Where did Robin Hood come from?

Extract A: Andrew de Wyntoun, 1420

Then Little John and Robin Hood as forest outlaws were well known. In Inglewood and Barnsdale all this time they carried out their trade.

Extract B: From the records of the King’s Judges at York

1225: Thirty two shillings and six pence from the sale of the belongings of Robert Hoode, peasant tenant of the archbishopric of York, reported as fleeing from the King’s justice. 1228: Robert Hod, known as ‘Robin’, declared an outlaw in West Yorkshire 1230: Report from West Yorkshire: ‘The Sheriff of Yorkshire owes 32s 6d. for goods stolen by Robin Hood, fugitive.’

Extract C: From a collection of English and Scottish Popular Ballads ​ ​ by Francis James Child, 1888.

Some they will talk of bold Robin Hood, And some of barons bold, But I'll tell you how he served the Bishop of Hereford, When he robbed him of his gold. As it befell in merry Barnsdale, And under the green-wood tree,

Extract D: From the Gest of Robyn Hood, first written down in 1400s

Robin lived in Barnsdale with the good yeoman Little John, Will Scarlock and Much the Miller’s son.

Extract E: From the Gest of Robyn Hood, first written down in 1400s

Robyn hod in scherewod stod hodud and hathud and hosut and schod four and thuynti arows he bar in hits hondus

Extract E: Photograph of the statue of Robin Hood in Nottingham, 2006.

Where did Robin Hood come from?

Extract F: Robin Hood’s Gravestone at Kirklees

Here underneath dis laitl stean Laz robert earl of Huntintun Ne'er arcir ver as hie sa geud An pipl kauld im robin heud

Sick utlawz as his as iz men Vil england nivr si agen Obiit 24 Kal. Dekembris 1247.

Robin Hood's Gravestone at Kirklees

Extract G: Robin Hood’s Grave at Kirklees Priory, Yorkshire.

Extract H: In Search of Robin Hood, written by Patrick Middleton in 1989. ​ ​

Only one of the five earliest ballads puts Robin in Sherwood Forest. Until the Peasants Revolt in 1381, there is no mention of Robin Hood stealing from the rich to give to the poor. After this revolt over high taxes, the number of songs about Robin Hood increased, and most say that he was a peasant who fought wicked sheriffs to give money back to the poor.

Extract I: Source D: A true tale of Robin Hood, written by Martin Parker in 1687.

‘A brief touch on life and death of that renowned outlaw, Robert Earl of Huntingdon, commonly known as Robin Hood. He died in Sherwood Forest, AD.1198, being in the reign of King Richard the First.’

Where did Robin Hood come from?

Where did Robin Hood come from?

Extract J: St. Mary Magdalene in Campsall, Doncaster

Extract K: The Major Oak, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham.