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 pass for such a mention. Fleay, 64, dates it about 1587: in ii. 28 he says '1586 or late in 1585' as a ballad on the subject was entered on the Stationers' Register on 15 Aug. 1586; in ii. 315 he prefers 1591, regarding the play as a continuation of The Contention between York and Lancaster. He considers a later date as excluded by the close of the court career of the Queen's men in 1591. This, however, did not close until 1594, and the epilogue was not necessarily given at court. Churchill also thinks the play a continuation of the Contention, and finds influences, not very striking, of Marlowe's Tamburlaine, Faustus, and Edward II. He concludes for 1590-1. There is very little trace of any use by Shakespeare of this play for his Richard III. Boswell groundlessly took the author to be that of Locrine (q.v.). Fleay, ii. 315, tries to divide the scenes between Lodge and Peele, and suggests that they were re-writing Kyd. Robin Hood > 1560

S. R. 1560, Oct. 30. 'A newe playe called.' William Copland (Arber, i. 152). A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe, wyth a newe playe for to be played in Maye games very plesaunte and full of pastyme. [Colophon] Imprinted at London vpon the thre Crane wharfe by Wyllyam Copland. For Edward White.

Editions in J. Ritson, Robin Hood (1795), ii. 199, F. J. Child, English and Scottish Popular Ballads, iii (1888) 114, 127, and Manly (1897), ii. 281. The play, which deals with the episodes of Robin Hood and the Friar and Robin Hood and the Potter, is appended to a reprint of the narrative Geste, originally printed by Wynken de Worde. Manly assigns Copland's edition to c. 1550, but Arber, v. 32, to 'c. 1560, by the Printer's address', and Furnivall, Captain Cox, to c. 1561. Apparently Copland is not traceable at the Three Cranes before that year and had earlier addresses. If so, I think that his anonymous entry of 1560 in the Stationers' Register may fairly be supposed to relate to Robin Hood. Ruff, Cuff and Band c. 1615

[MS.] ''Add. MS.'' 23723. S. R. 1615, Feb. 10 (Taverner). 'A booke called a Diologue betwene Ruffe Cuffe and Band &c.' Miles Patriche (Arber, iii. 563). 1615. A merrie Dialogue, Betwene Band, Cuffe, and Ruffe: Done by an excellent Wit, And Lately acted in a Shew in the famous Vniversitie of Cambridge. William Stansby for Miles Partrich.

1615. Exchange Ware at the second hand, Viz. Band, Ruffe and Cuffe, lately out, and now newly dearned vp. Or Dialogue, acted in a Shew in the famous Vniversitie of Cambridge. The second Edition. W. Stansby for Myles Partrich.