Robin Hood / A collection of all the ancient poems, songs, and ballads, now extant, relative to that celebrated English outlaw. To which are prefixed historical anecdotes of his life.

by Unknown

Releas’d their own three men.

XXIV. ROBIN HOOD AND MAID MARIAN.

This ballad, which has never been inserted in any of the publications intitled “Robin Hood’s Garland” (and, perhaps, was not worth inserting here), is given from an old black letter copy in the collection of Anthony a 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” (see before, p. [217]).

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. {310}

For favour and face, and beauty most rare,