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Was there really a Robin Hood ? Yes, probably more than one, but the Robin who interests me - was born in Wakefield circa 1295. Was he married to Maid Marion ? No. Robin Hood was married to Matilda, Marion was invented some time much later. Did Robin steal from the rich and give to the poor ? Yes and No. The nearest similarity was mentioned in the ballad of the Comely Knight when a sum was loaned with interest. But he did steal from the rich. What is the connection with Nottingham ? 
Very slight. Little John was at one time a soldier for the Sheriff. Sherwood Forest extended for hundreds of miles, until it was felled to build the Tudor navy. Robin Hood was born, lived and died in Yorkshire. However a number of his guys defected from Nottingham, men such as Will Scaffelocke some say Scarlet, is buried in Blidworth.
Was there a long running feud with Guy of Gisbourne ?
No. Robin killed Guy in a fair fight, decapitated him, put the head on his bow-stave and took a 'Scottish' knife [dirk] and brutally disfigured the face beyond recognition, before donning his skins and sounding his horn to let everybody know he had killed Robin Hood - in order to claim the bounty. Where is Robin Hoods Grave ?
The site at Kirklees is generally recognized as his grave, though his bones were re-buried at Hartshead circa 1600. The sepulchre itself being a fanciful invention of the Armitages in the early Victorian era. 
Was Friar Tuck real ? No. There were no English friars in the fourteenth century. |
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