Robin HoodA Mediated History

Robin Hood: Timeline of a LegendEarly Mentions, 14th-15th Centuries:

Langland, Piers Plowman (1376-79)

Polychronicon (1340s): Marginal commentary mentioning Robin Hood (1460s)

Wyntoun, The Orygynale Cronykil of Scotland (1420)

Earliest reference to a Robin Hood Play (1426-7)

(Selected) Mentions in Early Print Culture, 16th Century:

Major, Historia Majoris Britanniae (1521)

First to locate Robin Hood in 12th Century

Barnes, A Supplication (1531)

Erasmus, Apophthegmes (1542)

Hall, The Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

Grafton, A Chronicle At Large and meere History of the affayres of England; and Kings of the Same. (1569)

Holinshed, Chronicle of England (1580)

Early Ballads and Plays, 15th Century:

Robin Hood and the Monk (1450)

Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne (1475-1506)

Robyn Hod and the Shryff off Notyngham (1475-6)

Early Printed Renditions, 16th Century:

A lytell geste of Robyn hode (1500, 1506, 1509)

A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe (1560)

Munday, The Downfall of Robert, Earle of Huntington (1598)

(Selected) Broadside Ballads, 17th-18th Centuries:

Robin Hood’s Fishing (1631)

Robin Hood and the Bishop (1650)

Robin Hood and Queen Catherin (1655?)

Robin Hood and Little John (1680)

Robin HoodHow We Read and How that Impacts What We Read, from Manuscript to Animation

Disney’s Robin Hood (1978)• Robin Hood stories are inherently nostalgic

• King Richard I: 1189-1199

• King John: 1199-1216• First evidence of Robin Hood: 1377

• Almost 200 years later

Early Multiforms? Robin et Marion, 1283

Adam de la Halle

French pastoral play

The shepardess Marion resists the advances of a knight and remains loyal to her lover Robin

Mirour de l’ omme, 1376-79John Gower

Long poem (in French, though Gower was English)

Robin and Marion “participating in rustic revelry”

French and English incorporation of Robin and Marion (Marian) into May Day festivities

English include a Friar

Adam de la HalleRobin et Marion, 1283

Jeu de Robin et Marion: Bibliothèque Méjanes Ms. 166 (Rés Ms 14)

http://toisondor.byu.edu/dscriptorium/aix166/index2.html

Adam de la Halle Robin et Marion, 1283

Jeu de Robin et Marion: Bibliothèque Méjanes Ms. 166 (Rés Ms 14)

Evidence of Oral Tradition

Langland, Piers Plowman (1376-79)

Polychronicon (1340s)Marginal commentary mentioning Robin Hood (1460s)

Robin Hood and the Monk (1450)

Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne (1475-1506)

A Gest of Robin Hood (1500)

Chronicle of England (1580)

Sloane Manuscript (1600)

Polychronicon (1340s)

Commentary, 1420-70 http://

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1161809/Discovered-The-13th-Century-manuscript-shows-Robin-Hood-Merry-Men-werent-popular-all.html

Robin Hood and the Monk (1450)

Cambridge University manuscript Ff.5.48

Robin Hood and the Printing PressA Geste of Robin Hood and Early Print Culture

William CaxtonRecuyell of the Historyes of Troye [Bruges : Printed by William Caxton and, probably, Colard Mansion, 1473 or 1474]STC 15375

Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery

Presented to Margaret, Duchess of Burgundy

sister of then-king of England, Richard III

A little gest of Robin Hood[London: Richard Pynson, 1500?]STC 13688

Library of Congress and Cambridge University Library

A little gest of Robin Hood[London: Richard Pynson, 1500?]STC 13688

Folger Shakespeare Library

Notice the handwriting (paper

was expensive).

Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn hode[Enprented at London : In fletestrete at the sygne of the sone by Wynkyn deWorde, [1506?]]STC 13689Cambridge University Library

“Here beginneth a little

geste of Robin Hood”

Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn hode[Enprented at London : In fletestrete at the sygne of the sone by Wynkyn deWorde, [1506?]]STC 13689Cambridge University LibrarySig. A2, D6

[Here begynneth a lytell geste of Robyn hode][York : Hugh Goes, not after 1509]STC 13689.3

Bodleian Library

Sig. A3r

A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe, wyth a newe playe for to be played in Maye games very pleasaunt and full of pastyme.

[Imprinted at London : Vpon the thre Crane wharfe by wyllyam Copland, [1560?]]STC 13691

British Library

A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe, wyth a newe playe.

[Imprinted at London : Vpon the thre Crane wharfe by wyllyam Copland, [1560?]]STC 13691

British Library

Thus endeth the lyfe of

Robyn hode.

