if genuine, fbers that he bad real pretenfions to the Earl- "Lithe and lyften, gentylmen, 66 Robyn was a proude out-lawe, "So curteyfe an outlawe as he was one, The printer's colophon is, " Explicit Kinge Edwarde "and Robin hode and Lyttel Johan. Enprented at London in "Fleteftrete at the fygne of the fone by Wynkin de Worde." In Mr. Garrick's Collection is a different edition of the Same poem "Imprinted at London upon the thre Črane "wharfe by Wyllyam Copland." containing at the end a little dramatic piece on the subject of Robin Hood and the Friar, not found in the former copy, called, "A newwe playe "for to be played in Maye games very plefaunte and full of paftyme. (..) D.” I fhall conclude thefe preliminary remarks with obferving, that the hero of this ballad was the favourite fubject of popular fongs fo early as the time of K. Edw. III. In the VOL. I. G Vifions † Num. D. 5. 2. Stukeley, in bis Palæographia Britannica, No. II. 1746. *See allo the following ballad, v. 147. Old Plays, 4to. K, vol. 10. Vifions of Pierce Plowman, written in that reign, a monk I can rimes of Koben Hod, and Kandal of Chester, See alfo in Bp. Latimer's Sermons † a very curious and characteristical flory, which fhews what respect was shewn to the memory of our archer in the time of that prelate. HAN fhaws beene fheene, and fhraddes* full WH And leaves both large and longe, Itt's merrye walkyng in the fayre forrèft To heare the small birdes fonge. [fayre, The woodweele fang, and wold not cease, 5 Soe lowde, he wakened Robin Hood, Now by my faye, fayd jollye Robin, A fweaven I had this night; I dreamt me of tow wighty yemen, Methought they did me beate and binde, Iff I be Robin alive in this lande, Ser. 6th before K. Ed. Apr. 12. fol. 75. Gilpin's life of Lat. p. 122. *It fhould perhaps be Swards: i. e. the furface of the ground: viz. "when the fields are in their beauty.” Sweavens are swift, fayd Lyttle John, As the wind blowes over the hill; For iff itt be never fo loude this night, To-morrow it may be still. Bufke yee, bowne yee, my merry men all, 20 A fword and a dagger he wore by his fide, Of manye a man the bane; And he was clad in his capull hyde 35 Topp and tayll and mayne. Stand ftill, mafter, quoth Litle John Under this tree fo grene, And I will go to yond wight yeoman To know what he doth meane. Ah! John, by me thou fetteft noe ftore, And that I farley finde: How often fend I my men before, It is no cunning a knave to ken, bowe, And a man but heare him fpeake; And it were not for bursting of my John, I thy head wold breake. As often wordes they breeden bale, The gates + he knoweth eche one. 45 5. One shoote now I will fhoote, quoth John, With Chrift his might and mayne; 1 † i.e. ways, passes, paths, ridings, Gate is a common word in the North for way. · Ile Ile make yond fheriffe that wends foe faft, Then John bent up his long bende-bowe, 65 And fetteled him to fhoote: 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. 76 His shoote it was but loosely fhott, £75 It had bene better of William a Trent To have bene abed with forrowe, wood flade 80 Than to be that day in the green But as it is faid, when men be mett And bound him faft to a tree. And hanged hye on a hill. Thou shalt be drawen by dale and downe, 85 But G 3 |