Looking for adventure, the Merry Men happen upon a young minstrel named Allan a Dale, who is weeping. Bringing him back to Sherwood Forest for a feast, they learn that he is in love with a young woman named Ellen o’ the Dale, but her father is forcing her to marry an older merchant named Sir Stephen of Trent. Robin vows to have Allan and Ellen married, but first he must find a priest to perform the ceremony—the “Curtal Friar” in Fountain Abbey. This gives Allan hope, and he entertains the Merry Men with a song. They are so moved by the singing that they accept Allan as one of their own.

The next morning, Robin sets out for Fountain Abbey with Little John, Will Scarlet, David of Doncaster, and Arthur a Bland. Pressing forward by himself at a certain point, he finds a fat friar eating and singing by a riverbank. The friar promises to carry Robin across the river to see the Curtal Friar. However, Robin ends up in the river; the two men have a swordfight; and the friar eventually calls a pack of dogs on Robin and his men, who have come to Robin’s rescue.