hood then,
   If the bishop he doth take me ?
 No mercy he’l show unto me, I know,
   But hanged I shall be.

 Then Robin was stout, and turned him about,
   And a little house there he did spy ;
 And to an old wife, for to save his life,
   He loud began for to cry.

 Why, who art thou ? said the old womàn,
   Come tell to me for good.
 “I am an out-law, as many do know,
   My name it is Robin Hood ;

 And yonder’s the bishop and all his men,
   And if that I taken be,
 Then day and night he’l work my spight,
   And hanged I shall be.” {172}

 If thou be Robin Hood, said the old wife,
   As thou ‘dost’ seem to be,
 I’le for thee provide, and thee I will hide,
   From the bishop and his company.

 For I remember, ‘one’ Saturday night,
   Thou brought me both shoos and hose ;
 Therefore I’le provide thy person to hide,
   And keep thee from thy foes.

 “Then give me soon thy coat of gray,
   And take thou my mantle of green ;
 Thy spindle and twine unto me resign,
   And take thou my arrows so keen.”

 And when Robin Hood was so araid,
   He went straight to his company,
 With his spindle and twine, he oft lookt behind,
   For the bishop and his company.

 O who is yonder, quoth little John,
   That now comes over the lee ?
 An arrow I will at her let flie,
   So like an old witch looks she.

 O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood then,
   And shoot not thy arrows so keen ;
 I am Robin Hood, thy master good,
   And quickly it shall be seen. {173}

 The bishop he came to the old womans house,
   And called, with furious mood,
 Come let me soon see, and bring unto me
   That traitor Robin Hood.

 The old woman he set on a milk-white steed,
   Himselfe on a dapple gray ;
 And for joy he had got Robin Hood,
   He went laughing all the way.

 But as they were riding the forrest along,
   The bishop he ‘chanc’d’ for to see
 A hundred brave bowmen bold,
   Stand under the green-wood tree.

 O who is yonder, the bishop then said,
   That’s ranging within yonder wood ?
 Marry, says the old woman, I think it to be
   A man call’d Robin Hood.

 Why, who art thou, the bishop he said,
   Which I have here with me ?
 “Why, I am an old woman, thou cuckoldly bishop,
   Lift up my leg and see.”

 Then woe is me, the bishop he said,
   That ever I saw this day !
 He turn’d him about, but Robin stout
   Call’d him, and bid him stay. {174}

 Then Robin took hold of the bishop’s horse,
   And ty’d him fast to a tree ;
 Then Little John smil’d his master upon,
   For joy of that company.

 Robin Hood took his mantle from’s back,
   And spread it upon the ground,
 And out of the bishops portmantle he
   Soon told five hundred pound.

 Now let him go, said Robin Hood.
   Said little John, That may not be ;
 For I vow and protest he shall sing us a mass,
   Before that he goe from me.

 Then Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
   And bound him fast to a tree,
 And made him sing a mass, god wot,
   To him and his yeomandree.

 And then they brought him through the wood,
   And set him on his dapple gray,
 And gave him the tail within his hand,
   And bade him for Robin Hood pray.

{175}

[Illustration]


V.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BUTCHER.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony Wood.
The tune is “Robin Hood and the Begger.”

 Come, all you brave gallants, listen awhile,
       _With hey down, down, an a down_,
   That are ‘this bower’[292] within ;
 For of Robin Hood, that archer good,
   A song I intend for to sing.

 Upon a time it chanced so,
   Bold Robin in [the] forrest did ’spy
 A jolly butchèr, with a bonny fine mare,
   With his flesh to the market did hye. {176}

 Good morrow, good fellow, said jolly Robìn,
   What food hast [thou], tell unto me ?
 Thy trade to me tell, and where thou dost dwell,
   For I like well thy company.

 The butcher he answer’d jolly Robìn,
   No matter where I dwell ;
 For a butcher I am, and to Nottingham
   I am going, my flesh to sell.

 What is [the] price of thy flesh ? said jolly Robìn,
   Come tell it soon unto me ;
 And the price of thy mare, be she never so dear,
   For a butcher fain would I be.

 The price of my flesh, the butcher repli’d,
   I soon will tell unto thee ;
 With my bonny mare, and they are not too dear,
   Four mark thou must give unto me.

 Four mark I will give me, saith jolly Robìn,
   Four mark it shall be thy fee ;
 The mony come count, and let me mount,
   For a butcher I fain would be.

 Now Robin he is to Nottingham gone,
   His butchers trade to begin ;
 With good intent to the sheriff he went,
   And there he took up his inn. {177}

 When other butchers they opened their meat,
   Bold Robin he then begun ;
 But how for to sell he knew not well,
   For a butcher he was but young.

 When other butchers no meat could sell,
   Robin got both gold and fee ;
 For he sold more meat for one peny
   Then others could do for three.

 But when he sold his meat so fast,
   No butcher by him could thrive ;
 For he sold more meat for one peny
   Than others could do for five.

 Which made the butchers of Nottingham
   To study as they did stand,
 Saying, Surely he ‘is’ some prodigal,
   That hath sold his fathers land.

 The butchers stepped to jolly Robìn,
   Acquainted with him for to be ;
 Come, brother, one said, we be all of one trade,
   Come, will you go dine with me ?

 Accurst of his heart, said jolly Robìn,
   That a butcher doth deny ;
 I will go with you, my brethren true,
   As fast as I can hie. {178}

 But when to the sheriffs house they came.
   To dinner they hied apace,
 And Robin Hood he the man must be
   Before them all to say grace.

 Pray god bless us all, said jolly Robìn,
   And our meat within this place ;
 A cup of sack so good will nourish our blood
   And so I do end my grace.

 Come fill us more wine, said jolly Robìn,
   Let us be merry while we do stay ;
 For wine and good cheer, be it never so dear,
   I vow I the reckning will pay.

 Come, ‘brothers,’ be merry, said jolly Robìn,
   Let us drink, and never give ore ;
 For the shot I will pay, ere I go my way,
   If it cost me five pounds and more.

 This is a mad blade, the butchers then said.
   Saies the sheriff, He is some prodigal,
 That some land has sold for silver and gold,
   And now he doth mean to spend all.

 Hast thou any horn beasts, the sheriff repli’d,
   Good fellow, to sell unto me ?
 “Yes, that I have, good master sheriff,
   I have hundreds two or three, {179}

 And a hundred aker of good free land,
   If you please it to see :
 And Ile make you as good assurance of it,
   As ever my father made me.”

 The sheriff he saddled his good palfrèy,
   And, with three hundred pound in gold,
 Away he went with bold Robin Hood,
   His horned beasts to behold.

 Away then the sheriff and Robin did ride,
   To the forrest of merry Sherwood,
 Then the sheriff did say, God bless us this day,
   From a man they call Robin Hood !

 But when a little farther they came,
   Bold Robin he chanced to spy
 A hundred head of good red deer,
   Come tripping the sheriff full nigh.

 “How like you my horn’d beasts, good master sheriff ?
   They be fat and fair for to see.”
 “I tell thee, good fellow, I would I were gone,
   For I like not thy company.”

 Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
   And blew but blasts three ;
 Then quickly anon there came Little John,
   And all his company. {180}

 What is your will, master ? then said Little John,
   Good master, come tell unto me.
 “I have brought hither the sheriff of Nottingham
   This day to dine with thee.”

 He is welcome to me, then said Little John,
   I hope he will honestly pay ;
 I know he has gold, if it be but well told,
   Will serve us to drink a whole day.

 Then Robin took his mantle from his back,
   And laid it upon the ground ;
 And out of the sheriffs portmantle
   He told three hundred pound.

 Then Robin he brought him thorow the wood,
   And set him on his dapple gray ;
 “O have me commended to your wife at home :”
   So Robin went laughing away.

[Illustration]

{181}

[Illustration]


VI.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE TANNER;

OR,

ROBIN HOOD MET WITH HIS MATCH:

“A merry and pleasant song relating the gallant and fierce combat
fought between Arthur Bland, a tanner of Nottingham, and Robin
Hood, the greatest and most noblest archer of England. Tune is,
Robin Hood and the Stranger.” From an old black letter copy in the
collection of Anthony a Wood.

 In Nottingham there lives a jolly tannèr,
       _With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
   His name is Arthur-a-Bland ;
 There is nere a squire in Nottinghamshire
   Dare bid bold Arthur stand. {182}

 With a long pike-staff upon his shouldèr,
   So well he can clear his way ;
 By two and by three he makes them to flee,
   For he hath no list to stay.

 And as he went forth, in a summers morning,
   Into the ‘forrest of merry’ Sherwood,
 To view the red deer, that range here and there,
   There met he with bold Robin Hood.

 As soon as bold Robin ‘he did’[293] espy,
   He thought some sport he would make,
 Therefore out of hand he bid him to stand,
   And thus to him ‘he’ spake :

 Why, what art thou, thou bold fellòw,
   That ranges so boldly here ?
 In sooth, to be brief, thou lookst like a thief,
   That comes to steal our kings deer.

 For I am a keeper in this forrest,
   The king puts me in trust
 To look to his deer, that range here and there ;
   Therefore stay thee I must.

 “If thou beest a keeper in this forrèst,
   And hast such a great command,
 ‘Yet’ thou must have more partakers in store,
   Before thou make me to stand.” {183}

 “Nay, I have no more partakers in store,
   Or any that I do not need ;
 But I have a staff of another oke graff,
   I know it will do the deed.

 For thy sword and thy bow I care not a straw,
   Nor all thine arrows to boot ;
 If I get a knop upon the bare scop,
   Thou can’st as well sh—e as shoote.”

 Speak cleanly, good fellow, said jolly Robìn,
   And give better terms to me ;
 Else Ile thee correct for thy neglect,
   And make thee more mannerly.

 Marry gep with a wenion ! quod Arthur-a-Bland,
   Art thou such a goodly man ?
 I care not a fig for thy looking so big,
   Mend thou thyself where thou can.

 Then Robin Hood he unbuckled his belt,
   And laid down his bow so long ;
 He took up a staff of another oke graff,
   That was both stiff and strong.

 Ile yield to thy weapon, said jolly Robìn,
   Since thou wilt not yield to mine ;
 For I have a staff of another oke graff,
   Not half a foot longer then thine. {184}

 But let me measure, said jolly Robìn,
   Before we begin our fray ;
 For I’le not have mine to be longer then thine,
   For that will be counted foul play.

 I pass not for length, bold Arthur reply’d,
   My staff is of oke so free ;
 Eight foot and a half, it will knock down a calf,
   And I hope it will knock down thee.

 Then Robin could no longer forbear,
   He gave him such a knock,
 Quickly and soon the blood came down,
   Before it was ten a clock.

 Then Arthur he soon recovered himself,
   And gave him such a knock on the crown,
 That from every side of bold Robin Hoods head,
   The blood came trickling down.

 Then Robin raged like a wild boar,
   As soon as he saw his own blood :
 Then Bland was in hast he laid on so fast,
   As though he had been cleaving of wood.

 And about, and about, and about they went,
   Like two wild bores in a chase,
 Striving to aim each other to maim,
   Leg, arm, or any other place. {185}

 And knock for knock they lustily dealt,
   Which held for two hours and more ;
 That all the wood rang at every bang,
   They ply’d their work so sore.

 Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
   And let thy quarrel fall ;
 For here we may thrash our bones all to mesh,
   And get no coyn at all :

 And in the forrest of merry Sherwood
   Heareafter thou shalt be free.
 “God a mercy for ‘nought,’ my freedom I bought,
   I may thank my staff, and not thee.”

 What tradesman art thou ? said jolly Robìn,
   Good fellow, I prithee me show ;
 And also me tell, in what place thou dost dwel :
   For both of these fain would I know.

 I am a tanner, bold Arthur reply’d,
   In Nottingham long have I wrought ;
 And if thou’lt come there, I vow and swear,
   I will tan thy hide for ‘nought.’

 God-a-mercy, good fellow, said jolly Robìn,
   Since thou art so kind and free ;
 And if thou wilt tan my hide for ‘nought,’
   I will do as much for thee. {186}

 And if thou’lt forsake thy tanners trade,
   And live in the green wood with me,
 My name’s Robin Hood, I swear by the ‘rood,’
   I will give thee both gold and fee.

 If thou be Robin Hood, bold Arthur reply’d,
   As I think well thou art,
 Then here’s my hand, my name’s Arthur-a-Bland,
   We two will never depart.

 But tell me, O tell me, where is Little John ?
   Of him fain would I hear ;
 For we are alide by the mothers side,
   And he is my kinsman dear.

 Then Robin Hood blew on the beugle horn,
   He blew full lowd and shrill ;
 But quickly anon appear’d Little John,
   Come tripping down a green hill ;

 O what is the matter ? then said Little John,
   Master, I pray you tell :
 Why do you stand with your staff in your hand ?
   I fear all is not well.

 “O man I do stand, and he makes me to stand,
   The tanner that stands thee beside ;
 He is a bonny blade, and master of his trade,
   For soundly he hath tan’d my hide.” {187}

 He is to be commended, then said Little John,
   If such a feat he can do ;
 If he be so stout, we will have a bout,
   And he shall tan my hide too.

 Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
   For as I do understand,
 He’s a yeoman good, of thine own blood,
   For his name is Arthur-a-Bland.

 Then Little John threw his staff away,
   As far as he could it fling,
 And ran out of hand to Arthur-a-Bland,
   And about his neck did cling.

 With loving respect, there was no neglect,
   They were neither ‘nice’ nor coy,
 Each other did face with a lovely grace,
   And both did weep for joy.

 Then Robin Hood took ‘them both’ by the hands,
   And danc’d round about the oke tree :
 “For three merry men, and three merry men,
   And three merry men we be :

 And ever hereafter as long as we live,
   We three will be ‘as’ one ;
 The wood it shall ring, and the old wife sing,
   Of Robin Hood, Arthur, and John.” {188}

[Music]

[Illustration]

{189}

[Illustration]


VII.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE TINKER.

From an old black letter copy in the library of Anthony a Wood. The
full title is—

 “A new song to drive away cold winter,
 Between Robin Hood and the jovial tinker :
     How Robin by a wile
     The Tinker he did cheat ;
     But at the length as you shall hear
     The Tinker did him beat ;
     Whereby the same they did then so agree,
     They after liv’d in love and unity.

 To the tune of, In summer time.”

 In summer time, when leaves grow green,
     _Down, a down, a down_.
   And birds sing on every tree,
     _Hey down, a down, a down_. {190}

 Robin Hood went to Nottingham,
   _Down, a down, a down_.
   As fast as hee could dree.
       _Hey down, a down, a down_.

 And as hee came to Nottingham,
   A tinker he did meet,
 And seeing him a lusty blade,
   He did him kindly greet.

 Where dost thou live ? quoth Robin Hood,
   I pray thee now mee tell :
 Sad news I hear there is abroad,
   I fear all is not well.

 What is that news ? the tinker said,
   Tell mee without delay :
 I am a tinker by my trade,
   And do live at Banburà.

 As for the news, quoth Robin Hood,
   It is but as I hear,
 Two tinkers were set ith’ stocks,
   For drinking ale and ‘beer.’

 If that be all, the tinker he said,
   As I may say to you,
 Your news is not worth a f—t,
   Since that they all bee true. {191}

 For drinking good ale and ‘beer,’
   You will not lose your part.
 No, by my faith, quoth Robin Hood,
   I love it with all my heart.

 What news abroad ? quoth Robin Hood,
   Tell me what thou dost hear :
 Seeing thou goest from town to town,
   Some news thou need not fear.

 All the news I have, the tinker said,
   I hear it is for good,
 It is to seek a bold outlàw,
   Which they call Robin Hood.

 I have a warrand from the king,
   To take him where I can ;
 If you can tell me where hee is,
   I will make you a man.

 The king would give a hundred pound
   That he could but him see ;
 And if wee can but now him get,
   It will serve thee and mee.

 Let me see that warrant, said Robin Hood,
   Ile see if it bee right ;
 And I will do the best I can
   For to take him this night. {192}

 That will I not, the tinker said,
   None with it I will trust ;
 And where hee is if you’ll not tell,
   Take him by force I must.

 But Robin Hood perceiving well
   How then the game would go,
 “If you would go to Nottingham,
   We shall find him I know.”

 The tinker had a crab-tree staff,
   Which was both good and strong,
 Robin hee had a good strong blade ;
   So they went both along.

 And when they came to Nottingham,
   There they both tooke their inn ;
 And they called for ale and wine,
   To drink it was no sin.

 But ale and wine they drank so fast,
   That the tinker hee forgot
 What thing he was about to do ;
   It fell so to his lot,

 That, while the tinker fell asleep,
   ‘Robin’ made haste[294] away,
 And left the tinker in the lurch,
   For the great shot to pay. {193}

 But when the tinker wakenèd,
   And saw that he was gone,
 He call’d then even for his host,
   And thus hee made his moan :

 I had a warrant from the king,
   Which might have done me good,
 That is to take a bold outlàw,
   Some call him Robin Hood :

 But now my warrant and mony’s gone,
   Nothing I have to pay ;
 And he that promis’d to be my friend,
   He is gone and fled away.

 That friend you tell on, said the host,
   They call him Robin Hood ;
 And when that first hee met with you,
   He ment you little good.

 “Had I but known it had been hee,
   When that I had him here,
 Th’ one of us should have tri’d our might
   Which should have paid full dear.

 In the mean time I will away,
   No longer here Ile bide,
 But I will go and seek him out,
   Whatever do me betide. {194}

 But one thing I would gladly know,
   What here I have to pay.”
 Ten shillings just, then said the host,
   “Ile pay without delay ;

 Or elce take here my working-bag,
   And my good hammer too ;
 And if that I light but on the knave,
   I will then soon pay you.”

 The onely way, then said the host,
   And not to stand in fear,
 Is to seek him among the parks,
   Killing of the kings deer.

 The tinker hee then went with speed,
   And made then no delay,
 Till he had found ‘bold’ Robin Hood,
   That they might have a fray.

 At last hee spy’d him in a park,
   Hunting then of the deer.
 What knave is that, quoth Robin Hood,
   That doth come mee so near ?

 No knave, no knave, the tinker said,
   And that you soon shall know ;
 Whether of us hath done any wrong,
   My crab-tree staff shall show. {195}

 Then Robin drew his gallant blade,
   Made then of trusty steel :
 But the tinker he laid on so fast,
   That he made Robin reel.

 Then Robins anger did arise,
   He fought right manfully,
 Until he had made the tinkèr
   Almost then fit to fly.

 With that they had a bout again,
   They ply’d their weapons fast ;
 The tinker threshed his bones so sore,
   He made him yeeld at last.

 A boon, a boon, Robin hee cryes,
   If thou wilt grant it mee.
 Before I do it, the tinker said,
   Ile hang thee on this tree.

 But the tinker looking him about,
   Robin his horn did blow ;
 Then came unto him Little John,
   And William Scadlock too.

 What is the matter, quoth Little John,
   You sit on th’ highway side ?
 “Here is a tinker that stands by,
   That hath paid well my hide.” {196}

 That tinker then, said Little John,
   Fain that blade I would see,
 And I would try what I could do,
   If hee’l do as much for me.

 But Robin hee then wish’d them both
   They should the quarrel cease,
 “That henceforth wee may bee as one,
   And ever live in peace.

 And for the jovial tinkers part,
   A hundred pounds Ile give
 In th’ year [for] to maintain him on,
   As long as he doth live.

 In manhood he is a mettled man,
   And a mettle man by trade ;
 Never thought I that any man
   Should have made mee so afraid.

 And if hee will bee one of us,
   Wee will take all one fare ;
 And whatsoever wee do get
   He shall have his full share.”

 So the tinker was content
   With them to go along,
 And with them a part to take :
   And so I end my song.

{197}

[Illustration]


VIII.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN ‘A’ DALE:

“Or a pleasant relation how a young gentleman, being in love with a
young damsel, ‘she’ was taken from him to be an old knight’s bride:
and how Robin Hood, pittying the young man’s case, took her from
the old knight, when they were going to be marryed, and restored
her to her own love again. To a pleasent northern tune, Robin Hood
in the green-wood stood.

 Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right,
 And took the damsel from the doting knight.”

From an old black letter copy in Major Pearson’s collection.

 Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
   All you that love mirth for to hear,
 And I will tell you of a bold outlàw,
   That lived in Nottinghamshire. {198}

 As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
   All under the green wood tree,
 There he was aware of a brave young man,
   As fine as fine might be.

 The youngster was cloathed in scarlet red,
   In scarlet fine and gay ;
 And he did frisk it over the plain,
   And chanted a round-de-lay.

 As Robin Hood next morning stood
   Amongst the leaves so gay,
 There did [he] espy the same young man
   Come drooping along the way.

 The scarlet he wore the day before
   It was clean cast away ;
 And at every step he fetcht a sigh,
   “Alack and a well a day ;”

 Then stepped forth brave Little John,
   And ‘Midge’[295] the millers son,
 Which made the young man bend his bow,
   When as he see them come.

 Stand off, stand off, the young man said,
   What is your will with me ?
 “You must come before our master straight,
   Under yon green wood tree.” {199}

 And when he came bold Robin before,
   Robin askt him courteously,
 O, hast thou any money to spare
   For my merry men and me ?

 I have no money, the young man said,
   But five shillings and a ring ;
 And that I have kept this seven long years,
   To have it at my wedding.

 Yesterday I should have married a maid,
   But she from[296] me was tane,
 And chosen to be an old knights delight,
   Whereby my poor heart is slain.

 What is thy name ? then said Robin Hood,
   Come tell me, without any fail.
 By the faith of my body, then said the young man,
   My name it is Allin a Dale.

 What will thou give me, said Robin Hood,
   In ready gold or fee,
 To help thee to thy true love again,
   And deliver her unto thee ?

 I have no money, then quoth the young man,
   No ready gold nor fee,
 But I will swear upon a book
   Thy true servant for to be. {200}

 “How many miles is it to thy true love ?
   Come tell me without guile.”
 By the faith of my body, then said the young man,
   It is but five little mile.

 Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
   He did neither stint nor lin,
 Until he came unto the church,
   Where Allin should keep his wedding.

 What hast thou here ? the bishop then said,
   I prithee now tell unto me.
 I am a bold harper, quoth Robin Hood,
   And the best in the north country.

 O welcome, O welcome, the bishop he said,
   That musick best pleaseth me.
 You shall have no musick, quoth Robin Hood,
   Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.

 With that came in a wealthy knight,
   Which was both grave and old,
 And after him a finikin lass,
   Did shine like the glistering gold.

 This is not a fit match, quod bold Robin Hood,
   That you do seem to make here,
 For since we are come into the church,
   The bride shall chuse her own dear. {201}

 Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
   And blew blasts two or three ;
 When four and twenty bowmen bold
   Came leaping over the lee.

 And when they came into the church-yard,
   Marching all on a row,
 The first man was Allin a Dale,
   To give bold Robin his bow.

 This is thy true love, Robin he said,
   Young Allin, as I hear say,
 And you shall be married at ‘this’ same time,
   Before we depart away.

 That shall not be, the bishop he said,
   For thy word shall not stand ;
 They shall be three times askt in the church,
   As the law is of our land.

 Robin Hood pull’d off the bishops coat,
   And put it upon Little John ;
 By the faith of my body, then Robin said,
   This ‘cloth’ does make thee a man.

 When Little John went into the quire,
   The people began to laugh ;
 He askt them seven times in the church,
   Lest three times should not be enough. {202}

 Who gives me this maid ? said Little John.
   Quoth Robin Hood, That do I ;
 And he that takes her from Allin a Dale,
   Full dearly he shall her buy.

 And thus having ended this merry weddìng,
   The bride lookt like a queen ;
 And so they return’d to the merry green-wood,
   Amongst the leaves so green.

[Illustration]

{203}

[Illustration]


IX.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE SHEPHERD.

“Shewing how Robin Hood, Little John, and the Shepherd fought a
sore combate.

 The shepherd fought for twenty pound, and Robin for bottle
     and bag,
 But the shepherd stout, gave them the rout, so sore they
     could not wag.
 Tune is, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.”

From two old black letter copies, one of them in the collection of
Anthony a Wood, the other in that of Thomas Pearson, Esq. At the
head of the former is a fine cut of Robin Hood.

 All gentlemen, and yeomen good,
       _Down, a down, a down, a down,_
   I wish you to draw near ;
 For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood
   Unto you I will declare.
       _Down a, &c._ {204}

 As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along,
   Some pastime for to spie,
 There he was aware of a jolly shephèrd,
   That on the ground did lie.

 Arise, arise, cried jolly Robìn,
   And now come let me see
 What’s in thy bag and bottle ; I say,
   Come tell it unto me.

 “What’s that to thee ? thou proud fellòw,
   Tell me as I do stand :
 What hast thou to do with by bag and bottle ?
   Let me see thy command.”

 “My sword, which hangeth by my side,
   Is my command I know ;
 Come, and let me taste of thy bottle,
   Or it may breed thy woe.”

 “The devil a drop, thou proud fellòw,
   Of my bottle thou shalt see,
 Until thy valour here be tried,
   Whether thou wilt fight or flee.”

 What shall we fight for ? cries Robin Hood,
   Come tell it soon to me ;
 Here is twenty pound in good red gold,
   Win it and take it thee. {205}

 The shepherd stood all in a maze,
   And knew not what to say :
 “I have no money, thou proud fellòw,
   But bag and bottle ile lay.”

 “I am content, thou shepherd swain,
   Fling them down on the ground ;
 But it will breed thee mickle pain,
   To win my twenty pound.”

 “Come draw thy sword, thou proud fellòw,
   Thou standest too long to prate ;
 This hook of mine shall let thee know,
   A coward I do hate.”

