XVI. THE NOBLE FISHERMAN; OR, ROBIN HOOD’S PREFERMENT . . . 262 XVII. ROBIN HOOD’S DELIGHT . . . 268 XVIII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BEGGAR . . . 274 XIX. LITTLE JOHN AND THE FOUR BEGGARS . . . 280 XX. ROBIN HOOD AND THE RANGER . . . 285 XXI. ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN . . . 290 XXII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD . . . 298 XXIII. ROBIN HOOD RESCUING THE WIDOW’S THREE SONS FROM THE SHERIFF WHEN GOING TO BE EXECUTED . . . 303 XXIV. ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN . . . 309 XXV. THE KING’S DISGUISE, AND FRIENDSHIP WITH ROBIN HOOD . . . 314 XXVI. ROBIN HOOD AND THE GOLDEN ARROW . . . 323 XXVII. ROBIN HOOD AND THE VALIANT KNIGHT . . . 330 XXVIII. ROBIN HOOD’S DEATH AND BURIAL . . . 335 APPENDIX . . . 341 GLOSSARY . . . 387 [Illustration] LIST OF EMBELLISHMENTS. PORTRAIT OF JOSEPH RITSON . . . _Frontispiece_ KIRKLEY HALL . . . _Page_ xiv COURTESY OF LITTLE JOHN . . . 6 LITTLE JOHN AND THE KNIGHT . . . 14 ROBIN HOOD AND THE LADY . . . 58 THE BANQUET . . . 89 ROBIN HOOD AND THE ABBOT . . . 132 ROBIN HOOD AND THE PINDER . . . 168 THE PRAYER OF THE FRIARS . . . 252 ROBIN HOOD AND HIS BETRAYER . . . 336 [Illustration] PREFACE. The singular circumstance that the name of an outlawed individual of the twelfth or thirteenth century should continue traditionally popular, be chanted in ballads, and, as one may say, Familiar in our mouth as household words, at the end of the eighteenth, excited the editor’s curiosity to retrieve all the historical or poetical remains concerning him that could be met with: an object which he has occasionally pursued for many years; and of which pursuit he now publishes the result. He cannot, indeed, pretend that his researches, extensive as they must appear, have been attended with all the success he could have wished; but, at the same time, it ought to be acknowledged that many poetical pieces, of great antiquity and some merit, are deservedly rescued from oblivion. The materials collected for the “Life” of this celebrated character, which are either preserved at large or carefully referred to in the “Notes and Illustrations,” are not, it must be confessed, in every instance, so important, so ancient, or, perhaps, so authentic, as the subject seems to demand; although the compiler may be permitted to say, in humble second-hand imitation of the poet Martial: Some there are good, some middling, and some bad; But yet they were the best that could be had. Desirous to omit nothing that he could find upon the subject, he has everywhere faithfully vouched and exhibited his authorities, such as they are: it would, therefore, seem altogether uncandid or unjust to make him responsible for the want of authenticity of such of them as may appear liable to that imputation. [Illustration] {i} [Illustration] THE LIFE OF ROBIN HOOD.