IT HATH BEEN SUNG AT FESTIVALS,
ON EMBER-EVES, AND HOLY ALES;

AND LORDS AND LADIES OF THEIR LIVES
HAVE READ IT FOR RESTORATIVES.

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE.

N this tyme (Richd. I.) were many robbers and outlawes. among the which Robert Hood and Little John, renowned Theeves, continued in woods, dispoyling and robbing the goodes of the ryche; they killed none bot such as wolde invade them, or by resistence for their owne defence.

"The saide Robert intertained an hundred tall men, and good archers, with such spoils and thefts as he got, upon whom foure hundred (were they newer so stronge) durst not give the onset; Hee suffered no woman to be oppressed, or otherwise molested; poore men's goods he spared, aboundantlie releeving them with that,

which by thefte he got from Abbeyes, and the houses of ryche Earles; whom Major blameth for his rapine and theft; but of alle theeves hee affirmeth him to bee the Prince, and the most gentle Theefe." Stowe's Chronicles, p. 150.

To this need only be added the following beautiful passage from Drayton's Polyolbion:

"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 friar, 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 bow-men were right good,
All clad in Lincoln green, 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 echos 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 them 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.
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;
He from the husband's bed no married woman wan,
But to his mistress dear, his loved Marian,

Was ever constant known, which whereso'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."