 So they fell to it, full hardy and sore,
   It was on a summers day,
 From ten till four in the afternoon
   The shepherd held him play.

 Robins buckler prov’d his ‘chief’[297] defence,
   And saved him many a bang,
 For every blow the shepherd gave
   Made Robins sword cry twang.

 Many a sturdie blow the shepherd gave,
   And that bold Robin found,
 Till the blood ran trickling from his head,
   Then he fell to the ground. {206}

 “Arise, arise, thou proud fellòw,
   And thou shalt have fair play,
 If thou wilt yield before thou go,
   That I have won the day.”

 A boon, a boon, cry’d bold Robìn,
   If that a man thou be,
 Then let me have my beugle horn,
   And blow but blasts three.

 Then said the shepherd to bold Robìn,
   To that I will agree ;
 ‘For’ if thou shouldst blow till to-morrow morn,
   I scorn one foot to flee.

 Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,
   And he blew with mickle main,
 Until he espied Little John
   Come tripping over the plain.

 “O who is yonder, thou proud fellòw,
   That comes down yonder hill ?”
 “Yonder is John, bold Robin Hoods man,
   Shall fight with thee thy fill.”

 What is the matter ? saies Little John,
   Master, come tell to me.
 My case is bad, cries Robin Hood,
   For the shepherd hath conquered me. {207}

 I am glad of that, cries Little John :
   Shepherd, turn thou to me ;
 For a bout with thee I mean to have,
   Either come fight or flee.

 “With all my heart, thou proud fellòw,
   For it never shall be said
 That a shepherds hook of thy sturdy look
   Will one jot be dismaied.”

 So they fell to it, full hardy and sore,
   Striving for victorie.
 Ile know, says John, ere we give o’er,
   Whether thou wilt fight or flee.

 The shepherd gave John a sturdie blow,
   With his hook under the chin.
 Beshrew thy heart, said little John,
   Thou basely dost begin.

 Nay, that is nothing, said the shephèrd,
   Either yield to me the daie,
 Or I will bang thy back and sides,
   Before thou goest thy way.

 What ! dost thou think, thou proud fellow,
   That thou canst conquer me ?
 Nay, thou shalt know, before thou go,
   Ile fight before ile flee. {208}

 Again the shepherd laid on him,
   ‘Just as he first begun.’
 Hold thy hand, cry’d bold Robìn,
   I will yield the wager won.

 With all my heart, said Little John,
   To that I will agree ;
 For he is the flower of shepherd swains,
   The like I did never see.

 Thus have you heard of Robin Hood,
   Also of Little John ;
 How a shepherd swain did conquer them :
   The like was never known.

[Illustration]

{209}

[Illustration]


X.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE CURTALL FRYER.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood;
corrected by a much earlier one in the Pepysian Library, printed by
H. Gosson, about the year 1610; compared with a later one in the
same collection. The full title is: “The famous battell betweene
Robin Hood and the curtall fryer. To a New Northerne tune.”

“The curtail fryer,” Dr. Stukeley says, “is a cordelier, from the
cord or rope which they wore round their wast, to whip themselves
with. They were,” adds he, “of the Franciscan order.” Our fryer,
however, is undoubtedly so called from his “curtall dogs,” or curs,
as we now say (Courtalt, F.) In fact, he is no fryer at all, but a
monk of Fountains Abbey, which was of the Cistercian order. {210}

 In summer time, when leaves grow green,
   And flowers are fresh and gay,
 Robin Hood and his merry men
   [They] were disposed to play.

 Then some would leape, and some would runne,
   And some would use artillery :
 “Which of you can a good bow draw,
   A good archèr for to be ?

 Which of you can kill a bucke,
   Or who can kill a doe ;
 Or who can kill a hart of Greece
   Five hundreth foot him fro ?”

 Will Scadlòcke he kild a bucke
   And Midge he kild a doe ;
 And Little John kild a hart of Greece,
   Five hundreth foot him fro.

 Gods blessing on thy heart, said Robin Hood,
   That hath such a shot for me ;
 I would ride my horse a hundred miles,
   To find one could match thee.

 That caused Will Scadlòcke to laugh,
   He laught full heartily :
 “There lives a curtall fryer in Fountaines-Abbey
   Will beate both him and thee. {211}

 The curtall fryer in Fountaines-Abbey
   Well can a strong bow draw,
 He will beat you and your yeomèn,
   Set them all on a row.”

 Robin Hood he tooke a solemne oath,
   It was by Mary free,
 That he would neither eate nor drinke,
   Till the fryer he did see.

 Robin Hood put on his harnesse good,
   On his head a cap of steel,
 Broad sword and buckler by his side,
   And they became him weele.

 He tooke his bow into his hand,
   It was made of a trusty tree,
 With a sheafe of arrowes at his belt,
   And to Fountaine-Dale went he.

 And comming unto Fountaine-Dale,
   No farther he would ride ;
 There he was aware of the curtall fryer,
   Walking by the water side.

 The fryer had on a harnesse good,
   On his head a cap of steel,
 Broad sword and buckler by his side,
   And they became him weele. {212}

 Robin Hood lighted off his horse,
   And tyed him to a thorne :
 “Carry me over the water, thou curtall fryer,
   Or else thy life’s forlorne.”

 The fryer tooke Robin Hood on his backe,
   Deepe water he did bestride,
 And spake neither good word nor bad,
   Till he came at the other side.

 Lightly leapt Robin offe the fryers backe ;
   The fryer said to him againe,
 Carry me over this water, [thou] fine fellòw,
   Or it shall breed thy paine.

 Robin Hood took the fryer on his backe,
   Deepe water he did bestride,
 And spake neither good word nor bad,
   Till he came at the other side.

 Lightly leapt the fryer off Robin Hoods backe,
   Robin Hood said to him againe,
 Carry me over this water, thou curtall fryer,
   Or it shall breede thy pain.

 The fryer tooke Robin on’s backe againe,
   And stept in to the knee.
 Till he came at the middle streame,
   Neither good nor bad spake he, {213}

 And comming to the middle streame,
   There he threw Robin in :
 “And chuse thee, chuse thee, fine fellòw,
   Whether thou wilt sink or swim.”

 Robin Hood swam to a bush of broome,
   The fryer to a wigger-wand ;
 Bold Robin Hood is gone to shore,
   And took his bow in his hand.

 One of his best arrowes under his belt
   To the fryer he let fly ;
 The curtall fryer, with his steele bucklèr,
   Did put that arrow by.

 “Shoot on, shoot on, thou fine fellòw,
   Shoot as thou hast begun,
 If thou shoot here a summers day,
   Thy marke I will not shun.”

 Robin Hood shot passing well,
   Till his arrows all were gane ;
 They tooke their swords and steele bucklèrs,
   They fought with might and maine,

 From ten o’th’ clock that [very] day,
   Till four i’ th’ afternoon ;
 Then Robin Hood came to his knees,
   Of the fryer to beg a boone. {214}

 “A boone, a boone, thou curtall fryer,
   I beg it on my knee ;
 Give me leave to set my horne to my mouth,
   And to blow blasts three.”

 That I will do, said the curtall fryer,
   Of my blasts I have no doubt ;
 I hope thoult blow so passing well,
   Till both thy eyes fall out.

 Robin Hood set his horne to his mouth,
   He blew out blasts three ;
 Halfe a hundreth yeomen, with bowes bent,
   Came raking over the lee.

 Whose men are these, said the fryèr,
   That come so hastily ?
 These men are mine, said Robin Hood ;
   Fryer, what is that to thee ?

 A boone, a boone, said the curtall fryer,
   The like I gave to thee ;
 Give me leave to set my fist to my mouth,
   And to whute whues three.

 That will I doe, said Robin Hood,
   Or else I were to blame ;
 Three whues in a fryers fist
   Would make me glad and faine. {215}

 The fryer set his fist to his mouth,
   And whuted whues three :
 Half a hundred good band-dogs
   Came running over the lee.

 “Here’s for every man a dog,
   And I myselfe for thee.”
 Nay, by my faith, said Robin Hood,
   Fryer, that may not be.

 Two dogs at once to Robin Hood did goe,
   The one behind, the other before,
 Robin Hoods mantle of Lincolne greene
   Off from his backe they tore.

 And whether his men shot east or west,
   Or they shot north or south,
 The curtall dogs, so taught they were,
   They kept ‘the’ arrows in their mouth.

 Take up thy dogs, said Little John,
   Fryer, at my bidding be.
 Whose man art thou, said the curtall fryer,
   Comes here to prate with me ?

 “I am Little John, Robin Hoods man,
   Fryer, I will not lie ;
 If thou take not up thy dogs soone,
   I’le take up them and thee.” {216}

 Little John had a bow in his hand,
   He shot with might and main ;
 Soon halfe a score of the fryers dogs
   Lay dead upon the plain.

 Hold thy hand, good fellow, said the curtall fryer,
   Thy master and I will agree ;
 And we will have new orders taken,
   With all the hast may be.

 “If thou wilt forsake fair Fountaines-dale,
   And Fountaines-Abbey free,
 Every Sunday throwout the yeere,
   A noble shall be thy fee :

 And every holliday through the yeere,
   Changed shall thy garment be,
 If thou wilt goe to faire Nottinghàm,
   And there remaine with me.”

 This curtall fryer had kept Fountaines-dale
   Seven long yeeres and more,
 There was neither knight, lord, nor earle,
   Could make him yeeld before.

[Illustration]

{217}

[Illustration]


XI.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE STRANGER.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.
The title now given to this ballad is that which it seems to have
originally borne, having been foolishly altered to “Robin Hood
newly revived.” The circumstances attending the second part will be
explained in a note.

The tune is already inserted, at the end of “Rood Hood and the
Tanner.”

 Come listen awhile, you gentlemen all,
     _With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
   That are this bower within,
 For a story of gallant bold Robin Hood,
   I purpose now to begin. {218}

 What time of day ? quod Robin Hood then.
   Quoth Little John, ’Tis in the prime.
 “Why then we will to the green wood gang,
   For we have no vittles to dine.”

 As Robin Hood walkt the forrest along,
   It was in the mid of the day,
 There he was met of a deft young man,
   As ever walkt on the way.

 His doublet was of silk ‘’tis’ said,
   His stockings like scarlet shone ;
 And he walked on along the way,
   To Robin Hood then unknown.

 A herd of deer was in the bend,
   All feeding before his face :
 “Now the best of you ile have to my dinner,
   And that in a little space.”

 Now the stranger he made no mickle adoe,
   But he bends and a right good bow,
 And the best of all the herd he slew,
   Forty good yards him froe.[298]

 Well shot, well shot, quod Robin Hood then,
   That shot it was shot in time ;
 And if thou wilt accept of the place,
   Thou shalt be a bold yeoman of mine. {219}

 Go play the chiven, the stranger said,
   Make haste and quickly go,
 Or with my fist, be sure of this,
   Ile give thee buffets sto’.

 Thou had’st not best buffet me, quod Robin Hood,
   For though I seem forlorn,
 Yet I have those will take my part,
   If I but blow my horn.

 Thou wast not best wind thy horn, the stranger said,
   Beest thou never so much in haste,
 For I can draw out a good broad sword,
   And quickly cut the blast.

 Then Robin Hood bent a very good bow,
   To shoot, and that he would fain ;
 The stranger he bent a very good bow,
   To shoot at bold Robin again.

 Hold thy hand, hold thy hand, quod Robin Hood,
   To shoot it would be in vain ;
 For if we should shoot the one at the other,
   The one of us may be slain.

 But let’s take our swords and our broad bucklèrs,
   And gang under yonder tree,
 As I hope to be sav’d, the stranger he said,
   One foot I will not flee. {220}

 Then Robin Hood lent the stranger a blow,
   ’Most scar’d him out of his wit :
 Thou never felt blow, the stranger he said,
   That shall be better quit.

 The stranger he drew out a good broad sword,
   And hit Robin on the crown,
 That from every haire of bold Robins head
   The blood ran trickling down.

 God a mercy, good fellow ! quod Robin Hood then,
   And for this that thou hast done,
 Tell me, good fellow, what thou art,
   Tell me where thou doest won.

 The stranger then answered bold Robin Hood,
   Ile tell thee where I do dwell ;
 In Maxwell town I was bred and born,
   My name is young Gamwell.

 For killing of my own fathers stewàrd,
   I am forc’d to this English wood,
 And for to seek an uncle of mine,
   Some call him Robin Hood.

 “But ‘art thou’ a cousin of Robin Hood then ?
   The sooner we should have done.”
 As I hope to be sav’d, the stranger then said,
   I am his own sisters son. {221}

 But, lord ! what kissing and courting was there,
   When these two cousins did greet !
 And they went all that summers day,
   And Little John did [not] meet.

 But when they met with Little John,
   He ‘unto them’ did say,
 O master, pray where have you been,
   You have tarried so long away ?

 I met with a stranger, quod Robin Hood,
   Full sore he hath beaten me.
 Then I’le have a bout with him, quod Little John,
   And try if he can beat me.

 Oh [no], oh no, quoth Robin Hood then,
   Little John, it may [not] be so ;
 For he is my own dear sisters son,
   And cousins I have no mo.

 But he shall be a bold yeoman of mine,
   My chief man next to thee ;
 And I Robin Hood, and thou Little John,
   And ‘Scadlock’ he shall be.

 And weel be three of the bravest outlàws
   That live in the north country,
 If ‘you will’ hear more of bold Robin Hood,
   In ‘the’ second part it will be. {222}


[PART THE SECOND.[299]]

 Now Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little John,
   Are walking over the plain,
 With a good fat buck, which Will Scadlòck
   With his strong bow had slain. {223}

 Jog on, jog on, cries Robin Hood,
   The day it runs full fast ;
 For tho’ my nephew me a breakfast gave,
   I have not yet broke my fast.

 Then to yonder lodge let us take our way,
   I think it wondrous good,
 Where my nephew by my bold yeomèn
   Shall be welcom’d unto the green-wood. {224}

 With that he took ‘his’ bugle-horn,
   Full well he could it blow ;
 Streight from the woods came marching down
   One hundred tall fellows and mo.

 Stand, stand to your arms, says Will Scadlòck,
   Lo ! the enemies are within ken.
 With that Robin Hood he laugh’d aloud,
   Crying, They are my bold yeomèn.

 Who, when they arriv’d, and Robin espy’d,
   Cry’d, Master, what is your will ?
 We thought you had in danger been,
   Your horn did sound so shrill.

 Nay nay, now nay, quoth Robin Hood,
   The danger is past and gone ;
 I would have you welcome my nephew here,
   That has paid me two for one.

 In feasting and sporting they passed the day,
   Till Phœbus sunk into the deep ;
 Then each one to his quarters hy’d,
   His guard there for to keep.

 Long had they not walked within the green-wood,
   But Robin he soon espy’d,
 A[300] beautiful damsel all alone,
   That on a black palfrey did ride. {225}

 Her riding-suit was of a sable hew black,
   Cypress over her face,
 Through which her rose-like cheeks did blush,
   All with a comely grace.

 Come tell me the cause, thou pretty one,
   Quoth Robin, and tell me aright,
 From whence thou comest, and whither thou goest,
   All in this mournful plight ?

 From London I came, the damsel reply’d,
   From London upon the Thames,
 Which circled is, O grief to tell !
   Besieg’d with foreign arms,

 By the proud prince of Arragon,
   Who swears by his martial hand
 To have the princess to his spouse,
   Or else to waste this land ;

 Except such champions can be found,
   That dare fight three to three,
 Against the prince, and giants twain,
   Most horrid for to see ;

 Whose grisly looks, and eyes like brands,
   Strike terrour where they come,
 With serpents hissing on their helms,
   Instead of feathered plume. {226}

 The princess shall be the victor’s prize,
   The king hath vow’d and said,
 And he that shall the conquest win,
   Shall have her to his bride.

 Now we are four damsels sent abroad,
   To the east, west, north, and south,
 To try whose fortune is so good
   To find these champions ‘out.’[301]

 But all in vain we have sought about,
   For none so bold there are
 That dare adventure life and blood,
   To free a lady fair.

 When is the day ? quoth Robin Hood,
   Tell me this and no more.
 On Midsummer next, the dam’sel said,
   Which is June the twenty-four.

 With that the tears trickled down her cheeks,
   And silent was her tongue ;
 With sighs and sobs she took her leave,
   Away her palfrey sprung.

 The news struck Robin to the heart,
   He fell down on the grass,
 His actions and his troubled mind
   Shew’d he perplexed was. {227}

 Where lies your grief ? quoth Will ‘Scadlòck,’
   O, master, tell to me :
 If the damsels eyes have pierc’d your heart,
   I’ll fetch her back to thee.

 Now nay, now nay, quoth Robin Hood,
   She doth not cause my smart ;
 But ’tis the poor distressed princèss,
   That wounds me to the heart ;

 I’ll go fight the [prince and] giants all,
   To set the lady free.
 The devil take my soul, quoth Little John,
   If I part with thy company.

 Must I stay behind ? quoth Will Scadlòck,
   No, no, that must not be ;
 I’le make the third man in the fight,
   So we shall be three to three.

 These words cheer’d Robin to the heart,
   Joy shone within his face,
 Within his arms he hugg’d them both,
   And kindly did imbrace.

 Quoth he, We’ll put on mothley grey,
   And long staves in our hands,
 A scrip and bottle by our sides,
   As come from the holy land. {228}

 So may we pass along the high-way,
   None will ask us from whence we came,
 But take us pilgrims for to be,
   Or else some holy men.

 Now they are on their journey gone,
   As fast as they may speed,
 Yet for all their haste, ere they arriv’d,
   The princess forth was led,

 To be deliver’d to the prince,
   Who in the list did stand,
 Prepar’d to fight, or else receive
   His lady by the hand.

 With that he walk’d about the lists,
   With giants by his side :
 Bring forth, said he, your champions,
   Or bring me forth my bride.

 This is the four and twentieth day,
   The day prefixt upon :
 Bring forth my bride, or London burns,
   I swear by ‘Alcaron.’[302] {229}

 Then cries the king, and queen likewise,
   Both weeping as they ‘spake,’ {230}
 Lo ! we have brought our daughter dear,
   Whom we are forc’d to forsake.

 With that stept out bold Robin Hood,
   Crys, My liege, it must not be so :
 Such beauty as the fair princèss
   Is not for a tyrants mow.

 The prince he then began to storm,
   Cries, Fool, fanatick, baboon ![303]
 How dare thou stop my valours prize ?
   I’ll kill thee with a frown.

 Thou tyrant Turk, thou infidel,
   Thus Robin began to reply,
 Thy frowns I scorn ; lo ! here’s my gage,
   And thus I thee defie.

 And for those two Goliahs there,
   That stand on either side,
 Here are two little Davids by,
   That soon can tame their pride.

 Then the king did for armour send,
   For lances, swords, and shields ;
 And thus all three in armour bright,
   Came marching to the field. {231}

 The trumpets began to sound a charge,
   Each singled out his man ;
 Their arms in pieces soon were hew’d,
   Blood sprang from every vain.

 The prince he reacht Robin Hood a blow,
   He struck with might and main,
 Which forc’d him to reel about the field,
   As though he had been slain.

 God-a-mercy, quoth Robin, for that blow !
   The quarrel shall soon be try’d ;
 This stroke shall shew a full divorce
   Betwixt thee and thy bride.

 So from his shoulders he’s cut his head,
   Which on the ground did fall,
 And grumbling sore at Robin Hood,
   To be so dealt withal.

 The giants then began to rage
   To see their prince lie dead :
 Thou’s be the next, quoth Little John,
   Unless thou well guard thy head.

 With that his faulchion he wherl’d about,
   It was both keen and sharp ;
 He clave the giant to the belt,
   And cut in twain his heart. {232}

 Will Scadlock well had play’d his part,
   The giant he had brought to his knee ;
 Quoth Will, The devil cannot break his fast,
   Unless he have you all three.

 So with his faulchion he run him through,
   A deep and ‘ghastly’ wound ;
 Who dam’d and foam’d, curst and blasphem’d,
   And then fell to the ground.

 Now all the lists with shouts were fill’d,
   The skies they did resound,
 Which brought the princess to herself,
   Who had fal’n in a swound.

 The king and queen, and princess fair,
   Came walking to the place,
 And gave the champions many thanks,
   And did them further grace.

 Tell me, quoth the king, whence you are,
   That thus disguised came,
 Whose valour speaks that noble blood
   Doth run through every vain.

 A boon, a boon, quoth Robin Hood,
   On my knees I beg and crave.
 By my crown, quoth the king, I grant,
   Ask what, and thou shalt have. {233}

 Then pardon I beg for my merry men,
   Which are in the green-wood,
 For Little John and Will Scadlock,
   And for me, bold Robin Hood.

 Art thou Robin Hood ? quoth the king ;
   For the valour thou hast shewn,
 Your pardons I do freely grant,
   And welcome every one,

 The princess I promise the victor’s prize,
   She cannot have you all three.
 She shall chuse, quoth Robin. Said Little John,
   Then little share falls to me.

 Then did the princess view all three,
   With a comely lovely grace,
 And took Will Scadlock by the hand,
   Saying, Here I make my choice.

 With that a noble lord stept forth,
   Of Maxfield earl was he,
 Who look’d Will Scadlock in the face,
   And wept most bitterly.

 Quoth he, I had a son like thee,
   Whom I lov’d wondrous well,
 But he is gone, or rather dead,
   His name it is young Gamwell. {234}

 Then did Will Scadlock fall on his knees,
   Cries, Father ! father ! here,
 Here kneels your son, your young Gamwèll,
   You said you lov’d so dear.

 But, lord ! what imbracing and kissing was there,
   When all these friends were met !
 They are gone to the wedding, and so to [the] bedding :
   And so I bid you good night.

[Illustration]

{235}

[Illustration]


XII.

ROBIN HOOD AND QUEEN KATHERINE.

From an old black letter copy in a private collection, compared
with another in that of Anthony a Wood. The full title is:
“Renowned Robin Hood; Or, His famous archery truly related in the
worthy exploits he acted before Queen Katherine, he being an outlaw
man; and how he obtained his own and his fellows pardon. To a new
tune.”

It is scarcely worth observing that there was no queen-consort
named KATHERINE before Henry the Fifth’s time; but as Henry the
Eighth had no less than three wives so called, the name would be
sufficiently familiar to our ballad-maker.

 Gold tane from the kings harbengers,
     _Downe, a downe, a downe_,
   As seldome hath beene seene,
     _Downe, a downe, a downe_,
 And carried by bold Robin Hood
   For a present to the queene,
     _Downe, a downe, a downe_. {236}

 If that I live a yeare to an end,
   Thus gan queene Katherine say,
 Bold Robin Hood, I will be thy friend,
   And all thy yeomen gay.

 The queene is to her chamber gone,
   As fast as she can wen ;
 She calls unto her lovely page,
   His name was Richard Patrington.

 “Come thou hither to mee, thou lovely page,
   Come thou hither to mee ;
 For thou must post to Nottingham.
   As fast as thou can dree ;

 And as thou goest to Nottingham,
   Search all the English wood,
 Enquire of one good yeoman or another,
   That can tell thee of Robin Hood.”

 Sometimes hee went, sometimes hee ran,
   As fast as hee could win ;
 And when hee came to Nottingham,
   There hee tooke up his inne.

 And when he came to Nottingham,
   And had tooke up his inne,
 He cals for a pottle of Rhenish wine,
   And dranke a health to his queene. {237}

 There sate a yeoman by his side,
   Tell mee, sweet page, said hee,
 What is thy businesse and the cause,
   So far in the north countrey ?

 This is my businesse and the cause,
   Sir, I’le tell it you for good,
 To enquire of one good yeoman or another,
   To tell mee of Robin Hood.

 “Ile get my horse betimes in the morne,
   By it be break of day,
 And I will shew thee bold Robin Hood,
   And all his yeomen gay.”

 When that he came at Robin Hoods place,
   Hee fell down on his knee :
 “Queen Katherine she doth greet you well,
   She greets you well by mee ;

 She bids you post to fair London court,
   Not fearing any thing ;
 For there shall be a little sport,
   And she hath sent you her ring.”

 Robin Hood tooke his mantle from his back,
   It was of the Lincolne greene,
 And sent it by this lovely page,
   For a present unto the queene. {238}

 In summer time, when leaves grow green,
   It’s a seemely sight to see,
 How Robin Hood himselfe had drest,
   And all his yeomandry.

 He clothed his men in Lincolne greene,
   And himselfe in scarlet red ;
 Blacke hats, white feathers, all alike,
   Now bold Robin Hood is rid :

 And when hee came at Londons court,
   Hee fell downe on his knee.
 Thou art welcome, Locksly, said the queen,
   And all thy good ‘yeomandree.’

 The king is into Finsbury field[304]
   Marching in battle-ray,
 And after follows bold Robin Hood,
   And all his yeomen gay. {239}

 Come hither, Tepus, said the king,
   Bow-bearer after mee ;
 Come measure me out with this line,
   How long our mark must be.

 What is the wager ? said the queene,
   That must I now know here.
 “Three hundred tun of Rhenish wine,
   Three hundred tun of beere ;

 Three hundred of the fattest harts
   That run on Dallom-lee.”[305]
 That’s a princely wager, said the king,
   That needs must I tell thee. {240}

 With that bespake one Clifton then,
   Full quickly and full soone,
 Measure no markes for us, most soveraigne liege,
   Wee’l shoot at sun and moone.

 “Full fifteene score your marke shall be,
   Full fifteene score shall stand.”
 Ile lay my bow, said Clifton then,
   Ile cleave the willow wand.

