| 1 |
Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that loves mirth for to hear,
And I will you tell of a bold outlaw,
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
That lived in Nottinghamshire. |
| 2 |
As Robin Hood in the forrest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be. |
| 3 |
The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay. |
| 4 |
As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way. |
| 5 |
The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was clean cast away;
And every step he fetcht a sigh,
'Alack and a well a day!' |
| 6 |
Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Nick the millers son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he see them come. |
| 7 |
'Stand off, stand off,' the young man said,
'What is your will with me?'
'You must come before our master straight,
Vnder yon green-wood tree.' |
| 8 |
And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin askt him courteously,
O hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me? |
| 9 |
'I have no money,' the young man said,
'But five shillings and a ring;
And that I have kept this seven long years,
To have it at my wedding. |
| 10 |
'Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she is now from me tane,
And chosen to be an old knights delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.' |
| 11 |
'What is thy name?' then said Robin Hood,
'Come tell me, without any fail:'
'By the faith of my body,' then said the young man,
'My name it is Allin a Dale.' |
| 12 |
'What wilt thou give me,' said Robin Hood,
'In ready gold or fee,
To help thee to thy true-love again,
And deliver her unto thee?' |
| 13 |
'I have no money,' then quoth the young man,
'No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be.' |
| 14 |
'How many miles is it to thy true-love?
Come tell me without any guile:'
'By the faith of my body,' then said the young man,
'It is but five little mile.' |
| 15 |
Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor lin,
Vntil he came unto the church
Where Allin should keep his wedding. |
| 16 |
'What dost thou do here?' the bishop he said,
'I prethee now tell to me:'
'I am a bold harper,' quoth Robin Hood,
'And the best in the north countrey.' |
| 17 |
'O welcome, O welcome,' the bishop he said,
'That musick best pleaseth me;'
'You shall have no musick,' quoth Robin Hood,
'Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.' |
| 18 |
With that came in a wealthy knight,
Which was both grave and old,
And after him a finikin lass,
Did shine like glistering gold. |
| 19 |
'This is no fit match,' quoth bold Robin Hood,
'That you do seem to make here;
For since we are come unto the church,
The bride she shall chuse her own dear.' |
| 20 |
Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two or three;
When four and twenty bowmen bold
Came leaping over the lee. |
| 21 |
And when they came into the church-yard,
Marching all on a row,
The first man was Allin a Dale,
To give bold Robin his bow. |
| 22 |
'This is thy true-love,' Robin he said,
'Young Allin, as I hear say;
And you shall be married at this same time,
Before we depart away.' |
| 23 |
'That shall not be,' the bishop he said,
'For thy word shall not stand;
They shall be three times askt in the church,
As the law is of our land.' |
| 24 |
Robin Hood pulld off the bishops coat,
And put it upon Little John;
'By the faith of my body,' then Robin said,
This cloath doth make thee a man.' |
| 25 |
When Little John went into the quire,
The people began for to laugh;
He askt them seven times in the church,
Least three times should not be enough. |
| 26 |
o gives me this maid,' then said Little John;
Quoth Robin, That do I,
And he that doth take her from Allin a Dale
Full dearly he shall her buy. |
| 27 |
And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride lookt as fresh as a queen,
And so they returnd to the merry green wood,
Amongst the leaves so green. |
