"I am Little John, Robin Hoods man, Fryer, I will not lie; If thou take not up thy dogs soone, I'le take up them and thee." Little John had a bow in his hand, 145 He shot with might and main; Soon halfe a score of the fryers dogs Lay dead upon the plain. "Hold thy hand, good fellow," said the curtal fryer, "Thy master and I will agree; 150 And we will have new orders taken, With all the hast may be." "If thou wilt forsake fair Fountaines Dale, And Fountaines Abbey free, Every Sunday throwout the yeere, 155 A noble shall be thy fee: "And every holliday through the yeere, Changed shall thy garment be, If thou wilt goe to faire Nottingham, And there remaine with me." 160 This curtal fryer had kept Fountaines Dale Seven long yeeres and more; There was neither knight, lord, nor earle, Could make him yeeld before. ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE. Or, a pleasant relation how a young gentleman, being in love with a young damsel, she was taken from him to be an old knights bride: and how Robin Hood, pittying the young mans case, took her from the old knight, when they were going to be marryed, and restored her to her own love again. To a pleasant northern tune, _Robin Hood in the green-wood stood_. Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right, And took the damsel from the doting knight. From an old black-letter copy in Major Pearson's collection. RITSON'S _Robin Hood_, ii. 49. The same in _A Collection of Old Ballads_, ii. 44. Come listen to me, you gallants so free, All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlàw That lived in Nottinghamshire. As Robin Hood in the forest stood, 5 All under the green-wood tree, There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be. The youngster was cloathed in scarlet red, In scarlet fine and gay; 10 And he did frisk it over the plain, And chanted a round-de-lay. As Robin Hood next morning stood Amongst the leaves so gay, There did [he] espy the same young man, 15 Come drooping along the way. The scarlet he wore the day before, It was clean cast away; And at every step he fetcht a sigh, "Alack and a well a day!" 20 Then stepped forth brave Little John, And Midge the millers son,[L22] Which made the young man bend his bow, When as he see them come. "Stand off, stand off," the young man said, 25 "What is your will with me?" "You must come before our master straight, Under yon green-wood tree."