 With that the kings archers led about,
   While it was three, and none ;
 With that the ladies began to shout,
   “Madam, your game is gone.”

 A boone, a boone, queene Katherine cries,
   I crave it on my bare knee ;
 Is there any knight of your privy counsèl
   Of queen Katherines part will be ?

 Come hither to mee, sir Richard Lee,
   Thou art a knight full good ;
 For I do knowe by thy pedigree
   Thou sprung’st from Gowers blood.

 Come hither to me, thou bishop of Herefordshire :
   For a noble priest was hee.
 By my silver miter, said the bishop then,
   Ile not bet one peny. {241}

 The king hath archers of his own,
   Full ready and full light,
 And these be strangers every one,
   No man knowes what they hight.

 What wilt thou bet ? said Robin Hood,
   Thou seest our game the worse.
 By my silver miter, then said the bishop,
   All the money within my purse.

 What is in thy purse ? said Robin Hood,
   Throw it downe on the ground.
 Fifteen score nobles, said the bishop ;
   It’s neere an hundred pound.[306]

 Robin Hood took his bagge from his side,
   And threw it downe on the greene :
 William Scadlocke then went smiling away,
   “I know who this money must win.”

 With that the kings archers led about,
   While it was three and three ;
 With that the ladies gave a shout,
   “Woodcock, beware thy knee !” {242}

 It is three and three, now, said the king,
   The next three pays for all.
 Robin Hood went and whisper’d the queen,
   The kings part shall be but small.

 Robin Hood hee led about,
   Hee shot it under hand ;
 And Clifton with a bearing arrow,
   Hee clave the willow wand.

 And little Midge, the millers son,
   Hee shot not much the worse ;
 He shot within a finger of the prick :
   “Now, bishop, beware thy purse !”

 A boone, a boone, queene Katherine cries,
   I crave ‘it’ on my bare knee,
 That you will angry be with none
   That are of my partie.

 “They shall have forty daies to come,
   And forty daies to goe,
 And three times forty to sport and play ;
   Then welcome friend or foe.”

 Thou art welcome, Robin Hood, said the queene,
   And so is Little John,
 And so is Midge, the millers son ;
   Thrice welcome every one. {243}

 Is this Robin Hood ? now said the king,
   For it was told to me
 That he was slain in the palace gates,
   So far in the north country.

 Is this Robin Hood ? quoth the bishop then,
   As ‘it seems’[307] well to be :
 Had I knowne ‘it’ had been that bold outlàw,
   I would not [have] bet one peny.

 Hee tooke me late one Saturday at night,
   And bound mee fast to a tree,
 And made mee sing a masse, God wot,
   To him and his ‘yeomandree.’

 What, an if I did, saies Robin Hood,
   Of that masse I was faine ;
 For recompence of that, he saies,
   Here’s halfe thy gold againe.

 Now nay, now nay, saies Little John,
   Master, that shall not be ;
 We must give gifts to the kings officèrs ;
   That gold will serve thee and mee.

{244}

[Illustration]


XIII.

ROBIN HOOD’S CHASE:

“Or, a merry progress between Robin Hood and King Henry: Shewing
how Robin Hood led the king his chase from London to London; and
when he had taken his leave of the queen, he returned to merry
Sherwood. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Beggar.”

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.

 Come, you gallants all, to you I do call,
     _With hey down, down, an a down_,
   That now ‘are’ in this place ;
 For a song I will sing of Henry the king,
   How he did Robin Hood chase. {245}

 Queen Katherin she a match did[308] make,
   As plainly doth appear,
 For three hundred tun of good red wine,
   And three [hundred] tun of beere.

 But yet her archers she had to seek,
   With their bows and arrows so good ;
 But her mind it was bent with a good intent,
   To send for bold Robin Hood.

 But when bold Robin he came there,
   Queen Katherin she did say,
 Thou art welcome, Locksley, said the queen,
   And all thy yeomen gay.

 For a match of shooting I have made,
   And thou on my part must be.
 “If I miss the mark, be it light or dark,
   Then hanged I will be.”

 But when the game came to be played,
   Bold Robin he then drew nigh,
 With his mantle of green, most brave to be seen,
   He let his arrows fly.

 And when the game it ended was,
   Bold Robin wan it with a grace ;
 But after the king was angry with him,
   And vowed he would him chace. {246}

 What though his pardon granted was,
   While he with him did stay ;
 But yet the king was vexed at him,
   When as he was gone his way.

 Soon after the king from the court did hye,
   In a furious angry mood,
 And often enquired both far and near
   After bold Robin Hood.

 But when the king to Nottingham came,
   Bold Robin was in the wood :
 O, come now, said he, and let me see
   Who can find me bold Robin Hood.

 But when that bold Robin he did hear
   The king had him in chase,
 Then said Little John, ’Tis time to be gone,
   And go to some other place.

 And away they went from merry Sherwood,
   And into Yorkshire he did hye ;
 And the king did follow, with a hoop and a hallow,
   But could not come him nigh.

 Yet jolly Robin he passed along,
   ‘And went strait’ to Newcastle town ;
 And there ‘he’ stayed hours two or three,
   And ‘then’ to Barwick ‘is’[309] gone. {247}

 When the king did see how Robin did flee,
   He was vexed wondrous sore ;
 With a hoop and a hallow he vowed to follow,
   And take him, or never give ore.

 Come now let’s away, then crys Little John,
   Let any man follow that dare ;
 To Carlisle we’l hye, with our company,
   And so then to Lancastèr.

 From Lancaster then to Chester they went,
   And so did king Henry ;
 But Robin [went] away, for he durst not stay,
   For fear of some treachery.

 Says Robin, Come let us for London goe,
   To see our noble queens face,
 It may be she wants our company,
   Which makes the king so us chase.

 When Robin he came queene Katherin before,
   He fell low upon his knee :
 “If it please your grace, I am come to this place
   For to speak with king Henry.”

 Queen Katherine answered bold Robin[310] again,
   The king is gone to merry Sherwood ;
 And when he went away to me he did say,
   He would go and seek Robin Hood. {248}

 “Then fare you well, my gracious queen,
   For to Sherwood I will hye apace ;
 For fain would I see what he would with me,
   If I could but meet with his grace.”

 But when king Henry he came home,
   Full weary, and vexed in mind,
 And that he did hear Robin had been there,
   He blamed dame Fortune unkind.

 You’re welcome home, ‘queen’ Katherin cryed,
   Henry, my soveraign liege ;
 Bold Robin Hood, that archer good,
   Your person hath been to seek.

 But when king Henry he did ‘hear,’
   That Robin had been there him to seeke,
 This answer he gave, He’s a cunning knave,
   For I have sought him this whole three weeks.

 A boon ! a boon ! ‘queen’ Katherin cry’d,
   I beg it here ‘of’ your grace,
 To pardon his life, and seek not strife :
   And so endeth Robin Hoods chase.

[Illustration]

{249}

[Illustration]


XIV.

ROBIN HOOD’S GOLDEN PRIZE.

    “He met two priests upon the way,
     And forced them with him to pray;
     For gold they prayed, and gold they had,
     Enough to make bold Robin glad;
     His share came to four hundred pound,
     That then was told upon the ground.
     Now mark, and you shall hear the jest,
     You never heard the like exprest.

 Tune is, Robin Hood was a tall young man, &c.”

This ballad (given from an old black letter copy in the collection
of Anthony a Wood) was entered (amongst others) in the Stationers’
book, by Francis Coule, 13th June 1631, and by Francis Grove, 2d
June 1656.

 I have heard talk of Robin Hood,
     _Derry, derry down_,
   And of brave Little John,
 Of fryer Tuck, and Will Scarlèt,
   Loxley, and maid Mariòn. {250}

 But such a tale as this before
   I think was never knone :
 For Robin Hood disguised himself,
   And ‘from’[311] the wood is gone.

 Like to a fryer bold Robin Hood
   Was accoutered in his array ;
 With hood, gown, beeds, and crucifix,
   He past upon the way.

 He had not gone miles two or three,
   But it was his chance to spy
 Two lusty priests, clad all in black,
   Come riding gallantly.

 _Benedicite_, then said Robin Hood,
   Some pitty on me take ;
 Cross you my hand with a silver groat,
   For our dear ladies sake.

 For I have been wandring all this day,
   And nothing could I get ;
 Not so much as one poor cup of drink,
   Nor bit of bread to eat.

 Now, by our holy dame, the priests repli’d,
   We never a peny have ;
 For we this morning have been rob’d,
   And could no money save. {251}

 I am much afraid, said bold Robin Hood,
   That you both do tell a lie ;
 And now before you do go hence,
   I am resolv’d to try.

 When as the priests heard him say so,
   Then they rode away amain ;
 But Robin Hood betook to his heels,
   And soon overtook them again.

 Then Robin Hood laid hold of them both,
   And pull’d them down from their horse :
 O spare us, fryer ! the priests cry’d out,
   On us have some remorse !

 You said you had no mony, quoth he,
   Wherefore, without delay,
 We three will fall down on our knees,
   And for mony we will pray.

 The priests they could not him gainsay,
   But down they kneeled with speed :
 Send us, O send us, then quoth they,
   Some mony to serve our need.

 The priests did pray with a mournful chear,
   Sometimes their hands did wring ;
 Sometimes they wept, and cried aloud,
   Whilst Robin did merrily sing. {252}

 When they had been praying an hours space,
   The priests did still lament ;
 Then quoth bold Robin, Now let’s see
   What mony heaven hath us sent.

 We will be sharers all alike
   Of [the] mony that we have ;
 And there is never a one of us
   That his fellow shall deceive.

 The priests their hands in their pockets put,
   But mony would find none :
 We’l search ourselves, said Robin Hood,
   Each other, one by one.

 Then Robin[312] took pains to search them both,
   And he found good store of gold,
 Five hundred peeces presently
   Upon the grass was told.

 Here is a brave show, said Robin Hood,
   Such store of gold to see,
 And you shall each one have a part,
   Cause you prayed so heartily.

 He gave them fifty pounds a-peece,
   And the rest for himself did keep :
 The priests [they] durst not speak one word,
   But they sighed wondrous deep.

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIARS.]

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND THE FRIARS]

{253}

 With that the priests rose up from their knees,
   Thinking to have parted so :
 Nay, nay, says Robin Hood, one thing more
   I have to say ere you go.

 You shall be sworn, said bold Robin Hood,
   Upon this holy grass,
 That you will never tell lies again,
   Which way soever you pass.

 The second oath that you here must take,
   That all the days of your lives,
 You shall never tempt maids to sin,
   Nor lie with other mens wives.

 The last oath you shall take, it is this,
   Be charitable to the poor ;
 Say, you have met with a holy fryar,
   And I desire no more.

 He set them on their horses again,
   And away then they did ride ;
 And he return’d to the merry green-wood,
   With great joy, mirth, and pride.

[Illustration]

{254}

[Illustration]


XV.

ROBIN HOOD’S RESCUING WILL STUTLY.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.
The full title is: “Robin Hood his rescuing Will Stutly from the
sheriff and his men, who had taken him prisoner, and was going to
hang him. To the tune of Robin Hood and Queen Katherine.”[313]

 When Robin Hood in the green wood liv’d,
     _Derry, derry down_,
   Under the green wood tree,
 Tidings there came to him with speed,
   Tidings for certainty ;
     _Hey down, derry, derry down_ ; {255}

 That Will Stutly surprized was,
   And eke in prison lay ;
 Three varlets that the sheriff had hired,
   Did likely him betray :

 “I, and to-morrow hanged must be,
   To-morrow as soon as it is day ;
 Before they could this victory get,
   Two of them did Stutly slay.”

 When Robin Hood he heard this news,
   Lord ! he was grieved sore ;
 And to his merry men he did say,
   (Who altogether swore),

 That Will Stutly should rescued be,
   And be brought ‘back’ again ;
 Or else should many a gallant wight
   For his sake there be slain.

 He cloathed himself in scarlet ‘red,’
   His men were all in green ;
 A finer shew, throughout the world,
   In no place could be seen.

 Good lord ! it was a gallant sight
   To see them all on a row ;
 With every man a good broad sword,
   And eke a good yew bow. {256}

 Forth of the green wood are they gone,
   Yea all couragiously,
 Resolving to bring Stutly home,
   Or every man to die.

 And when they came the castle neer,
   Whereas Will Stutly lay,
 I hold it good, saith Robin Hood,
   Wee here in ambush stay,

 And send one forth some news to hear,
   To yonder palmer fair,
 That stands under the castle wall,
   Some news he may declare.

 With that steps forth a brave young man,
   Which was of courage bold,
 Thus did hee speak to the old man :
   I pray thee, palmer old,

 Tell me, if that thou rightly ken,
   When must Will Stutly die,
 Who is one of bold Robin’s men,
   And here doth prisoner lie ?

 Alack ! alass ! the palmer said,
   And for ever wo is me !
 Will Stutly hanged must be this day,
   On yonder gallows-tree. {257}

 O had his noble master known,
   He would some succour send ;
 A few of his bold yeomandree
   Full soon would fetch him hence.

 I, that is true, the young man said ;
   I, that is true, said he ;
 Or, if they were neer to this place,
   They soon would set him free.

 But fare ‘thee’ well, thou good old man,
   Farewell, and thanks to thee ;
 If Stutly hanged be this day,
   Reveng’d his death will be.

 Hee was no sooner from the palmer gone,
   But the gates ‘were’ open’d wide,
 And out of the castle Will Stutly came,
   Guarded on every side.

 When hee was forth of the castle come,
   And saw no help was nigh,
 Thus he did say to the sherìff,
   Thus he said gallantly :

 Now seeing that I needs must die,
   Grant me one boon, said he,
 For my noble master nere had a man,
   That yet was hang’d on the tree. {258}

 Give me a sword all in my hand,
   And let mee be unbound,
 And with thee and thy men Ile fight,
   Till I lie dead on the ground.

 But his desire he would not grant,
   His wishes were in vain ;
 For the sheriff had sworn he hanged should be,
   And not by the sword be slain.

 Do but unbind my hands, he saies,
   I will no weapons crave,
 And if I hanged be this day,
   Damnation let me have.

 O no, O no, the sheriff said,
   Thou shalt on the gallows die,
 I, and so shall thy master too,
   If ever in me it lie.

 O, dastard coward ! Stutly cries,
   Thou faint-heart pesant slave !
 If ever my master do thee meet,
   Thou shalt thy paiment have.

 My noble master ‘doth thee’ scorn,
   And all thy ‘coward’ crew ;
 Such silly imps unable are,
   Bold Robin to subdue. {259}

 But when he was to the gallows come,
   And ready to bid adiew,
 Out of a bush leaps Little John,
   And comes Will Stutly ‘to’ :

 “I pray thee, Will, before thou die,
   Of thy dear friends take leave :—
 I needs must borrow him for a while,
   How say you, master ‘shrieve’ ?”

 Now, as I live, the sheriff he said,
   That varlet will I know ;
 Some sturdy rebell is that same,
   Therefore let him not go.

 Then Little John most hastily,
   Away cut Stutly’s bands,
 And from one of the ‘sheriffs’ men,
   A sword twicht from his hands.

 “Here, Will, here, take thou this same,
   Thou canst it better sway ;
 And here defend thyself awhile,
   For aid will come straightway.”

 And there they turn’d them back to back,
   In the middle of them that day,
 Till Robin Hood approached near,
   With many an archer gay. {260}

 With that an arrow by them flew,
   I wist from Robin Hood ;
 Make haste, make haste, the sheriff he said,
   Make haste, for it is good.

 The sheriff is gon, his ‘doughty’[314] men
   Thought it no boot to stay,
 But, as their master had them taught,
   ‘They’ run full fast away.

 O stay, O stay, Will Stutly said,
   Take leave ere you depart ;
 You neere will catch bold Robin Hood,
   Unless you dare him meet.

 O ill betide you, quoth Robin Hood,
   That you so soon are gone ;
 My sword may in the scabbord rest,
   For here our work is done.

 I little thought, ‘Will Stutly said,’[315]
   When I came to this place,
 For to have met with Little John,
   Or seen my masters face.

 Thus Stutly was at liberty set,
   And safe brought from his foe :
 “O thanks, O thanks to my mastèr,
   Since here it was not so : {261}

 And once again, my fellows [all],
   We shall in the green woods meet,
 Where we [will] make our bow-strings twang,
   Musick for us most sweet.”

[Illustration]

{262}

[Illustration]


XVI.

THE NOBLE FISHER-MAN;

OR,

ROBIN HOOD’S PREFERMENT:

“Shewing how he won a prize on the sea, and how he gave the one
halfe to his dame, and the other to the building of almes-houses.
The tune is, In summer time, &c.”

From three old black letter copies, one in the collection of
Anthony a Wood, another in the British Museum, and the third in a
private collection.

 In summer-time, when leaves grow green,
   When they doe grow both green and long,—
 Of a bold outlaw, call’d Robin Hood,
   It is of him I sing this song,— {263}

 When the lilly leafe, and the ‘eglantine,’
   Doth bud and spring with a merry cheere,
 This outlaw was weary of the wood-side,
   And chasing of the fallow-deere.

 “The fisher-men brave more mony have
   Than any merchants two or three ;
 Therefore I will to Scarborough go,
   That I a fisherman brave may be.”

 This outlaw called his merry men all,
   As they sate under the green-wood tree :
 “If any of you have gold to spend,
   I pray you heartily spend it with me.”

 Now, quoth Robin Hood, Ile to Scarborough go,
   It seems to be a very faire day.
 ‘He’ tooke up his inne at a widdow-womans house,
   Hard by upon the water gray :

 Who asked of him, Where wert thou borne ?
   Or tell to me where dost thou fare ?
 I am a poor fisherman, said he then,
   This day intrapped all in care.

 “What is thy name, thou fine fellòw,
   I pray thee heartily tell it to mee ?”
 “In my own country, where I was borne,
   Men call me Simon over the Lee.” {264}

 Simon, Simon, said the good-wife,
   I wish thou mayest well brook thy name.
 The out-law was ware of her courtesie,
   And rejoyced he had got such a dame.

 “Simon, wilt thou be my man ?
   And good round wages Ile give thee ;
 I have as good a ship of my own,
   As any sails upon the sea :

 Anchors and planks thou shalt not want,
   Masts and ropes that are so long.”
 And if you thus do furnish me,
   Said Simon, nothing shall goe wrong.

 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
   More of a day then two or three ;
 When others cast in their baited hooks,
   The bare lines into the sea cast he.

 It will be long, said the master then,
   Ere this great lubber do thrive on the sea ;
 I’le assure you he shall have no part of our fish,
   For in truth he is no part worthy.

 O woe is me ! said Simon then,
   This day that ever I came here !
 I wish I were in Plompton parke,
   In chasing of the fallow deere. {265}

 For every clowne laughs me to scorne,
   And they by me set nought at all ;
 If I had them in Plompton park,
   I would set as little by them all.

 They pluckt up anchor, and away did sayle,
   More of a day then two or three :
 But Simon espyed a ship of warre,
   That sayled towards them most valorously.

 O woe is me ! said the master then,
   This day that ever I was borne !
 For all our fish we have got to day,
   Is every bit lost and forlorne.

 For your French robbers on the sea,
   They will not spare of us one man,
 But carry us to the coast of France,
   And ligge us in the prison strong.

 But Simon said, Doe not feare them,
   Neither, mastèr, take you no care ;
 Give me my bent bow in my hand,
   And never a Frenchman will I spare.

 “Hold thy peace, thou long lubbèr,
   For thou art nought but brags and boast ;
 If I should cast thee over-board,
   There’s but a simple lubber lost.” {266}

 Simon grew angry at these words,
   And so angry then was he,
 That he took his bent bow in his hand,
   And in the ship-hatch goe doth he.

 Master, tye me to the mast, saith he,
   That at my mark I may stand fair,
 And give me my bent bow in my hand,
   And never a Frenchman will I spare.

 He drew his arrow to the very head,
   And drew it with all might and maine,
 And straightway in the twinkling of an eye,
   ‘To’ the Frenchmans heart the ‘arrow’s gane.’[316]

 The Frenchman fell down on the ship-hatch,
   And under the hatches ‘there’ below ;
 Another Frenchman, that him espy’d,
   The dead corpse into the sea doth throw.

 O master, loose me from the mast, he said,
   And for them all take you no care ;
 For give me my bent bow in my hand,
   And never a Frenchman will I spare.

 Then streight [they] boarded the French ship,
   They lyeing all dead in their sight ;
 They found within ‘that’ ship of warre,
   Twelve thousand pound of mony bright. {267}

 The one halfe of the ship, said Simon then,
   Ile give to my dame and [her] children small ;
 The other halfe of the ship Ile bestow
   On you that are my fellowes all.

 But now bespake the master then,
   For so, Simon, it shall not be,
 For you have won it with your own hand,
   And the owner of it you shall bee.

 “It shall be so, as I have said ;
   And, with this gold, for the opprest
 An habitation I will build,
   Where they shall live in peace and rest.”

[Illustration]

{268}

[Illustration]


XVII.

ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT:

“Or, a merry combat fought between Robin Hood, Little John, and
Will Scarelock, and three stout Keepers in Sheerwood Forrest.

 Robin was valiant and stout,
   So was Scarelock and John in the field,
 But these Keepers stout did give them rout,
   And made them all for to yield.
 But after the battel ended was,
   Bold Robin did make them amends,
 For claret and sack they did not lack,
   So drank themselves good friends.

To the tune of, Robin Hood and Queen Katherine; or, Robin Hood and
the Shepheard.”

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.
{269}

 There’s some will talk of lords and knights,
     _Doun, a doun, a doun_,
   And some of yeomen good ;
 But I will tell you of Will Scarlòck,
   Little John, and Robin Hood.
     _Doun, a doun, a doun, a doun._

 They were outlaws, ’tis well known,
   And men of a noble blood ;
 And many a time was their valour shown
   In the forrest of merry Sheerwood.

 Upon a time it chanced so,
   As Robin[317] would have it be,
 They all three would a walking go,
   The pastime for to see.

 And as they walked the forest along,
   Upon a Midsummer day,
 There was they aware of three keepèrs,
   Clad all in green aray.

 With brave long faucheons by their sides
   And forrest-bills in hand,
 They call’d aloud to those bold outlàws,
   And charged them to stand. {270}

 Why, who are you, cry’d bold Robìn,
   That ‘speak’ so boldly here ?
 “We three belong to King Henry,
   And are keepers of his deer.”

 The devil ‘you are !’ sayes Robin Hood,
   I am sure that it is not so ;
 We be the keepers of this forrèst,
   And that you soon shall know.

 Come, your coats of green lay on the ground,
   And so will we all three,
 And take your swords and bucklers round,
   And try the victory.

 We be content, the keepers said,
   We be three, and you no less,
 Then why should we be of you afraid,
   ‘As’ we never did transgress ?

 “Why, if you be three keepers in this forrèst,
   Then we be three rangers good,
 And will make you know before you do go,
   You meet with bold Robin Hood.”

 “We be content, thou bold outlàw,
   Our valour here to try,
 And will make you know, before we do go,
   We will fight before we will fly. {271}

 Then, come draw your swords, you bold outlàws,
   No longer stand to prate,
 But let us try it out with blows,
   For cowards we do hate.

 Here is one of us for Will Scarlòck,
   And another for Little John,
 And I myself for Robin Hood,
   Because he is stout and strong.”

 So they fell to it hard and sore,
   It was on a Midsummers day ;
 From eight of the clock till two and past,
   They all shewed gallant play.

 There Robin, and Will, and Little John,
   They fought most manfully,
 Till all their winde was spent and gone,
   Then Robin aloud did cry :

 O hold, O hold, cries bold Robìn,
   I see you be stout men ;
 Let me blow one blast on my bugle-horn,
   Then Ile fight with you again.

 “That bargain’s to make, bold Robin Hood,
   Therefore we it deny ;
 Thy blast upon the bugle-horn
   Cannot make us fight or fly. {272}

 Therefore fall on, or else be gone,
   And yield to us the day :
 It never shall be said that we are afraid
   Of thee, nor thy yeomen gay.”

 If that be so, cries bold Robìn,
   Let me but know your names,
 And in the forrest of merry Sheerwood,
   I shall extol your fames.

 And with our names, one of them said,
   What hast thou here to do ?
 Except that you wilt fight it out,
   Our names thou shalt not know.

 We will fight no more, sayes bold Robìn,
   You be men of valour stout ;
 Come and go with me to Nottingham,
   And there we will fight it out.

 With a but of sack we will bang it ‘about,’
   To see who wins the day ;
 And for the cost make you no doubt,
   I have gold ‘enough’ to pay.

 And ever hereafter so long as we live,
   We all will brethren be ;
 For I love these men with heart and hand,
   That will fight and never flee. {273}

 So, away they went to Nottinghàm,
   With sack to make amends ;
 For three days they the wine did chase,
   And drank themselves good friends.

[Illustration]

{274}

[Illustration]


XVIII.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR.

“Shewing how Robin Hood and the Beggar fought, and how he changed
cloaths with the Beggar, and how he went a begging to Nottingham;
and how he saved three brethren from being hang’d for stealing of
deer. To the tune of Robin Hood and the Stranger.”

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood.

 Come and listen, you gentlemen all,
     _Hey down, down, an a down_,
   That mirth do love for to hear,
 And a story true Ile tell unto you,
   If that you will but draw near. {275}

 In elder times, when merriment was,
   And archery was holden good,
 There was an outlàw, as many ‘do’ know,
   Which men called Robin Hood.

 Upon a time it chanced so,
   Bold Robin was merry disposed,
 His time for to spend he did intend
   Either with friends or foes.

