Robin Hood
The Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript, dating from approximately 1420, contains the earliest surviving reference to Robin Hood with the line "Robyn hode in scherewode stod". This text establishes the outlaw's presence in Sherwood Forest long before modern adaptations. The oldest known ballad, Robin Hood and the Monk, was written after 1450 and preserved in Cambridge University manuscript Ff.5.48. It depicts a rougher version of the hero who assaults Little John for defeating him in an archery contest. In this early account, Much the Miller's Son casually kills a little page while rescuing Robin from prison. These narratives show Robin as a yeoman rather than a nobleman. Yeomen were commoners who stood between peasants and knights. They included artisans like millers and small landholders. The Gest of Robyn Hode names King Edward as the ruler, not Richard I. This setting contradicts later popular versions that place Robin alongside the Crusader king. The early ballads also highlight his devotion to the Virgin Mary and his special regard for women. Anti-clericalism appears frequently in these texts alongside his animosity toward the Sheriff of Nottingham. No extant early ballad actually shows Robin giving money to the poor. He does make a large loan to an unfortunate knight in A Gest of Robyn Hode but never requires repayment. Later in the same ballad he states his intention to give money to any poor traveler on the road. The next traveler happens to be wealthy, yet Robin's general policy remains clear.
By the early 15th century at the latest, Robin Hood had become associated with May Day celebrations across England. Revellers dressed as Robin or members of his band for these festivities. The first record of a Robin Hood game appeared in Exeter in 1426 though it did not indicate how old the custom was. These games flourished during the later 15th and 16th centuries. Henry VIII disguised himself as Robin in January 1510 with eleven courtiers and a Maid Marian to surprise Catherine of Aragon. Plays were performed at church ales which served as means by which churches raised funds. A complaint from 1492 brought to the Star Chamber accused men of acting riotously by coming to a fair as Robin Hood and his men. The accused defended themselves claiming the practice was a long-standing custom to raise money for churches. It is from this association with the May Games that Robin's romantic attachment to Maid Marian apparently stems. A Robin and Marion figure existed in 13th-century French pastourelles including Jeu de Robin et Marion from 1280. This play involved a lustful knight attempting to seduce Marion while her companions rescued her. Dobson and Taylor suggest this French Robin's name and functions traveled to English May Games where they fused with the legend. Both Robin and Marian were certainly associated with May Day festivities in England alongside Friar Tuck. Alexander Barclay wrote about these characters in his Ship of Fools published in 1500 but they had not yet been fully united.
Anthony Munday presented Robin Hood as the Earl of Huntingdon in two extremely influential plays written at the end of the 16th century. These works fixed the story of Robin Hood to the period of Richard I despite lacking support in earliest ballads. The plays drew on sources including Gest and identified Maid Marian with semi-mythical Matildas persecuted by King John. William Shakespeare referenced Robin Hood in The Two Gentlemen of Verona where outlaws desire Valentine as their leader. Falstaff refers to Maid Marian in Henry IV part 1 implying she is a byword for unwomanly behavior. Ben Jonson produced the incomplete masque The Sad Shepherd or a Tale of Robin Hood which was half finished before his death in 1637. This pastoral drama included supernatural action and sophisticated verse though it earned little impact on tradition. Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote a four-act play called The Forrestors at the end of the 19th century based on Gest traditions. Tennyson's version places Robin as Earl of Huntingdon during Richard I's reign while making the Sheriff and Prince John rivals for Marian's hand. The return of King Richard brings a happy ending to this narrative. In 1585 James VI of Scotland was entertained by a Robin Hood play at Dirleton Castle produced by the Earl of Arran. The play George a Green placed Robin in the reign of Edward IV while another work featured Llywelyn the Great playing Robin Hood.
The oldest references to Robin Hood are not historical records but hints found in various works from 1261 onward. Names like Robehod appear in rolls of English justices as nicknames for malefactors between 1261 and 1300. Andrew of Wyntoun's Orygynale Chronicle written about 1420 mentions an outlaw named Robin Hood under the year 1283. A monk of Witham Priory noted around 1460 that Robin Hood infested Sherwood Forest with continuous robberies. Roger Godberd emerges as a key figure who supported Simon de Montfort during the Second Barons' War. Historian David Baldwin identifies Robin Hood with this historical outlaw whose career parallels the ballads. Some problems exist since no evidence shows Godberd was ever known as Robin Hood. Robert Hod of York appears in legal records from 1226 when his goods worth 32 shillings were confiscated. He became an outlaw owing money to St. Peter's in York. L.V.D. Owen floated the idea in 1936 that this Robert Hood might be the legendary outlaw based on nine successive Yorkshire Pipe Rolls. Joseph Hunter believed Robin inhabited forests of Yorkshire during early decades of the 14th century. He identified two men: Robert Hood documented living in Wakefield at start of 14th century and Robyn Hode employed by Edward II during 1323. John Deyville and his brother Robert operated after Battle of Evesham seeking refuge following Dictum of Kenilworth.