[Imprinted at London : Vpon the thre Crane wharfe by wyllyam Copland, [1560?]]STC 13691British Library

A mery geste of Robyn Hoode and of hys lyfe, wyth a newe playe for to be played in Maye games very pleasaunt and full of pastyme.

Thus endeth

the play of

Robyn hode.

The Ballads of Robin HoodSeventeenth-Century Re-Imaginings of Re-Imagined Tales

Robin Hoods Garland

Containing his merry exploits, and the several fights which he, Little John, and Will. Scarlet had, upon several occasions. Some of them never before printed. Entered according to order.

[London] : Printed for F. Coles, T. Vere, & J. Wright, 1670.

Wing: R1638

Bodleian Library

shewing how Robin Hood went to anold woman's house and changed cloaths with her to escape from the bishop; and how he robbed him of all his gold, and made himsing mass. To the tune of, Robin Hood and the stranger, [et]c.

Robin Hood and the Bishop

London : printed by and for W.O. and are to be sold by the bookseller of Pye-corner and London-bridge, [1700?]Wing: R1628DBritish Library

Robin Hood and Little John,being an account of their first meeting, and fierce encounter. Likewise their friendly agreement, and how hecame to be call'd Little John.

[London] : Printed and sold in Bow-Church-Yard, London, [1720?]BL: Roxburghe ballads / Rox.III.728British Library

The noble fisherman:or, Robin Hood's preferment. Tune of, In summer time.

[London] : Printed and sold by L. How, in Petticoat Lane., [1750?]Roxburghe ballads / Rox.III.524British Library

Renowned Robin Hood:or, his archery truly related, in his exploitsbefore Queen Catherine.

London : Printed by L. How in Petticoat Lane, [1750?]Roxburghe ballads / Rox.III.450 British Library

Robin Hood in Tudor HistoryFact/Fiction in Sixteenth-Century Chronicles

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York

beeyng long in continual discension for the croune of this noble realme with all the actes done in bothe the tymes of the princes, bothe of the one linage and of the other, beginnyng at the tyme of kyng Henry the fowerth, the firstaucthor of this deuision, and so successiuely proceadyng to the reigne of the high and prudent prince kyng Henry the eight, the vndubitate flower and very heire of both the sayd linages.[Londini : In officina Richardi Graftoni typis impress.], 1548.

STC 12722

Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“After that the duke of Suffolke had receaued the Frenche quene with her dower apoynted, & all her apparell, iuels and housholde stuffe deliuered, he with y^ quene toke their leaue of the Fre~che kyng, leauing doctor West, nominate bishop of Ely, for the conclusion of the newe league to be made betwene the kyng of Englande, & the newe Frenche kynge called Fraunces the first, and so passed thorough Fraunce to Caleys, where she was honorably enterteined. And after with great honour maried to lord Charles Brandon, duke of Suffolke openly: howbeit, some sayd he was maryed priuely before at Parys, in the house of Cluigny. Against this mariage many men grudged & sayd that it was a great losse to the realme that she was not maryed to the prynce of Castell: but the wisest sorte was content, consideryng that if she had ben maryed agayn out of the realm, she should haue caried much riches with her, & now she brought euery yere into the realme .ix. or .x.M. markes: but whatsoeuer the rude people said, ye duke behaued him selfe so, that he had both the fauour of the kyng and of the people, hys wytte and demeanour was suche.“

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“The king & the quene accompanyed with many lordes & ladyes roade to the high ground of shoters hil to take the open ayre, and as thei pas|sed by the waye, they espied a company of tall yomen, clothed all in grene with grene whodes & bowes & arrowes, to the number of [200]. Then one of them, which called him selfe Robyn hood, came to the kyng, desyring him to se his men shoote, & the kyng was content. Then he whisteled, & al the [200] archers shot & losed at once, & then he whisteled agayne, & they likewyse shot agayne, their arrowes whisteled by crafte of the head, so that the noyes was straunge and great, & muche pleased the kynge the quene and all the company. All these archers were of the kynges garde and had thus appareled them selues to make solace to the kynge.”

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“Then Robyn hood desyred the kynge and quene to come into the grene wood, & to s how the outlawes lyue. The kyng demaunded of y^ quene & her ladyes, if they durst aduenture to go into the wood with so many outlawes. Then the quene sayde, that if it pleased him, she was con|tent, then the hornes blewe tyl they came to the wood vnder shoters hil, and there was an Arber made of boowes with a hal, and a great chamber and an inner chamber very well made & couered with & swete herbes, whiche the kyng muche praysed.”

