A True Tale of robin OR A brief touch of the life and death o●… ●… enowned Outlaw, Robert earl of Huntin●… ●… lgarly called robin Hood, who lived and died in ●… 198. being the 9. year of the reign of King Ri●… the first, commonly called Richard Cuer de lion.  
●… refully collected out of the truest Writers of our English C●… ●… es. And published for the satisfaction of those who desire to 〈…〉 Truth purged from falsehood.  
By Martin Parker.  
 woodcut of Robin, the king and the sheriff?  
●… nted at London for T. coats, and are to be sold by F. Grove, dwell●… upon Snow hill 〈…〉   

 woodcut of three men tormented by demons  woodcut of two men with a ship   

A True Tale, of Robin Hood.  
BOth Gentlemen or Yeomen bold  
or whatsoever you are:  
To have a stately story told,  
attention now prepare.  
It is a Tale of robin Hood,  
that I to you will tell:  
Which being rightly understood,  
I know will please you well.  
This robin( so much talked on)  
was once a man of famed.  
Instiled earl of huntingdon  
Lord Robert Hood by Name.  
In Courtship and Magnificence,  
his carriage won him praise,  
●… d greater favour with his Prince  
〈…〉 than any in his dayes.  
〈…〉 bounteous Liberality  
●… he too much did excel,  
●… nd loved men of quality,  
more than exceeding well.  
His great revenues all he sold  
for wine and costly cheer:  
He kept three hundred Bowmen hold,  
he shooting loved so dear.  
No Archer living in his time,  
with him might well compare,  
He practised all his youthful prime,  
that exercise most rare.  
At last by his profuse expense,  
he had consumed his wealth;  
And being outlawed by his Prince,  
in woods he lived by stealth.  
The Abbot of S. Maries Rich,  
to whom he money ought,  
His hatred to this earl was such,  
that he his downfall wrought.  
So being outlawed( as 'tis  told)  
he with a Crew went forth,  
Of lusty Cutters stout and bold,  
and robbed in the North.  
Among the rest, one little John,  
a yeoman bold and free:  
Who could( if it stood him upon)  
with ease encounter three.  
One hundred men in all he got,  
with whom( the Story says)  
three hundred common men durst not  
hold combat any ways.  
They Yorkshire woods frequented much,  
and Lancashire also:  
Wherein their practices were such,  
that they wrought mickle woe.  
None rich durst travel to and fro,  
( though ne're so strongly armed.)  
But by these théeves( so strong in show)  
they still were robbed and harmed.  
His chiefest spite to the clergy was,  
that lived in monstrous pride:  
No one of them he would let pass,  
along the high way side:  
But first they must to dinner go,  
and afterwards to Shrift:  
Full many a one he served so,  
thus while he lived by theft.  
No monks nor friars he would let go,  
without paying their fees:  
If they thought much to be used so,  
their stones he made them lose:  
For such as they the Country filled,  
with Bastards in those dayes.  
Which to prevent, these sparks did geld,  
all that came by their ways.  
●… ut robin Hood so gentle was  
and bore so brave a mind:  
●… f any in distress did pass,  
to them he was so kind,  
That he would give and lend to them,  
to help them at their need:  
This made all poor men pray for him,  
and wished he well might speed.  
The widow and the fatherless  
he would sand means unto:  
And those whom famine did oppress  
found him a friendly foe.  
Nor would he do a woman wrong,  
but see her safe conveid:  
He would protect with power strong  
all those who craved his aid.  
The Abbot of Saint Maries then,  
who him undid before:  
Was riding with two hundred men,  
and Gold and Silver store:  
But robin Hood upon him set  
with his courageous sparks:  
And all the coin, perforce did get,  
which was twelve thousand marks.  
He bound the Abbot to a tree,  
and would not let him pass.  
Before that( to his men and he)  
his Lordship had said mass.  
Which being done upon his horse  
he set him fast a stride:  
And with his face towards his ar—  
he forced him to ride.  
