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 Millers 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 greenwood 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 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, 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 then 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, 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 Robin Hood,
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Till the Bride and the Bridegroom I see,
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till, 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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And after him a finikin Lass
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Did shine like the glistring Gold;
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did shine, etc.
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This is not a fit match quod bold Robin 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, 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 bowmen 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 Churchyard,
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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, 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 churc
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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, 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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Lest three times should not be enough,
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lest, 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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And 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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