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And they seized the ten liveried archers and the bride's scowling brother and the other men on guard and bound them prisoners. Then in came Allan-a-Dale, decked out gaily, with Will Scarlet for best man. And they walked gravely down the aisle and stood over against the chancel. "Before a maiden weds she chooses an the laws of good King Harry be just ones," said Robin.
"Wal, I am, Huldy!" said the good farmer, laying aside his paper and rubbing his hands with an air of pleasurable anticipation. "'Pears to me we left that good-lookin' singin' chap what was his name?" "Allan-a-Dale!" said Hilda, smiling. "Ah!" said the farmer; "Allan-a-Dale. 'Pears to me we left him in rayther a ticklish situation."
I shall keep that to twit his bones, I promise you! So this is our minstrel?" she added presently, turning to Allan-a-Dale. "Methinks I have already heard of him. Will he not harp awhile for us to-day?" Allan bowed low, and took a harp which was brought to him, and he thrummed the strings and sang full sweetly the border songs of the North Countree.
But Will Scarlet and Allan-a-Dale had foreseen that event, and had already overpowered the two warders. So the gates stood wide open, and toward them the band of outlaws headed. The soldiers rallied a force of twice their number and tried resolutely to pierce their center.
David of Doncaster shot first and landed safely through the rose garland. Then came Allan-a-Dale and Little John and Stutely and Scarlet and many of the rest, while the knight held his breath from very amazement. Each fellow shot truly through the garland, until Middle the tinker not to be outdone stepped up for a trial.
So Little John clambered awkwardly into the quire, his short gown fluttering gaily; and he called the banns for the marriage of the maid and Allan-a-Dale once, twice, and thrice. "That's not enough," said Robin; "your gown is so short that you must talk longer." Then Little John asked them in the church four, five, six, and seven times. "Good enough!" said Robin.
At this Will Scarlet bit his lip, but said no word, while the crowd shouted and waved yellow flags for very joy that the King's man had overcome the outlaw. They knew, also, that this demonstration would please the King. The target was now cleared for the next two contestants Geoffrey and Allan-a-Dale.
"Ye have heard," quoth Robin standing forth, "how that Her Majesty whom God preserve! wishes but four men to go with me. Wherefore, I choose Little John and Will Stutely, my two lieutenants, Will Scarlet, my cousin, and Allan-a-Dale, my minstrel. Mistress Dale, also, can go with her husband and be company for the Queen's page. We will depart with early morning, decked in our finest.
And then how Robin Hood and Little John, and twenty-four of their merrie men, stopped the ceremony, and Little John, assuming the Bishop's robe, married the fair bride to Allan-a-dale, who thereupon became their man and took to an outlaw's life with his bonny wife.
Robin had chosen five of his men to shoot with him, and the rest were to mingle with the crowd and also watch the gates. These five were Little John, Will Scarlet, Will Stutely, Much, and Allan-a-Dale'. The other competitors made a brave showing on the first round, especially Gilbert of the White Hand, who was present and never shot better.
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