"This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the collection of Anthony à Wood. Its full title is, A famous battle between Robin Hood and Maid Marian; declaring their love, life, and liberty. Tune, Robin Hood Reviv'd." Ritson's Robin Hood, ii. 161.
A bonny fine-maid of a noble degree,
With a hey down, down, a down, down,
Maid Marian call'd by name,
Did live in the North, of excellent worth,
For shee was a gallant dame.
For favour and face, and beauty most rare,5
Queen Hellen shee did excell:
For Marian then was prais'd of all men
That did in the country dwell.
'Twas neither Rosamond nor Jane Shore,
Whose beauty was clear and bright,10
That could surpass this country lass,
Beloved of lord and knight.
The earl of Huntington, nobly born,
That came of noble blood,
To Marian went, with a good intent,15
By the name of Robin Hood.
With kisses sweet their red lips did meet,
For she and the earl did agree;
In every place, they kindly embrace,
With love and sweet unity.20
But fortune bearing these lovers a spight,
That soon they were forc'd to part,
To the merry green-wood then went Robin Hood,
With a sad and sorrowfull heart.
And Marian, poor soul, was troubled in mind,25
For the absence of her friend;
With finger in eye, shee often did cry,
And his person did much comend.
Perplexed and vexed, and troubled in mind,
She drest herself like a page,30
And ranged the wood, to find Robin Hood,
The bravest of men in that age.
With quiver and bow, sword, buckler, and all,
Thus armed was Marian most bold,
Still wandering about, to find Robin out,35
Whose person was better then gold.