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?
.