 Then he got upon a gallant brave steed,
   The which was worth angels ten,
 With a mantle of green, most brave to be seen,
   He left all his merry men.

 And riding towards Nottingham,
   Some pastime for to ’spy,
 There was he aware of a jolly beggàr,
   As ere he beheld with his eye.

 An old pacht coat the beggar had on,
   Which he daily did use to wear ;
 And many a bag about him did wag,
   Which made Robin[318] to him repair.

 God speed, God speed, said Robin Hood,
   What countryman ? tell to me.
 “I am Yorkshire, sir ; but, ere you go far,
   Some charity give unto me.” {276}

 Why, what wouldst thou have ? said Robin Hood,
   I pray thee tell unto me.
 No lands nor livings, the beggar he said,
   But a penny for charitie.

 I have no money, said Robin Hood then,
   But a ranger within the wood ;
 I am an outlaw, as many do know,
   My name it is Robin Hood.

 But yet I must tell the, bonny beggàr,
   That a bout with [thee] I must try ;
 Thy coat of grey, lay down I say,
   And my mantle of green shall lye by.

 Content, content, the beggar he cry’d,
   Thy part it will be the worse ;
 For I hope this bout to give thee the rout,
   And then have at thy purse.

 So the beggar he had a mickle long staffe,
   And Robin[319] a nut-brown sword ;
 So the beggar drew nigh, and at Robin let fly,
   But gave him never a word.

 Fight on, fight on, said Robin Hood then,
   This game well pleaseth me.
 For every blow that Robin gave,
   The beggar gave buffets three. {277}

 And fighting there full hard and sore,
   Not far from Nottingham town,
 They never fled, till from Robin Hoods head
   The blood came trickling down.

 O, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood then,
   And thou and I will agree.
 If that be true, the beggar he said,
   Thy mantle come give unto me.

 Now a change, a change, cri’d Robin Hood,
   Thy bags and coat give me ;
 And this mantle of mine Ile to thee resign,
   My horse and my braverie.

 When Robin[320] had got the beggars clothes,
   He looked round about ;
 Methinks, said he, I seem to be
   A beggar brave and stout.

 For now I have a bag for my bread,
   So I have another for corn ;
 I have one for salt, and another for malt,
   And one for my little horn.

 And now I will a begging goe,
   Some charitie for to find.
 And if any more of Robin you’ll know,
   In ‘the’ second part ’tis behind. {278}

 Now Robin he is to Nottingham bound,
   With his bag hanging down to his knee,
 His staff, and his coat, scarce worth a groat,
   Yet merrilie passed he.

 As Robin he passed the streets along,
   He heard a pittiful cry ;
 Three brethren dear, as he did hear,
   Condemned were to dye.

 Then Robin he highed to the sheriffs [house],
   Some reliefe for to seek ;
 He skipt, and leapt, and capered full high,
   As he went along the street.

 But when to the sheriffs doore he came,
   There a gentleman fine and brave,
 Thou beggar, said he, come tell unto me
   What it is thou wouldest have.

 No meat, nor drink, said Robin Hood then,
   That I come here to crave ;
 But to get the lives of yeomen three,
   And that I fain would have.

 That cannot be, thou bold beggàr,
   Their fact it is so clear ;
 I tell to thee, they hanged must be,
   For stealing of our king’s deer. {279}

 But when to the gallows they did come,
   There was many a weeping eye :
 O, hold your peace, said Robin Hood then,
   For certain ‘they shall’ not dye.

 Then Robin he set his horn to his mouth,
   And he blew out blastes three,
 Till a hundred bold archers brave
   Came kneeling down to his knee.

 What is your will, mastèr ? they said,
   We are at your command.
 Shoot east, shoot west, said Robin Hood then,
   And see you spare no man.

 Then they shot east, and they shot west,
   Their arrows were so keen ;
 The sheriffe he, and his companie,
   No longer ‘could’ be seen.

 Then he stept to those brethren three,
   And away he has them tane ;
 The sheriffe was crost, and many a man lost,
   That dead lay on the plain.

 And away they went into the merry green wood,
   And sung with a merry glee ;
 And Robin Hood took these brethren good
   To be of his yeomandrie.

{280}

[Illustration]

XIX.

LITTLE JOHN AND THE FOUR BEGGARS.

From an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a Wood:
the full title being, “A new merry song of Robin Hood and Little
John, shewing how Little John went a begging, and how he fought
with the four beggers, and what a prize he got of the four beggers.
The tune is, Robin Hood and the Begger.”

 All you that delight to spend some time,
     _With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
   A merry song for to sing,
 Unto me draw neer, and you shall hear
   How Little John went a beggìng. {281}

 As Robin Hood walked the forest along,
   And all his yeomandree.
 Sayes Robin, Some of you must a begging go,
   And, Little John, it must be thee.

 Sayes John, If I must a begging go,
   I will have a palmer’s weed,
 With a staff and a coat, and bags of all sort,
   The better then I may speed.

 Come, give me now a bag for my bread,
   And another for my cheese,
 And one for a peny, when as I get any,
   That nothing I may leese.

 Now Little John he is a begging gone,
   Seeking for some relief ;
 But of all the beggers he met on the way,
   Little John he was the chief.

 But as he was walking himself alone,
   Four beggers he chanced to spy,
 Some deaf, and some blind, and some came behind ;
   Sayes John, Heres a brave company.

 Good-morrow, said John, my brethren dear,
   Good fortune I had you to see ;
 Which way do you go ? pray let me know,
   For I want some company. {282}

 O ! what is here to do ? then said Little John :
   Why ring all these bells ? said he ;
 What dog is a hanging ? Come, let us be ganging,
   That we the truth may see.

 Here is no dog a hanging, then one of them said,
   Good fellow, we tell unto thee ;
 But here is one dead, that will give us cheese and bread,
   And it may be one single penny,

 We have brethren in London, another he said,
   So have we in Coventry,
 In Barwick and Dover, and all the world over,
   But ne’er a crookt carril like thee.

 Therefore stand thee back, thou crooked carèl,
   And take that knock on the crown.
 Nay, said Little John, Ile not yet be gone,
   For a bout will I have of you round.

 Now have at you all, then said Little John,
   If you be so full of your blows ;
 Fight on all four, and nere give ore,
   Whether you be friends or foes.

 John nipped the dumb, and made him to rore,
   And the blind ‘he made to’[321] see ;
 And he that a cripple had been seven years,
   He made run then faster than he. {283}

 And flinging them all against the wall,
   With many a sturdie bang,
 It made John sing, to hear the gold ring,
   Which again the walls cryed twang.

 Then he got out of the beggers cloak,
   Three hundred pound in gold,
 Good fortune had I, then said Little John,
   Such a good sight to behold.

 But what found he in the beggar’s bag
   But three hundred pound and three ?
 “If I drink water while this doth last,
   Then an ill death may I dye :

 And my begging trade I will now give ore,
   My fortune hath bin so good ;
 Therefore Ile not stay, but I will away,
   To the forrest of merry Sherwood.”

 And when to the forrest of Sherwood he came,
   He quickly there did see
 His master good, bold Robin Hood,
   And all his company.

 What news ? What news ? then said Robin Hood,
   Come, Little John, tell unto me ;
 How hast thou sped with thy beggers trade ?
   For that I fain would see. {284}

 No news but good, said Little John,
   With begging ful wel I have sped ;
 Six hundred and three I have here for thee,
   In silver and gold so red.

 ‘Then’ Robin Hood took Little John by the hand,
   And danced about the oak tree :
 “If we drink water while this doth last,
   Then an il death may we die.”

 So to conclude my merry new song,
   All you that delight it to sing ;
 ’Tis of Robin Hood, that archer good,
   And how Little John went a beggìng.

[Illustration]

{285}

[Illustration]


XX.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE RANGER:

OR,

TRUE FRIENDSHIP AFTER A FIERCE FIGHT.

No ancient copy of this ballad having been met with, it is given
from an edition of “Robin Hood’s Garland,” printed some years since
at York. The tune is Arthur a Bland.

 When Phœbus had melted the ‘sickles’ of ice,
       _With a hey down, &c._
   And likewise the mountains of snow,
 Bold Robin Hood he would ramble away,
   To frolick abroad with his bow. {286}

 He left all his merry men waiting behind,
   Whilst through the green vallies he pass’d,
 Where he did behold a forester bold,
   Who cry’d out, Friend, whither so fast ?

 I am going, quoth Robin, to kill a fat buck,
   For me and my merry men all ;
 Besides, ere I go, I’ll have a fat doe,
   Or else it shall cost me a fall.

 You’d best have a care, said the forester then,
   For these are his majesty’s deer ;
 Before you shall shoot, the thing I’ll dispute,
   For I am head forester here.

 These thirteen long summers, quoth Robin, I’m sure,
   My arrows I here have let fly,
 Where freely I range ; methinks it is strange
   You should have more power than I.

 This forest, quoth Robin, I think is my own,
   And so are the nimble deer too ;
 Therefore I declare, and solemnly swear,
   I’ll not be affronted by you.

 The forester he had a long quarter-staff,
   Likewise a broad sword by his side ;
 Without more ado, he presently drew
   Declaring the truth should be try’d. {287}

 Bold Robin Hood had a sword of the best,
   Thus, ere he would take any wrong,
 His courage was flush, he’d venture a brush,
   And thus they fell to it ding dong.

 The very first blow that the forester gave,
   He made his broad weapon cry twang ;
 ’Twas over the head, he fell down for dead,
   O that was a damnable bang !

 But Robin he soon recovered himself,
   And bravely fell to it again ;
 The very next stroke their weapons they broke,
   Yet never a man there was slain.

 At quarter-staff then they resolved to play,
   Because they would have the other bout ;
 And brave Robin Hood right valiantly stood,
   Unwilling he was to give out.

 Bold Robin he gave him very hard blows,
   The other return’d them as fast ;
 At every stroke their jackets did smoke ;
   Three hours the combat did last

 At length in a rage the forester grew,
   And cudgel’d bold Robin so sore,
 That he could not stand, so shaking his hand,
   He cry’d, Let us freely give o’er. {288}

 Thou art a brave fellow, I needs must confess
   I never knew any so good ;
 Thou art fitting to be a yeoman for me,
   And range in the merry green wood.

 I’ll give thee this ring as a token of love,
   For bravely thou hast acted thy part ;
 That man that can fight, in him I delight,
   And love him with all my whole heart.

 Robin Hood set his bugle-horn to his mouth,
   A blast then he merrily blows ;
 His yeomen did hear, and strait did appear
   A hundred with trusty long bows.

 Now Little John came at the head of them all,
   Cloath’d in a rich mantle of green ;
 And likewise the rest were gloriously drest,
   A delicate sight to be seen !

 Lo ! these are my yeomen, said bold Robin Hood,
   And thou shalt be one of the train :
 A mantle and bow, and quiver also,
   I give them whom I entertain.

 The forester willingly enter’d the list,
   They were such a beautiful sight ;
 Then with a long bow they shot a fat doe,
   And made a rich supper that night. {289}

 What singing and dancing was in the green wood,
   For joy of another new mate !
 With might and delight they spent all the night,
   And liv’d at a plentiful rate.

   The forester ne’er was so merry before,
 As then he was with these brave souls,
   Who never would fail, in wine, beer, or ale,
 To take off their cherishing bowls.

 Then Robin Hood gave him a mantle of green,
   Broad arrows, and curious long bow :
 This done, the next day, so gallant and gay,
   He marched them all on a row.

 Quoth he, My brave yeomen, be true to your trust,
   And then we may range the woods wide.
 They all did declare, and solemnly swear,
   They would conquer, or die by his side.

[Illustration]

{290}

[Illustration]


XXI.

ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN:

“Being an account of their first meeting, their fierce encounter,
and conquest. To which is added, their friendly agreement; and how
he came to be called Little John. Tune of Arthur a Bland.”

This ballad is named in a schedule of such things under an
agreement between W. Thackeray and others in 1689 (Col. Pepys. vol.
5), but is here given as corrected from a copy in the “Collection
of Old Ballads,” 1723.

The notion that Little John obtained this appellation, ironically,
from his superior stature, though doubtless ill-founded, is of
considerable antiquity. See “Notes and Illustrations to the Life,”
p. cxvi.

 When Robin Hood was about twenty years old,
     _With a hey down, down, and a down_ ;
   He happen’d to meet Little John,
 A jolly brisk blade, right fit for the trade,
   For he was a lusty young man. {291}

 Tho’ he was call’d Little, his limbs they were large,
   And his stature was seven foot high ;
 Whereever he came, they quak’d at his name,
   For soon he would make them to fly.

 How they came acquainted, I’ll tell you in brief,
   If you would but listen awhile ;
 For this very jest, among all the rest,
   I think it may cause you to smile.

 For Robin Hood said to his jolly bowmèn,
   Pray tarry you here in this grove ;
 And see that you all observe well my call,
   While thorough the forest I rove.

 We have had no sport for these fourteen long days,
   Therefore now abroad will I go ;
 Now should I be beat, and cannot retreat,
   My horn I will presently blow.

 Then did he shake hands with his merry men all,
   And bid them at present good b’ w’ye :
 Then, as near the brook his journey he took,
   A stranger he chanc’d to espy.

 They happen’d to meet on a long narrow bridge,
   And neither of them would give way ;
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, and sturdily stood,
   I’ll shew you right Nottingham-play. {292}

 With that from his quiver an arrow he drew,
   A broad arrow with a goose-wing.
 The stranger reply’d, I’ll liquor thy hide,
   If thou offer to touch the string.

 Quoth bold Robin Hood, Thou dost prate like an ass,
   For were I to bend but my bow,
 I could send a dart, quite thro’ thy proud heart,
   Before thou could’st strike me one blow.

 Thou talk’st like a coward, the stranger reply’d ;
   Well arm’d with a long bow you stand,
 To shoot at my breast, while I, I protest,
   Have nought but a staff in my hand.

 The name of a coward, quoth Robin, I scorn,
   Therefore my long bow I’ll lay by ;
 And now, for thy sake, a staff will I take,
   The truth of thy manhood to try.

 Then Robin Hood stept to a thicket of trees,
   And chose him a staff of ground oak ;
 Now this being done, away he did run
   To the stranger, and merrily spoke :

 Lo ! see my staff is lusty and tough,
   Now here on the bridge we will play ;
 Whoever falls in, the other shall win
   The battle, and so we’ll away. {293}

 With all my whole heart, the stranger reply’d,
   I scorn in the least to give out ;
 This said, they fell to’t without more dispute,
   And their staffs they did flourish about.

 At first Robin he gave the stranger a bang,
   So hard that he made his bones ring :
 The stranger he said, This must be repaid,
   I’ll give you as good as you bring.

 So long as I am able to handle a staff,
   To die in your debt, friend, I scorn.
 Then to it each goes, and follow’d their blows,
   As if they’d been threshing of corn.

 The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown,
   Which caused the blood to appear ;
 Then Robin enrag’d, more fiercely engag’d,
   And follow’d his blows more severe.

 So thick and so fast did he lay it on him,
   With a passionate fury and ire ;
 At every stroke he made him to smoke,
   As if he had been all on fire.

 O then into fury the stranger he grew,
   And gave him a damnable look,
 And with it a blow that laid him full low,
   And tumbl’d him into the brook. {294}

 I prithee, good fellow, O where art thou now ?
   The stranger, in laughter, he cry’d.
 Quoth bold Robin Hood, Good faith, in the flood,
   And floating along with the tide.

 I needs must acknowledge thou art a brave soul,
   With thee I’ll no longer contend ;
 For needs must I say, thou hast got the day,
   Our battel shall be at an end.

 Then unto the bank he did presently wade,
   And pull’d himself out by a thorn ;
 Which done, at the last he blow’d a loud blast
   Straitway on his fine bugle-horn :

 The eccho of which through the vallies did fly,
   At which his stout bowmen appear’d,
 All cloathed in green, most gay to be seen,
   So up to their master they steer’d.

 O, what’s the matter ? quoth William Stutely,
   Good master, you are wet to the skin.
 No matter, quoth he, the lad which you see
   In fighting hath tumbl’d me in.

 He shall not go scot-free, the others reply’d ;
   So strait they were seizing him there,
 To duck him likewise : but Robin Hood cries,
   He is a stout fellow ; forbear. {295}

 There’s no one shall wrong thee, friend, be not afraid ;
   These bowmen upon me do wait ;
 There’s threescore and nine ; if thou wilt be mine,
   Thou shalt have my livery strait,

 And other accoutrements fit for a man ;
   Speak up, jolly blade, never fear :
 I’ll teach you also the use of the bow,
   To shoot at the fat fallow deer.

 O, here is my hand, the stranger reply’d,
   I’ll serve you with all my whole heart ;
 My name is John Little, a man of good mettle ;
   Ne’re doubt me, for I’ll play my part.

 His name shall be alter’d, quoth William Stutely,
   And I will his godfather be ;
 Prepare then a feast, and none of the least,
   For we will be merry, quoth he.

 They presently fetch’d him a brace of fat does,
   With humming strong liquor likewise ;
 They lov’d what was good ; so, in the green wood,
   This pretty sweet babe they baptize.

 He was, I must tell you, but seven foot high,
   And, may be, an ell in the waste ;
 A sweet pretty lad : much feasting they had ;
   Bold Robin the christ’ning grac’d, {296}

 With all his bowmen, which stood in a ring,
   And were of the Nottingham breed ;
 Brave Stutely came then, with seven yeomèn,
   And did in this manner proceed :

 This infant was called John Little, quoth he ;
   Which name shall be changed anon :
 The words we’ll transpose ; so whereever he goes,
   His name shall be call’d Little John.

 They all with a shout made the elements ring ;
   So soon as the office was ore,
 To feasting they went, with true merriment,
   And tippl’d strong liquor gillore.

 Then Robin he took the pretty sweet babe,
   And cloath’d him from top to the toe,
 In garments of green, most gay to be seen,
   And gave him a curious long bow.

 “Thou shalt be an archer, as well as the best,
   And range in the green wood with us ;
 Where we’ll not want gold nor silver, behold,
   While bishops have ought in their purse.

 We live here like ‘squires, or lords of renown,
   Without ere a foot of free land ;
 We feast on good cheer, with wine, ale, and beer,
   And ev’ry thing at our command.” {297}

 Then musick and dancing did finish the day ;
   At length, when the sun waxed low,
 Then all the whole train the grove did refrain,
   And unto their caves they did go.

 And so, ever after, as long as he liv’d,
   Altho’ he was proper and tall,
 Yet, nevertheless, the truth to express,
   Still Little John they did him call.

[Illustration]

{298}

[Illustration]


XXII.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD.

This excellent ballad, given from the common edition of
Aldermary-church-yard (compared with the York copy), is supposed to
be modern; the story, however, seems alluded to in the ballad of
“Renowned Robin Hood.” The full title is “The Bishop of Hereford’s
entertainment by Robin Hood and Little John, &c. in merry
Barnsdale.” The tune is added from an engraved sheet.

 Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood,
   And some of barons bold ;
 But I’ll tell you how he serv’d the bishop of Herefòrd,
   When he robb’d him of his gold. {299}

 As it befel, in merry Barnsdale,
   ‘All’ under the green-wood-tree,
 The bishop of Hereford was to come by,
   With all his company.

 Come, kill [me] a ven’son, said bold Robin Hood,
   Come, kill me a good fat deer,
 The bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
   And he shall pay well for his cheer.

 We’ll kill a fat ven’son, said bold Robin Hood,
   And dress it by the highway side ;
 And we will watch the bishop narrowly,
   Lest some other way he should ride.

 Robin Hood dress’d himself in shepherd’s attire,
   With six of his men also ;
 And, when the bishop of Hereford came by,
   They about the fire did go.

 O what is the matter ? then said the bishòp,
   Or for whom do you make this a-do ?
 Or why do you kill the king’s ven’son,
   When your company is so few ?

 We are shephèrds, said bold Robin Hood,
   And we keep sheep all the year,
 And we are disposed to be merry this day,
   And to kill of the king’s fat deer. {300}

 You are brave fellows ! said the bishòp,
   And the king of your doings shall know :
 Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
   For before the king you shall go.

 O pardon, O pardon, said bold Robin Hood,
   O pardon, I thee pray ;
 For it becomes not your lordships coat
   To take so many lives away.

 No pardon, no pardon, said the bishòp,
   No pardon I thee owe ;
 Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
   For before the king you shall go.

 Then Robin set his back against a tree,
   And his foot against a thorn,
 And from underneath his shepherds coat
   He pull’d out a bugle-horn.

 He put the little end to his mouth,
   And a loud blast did he blow,
 Till threescore and ten of bold Robin’s men
   Came running all on a row ;

 All making obeysance to bold Robin Hood ;
   ’Twas a comely sight for to see.
 What is the matter, master, said Little John,
   That you blow so hastily ? {301}

 “O here is the bishop of Herefòrd,
   And no pardon we shall have.”
 Cut off his head, master, said Little John,
   And throw him into his grave.

 O pardon, O pardon, said the bishòp,
   O pardon I thee pray ;
 For if I had known it had been you,
   I’d have gone some other way.

 No pardon, no pardon, said bold Robin Hood,
   No pardon I thee owe ;
 Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
   For to merry Barnsdale you shall go.

 Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,
   And led him to merry Barnsdale ;
 He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
   And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

 Call in a reckoning, said the bishòp,
   For methinks it grows wond’rous high.
 Lend me your purse, master, said Little John,
   And I’ll tell you bye and bye.

 Then Little John took the bishop’s cloak,
   And spread it upon the ground,
 And out of the bishop’s portmantua
   He told three hundred pound. {302}

 Here’s money enough, master, said Little John,
   And a comely sight ’tis to see ;
 It makes me in charity with the bishòp,
   Tho’ he heartily loveth not me.

 Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,
   And he caused the music to play ;
 And he made the [old] bishop to dance in his boots,
   And glad he could so get away.

[Music]

[Illustration]

{303}

[Illustration]


XXIII.

ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW’S THREE SONS FROM THE SHERIFF WHEN
GOING TO BE EXECUTED.

This ballad, from the York edition of “Robin Hood’s Garland,” is
probably one of the oldest extant of which he is the subject. In
the more common editions is a modernised copy, in which the “silly
old woman” is converted into “a gay lady;” but even this is more
ancient than many of the pieces here inserted, and is entitled, by
its merit, to a place in the Appendix.

The circumstance of Robin’s changing clothes with the palmer is,
possibly, taken from an old romance intitled “The noble hystory
of the moost excellent and myghty prynce and hygh renowmed knyght
kynge Ponthus of Galyce and of lytell Brytayne, Enprynted at London
in Flete strete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn de Worde, In
the yere of our lorde god, M.CCCCC.XI.,” 4to, b. l., sig. I. 6:
“And as he [Ponthus] rode he met with a poore palmer beggynge his
brede the whiche had his gowne all to clouted and an olde pylled
hatte, so he alyght and sayd to the palmer, frende we shall make a
chaunge of all our garmentes, for {304} ye shall have my gowne and
I shall have yours and your hatte. A syr sayd the palmer ye bourde
you with me. In good fayth sayd Ponthus I do not, so he dyspoyled
hym and cladde hym with all his rayment, and he put vpon hym the
poore mannes gowne, his gyrdell, his hosyn, his shone, his hatte,
and his bourden.”

 There are twelve months in all the year,
   As I hear many say,
 But the merriest month in all the year
   Is the merry month of May.

 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone
   With a link a down, and a day,
 And there he met a silly old woman
   Was weeping on the way.

 “What news ? what news ? thou silly old woman,
   What news hast thou for me ?”
 Said she, There’s three squires in Nottingham town,
   To-day ‘are’[322] condemned to die.

 Oh, have they parishes burnt ? he said,
   Or have they ministers slain ?
 Or have they robbed any virgìn ?
   Or with other men’s wives have lain ?

 “They have no parishes burnt, good sir,
   Nor yet have ministers slain,
 Nor have they robbed any virgìn,
   Nor with other men’s wives have lain.” {305}

 Oh, what have they done ? said Robin Hood,
   I pray thee tell to me.
 “It’s for slaying of the kings fallow deer,
   Bearing their long bows with thee.”

 Dost thou not mind, old woman, he said,
   Since thou made me sup and dine ?
 By the truth of my body, quoth bold Robin Hood,
   You could not tell it in better time.

 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
   With a link, a down, and a ‘day,’[323]
 And there he met with a silly old palmer,
   Was walking along the highway.

 “What news ? what news ? thou silly old man,
   What news, I do thee pray ?”
 Said he, Three squires in Nottingham town,
   Are condemn’d to die this day.

 “Come change thy apparel with me, old man,
   Come change thy apparel for mine ;
 Here is forty shillings in good silvèr,
   Go drink it in beer or wine.”

 Oh, thine apparel is good, he said,
   And mine is ragged and torn ;
 Wherever you go, wherever you ride,
   Laugh ne’er an old man to scorn. {306}

 “Come change thy apparel with me, old churl,
   Come change thy apparel with mine ;
 Here are twenty pieces of good broad gold,
   Go feast thy brethren with wine.”

 Then he put on the old man’s hat,
   It stood full high on the crown ;
 “The first bold bargain that I come at,
   It shall make thee come down.”

 Then he put on the old man’s cloak,
   Was patch’d black, blew, and red ;
 He thought it no shame, all the day long,
   To wear the bags of bread.

 Then he put on the old man’s breeks,
   Was patch’d from ballup to side :
 By the truth of my body, bold Robin can say,
   This man lov’d little pride.

 Then he put on the old man’s hose,
   Were patch’d from knee to wrist :
 By the truth of my body, said bold Robin Hood,
   I’d laugh if I had any list.

