Martin Parker's True Tale of Robin Hood was entered to Francis Grove in the Stationers' Registers on the 29th of February, 1632. A copy in the British Museum, which is here reprinted, is thought to be of this first edition. The title of this copy is: 'A True Tale of Robbin [Hood], or, A brief e touch of the life and death o[f that] Renowned Outlaw, Robert. Earle of Huntin[gton] vulgarly called Robbin Hood, who lived and died in [a.d.] 119S, being the 9. yeare of the reigne of King Ric[lrard] the first, commonly called Richard Cuer de Lyon. Carefully collected out of the truest Writers of our English C[hroni]cles. And published for the satisfaction of those who desire to s[ee] Truth purged from falsehood. By Martin Parker. Printed at London for T. Cotes, and are to be sold by F. Grove dwellin[g] upon Snow-hill, neare the Saracen [s head].'
Martin Parker professes in st. 117 to follow chronicles, not "fained tales." Perhaps he regards broadside-ballads with historical names in them as chronicles: at any rate, though he reports some things which are found in Grafton, and in Major as cited by Grafton, much the larger part of his True Tale is now to be found only in ballads. When he does not agree with ballads which have come down to us, he may have used earlier copies, or he may have invented. The story of the abbot in sts. 23-26 is at least from the same source as 'Robin Hood and the Bishop' (No, 143); the plundering of King Richard's receivers in st. 33 is evidently the same event as that referred to in the second stanza of 'Robin Hood and Queen Katheriue' (No, 145); Robin Hood is said to have built eight almshouses in 71, and one in the last stanza of 'The Noble Fisherman' (No, 148). The Gest could hardly have been unknown to Parker. Sts. 3-9, concerning Robin's rank, prodigality, and outlawry, may have been based upon Munday's play; but. nothing is said of Maid Marian. Sts. 44-50 and 56-65 may report the substance of some lost broadside. Perhaps Parker calls his compilation a True Tale because a tale of Robin Hood was a proverb for an incredible story: "Tales of Robin Hood are good for fools."
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