[249] See "The Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington," _Introd_. pp. 95, 96, ante. [250] See "Restituta," ii. 367 (note). [251] "Bibl. Poet." 159. [But see Hazlitt's "Handbook," v. C. II.] [252] [Henslowe's "Diary," 1845, p. 147. See also Collier's "Memoirs of the Actors in Shakespeare's Plays," p. 111.] [253] Introduction to "Downfall of Robert Earl of Huntington," pp. 101, 102. [254] With the letters R.A. on the title-page. [But surely it is very doubtful whether the play printed in 1615 (and again in 1663) is the same as that mentioned by Henslowe.] [255] [Unless it be the drama printed in 1604 under the title of the "Wit of a Woman."] [256] [Possibly a revival, with alterations, of Edwardes' play.] [257] There is no list of characters prefixed to the old 4to. [258] i.e., Skelton, who is supposed by the author to have acted the part of Friar Tuck, and who, when first he comes on the stage, is without his gown and hood. [259] [Old copy, _Hurt_. The two are inside plotting together. See infrâ.] [260] [The Queen Mother.] [261] _Wight_ means _active_, or (sometimes) _clever_. It may be matter of conjecture whether "_white_ boy," "_white_ poet," "_white_ villain," &c., so often found in old dramatists, have not this origin. [262] It is very obvious that Much begins his answer at "Cry ye mercy, Master King," but his name is omitted in the old 4to. [263] The old copy adds here _Exeunt_, and a new scene is marked; but this is a mistake, as Robin Hood just afterwards converses with the Prior, Sir Doncaster, and Warman, without any new entrance on their part. They retire to the back of the stage. [264] Warman is not mentioned, but we find him on the stage just afterwards, and he probably enters with Robin Hood. The entrance of Friar Tuck is also omitted. [265] i.e., Winding his horn. [266] The 4to, reads "Pity of _mind_, thine," &c. [267] See the last scene of the first part of this play. [268] The 4to merely reads _exit_. [269] "And yet more medicinal is it than that _Moly_ That Hermes once to wise Ulysses gave." --Milton's "Comus." There are several kinds of moly, and one of them distinguished among horticulturists as Homer's moly. Sir T. Brown thus quaintly renders two lines in the "Odyssey" relating to it-- "The gods it _Moly_ call whose root to dig away Is dangerous unto man, but gods they all things may." [270] [Displeased.] [271] [Old copy, _whindling_. See Halliwell, _v. Whimlen_. There is also _windilling_; but the word is one of those terms of contempt used by early writers rather loosely.] [272] These two lines are taken, with a slight change, from the ballad of "The Jolly Finder of Wakefield." See Ritson's "Robin Hood," ii. 16-- "In Wakefleld there lives a jolly pinder, In Wakefield all on a green," &c. [273] [Old copy, _monuments_.]