And in 1512, the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex were first impowered to impannel juries for the city courts, each juror so impannelled to be a citizen worth an hundred marks. As the history of the city of London must necessarily include that of the manners of the inhabitants, we have given some instances of their fondness for pompous and splendid processions, and it may hereafter be necessary to add others, to enable the reader to form an idea of the difference between the past times and the present. I shall here mention amusements of a different kind, graced with the presence of a sovereign Prince, and which cannot fail of entertaining the reader. It was usual, on the first of May, for all the citizens who were able, to divert themselves in the woods and meadows with May-games, diversions not confined to the lower class, but equally the entertainment of persons of the highest rank; a remarkable instance of which is inserted in _Hall’s Chronicle_, under the year 1515, when that author observes, that King Henry VIII. and Queen Catharine, accompanied by many Lords and Ladies, rode a maying from Greenwich to the high ground of Shooter’s Hill, where, as they passed along, they saw a company of 200 tall yeomen, all cloathed in green, with green hoods and bows and arrows. One, who was their Chieftain, was called Robin Hood, and desired the King and all his company to stay and see his men shoot, to which the King agreeing, he whistled, and all the two hundred discharged their arrows at once, which they repeated on his whistling again. Their arrows had something placed in the heads of them that made them whistle as they flew, and all together made a loud and very uncommon noise, at which the King and Queen were greatly delighted. The gentleman who assumed the character of Robin Hood then desired the King and Queen, with their retinue, to enter the Green Wood, where, in arbours made with boughs intermixed with flowers, they were plentifully served with venison and wine, by Robin Hood and his men. About two years after an event happened, which occasioned the epithet of Evil to be added to this day of rejoicing. The citizens being extremely exasperated at the encouragement given to foreigners, a Priest named Bell was persuaded to preach against them at the Spital, and in a very inflaming sermon he incited the people to oppose all strangers; this occasioned frequent quarrels in the streets, for which some Englishmen were committed to prison.