The same author gives the following curious account of a Maying, in the 7th year of that monarch, 1516:  “The king and quene, accompanied with many lords and ladies, rode to the high ground on Shooter’s Hill to take the air, and as they passed by the way, they espied a company of tall yomen clothed all in green, with green whodes and bows and arrows, to the number of 90.  One of them calling himself Robin Hood, came to the king, desiring him to see his men shoot, and the king was content.  Then he wistled, and all the 90 archers shot and losed at once, he then whistled again, and they shot again; their arrows wistled by craft of the head, so that the noise was strange and great, and much pleased the king, the quene, and all the company.  All these archers were of the king’s guard, and had thus appareled themselves to make solace to the king.  Then Robin Hood desired the king and quene to come into the green wood, and see how the outlaws live.  The king demanded of the quene and her ladies, if they durst venture to go into the wood with so many outlaws, and the quene was content.  Then the horns blew till they came to the wood under Shooter’s Hill, and there was an arbour made of boughs, with a hall and a great chamber, and an inner chamber, well made and covered with flowers and sweet herbs, which the king much praised.  Then said Robin Hood, ’Sir, outlaws breakfasts is vensyon, and you must be content with such fare as we have.’  The king and quene sat down, and were served with venison and wine by Robin Hood and his men.  Then the king and his party departed, and Robin and his men conducted them.  As they were returning, they were met by two ladies in a rich chairiot, drawn by five horses, every horse had his name on his head, and on every horse sat a lady, with her name written; and in a chair sat the Lady May, accompanied with Lady Flora, richly appareled, and they saluted the king with divers songs, and so brought him to Greenwhich.”

The games of Robin Hood seem to have been occasionally of a dramatic cast.  Sir John Paston, in the time of King Edward IV. complaining of the ingratitude of his servants, mentions one who had promised never to desert him, and “ther uppon,” says he, “I have kepyd hym thys iii yer to pleye Seynt Jorge, and Robyn Hod, and the Shryf off Notyngham, and now when I wolde have good horse he is goon into Bernysdale, and I without a keeper.”

In some old accounts of the Churchwardens, of Saint Helens, at Abingdon, Berks, for the year 1556, there is an entry for setting up Robins Hoode’s bower; supposed to be for a parish interlude.

Perhaps the clearest idea of these games will be derived from some accounts of the Church-wardens, of the parish of Kingston-upon-Thames: