IT HATH BEEN SUNG AT FESTIVALS, AND LORDS AND LADIES OF THEIR LIVES 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, 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. With broad-arrow, or but, or prick, or roving shaft, Their arrows finely pair'd, for timber, and for feather, Slept many a summer's night under the greenwood tree. To him before he went, but for his pass must pay: Was ever constant known, which whereso'er she came, |