ROBIN HOOD having for a long period, maintained a sort of independent sovereignty, and set kings, judges, and magistrates at defiance, a proclamation was published offering a considerable reward for bringing him either dead or alive; which, however, appears to have been productive of no greater success than former attempts for that purpose.[40] At length, the infirmities of old age increasing, and desirous to be relieved, in a fit of sickness, by being bled, he applied for that purpose to the prioress of Kirklees nunnery, in the parish of Dewsbury, W. R. of Yorkshire.[41] From the Sloane MS. we learn "that being dystempered with could and age, he had great payne in his lymmes, his bloud being corrupted, therefore, to be eased of his payne by letting bloud, he repayred to the priores of Kyrkesly, which some say was his aunt, a woman very skylful in physique and surgery; who, perceyving him to be Robyn Hood, and waying howe fel an enimy he was to religious persons, toke revenge of him for her owne howse and all others by letting him bleed to death." This event happened in the 31st of Henry III. (1247), and, if the date assigned to his birth be correct, about the 87th year of his age. He was interred under some trees, at a short distance from the precinct of the nunnery, a stone being placed over his grave.[42] The following inscription over his remains, preserved by Dr. Gale, dean of York, Thoresby says, was "scarce legible," and Dr. Whitaker seems to think spurious:-- HEAR UNDERNEAD DIS LAITL STEAN LAIZ ROBERT EARL OF HUNTINGTUN NEAR ARCIR VER AZ HIE SA GEUD AN PIPL KAULD IM ROBIN HEUD SICK UTLAWZ AZ HI AN IZ MEN VIL ENGLAND NIVR SI AGEN. OBIIT 24 KAL. DEKEMBRIS 1247.[43] A statue of this renowned free-booter, large as life, leaning on his unbent bow, with a quiver of arrows, and a sword by his side, formerly stood on one side the entrance into Kirklees Hall. This ballad is preserved solely in the editions of "Robin Hood's Garland," printed at York, where it is made to conclude with some foolish lines, (adopted from the London copy of a ballad, called "Robin Hood and Valiant Knight,") in order to introduce the epitaph. When Robin Hood and Little John, _Down a down, a down, a down,_ Went o'er yon bank of broom, Said Robin Hood to Little John, "We have shot for many a pound: _Hey down, a down, a down_. "But I am not able to shoot one shot more, My arrows will not flee; But I have a cousin lives down below, Please God, she will bleed me." Now Robin is to fair Kirkley gone, As fast as he can win; But before he came there, as we do hear, He was taken very ill. And when that he came to fair Kirkley hall, He knock'd all at the ring, But none was so ready as his cousin herself For to let bold Robin in.