Stubbs’s chapter, upon “Lords of mis-rule” (Anatomie of Abuses, 1583) contains a singular description of a grand parochial morris-dance, which is worthy of perusal. It is observable that, in the sham second part of _Hudibras_, published 1663, this place is said to be “Highly famed for _Hocktide games_.” (Grey’s edition of _Hudibras_, ii. 90.) Of what nature these were (at Kingston) we are not informed. See Plot’s Natural History of Oxfordshire; Leland’s Collectanea, v. Roas. _Hocktide_ or _Hock-day_ was the Tuesday fortnight after Easter. Two falsehoods are asserted of this festival: one, that its celebration was owing to the general joy excited by the death of Hardecnute, which in fact took place on the 8th of June: the other, that it was the anniversary of the general slaughter of the Danes in 1042; which Henry of Huntingdon and others expressly fix on St. Brice’s day, being the 13th of November. It plainly appears, by these extracts, that _Robyn Hode_, _Little John_, _the frere_, and _mayde Maryan_ were fitted out at the same time with _the mores daunsars_, and, consequently, it would seem, united with them in one and the same exhibition.[100] “Also it was said, that the ladie hir selfe, the same daie hir husband and she should be crowned, said that she feared they should prove but as a summer king and queene, such as in countrie townes the yoong folks choose for short to danse about maipoles” (Holinshed, at the year 1306). As to the original institution of May-poles, or king and queen of May,—in a word, of the primitive purpose and celebration of a popular festival at that season,—nothing {cviii} satisfactory or consequential can be discovered. The curious reader, at the same time, may consult Spelman’s Glossary, _voce_ MAIUMA, and Ducange, _vv._ MAJUMA, MAIUS. In an old manuscript music-book given lately by Mr. Dalziel to the Advocates’ Library are the following scraps of songs about Robin Hood: “First when Robin good bow bare, Was never bairne so bold, Doune, doune, berrie, doune, doune.” “Now will ye hear a jollie jest, How Robin Hood was pope of Rome, And Wallace king of France.” “Jolly Robin goe to the green wood to thy lemman.” “The nock is out of Johnes bow, Joly, joly,” &c. Much curious matter on the subject of the morris-dance is to be found in “Mr. Tollet’s opinion concerning the Morris-dancers upon his Window.” (See Steevens’s Shakespeare, v. 425, edition 1778, or viii. 596, edition 1793. See also Mr. Waldron’s notes upon the Sad Shepherd, 1783, p. 255.) Morris-dancers are said to be yet annually seen in Norfolk,[101] and make their constant appearance in Lancashire.[102]