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“Then sayde Robyn hood, Sir Outlawes brekefastes is venyson, and therefore you must be contente with suche fare as we vse. Then the kyng and quene sate doune, & were serued with venyson and wyne by Robyn hood and hys men, too theyr great contentacion. Then the kyng departed and hys company, & Ro|byn hood and hys men them conducted”

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“. . . and as they were returnynge, there met with them .ii. ladyes in a ryche chariot drawen with .v. horses and euery horse had hys name on his head, and on euery horse sate a la|dye wt her name writen. On the fir[...]coursr called Cawde, sate humidite, or humide. On the .ii. courser called Memen, roade lady vert. On the iii. called pheron sate lady vegtaue. On the .iiii. called Rimphon sate lady pleasaunce. On the .v. calledlampace, sate swete odour, and in the Chayre sate the lady May, accompanyed with lady Flora, rychely appa|reled”

Edward HallThe Union of the Two Noble and Illustrious Families of Lancaster and York (1548)

“and they saluted the kinge with diuerse goodly songes, & so bro|ught hym to Grenewyche. At this Maiyng was a great numbre of peo|ple to beholde to their great solace and confort. The same after none, the king, y^ duke of Suffolke, y^ Marques dor|set, & the erle of Essex, their bardes & bases of grene veluet and cloth of golde, came into the felde on great coursers, on whome wayted diuerse gentlemen in sylke of thesame colour. On the other side entred .xvi. lordes & gentlemen, al appareyled richely after their deuises, & so they ranne their courses appointed: & after y^ they rane volant one as as he might ouertake another, which was a goodly [...]ght to se: & when al was done they departed, and went to a goodly banquet.”

Robin Hood in the ReformationAllusions in Reformist and Humanist Texts, 1531-[1568]

Robert Barnes, A Supplication A supplicatyon made by Robert Barnes doctoure in diuinitie, vnto the most excellent and redoubted prince kinge henrye the eyght. The articles for which this forsayde doctoure Barnes was condemned of our spiritualtye, areconfirmed by the Scripture, doctoures and their awne lawe. After that he disputeth certayne comon places which also he confermeth with the Scripture, holye doctoures and their awne lawe

[Antwerp : S. Cock, 1531?]

STC 1470

Cambridge University Library

Sig. L2r

Robert Barnes, A Supplication“ . . . was it not a holly covnselle / of the chanseler of london to con|selle a sertyn merchant / to by Robyn hoode for his seruantes to rede? what shulde they do with vitas patryn / and with bokes of holy scriptur?”

“O lorde god where arte thou why slepist thou? why sufferst thou this blasphemy? Thov hast defencded thy prophetes with wilde fier form heuen / And wylte thov suffer thy wonly sone and thy heuynly worde / thus to be dyspysyd? and to be rekenyd but as a story of Robyn hoode?”

Desiderius Erasmus, Apophthegmes

Apophthegmes that is to saie, prompte, quicke, wittie and sentencious saiynges, of certain emperours, kynges, capitaines, philosophiers and oratours, as well Grekes, as Romaines, bothe veraye pleasaunt [et] profitable to reade, partely for all maner of persones, [et] especially gentlemen. First gathered and compiled in Latine by the ryght famous clerke Maister Erasmus of Roterodame. And now translated into Englyshe by Nicolas Vdall.

[London] : Excusum typis Ricardi Grafton, 1542 [September] Cumpriuilegio ad imprimendum solum.STC 10443British Library

Desiderius Erasmus, Apophthegmes

“And this one thyng will I saie more. In sermones percase it is not conueniente to miengle iestyng saiynges of mortall menne with the holy scriptures of God, but yet might thesame muche more excusably bee vsed, to quicken suche as at sermones been euer noddyng, then olde wiues foolyshe ta|les of  Robyn Hoode & suche others, whiche many preachers haue in tymes past cu|stomably vsed to bryng in, taken out euen of the veraye botome and grossest parte of the dreggues of the commen peoples foo|lyshe talkyng.”

Edward Dering A sparing restraint, of many lauishe vntruthes

Imprinted at London : By Henry Denham, for Humfrey Toy,dwelling in Poules Church yarde, at the signe of the Helmet, [1568]

STC 6725

British Library

A sparing restraint, of many lauishe vntruthes, which M. Doctor Harding do the chalenge, in the first article of my Lorde of Sarisburies replie. By Edward Dering student in Diuinitie. With ananswere vnto that long, and vncourteous epistle, entituled to M. Juel, and set before M. Hardings Reioinder [1568]

STC 6725British Library

“ . . . that Robin Hoode and Gui of Warwick and Beuis of Hamp|ton & such like shoulde be had of the people in english letters, But the misteries of our redemption,

& the glorious tidings of the death of Christ were in straunge figures, & for the ha|sarde of deuotion they

might not be made common.”