{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch138.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch138.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch138.htm","text":"138A.1 COME listen to me, you gallants so free,\nAll you that loves mirth for to hear,\nAnd I will you tell of a bold outlaw,\nThat lived in Nottinghamshire.\nThat lived in Nottinghamshire.\n138A.2 As Robin Hood in the forrest stood,\nAll under the green-wood tree,\nThere was he ware of a brave young man,\nAs fine as fine might be.\n138A.3 The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,\nIn scarlet fine and gay,\nAnd he did frisk it over the plain,\nAnd chanted a roundelay.\n138A.4 As Robin Hood next morning stood,\nAmongst the leaves so gay,\nThere did he espy the same young man\nCome drooping along the way.\n138A.5 The scarlet he wore the day before,\nIt was clean cast away;\nAnd every step he fetcht a sigh,\n\u2018Alack and a well a day!\u2019\n138A.6 Then stepped forth brave Little John,\nAnd Nick the millers son,\nWhich made the young man bend his bow,\nWhen as he see them come.\n138A.7 \u2018Stand off, stand off,\u2019 the young man said,\n\u2018What is your will with me?\u2019\n\u2018You must come before our master straight,\nVnder yon green-wood tree.\u2019\n138A.8 And when he came bold Robin before,\nRobin askt him courteously,\nO hast thou any money to spare\nFor my merry men and me?\n138A.9 \u2018I have no money,\u2019 the young man said,\n\u2018But five shillings and a ring;\nAnd that I have kept this seven long years,\nTo have it at my wedding.\n138A.10 \u2018Yesterday I should have married a maid,\nBut she is now from me tane,\nAnd chosen to be an old knights delight,\nWhereby my poor heart is slain.\u2019\n138A.11 \u2018What is thy name?\u2019 then said Robin Hood,\n\u2018Come tell me, without any fail:\u2019\n\u2018By the faith of my body,\u2019 then said the young man,\n\u2018My name it is Allin a Dale.\u2019\n138A.12 \u2018What wilt thou give me,\u2019 said Robin Hood,\n\u2018In ready gold or fee,\nTo help thee to thy true-love again,\nAnd deliver her unto thee?\u2019\n138A.13 \u2018I have no money,\u2019 then quoth the young man,\n\u2018No ready gold nor fee,\nBut I will swear upon a book\nThy true servant for to be.\u2019\n138A.14 \u2018How many miles is it to thy true-love?\nCome tell me without any guile:\u2019\n\u2018By the faith of my body,\u2019 then said the young man,\n\u2018It is but five little mile.\u2019\n138A.15 Then Robin he hasted over the plain,\nHe did neither stint nor lin,\nVntil he came unto the church\nWhere Allin should keep his wedding.\n138A.16 \u2018What dost thou do here?\u2019 the bishop he said,\n\u2018I prethee now tell to me:\u2019\n\u2018I am a bold harper,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018And the best in the north countrey.\u2019\n138A.17 \u2018O welcome, O welcome,\u2019 the bishop he said,\n\u2018That musick best pleaseth me;\u2019\n\u2018You shall have no musick,\u2019 quoth Robin Hood,\n\u2018Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.\u2019\n138A.18 With that came in a wealthy knight,\nWhich was both grave and old,\nAnd after him a finikin lass,\nDid shine like glistering gold.\n138A.19 \u2018This is no fit match,\u2019 quoth bold Robin Hood,\n\u2018That you do seem to make here;\nFor since we are come unto the church,\nThe bride she shall chuse her own dear.\u2019\n138A.20 Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,\nAnd blew blasts two or three;\nWhen four and twenty bowmen bold\nCame leaping over the lee.\n138A.21 And when they came into the church-yard,\nMarching all on a row,\nThe first man was Allin a Dale,\nTo give bold Robin his bow.\n138A.22 \u2018This is thy true-love,\u2019 Robin he said,\n\u2018Young Allin, as I hear say;\nAnd you shall be married at this same time,\nBefore we depart away.\u2019\n138A.23 \u2018That shall not be,\u2019 the bishop he said,\n\u2018For thy word shall not stand;\nThey shall be three times askt in the church,\nAs the law is of our land.\u2019\n138A.24 Robin Hood pulld off the bishops coat,\nAnd put it upon Little John;\n\u2018By the faith of my body,\u2019 then Robin said,\nThis cloath doth make thee a man.\u2019\n138A.25 When Little John went into the quire,\nThe people began for to laugh;\nHe askt them seven times in the church,\nLeast three times should not be enough.\n138A.26 o gives me this maid,\u2019 then said Little John;\nQuoth Robin, That do I,\nAnd he that doth take her from Allin a Dale\nFull dearly he shall her buy.\n138A.27 And thus having ended this merry wedding,\nThe bride lookt as fresh as a queen,\nAnd so they returnd to the merry green wood,\nAmongst the leaves so green.","title":"The Child Ballads: 138. Robin Hood and Allen a Dale","type":"page"}