A great many songs were made up about Robin Hood, and these songs were sung in the cottages and huts all over the land for hundreds of years afterward.
Here is a little story that is told in one of those songs.
Robin Hood was standing one day under a green tree by the roadside. While he was listening to the birds among the leaves, he saw a young man passing by. This young man was dressed in a fine suit of bright red cloth; and, as he tripped gayly along the road, he seemed to be as happy as the day.
“I will not trouble him,” said Robin Hood, “for I think he is on his way to his wedding.”
The next day Robin stood in the same place. He had not been there long when he saw the same young man coming down the road. But he did not seem to be so happy this time. He had left his scarlet coat at home, and at every step he sighed and groaned.
“Ah, the sad day! the sad day!” he kept saying to himself.
Then Robin Hood stepped out from under the tree, and said,—
“I say, young man! Have you money to spare for my merry men and me?”
“I have nothing at all,” said the young man, “but five shillings and a ring.”
“A gold ring?” asked Robin.
“Yes,” said the young man, “it is a gold ring. Here it is.”
“Ah, I see!” said Robin: “It is a wedding ring.”
“I have kept it these seven years,” said the young man; “I have kept it to give to my bride on our wedding day. We were going to be married yesterday. But her father has promised her to a rich old man whom she never saw.”
“What is your name?” asked Robin.
“My name is Allin-a-dale,” said the young man.
“What will you give me, in gold or fee,” said Robin, “if I will help you win your bride again in spite of the rich old man to whom she has been promised?”
“I have no money,” said Allin, “but I will promise to be your servant.”
“How many miles is it to the place where the maiden lives?” asked Robin.
“It is not far,” said Allin. “But she is to be married this very day, and the church is five miles away.”
Then Robin made haste to dress himself as a harper; and, in the afternoon he stood in the door of the church.
“Who are you?” said the bishop. “and what are you doing here?”
“I am a bold harper,” said Robin, “the best in the north country.”
“I am glad you have come,” said the bishop kindly. “There is no music that I like so well as that of the harp. Come in, and play for us.”
“I will go in,” said Robin Hood; “but I will not give you any music until I see the bride and the bridegroom.”
Just then an old man came in. He was dressed in rich clothing, but was bent with age, and was feeble and grey. By his side walked a fair young girl. Her cheeks were very very pale, and her eyes were full of tears.
“This is no match,” said Robin. “Let the bride choose for herself.”
Then he put his horn to his lips, and blew three times. The very next minute, four and twenty men, all dressed in green, and carrying long bows in their hands, came running across the fields. And, as they marched into the church, all in a row, the foremost among them was Allin-a-dale.
“Now whom do you choose?” said Robin to the maiden.
“I choose Allin-a-dale,” she said blushing.
“And Allin-a-dale you shall have,” said Robin; “and he that takes you from Allin-a-dale shall find that he has Robin Hood to deal with.”
And so the fair maiden and Allin-a-dale were married then and there, and the rich old man went home in a great rage.
“And thus having ended this merry wedding,
The bride looked like a queen:
And so they returned to the merry green wood
Amongst the leaves so green.”