The 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Errol Flynn and Olivia de Havilland portrays Robin leading oppressed Saxons against Norman overlords. This film established itself so definitively that many studios resorted to films about his invented son rather than compete with its image. In 1953 a Republican member of Indiana Textbook Commission called for banning Robin Hood from all school books due to alleged communist connotations. This proposal prompted a short-lived college protest known as the Green Feather Movement which grew into nationwide campus movement. Disney released an animated film in 1973 featuring an anthropomorphic fox voiced by Brian Bedford. Animator Ken Anderson adapted elements from Reynard the Fox since Reynard was unsuitable as hero. The 1976 British-American film Robin and Marian stars Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn portraying figures in later years after Robin returned from service with Richard. This is first popular culture to portray King Richard as less than perfect. Since 1980s it has become commonplace to include Saracen among Merry Men starting with character Nasir in 1984 ITV series Robin of Sherwood. Later versions followed suit including Azeem in 1991 movie Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Djaq in 2006 BBC TV series. The 2018 adaptation Robin Hood portrays Little John as Muslim named Yahya played by Jamie Foxx.
The Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript makes explicit reference that Robyn hode in scherewode stod linking him to Nottinghamshire. Specific sites directly linked include Robin Hood's Well near Newstead Abbey and Church of St Mary in Edwinstowe village. The Major Oak resides in heart of Sherwood Forest though dendrologists estimate its true age at around 800 years making it sapling during Robin's time. Yorkshire claims heritage through historian J.C. Holt who noted language of A Gest of Robyn Hode written in definite northern dialect probably Yorkshire. Linguist Lister Matheson observed this linguistic evidence suggesting legend originates from county of Yorkshire. Barnsdale was wooded area covering no more than 30 square miles ranging six miles north to south. River Went formed northern boundary while villages Skelbrooke and Hampole formed southernmost region. Wentbridge sometimes locally referred to by name of Barnsdale because it was predominant settlement in forest. Saylis site at Wentbridge allows view over Went Valley and Great North Road. Joseph Hunter correctly identified location which later came to be called Sailes Close. An acre of landholding listed within glebe terrier of 1688 relates to Kirk Smeaton. Historian John Paul Davis wrote connection to Church of Saint Mary Magdalene at Campsall built early 12th century by Robert de Lacy. Local legend suggests Robin Hood and Maid Marion married there. Grave at Kirklees Priory contains spurious inscription relating to death though theory largely abandoned by historians.
Common questions
What is the earliest surviving reference to Robin Hood in the Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript?
The Lincoln Cathedral Manuscript dating from approximately 1420 contains the line Robyn hode in scherewode stod which establishes the outlaw's presence in Sherwood Forest. This text predates all known ballads and confirms his existence before modern adaptations.
Who was King Edward ruling during the early ballad Gest of Robyn Hode instead of Richard I?
The Gest of Robyn Hode names King Edward as the ruler rather than Richard I which contradicts later popular versions. Early narratives depict Robin as a yeoman commoner who stood between peasants and knights including artisans like millers.
When did Robin Hood become associated with May Day celebrations across England by the early 15th century?
By the early 15th century at the latest Robin Hood had become associated with May Day celebrations across England where revellers dressed as him or members of his band. The first record of a Robin Hood game appeared in Exeter in 1426 though it did not indicate how old the custom was.
Which historical figure does historian David Baldwin identify as the real Robin Hood based on records from 1261 onward?
Historian David Baldwin identifies Roger Godberd as a key figure who supported Simon de Montfort during the Second Barons' War. Robert Hod of York appears in legal records from 1226 when his goods worth 32 shillings were confiscated for owing money to St. Peter's in York.
What year did Disney release an animated film featuring an anthropomorphic fox voiced by Brian Bedford?
Disney released an animated film in 1973 featuring an anthropomorphic fox voiced by Brian Bedford. Animator Ken Anderson adapted elements from Reynard the Fox since Reynard was unsuitable as hero.