 Then he put on the old man’s shoes,
   Were patch’d both beneath and aboon ;
 Then Robin Hood swore a solemn oath,
   It’s good habit that makes a man. {307}

 Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone,
   With a link a down and a down,
 And there he met with the proud sherìff,
   Was walking along the town.

 Oh ‘Christ you’ save, oh, sheriff, he said,[324]
   Oh ‘Christ you save and’ see ;
 And what will you give to a silly old man
   To-day will your hangman be ?

 Some suits, some suits, the sheriff he said,
   Some suits, I’ll give to thee ;
 Some suits, some suits, and pence thirteen,
   To-day’s a hangman’s fee.

 Then Robin he turns him round about,
   And jumps from stock to stone :
 By the truth of my body, the sheriff he said,
   That’s well jumpt, thou nimble old man.

 I was ne’er a hangman in all my life,
   Nor yet intends to trade ;
 But curst be he, said bold Robin,
   That first a hangman was made.

 I’ve a bag for meal, and a bag for malt,
   And a bag for barley and corn ;
 A bag for bread, and a bag for beef,
   And a bag for my little small horn. {308}

 I have a horn in my pockèt.
   I got it from Robin Hood,
 And still when I set it to my mouth,
   For ‘thee’[325] it blows little good.

 “Oh, wind thy horn, thou proud fellòw,
   Of thee I have no doubt ;
 I wish that thou give such a blast,
   Till both thy eyes fall out.”

 The first loud blast that he did blow,
   He blew both loud and shrill ;
 A hundred and fifty of Robin Hoods men
   Came riding over the hill.

 The next loud blast that he did give,
   He blew both loud and amain,
 And quickly sixty of Robin Hoods men,
   Came shining over the plain.

 Oh, who are ‘those,’ the sheriff he said,
   Come tripping over the lee ?
 They’re my attendants, brave Robin did say,
   They’ll pay a visit to thee.

 They took the gallows from the slack,
   They set it in the glen,
 They hang’d the proud sherìff on that,
   Releas’d their own three men.

{309}

[Illustration]


XXIV.

ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN.

This ballad, which has never been inserted in any of the
publications intitled “Robin Hood’s Garland” (and, perhaps, was
not worth inserting here), is given from an old black letter copy
in the collection of Anthony a Wood. Its full title is, “A famous
battle between Robin Hood and Maid Marian; declaring their love,
life, and liberty. Tune, Robin Hood Reviv’d” (see before, p. 217).

 A bonny fine maid of a noble degree,
     _With a hey down, down, a down, down_,
   Maid Marian call’d by name,
 Did live in the North, of excellent worth,
   For shee was a gallant dame. {310}

 For favour and face, and beauty most rare,
   Queen Hellen shee did excell :
 For Marian then was prais’d of all men,
   That did in the country dwell.

 ’Twas neither Rosamond nor Jane Shore,
   Whose beauty was clear and bright,
 That could surpass this country lass,
   Beloved of lord and knight.

 The earl of Huntington, nobly born,
   That came of noble blood,
 To Marian went, with a good intent,
   By the name of Robin Hood.

 With kisses sweet their red lips did meet,
   For she and the earl did agree ;
 In every place, they kindly embrace,
   With love and sweet unity.

 But fortune bearing these lovers a spight,
   That soon they were forced to part :
 To the merry green wood then went Robin Hood,
   With a sad and sorrowfull heart.

 And Marian, poor soul, was troubled in mind,
   For the absence of her friend ;
 With finger in eye, shee often did cry,
   And his person did much comend. {311}

 Perplexed and vexed, and troubled in mind,
   Shee drest herself like a page,
 And ranged the wood, to find Robin Hood,
   The bravest of men in that age.

 With quiver and bow, sword, buckler, and all,
   Thus armed was Marian most bold,
 Still wandering about to find Robin out,
   Whose person was better then gold.

 But Robin Hood, hee himself had disguis’d,
   And Marian was strangly attir’d,
 That they prov’d foes, and so fell to blowes,
   Whose vallour bold Robin admir’d.

 They drew out their swords, and to cutting they went,
   At least an hour or more,
 That the blood ran apace from bold Robins face,
   And Marian was wounded sore.

 O hold thy hand, hold thy hand, said Robin Hood,
   And thou shalt be one of my string,
 To range in the wood with bold Robin Hood,
   And hear the sweet nightingall sing.

 When Marian did hear the voice of her love,
   Herself shee did quickly discover,
 And with kisses sweet she did him greet,
   Like to a most loyall lover. {312}

 When bold Robin Hood his Marian did see,
   Good lord, what clipping was there !
 With kind embraces, and jobbing of faces,
   Providing of gallant cheer.

 For Little John took his bow in his hand,
   And ‘wandred’[326] in the wood,
 To kill the deer, and make good chear,
   For Marian and Robin Hood.

 A stately banquet ‘they’ had full soon,
   All in a shaded bower,
 Where venison sweet they had to eat,
   And were merry that present hour.

 Great flaggons of wine were set on the board,
   And merrily they drunk round
 Their boules of sack, to strengthen the back,
   Whilst their knees did touch the ground.

 First Robin Hood began a health
   To Marian his onely dear ;
 And his yeomen all, both comly and tall,
   Did quickly bring up the rear :

 For in a brave venie they tost off the bouls,
   Whilst thus they did remain ;
 And every cup, as they drunk up,
   They filled with speed again. {313}

 At last they ended their merryment,
   And went to walk in the wood,
 Where Little John, and Maid Mariàn,
   Attended on bold Robin Hood.

 In sollid content together they liv’d,
   With all their yeomen gay ;
 They liv’d by ‘their’ hands, without any lands,
   And so they did many a day.

 But now to conclude an end I will make,
   In time as I think it good ;
 For the people that dwell in the North can tell
   Of Marian and bold Robin Hood.

[Illustration]

{314}

[Illustration]


XXV.

THE KING’S DISGUISE, AND FRIENDSHIP WITH ROBIN HOOD,

from the common collection of Aldermary-church-yard, seems to be
taken from the old legend in Part I., and to have been written by
some miserable retainer to the press, merely to eke out the book;
being, in fact, a most contemptible performance.

The two concluding lines (the same with those of the next ballad)
refer to song xxvii., which they have once immediately preceded.

 King Richard hearing of the pranks
   Of Robin Hood and his men,
 He much admir’d, and more desired
   To see both him and them. {315}

 Then, with a dozen of his lords,
   To Nottingham he rode ;
 When he came there, he made good cheer,
   And took up his abode.

 He having staid there some time,
   But had no hopes to speed,
 He and his lords, with one accord,
   All put on monks weeds.

 From Fountain-abbey they did ride,
   Down to Barnsdale ;
 Where Robin Hood prepared stood
   All company to assail.

 The king was higher than the rest,
   And Robin thought he had
 An abbot been whom he had seen,
   To rob him he was glad.

 He took the king’s horse by the head,
   Abbot, says he, abide ;
 I am bound to rue such knaves as you,
   That live in pomp and pride.

 But we are messengers from the king,
   The king himself did say ;
 Near to this place his royal grace
   To speak with thee does stay. {316}

 God save the king, said Robin Hood,
   And all that wish him well ;
 He that does deny his sovereignty,
   I wish he was in hell.

 Thyself thou cursedst, says the king,
   For thou a traitor art.
 “Nay, but that you are his messenger,
   I swear you lie in heart.

 For I never yet hurt any man
   That honest is and true ;
 But those who give their minds to live
   Upon other mens due.

 I never hurt the ‘husbandmen’
   That use to till the ground :
 Nor spill their blood who range the wood,
   To follow hawk or hound.

 My chiefest spite to clergy is,
   Who in these days bear great sway ;
 With fryars and monks, with their fine sprunks,
   I make my chiefest prey.”

 But I am very glad, says Robin Hood,
   That I have met you here ;
 Come, before we end, you shall, my friend,
   Taste of our green-wood cheer. {317}

 The king he then did marvel much,
   And so did all his men ;
 They thought with fear, what kind of cheer,
   Robin would provide for them.

 Robin took the kings horse by the head,
   And led him to his tent :
 Thou wouldst not be so us’d, quoth he,
   But that my king thee sent.

 Nay, more than that, quoth Robin Hood,
   For good king Richards sake,
 If you had as much gold as ever I told,
   I would not one penny take.

 Then Robin set his horn to his mouth,
   And a loud blast he did blow,
 Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men,
   Came marching all of a row.

 And when they came bold Robin before,
   Each man did bend his knee :
 O, thought the king, ’tis a gallant thing,
   And a seemly sight to see.

 Within himself the king did say,
   These men of Robin Hoods
 More humble be than mine to me ;
   So the court may learn of the woods. {318}

 So then they all to dinner went,
   Upon a carpet green ;
 Black, yellow, red, finely minglèd,
   Most curious to be seen.

 Venison and fowls were plenty there,
   With fish out of the river :
 King Richard swore, on sea or shore,
   He never was feasted better.

 Then Robin takes a cann of ale :
   “Come, let us now begin ;
 And every man shall have his cann :
   Here’s a health unto the king.”

 The king himself drank to the king,
   So round about it went ;
 Two barrels of ale, both stout and stale,
   To pledge that health was spent.

 And, after that, a bowl of wine
   In his hand took Robin Hood ;
 Until I die, I’ll drink wine, said he,
   While I live in the green wood.

 Bend all your bows, said Robin Hood,
   And with the grey-goose-wing,
 Such sport now show, as you would do
   In the presence of the king. {319}

 They shewed such brave archery,
   By cleaving sticks and wands,
 That the king did say, such men as they
   Live not in many lands.

 Well, Robin Hood, then says the king,
   If I could thy pardon get,
 To serve the king in every thing
   Would’st thou thy mind firm set ?

 Yes, ‘with all’ my heart, bold Robin said,
   So they flung off their hoods ;
 To serve the king in every thing,
   They swore they would spend their ‘bloods.’

 For a clergyman was first my bane,
   Which makes me hate them all,
 But if you will be so kind to me,
   Love them again I shall.

 The king no longer could forbear,
   For he was mov’d with ‘ruth.’
 . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . . . . . . . .

 “I am the king, ‘your’ sovereign king,
   That appears before you all.”
 When Robin saw that it was he,
   Strait then he down did fall. {320}

 Stand up again, then said the king,
   I’ll thee thy pardon give ;
 Stand up, my friend, who can contend,
   When I give leave to live ?

 So they are all gone to Nottingham,
   All shouting as they came :
 But when the people them did see,
   They thought the king was slain ;

 And for that cause the outlaws were come,
   To rule all as they list ;
 And for to shun, which ‘way’ to run,
   The people did not wist.

 The plowman left the plow in the fields,
   The smith ran from his shop ;
 Old folks also, that scarce could go,
   Over their sticks did hop.

 The king soon did let them understand
   He had been in the green-wood,
 And from that day, for evermore,
   He’d forgiven Robin Hood.

 Then [when] the people they did hear,
   And [that] the truth was known,
 They all did sing, God save the king !
   Hang care, the town’s our own ! {321}

 What’s that Robin Hood ? then said the sheriff,
   That varlet I do hate ;
 Both me and mine he caused to dine,
   And serv’d us all with one plate.

 Ho, ho, said Robin Hood, I know what you mean,
   Come, take your gold again ;
 Be friends with me, and I with thee,
   And so with every man.

 Now, master sheriff, you are paid,
   And since you are beginner,
 As well as you give me my due,
   For you ne’er paid for that dinner.

 But if ‘that it’ should please the king,
   So much your house to grace,
 To sup with you, for, to speak true,
   [I] know you ne’er was base.

 The sheriff [this] could not gainsay,
   For a trick was put upon him ;
 A supper was drest, the king was a guest,
   But he thought ’twould have outdone him.

 They are all gone to London court,
   Robin Hood with all his train ;
 He once was there a noble peer,
   And now he’s there again. {322}

 Many such pranks brave Robin play’d,
   While he liv’d in the green wood :
 Now, my friend, attend, and hear an end
   Of honest Robin Hood.

[Illustration]

{323}

[Illustration]


XXVI.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW.

A composition of a similar nature with the preceding, and from the
same authority.

 When as the sheriff of Nottingham
   Was come with mickle grief,
 He talk’d no good of Robin Hood,
   That strong and sturdy thief.
       _Fal la dal de._

 So unto London road he past,
   His losses to unfold
 To king Richàrd, who did regard
   The tale that he had told. {324}

 Why, quoth the king, what shall I do ?
   Art thou not sheriff for me ?
 The law is in force, to take thy course
   Of them that injure thee.

 Go get thee gone, and by thyself
   Devise some tricking game,
 For to enthral yon rebels all,
   Go take thy course with them.

 So away the sheriff he return’d,
   And by the way he thought
 Of th’ words of the king, and how the thing
   To pass might well be brought.

 For within his mind he imaginèd,
   That when such matches were,
 Those outlaws stout, without all doubt,
   Would be the bowmen there.

 So an arrow with a golden head,
   And shaft of silver-white,
 Who on the day should bear away
   For his own proper right.

 Tidings came to bold Robin Hood,
   Under the green-wood tree :
 “Come prepare you then, my merry men,
   We’ll go yon sport to see.” {325}

 With that stept forth a brave young man,
   David of Doncastèr,
 Master, said he, be rul’d by me,
   From the green wood we’ll not stir.

 To tell the truth, I’m well inform’d,
   Yon match it is a wile ;
 The sheriff, I wiss, devises this
   Us archers to beguile.

 Thou smells of a coward, said Robin Hood,
   Thy words do not please me ;
 Come on’t what will, I’ll try my skill,
   At yon brave archery.

 O then bespoke brave Little John,
   Come let us thither gang ;
 Come listen to me, how it shall be,
   That we need not be ken’d.

 Our mantles all of Lincoln-green
   Behind us we will leave ;
 We’ll dress us all so several,
   They shall not us perceive.

 One shall wear white, another red,
   One yellow, another blue ;
 Thus in disguise, ‘to’ the exercise
   We’ll gang, whate’er insue. {326}

 Forth from the green wood they are gone,
   With hearts all firm and stout,
 Resolving [then] with the sheriff’s men
   To have a hearty bout.

 So themselves they mixed with the rest,
   To prevent all suspicion ;
 For if they should together hold,
   They thought it no discretion.

 So the sheriff ‘looked’ round about,
   Amongst eight hundred men,
 But could not see the sight that he
   Had long suspected then.

 Some said, If Robin Hood was here,
   And all his men to boot,
 Sure none of them could pass these men,
   So bravely they do shoot.

 Ay, quoth the sheriff, and scratch’d his head,
   I thought he would have been here ;
 I thought he would, but tho’ he’s bold,
   He durst not now appear.

 O that word griev’d Robin Hood to the heart,
   He vexed in his blood ;
 Ere long, thought he, thou shalt well see
   That here was Robin Hood. {327}

 Some cried, Blue jacket ! another cried, Brown !
   And a third cried, Brave yellow !
 But the fourth man said, Yon man in red
   In this place has no fellow.

 For that was Robin Hood himself,
   For he was cloath’d in red ;
 At every shot the prize he got,
   For he was both sure and dead.

 So the arrow with the golden head,
   And shaft of silver-white,
 Brave Robin Hood won, and bore with him,
   For his own proper right.

 These outlaws there, that very day,
   To shun all kinds of doubt,
 By three or four, no less nor more,
   As they went in came out.

 Until they all assembled were
   Under the green-wood shade,
 Where they ‘report,’ in pleasant sport,
   What brave pastime they made.

 Says Robin Hood, all my care is,
   How that yon sheriff may
 Know certainly that it was I
   That bore his arrow away. {328}

 Says Little John, My counsel good
   Did take effect before,
 So therefore now, if you’ll allow,
   I will advise once more.

 Speak on, speak on, said Robin Hood,
   Thy wit’s both quick and sound,
 . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . . . . . . . .

 This I advise, said Little John,
   That a letter shall be penn’d,
 And when it is done, to Nottingham
   You to the sheriff shall send.

 That is well advised, said Robin Hood,
   But how must it be sent ?
 “Pugh ! when you please, ’tis done with ease ;
   Master, be you content.

 I’ll stick it on my arrow’s head,
   And shoot it into the town ;
 The mark must show where it must go,
   Whenever it lights down.”

 The project it was well perform’d,
   The sheriff that letter had,
 Which when he read, he scratch’d his head,
   And rav’d like one that’s mad. {329}

 So we’ll leave him chafing in ‘his’ grease,
   Which will do him no good :
 Now, my friends, attend, and hear the end
   Of honest Robin Hood.

[Illustration]

{330}

[Illustration]


XXVII.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE VALIANT KNIGHT.

“Together with an account of his death and burial, &c. Tune of
Robin Hood and the fifteen Foresters.” From the common garland of
Aldermary-church-yard; corrected by the York copy.

 When Robin Hood, and his merry men all,
       _Derry down, down_,
   Had reigned many years,
 The king was then told that they had been bold
   To his bishops and noble peers.
       _Hey down, derry, derry down._ {331}

 Therefore they called a council of state,
   To know what was best to be done,
 For to quell their pride, or else they reply’d
   The land would be over-run.

 Having consulted a whole summer’s day,
   At length it was agreed,
 That one should be sent to try the event,
   And fetch him away with speed.

 Therefore a trusty and most worthy knight
   The king was pleased to call,
 Sir William by name ; when to him he came,
   He told him his pleasure all.

 “Go you from hence to bold Robin Hood,
   And bid him, without more ado,
 Surrender himself, or else the proud elf
   Shall suffer with all his crew.

 Take here a hundred bowmen brave,
   All chosen men of great might,
 Of excellent art to take thy part,
   In glittering armour most bright.”

 Then said the knight, My sovereign liege,
   By me they shall be led ;
 I’ll venture my blood against bold Robin Hood,
   And bring him alive or dead. {332}

 One hundred men were chosen straight,
   As proper as e’er men saw :
 On Midsummer-day they marched away,
   To conquer that brave outlaw.

 With long yew bows, and shining spears,
   They march’d with mickle pride,
 And never delay’d, nor halted, nor stay’d
   Till they came to the green-wood side.

 Said he to his archers, Tarry here,
   Your bows make ready all,
 That if need should be, you may follow me,
   And see you observe my call.

 I’ll go first in person, he cry’d,
   With the letters of my good king,
 Well sign’d and seal’d, and if he will yield,
   We need not to draw one string.

 He wander’d about till at length he came
   To the tent of Robin Hood ;
 The letter he shows ; bold Robin arose,
   And there on his guard he stood.

 They’d have me surrender, quoth bold Robin Hood,
   And lie at their mercy then ;
 But tell them from me, that never shall be,
   While I have full seven score men. {333}

 Sir William the knight, both hardy and bold,
   He offer’d to seize him there,
 Which William Locksley by fortune did see,
   And bid him that trick to forbear.

 Then Robin Hood set his horn to his mouth,
   And blew a blast or twain,
 And so did the knight, at which there in sight
   The archers came all amain.

 Sir William with care he drew up his men,
   And plac’d them in battle-array ;
 Bold Robin, we find, he was not behind :
   Now this was a bloody fray.

 The archers on both sides bent their bows,
   And the clouds of arrows flew ;
 The very first flight that honour’d knight
   Did there bid the world adieu.

 Yet nevertheless their fight did last
   From morning till almost noon ;
 Both parties were stout, and loth to give out,
   This was on the last day of June.

 At length they left off : one party they went
   To London with right good will ;
 And Robin Hood he to the green-wood tree,
   And there he was taken ill. {334}

 He sent for a monk, to let him blood,
   Who took his life away ;
 Now this being done, his archers they run,
   It was not a time to stay.

 Some got on board, and cross’d the seas,
   To Flanders, France, and Spain,
 And others to Rome, for fear of their doom,
   But soon return’d again.

[Illustration]

{335}

[Illustration]


XXVIII.

ROBIN HOOD’S DEATH AND BURIAL:

“Shewing how he was taken ill, and how he went to his cousin at
Kirkley-hall, who let him blood, which was the cause of his death.
Tune of Robin Hood’s Last Farewel, &c.”

This very old and curious piece is preserved solely in the editions
of “Robin Hood’s Garland” printed at York (or such as have been
taken from them), where it is made to conclude with some foolish
lines (adopted from the London copy of the preceding ballad), in
order to introduce the epitaph. It is here given from a collation
of two different copies, containing numerous variations, a few of
which are retained in the margin.

 When Robin Hood and Little John,
       _Down a down, a down, a down_,
   Went o’er yon bank of broom,
 Said Robin Hood to Little John,
   We have shot for many a pound :
       _Hey down, a down, a down_. {336}

 But I am not able to shoot one shot more,
   My arrows will not flee ;
 But I have a cousin lives down below,
   Please god, she will bleed me.

 Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone,
   As fast as he can win ;
 But before he came there, as we do hear,
   He was taken very ill.

 And when that he came to fair Kirkley-hall,
   He knock’d all at the ring,
 But none was so ready as his cousin herself
   For to let bold Robin in.

 Will you please to sit down, cousin Robin, she said,
   And drink some beer with me ?
 “No, I will neither eat nor drink,
   Till I am blooded by thee.”[327]

 Well, I have a room, cousin Robin, she said,
   Which you did never see,
 And if you please to walk therein,
   You blooded by me shall be.[328]

 She took him by the lilly-white hand,
   And led him to a private room,
 And there she blooded bold Robin Hood,
   Whilst one drop of blood would run.

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND HIS BETRAYER.]

[Illustration: ROBIN HOOD AND HIS BETRAYER.]

{337}

 She blooded him in the vein of the arm,
   And lock’d him up in the room ;
 There did he bleed all the live-long day,
   Untill the next day at noon.

 He then bethought him of a casement door,
   Thinking for to be gone ;[329]
 He was so weak he could not leap,
   Nor he could not get down.

 He then bethought him of his bugle-horn,
   Which hung low down to his knee ;
 He set his horn unto his mouth,
   And blew out weak blasts three.

 Then Little John, when hearing him,
   As he sat under the tree,
 “I fear my master is near dead,
   He blows so wearily.”

 Then Little John to fair Kirkley is gone,
   As fast as he can dree ;
 But when he came to Kirkley-hall,
   He broke locks two or three ;

 Untill he came bold Robin to,
   Then he fell on his knee ;
 A boon, a boon, cries Little John,
   Master, I beg of thee. {338}

 What is that boon, quoth Robin Hood,
   Little John, thou begs of me ?
 “It is to burn fair Kirkley-hall,
   And all their nunnery.”

 Now nay, now nay, quoth Robin Hood,
   That boon I’ll not grant thee ;
 I never ‘hurt’[330] woman in all my life,
   Nor man in woman’s company.

 I never hurt fair maid in all my time,
   Nor at my end shall it be ;
 But give me my bent bow in my hand,
   And a broad arrow I’ll let flee :
 And where this arrow is taken up,
   There shall my grave digg’d be.

 Lay me a green sod under my head,
   And another at my feet ;[331]
 And lay my bent bow by my side,
   Which was my music sweet ;
 And make my grave of gravel and green,
   Which is most right and meet.

 Let me have length and breadth enough,
   With a green sod under my head ;[332] {339}

 That they may say, when I am dead,
   Here lies bold Robin Hood.

 These words they readily promis’d him,
   Which did bold Robin please :
 And there they buried bold Robin Hood,
   Near to the fair Kirkleys.

[Illustration]


FOOTNOTES TO “PART THE SECOND”, pp. 148–339


 [281] Clowdel le. For an account of these worthies the reader may
 consult their old metrical legend in Percy’s “Reliques,” vol. i.,
 or “Ancient Popular Poetry,” 1791.


 [282] A beseem’d.


 [283] Has.


 [284] A.


 [285] Lease.


 [286] Choose.


 [287] For an account of Tutbury bull-running, and the character of
 king of the minstrels there, see Dr. Plott’s “Natural History of
 Staffordshire,” chap. x. § 69; Sir J. Hawkins’s “History of Music,”
 vol. ii. p. 64; and Blount’s “Ancient Tenures,” by Beckwith, p.
 303, 8vo edit.


 [288] See this old and popular ballad in the Appendix.


 [289] Robin Hood.


 [290] Robin Hood.


 [291] The editor thinks it his duty to retain, in some instances,
 even the manifest corruptions of the old copies; in hopes that
 earlier and better authorities may one day enable him to remove
 them.


 [292] In the bowers.


 [293] Did him.


 [294] Made then.


 [295] Nicke.


 [296] Soon from.


 [297] Chiefest.


 [298] Full froe.


 [299] This (from an old black letter copy in Major Pearson’s
 collection) is evidently the genuine second part of the present
 ballad, although constantly printed as an independent article,
 under the title of “Robin Hood, Will Scadlock, and Little
 John: Or, a narrative of their victories obtained against the
 prince of Aragon and the two giants; and how Will Scadlock
 married the princess. Tune of Robin Hood; or, Hey down, down, a
 down:” Instead of which, in all former editions, are given the
 following incoherent stanzas, which have all the appearance of
 being the fragment of a quite different ballad:—

    Then bold Robin Hood to the north he would go,
      With valour and mickle might,
    With sword by his side, which oft had been tri’d,
      To fight and recover his right.

    The first that he met was a bonny bold Scot,
      His servant he said he would be.
    No, quoth Robin Hood, it cannot be good,
      For thou wilt prove false unto me ;

    Thou hast not been true to sire nor cuz.
      Nay, marry, the Scot he said,
    As true as your heart, Ile never part,
      Gude master, be not afraid.

    Then Robin turned his face to the east,
      Fight on, my merry men stout :
    Our cause is good, quod brave Robin Hood,
      And we shall not be beaten out.

