A simple way of reading the Exchequer documents is that one Robert Hood, some time (and, for aught we know, a long time) porter in the king’s household, after repeatedly losing time, was finally discharged, with a present of five shillings, because he could not do his work. To detect “a remarkable coincidence between the ballad and the record” requires not only a theoretical prepossession, but an uncommon insensibility to the ludicrous.[79] But taking things with entire seriousness, there is no correspondence between the ballad and the record other than this: that Robin Hood, who is in the king’s service, leaves it; in the one instance deserting, and in the other being displaced. Hunter himself does not, as in the case of Adam Bell, insist that the name Robin Hood is “peculiar.” He cites, p. 10, a Robert Hood, citizen of London, who supplied the king’s household with beer, 28 Edward I, and a Robert Hood of Wakefield, twice mentioned, 9, 10 Edward II.[80] Another Robert Hood at Throckelawe, Northumbria, is thrice mentioned in the Exchequer Rolls, Edward I, 19, 20, 30: Rot. Orig. in Cur. Scac. Abbrev., I, 69, 73, 124. A Robert Hood is manucaptor for a burgess returned from Lostwithiel, Cornwall, 7 Edward II, Parliamentary Writs, II, 1019, and another, of Howden, York, 10 Edward III, is noted in the Calendar of Patent Rolls, p. 125, No 31, cited by Ritson. In all these we have six Robin Hoods between 30 Edward I and 10 Edward III, a period of less than forty years. 433, 435–50 are translated by A. Grün, p. 166. * * * * * #a.# 1 Lythe and listin, ge_n_tilmen, Th_a_t be of frebore blode; I shall you tel of a gode yema_n_, His name was Roby_n_ Hode. 2 Roby_n_ was a p_r_ude outlaw, [Whyles he walked on grounde; So curteyse an outlawe] as he was one Was never non fou_n_de. 3 Roby_n_ stode i_n_ Bernesdale, And lenyd hy_m_ to a tre; And bi hy_m_ stode Litell John_n_, A gode yeman was he. 4 And alsoo dyd gode Scarlok, And Much, the miller’s so_n_; There was none ynch of his bodi But it was worth a grome. 5 Than bespake Lytell John_n_ All vntoo Robyn Hode: Maister, and ye wolde dyne betyme It wolde doo you moche gode. 6 Tha_n_ bespake hy_m_ gode Robyn: To dyne haue I noo lust, Till that I haue so_m_ bolde baro_n_, Or som vnkouth gest. 7 . . . . . . . That may pay for the best, Or som knyght or [som] squyer, That dwelleth here bi west. 8 A gode maner tha_n_ had Robyn; In londe where th_a_t he were, Euery day or he wold dyne Thre messis wolde he here. 9 The one i_n_ the worship of the Fad_er_, And another of the Holy Gost, The thirde of Our derë Lady, That he loued allther moste. 10 Roby_n_ loued Oure derë Lady; For dout of dydly synne, Wolde he neuer do co_m_pani harme Th_a_t any woma_n_ was i_n_.