His men were fain to be his guide,  
for he road backward home:  
The Abbot being thus vilifide  
did sorely chafe and fume.  
Thus robin Hood did vindicate  
his former wrongs received:  
For 'twas this covetous Prelate,  
that him of Land bereaved.  
The Abbot he road to the King,  
with all the hast he could,  
And to his Grace he every thing,  
exactly did unfold.  
And said if that no course were tane,  
( by force or Stratagem)  
To take this rebel and his train,  
no man should pass for them.  
The King protested by and by,  
unto the Abbot then,  
That robin Hood with speed should die,  
with all his merry men.  
But ere the King did any sand,  
he did another feat:  
Which did his Grace much more offend,  
the fact( indeed) was great.  
For in a short time after that,  
the Kings Receivers went.  
Towards London with the coin they got,  
for's Highnesse northern Rent.  
Bold robin Hood and little John,  
with the rest of their train:  
( Not dreading Law) set them upon,  
and did their gold obtain.  
The King much moved at the same,  
( and the Abbots talk also,)  
In this his anger did proclaim,  
( and sent word to and fro:)  
That whoso'ere alive or dead,  
could bring him robin Hood,  
Should have one thousand marks well paid,  
in gold and silver good.  
This promise of the King did make,  
full many yeomen bold,  
Attempt stout robin Hood to take,  
with all the force they could:  
But still when any came to him,  
within the gay green wood:  
He entertainment gave to them,  
with Venison sat and good.  
And showed to them such martiall sport,  
with his long bow and Arrow,  
That they of him did give report,  
how that it was great sorrow,  
That such a worthy man as he,  
should thus be put to shift,  
Being late a Lord of high degree,  
of living quiter bereft.  
The King to take him, more and more,  
sent men of mickle might:  
But he and his still beate them sore,  
and conquered them in fight:  
Or else with love and courtesy,  
to him he won their hearts.  
Thus still he lived by robbery,  
throughout the northern parts.  
And all the Country stood in dread,  
of robin Hood and's men:  
For stouter Lads ne're lived by bread,  
in those dayes nor since then.  
The Abbot( which before I named,)  
sought all the means he could,  
To have by force this rebel tane,  
and his adherents bold.  
Therefore he armed five hundred men,  
with furniture complete:  
But the outlaws slay half of them,  
and made the rest retreat.  
The long bow and the arrow keen,  
they were so used unto:  
That still they kept the foreste green,  
in spite o'th' proudest foe.  
Twelve of the Abbots men he took,  
who came him to have tane:  
When all the rest the field forsook,  
these he did entertain;  
With banqueting and Merriment,  
and having used them well,  
He to their Lord them safely sent,  
and willed them him to tell:  
That if he would be pleased at last  
to beg of our good King;  
That he might pardon what was past,  
and him to favour bring:  
He would surrender back again  
the money which before  
Was taken by him and his men,  
from him and many more.  
poor men might safely pass by him,  
and some that way would choose,  
For well they knew that to help them,  
he evermore did use.  
But where he knew a Miser Rich  
that did the poor oppress;  
To feel his coin his hand did itch  
hée'de have it more or less.  
And sometimes when the high-way fayld,  
then he his courage rouses;  
He and his men have oft assayld  
such rich men in their houses:  
So that through dread of robin then,  
and his adventurous Crew:  
The Mizers kept great store of men,  
which else maintayn'd but few.  
King Richard of that name the first,  
surnamed Cuer de lion,  
Went to defeat the Pagans cursed,  
who kept the coasts of zion,  
The Bishop of Ely chancellor  
was left as 'vice Roy here,  
Who like a potent Emperor,  
did proudly domminere.  
Our Chronicles of him report  
that commonly he road:  
With a thousand Horse from court to court,  
where he would make abode.  
He riding down towards the North,  
with his aforesaid train:  
robin and his did issue forth  
them all to entertain.  
And with the Gallant Gray Goose wing,  
they shewed to them such play,  
That made their horses kickle and fling,  
and down their Riders Lay.  