    The battel grows hot on every side,
      The Scotchman made great moan ;
    Quoth Jockey, Gude faith, they fight on each side,
      Would I were with my wife Joan !

    The enemy compast brave Robin about,
      ’Tis long ere the battel ends ;
    Ther’s neither will yield, nor give up the field,
      For both are supplied with friends.

    This song it was made in Robin Hoods dayes :
      Let’s pray unto Jove above,
    To give us true peace, that mischief may cease,
      And war may give place unto love.


 [300] Of a.


 [301] Forth.


 [302] Acaron. This termagant prince seems intended for a sort of
 Mahometan Pagan. Alcaron is a deity formed by metathesis from
 Alcoran, a book: a conversion much more ancient than the present
 ballad. Thus in the old metrical romance of “The Sowdon of
 Babyloyne,” a MS. in the possession of Dr. Farmer:

 “Whan Laban herde of this myschief,
    A sory man was he,
  He trumped his men to relefe,
    For to cease that tyme mente he.
  Mersadage kinge of Barbarye
    He did carye to his tente,
  And beryed him by right of Sarsenye,
    With brennynge fire riche oynemente ;
  And songe the _dirige_ of ALKARON,
    _That bibill is of here laye_ ;
  And wayled his deth everychon,
    Seven nyghtis and seven dayes.”

 Here Alkaron is expressly the name of a BOOK (_i.e._ the Koran or
 Alcoran); in the following passage it is that of a GOD:

 “Now shall ye here of Laban :
    Whan tidynges to him were comen,
  Tho was he a fulle sory man,
    Whan he herde howe his vitaile were nomen,
  And howe his men were slayne,
    And Gye was go safe hem froo ;
  He defyed _Mahounde_, and _Apolyne_,
    _Jubiter_, _Astarol_, and ALCARON also.”

 Wynken de Worde printed “A lytell treatyse of the Turkes law called
 Alcaron, &c.” See Herbert, 224.

 If, however, Acaron be the true reading, we shall find an idol of
 that name in the Bible, 2 Regum i. 16, ed. Vulgate.

 It was, at the same time, a proper name in the East: as “Accaron
 princeps insulæ Cypri” is mentioned by Roger de Hoveden, 786.


 [303] We should probably read frantick baboon!


 [304] Ground near Moorfields, London, famous in old times for the
 archery practised there. “In the year 1498,” says Stow, “all the
 gardens which had continued time out of minde, without Mooregate,
 to wit, about and beyond the lordship of Fensberry, were destroyed.
 And of them was made a plaine field for archers to shoote in.”
 Survay of London, 1598, p. 351. See also p. 77, where it is
 observed that “about the feast of S. Bartlemew . . . the officers
 of the city . . . were challengers of all men in the suburbes,
 . . . before the ‘lord’ maior, aldermen, and sheriffes, in FENSBERY
 FIELDE, to shoote the standarde, broade arrow, and flight, for
 games.” There is a tract intitled, “Ayme for Finsburie archers, or
 an alphabetical table of the names of every marke within the same
 fields, with the true distances, both by the map, and dimensuration
 with the line. Published for the ease of the skilfull, and behoofe
 of the yoonge beginners in the famous exercise of archerie, by J.
 J. and E. B. To be sold at the signe of the Swan in Grub-street, by
 F. Sergeant, 1594.” 16mo. Republished by R. F. 1604; and again by
 James Partridge, 1628, 12mo.

 These famous archers are mentioned by Ben Jonson (Every Man in his
 Humour, act i. scene 1): “Because I dwell at Hogsden I shall keep
 company with none but the archers of Finsbury.”

 The practice of shooting here is alluded to by Cotton in his
 Virgile Travestie (b. iv.), 1667:

  “And arrows loos’d from Grub-street bow,
   In FINSBURY, to him are slow;”

 and continued till within the memory of persons now living.


 [305] The situation of this chase cannot be ascertained. There is
 an ancient family seat in Westmoreland called Dalham-tower.


 [306] Either the bishop was a very bad reckoner, or there is some
 mistake in the copy: three hundred nobles are exactly a hundred
 pounds. The common editions read ninety-nine angels, which would be
 no more than £49, 10s. No such coin or denomination, however, as
 either angel or noble existed in Robin Hood’s time.


 [307] I see.


 [308] Then did.


 [309] He . . was.


 [310] Robin Hood.


 [311] To.


 [312] Robin Hood.


 [313] See before, p. 235.


 [314] Doubtless.


 [315] When I came here.


 [316] Doth . . . arrow gain.


 [317] Robin Hood.


 [318] Robin Hood.


 [319] He had.


 [320] Robin Hood.


 [321] That could not.


 [322] Is.


 [323] Down a.


 [324]

  Oh save, oh save, oh sheriff he said,
  Oh save and you may see.


 [325] Me.


 [326] Wandring.


 [327] Till I blood letted be.


 [328] You blood shall letted be.


 [329] Get down.


 [330] Burnt. This stanza is omitted in one edition.


 [331]

  With verdant sods most neatly put,
    Sweet as the green wood tree.


 [332] This line is manifestly impertinent and corrupt. We might
 read:

  With a stone upon the sod.

{341}

[Illustration]




APPENDIX.


I.

THE PLAYE OF ROBYN HODE

is printed by Copland at the end of his edition of the “Mery
Geste,” &c., inserted in the present volume. It seems to be
composed, certainly with little improvement, partly from the
ballad of “Robin Hood and the Curtall Frier” (see before, p. 209),
or rather, perhaps, some still older piece on the same subject,
and partly from the ancient poem of “Robin Hood and the Potter”
(see p. 81). The whole title runs—“Here beginnethe the playe of
Robyn Hoode, very proper to be played in Maye games.” It has here
received a few corrections from White’s edition, 1634.

ROBYN HODE.

 Now stand ye forth, my mery men all,
 And harke what I shall say ;
 Of an adventure I shal you tell,
 The which befell this other day. {342}
 As I went by the hygh way,
 With a stout frere I met,
 And a quarter-staffe in his hande,
 Lyghtely to me he lept,
 And styll he bade me stande ;
 There were strypes two or three,
 But I cannot tell who had the worse,
 But well I wote the horeson lept within me,
 And fro me he toke my purse.
 Is there any of my mery men all,
 That to that frere wyll go,
 And bryng him to me forth withall,
 Whether he wyll or no ?

LYTELL JOHN.

 Yes, mayster, I make god avowe,
 To that frere wyll I go,
 And bring him to you,
 Whether he wyl or no.

FRYER TUCKE.

 _Deus hic, deus hic_, god be here !
 Is not this a holy worde for a frere ?
 God save all this company !
 But am not I a jolly fryer ?
 For I can shote both farre and nere,
 And handle the sworde and bucklèr,
 And this quarter-staffe also.
 If I mete with a gentylman or yemàn, {343}
 I am not afrayde to loke hym upon,
 Nor boldly with him to carpe ;
 If he speake any wordes to me,
 He shall have strypes two or thre,
 That shal make his body smarte.
 But, maisters,[333] to shew you the matter,
 Wherefore and why I am come hither,
 In fayth I wyl not spare :
 I am come to seke a good yeman,
 In Bernisdale men sai is his habitacion,
 His name is Robyn Hode.
 And if that he be better man than I,
 His servaunt wyll I be, and serve him truely ;
 But if that I be better man than he,
 By my truth my knave shall he be,
 And leade these dogges all three.

ROBYN HODE.

 Yelde the, fryer, in thy long cote.

FRYER TUCKE.

 I beshrew thy hart, knave, thou hurtest my throt.

ROBYN HODE.

 I trowe, fryer, thou beginnest to dote ;
 Who made the so malapert and so bolde,
 To come into this forest here,
 Amonge my falowe dere ? {344}

FRYER.

 Go louse the, ragged knave,
 If thou make mani wordes, I will geve the on the eare,
 Though I be but a poore fryer.
 To seke Robyn Hode I am com here,
 And to him my hart to breke.

ROBYN HODE.

 Thou lousy frer, what wouldest thou with hym ?
 He never loved fryer, nor none of freiers kyn.

FRYER.

 Avaunt, ye ragged knave !
 Or ye shall have on the skynne.

ROBYN HODE.

 Of all the men in the morning thou art the worst,
 To mete with the I have no lust ;
 For he that meteth a frere or a fox in the morning,
 To spede ill[334] that day he standeth in jeoperdy :
 Therfore I had lever mete with the devil of hell,
 Fryer, I tell the as I thinke,
 Then mete with a fryer or a fox
 In a mornyng, or I drynk.

FRYER.

 Avaunt, thou ragged knave, this is but a mock,
 If thou make mani words thou[335] shal have a knock. {345}

ROBYN HODE.

 Harke, frere, what I say here,
 Over this water thou shalt me bere,
 The brydge is borne away.

FRYER.

 To say naye I wyll not,
 To let the of thine oth it were great pitie and sin,
 But up on a fryers backe, and have even in.

ROBYN HODE.

 Nay, have over.

FRYER.

 Now am I, frere, within, and thou, Robin, without,
 To lay the here I have no great doubt.
 Now art thou, Robyn, without, and I, frere, within,
 Lye ther, knave ; chose whether thou wilte sinke or swym.

ROBYN HODE.

 Why, thou lowsy frere, what hast thou done ?[336]

FRYER.

 Mary, set a knave over the shone.

ROBYN HODE.

 Therfore thou shalt abye. {346}

FRYER.

 Why, wylt thou fyght a plucke ?

ROBYN HODE.

 And god send me good lucke.

FRYER.

 Than have a stroke for fryer Tucke.

ROBYN HODE.

 Holde thy hande, frere, and here me speke.

FRYER.

 Saye on, ragged knave,
 Me semeth ye begyn to swete.

ROBYN HODE.

 In this forest I have a hounde,
 I wyl not give him for an hundreth pound,
 Geve me leve my horne to blowe,
 That my hounde may knowe.

FRYER.

 Blowe on, ragged knave, without any doubte,
 Untyll bothe thyne eyes starte out.
 Here be a sorte of ragged knaves come in,
 Clothed all in Kendale grene,
 And to the they take their way nowe. {347}

ROBYN HODE.

 Peradventure they do so.

FRYER.

 I gave the leve to blowe at thy wyll,
 Now give me leve to whistell my fyll.

ROBYN HODE.

 Whystell, frere, evyll mote thou fare,
 Untyll bothe thyne eyes stare.[337]

FRYER.

 Now Cut and Bause !
 Breng forth the clubbes and staves,
 And downe with those ragged knaves !

ROBYN HODE.

 How sayest thou, frere, wylt thou be my man,
 To do me the best servyse thou can ?
 Thou shalt have both golde and fee,
 And also here is a lady free,
 I wyll geve her unto the,
 And her chapplayn I the make,
 To serve her for my sake.

FRYER.

 Here is a huckle duckle, an inch above the buckle ; {348}
 She is a trul of trust,[338] to serve a frier at his lust,
 A prycker, a pauncer, a terer of shetes,[339]
 A wagger of buttockes[340] when other men slepes.
 Go home, ye knaves, and lay crabbes in the fyre,
 For my lady and I wil daunce in the myre, for veri pure joye.

ROBYN HODE.

 Lysten to [me], my mery men all,
 And harke what I shall say ;
 Of an adventure I shall you tell,
 That befell this other daye.
 With a proude potter I met,
 And a rose garlande on his head,[341] {349}

 The floures of it shone marvaylous freshe ;
 This seven yere and more he hath used this waye,
 Yet was he never so curteyse a potter,
 As one peny passage to paye.
 Is there any of my mery men all
 That dare be so bolde
 To make the potter paie passage,
 Either silver or golde ?

LYTELL JOHN.

 Not I, master, for twenty pound redy tolde,
 For there is not among us al one
 That dare medle with that potter man for man.
 I felt his handles not long agone,
 But I had lever have ben here by the,
 Therefore I knowe what he is.
 Mete him when ye wil, or mete him whan ye shal,
 He is as propre a man as ever you medle withal. {350}

ROBYN HODE.

 I will lai with the, Litel John, twenti pound so read,
 If I wyth that potter mete,
 I wil make him pay passage, maugre his head.

LYTELL JOHN.

 I consente therto, so eate I bread,
 If he pay passage maugre his head,
 Twenti pound shall ye have of me for your mede.

THE POTTERS BOYE JACKE.

 Out alas, that ever I sawe this daye !
 For I am clene out of my waye
 From Notyngham towne ;
 If I hye me not the faster,
 Or I come there the market[342] wel be done.

ROBYN HODE.

 Let me se, are thy[343] pottes hole and sounde ?

JACKE.

 Yea, meister, but they will not breake the ground.

ROBYN HODE.

 I wil them breke, for the cuckold thi maisters sake ;
 And if they will not breake the grounde,
 Thou shalt have thre pence for a pound.[344] {351}

JACKE.

 Out alas ! what have ye done ?
 If my maister come, he will breke your crown.

THE POTTER.

 Why, thou horeson, art thou here yet ?
 Thou shouldest have bene at markèt.

JACKE.

 I met with Robin Hode, a good yemàn,
 He hath broken my pottes,
 And called you kuckolde by your name.

THE POTTER.

 Thou mayst be a gentylman, so god me save,
 But thou semest a noughty knave.
 Thou callest me cuckolde by my name,
 And I swere by god and saynt John
 Wyfe had I never none.
 This cannot I denye,
 But if thou be a good felowe,
 I wil sel mi horse, mi harneis, pottes and paniers to,
 Thou shalt have the one halfe and I will have the other ;
 If thou be not so content,
 Thou shalt have stripes if thou were my brother.

ROBYN HODE.

 Harke, potter, what I shall say :
 This seven yere and more thou hast used this way, {352}
 Yet were thou never so curteous to me,
 As one penny passage to paye.

THE POTTER.

 Why should I paye passage to thee ?

ROBYN HODE.

 For I am Robyn Hode, chiefe governoure
 Under the grene woode tree.

THE POTTER.

 This seven yere have I used this way up and downe,
 Yet payed I passage to no man,
 Nor now I wyl not beginne, so do[345] the worst you can.

ROBYN HODE.

 Passage shalt thou pai here under the grene-wode tre,
 Or els thou shalt leve a wedde[346] with me.

THE POTTER.

 If thou be a good felowe, as men do the call,
 Lay awaye thy bowe,
 And take thy sword and buckeler in thy hande,
 And se what shall befall.

ROBYN HODE.

 Lyttle John, where art thou ?

LYTELL [JOHN].

 Here, mayster, I make god avowe. {353}
 I tolde you, mayster, so god me save,
 That you shoulde fynde the[347] potter a knave.
 Holde your buckeler fast in your hande,
 And I wyll styfly by you stande,
 Ready for to fyghte ;
 Be the knave never so stoute,
 I shall rappe him on the snoute,
 And put hym to flyghte.


II.

A FREEMAN’S SONG,

FOR THREE VOICES.

This strange and whimsical performance is taken from a very rare
and curious publication, intitled “Deuteromelia: or the second part
of musicks melodie, or melodius musicke. Of pleasant roundelaies;
K. H. mirth, or freemens songs. And such delightfull catches.
London: printed for Thomas Adams dwelling in Paules church-yard
at the signe of the white lion, 1609.” 4to. Freemen’s songs is
supposed to be a corruption of Three men’s songs, from their being
generally for three voices. K. H. is King Henry’s. See “Ancient
Songs,” ed. 1829, vol. i. p. lxxix., and vol. ii. p. 54, &c.

In the collection of old printed ballads made by Anthony a Wood is
an inaccurate copy of this ancient and singular production, in his
own handwriting: “This song,” says he, “was esteemed an old song
before the rebellion broke out in 1641.” It thereby appears that
the first line of every stanza was “to be sung thrice.” Beside the
music here given, there are three parts of “Another way,” which it
was not thought necessary to insert. {354}

[Music: TREBLE.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands-dale there dwelt a jolly
miller, And a very good old man was hee, was he, hey ho He had, he
had and a sonne a, He had, he had and a sonne.]

[Music: TENOR.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands dale hey ho was he hey ho. He
had, he had and a sonne a]

{355}

[Music: BASSUS.

By Lands-dale hey ho, by mery Lands-dale, hey ho, There dwelt a
jolly miller, and a very good old man was he, hey ho, He had, he
had and a sonne a, he had he had, he had]

 He had, he had and a sonne a,
   Men called him Renold,
 And mickle of his might
   Was he, was he, hey ho.

 And from his father a wode a,
   His fortune for to seeke,
 From mery Landsdale
   Wode he, wode he, hey ho. {356}

 His father would him seeke a,
   And found him fast asleepe.
 Among the leaves greene
   Was he, was he, hey ho.

 He tooke, he tooke him up a,
   All by the lilly-white hand,
 And set him on his feet,
   And bad him stand, hey ho.

 He gave to him a benbow,
   Made all of a trusty tree,
 And arrowes in his hand,
   And bad him let them flee.

 And shoote was that that a did a,
   Some say he shot a mile,
 But halfe a mile and more
   Was it, was it, hey ho.

 And at the halfe miles end [a],
   There stood an armed man ;
 The childe he shot him through,
   And through, and through, hey ‘ho.’

 His beard was all on a white a,
   As white as whaleis bone,
 His eyes they were as cleare
   As christall stone, hey ho. {357}

 And there of him they made [a]
   Good yeoman Robin Hood,
 Scarlet, and Little John,
   And Little John, hey ho.


III.

A ROUND

from “Pammelia. Musicks miscellanie. Or, mixed varietie of pleasant
roundelayes, and delightfull catches, of 3. 4 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
parts in one. None so ordinarie as musicall, none so musical as
not to all very pleasing and acceptable. London Printed by William
Barley, for R. B. and H. W. and are to be sold at the Spread Eagle
at the great north dore of Paules, 1609,” 4to, a work equally
scarce and curious with that before cited. This, however, is only
the tenor part; but the words of the other parts are very trifling,
and relate to different subjects. It is called “A round of three
country-dances in one.”

[Music:

Robin Hood, Robin Hood, said Little John, Come dance before the
queene a: In a red petticote and a greene jacket, a white hose and
a greene a.] {358}


IV.

HEY JOLLY ROBIN.

These stanzas are supplied by “A musicall dreame, or the fourth
booke of ayres, &c. Composed by Robert Iones. London, Imprinted
by the assignees of William Barley, and are to be solde in Powles
church-yeard, at the signe of the Crowne, 1609,” fo. The music, a
composition of little merit or curiosity for the present age, was
not transcribed.

 In Sherwood livde stout Robin Hood,
   An archer great, none greater :
 His bow and shafts were sure and good,
   Yet Cupids were much beter.
 Robin could shoot at many a hart and misse,
 Cupid at first could hit a hart of his.
   Hey jolly Robin, hoe jolly Robin, hey jolly Robin
         Hood,
   Love finds out me, as well as thee, to follow me,
         to follow me to the green wood.

 A noble thiefe was Robin Hoode,
   Wise was he could deceive him ;
 Yet Marrian, in his bravest mood,
   Could of his heart bereave him.
 No greater thief lies hidden under skies
   Then beauty closely lodgde in womens eyes.
         Hey jolly Robin. {359}

 An out-law was this Robin Hood,
   His life free and unruly ;
 Yet to faire Marrian bound he stood,
   And loves debt payed her duely.
 Whom curbe of stricktest law could not hold in
 Love with obeyednes and a winke could winne.
       Hey jolly Robin.

 Now wend we home, stout Robin Hood,
   Leave we the woods behind us ;
 Love-passions must not be withstood,
   Love every where will find us.
 I livde in fielde and towne, and so did he,
 I got me to the woods, Love followed me.
       Hey jolly Robin.


V.

A MERRY WEDDING;

OR,

O BRAVE ARTHUR OF BRADLEY.

This old ballad, referred to in p. 158 of the present volume, is
given from a black letter copy in a private collection, compared
with and very much corrected by “An antidote against melancholy:
made up in pills, compounded of witty ballads, jovial songs, and
merry catches, 1661.” The running title of the volume is “Pills to
purge melancholy,” which was afterward borrowed by Durfey. {360}

There is a different, but probably much more modern, ballad upon
this popular subject, in the same measure, intitled “Arthur o’
Bradley,” and beginning,

 “All in the merry month of May.”

In Jonson’s “Bartholomew Fair,” Moon-calf addresses Justice Overdo
by this name: “O lord! do you not know him, mistress? ’tis mad
Arthur of Bradley that makes the orations. Brave master, old Arthur
of Bradley, how do you do? welcome to the fair, when shall we hear
you again to handle your matters with your back against a booth,
ha? I ha’ been one o’ your little disciples, i’ my days!”

In “The Honest Whore,” by Decker, 1604, Bellafront, on the Duke’s
assurance that Matthio shall make her amends and marry her,
replies, “Shall he? O brave Arthur of Bradley then!”

 See you not Pierce the piper,
 His cheeks as big as a miter,
 A piping among the swains,
 That dance on yonder plains ?
 Where Tib and Tom do trip it,
 And youths to the hornpipe nip it,
 With every one his carriage,
 To go to yonder marriage ;
 Not one would stay behind,
 But go with Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 Arthur had got him a lass,
 A bonnier never was ; {361}
 The chief youths of the parish
 Came dancing of the morris ;
 With country lasses trounsing,
 And lusty lads bounsing,
 Jumping with mickle pride,
 And each his wench by his side ;
 They all were fine and gay,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 And when that Arthur was married,
 And his bride home had carried,
 The youngsters they did wait
 To help to carry up meat ;
 Francis carried the furmety,
 Michael carried the mince-pye,
 Bartholomew the beef and the mustard,
 And Christopher carried the custard ;
 Thus every one in his array,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 And when that dinner was ended,
 The maidens they were befriended,
 For out steps Dick the draper,
 And he bid, Strike up, scraper !
 It’s best to be dancing a little,
 And then to the tavern to tipple :
 He call’d for a hornpipe, {362}
 That went fine on the bagpipe ;
 Then forward, piper, and play,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine, &c.

 Richard he did lead it,
 And Margery did tread it,
 Francis followed them,
 And after courteous Jane ;
 Thus every one after another,
 As if they had been sister and brother ;
 That ’twas great joy to see
 How well they did agree ;
 And then they all did say,
   Hay for Arthur of Bradley !
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 Then Miles in his motley breeches,
 And he the piper beseeches
 To play him _Haw-thorn buds_,
 That he and his wench might trudge :
 But Lawrence liked not that,
 No more did lusty Kate ;
 For she cry’d, Can’st thou not hit it,
 To see how fine Thomas can trip it,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley, &c.

 When all the swains did see
 This mirth and merry glee,
 There was never a man did flinch, {363}
 But each one kist his wench ;
 But Giles was greedy of gain,
 For he would needs kiss twain :
 Her lover seeing that,
 Did rap him over the pate,
 That he had nought to say,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 The piper lookt aside,
 And there he spied the bride,
 He thought it was a hard chance,
 That none would lead her a dance ;
 But there was none durst touch her,
 Save only Bat the Butcher ;
 He took her by the hand,
 And danced while he could stand :
 The bride was fine and gay,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine Arthur of Bradley, oh, &c.

 Then out stept Will the weaver,
 And he swore he’d not leave her,
 He hopp’d it all on one leg,
 For the honour of his Peg :
 But Kister in cambrick ruffe,
 He took that all in snuffe ;
 For he against that day
 Had made himself fine and gay,
 His ruffe was whipt with blew, {364}
 And he cried, A new dance, a new,
 Then strike up a round-delay,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine, &c.

 Then gan the sun decline,
 And every one thought it time
 To go unto his home,
 And leave the bridegroom alone.
 Tut, tut, says lusty Ned,
 I’le see them both in bed,
 For I’le gib at a joynt,
 But I’le have his codpeece-point :
 Then forward piper and play,
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine, &c.

 And thus the day was spent,
 And no man homeward went,
 There was such a crowding and thrusting,
 That some were in danger of bursting,
 To see them go to bed ;
 For all the skill they had,
 He was got to his bride,
 And lay close to her side :
 Then got they his points and his garters,
 And cut them in pieces like martyrs ;
 And then they all did play
   For the honour of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine, &c. {365}

 Then Will and his sweetheart
 Did call for _Loth to depart_ ;
 And then they did foot it, and toss it,
 Till the cook brought in the sack-posset.
 The bride-pye was brought forth,
 A thing of mickle worth :
 And so all at the beds side
 Took leave of Arthur and his bride,
 And so went all away
   From the wedding of Arthur of Bradley,
   Oh fine, &c.


VI.

ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE THREE SQUIRES FROM NOTTINGHAM GALLOWS.

This song and its tune, as the editor is informed by his ingenious
friend Edward Williams, the Welsh bard, are well known in South
Wales by the name of “Marchog glas,” _i.e._ Green knight. Though
apparently ancient, it is not known to exist in black letter, nor
has any better authority been met with than the common collection
of Aldermary-church-yard. See before, p. 303.

 Bold Robin Hood ranging the forrest all round,
   The forrest all round ranged he ;
 O there did he meet with a gay lady,
   She came weeping along the highway. {366}

 Why weep you, why weep you ? bold Robin he said,
   What weep you for gold or fee ?
 Or do you weep for your maidenhead,
   That is taken from your body ?

 I weep not for gold, the lady reply’d,
   Neither do I weep for fee ;
 Nor do I weep for my maidenhead,
   That is taken from my body.

 What weep you for then ? said jolly Robin,
   I prithee come tell unto me.
 “Oh ? I do weep for my three sons,
   For they are all condemned to die.”

 What church have they robbed ? said jolly Robìn,
   Or parish-priest have they slain ?
 What maids have they forced against their will ?
   Or with other mens wives have lain ?

