117. A Gest of Robyn Hode.
P. 40 ff. Thomas Robinhood is one of six witnesses to a grant in the 4th of Richard II. (June 22, 1380–June 21, 1381). See Historical MSS Commission, Fifth Report, Appendix, p. 511, col. 2. The pronunciation, Robinhood (p. 41 a, note †), is clearly seen in the jingle quoted by Nash, Strange Newes, 1593, Works, ed. Grosart, II, 230: “Ah, neighbourhood, neighbourhood, Dead and buried art thou with Robinhood.”
Among the disbursements of John Lord Howard, afterwards Duke of Norfolk, occurs the following: “And the same day, my Lord paide to Robard Hoode for viij. shafftys xvj. d.” (This is Friday, Sept. 26, 1483.) Household Books of John Duke of Norfolk and Thomas Earl of Surrey, temp. 1481–1490, ed. by J. P. Collier, 1844, Roxburghe Club, p. 464. Collier, p. 525, remarks that “the coincidence that the duke bought them of a person of the name of Robin Hood is singular.”
The Crosscombe Church-Wardens’ Accounts (in Church-Wardens’ Accounts of Croscombe, Pilton, Yatton, etc., ranging from 1349 to 1560, ed. by Right Rev. Bishop Hobhouse, Somerset Record Soc. Publications, IV, 1890):
“Comes Thomas Blower and John Hille, and presents in xl s. of Roben Hod’s recones.” 1476
7 (accounts for 147⅚), p. 4.
“Comys Robin Hode and presents in xxxiij s. iv d.” 148⅔ (for 148½), p. 10.
“Ric. Willes was Roben Hode, and presents in for yere past xxiij s.” 148¾ (for 148⅔), p. 11.
“Comys Robyn Hode, Wyllyam Wyndylsor, and presents in for the yere paste iij l. vj s. viij d. ob.” 1486
7 (for 148⅚), p. 14.
“Robyn Hode presents in xlvj s. viij. d.” 149⅘ (for 149¾), p. 20.
And so of later years.