Robin Hood Found

Robin of Loxley (Robin Hood)

Robin Hood’s pardon after his involvement in the Peasants Revolt at York reads: - “Robert Dore of Wadsley otherwise known as Robert Hode (Hood) given the King’s pardon on 22nd May 1382.” (Roll of King’s Pardons 4-5 Richard II 1382) (Discovered by David Pilling and Rob Lynley.)

From this we learn he was born Robert Dore, he became known as Robert Hode (Hood), he took part in the Peasant’s Revolt at York and he came from the manor of Wadsley where Loxley was a sub vill.

After killing his stepfather he fled from Loxley and went to Kirklees Priory where he met with Little John. (Roger Dodsworth) He joined with Adam Hode at York and Robin had among his Merry Men the son of a miller. His father Johannes Hode was a miller. (Freedom Rolls)

York

Robin Hood became a freeman of York in 1364 and it was the same for Adam Hode the miller’s son two years later in 1366. This simply means they were free to trade as merchants, which is what people had been doing for many years in opposition to the great Livery Companies. They operated from unlicensed workshops and they touted their wares around the markets which up until the granting of their charters by Edward III tradesmen had been doing illegally (outlaws) but now these clandestine workers who belonged to the new merchant class were becoming increasingly rich and in terms of wealth they were followed by (1) by the clergy, (2) the small businessmen, (3) artisans, (4) men-at-arms, (5) menials and servants and lastly there were (6) the peasants who worked the nearby fields.

According to the Gest, Robin dealt in green and red cloth and Will Scarlet’s name suggests he also dealt in scarlet cloth. In York were the Merchant Adventurers who traded around England, Holland, Belgium, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Iceland and the Baltic and if Robin was a Merchant Adventurer then this would account for him being in different parts of the country. The Merchant Adventurers helped the poor, sick and orphans, which would undoubtedly enhance Robin’s reputation with the populace and might even explain his reputation for taking from the rich and giving to the poor. In support of this, there is a record of a ship named “Robin Hood.”

The ballads have Robin supplying the king with green and grey livery for his men and King Edward III was often in York, he got married there and set up parliament in York and any guildsman who could boast of such a notable client as the king of England would find themselves enjoying the respect of their contemporaries, perhaps even being made the hero in the Corpus Christi plays as well as the later pageantry of the elaborate street performances that were a speciality of Anthony Munday.

Thomas H. Ohlgren wrote, “Robin’s “guild” or “fellowship” are derived from the policies and practices of the urban guilds, including the master guilds or Great Livery Companies.... The parallels between guild policies and practices and specific scenes in the Gest are compelling, offering convincing evidence that the poem (the Gest) was composed for an audience who would not only recognize the mercantile allusions but also appreciate the yeoman hero proving himself superior to a member of the knightly class.” (The merchant's superiority over the knightly class was due to their disposable income compared to the nobility whose wealth was tied up in land and castles. GK)

Peasants Revolt

After many years of unrest, the people of York, when they heard what was happening in London, took to the streets in anger only four years after the death of King Edward. Gisbourne who was the Lord Mayor and chief Burgomaster had always been a trouble maker. He controlled the local trade guilds by imposing fines and penalties which he probably pocketed for himself, he was always surrounded by scandal, he was a notorious patron of robbers, he tampered with the Royal Mint at York and issued false money and two of his right hand men Robert de Harom and Richard de Kendale were accused of murder.

The merchants had their own issues and the citizens of York had theirs, they were taxed over and above the norm to pay for such things as the ships that were used by the Merchant Adventurers without receiving any of the profits themselves and the unrest must have reached a point where virtually the whole population of York rose up against Gisbourne. His livery that consisted of 1,500 red and white hoods plus a badge served two purposes, it identified the men in his service and according to company charter it enabled him to prevent others from pursuing the same trades as himself and as he traded in wool, cloth, wine and lead and Robin dealt in cloth he would have seen Robin as operating illegally or as an outlaw.

The giving of liveries indicates a time “when liveries and personal badges were in everyday use” (Keen) “thus indicating a time of social change when the lower classes and criminal gangs were imitating the aristocracy” (Ohlgren) in the 14th and 15th century and is known as “Merrie England” (Ronald Hutton).

Nottingham

At the time of the Peasants Revolt the sheriff of Nottingham, Robert Morton was the steward of Conisbrough Castle in Barnsdale, right there on Robin’s home ground. His father Thomas Morton was secretary to King Edward III of England so it’s no wonder Robin said beware of the Sheriff of Nottingham.

http://www.hrionline.ac.uk/conisbrough/browse/roll_1380-81_3.html

Just across the road from each other is Nottingham market and St. Mary’s Church where Robin went to hear Mass. In the church itself is a chapel set aside for the guildsmen paid for by themselves. The “Gyld of St Mary in her own church, Nottingham, on the Feast of St Michael, 1371 (dating evidence) features the names of 167 members of the Guild, listing prominent local residents including knights, clerks, carpenters, drapers and priests.”

The medieval markets in Yorkshire cover the same area associated with Robin Hood and if their wives and children stayed home while Robin and his men travelled the highways and byways for days or weeks at a time, then that would explain why there were no women in the early ballads. The Saylis that appears in some of the ballads was a natural overnight stop and is just up the road from the old Roman Fort and Robin Hood's well that was frequented by robbers and it is his travels between York and Nottingham through the Saylis that provides the backdrop for the ballads. (There is another Saylis near Wentbridge.)

Markets were at:- Barnsley, Bawtry, Bedale, Beverley, Boroughbridge, Bradford, Bridlington, Brough, Campsall, Conisbrough, Cottingham, Doncaster, Elland, Emley, Filey, Gisburn, Great Driffield, Guisborough, Harthill, Hedon, Hessle, Hornsea, Ilkley, Kingston On Hull, Knaresborough, Pickering, Pontefract, Rotherham, Scarborough, Selby, Sheffield, Stamford Bridge, Thirsk, Tickhill, Wadsley, Wakefield, Wath Upon Dearne, Wetherby, Whitby, Withernsea, Wortley, York.

Robin the Forest Outlaw

From the ballads we read that as Robin became older he lived in the king’s court for 15 months by which time he “had spent his money and all his men’s fee on both knights and squires, to get him great renown. By the time the year was over, he only had two men — Little John and good Scarlett all the rest had gone.” (From the Gest translated into modern English by Robert Landis Frank.)

Robin’s strength as an archer was failing and feeling he would die of sorrow if he remained in the king’s court any longer he asked the king’s permission to return to Barnsdale where he had previously built a chapel, which is something only a person of high standing could afford to do.

Once there Robin was happy to stay in his beloved Barnsdale as a fugitive, not going back for “fear of the king” who was not the king he had known and loved, spending his last remaining 22 years in lawless Barnsdale where Richard II was murdered in Pontefract Castle. The Merry Men lived like outlaws as described in the ballads that tell of Robin's glory days under Edward III as a merchant and possibly archer to King Edward III.

Hathersage

Loxley is in Yorkshire and just over the county border in Derbyshire is Hathersage situated on the edge of Royal Forest. It was administered by the Sheriff of Nottingham, and this caused a problem for the people of Hathersage who were not allowed to hunt for food in the nearby Royal Forest of the Peak. Their only option, which was the lesser of two evils, was to cross the county border onto land belonging to the people of Loxley.

This resulted in a dispute between the two villages that rumbled on for many years. Eventually a commission was set-up and a ditch dug across Hallam Moors to mark the official boundary between the two villages, that was also the county boundary and although the argument was about hunting rights it had the effect of confirming Robin’s status as a Yorkshireman and explains why the Sloane Manuscript says; “Robin Hood was born in Locksley, Yorkshire which some say was in Nottinghamshire.”

According to Roger Dodsworth, the ballad, the Sloane Manuscript and Elias Ashmole, after Little John had buried his comrade, Robin Hood at Kirklees Priory he made his way sadly back to Hathersage where he spent his last remaining days. He dug his own grave under the old yew tree in the graveyard, near the old preaching cross and directed that his cap, bow, and arrows should be hung in the church. In 1625 Ashmole wrote, “Little John lyes buried in Hathersage Churchyard within three miles from Castleton, near High Peake, with one stone set up at his head and another at his feete, but a large distance between them”. (Ashmole MS 1137:fol.147) The ballad adds:

“His bow was in the chancel hung
His last good bolt they drave
Down to the rocks, its measured length,
Westward fro’ the grave.

And root and bud this shaft put forth,
When spring returned anon,
It grew a tree, and threw a shade,
Where slept staunch Little John”.

Kirklees

At Kirklees the prioress between 1350-60 was Margaret Savile the sister of Sir John Saville who was the sheriff of Yorkshire when Robin was pardoned. She was living at the right time to have been the prioress when Robin fled from Loxley.

Fifty plus years later between 1402 and 1416 the prioress was Alice de Mounteney and living at nearby Mirfield was a branch of the Neville family who are noted for their red hair which was a feature of the prioress lover who was nicknamed Red Roger.

The prioress who murdered Robin Hood is said to have been related to him, and this may have been through the Furnival family who were in Sheffield and related to both the Neville and Mounteney families. Sir Thomas Neville married Joan de Furnival of Sheffield; Matilda the daughter of Gerard de Furnival also of Sheffield married Arnold de Mounteney and Thomas Lord Furnival married Joan Mounteney in 1366.

