ark,
He failed [missed] many of his deer.

The question then arises, which of the three Edwards did travel in
that county? To this question, Mr Hunter's researches fortunately
enable him to return a decisive answer. King Edward I. never was in
Lancashire after he became king. King Edward III. was not in
Lancashire in the early years of his reign, and probably never at all.
But King Edward II. did make a 'progress' in Lancashire, and only one.
The time was in the autumn of 1323, the seventeenth year of his reign,
and the fortieth of his age. By the dates of the royal writs, and by
other documents, Mr Hunter is enabled to trace the king's route and
his various removes on this occasion with great minuteness. He follows
him, for example, from York to Holderness; thence to Pickering, to
Wherlton Castle, to Richmond and Jervaulx Abbey, and to Haywra Park,
in the forest of Knaresborough. In this forest is situated Plumpton
Park, which is mentioned in the ballad as having been visited by the
king, who here became aware of Robin's depredations. King Edward
proceeded thence by way of Skipton, and several other towns, to
Liverpool, and, continuing his progress, arrived on the 9th of
November at Nottingham, where he remained till the 23d of that month;
and it was from Nottingham, it will be remembered, that the king set
out in disguise to look for Robin Hood.

But if the 'proud outlaw' on this occasion actually took service in
the king's household, his name would be likely to appear among those
of the royal attendants, if any list of these is preserved. This
consideration occurred to Mr Hunter. The result of his search must be
told in his own words. 'It will scarcely be believed,' he observes,
'but it is, nevertheless, the plain and simple truth, that in
documents preserved in the Exchequer, containing accounts of expenses
in the king's household, we find the name of "Robyn Hode," not once,
but several times occurring, receiving, with about eight-and-twenty
others, the pay of 3d. a day, as one of the "_valets, porteurs de la
chambre_" of the king. Whether this was some other person who chanced
to bear the same name, or that the ballad-maker has in this related
what was mere matter of fact, it will become no one to affirm in a
tone of authority. I, for my part, believe it is the same person.'
Mr Hunter then quotes the words of the original record, which
is in Norman-French. It recites the names of the twenty-four
'_portours