Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Who was Robin Hood? Was he historical fact or simply a medieval fiction? Why has the Robin Hood Legend become so loved and well known across the world and through the generations?
Most of our knowledge about the Robin Hood legend derives from the earliest ballads and tales which have passed through the centuries.
Of these, the most significant are:
A Gest of Robin Hood
Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin Hood and the Potter
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne
Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar
Robin Hood's Death
All these tales were written down before 1550. Details of these tales can be found in the society pages of this site.
Despite Robin's "legend" status, there are many reasons to believe that Robin Hood could well have been a real historical figure. Researchers into the legend have uncovered compelling evidence about this historical period here in Nottingham that points to an underlying reality for our favourite Outlaw.
Who Was Robin Hood?
Robin is famous for his gallantry, robbing the rich to feed the poor and fighting against injustice and tyranny. Anyone who knows of Robin has also heard the stories of his outlaw band. The names of Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marion, Allan a Dale, Will Scarlet, Much the Miller and the evil Sheriff of Nottingham are as much a part of the legend as Robin Hood himself.
The stories of Robin portray him as a fearless outlaw leading his band of "merry men" (and women) against the tyranny of Prince John, The Sheriff of Nottingham and Sir Guy of Gisbourne. A brilliant archer, Robin lived a life of adventure - poaching the King's deer from the outlaws' retreat in Sherwood Forest.
Stories about the adventures of Robin have been told and retold for over six hundred years. In Robin's time, few people could read or write and consequently little was written down about the exploits of our hero. Instead, people learnt about Robin and his band through the ballad and song of wandering minstrels who weaved a patchwork of fact and fiction into the contemporary culture of the time.
The Tales of Robin Hood
Many of us today will know of the legend of Robin Hood through stories like:
Robin and the Knight:
In which Robin saves an impoverished Knight from losing his lands to the Abbot of St. Mary's in York.
Robin and the Potter:
where Robin, disguised as a potter, tricks the Sheriff of Nottingham into travelling to Sherwood Forest where the Outlaws capture him.
Robin Hood and the Monk:
(click for the full story)
In Which Robin is betrayed by a monk and imprisoned by the Sheriff of Nottingham. The story ends with the rescue of Robin by Little John and Much the miller's son.
Robin and the Curtal Friar:
Where Friar Tuck and Robin Hood first meet.
Robin and the Silver Arrow:
in which Robin wins the archery contest set up to trap him by the Sheriff of Nottingham.
The death of Robin Hood:
where, after the deaths of Maid Marian and King Richard, Robin ends his days in the grounds of Kirklees Priory.
When did Robin Live?
Historians and researchers have a range of views but generally believe that
Robin Hood was alive around the thirteenth century.
The earliest reference to Robin Hood is in William Langland's poem
"The vision of William concerning Piers Plowman" which was written in 1377.
The poem says:
"I do not know my paternoster perfectly as the priest sings it.
But I know the rhymes of Robin Hood and Randolph, earl of Chester".
Other historical evidence places Robin anywhere between 1190 and 1307.
Clearly, for the Gest of Robin Hood to be compiled by 1400
the stories must have been in circulation well before that date.
Where did Robin live?
No story of Robin Hood is complete without its setting, Sherwood Forest which in
Robin's time covered about 100,000 acres. At the heart of the Greenwood encampment lies
the famous Major Oak, the "council tree" of the outlaw band.
"Robyn hod in scherewod stod
hodud and hathud and hosut and schod
four and thuynti arows
he bar in hits hondus"
Sherwood Forest was of course home for the Kings deer which the outlaws
hunted for their illegal feasts. People in Robin's time saw the forest
as a dangerous place and travelled mostly in large groups
for fear of ambush and robbery. To Robin and the outlaws Sherwood Forest was a
place of safety from the Sheriff's, men.
Today, Sherwood Forest Country Park covers about 450 acres and attracts
around 3/4 million visitors a year who flock to see the Major Oak and the Visitor Centre.
Each year in August the Forest plays host to the Robin Hood Festival
where enthusiasts can recapture the spirit of Robin Hood in the
beautiful surroundings of the Greenwood.
Where is Robin Buried?
According to the legend, Robin journeyed to Kirklees Priory where he was eventually killed by his cousin
the prioress and Sir Roger of Doncaster.
It is at Kirklees Priory that the supposed grave of Robin Hood can still be seen to this day.
Sadly, much of Kirklees Priory is now ruined but roughly 600 metres from the gatehouse
a medieval gravestone was found bearing a partial inscription "here lies Robard Hude..."
"Syr Roger of Donkestere
by the pryoresse he lay
and there they betrayed good Robyn Hode
through theyr false playe
Cryst have mercy on his soule
That dyed on the rode!
For he was a good outlawe
And did poor men much good"
Final verses of
"A gest of Robyn Hode"
Robin Hood's Gravestone
at Kirklees
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