Who is the most famous medieval outlaw who lived in a forest and wore green tights?

Legend has Robin Hood wearing green tights, but there is no photo to prove it. He may have wore brown once in awhile. Who is this mysterious character called Robin Hood? He's been passed down through the centuries by way of English legend. Robin, a mysterious guy, considered an outlaw by some, was a hero to the common people. He and his entourage lived inside the heart of Sherwood Forest in England

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The lifestyle of Robin Hood:

It's been told that the hooded one would steal from the rich and give to the poor. Some say he would never kill the people he robbed from - unless of course they tried to kill him first. Indeed, the man had to defend himself.

Legend tells that Robin Hood was in love with a beautiful woman known as Maid Marian, a noble lady. All the women in the area felt safe because Robin and his merry men had a reputation for protecting all maidens. For anyone who felt brave enough to go against the famous outlaw they had better practice with their bow and arrow first. Robin was know as the best archer in the area - never missing a target.

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The Merry Men:

Robin's gang of brave men was called, "The Merry Men of Sherwood Forest." Friar Tuck was known as one of the most famous of these men. Friar was not a tall handsome warrior, but an overweight and kindhearted priest. Another famous member was Little John, a giant of a man over seven feet tall.  Robin and all his men were hated by the Sheffif of Nottingham.. He was determined to capture Robin and have him hanged.

The stories we know about the adventures of Robin Hood came to us mostly through ballads and storytelling. Today Robin's adventures come to us through books, movies, stage plays and articles. Some of the original famous ballads date back to the 1300s. One popular ballad called Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne tells the story of Little John being captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin Hood won a fight with Guy of Gisborne,  a friend of the sheriff's. Robin took Guy's clothes off, and put them on himself. The wicked sheriff thinking Robin was Guy gave orders to kill Little John. Instead, Robin let his friend go free, and they fled back to the safety of their home in Sherwood Forest.

Was he real?

Many scholars think a real Robin Hood did exist. In the records of 1230 an outlaw named, Robertus Hood is mentioned. Some scholars and writers think Robin Hood was the earl of Huntingdon. His name was Robert Fitzooth, and he was born in 1160 in Nottingham. The list goes on and on as to whom the real Robin Hood may have been.

Sir Walter Scott's great novel, Ivanhoe printed in 1819 has Robin Hood, an English nobleman, and Friar Tuck helping Ivanhoe and the English fight the Normans when they invaded England in 1066. We'll probably never know for sure, but it's most likely that Robin Hood was a real person, and his story was passed down through generations by oral history. At any rate, he continues to be the famous outlaw who wore green tights, and robbed from the rich to give to the poor. His legend will live on for as long as time endures.

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Bib:

Jonson, Ben. The Sad Shepheard, or a Tale of Robin Hood, a play. 1641 Keats, John. Robin Hood 1820 Alfred, Lord Tennyson, The Foresters: Robin Hood and Maid Marian, a play. 1892

©1999 jcpinkerton