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 ‘Who 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. * * * * * #a.# Robin Hood and Allin of Dale: Or, a pleasant relation how a young gentleman being in love with a young damsel, which was taken from him to be an old knight’s 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 true love again. Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right, And took the damsel from the doteing knight. To a pleasant northern tune, or, Robin Hood in the green wood stood.