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Robin Hood Everyone has heard of Robin Hood, Nottinghamshire's most famous son and the world's favourite folk hero. His adventures have been retold down the generations, from medieval ballads to Hollywood blockbusters.
Tradition tells that Robin Hood was an outlaw who poached the king's deer in the royal hunting forest of Sherwood. Stories relate how travellers through the forest provided rich pickings for the gentleman robber and his band of "merry men". We hear how he outwitted the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, turning the tables on corrupt churchmen and officials who abused their power over an oppressed peasantry. But how did the legend start? Did the tale of Robin Hood begin with a real historical figure, or was he a creation of medieval storytellers? Should we search for his origins in court records, or among the woodland spirits of ancient pagan myth? Finding a direct answer to the question: "Who was he?" is difficult. Apart from a few oblique references to be found in medieval chronicles, much of our information is derived from a series of ballads sung in the latter half of the Middle Ages. These were adapted and modified over the next 500 years until the representation of Robin Hood was quite different. The first reference to Robin by name is found in "The Vision of Piers Plowman", written by William Langland in 1377. In one verse, a drunken chaplain berates himself for knowing the rhymes of Robin Hood better than he knows his prayers. These rhymes have not survived but they were obviously so well known in Langland's day that he refers to them without explanation. Once an area of woodland and heath stretching over 30 miles from Nottingham to Worksop, Sherwood Forest was established as a royal hunting preserve in the 10th Century. Revived by the Normans, the "forest" (a legal term for woodland having a separate jurisdiction) was enjoyed by successive kings: the sandy heath and thickets provided ideal cover for deer and hunting with falcons. Forest laws were enforced by wardens or verderers, based at Papplewick in the south and Laxton in the north. Courts were established in local villages to uphold stringent punishments for poaching and removing timber. Being caught in the forest with a hunting dog incurred disfigurement for both owner and beast alike. To be apprehended while carrying a bow and arrow could result in blinding, maiming or even hanging. Known perpetrators who could not be found or caught were "outlawed" and their home village subjected to heavy fining. The forest wardens' duties would include tracking down outlaws and presenting them at court dead or alive. The bounty for this would be five shillings, the same as for a predatory wolf's head. The forests of Middle England had long been the haunt of the outlawed. Roving bands of often highly trained men would wreak havoc on the representatives of law and order. Sherwood Forest was known as a place where few ventured forth after dark and traffic on the "Kings Great Way" from Nottingham to York would often travel in convoy. To read more about the legend of Robin Hood, download the file below. Click here for 'Literature & Legends'. Capital for learning | Famous people | Nottingham history | Interesting facts | The Dukeries | Postcards | Virtual tours | Videos | Souvenirs | Nottingham hotels | UK family holidays | Nottingham bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) | Nottingham holiday cottages |
