That such a man as Robin Hood Was buried in that place ; And how he lived in the green wood And robbed for a space. It seems that though the clergy he Had put to mickle woe, He should not quite forgotten be Although he was their foe. This woman, though she did him hate, Yet loved his memory ; And thought it wondrous pitty that His fame should with him dye. This epitaph, as records tell, Within this hundred years, By many was discerned well, But time all things out-wears. His followers, when he was dead, Were some repriev’d to grace ; The rest to foreign countries fled, And left their native place. Although his funeral was but mean, This woman had in mind, Least his fame should be buried clean From those that came behind. {146} For certainly, before nor since, No man e’re understood, Under the reign of any prince, Of one like Robin Hood. Full thirteen years, and something more, These outlaws lived thus ; Feared of the rich, loved of the poor : A thing most marvellous. A thing impossible to us This story seems to be ; None dares be now so venturous, But times are chang’d we see. We that live in these later days Of civil government, If need be, have an hundred ways Such outlaws to prevent. In those days men more barbarous were, And lived less in awe ; Now (god be thanked) people fear More to offend the law. No waring guns were then in use, They dreamt of no such thing ; Our Englishmen in fight did use The gallant gray-goose wing ; {147} In which activity these men, Through practise, were so good, That in those days none equal’d them, Especially Robin Hood. So that, it seems, keeping in caves, In woods and forests thick, They’d beat a multitude with staves, Their arrows did so prick : And none durst neer unto them come, Unless in courtesie ; All such he bravely would send home With mirth and jollity : Which courtesie won him such love, As i before have told, ’Twas the chief cause that he did prove More prosperous than he could.[280] Let us be thankful for these times Of plenty, truth and peace ; And leave our great and horrid crimes, Least they cause this to cease. I know there’s many feigned tales Of Robin Hood and ’s crew ; But chronicles, which seldome fails, Reports this to be true. {148} Let none then think this is a lye, For, if ’twere put to th’ worst, They may the truth of all descry I’ th’ reign of Richard the first. If any reader please to try, As i direction show, The truth of this brave history, He’l find it true I know. And i shall think my labour well Bestow’d to purpose good, When’t shall be said that i did tell True tales of Robin Hood. [Illustration] FOOTNOTES TO “PART THE FIRST”, pp. 1–148 [119] The irregularity or defect of the versification, in this and similar passages, is probably owing to the loss of a line.