In “The Calidonian Forrest,” a sort of allegorical or mystic tale, by John Hepwith, gentleman, printed in 1641, 4to, the author says, “Let us talke of Robin Hoode, And little John in mery Shirewoode,” &c.[64] Of one very ancient, and undoubtedly once very popular, song this single line is all that is now known to exist: {lxxviii} “Robin Hood in Barnsdale stood.” However, though but a line, it is of the highest authority in Westminster Hall, where, in order to the decision of a knotty point, it has been repeatedly cited, in the most solemn manner, by grave and learned judges. M. 6 Jac. B. R. Witham _v._ Barker, Yelv. 147. Trespass, for breaking plaintif’s close, &c. Plea. Liberum tenementum of Sir John Tyndall, and justification as his servant and by his command. Replication, That it is true it is his freehold, but that long before the time when &c. he leased to plaintif at will, who entered and was possessed until, &c. traversing, that defendant entered, &c. by command of Sir John. Demurrer: and adjudged against plaintif, on the ground of the replication being bad, as not setting forth any seisin or possession in Sir John, out of which a lease at will could be derived. For a title made by the plea or replication should be certain to all intents, because it is traversable. Here, therefor, he should have stated Sir John’s seisin, as well as the lease at will; which is not done here: “mes tout un come il ust replie Robin Whood in Barnwood stood, absque hoc q def. p commandement Sir John. Quod nota. Per Fenner, Williams et Crook justices sole en court. Et judgment done accordant. Yelv. p def.” In the case of Bush _v._ Leake, B. R. Trin. 23 G. 3, Buller, justice, cited the case of Coulthurst _v._ Coulthurst, C. B. Pasch. 12 G. 3 (an action on bond), and observed, “There a case in Yelverton was alluded to, where the court said, you might as well say, by way of inducement to a traverse, Robin Hood in Barnwood stood.” It is almost unnecessary to observe, because it will be shortly proved, that Barnwood, in the preceding quotations, ought to be Barnsdale.[65] With respect to Whood, the reader {lxxix} will see, under Note 19, a remarkable proof of the antiquity of that pronunciation, which actually prevails in the metropolis at this day. See also the word “whodes” in Note 34. So, likewise, Bale, in his _Actes of English Votaries_, 1560, says, “the monkes had their cowles, caprones or whodes;” and in Stow’s _Survey_, 1598, p. 120, have “a fooles whoode.” This celebrated and important line occurs as the first of a foolish mock-song, inserted in an old mortality, intitled “A new interlude and a mery of the nature of the iiii elementes,” supposed to have been printed by John Rastall about 1520; where it is thus introduced: “_Hu_[_manyte_]. ――let us some lusty balet syng. _Yng_[_norance_]. Nay, syr, by the hevyn kyng: For me thynkyth it servyth for no thyng, All suche pevysh prykeryd song.