1528 - Tyndale, William - Obedience of Christen Man (1)

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Allusion
Date 1528
Author Tyndale, William
Title Obedience of Christen man, and how Christen rulers ought to governe, wherein also (if thou marke diligently) thou shalt find eyes to perceaue the craftie conueyaunce of all iugglers
Mentions Robin Hood; Bevis of Hampton; Hercules; Hector and Troilus; histories and fables of love and wantonness; ribaldry

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-10-26. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-08.

Allusion

 Finally, that this threatening and forbidding the lay people to read the scriptures is not for the love of your souls (which they care for as the fox doth for the geese), is evident, and clearer than the sun; inasmuch that they permit and suffer you to read Robin Hood, and Bevis of Hampton, Hercules, Hector and Troilus, with a thousand histories and fables of love and wantonness, and of ribaldry, as filthy as heart can think, to corrupt the minds of youth withal, clean contrary to the doctrine of Christ and of his apostles: for Paul saith, "See that fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, be not once named among you, as it becometh saints; neither filthiness, neither foolish talking or jesting, which are not comely: for this ye know, that no whoremonger, either unclean person, or covetous person, which is the worshipper of images, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." And after saith he, "Through such things [p. 332:] cometh the wrath of God upon the children of unbelief." Now seeing they permit you freely to read those things which corrupt your minds and rob you of the kingdom of God and Christ, and bring the wrath of God upon you, how is this forbidding for love of your souls?[1]

Source notes

IRHB's brackets.
P. 331, marginal note against "Finally, that this threatening": "The pope licensed the people to read and say what they would, save the truth. Aut. ed."
P. 331, marginal note against "to read Robin Hood, and Bevis of Hampton": "Read what thou wilt, yea, and say what thou wilt, save the truth. W. T."
P. 331, marginal note against "doctrine of Christ and of his apostles": "Eph. v."
P. 332, marginal note against "Now seeing they permit you freely": "But the one forbiddeth not their pomp and belly-cheer, as the other doth. Aut. ed."
Published in 1528, cf. p. 323.

IRHB comments

This is one of at least five allusions to Robin Hood in the writings of Tyndale.

Lists

Editions

Background

Also see

Notes