Paul Summers Young

  Chapter IV. How Robin the Cobbler, having got loose of the witches, became a new man, and of many notable exploits which he did, you shall pleasantly hear. Now, when Robin the Cobbler had broken the spells of witchcraft his eyesight his hearing his speech his senses and his knowledge was all restored unto him again yet he looked of a pitiful complexion just as a man may say like one of Pharaoh's lean kine his visage was pale and ghastly his eyes seemed as if they were sunk into his head his nose was like the nose of a scolding ale-wife long and sharp and his tongue did gaggle as if it were made of the Devil's bollock leather his belly and his back were so clung together he was scarce able to shit for bones Nor had he any kind of habit to put on that was worth the throwing to the dunghill only an old lousy smock and a pair of slip-shoes which one of the witches gave him out of here mere pitiful charity yet he knew himself to be far happier than he was before when he was ridden...

  Chapter III. After Robin the Cobbler had taken his first sleep he awaked and turning himself on the other side he sent for his bedfellow but she was not there and having all the bedroom to himself he wondered about the passages which had happened to him the night before therewithall he bethought himself how he might use a means to get away  before the old witch his new-made landlady came back again to him for he supposed she had gone forth to fetch company to cut his throat but whilst he was thus thinking in came the old woman with three more of her disciples with every one of them a light torch in her hand crying out all at once they would be revenged on Robin the Cobbler for all his whore-hunting tricks These four female witches could transform themselves into any human shape at their own pleasure so she Robin took to be his mother-in-law brough in an ugly bear at her heels another brought a ravening wolf and the third brought a sharp long broad knife Poor Robin although t...

  Chapter II. Robin the Cobbler hearkened to his friend's advice made no more to do of the matter but trussed up his tools to be gone resolved to come to London and there to work journey work till such time his children were come to be men and able to work for themselves But as he passed along the country which is called the Wilds of Kent he lost his way in the woodlands When night was almost come upon him finding no path to guide him he wandered up and down till it was almost ten of the clock on a pitiful cold frosty dark winter's night but at the last he heard a cock crow whereby he understood there was some dwelling house near at hand and so somewhat comforted  to hear the crowing cock he made approach the house and knocked at the door Came forth an old woman  with a dish clout bound about her head and a staff in her hand and demanded of Robin what he knocked for O mother quoth he I am a poor distressed traveller who has lost my way and willing would I be  to give...

  The Witch of the Woodlands or The Cobbler's New Translation written by L.P. Here Robin the Cobbler for his former evils, Was punish'd worst than Faustus was with devils. London printed for John Stafford dwelling at the Sign of the George at Fleet Bridge 1655 Chapter I. In the wilds of Kent not far from Romney Marsh there dwelt a merry-conceited cobbler commonly called Robin the Devil who afterwards came to be called the Witch of the Woodlands This cobbler always had a special care  to please his customers but chiefly he would be sure  that if any wench brought him a job to do he would go stitch her work first of all he could jest and be merry in company he could sing in his shop like a nightingale he could cut a caper with Jack Pudding and was not much inferior to lusty Laurence who got eighteen wenches with child all in one night but as the proverb goes the pitcher that goes often to the water may at last come broken homw and the sweetest meat requires the sourest sauc...