THIS It is HIS ballad is printed from a copy in Mr Collier's possession, collated with a second belonging to Mr David Laing ; and it is evidently founded upon the preceding work. illustrated by three cuts, of which one is a repetition; the title will be found in Hazlitt, p. 512. As both the known copies are more or less defective, a few lacuna are supplied between brackets by conjecture. The merry pranks of Robin Good-fellow: very pleasant and witty. CHAPTER I.-Shewing his birth, and whose sonne he was. Here doe begin the merry jests of Robin Good-fellow; I'de wish you for to reade this booke, if you his pranks would know. But first I will declare his birth, did bring his knacks to passe. In time of old, when fayries us'd And through key-holes swiftly glide, And sundry houses they did use, She knew not who the father was, The midwife having better skill than had this new made mother, Quoth she, "Surely some fairy 'twas, for it can be no other." And so the old wife rightly judg'd, This fairy shew'd himself most kind, The Christening time then being come, most merry they would be, The Gossips Bak good store of sack is the provided be. Bad Room was this infant call'd, sted then was he; 31-Er Rein Good-fellow carried him siệt, but we ne raz sway from his mother. The Lin was a pretty bud, se in years of age, me wish tricks to men, ROAD would rage. Chris mcer they complain'’d, Fingered her to heare, lat in these pranks she threatened him he should have whipping cheare, be did not leave his tricks, is erring mocks and mowes : Qarch she. - Thoa vile untutor'd youth, these prities to breeding shewes : I am to the market goe, bat ere I backe returne, The soot my neighbours in such sort, maid mues my heart to mourne. * Rat I will make you to repent these things, ere I have done : I will no frour have on thee, although thou beest my sonne." Robin was griev'd to heare these words which she to him did say, But to prevent his punishment, from her he run away. And travelling long upon the way, and did entreat some meat: And tooke him for his prentice straight, CHAPTER III.-How Robin Good-fellow left his master, and also how Oberon told him he should be turned into what shape he could wish or desire. Now Robin Good-fellow, being plac't He grew a workman in short space, He had a gowne which must be made, The taylor he did labour hard till twelve a clock at night; Betweene him and his servant then The gowne, but putting on the sleeves: quoth he unto his man, Ile goe to bed whip on the sleeves So Robin straightway takes the gowne; and hangs it on a pin, Then takes the sleeves and whips the gowne; till day he nere did lin. His master rising in the morne, And seeing what he did, Begun to chide; quoth Robin then, "I doe as I was bid." His Master then the gowne did take, and to his worke did fall: By that time he had done the same, the maid for it did call. Quoth he to Robin, "Goe thy wayes and fetch the remnants hither, That yesterday we left," said he, "wee'l breake our fasts together." Then Robin hies him up the staires and brings the remnants downe, Which he did know his master sav'd out of the woman's gowne. The taylor he was vext at this; he meant remnants of meat, That this good woman, ere she went, might there her breakfast eate. Quoth she, "This is a breakfast good I tell you, friend, indeed; And to requite your love I will send for some drinke with speed." And Robin he must goe for it with all the speed he may : He takes the pot and money too, and runnes from thence away. When he had wandred all the day, a good way from the towne, Unto a forest then he came : to sleepe he laid him downe. Then Oberon came with all his elves, and danced about his sonne, With musick pleasing to the eare; and, when that it was done, |