ads or
the above plays.

These complications of Robin Hood's company are further confused by the
fact that the morris-dance, which was universally affiliated to the
May-game, borrowed therefrom not only Maid Marian but Robin Hood, Little
John and Friar Tuck; so that amongst the later ballads and broadsides we
find Robin's company increased. However, by that time Robin himself had
degenerated from the fine character exhibited in the earlier ballads
given in this volume.

[Footnote 7: The suggestion that 'Hood' = 'o' Wood' was originally
made in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ for March 1793, over the
signature D. H.]

[Footnote 8: First, as regards Marian, by Warton, _History of
English Poetry_ (1774), p. 245: recently and in more detail by
E. K. Chambers, _Mediaeval Stage_ (1903), i. 176.]

[Footnote 9: This leaf has lately been given to the Library of
Trinity College, Cambridge, by Mr. Aldis Wright. It may be seen in
facsimile as well as in type in the _Collections_ (p. 117) of the
Malone Society (Part ii., 1908), where the two plays of Robin Hood
mentioned above are also reprinted.]

[Illustration {map}]

TOPOGRAPHY OF ROBIN HOOD'S HAUNTS

Although Robin Hood belongs in legend no more exclusively to any
definite district than his noble fore-runner King Arthur, yet, like King
Arthur, he has become associated particularly with one or two haunts;
and it is no easier--nor in the end more profitable--to reconcile
Lyonnesse with Carlisle and Inglewood[10] than to disentangle Robin Hood
of Barnsdale from Robin Hood of Sherwood Forest.

The simplest way to begin is to eliminate from our consideration the
numerous Robin Hood's Hills, Wells, Stones, Oaks, or Butts, some of
which may be found as far distant as Gloucestershire and Somerset;
for many of these probably bear his name in much the same way as other
natural freaks bear the Devil's name. A large number can be found in
what may be called Robin Hood's home-counties, Yorkshire and those which
touch Yorkshire--Lancashire, Derby, Nottingham and Lincoln shires.

Undoubtedly the evidence of the best ballads goes to show that at one
time there must have been at least two cycles of Robin Hood ballads,
one placing him in Barnsdale, the other allotting him headquarters in
Sherwood; but it appears that even the ballads of the fifteenth century
make little effort to discriminate between the two. _Robin Hood and the
Monk_ (MS. of