And when they came into the churchyard, Marching all on a row, The first man was Alan a Dale, To give bold Robin his bow. XXII ‘This is thy true-love,’ Robin he said, ‘Young Alan, as I hear say; And you shall be married at this same time, Before we depart away.’ XXIII ‘That shall not be,’ the Bishop he said, ‘For thy word it shall not stand; They shall be three times askt in the church, As the law is of our land.’ XXIV Robin Hood pull’d off the Bishop’s coat, And put it upon Little John; ‘By the faith of my body,’ then Robin said, ‘This cloath doth make thee a man.’ XXV When Little John went into the quire, The people began for to laugh; He askt them seven times in the church, Least three should not be enough. XXVI ‘Who gives me this maid?’ then said Little John; Quoth Robin, ‘That do I! And he that doth take her from Alan a Dale Full dearly he shall her buy.’ XXVII And thus having ended this merry weddìng The bride lookt as fresh as a queen, And so they return’d to the merry green-wood, Amongst the leaves so green. FOOTNOTES: [1013] lin = stop. _122. Robin Hood and the Widow’s Three Sons_ I There are twelve months in all the year, As I hear many men say, But the merriest month in all the year Is the merry month of May. II Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a day_, And there he met a silly old woman, Was weeping on the way. III ‘What news? what news, thou silly old woman? What news hast them for me?’ Said she, ‘There’s three squires in Nottingham town To-day is condemn’d to die.’ IV ‘O have they parishes burnt?’ he said, ‘Or have they ministers slain? Or have they robb’d any virgin, Or other men’s wives have ta’en?’-- V ‘They have no parishes burnt, good sir, Nor yet have ministers slain, Nor have they robbed any virgin, Nor other men’s wives have ta’en.’ VI ‘O what have they done?’ said bold Robin Hood, ‘I pray thee tell to me.’-- ‘It’s for slaying of the King’s fallow deer, Bearing their long bows with thee.’-- VII ‘Dost thou not mind, old woman,’ he said, ‘Since thou made me sup and dine? By the truth of my body,’ quoth bold Robin Hood, ‘You could tell it in no better time.’ VIII Now Robin Hood is to Nottingham gone, _With a link a down and a day_, And there he met with a silly old palmer, Was walking along the highway. IX ‘What news? what news, thou silly old man? What news, I do thee pray?’-- Said he, ‘Three squires in Nottingham town Are condemned to die this day.’-- X