_Mat._ O let mee looke for ever in thy eyes, And lay my warme breath to thy bloodlesse lips, If my sight can restraine death’s tyrannies, Or keep lives breath within thy bosome lockt.” He desires to be buried “At Wakefield, underneath the abbey-wall;” directs the manner of his funeral; and bids his yeomen, “For holy dirges, sing ‘him’ wodmen’s songs.” The king, upon the earl’s death, expresses his sorrow for the tragical event; ratifies the will; repeats the directions for the funeral; and says, “Fall to your wod-songs, therefore, yeomen bold, And deck his herse with flowers, that lov’d you deere.” The whole concludes with the following solemn dirge: “Weepe, weepe, ye wod-men waile, Your hands with sorrow wring; Your master Robin Hood lies deade, Therefore sigh as you sing. {lxv} “Here lies his primer, and his beades, His bent bowe, and his arrowes keene, His good sworde and his holy crosse: Now cast on flowers fresh and greene. “And, as they fall, shed teares and say, Well a, well a day, well a, well a day! Thus cast yee flowers and sing, And on to Wakefield take your way.” The poet then prosecutes the legend of Matilda, who is finally poisoned, by the procurement of King John, in Dunmow Priory. The story of this lady, whom the author of these plays is supposed to have been the first that converted into the character of Maid Marian, or connected in any shape with the history of Robin Hood, is thus related by Stow, under the year 1213: “The chronicle of Dunmow sayth, this discord arose betwixt the king and his barons, because of Mawd called the faire, daughter to Robert Fitzwalter, whome the king loved, but her father would not consent; and thereupon ensued warre throughout England. . . . . . Whilst Mawd the faire remayned at Dunmow, there came a messenger unto her from King John about his suite in love, but because she would not agree, the messenger poysoned a boyled or potched egge against she was hungrie, whereof she died” (Annales, 1592). Two of Drayton’s heroical epistles pass between King John and Matilda. He has also written her legend. 4. “Robin Hood’s penn’orths, by Wm. Haughton.”[50] 5. “Metropolis coronata, the triumphs of ancient drapery: or, rich cloathing of England, in a second yeeres performance. In honour of the advancement of Sir John Jolles, knight, to the high office of lord maior of London, and taking his oath for the same authoritie, on Monday being the 30. day of October, 1615. Performed in heartie affection to him, and at the bountifull charges of his worthy brethren the truely honourable society of drapers, the first that received such dignitie, in this citie. Devised and written by A. M. {lxvi} [Anthony Mundy] citizen and draper of London.” 1615, 4to.