A True Tale of ROBIN HOOD. Or, A Brief Touch of the Life and Death of that renowned Outlaw Robert Earl of Huntingdon, vulgarly called Robin Hood, who lived and died in A.D. 1198. being the 9th. year of the Reign of King Richard the First, commonly called Richard Coeur de Lyon.  
Carefully collected out of the truest Writers of our English Chronicles: And published for the satisfaction of those who desire truth from falsehood.  
By Martin Parker.  
Printed for J. Clark, W. Thackeray, and T. Passenger. 1686.   

A TRUE TALE OF Robin Hood.  
BOth Gentlemen & 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 Fame,  
Instiled Earl of Huntingdon,  
Lord Robert Hood by Name.  
In Courtship and Magnificence  
his Carriage won him praise,  
And greater favour with his Prince  
than any in our days.  
In bounteous Liberality  
he too much did excel,  
And loved men of Quality  
more than exceeding-well:  
His great Revenues all he sold  
for Wine and costly cheer,  
He kept three hundred Bowmen bold,  
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 St. Mary's rich,  
to whom he money ought,  
His hatred to the 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 rob 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 muckle woe.  
None Rich durst travel to and fro,  
though ne'er so strongly armed,  
But by these Thiefs (so strong in show)  
they still were robbed and harmed.  
His chiefest spite to th' Clergy was  
that lived in monstrous pride:  
No one of them he would let pass  
along the Highway 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 less;  
For such as they the Country filled  
with Bastards in those days:  
Which to prevent, these Sparks did geld  
all that came in their ways.  
But Robin Hood so gentle was,  
and bore so brave a mind,  
If any in distress did pass,  
to them he was so kind,  
That he would give and lend to them  
to help them in their need;  
This made all poor men pray for him  
and wish he well might speed.  
The Widow and the Fatherless  
he would send means unto:  
And those whom famine did oppress  
found him a friendly foe.  
Nor would he do a woman wrong,  
but see her safe conveyed  
He would protect with power strong  
all those who craved his aid:  
The Abbot of St. Mary's 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 bond 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 astride,  
And with his face towards his Arse  
he forced him to ride,  
His men were forced to be his guide,  
for he road backward home:  
The Abbot being thus villifyed,  
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 haste he could:  
And to his Grace he every thing  
exactly did unfold:  
And said that if no course were ta'en  
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 than  
That Robin Hood with speed should die,  
with all his merry men.  
But e'er the King did any send,  
he did another feat:  
Which did his Grace much more offend,  
the fact indeed was great:  
For in a short time after that  
the King's Receivers went  
Towards London with the coin they got,  
for s Highness 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 Abbot's talk also,  
In thi● his anger did proclaim,  
and sent word to and fro,  
That whosoever 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 fat and good,  
And showed to them such Martial 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 a late Lord of high degree,  
of living quite bereft.  
The King to take him more and more  
sent men of much might:  
But he and his still beat 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'er lived by bread  
in those days nor since then:  
The Abbot (which before I named)  
sought all the means he could,  
To have by force this Rebel ta'en  
and his Adherents bold:  
Therefore he armed five hundred men  
with furniture complete:  
But the Outlaws slew half of them,  
and made the rest retreat,  
The long Bow and the Arrow keen,  
they were so used unto:  
That still he kept the Forest green  
in spite o' th' proudest foe,  
Twelve of the Abbot's men he took  
who came to have him ta'en,  
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 ●s 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 hands did itch,  
he'd have it more or less:  
And sometimes when the Highway failed,  
than he his courage rouzes;  
He and his men have oft assailed  
such rich men in their houses:  
So that through dread of Robin then  
and his adventurous Crew,  
The Misers kept great store of men,  
which else maintained but few.  
King Richard, of that name the first,  
surnamed Coeur de Lion,  
Went to defeat the Pagans Cursed,  
who kept the Coasts of Zion,  
The Bishop of Ely Chancellor,  
was left a Viceroy here,  
Who like a Potent Emperor  
did proudly domineer.  
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 showed to them such play  
That made their Horses kick 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 Robin's 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  
to th' Town of Warrington.  
The Bishop sore enraged than  
did in King Richard's name  
Muster up a power of Northern men,  
these Outlaws bold to tame,  
But Robin with his courtesis  
so won the meaner sort,  
That they were loath on him to try  
what rigour did import,  
So that bold Robin and his Train  
did live unhurt of them,  
Until King Richard came again  
from fair Jerusalem:  
And then the talk of Robin Hood  
his Royal Ears did fill,  
His Grace admired that i' th' green wood  
he was 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 broke the Laws.  