Full glad and fain the Bishop was  
for all his thousand men,  
To seek what means he could to pass,  
from out of Robbins ken.  
Two hundred of his men were killed,  
and fourscore horses good;  
Thirty who did as captives yield,  
were carried to the green wood:  
Which afterwards were ransomed,  
for twenty marks a man:  
The rest set spurs to horse and fled,  
toth town of Warrington.  
The Bishop sore enraged then,  
did in King Richards name:  
Muster a power of northern men,  
these outlaws bold to tame.  
But robin with his courtesy,  
so won the meaner sort,  
That they were loathe on him to try,  
what rigor did import.  
So that bold robin and his train,  
did live unhurt of them:  
until King Richard came again,  
from faire jerusalem.  
And then the talk of of robin Hood,  
his royal ears did fill:  
His grace admired that ith green wood,  
he thus continued still.  
So that the country far and near,  
did give him great applause:  
For none of them need stand in fear,  
but such as broken the laws.  
He wished well unto the King,  
and prayed still for his health:  
And dever practised any thing,  
against the Common wealth.  
Onely because he was undone,  
by'th' cruel clergy then:  
All means that he could think upon,  
to vex such kind of men,  
He enterprised with hateful spleen,  
in which he was to blame:  
For fault of some to wréeke his téene  
on all that by him came.  
With wealth which he by Robbery got  
eight alms houses he built:  
Thinking thereby to purge the blot,  
of blood which he had spilled:  
Such was their blind devotion then,  
depending on their works:  
Which if 'twere true, we Christian men,  
inferior were to Turkes.  
But to speak true of robin Hood,  
and wrong him not a jot:  
He never would  shed any mans blood,  
that him invaded not.  
Nor would he injure husbandmen,  
that toiled at Cart and Plough.  
For well he knew, were't not for them,  
to live no man knew how.  
The King in person with some Lords,  
to Nothingham did Ride,  
To try what Strength and skill affords,  
to Crush these out laws pride.  
And as he once before had done,  
he did again proclaim  
That whosoere would take upon  
to bring to Nothingham,  
Or any place within the Land  
Rebellious robin Hood,  
Should be preferred in place to stand,  
with those of Noble blood.  
When robin Hood heard of the same,  
within a little space,  
Into the town of Notingham,  
a letter to his Grace,  
He shot upon an Arrow head,  
one evening cunningly;  
Which was brought to the King and red  
before his majesty:  
The tenor of this Letter was  
that robin would submit,  
And be true Leigeman to his Grace,  
in any thing that's fit;  
So that his Highnesse would forgive,  
him and his merry men all:  
If not he must i'th green wood live,  
and take what chance did fall,  
The King would fain have pardonned him,  
but that some Lords did say:  
This president will much condemn  
your Grace another Day.  
While that the King and Lords did stay  
debating on this thing:  
Some of these outlaws fled away  
unto the Scottish King:  
For they supposed if he were tane  
or to the King did yield:  
By th' commons all the rest on's train  
full quickly would be quelled,  
Of more than full a hundred men,  
but forty tarried still:  
Who were resolved to stick to him  
let fortune work her will.  
If none had fled, all for his sake  
had got their pardon free:  
The King to favour meant to take  
his merry men and he.  
But ere the pardon to him came.  
this famous Archer died:  
His death and manner of the same▪  
Ile presently describe.  
For being vexed to think upon  
his followers Revolt:  
In melancholy passion  
he did recount his fault.  
perfidious traytors, said he then,  
in all your dangers past,  
Have I you guarded as my men,  
to leave me thus at last?  
This sad perplerity did cause,  
a Fever( as some say.)  
Which him unto confusion draws.  
though by a stranger way.  
This deadly danger to prevent,  
he hid him( with all speed)  
unto a Nunnery with intent,  
for his healths sake to bleed.  
A faithless friar did pretend,  
in love to let him blood:  
But he by falsehood wrought the end,  
of famous robin Hood.  