Working out the dates we find that if Robin was born c. 1337 and fled Loxley c. 1350 age 13 then the prioress at Kirklees was Margaret Savile; Edward III died 1377 and the ballad stops here. The Peasant’s Revolt was 1381; king Richard II was personally involved at York and then we read Robin was living in the king’s court, effectively under house arrest and spending his money to curry favour (on both knights and squires, to get him great renown). Robin left the king’s court never to return 15 months later c. 1385; he lived 22 years in Barnsdale and died c. 1407 when Alice de Mounteney was prioress.

Earl of Huntington or not?

The High Sheriff of Yorkshire at the time of the Peasants Revolt in which Robin Hood was involved was Sir Ralph Hastings who lived in York Castle. Bootham Gate, the scene of the rioting leads into the Royal Forest of Galtres where there is the village of Huntington (not Huntingdon) which is the same spelling used by Munday and others when writing about Robin Hood the earl of Huntington.

George Hastings was a member of the Drapers company the same as Robin had been, and when George was created the earl of Huntingdon by King Henry VIII, the family began the tradition of naming their children Robin Hood as in the, “Honourable Aubrey Craven Theophilus Robin Hood Hastings.” In summary, Robin was outlawed by a member of the Hastings family, Robin and George Hastings were both in the lucrative wool and cloth trade, they were members of the same guild, but at different times and they might both have hunted in the Royal Forest of Galtres.

John Major led many people astray by incorrectly placing Robin Hood in the reign of King John and other mischief makers were Anthony Munday who elevated Robin Hood to the non-existent earldom of Huntington and William Stukeley whose writings resulted in the grave-slab at Kirklees being placed there in the 19th century by the owner of the estate, even though the final resting places of the nobility are commonly known. Credit must be given though to the fabricators for calling Robin Hood the “Pretended” Earl of Huntington throughout their writings for although Robin may have been an earl in fiction, he was not an earl in real life.

The Complete Peerage Volume 6 speaking about Nottingham’s candidate says, “Robin Hood (for whose existence no contemporary evidence has been found) was first called Robert fitz Ooth in a fictitious pedigree concocted by the 18th century antiquary William Stukeley.”
Since this was written, contemporary evidence has been found that confirms Robin Hood was both a real person and that he was from Hallamshires Wadsley where the village of Loxley is situated.

Timeline

For dating evidence we have Robin and his men wearing Lincoln Green which became the colour of the kings livery in the reign of Edward II, Nottingham city walls were not completed until 1337, the two handed longsword we read about in Robin Hood and the Monk can be dated to 1350-1550, pavage tax that we read about in Robin Hood and the Potter was introduced in Wentbridge in 1319 and friars did not enter England until after the death of king John in 1221.

The king is spoken of as Edward and it was Edward III who created the guilds, neither must we forget Gisbourn, the miller’s son, the two prioress or Ralph Hastings who was the Sheriff of Yorkshire when Robin was outlawed in the Peasants Revolt and whose descendants became the earls of Huntingdon which explains Robin’s gentrification by the playwright Anthony Munday. For the legend to be true all the participants would need to be living at the same time, as they were, which is when the popular contemporary hero who William Langland wrote about in 1377 was alive and well and making a name for himself.

Professor Holt is of the opinion the origin of the “Gest of Robin Hood” is circa 1450, which rules out an earlier hero of the ballads, he goes on to say Major’s conception about a 13th century Robin Hood “was not reinforced by argument, evidence or proof it was simply recycled through later versions of the tale and so became an integral part of the legend.” Neither is this view supported by the earliest ballads that name the reigning monarch as “Edward.” This accords with Professor Thomas Ohlgren who writes the Gest was “commissioned by one of the fifteenth-century guilds — possibly the Dyers Guild in the light of the numerous references to cloth and liveries — to commemorate Edward III not only as the protector of the English Channel but as the founder of seven of the 12 Great Livery Companies.”

The Ballads

Robin Hood and the Potter

So far we see a merchant called Robin Hood who is obviously wealthy and ruthless. He was used to getting his own way, he is afraid of nobody and he has men to back him up. An example of Robin’s no-nonsense approach can be seen in Robin Hood and the Potter who refused to pay pavage tax. First Robin confiscated his pots and then he disguised himself as the potter and sold them in Nottingham market for less that they were worth.

The result was that the potter was effectively fined when his pots were confiscated. The money Robin got from their sale would pay the pavage tax and presumably there would be some money left over for Robin in lieu of wages, well done Robin. It also guaranteed a quick sale and it got him to meet the sheriff’s wife through whom he was able to meet the sheriff himself and lure him into the forest where Robin’s men surrounded him.

It was thanks to the hospitality of the sheriff’s wife that Robin let the sheriff go free and in this way Robin punished the bad and honoured the good. All the time Robin had the upper hand, the potter’s debt was paid and Robin had the sheriff of Nottingham in his clutches. This is where Robin differs from the common brigand who would either have held the sheriff to ransom, killed him, or both. (As pavage tax was not introduced into Wentbridge until 1319 and Edward III came to the throne in 1327 then the events in the ballad would in all probability have taken place in the reign of Edward III.)

Robin Hood and the Monk

In “Robin Hood and the Monk” Robin is accused of robbery which may be well-founded because we read in the Gest that Robin took money from two thieving monks at the Saylis who could easily have been at St. Mary’s in Nottingham the same time as Robin.

Whether Robin robbed them or not is dependent on whether it is possible to rob two monks of money they do not have, which is what they told Robin. He put it down to the Blessed Virgin thus absolving himself from blame and putting it down to the will of God.

Then after a hair-raising adventure Robin was jailed and when Little John released him from prison they escaped into the forest by climbing over the city wall that was not completed until 1337 in the reign of Edward III. (More dating evidence.)

As it turned out the monks had embezzled £400 from the impoverished knight so they were right to say ‘they’ had no money because it did not belong to them. Whichever way you look at it, firstly they were lying when they said they had no money and secondly the money they had, was stolen from someone else, so they had no need to complain that they had been robbed.

Robin Hood and the Impoverished Knight

When Robin Hood was convinced the impoverished knight was telling the truth and that he had no money and was genuinely in trouble, then Robin gave the knight a grey packhorse, a palfrey, a saddle, a pair of boots, some new clothes and a pair of gilded spurs, which is something only a knight would have.

“Master,” then said Little John, His clothing is very thin. You must give the knight some good clothes, to wrap his body in. “For you have scarlet and green, master, and many a rich array. There is no merchant in merry England so rich, I dare well say.”

“Take him three yards of every colour, and see that you measure it true.” Little John took no other measure but his long bow of yew. And at every handful that he met, he counted it a yard. “What devils draper,” said little Much, Do you think you are?”

Scarlet stood still and laughed and said, “By God almighty, John may give him good measure for it costs him but lightly.” (From the Gest)

Robin then lent the knight £400 of his own money and this is when we learn that Robin was “the wealthiest merchant in all England with a rich array of scarlet and green cloth,” and the loan was to be paid back in 12 months time. With that the impoverished knight set off to St. Marys to pay his debt and have the matter settled legally.

Then through a combination of circumstances Robin came into possession of £800 from the two monks at the Saylis and when the knight returned 12 months later to pay back the £400 he owed Robin he is told about the £800 Robin got from the two monks. They all laugh and after the knight repaid his debt to Robin, Robin split the £800 and gave the knight £400 to buy a new horse, keeping £400 for himself so all in all the knight’s debt is paid and both men were £400 better off. The real losers are the two monks from St. Marys who were wrongfully attempting to rob the knight of all his possessions and justice had been done.

Professor Holt and Nottingham

Although Robin Hood was in Nottingham it is unlikely Nottingham’s candidate Robert-de-Kyme was Robin Hood and neither was he known as ‘Robin Hood.’ Professor Holt has this to say:-“Since Mr. J. Lees (The Quest for Robin Hood, Nottingham 1987), has tried to revive Stukeley’s pedigree in a revised form it may be useful to summarize a few of the salient errors.”

First, the critical figure for both Stukeley and Mr. Lees is William ‘FitzOoth,’ who (Stukeley) or whose heir (Lees) was transferred to the custody of Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, in 1214. In reality the William son of Otho, whose heir or heirs were placed in the custody of Aubrey de Vere, carl of Oxford, in 1205 and transferred to Robert de Vere, earl of Oxford, in 1214, had nothing to do with the family of Kyme, or with the earls of Huntingdon, still less with Robin Hood. He is well known as an official of the Mint, holding his office in charge of the manufacture of the royal dies as a sergcanty. By 1219 he was succeeded by his son, Otho son of William, who still held office in 1242-3. It follows therefore that ‘Robert fitz Ooth’ is entirely fictitious; so is the alleged link between ‘FitzOoth’ and Kyme; and so are the grounds for seeking an original Robin Hood in the Kyme family.

Secondly, there is no evidence that any Robert of Kyme mentioned by Mr. Lees was outlawed. The instance on which he relies is a royal remission of wrath and indignation incurred by an appeal of rape against a Robert of Kyme at Wenlock in 1226; there is no mention of outlawry.

Thirdly, Mr. Lees’s ‘Robert of Kyme’ is compounded of at least two distinct individuals, none of them an outlaw and none of them a disinherited elder son; many of the relationships he proposes within the Kyme family are quite unsupported by any contemporary evidence.

The recent attempt by Mr. J. Lees (The Quest for Robin Hood, Nottingham 1987) to alter the accepted geography of the tales by placing Barnsdale in Sherwood is quite unacceptable. It involves an elementary misreading of the Gest: the knight was travelling south through Barnsdale, not north, as he insists, for he was intending to voyage to the Holy Land (56, 57); it is only later, after leaving Robin in Barnsdale, that he visits St Mary’s, York, to repay his debt (84).

It is also based on a tendentious and uncritical evaluation of the place-name evidence. ‘Brunnisdale’ in Basford, Notts., cannot be equated with Barnsdale. ‘Brunnis’ is most probably ‘brun,’ i.e., brown; ‘Barn’ comes from the personal name ‘Beorn’. Moreover, the evidence linking Wentbridge, Sayles, Barnsdale and Wading Street is very clear and certain.

The main facts concerning the use of Watling Street as a name for the Great North Road in the Barnsdale area, which Mr. Lees questions, are incontrovertibly presented in The Place Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, vii, p. 145. (Professor Holt)

See my new site here: http://robinhood-loxley.weebly.com/

LOXLEY
A recently discovered pardon in the Public Records office reads: "Robert Dore of Wadsley (West Yorkshire) otherwise known as Robin Hode (Hood), given the King’s pardon on 22nd May 1382."

The knightly Wadsley family were the Lords of the Manor of Wadsley and the citation of Wadsley in the pardon is probably due to the fact that they owned Loxley Common and Loxley Chase. Loxley Chase was a deer park inhabited by fletchers, or arrow-makers and the Sloane Manuscript lodged in the British Museum tells us Robin had two better bows at Lockesley compared to the birding bow he had with him.

The pardon relates to the Peasants Revolt at York. The Lord Mayor was called John Gisburn and Robin's arch enemy in the Rhymes of Robin Hood was called Guy Gisbourne. Robin's involvement in the Peasant's Revolt against authority bears witness to his support of the poor who were oppressed by the treacherous Lord Mayor. Such was the anger of the people that Gisborne had to flee for his life and so serious was the situation that the king himself became involved.

A recently discovered Latin chronicle c.1460 held by Eaton College says Robin Hood "infested" parts of England with "continuous robberies" indicating he was well known, certainly in some parts of the country.

The antiquary Roger Dodsworth wrote “Robert Locksley, born in the Bradfield Parish of Hallamshire wounded his stepfather to death at plough, fled into the woods and was relieved by his mother till he was discovered. Then he came to Clifton upon Calder, and became acquainted with Little John, that kept the kine. Which said John is buried at Hathersage in Derbyshire where he hath a fair tombstone with an inscription. Mr Long saith that Fabyan saith, Little John was Earl Huntley’s son. After, he joined with Much the Miller's’s son." (Bodleian Library MS. Dodsw. 160, fol. 64r)

Seventeen years after Dodsworth, in September 1637, John Harrison in his survey of the Manor of Sheffield confirmed Dodsworth’s notes by saying: “William Green who was one of my Lord’s keepers did hold in regard of his office these parcels of land following: - No.352. Imprimis (to start with) Great Haggis Croft (pasture) near Robin Hood’s Bower and is environed with Loxley Firth and contains 1 acre, 2 Roods, and 27 square perches. Item, Little Haggas croft wherein is ye foundation of a house or cottage where Robin Hood was born; this piece is compassed about with Loxley Firth” and contains two Roods and 13 square perches." (Translation of these measurements are: - 1 acre = 4 roods = 4840 square yards. 1 rood = 40 square perches. 1 square perch = 30 square yards. Firth = a wooded area.)

The Sloane Manuscript begins: - "Robin Hood was borne at Lockesley in Yorkshire, or according to others, in Nottinghamshire” and the contentious claim that Loxley was in Nottinghamshire was due to a dispute regarding the county boundary with many people thinking Loxley was in Nottinghamshire. (See the rhyme below.)

Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire were both administered by the Sheriff of Nottingham and were collectively known as 'Nottinghamshire.' Regardless of county boundaries all parties agreed on Robin Hood’s birth place of Loxley and after many years of argument the arbitrator, William Jessop of Broom Hall, Sheffield, decreed the boundary followed the same line as the present county boundary and Loxley was in Yorkshire.
Here is the rhyme: -

"In Locksley town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
In merry sweet Locksley town,
There bold Robin Hood was born and was bred,
Bold Robin, of famous renown."

(There is no Loxley in the county of Nottingham)



ECCLESFIELD
Ecclesfield Priory was the “Mother Church” to both the Sheffield and Bradfield churches. These were religious houses of Benedictine Monks (Black Monks) who are a recurring theme in the “Geste of Robin Hood.” Monk Bretton Priory near Barnsley belonged to the same order and so did St. Marys at York which also features prominently in the Geste of Robin Hood.

In an “Account of the Loxleys of Hallamshire”, by F L Preston (1966), held in the Local Studies Section of Sheffield City Library, reference 929.2 LOXL SST includes an introductory chapter on the connection with Robertus de Lokeslay, the reputed 'Robin Hood.' It says: - “The extensive ancient parishes of Sheffield and Ecclesfield, including the chapelry of Bradfield, formed the Manor of Hallamshire. In Bradfield was Loxley Chase which was the forest preserve of the Lord of the Manor, De Lovetot, who had come from Huntingdonshire. The Sheffield De Lovetots ended with a daughter, who married Gerard de Furnival. Thomas de Lokeslay's son John was Reeve of Bradfield in 1417 and again (perhaps his son John) in 1439 to 1443. A branch of the De Lovetots continued in Huntingdonshire. The published records of that County refer to land held by Robertus de Lokesley in 1242, to Thomas de Lockely in 1247, and to Rogerus de Lovetot in 1247. Roger was Sheriff of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire in 1255-8. In view of the strong connection between Hallamshire and these counties then it is probable that a Bradfield Loxley had received lands in Huntingdonshire. Hence the family tradition of descent from Lord Loxley, Earl of Huntingdon!

STOCKSBRIDGE
The circles are at half mile intervals
Stocksbridge is on the River Don and the author Sir Walter Scot in his novel Ivanhoe wrote: - “In that pleasant district of merry England which is watered by the river Don, there extended in ancient times a large forest, covering the greater part of the beautiful hills and valleys which lie between Sheffield and the pleasant town of Doncaster. The remains of this extensive wood are still to be seen at the noble seats of Wentworth, of Warncliffe Park, and around Rotherham. Here haunted of yore the fabulous Dragon of Wantley (Sir Francis Wortley); here were fought many of the most desperate battles during the Civil Wars of the Roses; and here also flourished in ancient times those bands of gallant outlaws whose deeds have been rendered so popular in English song.”

Stocksbridge is situated in the valley bottom below Loxley and Bradfield Moors. Above Stocksbridge is Bolsterstone Castle that was built by the great baron Furnival who built Sheffield Castle. If Robin returned today no doubt he would recognise much of the landscape which at one time belonged to Waltheof, the Saxon Earl of Huntingdon.

From Stocksbridge via Bolsterstone the traveller passes over Strines Moors and into Hathersage a distance of about 12 miles. Hathersage is surrounded by reminders of Robin Hood in the place names "Hood Valley," "Hood Brook," and Little John’s Grave. On the moors above Hathersage are Robin Hood’s Cave, Robin Hood’s Moss, Robin Hood’s table at Barbrook stream and at the head of Agden Clough is Robin Hood’s chair.
Tradition has it that Little John chose the site of his grave himself with an arrow shot from "Robin Hood's Stoop." Robin Hood’s cross marked the boundary of three nearby villages and Offerton was leased to Ralph Eyre in 1473 by the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary’s, Rufford, in Sherwood Forest, the Cross being mentioned in a document of that date and previously in AD1319 (Professor Holt). The abbey was founded in 1147 and the boundary stone appears to be the earliest place name associated with Robin Hood.

From nearby Brough the Roman Road known as "Long Causeway" crosses Hallam Moors through Crosspool, down Lydgate Lane to the University Roundabout and thence to the Wicker, Templeborough, Doncaster and Robin Hood's Well at Barnsdale on the "Great North Road" known at that time as Watling Street. Robin Hood and his men were described as being 'weighty,' meaning they were strong and fleet of foot. Medieval lords, barons and their retinue on their way from York to Peveril Castle for the hunting according to the seasons will have gone through Penistone and Stocksbridge on their journey to Castleton, passing Loxley and Wadsley Commons and Robin Hood's place of birth in Little Haggas Croft. Retracing their steps took them back through Stocksbridge and the Don Valley as described in Ivanhoe, back to Penistone, Denby Dale, Kirkburton, Wakefield and Barnsdale in the Calder Valley.


PENISTONE
The administrative boundary for Penistone includes Langsett Moors not far from the “Royal Forest of the Peak” which was good because the inhabitants would not be prosecuted for poaching under forest law and neither would they be prosecuted for such minor offences as collecting firewood. Being a market town there are many ancient tracks and packhorse routes that converged onto Penistone from a wide area including Longdendale, Holmfirth, Hope Valley, Sheffield, Huddersfield, Wakefield, the saltway from Cheshire, and Wharncliff Woods, the River Don, and Wortley which are mentioned in Ivanhoe as being the haunt of the famous outlaw.

