pon the plain.

Hold thy hand, good fellow, said the curtal friar,
Thy master and I will agree;
And we will have new orders taken,
With all haste that may be.

If thou wilt forsake fair Fountain Dale,
And Fountain Abbey free,
Every Sunday throughout the year
A noble shall be thy fee.

Every Sunday throughout the year,
Chang'd shall thy garments be,
If thou wilt to fair Nottingham go,
And there remain with me.

The curtal friar had kept Fountain Dale,
Seven long years and more;
There was neither knight, lord, nor earl,
Could make him yield before.

FOOTNOTES:

[129] Fat hart.

[130] Whistle.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLEN-A-DALE.

Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that love mirth for to hear,
And I will tell you of a bold outlaw,
That liv'd in Nottinghamshire.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood,
All under the greenwood tree,
There was he aware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay;
And he did frisk it o'er the plain,
And chaunted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he 'spy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was cast clean away;
And ev'ry step he fetch'd a sigh,
Alack and well a day!

Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Midge the miller's son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When he did see them come.

Stand off, stand off, the young man said,
What is your will with me?
You must come before our master straight,
Under yonder greenwood tree.

And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,
O hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me?

I have no money, the young man said,
But five shillings and a ring,
And that I have kept these seven long years,
To have it at my wedding.

Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But from me she was ta'en,
And chosen to be an old knight's delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.

What is thy name then, said Robin Hood,
Come, tell me without fail?
By the faith of my body, then said the young man,
My name is Allen-a-Dale.