 No church have they robbed, this lady reply’d,
   Nor parish-priest have they slain ;
 No maids have they forced against their will,
   Nor with other mens wives have lain.

 What have they done then ? said jolly Robìn,
   Come tell me most speedily.
 “Oh ! it is for killing the king’s fallow deer,
   ‘That’[348] they are all condemned to die.” {367}

 Get you home, get you home, said jolly Robìn,
   Get you home most speedily,
 And I will unto fair Nottingham go,
   For the sake of the ’squires all three.

 Then bold Robin Hood for Nottingham goes,
   For Nottingham town goes he,
 O there did he meet with a poor beggar-man,
   He came creeping along the highway.

 “What news, what news, thou old beggar-man ?
   What news, come tell unto me.”
 “O there’s weeping and wailing in Nottingham [town],
   For the death of the ’squires all three.”

 This beggar-man had a coat on his back,
   ’Twas neither green, yellow, nor red ;
 Bold Robin Hood thought ’twas no disgrace
   To be in the beggar-mans stead.

 “Come, pull off thy coat, thou old beggar-man,
   And thou shalt put on mine ;
 And forty good shillings I’ll give thee to boot,
   Besides brandy, good beer, ale and wine.”

 Bold Robin Hood then unto Nottingham came,
   Unto Nottingham town came he ;
 O there did he meet with great master sheriff,
   And likewise the ’squires all three. {368}

 One boon, one boon, says jolly Robìn,
   One boon I beg on my knee ;
 That, as for the death of these three ’squires,
   Their hangman I may be.

 Soon granted, soon granted, says master sherìff,
   Soon granted unto thee ;
 And ‘thou shalt’[349] have all their gay cloathìng,
   Aye, and all their white monèy.

 “O I will have none of their gay cloathìng,
   Nor none of their white monèy,
 But I’ll have three blasts on my bugle-horn,
   That their souls to heaven may flee.”

 ‘Then’[350] Robin Hood mounted the gallows so high,
   Where he blew loud and shrill,
 Till a hundred and ten of Robin Hoods men
   Came marching down the green hill.

 Whose men are these ? says master sherìff,
   Whose men are they ? tell unto me.[351]
 “O they are mine, but none of thine,
   And are come for the ’squires all three.”

 O take them, O take them, says great master sheriff,
   O take them along with thee ;
 For there’s never a man in fair Nottinghàm
   Can do the like of thee.

{369}


VII.

ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT.

Dr. Pepusch, among other very curious articles of ancient English
music, was possessed of a MS. folio (supposed to be still extant),
which at p. 15 contained a tune intitled “Robin Hood.” See
Ward’s “Lives of the Professors of Gresham College,” 1740 (an
interleaved copy, corrected and augmented by the author, in the
British Museum). “Robene Hude” is likewise the name of a dance
in Wedderburn’s “Complainte of Scotland,” printed in 1549. The
following tune is preserved by Oswald in his “Caledonian Pocket
Companion.”

[Music]

{370}


VIII.

ROBIN HOOD AND THE MONK.

This singularly curious and excellent poem, which is probably the
earliest extant on the subject, was first printed in the “Ancient
Metrical Tales,” edited by the Rev. C. H. Hartshorne (8vo, 1829),
from a MS. in the library of University College, Cambridge (F.
F. 5. 48), with which it has been since obligingly collated by
Frederic Madden, Esq. A few lines are unfortunately rendered
illegible by damp.

 In somer when the shawes be sheyne,
   And leves be large and longe,
 Hit is fulle mery in feyre foreste
   To here the foulys song.

 To se the dere draw to the dale,
   And leve the hilles hee,
 And shadow hem in the leves grene
   Vndur the grene wode tre.

 Hit befel on whitsontide,
   Erly in a may mornyng,
 The son vp fayre can shyne,
   And the briddis mery can syng.

 This is a mery mornyng, seid litulle Johne,
   Be hym that dyed on tre,
 A more mery man than I am one
   Lyves not in cristianté. {371}

 Pluk vp thi hert my dere mayster,
   Litulle Johne can sey,
 And thynk hit is a fulle fayre tyme
   In a mornynge of may.

 Ze on thynge greves me seid Robyne,
   And does my hert myche woo,
 That I may not so solem day
   To mas nor matyns goo.

 Hit is a fourtnet and more, seyd hee,
   Syn I my sauyour see ;
 To day wil I to Notyngham, seid Robyn,
   With the myght of mylde Mary.

 Then spake Moche the mylner[s] sune,
   Euer more wel hym betyde,
 Take xii of thi wyght zemen
   Welle weppynd be ther side.

 Such on wolde thi selfe slon
   That xii dar not abyde,
 Off alle my mery men, seid Robyne,
   Be my feithe I wil non haue.

 But litulle Johne shalle beyre my bow
   Til that me list to drawe
 . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . . . . . . . . {372}

 Thou shalle beyre ‘thin own’[352] seid litulle Jon,
   Maister & I wil beyre myne,
 And we wille shete a peny, seid litulle Jon,
   Vnder the grene wode lyne.

 I wil not shete a peny, seyde Robyn Hode,
   In feith litulle Johne with thee,
 But euer for on as thou shetes, seid Robyn,
   In feith I hold the thre.

 Thus shet thei forthe these zemen too
   Bothe at buske and brome,
 Til litulle Johne wan of his maister
   V s. to hose and shone.

 A ferly strife fel them betwene
   As they went bi the way ;
 Litulle Johne seid he had won v shyllyngs,
   And Robyn Hode seid schortly nay.

 With that Robyn Hode lyed litul Jone,
   And smote hym with his honde,
 Litul John waxed wroth therwith,
   And pulled out his bright bronde.

 Were thou not my maister, seid litulle Johne,
   Thou shuldis by hit ful sore,
 Get the a man where thou wilt, Robyn,
   For thou getes me no more. {373}

 Then Robyn goes to Notyngham
   Hymselfe mornynge allone,
 And litulle Johne to mery Scherewode,
   The pathes he knowe alkone.

 Whan Robyn came to Notyngham,
   Sertenly withoutene layne,
 He prayed to god and myld Mary
   To brynge hym out saue agayne.

 He gos into seynt Mary[s] chirche,
   And knelyd downe before the rode,
 Alle that euer were the churche within
   Beheld wel Robyne Hode.

 Besyde hym stode a gret hedid munke,
   I pray to god woo he be,
 Ful sone he knew gode Robyn [Hode]
   As sone as he hym se.

 Out at the durre he ran
   Ful son and anon,
 Alle the zatis of Notyngham
   He made to be sparred euerychone.

 Rise vp, he seid, thou prowde schereff,
   Buske the and make the bowne,
 I haue spyed the kynges felone,
   For sothe he is in this towne. {374}

 I haue spyed the false felone
   As he stondes at his masse,
 Hit is longe of the seide the munke,
   And euer he fro vs passe.

 This traytur[s] name is Robyn Hode,
   Vndur the grene wode lynde,
 He robbyt me onys of a C pound,
   Hit shalle neuer out of my mynde.

 Vp then rose this prowd schereff,
   And zade towarde hym zare ;
 Many was the modur son
   To the kyrk with hym can fare.

 In at the durres thei throly thrast
   With staves ful gode ‘ilkone’[353]
 Alas, alas, seid Robyn Hode,
   Now mysse I litulle Johne.

 But Robyne toke out a too-hond sworde
   That hangit down be his kne,
 Ther as the schereff and his men stode thyckust
   Thidurward wold he.

 Thryes thorow at them he ran,
   Ther for sothe as I yow say,
 And woundyt many a modur sone,
   And xii he slew that day. {375}

 His sworde vpon the schireff hed
   Sertanly he brake in too ;
 The smyth that the made, seid Robyn,
   I pray god[354] wyrke hym woo.

 For now am I weppynlesse, seid Robyne,
   Alasse agayn my wylle ;
 But if I may fle these traytors fro,
   I wot thei wil me kylle.

 Robyns men to the churche ran
   Throout hem euer ilkon,
 Sum fel in swonyng as thei were dede,
   And lay still as any stone.

 . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . . . . . . . .
 Non of theym were in her mynde
   But only litulle Jon.

 Let be your rule, seid litulle Jon,
   For his luf that dyed on tre,
 Ze that shulde be duzty men
   Hit is gret shame to se.

 Oure maister has bene hard bystode,
   And zet scapyd away
 Pluk up your hertes and leve this mone,
   And herkyn what I shal say. {376}

 He has seruyd our lady many a day,
   And zet wil securly,
 Therfore I trust in her specialy
   No wycked deth shal he dye.

 Therfor be glad, seid litul Johne,
   And let this mournyng be,
 And I shall be the munkes gyde
   With the myght of mylde Mary.

 And I mete hym, seid litull Johne,
   We wille go but we too
 . . . . . . . . . . .
   . . . . . . . . . . .

 Loke that ze kepe wel oure tristil tre
   Vndur the levys smale,
 And spare non of his venyson
   That gose in thys vale.

 Forthe thei went these zemen too,
   Litul Johne and Moche onfere,
 And lokid on Moche emys hows
   The hyeway lay fulle nere.

 Litul John stode at a window in the mornynge
   And lokid forth at a stage,
 He was war wher the munke came ridynge,
   And with hym a litul page. {377}

 Be my feith, seid litul Johne to Moche,
   I can the tel tithyngus gode ;
 I see wher the munk comys rydyng,
   I know hym be his wyde hode.

 Thei went into the way these zemen bothe,
   As curtes men and hende,
 Thei spyrred tithyngus at the munke
   As thei hade bene his frende.

 Fro whens come ze, seid litul Johne,
   Tel vs tithyngus I yow pray
 Off a false owtlay [called Robyn Hode]
   Was takyn zisturday.

 He robbyt me and my felowes bothe
   Of xx marke in serten ;
 If that false owtlay be takyn,
   For sothe we wolde be fayne.

 So did he me, seid the munke,
   Of a C pound and more ;
 I layde furst hande hym apon,
   Ze may thonke me therfore.

 I pray god thanke yow, seid litulle Johne,
   And we wil when we may,
 We wil go with yow with your leve,
   And brynge yow on your way. {378}

 For Robyn Hode hase many a wilde felow,
   I telle yow in certen,
 If thei wist ze rode this way,
   In feith ze shulde be slayn.

 As thei went talkyng be the way,
   The munke and litulle Johne,
 Johne toke the munkes horse be the hede
   Ful sone and anone.

 Johne toke the munkes horse be the hed,
   For sothe as I yow say,
 So did Muche the litulle page,
   For he shulde not stirre away.

 Be the golett of the hode
   Johne pulled the munke downe,
 Johne was nothynge of hym agast,
   He lete hym falle on his crowne.

 Litulle John was ‘sore’[355] agrevyd,
   And drew out his swerde in hye,
 The munke saw he shulde be ded,
   Lowd mercy can he crye.

 He was my maister, seid litulle Johne,
   That thou base browzt in bale,
 Shalle thou neuer cum at oure kynge
   For to telle hym tale. {379}

 Johne smote of the munkes hed,
   No longer wolde he dwelle,
 So did Moche, the litulle page,
   For ferd lest he wold tell.

 Ther thei beryed hem both
   In nouther mosse nor lynge,
 And litulle Johne and Muche infere
   Bare the letturs to oure kynge.

 . . . . . . . . . . .
   He kneled down vpon kis kne,
 God zow saue, my lege lorde,
   Jesus yow saue and se.

 God yow saue, my lege kyng,
   To speke Johne was fulle bolde ;
 He gaf hym the letturs in his hond,
   The kynge did hit unfold.

 The kynge red the letturs anon,
   And seid so mot I the,
 Ther was neuer zoman in mery Inglond
   I longut so sore to see.

 Wher is the munke that these shuld haue browzt,
   Oure kynge can say,
 Be my trouthe, seid litulle Jone,
   He dyed aftur the way. {380}

 The kyng gaf Moche and litul Jon
   xx pound in sertan,
 And made theim zemen of the crowne,
   And bade theim go agayn.

 He gaf Johne the seel in hand,
   The scheref for to bere,
 To brynge Robyn hym to,
   And no man do hym dere.

 Johne toke his leve at oure kyng,
   The sothe as I yow say ;
 The next way to Notyngham
   To take he zede the way.

 Whan Johne came to Notyngham
   The zatis were sparred ychone,
 Johne callid vp the porter,
   He answerid sone anon.

 What is the cause, seid litul John,
   Thou sparris the zates so fast ?
 Because Robyn Hode,[356] seid [the] porter,
   In depe prison is cast.

 Johne, and Moche, and Wylle Scathlok,
   For sothe as I yow say,
 Thir slew oure men vpon oure wallis,
   And sawtene vs euery day. {381}

 Litulle Johne spyrred aftur the schereff,
   And sone he hym fonde,
 He oppyned the kyngus priue seelle
   And gaf hym in his honde.

 When the schereff saw the kyngus seelle
   He did of his hode anon,
 Wher is the munke that bare the letturs ?
   He seid to litulle Johne.

 He is so fayn of him, seid litulle Johne,
   For sothe as I yow sey ;
 He has made hym abot of Westmynster,
   A lorde of that abbay.

 The scheref made John gode chere,
   And gaf hym wine of the best ;
 At nyzt thei went to her bedde,
   And euery man to his rest.

 When the scheref was on-slepe
   Dronken of wine and ale,
 Litul Johne and Moche for sothe
   Toke the way vnto the gale ;

 Litul Johne callid vp the jayler,
   And bade hym rise anon ;
 He seid Robyn Hode had brokyn preson,
   And out of hit was gon. {382}

 The portere rose anon sertan,
   As sone as he herd John calle ;
 Litul Johne was redy with a swerd,
   And bare hym to the walle.

 Now will I be porter, seid litul Johne,
   And take the keyes in honde ;
 He toke the way to Robyn Hode,
   And sone he hym vnbonde.

 He gaf hym a gode swerd in his hond,
   His hed [ther-]with for to kepe,
 And ther as the walle was lowyst
   Anon downe can thei lepe.

 Be that the cok began to crow,
   The day began to sprynge,
 The scheref fond the jaylier ded,
   The comyn belle made he rynge.

 He made a crye thoroowt al the tow[n],
   Whedur he be zoman or knave,
 That cowthe brynge hym Robyn Hode,
   His warisone he shuld haue.

 For I dar neuer, said the scheref,
   Cum before oure kynge ;
 For if I do I wot serten,
   For sothe he wil me henge. {383}

 The scheref made to seke Notyngham,
   Bothe be strete and stye,
 And Robyn was in mery Scherwode
   As lizt as lef on lynde.

 Then bespake gode litulle Johne
   To Robyn Hode can he say,
 I haue done the a gode turne for an euylle,
   Quyte ‘me’[357] whan thou may.

 I haue done the a gode turne, said litulle Johne,
   For sothe as I you saie,
 I haue brouzt the vndur [the] grene wode lyne,
   Fare wel, and haue gode day.

 Nay be my trouthe, seid Robyn Hode,
   So shalle hit neuer be,
 I make the maister, seid Robyne Hode,
   Off alle my men and me.

 Nay be my trouthe, seid litulle Johne,
   So shall hit neuer be,
 But lat me be a felow, seid litulle Johne,
   No nodur kepe I’ll be.

 Thus Johne gate Robyn Hode out of prisone
   Sertan withoutyn layne,
 When his men saw hym hol and sounde
   For sothe they were ful fayne. {384}

 They filled in wyne, and made him glad
   Vndur the levys smale,
 And zete pastes of venysone
   That gode was ‘withal.’[358]

 Than worde came to our kynge,
   How Robyn Hode was gone,
 And how the scheref of Notyngham
   Durst neuer loke hyme vpone.

 Then bespake oure cumly kynge,
   In an angur hye,
 Litulle Johne hase begyled the schereff,
   In faith so hase he me.

 Litulle Johne has begyled vs bothe,
   And that fulle wel I se,
 Or ellis the schereff of Notyngham
   Hye hongut shuld he be.

 I made hem zemen of the crowne,
   And gaf hem fee with my hond,
 I gaf hem grithe, seid oure kyng,
   Thorowout alle mery Inglond.

 I gaf hem grithe, then seid oure kyng,
   I say, so mot I the,
 For sothe soche a zeman as he is on
   In alle Ingland ar not thre. {385}

 He is trew to his maister, seid oure kynge,
   I sey, be swete seynt Johne,
 He louys bettur Robyn Hode,
   Then he dose vs ychone.

 Robyne Hode is euer bond to him,
   Bothe in strete and stalle,
 Speke no ‘more’[359] of this matter, seid our kynge,
   But John has begyled vs alle.

 Thus endys the talkyng of the munke,
   And Robyne Hode I wysse ;
 God, that is euer a crowned kyng,
   Bryng vs alle to his blisse.

[Illustration]


FOOTNOTES TO “APPENDIX”, pp. 341–385


 [333] Maister. C.


 [334] Ell. C.


 [335] You. you. C.


 [336] Donee. C.


 [337] Starte. C.


 [338] A trul of trust was a common phrase. So in the ancient
 morality of the iiii elements (Sig. E iij 6):

  “For to satisfye your wanton lust
  I shall apoynt you a trull of trust,
  Not a feyrer in this towne.”

 Again, in Warner’s Albion’s England, 1602:

  “How cheere you Pan, quoth Pryapus, the shameles god of lust,
  Thus can i fit such friends as you with such a trull of trust.”


 [339] Shefes. C.


 [340] Ballockes. C.


 [341] How a potter comes to be decked with so elegant and
 honourable a chaplet, does not seem easy to account for; unless for
 the reason given by Chaucer, that

  —“soche araie costnith but lite.”

 The poet Gower, as represented on his monument in the church of St.
 Mary-Overy, hath, according to Stow, “on his head a chaplet, like
 a coronet of foure roses;” and it may be remembered that Copland,
 the printer of this identical May-game, dwelled “at the signe of
 the rose garlande.” We see, likewise, that “a rose garlonde” was
 set up (to be shot through, it is presumed) in the “Lytell Geste of
 Robyn Hode,” fytte 7, v. 177. Though the fashion of wearing such
 an ornament was formerly common in France (for which see Chaucer’s
 “Romaunt of the Rose,” a close translation from the French), and
 at a still later period in Germany, see “The Hystorye of Reynarde
 the Foxe,” a translation from the language of that country, and
 Moryson’s Itinerary, 1617 (part 1, p. 25, and part 3, p. 167),
 no further instance has been met with of its prevalence in this
 country.


 [342] Maryet. C.


 [343] The. C.


 [344] Not omitted in W.


 [345] To do. C. to or so omitted in W.


 [346] Wedded. C. wed. W.


 [347] Your. C.


 [348] And.


 [349] You shall.


 [350] When.


 [351] Come tell.


 [352] Th’ now. MS.


 [353] Wone. MS.


 [354] I pray _to_. MS.


 [355] So. MS.


 [356] Because of Robyn Hode. MS.


 [357] The. MS.


 [358] That gode was _with ale_. MS.


 [359] Mere. MS.

{387}

[Illustration]




GLOSSARY.


_Abye_, [to suffer].

_Air_, early.

_Alderbest_, best of all. This phrase, which occurs in Chaucer, is
corrupted in De Worde’s edition to “_al ther_” and “_al theyre_,”
which Coplande has changed to “_al of the_;” whence it may be
inferred that the expression was become already obsolete, and
consequently that the poem is of much greater antiquity than 1520:
and yet Shakespeare, above half a century after, puts the word
_Alderliefest_ into the mouth of Queen Margaret in his _Second Part
of Henry the Sixth_.

_Angels_, pieces of gold coin, value 10s.

_Anker_, hermit, anchorite.

_Ar_, ere.

_Asay_, _Asayed_, essayed, tried, proved.

_A-sound_, in a swoon.

_Aunsetters_, ancestors.

_Avow_, _Avowe_, protestation, confession. “_I make myn avow to
God_,” profess to God: from _aveu_, F.

_Avowe_, maintain, _verbum juris_.

_Avowè_, founder, patron, protector. See Spelman’s _Glossary_, _v._
ADVOCATUS.

_Awayte_, _Awatye me scathe_, lie in wait to do me harm.

_Awayted_, lay in wait for.

_Awet_, wit, know.

_Awkwarde_, backward. _An awkwarde stroke_ seems to mean an unusual
or out of the way stroke, one which the receiver could not foresee,
be aware of, or guard against; a sort of left or back hand stroke.
“_An_ auke _stroke_” is a frequent expression in _La Mort d’Arthur_.

_Ayenst_, against.

_Baist_, _Baste_, basted, belaboured.

_Baith_, both.

_Bale_, mischief, woe, sorrow, misery.

_Ballup_, p. 306.

_Banis_, bane, destruction.

_Bear_, moan, lamentation, outcry.

_Bearing_, arrow.

_Bedene_, behind, one after another? {388}

_Bedyng_, asking. _Your bedyng shall be doyn_, your invitation
shall be complied with.

_Beforen_, before.

_Begeck_, _Give them a begeck_, play them a trick, make fools of
them.

_Behote_, promised.

_Benbow_, [a bent bow?].

_Bent_, ii. 84.

_Bescro_, beshrew.

_Bestad_, _Ferre and friend bestad_, far from home and without a
friend. The passage, however, seems corrupt. Perhaps, indeed, it
should be _fren_ (_frend_ or _fremd_) _bestad_, _i.e._ beset or
surrounded by strangers. (Fremd, Saxon.) Thus, in Spenser’s 4th
eclogue:

 “So now his friend is changed for a _fren_.”

Again, in Florio’s _Worlde of Wordes_, 1598: “_Alieno_, an alien, a
stranger, a forraine, a _freme_.”

_Bestead_, beset, put to it.

_Beth_, are, be.

_Blate_, sheepish or foolish, as we should now say.

_Blive_, belive, immediately.

_Bloschems_, blossoms.

_Bluter_, p. 105.

_Blyve_, fast, quickly, briskly.

_Bocking_, pouring, flowing.

_Bode_, bidden, invited.

_Bolt_, _Bolte_, _Boltes_, _Boltys_. A bolt was an arrow of a
particular kind, used chiefly for shooting at birds; having a
round or blunt head. Much’s object, it has been observed, was not
to wound, but stun, the monk, and the bolt from its shape was
peculiarly adapted to this purpose. In other passages, however, it
seems to mean either an arrow in general, or one used for shooting
at a mark. “I’ll make a shaft or a bolt on’t,” which Shakespeare
has put into the mouth of M. Slender, appears, from Ray’s
_Collection_, to have been a common proverb.

_Boote_, help.

_Booting_, p. 98.

_Borde_, table.

_Borowe_, _Borrow_, pledge, surety, bail.

_Borowehode_, suretyship.

_Boskyd_, busked, prepared, got ready.

_Bottle_, a small vessel, of wood or leather, in the shape of a
cask, in which shepherds and others employed abroad in the fields
carry or keep their drink.

_Bottys_, buts.

_Bou_, bow.

_Bound_, betook, went. _Boldly bound away_, briskly scampered off.

_Bowe_, bough. {389}

_Bown_, ready. _Bowne ye_, prepare ye, get ready.

_Boyt_, both.

_Breche_, breeches.

_Breyde_, started, stepped hastily.

_Breyde_, start, quick or hasty step.

_Broke_, brook, enjoy, use, keep.

_Bronde_, brand, sword.

_Bushement_, ambush.

_Buske_, _I wyll me buske_, _i.e._ go, betake myself. _Buske you_,
address or prepare yourselves, make ready.

_Bydene_, one after another.

_Can_, did.

_Carpe_, [to speak].

_Cankardly_, peevishly, with ill-temper.

_Capull hyde_, horse hide. _Capal_ or _Capul_ in Irish or Erse is a
horse or mare, as _Kephyl_ is in Welsh.

_Carel_, _Carril_, carle, old fellow.

_Caward_, awkward or backward. See _Awkwarde_.

_Cerstyn_, Christian.

_Chaffar_, chaffer, merchandise, commodity.

_Chepe_, _better chepe_, cheaper; _à meilleur marché_, F. _Gret
chepe_, very cheap; _à très bon marché_.

_Chepe_, cheapen, buy. _Chepyd_, cheapened, bought.

_Cheys_, choose.

_Chiven_, p. 219.

_Chorle_, churl, peasant, clown.

_Cla’d_, scratched.

_Clock_, cloak.

_Clouted_, patched.

_Cole_, p. 66.

_Come_, (pronounced com) came.

_Command_, warrant, authority.

_Commytted_, accounted.

_Coresed_, p. 20.

_Cortessey_, courteous. Q. _Corteysse_.

_Cote a pye_, upper garment, short cloke; _courtepy_, Chaucer. See
Tyrwhitt’s note, iv. 201.

_Coud_, knew, understood.

_Counsell_, “_And counsell shall it be_,” and it shall be kept
secret; in allusion, perhaps, to the oath of a grand juror:—“the
king’s _counsel_, your fellows, and your own you shall keep
secret.” The phrase is, however, used by Chaucer:

 “Shall it be _conseil_? sayed the firste shrewe;
 And I shall tellen thee in wordes fewe
 What we shall don, and bring it wel aboute.”

                                           —_Pardoneres Tale._

_Covent_, convent; whence our Covent Garden.

_Cowed_, could, knew. _Cowed of curteysey_, understood good
manners. {390}

_Crack_, boast.

_Craftely_, skilfully, _secundum artem_.

_Crouse_, brisk.

_Cun_, con, owe, give.

_Curn_, p. 101.

_Curtall_, p. 210, 211.

_Curteyse_, courteous.

_Cutters_, sharking fellows; such as live by robbery or violence;
bravos. So in the old play of _Arden of Feversham_, h. d. b. l.:
“And they are cutters, and may cut your throat.”

_Dame_, mother.

_Dead_, certain; so in the common saying, “As dead as Chelsea;”
_i.e._ as certain as a situation in that hospital.

_Demed_, judged.

_Depart_, part, separate.

_Derne_, privy, secret.

_Deyell_, devil.

_Deythe_, dight, dressed.

_Donne_, dun.

_Doyt_, doth, do.

_Dree_, hye.

_Dreyffe_, drive.

_Dub_, shallow miry pool.

_Dung_, beaten, overcome.

_Durk_, dagger.

_Dyght_, dressed, done.

_Dyghtande_, p. 69.

_Dysgrate_, disgraced, degraded. _Hath be dysgrate_, hath fallen
into poverty.

_Een_, eyes.

_Eftsones_, hereafter, afterward.

_Eild_, age.

_Elephant_, p. 263.

_Ender_, under.

_English wood._ If _Inglewood Forest_ be here intended, the Queen
is a little out in her geography: she probably means _Sherwood_,
but neither was that in the page’s way to Nottingham, and
_Barnsdale_ was still farther north. See _Ancient Popular Poetry_,
1791, p. 3.

_Ere_, before.

_Eylde_, yield.

_Eyr_, year.

_Eyre_, heir.

_Fail_, _But fail_, without fail, without doubt.

_Failyd_, wanted, missed.

_Fair_, fare, ado.

_Fare_, live.

_Farley_, fairly, plainly.

_Fay_, faith. {391}

_Fayne_, glad.

_Fe_, fee, wages.

_Feardest_, fearfulest, most frightened or afraid.

_Feders_, feathers.

_Fend_, _Fend I godys forbode_.

_Fende_, defend.

_Fered_, feared, lived.

_Ferre_, far. _Ferre dayes_, far in the day; _grand jour_, F.
_Ferre gone_, long since.

_Fette_, fetched.

_Fetteled him_, made him ready, prepared himself, set about.
_Fettled_, _Them fettled_, attempted, set about.

_Feyffe_, five.

_Finikin_, finical, fine, spruce.

_Flee_, fly.

_Flinders_, splinters.

_Fone_, foes, enemies.

_Forbode_, _Godys forbode_, ‘prohibition or curse.’ Florio, in his
Italian dictionary, 1598, renders the phrase, _Adio non piaceia_.
God forbid, _Godes forbode_. In _A Briefe Conceipte of English
Policy_, 1581, it is corrupted to “_God swarbote_.”

_Force_, care.

_Forgone_, forego, lose.

_Fors_, see _Force_.

_Forsoyt_, forsooth, truly.

_Foryete_, forgotten.

_Fostere_, forester.

_Fothe_, foot.

_Frae_, from.

_Frebore_, free-born, gentle.

_Frese_, p. 39.

_Furmety_, [_fumenty_].

_Frere_, [friar].

_Fynly_, goodly.

_Gae_, go.

_Gan_, _Gan they gone_, are they gone, did they go.

_Gang_, _Gange_, go.

_Gate_, _Gates_, ways, passes, paths, ridings. _Gate_ is a common
word in the North for way.—_P._

_Geffe_, given.

_General_, perhaps the governor, Nottingham still being a garrison
town.

_Ger_, gear, stuff, goods, property, effects.

_Gereamarsey_, see _Gramercy_.

_Gillore_, plenty.

_Glen_, valley.

_God_, good, goods, property.

_God-a-marsey_, God-a-mercy! See _Gramercy_.

_Godde_, see _God_. {392}

_Godys forbode._ See _Forbode_.

_Gorney_, journey.

_Goy_, joy.

_Graff_, _Oke graff_, oak branch or sapling.

_Gramercy_, thanks, or many thanks; _grand mercie_, F.

_Gree_, satisfaction.

_Gret_, greeted, saluted.

_Gripped_, grasped, laid hold of.

_Grome_, a common man.

_Hail_, _All hail_, wholely, entirely.

_Halds_, holds, holding-places, supports.

_Halke_, perhaps haugh, low ground by the side of a river. See the
glossary to Bishop Douglas’s _Virgil_, _v._ _Hawchis_. _Halke_ with
Chaucer signifies a corner; but seems here used in opposition to
_hill_.

_Halfendell_, half.

_Hals_, neck.

_Hambellet_, ambleth.

_Hansell._ The vendor of any wares is said to receive _hansel_ of
his first customer; but the meaning of the text, _Haffe hansell for
the mar_, is not understood, unless it can be thought to imply,
_Give me hansel_, _i.e._ buy of my pots.

_Hart of Greece_ means perhaps no more than a fat hart, for the
sake of a quibble between Greece and grease.

_Hawt_, aught, anything, something.

_Hayt_, hath.

_Held_, kept preserved.

_Hende_, gentle, courteous.

_Hent_, took, caught.

_Hepe_, hip, haw, the fruit of the white thorn. So in _Gil Morice_,
a Scotish ballad:—

 “I was once AS FOW of Gill Morrice
 AS THE HIP IS O’ THE STEAN.”

_Her_, their.

_Het_, it.

_Het_, eat.

_Heynd_, gentle, courteous.

_Heyt war howte_, p. 86.

_Highed_, hyed, hastened.

_Hight_, _What they hight_, what they are called.

_Holde_, keep, held, retained of council.

_Holy_, wholely.

_Holy dame_, _Our holy dame_, p. 250, the Virgin Mary (so called);
unless, for our “holy dame” we should read our halidome, which may
mean our holiness, honesty, chastity; haligoome, sanctimonia.

_Hos_, _Hus_, us.

_Hotys_, oats.

_Housband_, _Housbonde_, manager, husbandman, peasant. {393}

_How_, hill.

_Howt_, out.

_Hyght_, vowed, promised.

_Hynde_, knave.

_I_, ay.

_Ibent_, bent.

_Ibonde_, bound.

_Ichaunged_, changed.

_Idyght_, dight, dressed, prepared, made ready.

_Ifedered_, feathered.

_Ilke_, each.

_In-fere_, together.

_Inocked_, nocked, notched.

_Ipyght_, _Up ipyght_, p. 26.

_Iquyt_, acquitted, set at liberty.

_Iswore_, sworn.

_Itake_, taken.

_Japes_, tricks.

_Ken_, know.

_Kest_, cast.

_Kirtle_, upper petticoat.

_Knave_, servant, man.

_Kod_, quod, quoth, said.

_Kyrtell_, waistcoat.

_Kythe nor kin_, acquaintance nor kindred.

_Lappe_, wrap.

_Late_, lake, play, game.

_Launsgay_, a sort of lance.

_Leasynge_, lying, falsehood.

_Lede_, train, suite.

_Ledesman_, guide.

_Lee_, plain.

_Lefe_, willing. _Whether he were loth or lefe_, whether he would
or not.

_Leffe_, leave, left.

_Leffes_, leaves.

_Lende_, meet, encounter.

_Lene_, lend.

_Lere_, learn.

_Lere_, cheek.

_Lese_, lose.

_Let_, omit, hinder, hindered.

_Leugh_, laughed.

_Lever_, rather.

_Lewtè_, loyalty, faith, truth; _leauté_, F.

_Leythe_, light.

_Ligge_, lay.

_Lin_, stop, stay.

_Lithe_, attend, hear, hearken. {394}

_Loffe_, love.

_Lore_, lost.

_Lough_, _Loughe_, _Low_, laughed.

_Lowe_, “a little hill.”—_P._

_Lown_, villain, knave, base fellow.

_Lust_, desire, inclination.

_Lyght_, light; or, perhaps, for _lyte_, little.

_Lynde_, _Lyne_, the lime or linden tree; or collectively lime
trees, or trees in general.

_Lyth_, see _Lithe_.

_Lyveray_, livery, habit, delivery: the mess, portion, or quantity
of provisions delivered out at a time by the butler was called _a
livery_.

_Masars_, cups, vessels.

_Masterye_, “a trial of skill, high proof of skill.”—_P._

_Mair_, more.

_Maney_, see _Meyne_.

_May_, maid.

_Me_, _That ever yet sawe I me_, a gallicism; _que jamais j’ai vu
moi_.

_Meal_, oat-meal.

_Meal-poke_, meal-bag, bag in which oatmeal is put.

_Meat-rife._

_Mede_, _To quyte hym well his mede_, to reward him to some purpose.

_Medys_, midst, middle.

_Meede_, reward.

_Mesh_, _All to mesh_, to a mash or jelly.

_Met_, _Mete_, measured.

_Methe_, meat.

_Meyne_, attendants, retinue; _mesnie_, F.

_Meythe_, might.

_Mickle_, much, great, very.

_Mister_, need. It is _misters_ in the original.

_Mo_, more.

_Molde_, earth.

_Mot_, _Mote_, might, may.

_Mote_, meeting, assembly, court, audit.

_Mountenaunce_, amount, duration, space.

_Mow_, mouth.

_Mowe_, may.

_Muckle_, see _Mickle_.

_Myrthes_, mirth, merriment. _A man that myrthes can_, a minstrel,
fiddler, juggler, or the like.

_Myster_, need.

_Nane_, none.

_Nar_, nor, than.

_Ner_, ear. So in “_The Romaunt of the Rose_:”

 “He streight up to his _ere_ ydrough
 The stronge bowe.” {395}

_Ner_, (_ne wer it_), were it not.

_Nip_, p. 100.

_Nips_, p. 101.

_Nobellys_, nobles. The _noble_ was a gold coin, value 6s. 8d.

_Nombles_, _Numbles_, entrails; those parts which are usually baked
in a pie: now, corruptly, called _humbles_ or _umbles_: _nombles_,
F. Thus we say, _an Adder_, _an Apron_, _an Ouche_, instead of _a
Nadder_, (Naddre), _a Napron_, _a Nouche_: the _n_ being, through
ignorance, transferred to the article. The reverse has happened in
the words _A newt_, which should be written _An ewt_: a mistake the
more remarkable as we say and write _An eft_; both from the same
root: Efet, Saxon.

_Obeyedores_, [_obediener_].

_Okerer_, usurer.

_Or_, [en].

_Os_, us.

_Outdone_, undone.

_Owthe_, out.

_Paid_, beat, beaten.

_Palmer._ A _palmer_ was, properly, a pilgrim who had visited the
Holy Land, from the palm-branch or cross which he bore as a sign of
such visitation: but it is probable that the distinction between
_palmers_ and other _pilgrims_ was never much attended to in this
country. The palmer in the text seems to be no more than a common
beggar; as is, likewise, the one in the romance.

_Partakers_, assistants, persons to take thy part.

_Passe_, extent, bounds, limits, district; as the _Pas de Calais_.
Copland’s edition reads _compas_.

_Pauage_, _Pavag_, _Pavage_, _Pawage_, a toll or duty payable for
the liberty of passing over the soil or territory of another:
_paagium_, L.

_Pay_, content, satisfaction, money.

_Peces_, p. 32.

_Pecocke_, _With pecocke well ydight_, handsomely dressed with
peacock feathers. Thus Chaucer, describing his “_squire’s yeman_:”

 “A shefe of _peacocke arwes_ bright and kene,
  Under his belt he bare ful thriftely.”

In a little treatise of “_The Hors, the Shepe, and the Ghoos_,”
printed by Caxton, it is said—

 “Thurgh all the londe of Brutes Albyon
  For fetherd arowes as I reherce can
  _Ghoos_ is the best to make comparison
  Excepte fethers of _pecok_ and of _swan_.”

_Pinder._ The _pinder_ is the _pounder_ or _pound-keeper_; the
petty officer of a manor, whose duty it is to impound all strange
cattle straying upon the common, &c. {396}

_Plucke-buffet_, p. 75.

_Polle_, pull.

_Poke_, bag.

_Preke_, prick, a piece of wood in the centre of the target.

_Prese_, company.

_Prest_, ready, ready to go.

_Puding-pricks_, skewers that fasten the pudding-bag.

_Pyne_, _Goddes pyne_, Christ’s passion or crucifixion.

_Quequer_, quiver: Gocur, Saxon.

_Queyt_, quit, recompense.

_Qod_, quoth, says, said.

_Raked_, walked apace.

_Ray_, _Battle ray_, Battle-array. The same expression occurs in
_The Tragicall History of Didaco and Violenta_, 1567:

 “To traverse forth his grounde, to place
  His troupes _in batayle ray_.”

_Ray_, array, put in order.

_Raye._ _Cloth of ray_ was cloth not coloured or dyed. It is
mentioned in many old statutes in contradistinction to _cloth of
colour_. See 17 E. 3. c. 1, 7 H. 4. c. 10, 11 H. 4. c. 6, 1 R. 3.
c. 8. The “_reied or striped cloth_” (Stow’s _Survay_, 1598, p.
436, 430) must have been very different.

_Reachles_, careless, regardless, unobservant.

_Red_, clear.

_Reuth_, pity, compassion.

_Reve_, taken by force.

_Reves_, bailiffs, receivers.

_Ripe_, cleanse. _Riped_, cleansed.

_Rod_, poles, perches. A rod, pole, or perch is usually sixteen
feet and a half, but in Sherwood forest (according to Blount) it is
21 feet, the foot there being 18 inches.

_Rode_, rood, cross.

_Rung_, staff.

_Ryall_, royal.

_Ryalty_, royalty.

_Ryghtwys_, righteous, just.

_Sack_, a kind of Spanish wine, perhaps sherry, formerly much drank
in this country; very different, at least, from the sweet (or
canary) wine now so called.

_Sair_, sore.

_Salved_, (_salued_?) saluted. The word _salewed_, in this sense,
occurs repeatedly in _The Hystorye of Reinard the Foxe_ (Pinson’s
edition); and (_vide tamen Salvid_ in the _Gesta Romanorum_, MS.
Har. 7333, No. 48) in that of “_Kynge Ponthus of Galyce_,” 1511.
“_Salue_,” F. i. “_Salewe_,” F. ii. K. Ponthus.

_Scathe_, harm.

_Schetyng_, shooting.

_Schomer_, summer. {397}

_Sclo_, slay.

_Scop_, scalp, pate.

_Scoper_, supper.

_Scouth_, p. 105.

_Serefe_, _Screffe_, sheriff.

_Se_, vide _See_.

_Seche_, seek.

_See_, regard, protect. The same phrase occurs in Chaucer’s
_Troilus and Cresside_:

 “Madame, quoth Pandare, God you save see.”

_Seker_, sure.

_Selerer._ The cellarer (_celerier_, _cellararius_, or _cellarius_)
was that officer who furnished the convent with provisions,
_cui potus et escæ cura est, qui cellæ vinariæ et escariæ
præest, promus_ (DU CANGE). He appears to have been a person of
considerable trust, and to have had a principal concern in the
management of the society’s revenues. See Spelman’s _Glossary_,
Fuller’s _Church History_, &c.

_Semblaunte_, semblance, appearance.

_Sene_, see.

_Sete_, p. 25.

_Sets._ _Sets with Roben Hood such a lass!_ probably such a lass
would suit or become him well; but the passage is either singular
or corrupt.

_Sette_, mortgaged.

_Shawe._ _Shaw_ is usually explained by _little wood_, but
_greenwood little wood_ would be ridiculous tautology; it may
therefore mean _shade_, which appears its primitive signification:
Scuƿa, Saxon. See p. 327, ver. 5. _Shaws_, “little woods.”—P.

_Shende_, hurt, annoy. _Shente_, hurt, wounded.

_Shet_, shut.

_Shete_, shoot.

_Shone_, [shoes].

_Shope_, shaped, made.

_Shraddes._ See the note.

_Shrewde_, _Shrewed_, unlucky.

_Shrift_, confession.

_Shroggs_, “shrubs, thorns, briars. G. Doug. _scroggis_.”—P.

_Shyt_, shut.

_Skaith_, hurt, harm. _They feared for his skaith_, _i.e._ for the
harm it might do them.

_Slack_, low ground.

_Slade_, “a slip of greensward between plow-lands, or woods, &c.”—P.

_Slawe_, _Slone_, slain.

_Sle_, _Sloo_, slay.

_Somers_, sumpter-horses.

_Sorowe_, sorry. {398}

_Sothe_, sooth, truth.

_Sound_, see _A-sound_.

_Soyt_, sooth, truth.

_Spear_, ask. _Speer’d_, asked, inquired.

_Stalward_, _Stalworthe_, stout, well made.

_Stane_, stone.

_Stark_, stiff.

_Stede_, time.

_Steven._ _At some unsett-steven_, at some unlooked for time, by
some odd accident, by mere chance, voice.

_Stime_, spark, particle or ray of light.

_Stint_, stop.

_Sto’_, store, p. 219.

_Strang_, strong.

_Strete_, lane, path, way.

_Sweaven_, dream.

_Sweer_, p. 100.

_Syne_, after, afterward, then.

_Syth_, afterward.

_Takles_, arrows.

_Takyll_, arrow.

_Tarpe_, p. 68.

_Tene_, grief, sorrow, distress, vexation.

_Tene_, grieve.

_The_, thrive, prosper.

_Thes_, thus, this.

_Thos_, thus.

_Throwe_, space.

_To-broke_, broken.

_To-hande staffe_, two-hand staff, quarter-staff.

_Tortyll_, wreathed, twined, twirled, twisted; _tortillé_, F.

_Tray_, anger.

_Tree_, staff.

_Treyffe_, thrive.

_Trow_, true.

_Trowet_, troth.

_True_, trow, believe.

_Trystell_, _Trystyll_.

_Tynde_, _Tyndes_, tines, antlers, the pointed branches that issue
from the main beam of a stag. “In Ynglond ther ys a shepcote, the
wyche schepekote hayt ix dorys, & at yeuery dor stondet ix ramys, &
every ram hat ix ewys, & yevery ewe hathe ix lambys, & yevery lambe
hayt ix homes, & every horne hayt ix TYNDES: what ys the somm of
all thes belle?” (MSS. More, Ee. 4. 35.)

_Unketh_, uncouth, strange.

_Unneth_, scarcely.

_Up-chaunce_, by chance.

_Venie_, _Brave venie_, merry vein, jovial humour. {399}

_Wan_, _Wonnynge wan_, dwelling-place.

_Wan_, got.

_Warden-pies._ _Wardens_ are a species of large pears. In
Shakespeare’s _Winter’s Tale_, the clown, enumerating the articles
he had to provide for the sheep-shearing feast, says he “must have
saffron to colour the _warden-pies_.”

_Warse_, worse.

_Was_, wash. “And afterward the justices arise and _wasse_, and
geffe thanks unto the new serjaunts forther gode dyner” (_Origines
Juridiciales_, p. 116). This ceremony, which, in former times, was
constantly practised as well before as after meat, seems to have
fallen into disuse on the introduction of forks, about the year
1620: as before that period our ancestors supplyed the place of
this necessary utensil with their fingers.

_Watchman_, a probable mistake for _Waithman_, outlaw. See Notes,
&c., p. lxxiii.

_Wed_, _Wedde_, pawn, pledge, or deposit. _To wedde_, in mortgage.
_Lay my life to wedde_, pawn my life.

_Weele_, well.

_Welt_, _Welt them at his wyll_, did as he pleased with them, used
them at his pleasure.

_Wed_, _Wende_, go, hye.

_Wenest_, thinkest.

_Wenion_, _Marry gep with a wenion!_ “He shoulde have bene at home
a preaching _with a waniant_,” says Bishop Latimer, _Sermons before
King Edward VI._, p. 35. This phrase, _with a wannion_, is common
in old plays, but, though its meaning be obvious, even Mr. Steevens
is unable to “explain the word at the end of it” (_Shak._ xiii.
440). It is now corrupted to _with a vengeance_.

_Went_, wended, gone.

_Werschep_, worshipped, reverenced, respected.

_West_, wist, known.

_Wete_, know.

_Whang_, _Leathern whang_, leather thong or string.

_Whereas_, where.

_Whute_, whistle.

_Wigger wand_, wicker wand.

_Wight_, _Wighty_, strong. _N.B._ The latter word seems everywhere
a mistake for the former.

_Wilfulle_, doubtful.

_Win_, see _Wen_.

_Win_, get.

_Wist_, wis, trow, believe.

_Wist_, knew.

_Wode_, mad.

_Wodys_, woods.

_Wolwarde_, wearing a flannel shirt, by way of penance. See
Steeven’s _Shakespeare_, 1793, v. 360. {400}

_Won_, dwell.

_Wonest_, dwellest.

_Woodweele_, “the golden ouzle, a bird of the thrush kind.”—P.

_Worthe_, _Wo worthe the_, woe be to thee.

_Wrack_, ruin, destruction.

_Wroken_, wreaked, revenged.

_Wyght_, strong, stout.

_Wynne_, go.

_Wys_, trow; there is no modern word precisely synonymous.

_Wyte_, _Wytte_, know.

_Y_, I.

_Yede_, _Yeed_, went.

_Yeff_, if.

_Yeffell_, evil.

_Yeft_, gift.

_Yemenry_, yeomanry. _Thow seys god yemenry_, thou speakest
honestly, fairly, sensibly, like a good yeoman.

_Yend_, yon.

_Yeomandree_, _Yeomandry_, yeomanry, followers.

_Yerdes_, rods.

_Yever_, ever.

_Yfere_, together.

_Ylke_, same. _Ylke same_, very same.

_Ynowe_, enough.

_Yode_, went.

_Yole_, Christmas.

_Yonder_, under.

_Yong men_, yeomen (which is every where substituted in Copland’s
edition). See Spelman’s _Glossary_ in the wordes _Juniores_,
_Yeoman_; Minshen’s _Guide into Tongues_, in the latter
word; Tyrwhitt’s edition of the _Canterbury Tales_, iv. 195;
Shakespeare’s _Plays_, 1793, xiv. 347.

[Illustration]

 PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HANSON AND CO.
 EDINBURGH AND LONDON




TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE

Original spelling and grammar have been generally retained, with
some exceptions noted below. Original printed page numbers are
shown like this: {52}. Original small caps are now uppercase.
Italics look _like this_. Footnotes have been relabeled 1–359,
and moved from within paragraphs to the ends of chapters. The
transcriber produced the cover image and hereby assigns it to
the public domain. Original page images are available from
archive.org—search for "odcollectrobinho00ritsrich".

Page ix, List of Embellishments. The page reference for KIRKLEY
HALL is changed from “xlv” to “xiv”.

Page xxi. The Pedigree of Robin Hood in the printed book was a
complicated chart, which cannot be represented properly in this
simple text edition. Therefore a transcription has been provided,
based on the geneological numbering system of Robert B. Henry—see
for example wikipedia.org, search for Ahnentafel_with_generation.
I apologize for any errors you might find in this transcription.
The Henry system starts with a progenitor, numbered 1, his/her
children, numbered 11, 12, etc, followed by grandchildren 111, 112,
etc. The system ordinarily depends on knowing the order of birth
of children to parents, but that is not provided in our book, so
our Henry numbers are, in that respect, arbitrary, showing only
parentage. Also, the abbreviation m. is used in this transcription,
ordinarily meaning “married”, but in this case indicating only
parentage.

Page xvii. “drowne themselves (as it were,” changed to “drowne
themselves (as it were),”, to close the left parenthesis.

Page lvi. A missing left double quotation mark was inserted before
‘_Rob._ Wind once more,’.

Page lxxiii note. Changed “It is from þæðan, _venari_, _fugare_)”
to “It is from þæðan, _venari_, _fugare_”.

Page c note. The phrase “fr ðes”, retained, might be an error;
perhaps it should read “friðes”?

Page ci. “16:h” to “16th”.

Page cv note. Changed “in 1621 (the very date, by the way, which
appears on Mr. Tollet’s window,” to “in 1621 (the very date, by the
way, which appears on Mr. Tollet’s window),”.

Page cviii. Added right parenthesis after “1783, p. 255.” to
balance the left parenthesis before “See Steevens’s”.

Page 164n. The original inverted asterism has been replaced with an
asterism ⁂ in this text edition.

Page 170. “Robin Hdoo served” to “Robin Hood served”.

Page 188 music midi file. In bar 9, the E-sharp has been corrected
to E-natural.

Page 263n. The footnote “Elephant.” had no anchor in the text, and
is therefore relocated here. A volunteer suggested that it might
attach to ‘eglantine’ in the first line on the page.

Page 269n. The footnote “Robin Hood.” had no anchor in the text; a
new one was inserted after “Robin” in the third stanza.

Page 302 midi file. In bar 6, the first note has been corrected to
a quarter-note. In bar 7, the eighth notes have been corrected to
sixteenth notes.

Page 312n. The footnote had no anchor; a new one is inserted after
“And ‘wandred’”.

Page 348n. Changed “later period in Germany (see” to “later period
in Germany, see”

Pages 354, 355 midi file. The three music snippets on these pages
are meant to be sung as a single three-part chorus, and have been
so rendered in the midi file. Note that transcribing early music
notation into modern notation is not an exact science; in 1609,
when this piece was published, music notation was still considered
more of a guide than a mandate. Therefore, adjustments were made so
that the sound file makes musical sense.

Page 357 midi file. As with the previous piece, which was also
published in 1609, adjustments were made so that the sound file
makes musical sense.

Page 387. Several entries in the Glossary ending with comma were
altered to end with full stop.

Page 393. “_Lewtè_, loyal y,” changed to “_Lewtè_, loyalty,”.

Page 396. There are in several places in this book instances of
words printed in mixtures of uncial, insular, and humanist type.
These have been rendered in common unicode characters in this text
edition; images are provided for the html, epub, and mobi editions.
A particularly odd instance occurs on page 396, where the Saxon
word meaning _Quequer_ is rendered herein “Gocur”.
















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