1683 - Unknown author - Case against Mr Pilkington

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Allusion
Date 1683
Author Unknown
Title Summary of case against a Mr Pilkington
Mentions Robin Hood upon Greendale stood

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2013-08-01. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-07.

Allusion

[Summary of legal case: Pilkington and others indicted for riot. Mr Thompson, counsel for the defendants, challenged the array, the challenge being read in French. He desired it might be read in English, whereupon L.C.J. Saunders asked:] Why? do you think I don't understand it? This is only to tickle the people. [Upon the challenge being read in English. Mr Serjeant Jeffries responded:] Here's a tale of a tub, indeed. [Later Thompson said:] My lord, is the fact true or false ? I desire of these gentlemen, if it be insufficient in point of law, let them demur. [To which Serjeant Jeffries responded:] Pray tell me, Robin Hood upon Greendale stood, and therefore you must not demur to it.[1]

IRHB comments

W.G. cites no source. Passages in brackets are IRHB's paraphrases of passages summarized by W.G. Passages not in brackets are as in W.G. The latter appear to be cited from the case report. This is a late example of a legal maxim that was sometimes cited during cases. Usually it is "greenwood", "Sherwood" or "Barnsdale" instead of "Greendale", which latter is probably not recorded elsewhere.

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