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 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.
Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right,
And took the Damsel from the Doting Knight.
To a Pleasant Northern Tune, or, Robin Hood in the Green-Wood stood,
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COme Listen to me, you Gallants so free,
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All you that loves mirth for to hear,
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And I will you tell, of a bold Outlaw,
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That lived in Nottingham-shire,
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that lived in Nottingham-shire.
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As Robin Hood in the Forrest stood,
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All under the Green-wood tree,
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There was he aware of a brave young man,
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As fine as fine might be,
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as fine, etc.
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The youngster was cloathed in Scarlet red
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In Scarlet fine and gay,
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And he did frisk it over the plain,
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And chanted a round delay,
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and chanted, etc.
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As Robin Hood next morning stood,
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Amongst the leaves so gay,
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There did he espy the same young man
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Come drooping along the way,
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come drooping, etc.
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The Scarlet he wore the day before,
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It was clean cast away,
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And every step he fetcht a sigh
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Alack and a welladay,
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alack, etc.
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Then stepped forth brave little John,
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And Nick the Miller's Son,
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Which made the young man bend his bow,
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When as he see them come,
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when as, etc.
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Stand off, stand off, the young man said,
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What is your will with me,
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You must come before our Master straight,
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Under yon green wood Tree,
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under, etc.
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And when he came bold Robin before
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Robin askt him courteously,
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O hast thou any money to spare,
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For my merry men and me.
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for my, etc.
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I have no money (the Young-man said)
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But five shillings and a Ring,
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And that I have kept this seven long years
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To have it at my wedding.
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to have etc.
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Yesterday I should have Married a Maid,
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But she was from me tane,
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And chosen to be an old Knights delight,
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Whereby my poor heart is slain,
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whereby etc.
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What is thy name, then said Robin Hood,
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Come tell me without any fail,
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By the faith of my body then said the young-man,
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My name it is Allin a Dale,
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my name, etc.
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What wilt thou give me (said Robin Hood)
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In ready gold or fee,
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To help thee to thy true love again,
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And deliver her unto thee:
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and deliver etc.
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I have no money then quoth the Young-man
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No ready gold nor fee,
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But I will swear upon a book
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Thy true Servant for to be,
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thy true etc.
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How many miles is it to thy true love,
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Come tell me without any guile;
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By the faith of my body then said the Young man
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It is but five little mile.
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it is but etc.
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Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
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He did neither stint nor lin,
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Until he came unto the Church,
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Where Allin should keep his wedding.
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where etc.
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What dost thou here (the Bishop he said)
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I prithee now tell unto me,
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I am a bold Harper (quoth Robin Hood)
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And the best in the North-Country.
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and the best etc.
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O welcome, O welcome the Bishop he said,
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That musick best pleaseth me;
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You shall have no musick (quoth Rob. Hood)
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Till the bride and the bridegroom I see.
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till the etc.
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With that came in a wealthy Knight,
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Which was both grave and old;
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[An]d after him a finikin lass
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Did shine like the glistering gold;
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did shine etc.
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This is not a fit match quod bold Rob. Hood,
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That you do seem to make here,
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For since we are come unto the church,
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The bride she shall chuse her own Dear;
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the bride etc.
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Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth
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And blew blasts two or three,
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When four and twenty bow-men bold
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Came leaping over the lee,
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came leaping etc.
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And when they came into the Church-Yard
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Marching all on a row,
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The first man was Allin a Dale,
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To give bold Robin his bow,
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to give etc.
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This is thy true love (Robin he said)
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Young Allin as I hear say,
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And you shall be Married at the same time,
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Before we depart away.
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before we etc.
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That shall not be (the bishop he said)
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For thy word shall not stand,
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They shall be three times askt in the church
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As the Law is of our land.
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as the etc.
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Robin Hood pull'd off the Bishops Coat,
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And put it upon little John;
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By the faith of my body then Robin said,
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This cloath doth make thee a man,
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this cloath, etc.
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When little John went into the Quire,
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The people began to laugh,
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He askt them seven times in the Church,
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Least three times should not be enough,
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least three etc.
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Who gives me this Maid, said little John
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Quoth Robin Hood that do I,
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He that doth take her from Allin a Dale,
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Full dearly he shall her buy,
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full etc.
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And thus having ended this merry wedding
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The Bride lookt like a Queen,
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And so they return'd to the merry green wood
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Amongst the leaves so green,
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amongst the leaves so green.
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