One
of the romantic heroes of the Middle Ages was the outlaw Robin Hood
of England. Whether he was a living man or only a legend is
uncertain. Old ballads relate that Robin Hood and his followers
roamed the green depths of Sherwood Forest 
near Nottingham, in the center of England. There they lived a
carefree life, passing the time with hunting the king's deer, and
robbing the rich. They shared their spoils with the poor and never
injured women or children.
Robin Hood probably became an outlaw by killing a deer on a wager.
Then he had slain one of the king's foresters who threatened his
life. A price was set on Robin's head, and he went into hiding.
Soon there gathered about him other bold men who had been outlawed
or deprived of their inheritances. One day, when Robin was about to
cross a narrow bridge, a stranger seven feet tall blocked the way.
The two men fought with quarterstaves (long, stout sticks), and
Robin Hood was knocked into the stream. As soon as he could
scramble out of the water and catch his breath, Robin Hood praised
this stranger and asked him to join his band. Thus Little John, so
called because of his great size, became Robin Hood's right-hand
man.
Will Scarlet also fought his way into the band. Others whose names
often occur in the ballads are Will Stutely; Much, or Midge, a
miller's son; and the romantic minstrel Alan-a-Dale. Robin Hood's
chaplain and confessor was the fat and jovial Friar Tuck.
In later ballads Robin's sweetheart, Maid Marian, was introduced.
When Robin Hood was outlawed, she dressed as a page and went to
seek him in Sherwood Forest. At last they met. Both were disguised,
and neither recognized the other. They fought until Robin, admiring
her skill, invited Marian to join his band. Then she recognized his
voice.
Robin
Hood's greatest enemy was the sheriff of Nottingham. The sheriff
tried by force and trickery to bring the outlaw to justice. He was
always outwitted. He even announced a shooting match, feeling sure
that Robin Hood would appear to show his skill as an archer. The
outlaw did appear, but in disguise. He won the prize, a golden
arrow, which was handed to him by the sheriff himself. Not until
Robin was once more safe in Sherwood Forest did the sheriff learn
how he had been deceived.
Although Robin Hood lived on the king's deer, the ballads say that
the outlaw "loved no man in the world so much as his king."
According to one tale King Richard the Lion-Hearted went in
disguise to Sherwood Forest and, having tested Robin Hood's
loyalty, granted him a royal pardon.
The
Robin Hood legends may have grown up about some actual victim of
the harsh forest laws of old England. Robin Hood is said to have
lived from 1160 to 1247. Some accounts state that he was created
earl of Huntingdon by Richard the Lion-Hearted. Most of the legends
say that Robin Hood died at Kirklees Priory, in Yorkshire. Near the
ruins of this priory is a grave supposed to be
Robin's.
The epitaph (with the spelling modernized)
reads:
Here
underneath this little stone
Lies Robert, Earl of Huntingdon.
Ne'er archer was as he so good
And people called him Robin Hood.
Such outlaws as he and his men
Will England never see again.
So,
this is a statement that Robin died in 1247. Some believe the
inscription, which is in 18th-century lettering, is a copy from an
earlier and genuine stone. Most scholars, however, doubt this. An
argument against the hero's existence is the fact that he is
mentioned by no historian of the time during which he is supposed
to have lived. The events referred to in the stories could not all
have occurred in his lifetime.
Robin
Hood probably was a mythical character, first introduced into
England in connection with the May-Day celebrations. The earliest
record of a "Robin" associated with such festivities is in the
rustic plays given at Whitsuntide in France in the 13th century.
The hero was called Robin des Bois (Robin of the Woods). An old
English spelling of "wood" was whode, which could easily have
become hode, or hood. At any rate, in the 15th century and later
the May-Day celebrations in England were called "Robin Hood's
Festivals." Garlands of flowers, a Maypole, morris dances, archery
contests, and bonfires were features of the celebrations. Robin
Hood was king of May, and Maid Marian was his
queen.