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The Legend of
Since 1377, when ‘The Rhymes of Robin Hood’ is

referenced briefly in another medieval text, the legend of
Robin Hood has fascinated people from all walks of life.
The tales of an honourable thief, fighting against tyrannical Prince John with his loyal band of
thieves while living in Sherwood Forest are well known. However, many people have also grown
curious as to whether he ever actually existed. Historians have scoured a variety of documents
and court records, using the legends as their guide, to find the man behind the myth.
The Gest of Robyn Hode Earliest Candidates
The most elaborate early tale of Robin Hood is ‘The The earliest use of the name was
Gest (a tale of adventures) of Robyn Hode’ and most found in a court record entry
historians believe it dates back to around 1460. in 1225. A fugitive called Robert
Surprisingly, Robin actually lives in a forest near Hod or Hood was fined for owing
Barnsdale in Yorkshire in the story, which is about 50 money to the Sheriff of Yorkshire.
miles away from Nottingham.
The first written story about Robin
In the story, Robin is a yeoman (a landowner but not Hood dates back to 1450 and is
a nobleman) and a talented archer. He captures a poor called ‘Robin Hood and the Monk’.
knight who owes a debt to an evil monk at St Mary’s Taking place mostly around St.
in Nottingham. After hearing of his misfortune, Robin Mary’s Church in Nottingham and
helps the knight pay his debt and then proceeds to rob Sherwood Forest, it describes how
the monk afterwards. Later on, Robin meets with an two of Robin’s men, Little John
unspecified King Edward, who offers him a job. and Much the Miller's Son rescue
Robin from the clutches of the
Sheriff of Nottingham.
Robin works for him for over a year and then leaves
because he’s homesick. It also features several
archery contests and other recognisable plot lines.
Again, some familiar characters from the story as
we know it appear: the Sheriff of Nottingham, Little
John, Will Scarlet and Much the Miller's Son.
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Interestingly, there are historical The Legend of Robin Hood
records of a forester (a person who took
care of and protected the deer and plant life
in a forest) named Robert Hood or Hode, who lived in Wakefield near Barnsdale in the early
14th century. In addition, archery practice was compulsory by law for every adult male as
the English longbow was the military’s weapon of choice. Robert Hood would also have used
a longbow in his role as forester.
? In 1322, the Earl of Lancaster (who lived very
Other near Wakefield) led a rebellion against the King;

many of his local supporters were made outlaws
Candidates and had to forfeit their property. There are
records that hint at the possibility that Robert
was one of those rebels who supported the Earl.
Due to the legend’s popularity, there The following year, King Edward II toured that
are numerous medieval court records part of the country. Coincidentally, there are
from the 14th to the 16th centuries that also court records of a certain Robyn (a common
mention an outlaw called Robin Hood: nickname for Robert) Hode as being in King
either a contemporary outlaw who chose Edward’s service around that time.
to change their name to Robin Hood or
had their names changed by creative
court officials. Additional Characters
Moving away from the name, there
are two other feasible candidates that Maid Marian, one of the most well-known
historians have investigated with characters, is completely fictional and was not
interest. A Shropshire knight who lived even included in the legends until much later on.
in Whittington Castle, Fulk FitzWarin, Many of the additional merry men, such as Friar
was born around 1180. Legend has it Tuck, were also later additions.
that he fell out of favour with Prince Eternally popular, the man behind the legend
John, lost his lands and became an continues to elude historians. Some conclude that
outlaw for several years. Another his story may be an amalgamation of stories about
possibility is Robert Fitz Odo, who several different men while others think that the
lived in Loxley in Warwickshire in true Robin is still out there, waiting to be discovered
around 1196. He also was dispossessed, in some historical text waiting to be read.
became an outlaw and was pardoned.

The Legend of Robin Hood
Questions
1. Which familiar character is in the earliest tales? Tick one.
Maid Marian
Will Scarlet
Little John
King Richard
2. Draw four lines and match each man to his description.
A man recorded as being in King

Robert Hood or Hode
Edward II’s service.
A Shropshire knight who lived at

Robyn Hode
Whittington Castle.
He lived in Wakefield near Barnsdale

Fulk FitzWarin
in the early 14th century.
A man who lived in Loxley,

Robert Fitz Odo
Warwickshire in around 1196.

3. What was the military’s weapon of choice in the 14th century?
The English longbow.

4. Fill in the missing words.

Moving away from the name, there are two other feasible candidates that
historians have investigated with interest.
5. Look at the last paragraph.

Find and copy one word that means the same as 'a combination' or 'mixture'.
amalgamation
6. What was the most interesting thing you learnt about Robin Hood? Explain your answer.
That a thief would actually be homesick

The Legend of Robin Hood
7. Would you have liked to have been a forester like Robert Hood? Explain your answer.
Definetily not, I do not want to be living in the 1200s.Second of all, it would be lonely in a forest.

8. Why do you think Robin Hood has fascinated generations of people from all walks of life?
Explain your answer.
9. Do you agree with historians that the story of Robin Hood is actually based on several
different men? Explain your answer.
10. Tick one box in each row to show whether each statement is true or false.
True False
Robert Hood lived in Wakefield in the 14th century.
Maid Marian has always been a part of the stories.
The earliest record of a Robert Hood dates back to 1225.
The Earl of Lancaster led a rebellion.
Historians have actually found out who the real Robin Hood was.

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The Legend of

Since 1377, when ‘The Rhymes of Robin Hood’ is

The Gest of Robyn Hode Earliest Candidates

Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com

? In 1322, the Earl of Lancaster (who lived very

Other near Wakefield) led a rebellion against the King;

Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com

2. Draw four lines and match each man to his description.

A man recorded as being in King

A Shropshire knight who lived at

He lived in Wakefield near Barnsdale

A man who lived in Loxley,

4. Fill in the missing words.

5. Look at the last paragraph.

That a thief would actually be homesick

Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com

Robert Hood lived in Wakefield in the 14th century.

Maid Marian has always been a part of the stories.

The earliest record of a Robert Hood dates back to 1225.

The Earl of Lancaster led a rebellion.

Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com

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The Legend of

Since 1377, when ‘The Rhymes of Robin Hood’ is

The Gest of Robyn Hode Earliest Candidates

Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com

? In 1322, the Earl of Lancaster (who lived very

Other near Wakefield) led a rebellion against the King;

Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com

2. Draw four lines and match each man to his description.

A man recorded as being in King

A Shropshire knight who lived at

He lived in Wakefield near Barnsdale

A man who lived in Loxley,

4. Fill in the missing words.

5. Look at the last paragraph.

 That a thief would actually be homesick

Page 1 of 2 visit twinkl.com

Robert Hood lived in Wakefield in the 14th century.

Maid Marian has always been a part of the stories.

The earliest record of a Robert Hood dates back to 1225.

The Earl of Lancaster led a rebellion.

Page 2 of 2 visit twinkl.com

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That a thief would actually be homesick