The friar( as some say) did this,  
to vindicate the wrong:  
Which to the clergy he and his,  
had done be power strong.  
Thus dyed he by treachery,  
who could not die by force:  
Had he lived longer certainly  
King Richard in remorse,  
Had unto favour him receav'd,  
he brave men elevated.  
Tis pitty he was of life bereaved,  
by one which he so hated.  
A treacherons Léech this friar was,  
to let him bleed to death:  
And robin was me thinks an ass,  
to trust him with his breath.  
His Corpes the Priores of the place,  
( the next day that he died)  
Caused to be hurted( in mean case)  
close by the high way side.  
And over him she caused a ston,  
to be fired on the ground:  
An Epitaph was set thereon,  
wherein his name was found,  
The date oth year and day also,  
shée made to be set there:  
That all who by the way did go.  
might see it plain appear,  
That such a man as robin Hood,  
was butted in that place:  
And how he lived in the green wood,  
and robbed there for a space.  
It seems that though the clergy he,  
had put to mickle woe:  
He should not quiter forgotten be,  
although he was their foe.  
This woman though she did him hate,  
yet loved his memory:  
And thought it wondrous pitty that,  
his famed should with him die.  
This Epitaph, as Records tell,  
within this hundred yeares,  
By many was discerned well,  
but time all things outweares.  
His followers when he was dead,  
were some received to grace:  
The rest to foreign Countries fled,  
and left their native place.  
Although his funeral was but mean,  
this woman had in mind:  
Least his famed should be buried clear,  
from those that came behind.  
For certainly before nor since,  
no man ere understood:  
under the reign of any Prince,  
of one like robin Hood.  
Full between yeares and something more,  
these outlaws lived thus:  
Feared of the rich, loved of the poor,  
a thing most marvellous.  
A thing unpossible to us,  
this story seems to be:  
None dares be now so venturous,  
but times are changed we see.  
We that live in these latter dayes,  
of civill government;  
( If need be) have a hundred ways,  
such outlaws to prevent.  
In those dayes men more barbarous were,  
and lived less in awe:  
Now( God be thanked) people fear,  
more to offend the Law.  
No roaring Guns were then in use,  
they dreampt of no such thing:  
Our English men in fight did choose,  
the gallant gray Goose wing,  
In which activity these men,  
( through practise) were so good.  
That in those dayes non equald them,  
specially robin Hood.  
So that it seems, keeping in Caves,  
in Woods and Forrests thick:  
they'd beate a multitude with staves,  
their arrows did so prick.  
And none durst near unto them come,  
unless in courtesy:  
All such he bravely would sand home,  
with mirth and jollity.  
Which courtesy won him such love,  
as I before have  told:  
'Twas the chief cause that he did prove,  
more prosperous than he could,  
Let us be thankful for these times,  
Of plenty, truth, and peace:  
And leave our great and horrid crimes,  
least they cause this to cease.  
I know there's many feigned Tales  
of robin Hood and's Crew.  
But Chronicles which seldom fails,  
reports this to be true:  
Let none then think this a lie,  
for if twere put to th' worst:  
They may the truth of all descry,  
i'th reign of Richard the first.  
If any Reader please to try.  
( as I direction show)  
The truth of this brave History,  
heel find it true I know.  
And I shall think my labour well  
bestowed to purpose good:  
When't shall be said that I did tell,  
True tales of robin Hood.  
The Epitaph which the prioress of the Monastery of Kirkes Lay in york shire, set over robin Hood, which( as is before mentioned) was to bee read within these hundreth yeares( though in old broken English) much to the same sense and meaning  
Decembris Quarto Die 1198. Anno Regni Richardii primi 9.  
Robert earl of huntingdon,  
lies under this little ston.  
No Archer was like him so good:  
his wildness name him robin Hood.  
Full between yeares and something more,  
these northern parts he vexed sore.  
Such out laws as he and his men,  
may England never know again.  
Some other superstitious words were in it, which I thought fit to leave out.  
FINIS.