The Real Robin Hood

Article by Sarah Bushell. Edited and researched by Harriet Evans.

On January 31st 1606 a man stood at the Old Palace Yard, he had just witnessed three of his fellow conspirators hung, drawn and quartered and knew that he awaited the same fate. His name was Guy Fawkes, a man whose name would become synonymous with treachery and revolution. Sir Robert Cecil called Guy Fawkes and the other plotters ‘Robin Hoods,’ of course Cecil wasn’t being complementary. For his seventeenth century contemporaries the term also simply meant outlaw. Yet the Robin that we know was not just an outlaw but a hero, handy with a bow and arrow, who stole from the rich and gave to the poor with a penchant for Lincoln green tights. The Robin that you see depends entirely on who you are and where you come from. 

Modern audiences recognise a rebellious Robin who, alongside his band of merry men, defended England against the misrule and tyranny of King John, whilst Richard the Lionheart was trying to beat Christianity into people. The story is completed by the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham and the fair Maid Marion. But these are sixteenth century additions; the earlier ballads dispute this, instead Robin only steals from corrupt monks and other crooked figures. For the medieval community Robin Hood represented a vital hero for society disposing of its corrupt figures, righting wrongs within its society. 

But do these early ballads have any truth in them? Because they link Robin with real places there is often a temptation to think so. Although the early ballads link him to Sherwood Forest they also link him to Barnsdale. It is also claimed that Robin was born in Loxley, now a part of Sheffield in South Yorkshire. Of course, these connections to real locations do not make Robin any more real than Baker Street makes Sherlock Holmes a real detective. There are several explanations. It is possible that there were two outlaws, one in each county and they were confused. Some have argued that there was a Barnsdale forest in Nottinghamshire, one that was a known hang out for criminals but there is also a place called Sherwood in Yorkshire so the debate continues. Another theory argues that the Robin Hood was a Yorkshire tale that over time became merged with another folktale of the evil Sheriff of Nottingham. It is impossible to say with any certainty where the origin of the legends came from, but it still continues to be a hot topic between both Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire enthusiasts. 

However the name ‘Robin Hood’ was also known to be an alias amongst outlaws who wished to keep their enmity. In 1225 a man named Robin Hod fled from Yorkshire, later he made another appearance in the records under the title of Hobbehod, for some he appears to be a prime candidate for the ringleader. In 1261 another interesting case study arises; William LeFevre, an outlaw appears in the records with the nickname William Robehod. Historian Ibeji argues that this indicates that whoever changed William’s name already knew of a ‘Robin Hood’ by 1261 and the connotations of the name, concluding that Robin must have existed. Yet evidence is scanty at best, verging on none existent. However, the search for Robin continues. 

There are plenty of other candidates, each one helped by the simple fact that Robert was such a popular name. Some have argued that real inspiration came from the tales of Eustace the Monk (who spent more time raiding coastal villages than praying) or William Wallace. Thieves and bandits were a common hazard of medieval life, and they did hide in forests. This simple fact makes it easier to comprehend that even if Robin Hood never did sweep Maid Marion off her feet or steal from the rich to give to the poor, we can see where the ballad writers took their inspiration from. 

It is almost irrelevant who the real Robin was. What’s important is that centuries later he still is a beacon of hope for generation after generation. His enduring popularity captures the British hopes and ideals for the future. For those in the 13th Century he took back from the corrupt churches and now he can be seen as a symbol for resistance against the banks such as the Robin Hood Tax, “a tax not on the people, but for the people.” He symbolises a part of our heritage that we are, and should be, proud of the tenacious rebellious underdog. Whether or not he was truly a figure of flesh and blood, his spirit and influence is certainly tangible throughout the centuries, and thankfully he’s here to stay.