THE

NOBLE PARENTAGE AND

THE ATCHIEVEMENTS OF ROBIN HOOD.

ROBIN HOOD was descended of the noble family of the Earl of Huntingdon, and being outlaw'd by Henry the Eight for many extravagances and outrages he had committed, he did draw together a company of such bold and licentious persons as himself, who lived for the most part on robberies committed in or neer unto Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. He had these always ready at his command, so that if need did require, he at the winding of his horn would have fifty or more of them in a readiness to assist him. He whom he most affected, by reason of his low stature, was called Little John, but not inferior to any of them in strength of body and stoutness of spirits. He would not entertain any into his service, whom he had not first fought withal himself, and made sufficient tryal of his courage and dexterity how to use his weapons, which was the reason that oftentimes he came home so hurt,

and beaten as he was; which was nevertheless no occasion of the dimanution of his love to the person whom he fought with, for ever afterwards he would be the more familiar with him, and better respect him for it. Many petitions were preferred to the king for a pardon for him, which the king (understanding of the many mad pranks he and his associates played) would give no ear unto; but being attended with a considerable guard, did make a progress himself to find him out, and to bring him to condign punishment. At the last, by the means and mediation of Queen Katherine, the king's wrath was qualified, and his pardon sealed, and he spent his old age in peace, at a house of his own, not far from Nottingham, being generally beloved and respected of all. We shall here give you an account of the several combats that he fought and the many odd and merry pranks he played, the one whereof by the strangeness of it, will add more respect unto his story; and the other by their variety, will abundantly serve to give more delight unto the Reader.

ROBIN HOOD'S DELIGHTS;

Or, a gallant combate fought between Robin Hood, Little John, and William Scarlock, and three of the keepers of the King's deer in the forrest of Sherwood in Nottinghamshire.

ON a Midsummers day in the morning, Robin Hood being accompanied with Little John and Will Scarlock, did walk forth betimes, and wished that in the way they

might meet with some adventure that might be worthy of their valour: they had not walked long by the forrest side, but behold three of the keepers of the Kings game appeared, with their forrest-bills in their hands, and well appointed with faucheons and bucklers to defend themselves. Loe here (saith Robin Hood) according to our wish, we have met with our mates, and before we part from them we will try what mettle they are made off. What Robin Hood, said one of the keepers: I the same, reply'd Robin. Then have at you, said the keepers: here are three of us, and three of you, we will single out ourselves one to one; and bold Robin, I for my part, am resolved to have a bout with thee. Content, with all my heart, said Robin Hood, and fortune shall determine who shall have the best, the outlaws or the keepers: with that they did lay down their coats, which were all of Lincoln Green, and fell to it for the space of two hours with their brown bills, in which hot exercise Robin Hood, Little John and Scarlock had the better, and giving the rangers leave to breath, demanded of them, how they liked them: why! good stout blades i' faith, saith the keeper that fought with Robin, we commend you, but let us make tryal whether you are as good at your sword and bucklers as you have been at your quarter-staff. Why, do you doubt of it, said Robin Hood? we shall satisfie you in that immediately. With that having laid down their staves and thrown off their doublets, they fell to it pell mell: and dealt their blows unmercifully sore, which were carefully always

defended with their bucklers. At the last Robin Hood observing Little John and Will Scarlock begin to give ground, which they never did in all their lives before, he dissembled the danger, and calling out for a little respite to breath, he said unto the keepers, Good boys, i' faith, and the best that ever I dealt withal: let me know your names, and for the time to come, I shall give that respect unto you that belongs unto your valour. Tush, said one of the keepers, we lose time in asking after our names, if thou wilt have any more to do with our hands, or with our swords, we are for thee? I see that you are stout men, said Robin Hood, we will fight no more in this place, but come and go with me to Nottingham (I have silver and gold enough about me) and there we will fight it out at the King's Head tavern with good sack and claret; and after we are weary, we will lay down our arms, and become sworn brothers to one another, for I love those men that will stand to it, and scorn to turn their backs for the proudest Tarmagant of them all. With all our hearts, jolly Robin, said the keepers to him: So putting up their swords, and on their doublets, they went to Nottingham, where for three days space they followed the pipes of sack, and butts of claret without intermission, and drank themselves good friends.

ROBIN HOOD'S PROGRESS TO NOTTINGHAM. How being affronted with fifteen foresters as he was going to a match at shooting with his long bow before the king, he killed the said fifteen forresters. THE name of Robin Hood did now begin to grow famous up and down the country; those who had occasion to go from one market to another, were either afraid of him, and did forbear to go those ways where his haunts were, or else they were in fee with him, and every quarter did give him money, that with their goods and cattel they might pass by unmolested. This he conceived to be a secure and thriving way to fill his pockets, wherefore he contracted with all the graziers and rich farmers thereabouts, who had rather to give him every quarter a certain sum of money, then to be liable to those thefts and dangers both by day and night, which before did too much afflict them. Robin Hood in the mean time living high, and being out of any fear of hue and crys, or constables warrants, would repair oftentimes to the town of Nottingham, where he would constantly make himself full merry at the Kings Head, and no guest was more respected than himself. It so fell out, that the king lying at that time at a great earls house not far from Nottingham, the townsmen, and some other of the adjacent countrey, did intend to delight his majesty with the honest exercise and recreation of archery. Thither was going many of the rangers of Sherwood Forrest, and thither was going Robin Hood