See pp. 39, 63. The text here given is that of the reprint of the 1628 edition, edited for the Percy Society by J. Payne Collier in 1841. The original black-letter tract, there described as being "in the library of Lord Francis Egerton, M.P.," is still in that collection, which is now known as the Bridgewater House Library. Collier's introduction is characteristic; it contains a good deal of correct information, and an interesting note based on forgeries of his own in Henslowe's _Diary_. [1] P. 81, l. 20. _Long-tails._ Cf, Fuller's _Worthies_, Kent (1811), i. 486: "It happened in an English village where Saint Austin was preaching, that the Pagans therein did beat and abuse both him and his associates, opprobriously tying fish-tails to their backsides; in revenge whereof an impudent author relateth ... how such appendants grew to the hind-parts of all that generation."--See Murray, _N.E.D._ s.v. Long-tail. The earliest reference is to Moryson's _Itinerary_, 1617. "Kentish-tayld" occurs in Nashe's _Strange News_, 1592, sig. E 4. [2] P. 84, l. 22. _snite_, snipe, [3] P. 88, l. 23. _presently_, immediately. [4] P. 90, l. 11. _ho, ho, hoh!_ This is Robin's traditional laugh. Cf. the refrain of the broadside, p. 144. [5] P. 93, l. 19. _bolt_, sift, pass through a sieve. [6] P. 95, l. 5. _himpen, hampen._ Cf. "Hemton hamton" in Scot's account of Robin, p. 135. [7] P. 97, l. 18. _night-raven,_ proverbially a bird of ill-omen. [8] P. 98, l. 7. _starkled_, stiffened. A dialect word, still in use. [9] P. 98, l. 22. _quills_, spools or "bottoms" on which weavers' thread is wound. [10] P. 101, l. 8. _the tune of Watton Town's End_. See Chappell's _Popular Music_, 218-20. [11] P. 105, l. 18. _bombasting_, puffing up, frothing. [12] P. 106, l. 1. _Obreon_. The 1639 edition spells the name in the ordinary way, but it may be noted that the Pepysian copy of the broadside ballad (p. 144), begins-- "From Obreon in fairyland." [13] P. 108, l. 16. _the tune of What care I how fair she be?_ This is the tune to George Wither's famous-- "Shall I wasting in despair Die because a woman's fair?" See Chappell's _Popular Music_, 315. [14] P. 109, l. 5. _the tune of The Spanish Pavin_. (Pavin = Pavan.) See Chappell, op. cit., 240. [15] P. 110, l. 13. _the tune of The Jovial Tinker_. See Chappell, op. cit., 187. [16] P. 110, l. 25. _ax_ = ask. The form "ax" was in use till the end of the sixteenth century, and continues in dialect. [17] P. 111, l. 13. _the tune of Broom_. See Chappell, op. cit., 458; but this song does not fit the metre. * * * * _The Romance of Thomas of Erceldoune._ (Fytte I.)