Robin Hood / A collection of all the ancient poems, songs, and ballads, now extant, relative to that celebrated English outlaw. To which are prefixed historical anecdotes of his life.

by Unknown

Let’s pray unto Jove above,

To give us true peace, that mischief may cease,

And war may give place unto love.

[300] Of a.

[301] Forth.

[302] Acaron. This termagant prince seems intended for a sort of Mahometan Pagan. Alcaron is a deity formed by metathesis from Alcoran, a book: a conversion much more ancient than the present ballad. Thus in the old metrical romance of “The Sowdon of Babyloyne,” a MS. in the possession of Dr. Farmer:

“Whan Laban herde of this myschief,

A sory man was he,

He trumped his men to relefe,

For to cease that tyme mente he.