Robin Hood the legend
He is England’s most famous outlaw. He robbed from the rich to give to the poor. They say that Robin Hood was a Saxon noble who lived near the castle of Nottingham. By various means he was forced into a life of banditry, using his cunning and skill-at-arms to relieve bishops, nobles, and servants of the king of gold and jewels levied from the oppressed peasants. Robin collected a band of supporters, his “Merry Men” around him, dressed in green. The members that appear again and again are Robin, Maid Marian, Little John, and Friar Tuck. Robin spends his time fighting the cruel Sheriff of Nottingham, and, ultimately, Prince John, who had usurped the throne from the true and rightful King, Richard I (Lionheart).
Little John
Little John was an outlaw who held dominion over a small bridge across a ford. Robin Hood, arrogantly confident in his mastery of the greenwood, refused to pay poll-tax to cross Little John’s bridge. Robin instead challenged him to a duel with staffs. In some versions Little John lands in the water finally, and in some it is Robin, but in all versions Robin acknowledges Little John’s skill with a staff and invites him to join the Merry Men. It is here that Little John’s name originates; his birth-name was John Little, but as a joke the Merry Men named him Little John.
Friar Tuck
Friar Tuck, like Little John, has a memorable adventure related to his joining of the Merry Men. It was rumoured in Sherwood that a Friar that had been expelled from the local abbey (for challenging the corrupt Abott. Robin decided to visit and challenge him, refusing to pay the fee the Friar demanded for ferrying him across. Robin then forced him to carry him across on his back. Friar Tuck did so, but threw Robin down so hard on the other bank that he dropped his sword, then forcing Robin to carry him across the river, no mean feat, considering Friar Tuck was nearly 20 stone (140 kg). Robin proceeded across and then launched the Friar into the stream, before the two began a long staff-match. With no firm winner, both were assured of the other’s mettle and Robin invited the Friar to join his band and tend to their religious needs.
Maid Marian
Some versions say she was the daughter of a noble, some that she was the daughter of a peasant. Some say she fled to the greenwood and fell in love with Robin, others say she was the childhood sweetheart of Robin before he became an outlaw and she then followed him to the greenwood. It is almost undisputed, however, that Maid (or Lady) Marian was in love with Robin and several other, less desirable, characters coveted her, including the Sherrif of Nottingham and Guy of Gisborne. She is beautiful, and always skilled with weapons.
