Get to Know Robin Hood’s Merry Men

HUZZAH!!!!!By: Emily Stap

Will Scarlet• One of Robin Hood’s chief

lieutenants• Often related to Robin

(nephew, cousin)• Love of fine (red) clothes,

dandy• Often passionate,

hotheaded• Many different surnames

throughout the legends• Most skilled swordsman

and strongest of the Merry Men

• Present in earliest ballads: A Gest of Robyn Hode

• Became an outlaw because he killed his father’s steward

• Joined Robin’s band after he beat him in a sword/quarterstaff fight

Little John

• Robin Hood’s 2nd in command

• Present in the earliest ballads

• Giant of a man• Best at quarterstaff• Only in more recent

versions he is depicted as less than smart

• Has disagreements w/ Robin, speaks his mind

• Only one of the band present at Robin Hood’s death

• Joins band after defeating Hood in a bout of quarterstaffs

Friar Tuck• Jolly friar character introduced in late

15th c.• Possibly added to legend as part of May

Games • Fat, jovial monk of Fountains Abby• Skilled with sword• Enjoys good food and wine• Becomes chaplain of Robin’s band• Sought out and found by Robin b/c he

is needed someone to marry Allan a Dale and his lady

• Joins Robin’s band after Robin tricks him into carrying him across the river & they sword fight

Allan a Dale• Late addition to the legend,

first appears in 17th c. ballad• Young, effeminate,

wandering minstrel• Entertains band with his

singing voice and harp playing

• Robin helps him in stopping the marriage of his sweetheart Ellen to somebody else

• Is married to Ellen in Sherwood by Friar Tuck

• Afterwards, is offered to join the band due to his talents

Much the Miller’s Son Will Stutely

Arthur a BlandGilbert Whitehand

David of Doncaster

• In most legends Robin Hood’s band is said to consist of over a 100 men

• Only a few are mentioned by name

Maid Marian

• Love interest/ sometimes wife of Robin Hood

• Became associated w/ legend in late 16th c.

• Probably originating from May Day games

• Character changes and develops over time

• At first was archer, swordswoman, lived in greenwood

• Then damsel in distress, nobility, lady-like

VS

Robin HoodThe jolly, heroic, English outlaw himself!

“he was a good outlawe,And dyde pore men moch god.” -- A Gest of Robyn Hod

“It doth make a man better,' quoth Robin Hood, 'to bear of those noble men so long ago. When one doth list to such tales, his soul doth say, 'put by thy poor little likings and seek to do likewise.' Truly, one may not do as nobly one's self, but in the striving one is better...” ―The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood

Join Robin Hood’s band and live a merry life in the greenwood!

Don your Lincoln green, grab your long bow and grey goose shafts, rob from the rich only to

give to the poor, love a merry jest, outwit the

Sheriff, answer the bugle call and meet

Robin at the greenwood oak…Welcome to

Sherwood!!!