1563 - Foxe, John - Actes and Monuments (1)
| Allusion | |
|---|---|
| Date | 1563 |
| Author | Foxe, John |
| Title | Actes and Monuments |
| Mentions | Tales of Robin Hood |
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2017-02-15. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-07. Based on information from Robert Lynley.
Allusion
This Ethelwolf [Æthelwulf, king of Wessex 839–58] had especially about him two bishops, whose counsel he was most ruled by, Swithin, bishop of Winchester, and Adelstan, bishop of Sherborne. Of the which two, the one was more skilful in temporal and civil affairs touching the king's wars, and filling of his coffers, and other furniture for the king. The other, who was Swithin, was of a contrary sort, wholly disposed and inclined to spiritual meditation, and to minister spiritual counsel to the king ; who had been schoolmaster to the king before. Wherein appeared one good condition of this king's nature, among his other virtues, not only in following the precepts and advertisements of his old schoolmaster, but also in that he, like a kind and thankful pupil, did so reverence his bringer-up, and old schoolmaster (as he called him), that he ceased not, till he made him bishop of Winchester, by the consecration of Celnoch, then archbishop of Canterbury. But as concerning the miracles which are read in the church of Winchester, of this Swithin, them I leave to be read together with the Iliads of Homer, or the tales of Robin Hood.[1]
Source notes
Note in right margin at beginning of passage: "Swithin, bishop of Winchester."
Note in right margin at end of passage: "Monkish miracles feigned of Swithin."
IRHB comments
This allusion is indicative of an attitude to Robin Hood literature similar to that which found expression in the proverb Tales of Robin Hood are good enough for fools. The Actes and Monuments are popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
Lists
- Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 293-11.
- Outside scope of Sussex, Lucy, compil. 'References to Robin Hood up to 1600', in: Knight, Stephen. Robin Hood: A Complete Study of the English Outlaw (Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 262-88.
Editions
- Foxe, John; Townsend, George, introd.; Cattley, Stephen Reed, ed. The Acts and Monuments of John Foxe: A New and Complete Edition (London, 1837-41), vol. II, p. 9; and see vol. I, p. 253 where the passage mentioning Robin Hood is quoted.
- John Foxe's The Acts and Monuments Online.
Background
Also see
- 1563 - Foxe, John - Actes and Monuments (2)
- 1563 - Foxe, John - Actes and Monuments (3)
- Tales of Robin Hood are good enough for fools.
Notes