MERRY MEN

Robin Hood

There are various theories about the origin of the hero of these stories. One of the more plausible suggests that he was based on 12th-century Robert FitzOoth, a nobleman of Locksley in Nottinghamshire. There are also early literary appearances of possible predecessors, too (including in Piers Plowman) and an official record from Yorkshire in 1230 of "Robertus Hood, fugitivus". But the Robin we know, who steals from the Norman rich and gives to the Saxon poor and all that, first appeared in a form we recognise in the ballad (of c.1500) A Geste Of Robyn Hode – hundreds of years of ballads and tales, films and merchandise have followed.

Little John

First met Robin on a narrow bridge, and neither Robin nor the tall stranger would back down to let the other pass. Staffs were drawn, and Robin was knocked into the river. All was forgiven, and the stranger, a big man called John Little, became Robin’s loyal second and a regular feature of the Robin Hood stories. While fictional, he does nonetheless have a real grave, which you can find in Hathersage, Derbyshire.

Will Scarlett

A fine swordsman and a bit of a dandy (his love of fine clothes and, in particular, red silk got him his name), Will is the youngest fully-fledged member of the outlaws. According to one version, he’s Robin’s nephew.

Friar Tuck

Unlike Little John and Will Scarlett, the monk Friar Tuck was not an original cast member in the Robin Hood stories, appearing first in a play of 1475. He is a rotund, beer-loving sort of monk, extremely skilled with a sword.

Alan-A-Dale

The outlaws’ resident minstrel. He wasn’t part of the original legend, in which the outlaws managed inexplicably to survive without any in-house ballad-singing; but he’s now become a popular addition to the story, even appearing as the singing-rooster narrator in the Disney cartoon version (fame indeed).

NOBLES WE LIKE

Richard "the Lionheart", King of England

Currently away from home, fighting on Crusade. Left his throne in the keeping of his brother John (bad). In the Errol Flynn film he’s played by Ian Hunter, who later that year would co-star with Basil Rathbone (see Guy of Gisbourne, below) in a second film, called Tower Of London. Named (no kidding) after the iconic Tower of London. Read more about the Tower of London here.

Maid Marian, his ward

The love-interest. She began her life in quite separate legends, and only in the late 17th century did she take her place in the Robin Hood story. In some versions of the story (as in the Errol Flynn movie) she is a noble Norman, ward to King Richard, and sometimes the daughter to Lord Fitzwater.

NOBLES WE DON’T LIKE

Sheriff of Nottingham

The arch-baddie of our story. As the man responsible for upholding the laws, the scheming Sheriff is determined to capture and punish outlaw Robin. Today, though, the Sheriff of Nottingham is a very nice woman by the name of Jeannie Packer. Meet her here.

Prince John, the King’s brother

For the purposes of the Robin Hood story, another out-and-out baddie. In real life this was the man behind the iconic Magna Carta. In the 1973 Disney version the character was voiced by Peter Ustinov (later the Walrus in the 1999 Alice In Wonderland. Find out about the Magna Carta here. And read all about Alice In Wonderland here.

Sir Guy of Gisbourne

This classic bad-guy also features in probably the best-known of the Robin Hood ballads, Robin Hood And Guy Of Gisbourne, and he’s interesting mainly because in the 1938 film he’s played by Basil Rathbone, a.k.a. Sherlock Holmes. Click here to read more about Robin Hood films. And here to discover the world of Sherlock Holmes.