The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-01-05
BOLD ROBIN HOOD.
A Merry English Outlaw Who Robbed the
Rich and Fed the Poor.

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A Merry English Outlaw who Robbed the
Rich and Fed the Poor.
TO the reign of Henry II. belongs the
life of our popular English ballad hero,
Robin Hood. who was born at Locks
ley, in the county OF Nottingham, about
the year 1160. He was of noble birth,
and his true name was Robert Fitzooth,
said to have been corrupted into Robin
Hood. Some German critics treat him
as nature myth, and find in the same
Bobin a form OF Wooden. For us let him
be Robert. He may have had in the
latter part OF his life at least, some
right to his reputed dignity OF Earl OF
Huntington. Forfeiture OF his Inherit
ance, either by reason of the wildness
Of his youth or Of injustice done, sent
him to the old refuge OF patriotic out
laws in the years following the conquest
to the woods, where in days OF cruel
and oppressive forest law men ate the
kings game for their daily meat. His
chief companions were Little John,
whose surname is said to have been
Nailor; William Scadlock. Scathlock
or Scarlet; George Green, the pinder
(or pound keeper); Much. a miller's
son; Friar Tuck, and Robins sweet
heart, the maid. Marian. He gathered
company Of one hundred stout archers
and ballad tradition always held that il
he saw any stout fellow whom he desired
for a comrade he fought him, took a
cudgeling from him, and enlisted him
alter he had thus made proof of his
strength. His forest domain was
usually at Barnsdale, in Yorkshire, or
in Sherwood forest; some say also at
Plompton park. in Cumberland. He
stole only from the rich, and fed the
poor with the plumber Of the abbotts,
thus taking his own way Of expressing
popular resentment against the rapine
of the flying calves and eagles figured
in Walter Maps "Apoclalypse OF
Gollas." Said Robin Hood, according
to the ballads of the people:
'These byshoppos and these archbyshoppoes
Ye shall them bette and bynde."
He loathed especially the abbot OF
St. Mary's, York. English tradition
has also painted Robert Hood as in the
rough way OF rough time religious
outlaw. Friar Tuck was added to his
company that he might not neglect the
duties of religion, and there is story
told by Scottish Fordun in the four
teenth century-current, therefore, not
long after Robin Hoods death, if not
in his lifetime, and a part of the very
first Robin Hood literature-that being
surprised by the sheriff and his COM
pany in the thicket where he and his
men were at mass, the greater number
of Robins men Immediately fled, but
he himself, with very few, devoutly
awaited the completion Of the service.
after which. by divine aid, they
thrashed and spoiled the whole troop
of kings officers. Again, the oldest Of
the Robin Hood ballads marks strongly
the religious elements in the character
of the English popular outlaw:
"a good manner than had Robyn
In lande where that he were,
Every daye or he woulde dyne
Three masses woulde he here.
Robyn loved our dere lady
For douto Of derely synne
Wolde he never do company harpe
That only woman was ynne"
The knights themselves had not a
better spirit OF chivalry than this.
through which the poetry Of the people
expressed what their priests had be-
come active in teaching them. of hon.
age to the virgin, their especial saint,
type of Gods love which medieval dog
mas turned so much to watch that love
required a separate embodiment. -
Treasure 7rore.