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. Nearly all the legends extol his courage, generosity, humanity, and skil! 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.

As Robin Hood in the forest stood,

All under the greenwood tree,

There he was aware of a brave young man, As fine as fine might be.

The youngster was clad in scarlet red,
In scarlet fine and gay;

And he did frisk it over the plain,
And chanted a roundelay.

As Robin Hood next morning stood
Amongst the leaves so gay,

There did he espy the same young man
Come drooping along the way.

The scarlet he wore the day before
It was clean cast away;

And at every step he fetched a sigh,
“Alas! and a well-a-day!”

Then stepped forth brave Little John,
And Midge, the miller's son ;
Which made the young man bend his bow,
Whenas he see them come.

"Stand off! stand off!" the young man said,
"What is your will with me?"
"You must come before our master straight,
Under yon greenwood tree."

And when he came bold Robin before,
Robin asked him courteously,

"O, hast thou any money to spare,

For my merry men and me?"

"I have no money," the young man said,
"But five shillings and a ring;

And that I have kept these seven long years,
To have at my wedding.

"Yesterday I should have married a maid,
But she was from me ta'en,

And chosen to be an old knight's delight,
Whereby my poor heart is slain."

"What is thy name?" then said Robin Hood, "Come tell me without any fail."

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

man,

"My name it is Allen-a-Dale."

"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.

And when they came into the churchyard,
Marching all in a row,
The first man was Allen-a-Dale,

To give bold Robin his bow.

"This is thy true-love," Robin he said,
'Young Allen, as I hear say;

And you shall be married this same time,
Before we depart away."

"That shall not be," the bishop he cried,
"For thy word shall not stand;

They shall be three times asked in the church, As the law is of our land."

Robin Hood pulled off the bishop's coat,
And put it upon Little John;

"By the faith of my body," then Robin said, "This cloth doth make thee a man."

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.

"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 ;

"Sir," said the Count, with brow exceeding grave, "Your unexpected presence here will make It necessary for myself to crave

Its import? But perhaps 't is a mistake; I hope it is so; and at once to waive

All compliment, I hope so for your sake: You understand my meaning, or you shall.” "Sir" (quoth the Turk), "'t is no mistake at all.

“That lady is my wife!" Much wonder paints
The lady's changing cheek, as well it might;
But where an English woman sometimes faints,
Italian females don't do so outright.
They only call a little on their saints,

And then come to themselves, almost or quite; Which saves much hartshorn, salts, and sprinkling faces,

And cutting stays, as usual in such cases.

She said, what could she say? Why, not a word;

But the Count courteously invited in The stranger, much appeased by what he heard: "Such things, perhaps, we'd best discuss within,"

Said he; "don't let us make ourselves absurd
In public, by a scene, nor raise a din,
For then the chief and only satisfaction
Will be much quizzing on the whole transaction."

They entered, and for coffee called, — it came,
A beverage for Turks and Christians both,
Although the way they make it 's not the same.
Now Laura, much recovered, or less loath
To speak, cries, "Beppo! what's your pagan name?
Bless me! your beard is of amazing growth!
And how came you to keep away so long?
Are you not sensible 't was very wrong?

"And are you really, truly, now a Turk?

Is 't true they use their fingers for a fork?
With any other women did you wive?

Well, that's the prettiest shawl-as I'm alive! You'll give it me? They say you eat no pork.

And how so many years did you contrive To Bless me! Did I ever? No, I never

Saw a man grown so yellow! How's your liver ?

"Beppo, that beard of yours becomes you not; It shall be shaved before you 're a day older ; . Why do you wear it? O, I had forgot

Pray, don't you think the weather here is colder? How do I look? You sha' n't stir from this spot In that queer dress, for fear that some beholder Should find you out, and make the story known. How short your hair is! Lord! how gray it's grown!

What answer Beppo made to these demands
Is more than I know. He was cast away
About where Troy stood once, and nothing stands;
Became a slave, of course, and for his pay
Had bread and bastinadoes, till some bands

Of pirates landing in a neighboring bay,
He joined the rogues and prospered, and became
A renegado of indifferent fame.

But he grew rich, and with his riches grew so
Keen the desire to see his home again,

He thought himself in duty bound to do so,
And not be always thieving on the main;
Lonely he felt, at times, as Robin Crusoe,

And so he hired a vessel come from Spain, Bound for Corfu : she was a fine polacca, Manned with twelve hands, and laden with to

bacco.

Himself, and much (Heaven knows how gotten!) cash,

He then embarked, with risk of life and limb, And got clear off, although the attempt was rash; He said that Providence protected him, For my part, I say nothing, lest we clash

In our opinions :- well, the ship was trim, Set sail, and kept her reckoning fairly on, Except three days of calm when off Cape Bonn.

They reached the island, he transferred his lading, And self and live stock, to another bottom,

JOCK JOHNSTONE, THE TINKLER. "O, CAME ye ower by the Yoke-burn Ford, Or down the King's Road of the cleuch ? Or saw ye a knight and a lady bright, Wha ha'e gane the gate they baith shall rue?"

"I saw a knight and a lady bright

Ride up the cleuch at the break of day;
The knight upon a coal-black steed,

And the dame on one of the silver-gray.
"And the lady's palfrey flew the first,
With many a clang of silver bell :
Swift as the raven's morning flight

The two went scouring ower the fell.
"By this time they are man and wife,
And standing in St. Mary's fane;
And the lady in the grass-green silk

A maid you will never see again." "But I can tell thee, saucy wight, And that the runaway shall prove, Revenge to a Douglas is as sweet

As maiden charms or maiden's love."

• Dell.

"Since thou say'st that, my Lord Douglas,
Good faith some clinking there will be ;
Beshrew my heart, but and my sword,
If I winna turn and ride with thee !"

They whipped out ower the Shepherd Cleuch,
And doun the links o' the Corsecleuch Buin;
And aye the Douglas swore by his sword
To win his love, or ne'er return.

"First fight your rival, Lord Douglas, And then brag after, if you may ; For the Earl of Ross is as brave a lord As ever gave good weapon sway.

"But I for ae poor siller merk,

Or thirteen pennies and a bawbee,
Will tak in hand to fight you baith,
Or beat the winner, whiche'er it be."

The Douglas turned him on his steed,
And I wat a loud laughter leuch he :
"Of a' the fools I have ever met,
Man, I ha'e never met ane like thee.
"Art thou akin to lord or knight,

Or courtly squire or warrior leal?” "I am a tinkler," quo' the wight, "But I like crown-cracking unco weel." When they came to St. Mary's kirk, The chaplain shook for very fear; And aye he kissed the cross, and said, "What deevil has sent that Douglas here!

"He neither values book nor ban,

But curses all without demur; And cares nae mair for a holy man Than I do for a worthless cur."

"Come here, thou bland and brittle priest,
And tell to me without delay
Where you have hid the lord of Ross

And the lady that came at the break of day."

"No knight or lady, good Lord Douglas, Have I beheld since break of morn; And I never saw the lord of Ross

Since the woful day that I was born."

Lord Douglas turned him round about,

And looked the Tinkler in the face; Where he beheld a lurking smile, And a deevil of a dour grimace.

"How's this, how's this, thou Tinkler loun? Hast thou presumed to lie on me?"

"Faith that I have!" the Tinkler said,

"And a right good turn I have done to thee,