This story of amour courtois, senile lust, and true love is based on one of the traditional ballads of Robin Hood: Robin Hood and Allan-a-Dale. I have given it a Conisbrough setting at a specific date in history, 1190, one year after King Richard I left England to go on crusade, leaving his brother John to wreak havoc with the kingdom, and with the heart of his mistress, Adela, at Conisbrough Castle. Deserted by her royal lover, Adela makes a play for Allan-a-Dale, putting his life in jeopardy.