Historian and archivist Joseph Hunter discov-
ered that many different Robin Hoods dotted the
history of medieval England, often with variant
spellings. One of the oldest references he found
is in a 1226 court register from Yorkshire, Eng-
land. It cites the expropriation of the property of
one Robin Hood, described as a fugitive. In 1262,
in southern England, there is a similar mention
of a man called William Robehod in Berkshire.
The previous year there had been a reference to
“William, son of Robert leFeveremember of a
band of outlaws”—believed to be the
same person. In 1354, farther north in
Northamptonshire, there is a record ofThe First Robins
In 19th-century England numerous scholars
embarked on a search for Robin Hood after the
publication of Sir Walter Scott’sIvanhoein 1820.
Set in 1194, Scott’s novel takes place in England
during the Crusades. One of the featured char-
acters is Locksley, who is revealed to be Robin
Hood, the“King of Outlaws, and Prince of good
fellows.”Scott portrayed Robin as an honorable
Englishman loyal to the absent King Richard;
this popular characterization renewed modern
interest in the figure of Robin Hood and the
question of whether or not this “King of Out-
laws” was based on a real person.
AN OUTLAW’S
GEOGRAPHY
The ballads name
two English forests
as Robin’s haunt—
Sherwood and
Barnsdale (below).
Other locations
across England
appear in the legend’s
history, strengthening
its English pedigree.ILLUSTRATIONS: ALAMY/ACI.COLORED:SANTI PÉREZFriar Tuck
Presented as a friar expelled from
his order for his love of wine, he
first appears in a Robin Hood ballad
in 1475. Growing out of the stock
medieval figure of the corrupt cleric,
he later became a popular character
in England’s annual May games.Will Scarlet
Also known by the nickname
Scathelock or Scadlock, Will Scarlet
figures in the oldest ballads about
Robin Hood. Despite his pedigree,
Will rarely appeared in May games,
probably because he did not have a
clearly defined character.Sheriff of Nottingham
“Sheriff” is from the Old English
scirgerefa, meaning “representative
of royal authority in an shire.” As
Robin’s nemesis, he is a constant
presence in the story from the
earliest ballads to the recent film
adaptations of the tale.Maid Marian
Starting in the 16th century, Marian
appears in Robin Hood ballads,
although she already existed as
a figure in English folklore. In one
17th-century ballad, she disguises
herself as a boy, fights Robin, and
then reveals her true identity to him.MAP: EOSGIS.COMAn early ballad about the
outlaw finds its way into
print. “Robin Hood and the
Monk”portrays the archer
and his men as brutal
tricksters hiding out in
Sherwood Forest.
1450
Elizabethan playwright
Anthony Mundaypublishes
two plays about Robin Hood
in which the former outlaw
is now ennobled as theEarl
of Huntington, achivalrous
courtier, loyal to his king.1598
Walter Scott’s novel
Ivanhoe exalts Robin
as a good and decent
symbol of England. His
reworking will greatly
influence later versions
of the story.1820
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