The first whereof that I intend to show Is merry Wakefield, and her pindar too, Which fame hath blaz’d with all that did belong, Unto that towne in many gladsome song, The pindar’s valour, and how firme he stood In th’ townes defence ’gainst th’ rebel Robin Hood, How stoutly he behav’d himselfe, and would, In spite of Robin, bring his horse to th’ fold, His many May-games which were to be seene Yearly presented upon Wakefield greene, Where lovely Jugge and lustie Tib would go, To see Tom-lively turne upon the toe; Hob, Lob, and Crowde the fidler would be there, And many more I will not speake of here. Good God! how glad hath been this hart of mine, To see that towne, which hath, in former time, So flourish’d and so gloried in her name, Famous by th’ pindar who first rais’d the same! Yea, I have paced ore that greene and ore And th’ more I saw’t I tooke delight the more, {xxviii} For where we take contentment in a place, A whole daies walke seemes as a cinquepace. Yet as there is no solace upon earth Which is attended evermore with mirth, But when we are transported most with gladnesse, Then suddenly our joy’s reduc’d to sadnesse; So far’d with me to see the pindar gone, And of those jolly laddes that were not one Left to survive: I griev’d more then Ile say: (But now for Bradford I must hast away). * * * * * Unto thy task, my muse, and now make knowne The jolly shoo-maker of Bradford towne, His gentle craft so rais’d in former time By princely journey-men his discipline, Where he was wont with passengers to quaffe, But suffer none to carry up their staffe Upon their shoulders, whilst they past through town, For if they did he soon would beat them downe; (So valiant was the souter) and from hence Twixt Robin Hood and him grew th’ difference; Which, cause it is by most stage-poets writ, For brevity I thought good to omit.”