For six centuries, the legend of the noble robber has been stirring the imagination, but no one can say with certainty whether Robin Hood really existed.
Many ballads, legends, songs are written about the disinterested folk hero: “Robin was a proud robber. He lived without fear, and loved merry songs. The ballads tell the story of a brave leader of the forest bandits who attacked the rich and transferred money and property to the poor. Each source describes in detail and with delight the deeds of the noble robber and his comrades.
Perhaps it will be a surprise, but Robin Hood was not always respected and loved by fellow countrymen. According to the American researcher Julian Luxford, there is a 15th century manuscript that mentions the "master of Sherwood": "Around that time, according to popular rumor, a robber named Robin Hood, together with his like-minded people, flooded Sherwood and other law-abiding regions of England, which he was constantly plundering ". There is no mention of Father Took or Little John in ancient records, but much has been said about the numerous criminals who are accomplices of Robin Hood. The monks who wrote about Robin did not even hide their negative attitude towards the robber. This can be explained by the fact that the "gay robbers" with their leader were considered malicious violators of all Christian commandments. In addition, the monks considered it a great sin to roam and rob people,what the forest robbers did.
Most importantly, these tapes claim that Robin Hood is still a real person! Confusion arises with the definition of the era in which the glorious robber lived. Some call him a contemporary of the reign of Richard the Lionheart (12th century), others - kings Edward II or Edward III (14th century). Interestingly, each generation saw Robin Hood and his comrades in its own way. It is possible that he was an ordinary robber hiding from justice, and his companions for various reasons could join him. Whether to believe these assumptions - everyone decides for himself. The version that the brave Robin challenged the sheriff himself, defending his fellow countrymen and upholding justice, has become more widespread.
A huge Sherwood forest begins not far from the city of Nottingham. The Great Northern Route, which was laid by the Romans, goes along it. This road was considered the most important transport artery in Northern England. According to legend, Sherwood Forest became home to the valiant Robin Hood and his gang. The chronicles say that when the enemies burned down his house, he gathered people like him, impoverished and lost hope, and went into the forest.
Robin was an excellent archer and had the ability to bring people together. The robbers survived in Sherwood not only by robbery, but also hunted. By the way, hunting was also criminal at that time, since all the game in the forest belonged to the king. The foresters appointed by the king were engaged in the protection of the game from the actions of the "impudent rabble". The caught poacher was severely punished: for small game they could chop off their hand, and for large ones, for example, a deer, they could hang. It is not for nothing that in many episodes of the ballads, the main opponents of Robin are the royal foresters and sheriffs.
Chronicles often tell of the confrontation between Robin Hood and his people with monks and abbots. Such intransigence towards the "Christ's Bride" is quite understandable - the church was then the largest landowner, mercilessly robbed the peasants and, of course, did not enjoy the love and support of the people.
The name Robin Hood became a household name already in the Middle Ages. It was believed that there were about a hundred brave outcasts in his gang. And although, basically, they traded with robbery and robbery, but “did not allow harassment or other violence against women. They did not touch the poor, giving them everything that they took from the saints and noble gentlemen."
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There are several versions about the origin of "the glorious robber Robin Hood" and each has the right to be recognized.
First. The name Locksley is often found in the texts of legends. Historians are sure that Locksley was a serf village of the Earl of Warven. It is possible that Robin is the illegitimate son of a knight who owned the village of Locksley. It is assumed that little Robin was raised in a miller's family. Only it is not clear which village we are talking about, because in England there were three villages with this name - in Sheffield, Yorkshire and Warwickshire. And each of them considers itself the homeland of Robin Hood!
Second. At the time of King Edward II, there lived a certain Robert Gode, otherwise his name sounded Hod or Goode, who was born in 1290. In 1322 he entered the service of the Earl Thomas of Lancaster, who opposed the king. The revolt was brutally suppressed, and the Earl of Lancaster was executed. His estates were transferred to the treasury, and all participants in the riot were persecuted. Robin Hood and his comrades had only one way out - to find refuge in Sherwood Forest. However, there is no written evidence confirming that the earl's servant and robber Robin Hood are one and the same person.
Third. In one of the London archives, there is a document dating from 1226. This court report states that Robert Gode escaped, so he cannot be tried for participating in the riot. All of Robert's property worth 32 shillings was taken by the sheriff of York and did not transfer it, as it was supposed to, to the royal treasury. Later the sheriff of York was transferred to the same position in Nottingham. And in 1227 he again began the hunt for Robert, claiming that he was a villain and a criminal. The search for the sheriff was crowned with success - Robert of Witherby was captured and executed. Although little is known about this Robert-Robin, he was the most serious contender for the role of Robin Hood.
Fourth. The man who can be considered Robin Hood lived during the time of Richard I. He was a robber. Researchers assume that it was his name that became a household name, and was used by other robbers, and their deeds were summed up and assigned, as it were, to one historical character.
Despite such a number of versions, the death of Robin Hood is associated with one place - Kirkley Monastery, located in Yorkshire. There is still a grave in the monastery cemetery, on the stone of which the following words are carved: “Here, under this small stone, lies Robert, the true Earl of Huntington. There was no archer more skillful than him. And people called him Robin Hood. For thirty years, and even more, he fought with criminals in the northern lands, although he himself, along with his people, was outlawed. England will never see someone like him again."
No one could doubt the authenticity of the gravestone and the inscription on it. So far, only controversy over the text of the epitaph.
The question is, who is the Earl of Huntington? The Huntington branch is known in Yorkshire. The ancestor of the count's branch was the Norman Gilbert de Gaunt. He arrived in England in the squad of William the Conqueror and, in time, received the title of Earl of Lindsay. His descendant, the Earl of Huntington, had seven children. The elder's name was Robert Fitz-Ut (perhaps this name was transformed into Robin Hood). And although Robert was the eldest son, the next earl was the younger brother John. Or maybe the reason for this was that the older brother went to the leader of the robbers?
Perhaps it does not matter who the desperate and brave guy named Robin Hood was. For all mankind, he will forever remain a hero of old England, a model of the defender of the powerless and oppressed, the leader of the brave who dared to oppose the powerful in the world. Even if Robin Hood is a non-existent epic character, then he should have been invented!