Robin Hood

According to http://www.robinhood.co.uk/themes/ro.../mythorman.htm

The first reference to Robin by name is found in "The Vision of Piers Plowman", written by William Langland in 1377. In one verse, a drunken chaplain berates himself for knowing the rhymes of Robin Hood better than he knows his prayers. These rhymes have not survived but they were obviously so well known in Langland's day that he refers to them without explanation.

So the first known reference to Robin Hood is 72 years after the execution of Sir William Wallace. Given the many parallels between the stories, it seems to me there is a common source for much of the material. Wallace was an actual historical figure whose deeds were well known in Scotland but less so in England. Why wouldn't some bard hear the tales during his travels in Scotland, embellish them and retell them in England, giving his hero a new name and location? His English audience would lap it up without having heard the tales before and would have no reason to think it was anything other than the story of some great English hero.

[ANDY-J]

The English places which lay claim to the legend of King Arthur cannot back up their claim with contemporary historical texts.The Scottish claim to King Arthur can however be backed up by textual evidence which identifies Arthur as a Romano-Celt and definitely places him in southern Scotland in at least one of his battles which he fought against the Picts.All of this ties in with the Mannau Gododdin.The town and Roman fort of Camelon have been known by that name since the dark ages and it is very similar to both Camlann and Camelot.The Mannau were Britons and as such would have had close cultural ties with Wales,and indeed Cornwall,which remained Celtic for many centuries after the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons and this would account for the prevalence of Arthurian legends in these parts of Britain.A historian from Hull has written extensively on the Scottish links with the legend of Arthur and has offered £1000 to anyone who can provide evidence to challenge his findings.


http://www.webworld.co.uk/mall/arthur/press.htm

[sionnach]

Maybe I'm a little late joining your Robin Hood-discussion,but I'd really like to tell you that, actually, I had quite the same associations as some of you! In fact, some of those ancient legends seem to be quite similar. Neil, I often associated Robin Hood with Wallace, too. It just seems to fit. And King Arthur? If he really existed, he must have lived in the fifth or sixth century, am I right? A great clan chief who managed to unite several tribes. But Welsh? It's clearly an old story and there are different sources, but once I read Arthur came probably from North. I feel there is a close connenction to Scotland, or at least to the Boarder Country.

[Faanarmy]

After settlements had been made upon the return of King Richard some would say that Sir robin left and travelled north. The bay called Robin Hoods bay , in north east England, is where he actually moved to. A living was made be rousing local people to strip European ships that ran aground due to bad weather close to the coast of North East England. With or without crew members being left alive. Local fishermen celebrated him as a hero for providing this much needed income.

[Faanarmy]

Did I say King Richard there? Obviously I meant king John.

Check any internet resources for "Robin Hoods Bay" in North East England.You'll find the history interesting. Sir Robin really did end up living there ,on the coast, helping local fishermen!