Robin Hood and Little John

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Historical Records

Book Trade Records =

Stationers' Register

Adam Islip./. Entred for his Copie a booke entituled a pastorall plesant Commedie of

Edward White./. ROBIN HOOD and LITTLE JOHN &c by aucthorytie from the

wardens .         .         .         .         .         .         .         .     .         vjd C.

(Stationers' Register, Vol. 2, p. 307)

Theatrical Provenance

Edward White did not name the agent from whom he acquired "Robin Hood and Little John." However, because two of the plays also registered by White on 14 May 1594 were performed by the Queen's men (Friar Bacon and Friar Bungay and King Leir), there has been some interest in considering that company as the source also of "Robin Hood and Little John." Wiggins, Catalogue #870), for example, notes a connection with the Queen's men in the discussion of yet another of White's registrations (David and Bethsaba), and he extends the assignment in the entry for "Robin Hood and Little John" (#868), though "tentatively."

Theater historians do not know whether the Queen's men had a London performance venue in 1594, but provincial records show that they performed at numerous sites around the country (see McMillin and MacLean, Appendix A, p. 184).

Probable Genre(s)

Pastoral Comedy Harbage

Possible Narrative and Dramatic Sources or Analogues

Any variety of stories in the folklore Robin Hood and his fellow outlaw, Little John, could have provided the narrative material for this play. The obvious starting point, however, is the story of their meeting. It is accessible in three ballads with the title, "Robin Hood and Little John; Being an Account of their first Meeting, their fierce Encounter and Conquest. To which is added, Their friendly Agreement, and how he came to be called Little John" (EBBA, #36136); (EBBA, #33991), (EBBA, #3144).

References to the Play

Information welcome.

For What It's Worth

Greg listed the following instances of "Robin Hood and Little John" in later stationers' records:

• Stationers' Register, 1624 June 29. Transfer by Elizabeth Allde (widow of Edward), deceased, to Edward Aldee.
• Stationers' Register, 1640 April 22. Transfer by Elizabeth Allde (widow of Edward), deceased, to R. Oulton.
• Advertisement. 1655. "A Book of Robin Hood, and little John" is advertised among "Books Printed; and ... Sold by Jane Bell, in her editions of Friar Bacon and King Lear.
• Catalogue. 1656. Rogers & Ley: "Robin hoods Pastoral" Archer: 'Robin Hood P.'

Works Cited

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