No. 138: Robin Hood and Alan-a-Dale
[There are two known US or Canadian versions of this ballad, one possibly traditional (Roberts) and one (Jackson) most likely based on Child's text.]
CONTENTS:
1. Child's Narrative
2. Footnotes (There are no footnotes)
3. Brief (Kittredge)
4. Child's Ballad Text A a. (For text changes to make versions A b and A c, see End-Notes.)
5. End-Notes
ATTACHED PAGES (see left hand column):
1. Recordings & Info: 138. Robin Hood and Alan-a-Dale
A. Roud No. 3298: Robin Hood and Alan-a-Dale (23 Listings)
2. Sheet Music: (Bronson's traditional music version)
3. English and Other Versions (Including Child versions A a. with additional notes)]
Child's Narative: Robin Hood and Allen a Dale
A. a. 'Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,' Douce, II, leaf 185.
b. 'Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,' Pepys, II, 110, No 97.
c. 'Robin Hood and Allen a Dale,' Douce, III, 119 b.
Printed in A Collection of Old Ballads, 1723, II, 44, and Evans's Old Ballads, 1777, 1784, I, 126, after a copy very near to c. In Ritson's Robin Hood, 1795, II, 46, probably after Roxburghe II, 394. Not included in the garlands of 1663, 1670; in a garland of 1749, the Aldermary garland, R. Marshall, and the Lichfield, M. Morgan, both not dated, No 8; in the York garland, 1811, No 9. In the Kinloch Manuscripts, V, 183, there is a copy, derived from the broadside, but Scotticised, and improved in the process.
A young man, Allen a Dale, whom Robin Hood has seen passing, one day singing and the next morning sighing, is stopped by Little John and the Miller's Son, and brought before their master, who asks him if he has any money. He has five shillings and a ring, and was to have been married the day before, but his bride has been given to an old knight. Robin asks what he will give to get his true-love. All that he can give is his faithful service. Robin goes to the church and declares the match not fit: the bride shall choose for herself. He blows his horn, and four-and-twenty of his men appear, the foremost of whom is Allen a Dale. Robin tells Allen that he shall be married on the spot. The bishop says no; there must be three askings. Robin puts the bishop's coat on Little John, and Little John asks seven times. Robin gives Allen the maid, and bids the man take her away that dare.
The ballad, it will be observed, is first found in broadside copies of the latter half of the seventeenth century. The story is told of Scarlock in the life of Robin Hood in Sloane Manuscript 715, 7, fol. 157, of the beginning of the seventeenth century; Thorns, Early Prose Romances, II, p. 39.
"Scarlock he induced [to become one of his company] upon this occacion. One day meting him as he walked solitary and lyke to a man forlorne, because a mayd to whom he was affyanced was taken from [him] by the violence of her frends, and given to another, that was auld and welthy; whereupon Robin, understandyng when the maryage-day should be, came to the church as a beggar, and having his company not far of, which came in so sone as they hard the sound of his home, he 'took' the bryde perforce from him that was in hand to have maryed her, and caused the preist to wed her and Scarlocke togeyther."
Translated by Anastasius Grün, p. 146.
Brief Description by George Lyman Kittredge
This ballad, it will be observed, is first found in broadside copies of the latter half of the seventeenth century. The story is told of Scarlock in the life of Robin Hood in Sloane Manuscript 780, 7, fol. 157, of the end of the sixteenth or beginning of the seventeenth century; Thorns, Early Prose Romances, ii, p. 39.
Child's Ballad Text
'Robin Hood and Allin of Dale'- Version A a.; Child 138 Robin Hood and Allen a Dale
a. 'Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,' Douce, II, leaf 185.
b. 'Robin Hood and Allin of Dale,' Pepys, II, 110, No 97.
c. 'Robin Hood and Allen a Dale,' Douce, III, 119 b.
1 Come listen to me, you gallants so free,
All you that loves mirth for to hear,
And I will you tell of a bold outlaw,
That lived in Nottinghamshire,
That lived in Nottinghamshire.
2 As Robin Hood in the forrest stood,
All under the green-wood tree,
There was he ware of a brave young man,
As fine as fine might be.
3 The youngster was clothed in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay,
And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.
4 As Robin Hood next morning stood,
Amongst the leaves so gay,
There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.
5 The scarlet he wore the day before,
It was clean cast away;
And every step he fetcht a sigh,
'Alack and a well a day!'
6 Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Nick the millers son,
Which made the young man bend his bow,
When as he see them come.
7 'Stand off, stand off,' the young man said,
'What is your will with me?'
'You must come before our master straight,
Vnder yon green-wood tree.'
8 And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin askt him courteously,
O hast thou any money to spare
For my merry men and me?
9 'I have no money,' the young man said,
'But five shillings and a ring;
And that I have kept this seven long years,
To have it at my wedding.
10 'Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she is now from me tane,
And chosen to be an old knights delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain.'
11 'What is thy name?' then said Robin Hood,
'Come tell me, without any fail:'
'By the faith of my body,' then said the young man,
'My name it is Allin a Dale.'
12 'What wilt thou give me,' said Robin Hood,
'In ready gold or fee,
To help thee to thy true-love again,
And deliver her unto thee?'
13 'I have no money,' then quoth the young man,
'No ready gold nor fee,
But I will swear upon a book
Thy true servant for to be.'
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.
End-Notes
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 doteiug knight.
To a pleasant northern tune, or, Robin Hood in the green wood stood.
With allowance. Printed for F. Cole, T. Vere, J. Wright and J. Clarke. (Coles, Vere and Wright, 1655-80, J. Clarke, 1650-82: Chappell.)
114. Alllin.
181. wealhty.
228. man-id.
b. Title, etc., as in a.
With allowance. Printed for Alex. Milbourn, in Green-Arbor-Court, in the Little-Old-Baily. (Alexander Melbourne 1670-97: Chappell.)
13. tell you.
23. he was aware.
102. she was from me tane.
161. dost thou here.
162. unto.
184. like the.
191. not a fit: qd.
252. for wanting.
261. then wanting.
263. And wanting.
271. having ende of.
272. lookt like a.
c. Robin Hood and Allen a Dale: Or, the manner of Robin Hood's rescuing a young lady from an old knight to whom she was going to be married, and restoring her to Allen a Dale, her former love.
To the tune of Robin Hood in the green wood.
No printer. Sold in Bow-Church-Yard, London.
13. tell you.
23. aware.
43. spy.
52. quite for clean.
62. Midge for Nick.
93. these seven.
102. she was from me taen.
112. any wanting.
134. for wanting.
161. do wanting: then for he.
162. unto me.
171. then for he.
184. Who shone like the glittering.
191. not a fit.
194. she wanting.
223. at the.
243. Robin he.
244. This coat.
251. to for into.
252. for wanting.
261. me wanting: maid, says.
272. bride she lookd like a.