In the Royal Forest were bears, wolves, wild bulls, red deer and boars, as well as wild duck, pheasants and partridges. In King John’s time large studs of horses were maintained for the hunt in the booths around Edale. Medieval kings used Peveril Castle as a Hunting Lodge and in 1184 stampeding deer trampled men and dogs to death, such was their number.

Poaching in the Royal Forest was rife and among those caught poaching were Sir Thomas Furnival, lord of Sheffield. William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby, Ralph de Beaufoy of Trusley, Richard Curzon, Henry de Elton, and William May the Earl’s huntsman who took 1000 deer during the six years when Earl Derby was Chief Bailiff (1216-1222).

The Royal Forest covered 180 square miles and Edale Cross near Winn Hill marked its centre. The cross also marked the boundary of land given to the Abbey of the Cistercian Order. The abbey was founded by Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester who has been linked to Robin Hood in the rhyme written ca. 1360–1387, “I do not know my Paternoster perfectly as the priest sings it. But I know the rhymes of Robin Hood and Ranulf Earl of Chester." This was written at the time of the peasants Revolt when Robin Hood in the above pardon was active. The Abbey of Basingwerke was given the manor of Glossop by King Henry II and the hilltop “Monks' Road” is a reminder of their presence in the valley.

Also in Derwent Valley were the monks of Welbeck Abbey. They built four chapels and two bridges which were located so that wherever they were working they would always be reasonably close to a chapel for their devotions. The only condition in their charter was that between mid April and the 24 July the Canons were to keep their cattle away from the nesting places of King John’s sparrow hawks. Interestingly Welbeck Abbey is not far from Edwinstow and the Major Oak in Sherwood Forest.
When Robin Hood was outlawed Roger Dodsworth tells us he fled to the woods and it is likely he will have passed through Penistone along one of the many paths on his way to the Calder Valley where he met Little John near Barnsdale thus marking the beginning of his illustrious career that made him so famous.


DENBY DALE
Due to the Local Government Act of 1972 Denby Dale became Kirklees Metropolitan District Council on 1 April 1974. The name ‘Kirklees’ (meaning ‘Church Meadow’) is taken from the ruined Kirklees Priory, north of Huddersfield where Robin Hood is reputed to be buried. This small Cistercian priory of Kirklees was founded in 1155AD during the reign of Henry II by Reiner le Fleming, lord of the manor of Wath-upon-Dearne. Life will have been fairly uneventful until the Black Death, when among those who died of the plague were Robert Hood of Wakefield, his next-door neighbour and attorney Thomas Alayn, also William of Goldesborough and others. They were buried in the cemetery of the priory where the Prioress layed "a very fayre stone" with all their names engraved.

In 1542 John Leyland who was antiquary (historian) to Henry VIII and who travelled widely in England and Wales keeping records of all kinds of antiquities went to Kirklees where he recorded the grave as 'monasterum monialum ubi Ro:Hood nobilis ille exlex sepultus.' Which roughly translated means, "Resting under this monument lies buried Robin Hood that nobleman who was beyond the law."

Then in 1562 Richard Grafton who was the printer to King Henry VIII visited Kirklees and wrote:- "But in an olde and ancient Pamphlet I find this written of the sayd Robert Hood. This man (sayth he) descended of a nobel parentage: or rather being of a base stock and linage, was for his manhood and chivalry advanced to the noble dignity of an Earle. Excelling principally in Archery, or shooting, his manly courage agreeing thereunto: But afterwards he so prodigally exceeded in charges and expenses, that he fell into great debt, by reason whereof, so many actions and sutes were commenced against him, wherunto he answered not, that by order of law he was outlawed, and then for a lewde shift, as his last refuge, gathered together a company of Roysters and Cutters, and practised robberyes and spoiling of the Kong's subjects, and occupied and frequented the Forests or Wilde Countries. The which beyng certified to the King, and he beyng greatly offended therewith, caused his proclamation to be made that whosoever would bring him quick or dead, the king would give him a great sum of money, as by the records in the Exchequer is to be seen: But of this promise, no man enjoyed any benefit. For the sayd Robert Hood, beyng afterwards troubled with sickness, came to a certain Nunnery in Yorkshire called Bircklies, where desiring to be let blood, he was betrayed and bled to death. After whose death the Prioress of the same place caused him to be buried by the high way side, where he had used to rob and spoyle those that passed that way. And upon his grave the sayde Prioress did lay a very fayre stone, wherin the names of Robert Hood, William of Goldesborough and others were graven. And the cause why she buried him there was for that the common passengers and travellers knowing and seeing him there buried, might more safely and without fear take their journeys that way, which they durst not do in the life of the sayd outlaws. And at ether end of the sayde Tomb was erected a cross of stone, which is to be seen there at this present (1569, pp. 84-85)."

In 1850 Sir George Armytage II placed a headstone with a date 1247 and an epitaph which when translated into modern English reads: "Robert Earl of Huntingdon lies under this little stone. No archer was like him so good; his wildness named him ROBIN HOOD. For thirteen years, and something more, these northern parts he vexed sore. Such outlaws as he and his men, may England never know again. 8th November 1247."

KIRKBURTON

The local railway line from Penistone passes through the Robin Hood tunnel at Berry Brow which has long been the site of a house named after Robin Hood on the lower slopes of the prehistoric mound of Castle Hill near Almondbury.
After the Norman Conquest of 1066, the area became part of the Honour of Pontefract held by the De-Lacy family and interestingly Roger de Lacy was the Sheriff of Nottingham in 1190 and the Constable of Chester working alongside Ranulfe, earl of Chester.

The three years of rebellion following the Conquest ended when the Conqueror pursued his favourite scorched earth policy in the "Harrowing of the North" during the winter of 1069/70 when houses were burnt to the ground, cattle were seized and driven away, agricultural implements were destroyed along with the crops, and it is reckoned a hundred and fifty thousand people died. Large areas were completely devastated and became the hunting grounds of the Norman lords, the remnants of which can be seen today with the massive Royal Forest of the Peak a short distance away to the west of Holmfirth over which the Sheriff of Nottingham had jurisdiction.

The ancient footpaths provided Robin and his men with ready access around Yorkshire and into the Royal Forest which was administered by the Sheriff of Nottingham from his base at Peveril Castle in Castleton when he was in Derbyshire. The result was that Robin and his men came into conflict with both the sheriff of Nottingham when they were in Peak Forest and Hathersage and the sheriff of Yorkshire three of whom had also been the sheriffs of Nottingham. Roger de Lacy, a Yorkshireman, makes four Nottingham sheriffs in Yorkshire. No doubt this is one of the reasons Robin warned his men about the sheriffs saying, “These bishops and these archbishops, ye shall them beat and bind; the high sheriff of Nottingham, him hold ye in your mind.”
Robin may have had good reason to warn his men against the sheriffs particularly the sheriffs of Nottingham who were chosen for their powerful personalities, strong spirits, and cruel behaviour. They excelled as military men and fighters and acted as administrators and governors keeping the populace in order and raising taxes. Among them were Philip Marc whose actions Professor Holt informs us included ‘robbery, false arrest, unjust disseisin (wrongful dispossession) and persistent attacks on local landed interests.’ Other particularly harsh sheriffs were Robert-de-Vieuxpont, Hubert-de-Burgh, Philip Oldcoates, Brian-de-Lisle and John-de-Oxford who stole wheat, barley, oats, malt and oxen which he sold back to their owners for his own profit. He punished those who took part in the Peasants Revolt with heavy fines and outlawry. These were difficult times and the discontent and outrage of the populace which had been simmering away since the Norman Conquest finally came to a head in the Peasants Revolt. Little wonder that those who opposed these men became a hero in the eyes of the people, the most famous of whom was known as Robin Hood.


FINIS

Wentbridge

He bare a launsgay in his honde,
And a man ledde his male,
And reden with a lyght songe
Unto Bernsydale.

But at Wentbrydge ther was a wrastelyng,
And there taryed was he,
And there was all the best yemen
Of all the west countree.

Stanza 540 Geste.

It was Francis James Child, 1825-96, born in Boston Massachusetts who amended the place of Wentbridge to "he went at a bridge" Child includes this alteration in his textual note, III, 79.

This is obviously an attempt to edit the text by a compositor who did not know Wentbridge.

Notice the late date.


(Rochester)

Yorkshire Robin Hood

1. Just quickly there is the pardon given to the only known outlaw called Robin Hood and he was a Yorkshireman.


2. Robin Hood was outlawed for his part in the peasants revolt against the Lord Mayor of York called John Gisbourn. Ring any bells?


3. The Encyclopaedia Britannica says the early medieval ballads such as the Geste, Robin Hood and the Monk, Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne, Robin Hood and the Potter; indicate that the action took place not in Nottinghamshire but chiefly in South Yorkshire."


4. Robin Hood's involvement in the peasant's revolt against authority bears witness to his support for the poor.


5. Robin Hood was an established figure whose life and deeds were known to the King's of England.


6. King Edward II in his visitation of the northern counties c. 1323 pursued Robin Hood after discovering the devastation caused to the king's deer in the northern counties. He went looking for Robin Hood in the north of the country, not in Sherwood or Nottingham.


7. The account of King Henry VII journey to Pontefract Castle in 1487 recorded "Robin Hood's Well" at Barnsdale between Pontefract and a little beyond Doncaster. This pinpoints Barnsdale's precise position.


8. Both King Henry VIII's printer Richard Grafton and the king's historian John Leyland placed Robin Hood in Yorkshire.


9. The Sloane manuscript tells us Robin Hood was born in Loxley which some people said was in Nottingham while others said Loxley was in Yorkshire. This was due to a border dispute. The same manuscript tells us Robin Hood died at Kirklees and Little John at Hathersage. This all ties in with the legend and the rhyme which we shall see later about Robin Hood being born in Nottinghams fair Loxley. This is further confirmation of both the border dispute and Robins birth place.


10. Roger Dodsworth the noted historian tells us Robert Lockesley aka Robin Hood was born in Loxley and fled to Clifton upon Calder in Barnsdale where he met Little John, this is what he says:-

"Robert Lockesley, born in the Bradfield Parish of Hallamshire (Loxley) wounded his stepfather to death at plough, fled into the woods and was relieved by his mother till he was discovered. Then he came to Clifton upon Calder, (Barnsdale) and became acquainted with Little John, that kept the kine. Which said John is buried at Hathersage in Derbyshire where he hath a fair tombstone with an inscription. Mr Long saith that Fabyan saith, Little John was Earl Huntley's son. After, he joined with Much the Miller's's son."


11. Robin Hood's death at Kirklees in the Calder Valley confirms Roger Dodsworth's account that says Robin fled to the Calder Valley.


12. John Harrison in his survey of the Manor of Sheffield confirmed Dodsworth's notes by saying:
"William Green who was one of my Lord's keepers did hold in regard of his office these parcels of land Item, Little Haggas croft wherein is ye foundation of a house or cottage where Robin Hood was born;"


13. At Monk Bretton were the 'black monks of St Mary's priory' who are mentioned in The Lytill Geste of Robin Hood. It is the Monk Bretton charter of 1422 that provides us with the first recorded mention of Robin Hood's Well on Watling Street at Barnsdale. The well is between Ferrybridge and Doncaster and is situated where the two parishes of Kirkby Smeaton and Burghwallis meet. Years ago at a nearby inn a leather bottle was preserved and the claim was made that it was originally the property of Robin Hood.."


14. King Henry VII In 1487, visited Pontefract Castle and was met by the earl of Northumberland with many Gentry and Nobles who were attached to the House of Lancaster. When they got to Barnsdale the account of the King's journey reads: "between Pontefract and Doncaster a littell beyonde Robyn Haddes Well are to be seen ruts and grooves on the surface of an ancient highway [Watling Street] made by Romans during their period of occupation." Evidence of this can be seen on nearby Blackstone Edge where on the paved Roman road between Ripponden and Littleborough there are ruts which were made by the wheels and groves were made by the poles that were used as brakes for the vehicles.


15. All the early rhymes place Robin Hood in Barnsdale, Yorkshire.


16. Most of the place names are in Yorkshire.


17. At one point in its history Barnsdale in Yorkshire was administered by the Sheriff of Nottingham.


18. There were three Nottingham sheriffs who administered Yorkshire.


19. This Rhyme confirms Robin's birthplace and childhood home. Mistakenly placing Loxley in Nottinghamshire confirms the boundary dispute.

"In Locksley town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
In merry sweet Locksley town,
There bold Robin Hood was born and was bred,
Bold Robin, of famous renown."


20. Richard Rolle who may have been the author of the early Rhymes was local to Barnsdale and the early rhymes show evidance of local knowladge. Rolle's books were printed by "Wynkin de Worde," the same people who printed the Geste of Robin Hood.


21. There is also Robin Hood's Well at Barnsdale.


22. There is Little John's Well at Hampole (Richard Rolle).


23. There is Robin Hood's stream in Hanging Wood near Hampole. The Robin Hood names in Yorkshire pre-date all others.


24. The Encyclopedia Britannica says, "The authentic Robin Hood ballads were the poetic expression of popular aspirations in the north of England during a turbulent era of baronial rebellions and agrarian discontent. This culminated in the Poll Tax Riots of 1381 when the peasants revolted and the stories of the free but persecuted outlaw who enjoyed the forbidden hunting of the forest and outwitted or killed the forces of law and order naturally appealed to the downtrodden populace."

Again this confirms what has gone before.


25. This is also from the Encyclopaedia Britannica and is what Nottingham use as the basis for Robert-de-Kyme.

"Numerous attempts have been made to prove that there was a historical Robin Hood, though references to the legend by medieval writers make it clear that the ballads themselves were the only evidence for his existence available to them. A popular modern belief that he was of the time of Richard I probably stems from a "pedigree" fabricated by an 18th-century antiquary, William Stukeley."

INTRODUCTION

There were many reasons why people were outlawed. For example on the death of his parents the eldest son inherited everything leaving the rest of the family homeless. Hopefully his younger sisters would make a good marriage or failing that enter the church while his younger brothers made a living as best they could or failing that might seek shelter in the woods sometimes becoming a law unto themselves as happened with the famous Folville brothers. Another reason for outlaws in the forest was that those who fought on the loosing side in battle often escaped into the woodland to avoid being taken prisoner and it was normal practise to declare these people "outlaws" and of course some people escaped to the woods to avoid the rigours of the law. Whatever the reason for fugitives being in the woods they were 'home' to many people. The woodland provided shelter and concealment, food from their poaching activities, and money and jewellery from the proceeds of highway robbery with which hopefully they could buy their way back into society and obtain a pardon.

The name 'Robin Hood' may owe its origin to forest living with 'Hood' being derived from the Saxon word "Houdt" meaning "the whood." Robin being a corruption of Robber giving us 'Robber in the Wood' and over the years it has become Robin Hood. We are told that Robert of Loxley fled to the woods while a young man and made a name for himself as "Robin Hood." The Sloane Manuscript in the British Museum which is attributed to the year AD1400 places Robin Hood in Loxley around AD1160 and this is what it says:

"Robin Hood was borne at Lockesley in Yorkshire, or after others, in Nottinghamshire in the days of Henry the second, about the year 1160; but lived till the latter end of Richard the First. He was of (illegible but from the context could be 'noble') parentage, but was so riotous, that he lost or sold his patrimony, and for debt became an outlaw; then joining to him many stout fellows of like disposition, amongst whom one called Little John was principal, or next to him. They hunted about Barnsdale forest, Clomptoun Parke, and other such places. They used most of all shooting, wherein they all excelled [above] all the men of the land, though, as occasion required, they had also other weapons. One of his first exploits was the going abroad into a forest, and bearing with him a bow of exceeding great strength. He fell into company with certain rangers, or woodsmen, who fell to quarrel with him, as making show to use such a bow as no man was able to shoot with all; whereto Robin replied, that he had two better then that at Lockesley...., (then follows a collection of early rhymes in a less sophisticated form than the later printed version.)"

This confirms Roger Dodsworth's account that tells us, “Robert Locksley, born in the Bradfield Parish of Hallamshire (Loxley) wounded his stepfather to death at plough, fled into the woods and was relieved by his mother till he was discovered. Then he came to Clifton upon Calder, (Barnsdale) and became acquainted with Little John, that kept the kine. Which said John is buried at Hathersage in Derbyshire where he hath a fair tombstone with an inscription. Mr Long saith that Fabyan saith, Little John was Earl Huntley’s son. After, he joined with Much the Miller's’s son."

We are told that Robin Hood was in Loxley as a young man and he spent his time in Barnsdale forest and other such places. The "Geste of Robin Hood" continues likewise and after a short introduction the begins with Robin in Barnsdale:

"Robyn stood in Barnsdale,
And leaned against a tree,
At his side stood Little John,
A good yeoman was he."

It continues:

"I made a chapel in Barnsdale,
That's beautiful to see,
It is of Mary Magdalene,
It's where I'd like to be."

This is where the early Rhymes of Robin Hood are set, in Barnsdale. Most of the place names in the rhymes are around there, Red Roger and the Prioress of Kirklees were nearby. Barnsdale was Robin's home to which he returned after his encounters with the Sheriff of Nottingham. It was in Barnsdale where Robin robbed the Bishop of Hereford of his gold, it is in Barnsdale where Robin Hood helped the poor knight on his way to York, it is in Barnsdale where Robin Hood built the early wooden church of St. Mary Magdalene near the River Skell and it is in Barnsdale where Robin Hood and Little John first met and had their famous fight over the same River Skell at Wentbridge.

The historian Andrew-of-Wyntoun, prior of Loch Leven (d.1420) in his rhyming chronicle called 'Orygynale Chronicle' also has Robin Hood and Little John in Inglewood and Barnsdale.

"Lytil Jhon and Robyne Hude
Wayth-men ware commendyd gude
In Ingle-wode and Barnysdale
Thai oysyd all this tyme thare trawale."

In addition to the rhymes and the chroniclers, place names offer a third source of information. The earliest place to bear his name is near Loxley and then over the years they become more widespread:

1) Robin Hood's cross marked the boundary of three nearby villages and Offerton was leased to Ralph Eyre in 1473 by the Abbot and Convent of St. Mary's, Rufford, in Sherwood Forest, the Cross being mentioned in a document of that date and previously in AD1319. The abbey was founded around AD1147. It is one mile East of Bradwell in Hazlebadge parish in Derbyshire. Hazlebadge belonged to the Sheriff of Nottingham and is near Hathersage and Loxley.

2) Next in order of antiquity is Robin Hood's Bay which is in Yorkshire. It is mentioned in correspondence from the years 1324 to 1346, between the Count of Flanders and King Edward (this record was discovered by Robert Lynley).

3) Then comes Robin Hood's Well on the Great North Road in Barnsdale. The first recorded mention of the well was in a Monk Bretton charter of 1422.

4) The first Robin Hood place name in Nottingham is a field described as 'Robynhode Closse.' It first occurred in the Nottingham civic Chamberlains accounts for 1485.

5) The next Robin Hood place name is again in Nottingham and is Robin Hood's Well that was re-named At. Anne's Well. It was first mentioned in a presentment at the civic sessions of 20 July 1500.

The Border Dispute:
(1) Hathersage in Derbyshire lies just outside the Royal Forest of the Peak and had the two-fold advantage of excellent hunting with the added advantage of being just outside the forest boundary meaning the villagers were free from Forest Law making Hathersage attractive to its neighbours in the adjoining village of Loxley leading to the boundary dispute which is mentioned in the Sloane Manuscript.

The people of Hathersage who came under the jurisdiction of the Sheriff of Nottingham stated that the privileges claimed by the Loxley men were fictitious and that Loxley had no claim on Hathersage or its lands. Furthermore, the people of Hathersage claimed that the territory between Hathersage and the Loxley/Bradfield/Hallamshire boundary with its excellent grouse moors also belonged to Hathersage. The dispute rumbled on for centuries until finally William Jessop of Broom Hall who was appointed as arbitrator ruled in favour of the Hathersage men. This meant Hathersage was administered by Nottingham and Loxley came under Yorkshire with the result that the Loxley men had no rights over Hathersage. Had the decision gone the other way Loxley would also have come under Nottingham's jurisdiction. This explains the Sloane Manuscript that says according to some Loxley was in Nottingham and it also explains the Loxley/Nottingham reference in this ballad: -

"In Locksley town, in merry Nottinghamshire,
In merry sweet Locksley town,
There bold Robin Hood was born and was bred,
Bold Robin, of famous renown."

In summary:
1. The earliest surviving 'handwritten manuscript' has Robin Hood in Loxley c.1160 on the border of Yorkshire and Nottingham.

2. The legend began with Robert of Loxley killing his stepfather at plough and fleeing to the woods where he met Little John in Yorkshire's Calder Valley.

3. The grave which is popularly believed to be Robin Hood's is at Kirklees in the Calder Valley (Yorkshire) where according to legend he was murdered by the prioress.

4. Until c.1724 many people thought Loxley was in Nottingham and this may have given rise to the mistaken view that Robin Hood was from Loxley in Nottingham although unfortunalty there is no such place. The other thing to remember is that Nottingham is the area administered by the Sheriff of Nottingham and includes Derbyshire while "Nottingham Town" and "Loxley Town" refer to the places themselves and although the original rhymes speak of Nottingham Robin Hood is said to have come from Loxley or Loxley Town and not Nottingham Town.

5. The first place to be named after Robin was in the Royal Forest of the Peak not far from the sheriff's castle at Castleton close to Hathersage and Loxley.

6. Some sheriffs at different times administered both Yorkshire and Nottingham and their paths may well have crossed many times over?

.

ROBIN HOOD IN AD1400 MANUSCRIPTS

A manuscript in Lincoln Cathedral said to date circa 1400 is said to be a text of an early 'lytell Geste' and includes the lines "Robin Hood in Sherwood stood, hooded and hatted, hosed and shod, four and thirty arrows he bore in his hands …"

There are other records in the form of ancient manuscripts which add tantalising touches to the medieval background : another anonymous note in the British Museum attributed to the year 1400 stating 'Robin Hood was born in Lockesley, a village in Yorkshire or Nottinghamshire, in the year 1160'. This popular theme ran from 1600 - despite several declarations by historians that the existence of Robin Hood was totally unproved - when it was published again in 1920 with the early historians concerned used in support but once again unfortunately not referring to where they found their source material - one in 1600 claimed that the village concerned was in Bradfield, South Yorkshire and defined the actual birthplace as a cottage at Haggars Croft.

Circa 1900 Loxley was confirmed (incorrectly) by a later historian as the birthplace of Robin Hood but not the one cited in South Yorkshire or - mainly through a printing error (a boundary dispute) - in north Nottinghamshire but a village over eighty miles further south in Warwickshire. The historian in question also supplied another 'real' Robin Hood character (Robert Odo) who fitted the outlaw bill, complete with an actual gravesite.

Here

ROGER DODSWORTH

Roger Dodsworth wrote, “Robert Locksley, born in the Bradfield Parish of Hallamshire (Loxley) wounded his stepfather to death at plough, fled into the woods and was relieved by his mother till he was discovered. Then he came to Clifton upon Calder, and became acquainted with Little John, that kept the kine. Which said John is buried at Hathersage in Derbyshire where he hath a fair tombstone with an inscription. Mr Long saith that Fabyan saith, Little John was Earl Huntley’s son. After, he joined with Much the Miller's’s son." (Bodleian Library MS. Dodsw. 160, fol. 64r) Earl Huntly and his son have been identified and according to information received Earl Huntly’s son i.e. Little John was Robin Hood’s cousin.

SLOANE MANUSCRIPT

“Robin Hood was borne at Lockesley, in Yorkeshire, or after others, in Notinghamshire, in the days of Henry the second, about the yeare 1160; but lyued tyll the latter end of Richard the Fyrst. He was of wo[ ? ] parentage, but was so riotous, that he lost or sould his patrimony, and for debt became an outlawe; then ioyning to him many stout fellows of like disposicioun, amongst whome one called Little John was principal, or next to him. They hainted about Barnsdale forrest, Clomptoun parke, and other such places. They vsed most of al shooting, wherin they all excelled all the men of the land, though, as occation required, they had al so other weapons.

One of his first exploits was the goyng abrode into a forrest, and bearing with him a bowe of exceeding great strength. He fell into company with certayne rangers, or woodmen, who fell to quarrel with him, as making showe to vse such a bowe as no man was able to shoote with all; whereto Robin replyed, that he had two better then that at lockesley, only he bare thot with him nowe as a byrding bowe. At length the contentioun grewe so hote, that there was a wager layd about the kylling of a deer a great distance of; for performance whereof, Robin offered to lay his head to a certayne soume of money. Of the advantage of which rash speech, the others presently tooke. So the marke being found out, one of them, they were both to make his hart faint, and hand vnsteady, as he was about to shoote, urged him with the losse of his head if he myst the marke. Notwithstanding, Robin kyld the deare, and gaue every man his money agayne saue to him which at the point of shooting so vpbrayed him with danger to loose his head. For that money, he sayd, they would drinke together, and herevpon the other stomached the matter; and from quarrelling they grewe to fighting with him.

But Robin, getting him somewhat off with shooting, dispact them, and so fled away; and then betaking him selfe to lieu in the woods by such booty as he could get, his company encreast to an hundred and a halfe; and in those dayes, whether they were favord, or how so ever, they were counted invincible. Wheresoever he hard of any that were of vnvsual strength and hardynes, he would disgyse him selfe, and rather than fayle go lyke a beggar, to become acqueynted with them; and after he had tried them with fighting, never giue them over tyl he had vsed means to drawe them to lyve after his fashion.

After such manner he procured the pynder of Wakefeyld to become one of his company, and a freyer, called Muchel, though some say he was an other kind of religious man, for that the order of fryers was not yet sprung up; Scarlock, he induced, upon this occacion: one day meting him, as he walked solitary, and lyke to a man forlorne, because a mayd to whom he was affianced was taken from by the violence of her friends, and giuen to another that was auld and welthy. Whervpon Robin, vnderstanding when the maryage-day should be, came to the church, as a beggar, and having his company not far of, which came in so sone as they hard the sound of his horne, he toking, the bride perforce from him that was in hand to have maryed her, and caused the preist to wed her and Scarlocke together.

Amongst other that greatly freinded him, was Sir Richard Lee, a knight of Lancashire, lord of [..rso.. castle]; and that first vpon this occation, it was the manner of Robin and his retinue to lyue by thieving and robbing, though yet he were somewhat religiously affected, and not without superstition. But of al seynts, he most honored the Virgin Mary; so that if any, for her sake, asked ought of him, he wold perform it, if possibly hecould; neither would he suffer any that belonged vnto him to violate women, poremen, or any of husbandry. Al theyr attempts were chiefly against fat prelates and religious persons, and howses fryers; and he is commended of John Major for the prince of al theyuse and robbers, &c.

Nowe, once it happened him to send little John Scarlocke and Muchel to the sayles vpon Watling streets, to meete with some booty they wanted, when any prey came to theyr hands to leade them into the wood to their habitacion, as if they would vse some hospitality; but after they had eate, would make them pay deerely for theyr cates, by stripping them of such things as they had. So they dealt with Sir Richard Lee, leading to their manor, who made him the best cheare they had; and when Sir Richard would have departed only with giving the thanks, Robin tould him it was not his manner to dyne any where but he payd for such things as he tooke, and so should others do to him ere they parted, and it were, as he sayd, no good manners to refuse such doing. The knight tould him he had but Xs., which he ment should have borne his charges at Blyth, or Doncaster; and if he had none, it fared ful yl with him at the tyme to parte from it, onely he promised, as he should be able, to requite his curtesy with the lyke. But Robin, not so contented, caused him to be searcht, and found no more but what the knight had told him of; wherevpon he commended his true dealing, and enquired further touching the cause of his sadness and bareness. The knight tould him then of his state and his ancestry, and how his sonne and Hayre, falling at varinge with a knight in Lancashire, slewe him in the feild, for which, and some other such lyke exployts, being in danger to loose his lyfe, the knight, to procure his deliverance, had been at great charges, and even lastly dryven to pawn his castle and lyving to the abbot of St. Maryes, at Yorke, for 400lj; and the cheife justice so dealt with the abbot for his state, or interest therein, that being lyke to forfeyt his lyving for lacke of money to redeeme it at the day appointed, he despaired now of al recovery.

Robin then, pittying his case, gave him 400lj, which was parte of such bootyes as they had gorged, and surety for payment againe within a tweluemont was our Lady. They also furnysht him with apparel, out of which he was worne quyte, and therefore, for very shamement, shortly to have past over the seas, and to spend the rest of his lyfe, as a mournful pylgrime, in going to Jerusalem, &c.; but being now enlightned, he despaired iust as his day appointed to ye abbot, which where the cheife in the shire conversed, accounting al knights lands saued to themselues; and the knight, to try theyr charity, made shewe as if he wanted money to pay the debt, and when he found no token of compassion, left them the money and recovered his land, for which that payment were made he offred to ferme (farm) the abbot thereby.

Now, ere the twelvemonth was expired, Sir Richard provided the 400lj, and a hundred shefe of good arrows, which he ment to bestowe on Robin Hood; and encountering on the way certayne people that were wrestling for a great wager, he stood still to see the event of the matter. So there was a yeman that prevailed, but the other people enuying it, and the rather because he was but pore and alone, accorded among them…to oppress him with wrongs; that the knight took his parte, and rescued him, and at parting gaue him 5 marks.

Nowe it befell, that neere to Nottingham al the cheifest archers had apoynted a day of shooting for some great wager, the Sherife him selfe being appointed to see the game. Nowe that Sheriffe was a fel adversary to Robin and his company, and he againe of them so lesse maligned; therefore, to see into al matters, Little John was sent, in disguysed manner, to go shoote amongst them, where he sped him so wel, that the Shyryfe iudged him to be the best archer; and so importuned him to be his man, that Little John went home with him, under the name of Raynold Greenlefe, and telling him he was bornen Holdernesse.

So Little John watched al advantages to do his master some myscheufe; and, understanding where he used to go hunting, by some means procured his master Robin Hood, and his retinue, to be in redynes ther about. So one day, the Shyryfe and al his people bin gone hunting, Little John, of purpose, kept behinde, and lay a bed as somewhat sicke; but was no sooner gat vp enquired for his dynner of the steward, which, with curse words, denyed him vituals tyl his master were come home; wherevpon Little John beate him downe, and entred the buttry. The cook being a very stout fellowe, fought with him a long tyme, and at length accorded to goe with him to the forrest. So they two ryfled the howse, tooke away al the Shyryfe’s treasure and best thinges, and conveyed it to Robin Hood; and then Little John repaired to the Shyryfe, who, in his hunting, doubted no such matter, but toke him for one of his company; wherevpon Little John tould him he had seen the goodlyest heard of deere that was in the forrest, not far of seven score in a company, which he could bring him to. The Sheryfe, glad to heare of so strange a matter, went with him, tyl he came where the danger of Robin Hood and his company, who led him to their habitacion, …….and there serued him with his own plate, and other thinges, that Little John and the cook had brought away. So that night they made him ly on the ground, after theyr owne manner, wrapt in a green mantel, and the next day sent him away, after they had taken an oath of him never to pursve them, but the best he could to serue them; but the Shyrfte afterward made no more account of the othe then was meete yt.

After this, Little John, Scarlocke, and others, were sent forth to meet with some company, if they were pore to helpe them with some such thinges as they had; if rytch, to handle them as they sawe occasion. So, vppon the way near Barensdale, they met with 2 Blacke monkes, wel horsed, and accompanied with 50 persons. Nowe, because Robin, their master, had our Lady in great reverence
when any booty came to theyr hand, they would say our Lady sent them theyr; wherefore, when Little John sawe that company, hevsed such proverbe to his fellows, encouraging them to encounter; and coming to the monkes, he tould them, that though they were but 3, they durst never see theyr master agayne, but if they brought them to dinner with him; and whom the monke keape of, little John begged to speake reproachfully for making his master stay dinner so long; whervpon, when the monkes enquired for his master’s name, and Little John tould him it was Robin Hood, the monke angerly replyde, he was an arrant thief, of whom he never hard good; Little John replyde as contumeliously, saying, he was a yeoman of the forrest, and bad him to dynner; so the grewe from wordes to strokes, tyl they had kyled al but one or two, which they led, perforce, to theyr master, who saluted them lowely; but the monke, being stout-hearted, did not the lyke to his. Then Robin blewe his horn, and his retinue came in; they al went to dynner, and after that, Robin asked him of what abbey he was, who tould hime he was of St. Mary.

Now it was to the same to whose abbat the knight ought the 400lj which Robin lent him to redeeme his landes with, al which Robin perceiving, begone t iest, that he marvayled our Lady had not sent him yet his pay which she was surety for betwixt a knight and him. Have no care, master, sayd Little John; you need not to say this monk hath brought it, I dare wel swere, for he is of her abbey. So Robin called for wyne, and drank to him, and prayed him to let him see if he had brought him the money. The monke swore he had never hard speech of such covenant before. But Robin bare him downe: he desembled, seing he knewe both Christ and his mother were so iust, and confessing him selfe to be theyr every dayes servant and messenger, must needs have it, and therefore thanked him for coming so at his day. The monke stil denying, Robin asked howe much money he had about him; but twenty marks, sayd the monke. Then sayd Robin, if we fynd more, we will take it as of our Ladyes sending, but wil not of that which is thy owne spending money.

So Little John was sent to serch his bagges, and found about 800lj, which he related to his master, telling him with al, that our Lady had dobled his payment. Yea, I tould thee, monke, sayd Robin, what a trusty woman she is; so he called for wyne, and dranke to the monke, bidding him commend him to our Lady, and if she had need of Robin Hood, she would fynd him thankeful for so lib’ral dealing. Then they searcht the lode of another horse, wherefore the monke tould him that was curtesy to bid a man to dynner, and beate and bynd him; and it is our manner sayd Robin, to leave but a little behind, so the monke made hast to be gone, and sayd he might have dyned as good cheape at Blyth, or Doncastre. And Robin called to him as he was going, and bad him greete wel his abbot, and the rest of their convent, and wysh them to sende hym suche a monke ech day to dynner. Then shortly came the knight to keepe his day; and after salutacions, was about to pay him his money, beside xx marks for his curtesy; but Robin gave it him agayne, telling him howe our Lady had sent him, that, and more, by the abbey’s cellarer, and it were to him a shame to be twyse payd; but the bowes and arrows he accepted, for which he gave him at parting other 400lj.

Nowe the Shyriffe of Nottingham, to drawe out Robin Hood, made to be proclaimed a day of shooting for the silver arrowe, wherto Robin boldely, with al his trayne, repaired, appointing but 6 of his company to shooting with him, al the rest to stand apoynted to f.f.g…d (safeguard?) him; so Little John, Mychel, Scarlock, Gylbert, and Reynold, shot; but Robin won the prise from al, whervpon the Shyryfe and his company began to quarrel, and after, they came to fighting so long tyl Robin and his complices had destroyed the Sheryfe’s trayne, for the most parte, in the conflict. Little John was sore wounded with an arrow in the knee, and being not able to goe, requested his master to slay him, and not suffer him to come into the Shyrftefe’s handes. Robin avoucht he would not lose him for al England, wherefore Mychel was appointed to beare him away on his back; and with much labor, and oft resting, he brought him to Sir Richard Lees castle, whether also, after the broyle, repaired Robin himself, and the rest of his company, where they were gladly received and defended against the Sheryffe, who presently raysed the country, and besieged the castle, who vtterly refused to yield any there tyl he knew the kyng mynd.

Then the Sheriffe went to London, and informed the kyng of al the matter, who dispatched the Shyryffe backe to levy a power of men in that country, telling him, that within a fortnight after, he him selfe would be at Nottingham to determine of that matter. In the mean whyle, Little John being cured of his hurt, they al got them to the forest agayne. When the Sheriffe hard therof he was much agreyed, and sought by al means to app’hend Sir Richard Lee for defynding them, and watching his tyme at vnwares, he surprised him, with a power of men, as he was at hawking, and went to put him in ward at Nottingham, and hang him, wherefore the knightes lady rode in al hast, to Robin, and
him intelligence of her lordes distress, who, in al Haste, pursued by the Sheryfe, and overtaking him at Nottingham, with an arrowe slewe him, and …….if his head, enquiring what message he brought from the kyng, objecting that breach of promise he had made to them in the forest. Once after that they overthrewe the Sheryfe, returned and loosed the knyghte out of his bondes, and furnishing him with weapons, tooke him with them to the forest, entending to vse what means they could to procure the kynge’s pardon, who presently, herevpon, came to Nottingham with a great retinue, and vnderstanding of the matter, seysed the knyghte lyving into his hande; and surweying al the forrestes in Lancashire, he came to Ploutu parke, and fynding al the deare destroyed , he was marvaylous wroth, seeking about Robin Hood, and making proclamation, that who so could bring him Sir Richard Lees head, should have all his land.

So the kyng stayed about Nottingham halfe a yeare, and could not heare of Robin, tyl being advised what a hard hand he bare against religious persons, he got him into a monke’s weed, and with a small company, went as a traveler on the way wher he thought Robin made abode, who espying them with their male horse, take hold of the kynge’s horse, making showe as he toke him for an abbot, and began to enquire after some spending; but the kyng excused the matter, telling him howe he had lyen at Nottingham, at great charges a fortnight, and had left him but 40lj. So Robin toke that, and having devyded it amongst his men, gave the kyng parte againe, who semed to take it in good parte, and then puld out the fyng’s brode seale, and tould him howe the kyng did greet him wel, and charged him to come to Nottingham; whervpon Robin kneeled downe and thanked the abbot, for he pretended to think him none other, for bringing such a message from him that he loved most dearly of al men, and tould him, that for his labor he should go dyne with him;so being brought to the place of theyr abode, Robin blewe his horne, and al his company came, al a hoste obedient to their master. The kyng marvayled, which Robin perceyvine dyd him selfe, with his best men, serue the kyng at meete, of welcoming him for the kyng’s sake, as he sayd.

Then he showed him the course of theyr lyues, and skyl in shooting, that he might enforme the kyng therof, and in shooting proposed this penalty to him that shot one of the garland, that the abbot should give hym a good buffet, and for the nonce made himselfe to forfayt; and when the abbot refused to stryke him, saying, it fel not for his order, but Robin would not cease tyl he made him smyte him soundly that he fel to the ground, for which Robin commended him; but Robin him selfe stroke his men as they fayled afterward. Robin discovered howe he perceived it was the kyng, and to geyther with Sir Richard and his men, kneeled downe and asked forgiueness, which the kyng graunted upon condicion he would be fore him at the court.

So Robin arrayed the kyng and his company with mantels of Lyncolne greene, and went with them to Nottingham, the kyng seeming also to be one of the outlawes, and the th…d the kyng for shooting together for buffits. Robin oft boxt the king, and people suspecting they should be destroyed by Robin and his company ran away, tyl the kyng discovered him selfe, and comforted them, and then ech one was fayne. Then was a great feast for al people; and Sir Richard and his lady restored, for which Robin gave the kyng humble thanks. Then Robin dwelt in the court a yeare, tyl with lavish spending, he had nothing left to mayntayn him selfe and his men, and thereof. All were departed from him but Little John and Scarlocke; and, on a tyme, seeing youngsters shooting, it come to his mynd howe he was alienated from that exercise, for which he was very greyued, and cast in his mynd howe to get away; wherefore he devised to tell the kyng howe he had erected a chapel, in Barnsdale, of Mary Magdalen, and bene sore troubled in dreaming about it, and therefore craved liberty to go a pilgrimage thither barefoot. So the kyng gaue him a week respite for goying and coming; but Robin being come thither, assembled his awld trayne, and never returned backe to the court.

After which tyme he continued that course of lyfe about XX years, tyl, distempered with could and age, he had great payne in his lymes, his bloud being corrupted; therefore, to be eased of his payne, by letting blud, he repaired to the priores of Kyrkesley, which some say was his aunt, a woman very skylful in physique and surgery; who, perceiving him to be Robin Hood, and way’ing howe fel an enemy he was to religious persons, toke reveng of him for her owne howse, and al others, by letting him bleed to death; and she buryed him vnder a greate stone, by the hy way’es side. It is also sayd, that one Sir Roger of Dancastre, bearing grudge to Robin for some injury, incited the prioress, with whom he was very familiar, in such manner to dispatch him, and then al his company was soone dispersed. The place of Little John’s burial is to this the celebro. For yielding of excellent whetstones. (Stannage Edge)

BORDER DISPUTE BETWEEN HATHERSAGE AND BRADFIELD

On the western edge of Sheffield lies a moorland landscape rich in archaeological evidence from prehistoric times to the twentieth century. The moors that stretch down the eastern side of the River Derwent to the southern edge of the Chatsworth Estate rank with Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor, Stanton Moor and the North York Moors in the extent and quality of their remains from the Bronze Age.
On Hallam Moors, when the heather has been burnt by gamekeepers or in an accidental fire, the rambler near the Headstone stumbles across dozens of burial cairns and clearance cairns and occasionally reaches a larger monument such as the barrow at Crow Chin on the Stanage escarpment. The remains of three Bronze Age barrows near Lodge Moor Hospital have been excavated. They date from a time when this moorland landscape was very different in character, with much more wood and far less peat, and with a milder climate.

Bronze Age people shaped the local environment in a significant way, but the survival of so much evidence of their activities is due to deliberate decisions in later times to use the moors for particular activities. In the case of the Hallam or Stanage Moors the present character of the landscape was largely determined by the fashion for hunting deer in the Middle Ages and the enclosure of the moors for grouse shooting at the end of the eighteenth century.
The age and purpose of archaeological features on the moors are often difficult to determine. A deep trench might have been dug as an ancient boundary or simply to assist drainage. Some were cut through the peat in the nineteenth century to stop the spread of fire. What appears to be a trench in dry weather is often more convincing as a natural watercourse in wet. Other trenches peter out because of the drift of silt and the deposit of sand and gravel in storms. A trench that descends northwards from Crow Chin Rocks and is well-marked in the peat as it heads towards Moscar disappears in this way. It is the most intriguing trench on the moor, for it appears to have served as a boundary between the lordship of Hallamshire and the manor of Hathersage and between the counties of Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

The old county boundary had certain fixed points such as Stanedge Pole and Moscar Cross, and it incorporated natural features such as Dovestone Tor on the skyline high above Derwent Edge, but before large-scale maps were available the exact line between these points was often disputed even after a trench had been dug. The trench between Crow Chin Rocks and Moscar was not fully accepted as the boundary between the lordship of Hallamshire and the manor of Hathersage until 1724.

In a confirmation charter of the late thirteenth century Thomas de Furnival, lord of Hallamshire, granted to Ellys of Ughill and all the men of Ughill, Nether Bradfield, Thornsett and Hawkesworth:
"the Herbage as it lies in length and breadth between Ugghill Brook, Eventrevick, and the way leading from Hope to Sheffield, Bradrake, Seven Stones in Horderon, Weanston, to the Water of Agden, for the depasturing and agisting of their own proper Cattle, to be taken Yearly, without any hindrance of me or my Heirs, as they have held the same to Farm at the Will of my Ancestors at a yearly rent of four marks of silver."

The area so defined is that which was known as Hawkesworth Firth within the chapelry of Bradfield. Eventrevick cannot be identified but the way from Hope to Sheffield came along, the ridge via Crawshaw Head and is known now as Long Lane. The boundary then veered south up Oaking Brook and went across the moor to Crow Chin (on the same line as the present parliamentary constituency boundary marked on the Ordnance Survey Map) before turning north along Broad Rake towards Moscar Cross.

Our trench was not named but was on the line of this thirteen-century boundary. The Seven Stones have gone but, as we shall see, 'Weanston' was an alternative name for the Wheelstones, the eye-catching rocks on the horizon.
Our trench may have been dug to mark the medieval boundary but we cannot be sure that it is as old as that. It was certainly in existence by 1559 when the manor court of Francis, fifth Earl of Shrewsbury, settled a dispute over grazing rights between the tenants of Rivelin and Hawkesworth Firths. Part of the agreed boundary followed 'the ditch that parteth Sheffield and Bradfield parish unto the north end of Stanage'.

The trench starts near Stanage End and runs parallel with the present county boundary, which is only a few yards away to the west, in a northerly direction. As we shall see, however, the inhabitants of Hathersage (rightly) denied that it parted Sheffield from Bradfield, claiming that their territory extended up to it and that the rights claimed by Bradfield men were fictitious.
A perambulation of the bounds of Hallamshire in 1574 went "from the Broad Rake straight downwards to a place where certaine stones are sett upon the ends and haveing markes upon them called the Seavenstones ... straight over the broke or sicke there, to a place called the Wainstones, being distant by estimation three quarters of a mile.

Further perambulations of the boundary between Hallamshire and Hathersage in 1574 and 1656 also proceeded along Stanage and the Broad Rake to the Seven Stones, across the brook, and on to the 'Wayne Stones or Wheele Stones'. Coming the other way, a perambulation of the Hathersage boundary, also taken in 1656, went via Moscar Cross (at that time called Humble Stone Cross or Hambleton Cross) 'following the Top of the Hill to a place called Broadrake, and so following the Torr top to a place called Crow Chin'.

Broad Rake therefore appears to have been the name given to the broad path along the escarpment from Stanage End to Crow Chin. The dispute between Bradfield and Hathersage in 1724 was settled by an arbitrator, William Jessop of Broom Hall, who accepted the line followed by the Hathersage men, the same line as that of the present county boundary. On the map attached to the Enclosure Award of 1805 for the Manor of Sheffield our trench was marked as 'Ancient Ditch'. It formed the north-western boundary of the 'Black Moors' that lay within Stannington township in the chapelry of Bradfield. The manor of Hathersage lay immediately beyond. Just how ancient the ditch is we cannot say, but it has served as a boundary line for well over 400 hundred years and is possibly much older.
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