He wished well unto the King,  
and prayed still for his health,  
And never practised any thing  
against the Commonwealth;  
Only 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,  
for which he was to blame,  
For fault of some to wreak his teen  
on all that by him came.  
With wealth that he by Roguery got,  
eight Almshouses he built,  
Thinking thereby to purge the blot  
of blood which he had spilt:  
Such was their blind Devotion then,  
depending on their works,  
Which if 'twere true, we Christian men  
inferior were to Turks:  
But to speak true of Robin Hood,  
and wrong him not a jot,  
He never would shed any man's blood  
that him invaded not.  
Nor would he injure Husbandmen  
that toil 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 Nottingham did ride,  
To try what strength and skill affords  
to crush this Outlaws pride.  
And as he once before had done,  
he did again proclaim,  
That whosoever would take upon  
to bring to Nottingham  
Or any place within the Laud  
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 Nottingham  
a Letter to his Grace  
He shot upon an Arrow head  
one evening cunningly:  
Which was brought to the King & read  
before his Majesty:  
The Tenor of this Letter was  
That Robin should submit  
And be true Liegeman to his Grace  
in any thing that's fit,  
So that his Highness 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 feign have pardoned him  
but that some Lords did say,  
This Precedent 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 ta'en,  
or to the King did yield,  
By th' Commons all the rest of's train  
full quickly would be quelled.  
Of more than full an 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 e'er the pardon to him came  
this famous Archer died:  
His death and manner of the same  
i'll presently describe.  
For being vexed to think upon  
his followers revolt,  
In melancholy passion  
he did recount his fault:  
Perfidious Traitors said he then,  
in all your dangers past  
Have I you guarded as my men  
to leave me thus at last;  
This sad perplexity did cause  
a Fever (as some say)  
Which him unto confusion draws  
though by a stranger way.  
This deadly danger to prevent,  
he hieed 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 by power strong.  
Thus died he by treachery,  
that could not die by force:  
Had he lived longer certainly  
King Richard in remorse  
Had unto favour him receiv●d,  
he brave men elevated:  
'Tis pity he was of life bereaved  
by one which he so hated;  
A treacherous Leach this Friar was,  
to let him bleed to death:  
And Robin was methings an Ass  
to trust him with his breath.  
His Corpse the Prioress of the place  
the next day that he dy●d,  
Caused to be buried (in mean case)  
close by the Highway side.  
And over him she caused a stone  
to be fixed on the ground,  
An Epitaph was set thereon,  
wherein his name was found,  
The date o'th' year and day also,  
she made to be set there:  
That all who by the way did go,  
might séest plain appear.  
That such a man as Robin Hood  
was buried in that place:  
And how he lived in the green wood  
and rob there for a space.  
It seems that though the Clergy he  
had put to much woe,  
He should not quite forgotten be,  
although he was their foe;  
This woman though she did him hate,  
yet loved his memory:  
And thought it wondrous pity that  
his fame should with him die,  
This Epitaph, as Records tell,  
within this hundred years  
By many was discerned well,  
but time all things out-wears.  
His followers when he was dead,  
were some reprieved to grace;  
The rest to foreign Countries fled,  
and left their native place.  
Although his Funeral was but mean,  
this woman had in mind,  
Lest his fame should be buried clean  
from those that came behind.  
For certainly before nor since  
no man e'er understood  
Under the Reign of any Prince,  
of one like Robin Hood.  
Full thirteen years and something more  
these Outlaws lived thus;  
Feared of the Rich, loved of the Poor,  
a thing most marvellous.  
A thing impossible to us  
this story seems to be:  
None dares be now so venturous,  
but times are changed we see.  
We that live in these later days  
of civil government,  
If need be, have an hundred ways  
such Outlaws to prevent.  
In those days 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 dreamt of no such thing:  
Our English men in fight did use  
the gallant gray-Goose wing;  
In which activity these men  
(through practice) were so good,  
That in those days none equalled them,  
(especially Robin Hood,)  
So that it seems keeping in Caves,  
in Woods and Forests thick,  
They'd beat a multitude with staves,  
their Arrows did so prick:  
And none durst near unto them come,  
unless in courtesy;  
All such he bravely would send 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,  
lest 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 is 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,  
he'll 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 Kirkslay in York shire set over Robin Hood, which (as is before mentioned) was to be read within these hundred years, though in old broken English, much to the same sense and meaning.  
Decembris Quarto Die, 1198. Anno Regni Richardi primi 9  

Robert Earl of Huntingdon  
Lies under this little stone,  
No Archer was like him so good;  
His wildness named him Robin Hood;  
Full thirteen years and something more  
These Northern parts he vexed sore;  
Such Outlaws as he and his men  
May England never know again.   
Some other superstitious words were in, which I thought fit to leave out.  
Finis.