"Many men speak of Robin Hood that shot never in his bow." Despite the extraordinary popularity of the Robin Hood legend into recent times, the sources upon which that legend ultimately rests have never before been presented in a uniform manner to the modern reader. This book provides a comprehensive selection of the most important texts in the evolution of the greenwood saga and should serve as the ideal handbook to Robin Hood studies.
Newly edited versions of the earliest and most influential ballads naturally form the basis of the collection; but the authors also include examples of the way in which the myth of England's greatest outlaw was developed by poets like Keats and Alfred Noyes. A separate section is devoted to Robin Hood's varied appearances on the English stage from the fifteenth century onwards, while a selection of other songs is included to give an impression of the features which Robin Hood shares with other outlaw heroes.
Each text is preceded by a short introduction which discusses the reliability of the source; and a long general introduction surveys the present state of inquiry into the legend. Among the many themes discussed are the technical problems surrounding the nature of the early ballads, their authorship and audience; the evidence for an historical original outlaw at the genesis of the legend; the reasons for Robin Hood’s continuing appeal in late medieval and Tudor society; and the ways in which the evolution of the legend reflects the ever-changing social patterns of English history.
Author(s): Richard Barrie Dobson, John Taylor
Edition: 1st
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press
Year: 1976
Language: English
Pages: XII+330
Preface ix
List of Abbreviations xi
INTRODUCTION
I. The Genesis of Robin Hood 1
II. The Medieval Background 17
III. The Legend since the Middle Ages 36
Note on the Texts of the Ballads 65
Map: Sherwood and Barnsdale 69
A. "RYMES OF ROBYN HOOD"
1. A Gest of Robyn Hode 71
2. Robin Hood and the Monk 113
3. Robin Hood and the Potter 123
4. Robin Hood's Death 133
(a) Percy Folio Version 134
(b) Robin Hood Garland Version 137
5. Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne 140
6. The Jolly Pinder of Wakefield 146
(a) Broadside Version 147
(b) Percy Folio Version 148
7. Robin Hood and the Butcher 150
(a) Percy Folio Version 152
(b) Broadside Version 155
8. Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar 158
(a) Percy Folio Version 159
(b) Broadside Version 161
9. Robin Hood and Little John 165
(a) Chapbook Version 166
(b) Virginian Version 170
10. Robin Hood and Allen A Dale 172
11. Robin Hood and Maid Marian 176
12. The Noble Fisherman (Robin Hood's Preferment) 179
13. Robin Hood and the Valiant Knight 183
14. The opening and closing stanzas of Martin Parker's "A True Tale of Robin Hood" 187
15. Robin Hood and the Duke of Lancaster, 1727 191
16. The Birth of Robin Hood (Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter) 195
17. John Keats, "Robin Hood: To A Friend" 198
18. Alfred Noyes, "Sherwood" 200
B. "PLAYS OF ROBIN HOOD"
19. The Play of "Robin Hood and the Sheriff", c. 1475 203
20. The Play of "Robin Hood and the Friar", c. 1560 208
21. The Play of "Robin Hood and the Potter", c. 1560 215
22. Extracts from Anthony Munday's "The Downfall" and "The Death of Robert, Earl of Huntington" (1597-8) 220
23. Extracts from "The Sad Shepherd" (Ben Jonson) 231
24. "Robin Hood and his Crew of Souldiers": Nottingham, 1661 237
25. Extracts from "The Foresters" (Alfred Tennyson) 243
C. OTHER OUTLAW SONGS
26. An Outlaw's Song of Trailbaston, c. 1305. 250
27. Robyn and Gandeleyn 255
28. Adam Bell, Clim of the Clough, and William of Cloudesly 258
29. Marsk Stig Made An Outlaw 274
30. The Death of Jesse James 278
APPENDICES
I. Titles and First Lines of Robin Hood Ballads 281
II. Note on the Sloane Manuscript Life of Robin Hood 286
III. A Selection of Proverbs of Robin Hood 288
IV. A Select List of Robin Hood Place-Names 293
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY 312
INDEX 324
