P.," is still in that collection, which is now
known as the Bridgewater House Library. Collier's introduction is
characteristic; it contains a good deal of correct information, and an
interesting note based on forgeries of his own in Henslowe's _Diary_.
[1] P. 81, l. 20. _Long-tails._ Cf, Fuller's _Worthies_, Kent (1811), i.
486: "It happened in an English village where Saint Austin was preaching,
that the Pagans therein did beat and abuse both him and his associates,
opprobriously tying fish-tails to their backsides; in revenge whereof an
impudent author relateth ... how such appendants grew to the hind-parts of
all that generation."--See Murray, _N.E.D._ s.v. Long-tail. The earliest
reference is to Moryson's _Itinerary_, 1617. "Kentish-tayld" occurs in
Nashe's _Strange News_, 1592, sig. E 4.
[2] P. 84, l. 22. _snite_, snipe,
[3] P. 88, l. 23. _presently_, immediately.
[4] P. 90, l. 11. _ho, ho, hoh!_ This is Robin's traditional laugh. Cf. the
refrain of the broadside, p. 144.
[5] P. 93, l. 19. _bolt_, sift, pass through a sieve.
[6] P. 95, l. 5. _himpen, hampen._ Cf. "Hemton hamton" in Scot's account of
Robin, p. 135.
[7] P. 97, l. 18. _night-raven,_ proverbially a bird of ill-omen.
[8] P. 98, l. 7. _starkled_, stiffened. A dialect word, still in use.
[9] P. 98, l. 22. _quills_, spools or "bottoms" on which weavers' thread is
wound.
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