Little John had a bow in his hand,145
He shot with might and main;
Soon halfe a score of the fryers dogs
Lay dead upon the plain.
"Hold thy hand, good fellow," said the curtal fryer,
"Thy master and I will agree;150
And we will have new orders taken,
With all the hast may be."
"If thou wilt forsake fair Fountaines Dale,
And Fountaines Abbey free,
Every Sunday throwout the yeere,155
A noble shall be thy fee:
"And every holliday through the yeere,
Changed shall thy garment be,
If thou wilt goe to faire Nottingham,
And there remaine with me."160
This curtal fryer had kept Fountaines Dale
Seven long yeeres and more;
There was neither knight, lord, nor earle,
Could make him yeeld before.
ROBIN HOOD AND ALLIN A DALE.
Or, a pleasant relation how a young gentleman, being in love with a young damsel, she 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. To a pleasant northern tune, Robin Hood in the green-wood stood.
Bold Robin Hood he did the young man right,
And took the damsel from the doting knight.
From an old black-letter copy in Major Pearson's collection. Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 49.