Many phrases trace back to the legend of this heroic thief. Thus ROBIN HOOD, subs. = a daring lie; ROBIN HOOD’S PENNYWORTH (see quots. 1662 and 1682); ‘GOOD EVEN, GOOD ROBIN HOOD’ (said of civility extorted by fear); ‘Many talk of ROBIN HOOD that never shot in his bow’ = Many speak of things of which they have no knowledge; ‘Tales of ROBIN HOOD are good enough for fools.’
1509. BARCLAY, Ship of Fooles (1570), fol. 250. I write no ieste ne TALE OF ROBIN HOOD.
d. 1529. SKELTON, Why come ye nat to Courte? 193.
| Is nat my reason good? | |
| GOOD EUYN, GOOD ROBYN HOOD! | |
| Some say yes, and some | |
| Syt styll as they were dom. |
1576. T. NEWTON, tr. Lemnius’s The Touchstone of Complexions, p. 138. Reporting a flymflam TALE OF ROBINHOODE.
16[?]. Star Chamber Case [Camden Society, 117]. Walton the Bayliffe leavyed of the poore mans goods 77li att ROBINHOOD’S PENIWORTHS.
1652. ASHMOLE, Theatrum Chemicum Britanicum, 175.
| Many man spekyth wyth wondreng, | |
| Of ROBYN HODE, and of his Bow, | |
| Whych never shot therin I trow. |
1662. FULLER, Worthies of England, 315. To sell ROBIN HOODS PENNYWORTHS.—It is spoken of things sold under half their value; or if you will, half sold half given. ROBIN HOOD came lightly by his ware, and lightly parted therewith; so that he could afford the length of his Bow for a yard of Velvet.
1682. J. BARNARD, Life of Heylyn, cxli. Soldiers seized on all … for the use of the Parliament (as they pretended) but sold as they passed along to any chapman, at inconsiderable rates, ROBIN HOOD’S PENNYWORTHS.
1705. WARD, Hudibras Redivivus, I. viii. 8. Many Fools, their Parts to show Will TALK OF ROBIN AND HIS BOW That never, by Enquiry, knew Whether ’twas made of Steel or Yew.
