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Robin Gray to Rochester Robin Gray (Auld). Words by Lady Anne Lindsay, daughter of the Earl of Balcarres, and afterwards Lady Barnard, in 1772, written to an old Scotch tune called The bridegroom grat when the sun gaed down. Auld Robin Gray was the herdsman of her father. When Lady Anne had written a part, she called her younger sister for advice. She said, I am writing a ballad of virtuous distress in humble life. I have oppressed my heroine with sundry troubles: for example, I have sent her Jamie to sea, broken her father's arm, made her mother sick, given her Auld Robin Gray for a lover, and want a fifth sorrow; can you help me to one? Steal the cow, sister Anne, said the little Elizabeth; so the cow was stolen awa', and the song completed. Robin Hood is first mentioned by the Scottish historian Fordun, who died in 1386. According to Stow,
he was an outlaw in the reign of Richard I. (twelfth century). He entertained one hundred tall men, all
good archers, with the spoil he took, but he suffered no woman to be oppressed, violated, or otherwise
molested; poore men's goods he spared, abundantlie relieving them with that which by theft he got from
abbeys and houses of rich carles. He was an immense favourite with the common people, who have
dubbed him an earl. Stukeley says he was Robert Fitzooth, Earl of Huntingdon. (See Robert .) Hear, underneath this latil stean.Notwithstanding this epitaph, it is generally thought that Robin Hood died in 1325, which would bring him into the reign of Edward II., not Richard I., according to Sir Walter Scott. In the accounts of King Edward II.'s household is an item which states that Robin Hood received his wages as king's valet, and a gratuity on leaving the service. One of the ballads relates how Robin Hood took service under this king. Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot with his bow. Many brag of deeds in which they took no part. Many talk of Robin Hood, and wish their hearers to suppose they took part in his adventures, but they never put a shaft to one of his bows; nor could they have bent it even if they had tried. To sell Robin Hood's pennyworth is to sell things at half their value. As Robin Hood stole his wares, he sold them, under their intrinsic value, for just what he could get on the nonce. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne. Robin Hood and Little John, having had a tiff, part company; when Little John falls into the hands of the sheriff of Nottingham, who binds him to a tree. Meanwhile, Robin Hood meets with Guy of Gisborne, sworn to slay the bold forrester. The two bowmen struggle together, but Guy is slain, and Robin Hood rides till he comes to the tree where Little John is bound. The sheriff mistakes him for Guy of Gisborne, and gives him charge of the prisoner. Robin cuts the cord, hands Guy's bow to Little John, and the two soon put to flight the sheriff and his men. (Percy: Reliques, etc., series i.) |
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