This copy follows in Mr. Child’s early edition, “from the second edition
of Ritson’s _Robin Hood_, as collated by Sir Frederic Madden.” It is
conjectured to be “possibly as old as the reign of Edward II.” That the
murder of a monk should be pardoned in the facile way described is
manifestly improbable. Even in the lawless Galloway of 1508, McGhie of
Phumpton was fined six merks for “throwing William Schankis, monk, from
his horse.” (History of Dumfries and Galloway, by Sir Herbert Maxwell,
p. 155.)