Near Gloucester is “a famous hill” called “Robin Hood’s hill,” concerning which there is a very foolish modern song. Another hill of the same name exists in the neighbourhood of Castleton, Derbyshire. “Over a spring call’d Robin Hoods well (3 or 4 miles [on] this side [_i.e._ north] of Doncaster, and but a quarter of a mile only from 2 towns call’d Skelbrough and Bourmallis) is a very handsome stone arch, erected by the Lord Carlisle, where passengers from the coach frequently drink of the fair water, and give their charity to two people who attend there” (Gent’s History of York. York, 1730, p. 234).[109] {cxiii} Though there is no attendance at present, nor is the water altogether so fair as it might and should be, the case was otherwise in the days of honest Barnaby. “Veni Doncaster, &c. Nescit sitis artem modi, Puteum Roberti Hoodi Veni, & liquente vena Vincto[110] catino catena, Tollens sitim, parcum odi, Solvens obolum custodi.” “Thence to Doncaster, &c. Thirst knowes neither meane nor measure, Robin Hood’s well was my treasure; In a[111] common dish enchained, I my furious thirst restrained: And because I drunk the deeper, I paid two farthings to the keeper.” {cxiv} He mentions it again: “Nunc longinquos locus odi, Vale fons Roberti Hoodi.” “Now I hate all foreign places, Robin Hood’s well, and his chaces.” A different well, sacred either to Robin Hood or to St. Ann, has been already mentioned. “Not far [off Bitham, in Lincolnshire] is _Robyn Huddes cros_, a _limes_ of the shires” (Leland’s Itinerary, i. 25). (37) —“_conferred as a singular distinction upon the prime minister to the king of Madagascar._”] The natives of this island, who have dealings with our people, pride themselves, it seems, in English names, which are bestowed upon them at the discretion or caprice of the sailors: and thus a venerable minister of state, who should have been called Sir Robert Walpole or Cardinal Fleury, acquired the name of Robin Hood. Mr. Ives, by whom he is frequently mentioned, relates the following anecdote:—