God save the king, and bless this land,
With plenty, joy, and peace;
And grant, henceforth, that foul debate
"Twixt noblemen may cease.

RICHARD SHEALE.

ROBIN HOOD AND ALLEN-A-DALE.

[Of Robin Hood, the famous outlaw of Sherwood Forest, and his merry men, there are a large number of ballads; but the limits of this volume necessitate our giving a selection only.

Various periods, ranging from the time of Richard I. to the end of the reign of Edward II., have been assigned as the age in which

Robin Hood lived. He is usually described as a yeoman, and his place of abode Sherwood Forest, in Nottinghamshire. His most noted followers, and those generally spoken of in the ballads, are Little John, Friar Tuck, his chaplain, and his maid Marian. Near. ly all the legends extol his courage, generosity, humanity, and skill as an archer. He robbed the rich only, who could afford to lose, and gave freely to the poor. He protected the needy, was a

champion of the fair sex, and took great delight in robbing pre

lates. The following ballad exhibits the outlaw in one of his most attractive aspects, affording assistance to a distressed lover.]

COME, listen to me, you gallants so free,

All you that love mirth for to hear, And I will tell you of a bold outlaw, That lived in Nottinghamshire.

"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?"

"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."

"How many miles is it to thy true-love? Come tell me without guile."

"By the faith of my body," then said the young

man,

"It is but five little mile."

Then Robin he hasted over the plain,
He did neither stint nor linn,*

Until he came unto the church

Where Allen should keep his weddin'.

"What hast thou here?" the bishop then said,

"I prithee now tell unto me."

"I am a bold harper," quoth Robin Hood, "And the best in the north country."

"O. welcome, O, welcome," the bishop he said, "That music best pleaseth me."

"You shall have no music," quoth Robin Hood, "Till the bride and bridegroom I see."

With that came in a wealthy knight,

Which was both grave and old ;

And after him a finikin lass,

Did shine like the glistering gold.

"This is not a fit match," quoth Robin Hood, "That you do seem to make here ; For since we are come into the church,

The bride shall chuse her own dear."

Then Robin Hood put his horn to his mouth,
And blew blasts two and three;
When four-and-twenty yeomen bold
Come leaping over the lea.

Stop nor stay.

When Little John went into the quire,
The people began to laugh;

He asked them seven times into church
Lest three times should not be enough.

"Who gives me this maid?" said Little John,
Quoth Robin Hood, "That do I ;
And he that takes her from Allen-a-Dale,
Full dearly he shall her buy."

And then, having ended this merry wedding,
The bride looked like a queen ;

And so they returned to the merry greenwood, Amongst the leaves so green.

ANONYMOUS.

THE KING AND THE MILLER OF MANSFIELD.

HENRY, our royall king, would ride a-hunting
To the grene forest so pleasant and faire ;
To see the harts skipping, and dainty does tripping:
Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repaire :
Hawke and hound were unbound, all things
prepared

For the game, in the same, with good regard.

All a long summer's day rode the king pleasantlye With all his princes and nobles eche one; Chasing the hart and hind, and the bucke gallantlye,

Till the dark evening forced all to turne home.
Then at last, riding fast, he had lost quite
All his lords in the wood, late in the night.

Wandering thus wearilye, all alone, up and downe,
With a rude miller he mett at the last;
Asking the ready way unto faire Nottingham,
"Sir," quoth the miller, "I meane not to jest,

Yet I thinke, what I thinke, sooth for to say, Yo doe not lightlye ride out of your way."

"Why, what dost thou think of me," quoth our king, merrily,

"Passing thy judgment upon me so briefe ?" "Good faith," sayd the miller, "I meane not to flatter thee;

I guess thee to be but some gentleman thefe : Stand thee backe in the dark; light not adowne, Lest that I presentlye crack thy knave's crowne."

"Thou dost abuse me much," quoth the king, "saying thus ;

I am a gentleman; lodging I lacke." "Thou hast not," quoth the miller, "one grot in thy purse;

All thy inheritance hanges on thy backe." "I have gold to discharge all that I call; If it be but forty pence, I will pay all."

Thus they went all along unto the miller's house, Where they were seething of puddings and

souse;

The miller first entered in; after him went the king; Never came hee in soe smoakye a house. "Now," quoth hee, "let me see here what you are."

Quoth our king, "Looke your fill, and doe not spare."

"I like well thy countenance; thou hast an honest face;

With my son Richard this night thou shalt lye." Quoth his wife, "By my troth, it is a handsome youth;

Yet it's best, husband, to deal warilye. Art thou no runaway; prythee, youth, tell? Show me thy passport, and all shall be well."

Then our king, presentlye making lowe courtesye,

With his hatt in his hand, thus he did say: "I have no passport, nor never was servitor,'

But a poor courtier, rode out of my way;
And for your kindness here offered to mee,
I will requite you in everye degree."

Then to the miller his wife whispered secretlye,

Saying, "It seemeth this youth's of good kin, Both by his apparel, and eke by his manners; To turne him out, certainlye, were a great sin.' "Yea," quoth hee, "you may see he hath some

grace

When he doth speake to his betters in place."

"Well," quoth the miller's wife, "young man, ye 're welcome here;

And, though I say it, well lodged shall be ;