“Robin Hood and Allen a Dale”
Description
Robin observes a young man cheery one day, downcast the next. He is Allen a Dale; his bride-to-be has been betrothed to another. Robin goes in disguise to the church on the wedding day, calls in his men, and ensures she marries Allen after all.
Notes
For background on the Robin Hood legend, see the notes on "A Gest of Robyn Hode" [Child 117].
This particular part of the Robin Hood story seems to have arisen in the seventeenth century. In the earliest versions of the legend (Sloane MS.), the betrayed lover is not Allen but Scarlock. But by the nineteenth century, Allen's name had become a regular part of the legend. - RBW
References
- Child 138, "Robin Hood and Allen a Dale" (1 text)
- Bronson 138, comments only; cf. cf. Chappell/Wooldridge I, p. 173, "[Drive the cold winter away]"
- Leach, pp. 397-400, "Robin Hood and Allen a Dale" (1 text)
- OBB 121, "Robin Hood and Alan a Dale" (1 text)
- PBB 68, "Robin Hood and Allen a Dale" (1 text)
- DBuchan 51, "Robin Hood and Allen a Dale" (1 text)
- BBI, RZN8, "Come listen to me, you gallants so free"
- DT 138, RHALANAD
- Roud #3298
- BI, C138