“There be some that prate
Of Robin Hood, and of his bow,
Which never shot therein, I trow.”
Ray gives it thus:
“Many talk of Robin Hood, that never shot in his bow,
And many talk of little John, that never did him know:”
which Kelly has varied, but without authority.
Camden’s printer has separated the lines, as distinct proverbs (Remains, 1674):
“Many speak of Robin Hood that never shot in his bow.
“Many a man talks of little John that never did him know.”
This proverb likewise occurs in The downfall of Robert earle of Huntington, 1600, and is alluded to in a scarce and curious old tract intitled “The contention betwyxte Church-yeard and Camell, upon David Dycer’s Dreame,” &c. 1560, 4to, b. l.
“Your sodain stormes and thundre claps, your boasts and braggs so loude:
Hath doone no harme thogh Robin Hood spake with you in a cloud.
Go learne againe of litell Jhon, to shute in Robyn Hods bowe,
Or Dicars dreame shall be unhit, and all his whens, I trowe.” [72]
The Italians appear to have a similar saying:
Molti parlan di Orlando
Chi non viddero mai suo brando.