Roxburghe, III, 14, 418; Douce, III, 121 b, London, by L. How, an eighteenthcentury copy, c is signed T.R., and has no printer's name.
Reprinted in Ritson's Robin Hood, 1795, II, 92, from c. Evans, Old .Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 156, agrees nearly with the Aldermary garland.
Robin Hood's Chase is a sequel to Robin Hood and Queen Katherine, and begins with a summary of that ballad. King Henry, who has been gracious, and over-gracious, to the outlaw, has a revulsion of feeling after Robin has left his presence, and sets out in pursuit of him. When the king reaches Nottingham, Robin leaves Sherwood for Yorkshire, whence he speeds successively to Newcastle, Berwick, Carlisle, Lancaster, Chester, the king always following him close. At Chester the happy idea occurs to him of going back to London, as if to inquire whether he were wanted. Queen Katherine informs Robin that the king has gone to Sherwood to seek him, and Robin says he will return to the forest immediately to learn the king's will. King Henry, coming home weary and vexed, is told by his queen that Robin has been there to seek him. A cunning knave, quoth the king. The queen intercedes for Robin. This is a well-conceived ballad, and only needs to be older.
Translated by A. Grün, p. 169, with omission of stanzas 1-7, 24.
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