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Perhaps the greatest event of the Middle Ages was the telling of Robin Hood. Considered by many to being the most successful and entertaining Swashbuckling story, Robin Hood remains prominent in the world of literature, poetry and the modern movies. It is my guess that Errol Flynn, Hollywood actor extraordinaire, was the one who placed Robin Hood in the top brackets. With his portrayal of the outlaw hero in 1938, The Adventures of Robin Hood (in Technicolor) remains, by far, the greatest of all the Swashbuckling classics. Even though Errol Flynn made Robin Hood a superstar, he was not the first actor to portray the legend, or indeed was the legend created for Errol in the late 1930's. The legend of Robin Hood has lasted, at least, since the early thirteenth century, when local historians in Mediaeval England made references to the ballads of Robin Hood. But it is major controversy, even to this day, whether or not the outlaw had ever actually lived. Even as this book is being written, there are some historians in England who are on a quest to unlock the mysteries of the elusive legend. So far there have been many names that are identifiable with Robin Hood that have turned up in ancient records, but none are as of yet a far gone conclusion of the man's existence. One of the earliest accounts we have of the legend is a manuscript of poetry (that cannot actually be called a ballad), that was dated either late 1480's or early 1520's that has for its title: "A little Gest of Robyn Hode". Hode, in old English, is another way of writing Hood, and the letter "y" in Robyn, was a Medieval placement for the letter "i". The Gest, from its appearance, was concluded to being a copy of some other original manuscript, of which, by now, is widely accepted as being actually written in or around 1400, making it the oldest poem on Robin Hood. And where does this old poetry place Robin? In Sherwood Forest, in the reign of King Richard the Lion-Heart, in the 1190's - wrong!! To my utter surprise, the oldest stories from the Robin Hood legend (including a small handful of others written in the late 1400's and early 1500's) place Robyn Hode in, not Sherwood Forest, but a Forest located approximately 40 miles north of Sherwood called Barnsdale Forest. And Robyn Hode of the Gest is not within Richard the Lion-Heart's reign, but that of "our good king Edward". Which king Edward? well, that has not yet been settled, but 95% of the clues lean toward king Edward II. And a time period leans towards the 1320's and not the 1190's.

So what in this world was going on in England during the 1320's that made Robin Hood such a legend? Especially considering we all grew up with Robin being at a different time, dealing with the problems of an older England. Well, some of the characteristics remain the same, even though a different time and a different forest. It still is not proved that the original Robin Hood (if there was indeed an original Robin Hood) lived during the 1320's, so what I am going to say next can not have an affirmative in its conclusion, but I tell you honestly, it sure is strong in its finger pointing, and very, very interesting ....

If we are to believe the situations left upon us after viewing the incredible "Braveheart" of Mel Gibson's creative direction, king Edward I. (Longshanks) was a rough ruler, who made many to suffer during his reign - and especially Scotland. Longshank’s son, Edward II., was left to him a kingdom in slight revolt, while having to deal with the likes of Robert the Bruce of Scotland. The English lords were in revolt with their king, and one in particular, the Duke of Lancaster, who in the 1320’s led a rebellious army (the men of his district - in southern Yorkshire), and was on his way to join Robert the Bruce in Scotland when Edward got wind of this. He sent an army to stop Lancaster, and while the rebels were at Bourobridge, a great battle ensued, and Lancaster's army was defeated. Rebels, not wanting to be captured, fled from the clutches of Edward's men, ran into the local forests and became outlaws. Lancaster was sentenced to death, and his head was amputated not too long afterwards, and his body dragged through the streets as a warning to other rebels. Well, it has been suggested, by historian Joseph Hunter, in the mid-1800's, that the original Robin Hood may have been one of these rebels, and fled to the forest of Barnsdale for refuge. The Gest suggests also that king Edward came through Nottingham to put a stop to the outlaw Robyn Hode. In real history, Edward II. does come to Nottingham, on what could be called a peace mission because of the recent rebellion. The Gest also suggests that Robyn Hode, after Edward forgave him, went to join the king at Nottingham castle to be in his service. Incredibly, Joseph Hunter found a reference to a Robyn Hode in the Royal registry saying that he was a servant in the kings pay in Nottingham at the very time of Edward II.'s stay in that city," and at the very same time. Also, the Gest suggests that Robyn Hode, after becoming home sick for Barnsdale, begged leave from the king's service. The king grants only a short leave. Similarly, Joseph Hunter found a reference to the same Robyn Hode leaving, not too long after the earlier reference, the king's service for being not able to continue therein. Also, Joseph Hunter found a reference to a man named Robert Hood of Wakefield, who was in the vicinity during the time of the rebellion, being one of Lancasters subjects, and was asked to join in on the rebellion. History does not say, however, whether this Robert Hood joined in or not. But Joseph Hunter says that this is definitely the same man. Hode and Hood, as we suggested earlier was the same name under different pronunciations. So what about the name Robert? In the Middle Ages the names Robin and Robert were interchangeable. So, it is indeed possible for the men named Robyn Hode and Robert Hood to be the same man.

Unfortunately, some disagree with Hunter's incredible discoveries, saying that a Robyn Hode was already in the Royal services, long before Edward's decent into Nottingham, leaving no doubt, possibly, that the Gest was not referring to this man. However, another historian suggested that this Robyn Hode was at another time entered into the Royal Services, got out, and was re-instated when Edward came through Nottingham. Who knows.

It has also been suggested that in the 1190's, and in Richard's reign, there was an Robert, of Loxley, who was also known as Robert Ode.

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