{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/boeb/boeb16.htm","path":"neu/eng/boeb/boeb16.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/boeb/boeb16.htm","text":"COME listen to me, you gallants so free,\n \u00a0\u00a0All you that love mirth for to hear,\n And I will tell you of a bold outl\u00e0w,\n \u00a0\u00a0That lived in Nottinghamshire.\nAs Robin Hood in the forest stood\n \u00a0\u00a0All under the greenwood tree,\n There he was aware of a brave young man,\n \u00a0\u00a0As fine as fine might be.\nThe youngster was clad in scarlet red,\n \u00a0\u00a0In scarlet fine and gay\n And he did frisk it over the plain,\n \u00a0\u00a0And chaunted a roundelay.\nAs Robin Hood next morning stood\n \u00a0\u00a0Amongst the leaves so gay,\n There did he espy the same young man\n \u00a0\u00a0Come drooping along the way.\nThe scarlet he wore the day before\n \u00a0\u00a0It was clean cast away;\n And at every step he fetched a sigh,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Alas! and a well-a-day!\"\nThen stepp\u00e8d forth brave Little John,\n \u00a0\u00a0And Midge, the miller's son;\n Which made the young man bend his bow,\n \u00a0\u00a0When as he see them come.\n\"Stand off! stand off!\" the young man said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"What is your will with me?\"\n \"You must come before our master straight,\n \u00a0\u00a0Under yon greenwood tree.\"\nAnd when he came bold Robin before,\n \u00a0\u00a0Robin asked him courteously,\n O, hast thou any money to spare,\n \u00a0\u00a0For my merry men and me?\n\"I have no money,\" the young man said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"But five shillings and a ring;\n And that I have kept this seven long years,\n \u00a0\u00a0To have at my wedding.\n\"Yesterday I should have married a maid,\n \u00a0\u00a0But she was from me ta'en,\n And chosen to be an old knight's delight,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whereby my poor heart is slain.\"\n\"What is thy name?\" then said Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Come tell me, without any fail.\"\n \"By the faith of my body,\" then said the young man,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"My name it is Allen-a-Dale.\"\n\"What wilt thou give me,\" said Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"In ready gold or fee,\n To help thee to thy true love again,\n \u00a0\u00a0And deliver her unto thee?\"\n\"I have no money,\" then quoth the young man,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"No ready gold nor fee,\n But I will swear upon a book\n \u00a0\u00a0Thy true servant for to be.\"\n\"How many miles is it to thy true love?\n \u00a0\u00a0Come tell me without guile.\"\n \"By the faith of my body,\" then said the young man,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"It is but five little mile.\"\nThen Robin he hasted over the plain,\n \u00a0\u00a0He did neither stint nor lin,\n Until he came unto the church\n \u00a0\u00a0Where Allen should keep his weddin'.\n\"What hast thou here?\" the bishop then said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"I prithee now tell unto me.\"\n \"I am a bold harper,\" quoth Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"And the best in the north countr\u1ef3.\"\n\"O welcome, O welcome,\" the bishop he said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"That music best pleaseth me.\"\n \"You shall have no music,\" quoth Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"Till the bride and bridegroom I see.\"\nWith that came in a wealthy knight,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which was both grave and old;\n And after him a finikin lass,\n \u00a0\u00a0Did shine like the glistering gold.\n\"This is not a fit match,\" quoth Robin Hood,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"That you do seem to make here;\n For since we are come into the church,\n \u00a0\u00a0The bride shall chuse her own dear.\"\nThen Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,\n \u00a0\u00a0And blew blasts two and three;\n When four-and-twenty bowmen bold\n \u00a0\u00a0Came leaping over the lea.\nAnd when they came into the church-yard,\n \u00a0\u00a0Marching all in a row,\n The first man was Allen-a-Dale,\n \u00a0\u00a0To give bold Robin his bow.\n\"This is thy true love,\" Robin he said,\n \u00a0\u00a0Young Allen, as I hear say;\n And you shall be married this same time,\n \u00a0\u00a0Before we depart away.\"\n\"That shall not be,\" the bishop he cried,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"For thy word shall not stand;\n They shall be three times asked in the church,\n \u00a0\u00a0As the law is of our land.\"\nRobin Hood pulled off the bishop's coat,\n \u00a0\u00a0And put it upon Little John;\n \"By the faith of my body,\" then Robin said,\n \u00a0\u00a0\"This cloth doth make thee a man.\"\nWhen Little John went into the quire,\n \u00a0\u00a0The people began to laugh;\n He asked them seven times into church,\n \u00a0\u00a0Lest three times should not be enough.\n\"Who gives me this maid?\" said Little John,\n \u00a0\u00a0Quoth Robin Hood, \"That do I;\n And he that takes her from Allen-a-Dale,\n \u00a0\u00a0Full dearly he shall her buy.\"\nAnd then having ended this merry wedding,\n \u00a0\u00a0The bride looked like a queen;\n And so they returned to the merry greenwood,\n \u00a0\u00a0Amongst the leaves so green.","title":"A Book of Old English Ballads: Robin Hood and Allen-a-Dale","type":"page"}