On their travels through the Forest the band of Outlaws had often seen a young man playing an instrument and singing as he walked. In fact Robin had said to Little John many times that he liked to hear the music as it helped him to think.
As the outlaws travelled through Sherwood Forest one day they once again saw the singing man - although this time he was not singing or playing his instrument.
Seeing this Robin knew something was wrong. He approached the man and asked why he was not singing. "My name is Alan a Dale. I am a minstrel and I am supposed to be getting married to a beautiful young maiden today, but her father took her away yesterday and said she was to marry an old Knight." said the sad young man. Robin and Little John offered to help in return for some money.
"All I have is this gold ring, with which I was going to wed her" replied Alan, "But I will gladly join you if you can stop her from marrying the Knight".
The outlaws all gathered around and decided upon a plan to save the young maiden. With a plan sorted out Robin set off to the church alone.
After a long walk Robin arrived at the church. He knocked on the door, and waited for a monk to open it.
The door opened and a face appeared. "Can I help ?" he asked
"I am the best harp player in the country and I have been asked to play at the wedding by the brides father" said Robin, telling a lie.
"Come in, come in" ushered the monk. "Can you play something now ?"
Robin thought quickly, and said "I would rather wait for the bride to arrive before I play".
A short time later a very old looking man entered the church. Robin realized that this was the old Knight that Alan a Dale meant. Following the Knight a beautiful maiden entered, ready to be married.
Robin stood up, as if ready to play.
"You two cannot get married" he shouted, and then blew a horn he had hidden in his cloak. The outlaws suddenly burst into the church and ran towards the monk.
"This wedding will still take place" Robin called out, "But between the bride and Alan a Dale. Does anyone disagree ?"
Nobody spoke, and so Friar Tuck married Alan a Dale and his maiden inside the church.
To celebrate the wedding the outlaws returned to the forest, and held a feast underneath the Major Oak.