Medieval outlaw tales are exciting and ultraviolent. None are more famous than the ballads of Robin Hood. But who was the original Robin? And why do we love him today?
Unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent 😉 between that and the Princess Bride I had such a crush on Cary Elwes when I was a kid
Before I read this, the best Robin Hood ballad/jingle is the Weetabix one. After he spots the Sheriff eating Weetabix, it goes should he retreat back to Sherwood?, Course he should, course he should. Love that....
I had the great honour of meeting The Real (Disney) Robin Hood (plush) last year, who visited with a friend, a re-enactment I was participating in. It was a horrible wet weekend, so this was definitely a highlight!
Wow, what a fantastic read Dan. Never knew the history of Robin Hood was so in depth. Can you still get the Robin Hood and the Monk in print? If I remember rightly there was a piece on Look North (local news) about Robin Hood being from Wakefield but I suppose that might be just one of the old oral tales.
For myself though the definitive Robin Hood is the Disney cartoon as I loved the movie as a little kid.
As brilliant as the Cockerel who we all know was the real star of Disney’s Robin Hood! “Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly what a day”. Although I’m a little disappointed that wasn’t “the way it really happened in Sherwood Forest”. 😕☺️
Bad behaving sexy men get a great deal of good press and the women involved are referred to as loose, stupid, whores and worse. Yuck which rimes with another practice of same men.
As for a fave portrayal over the years, it’s hard to pin one down, as they each have their merits - though I gravitate towards those that actually give Maid Marion a brain! 😅😎
But what about the tv series: Richard Green and his incredible travelling tree?! Best version ever with a script by a Hollywood writer who came over here as a result of the McCarthy witch hunt.
Intrigued, I read Robin Hood and the Monk, and Robin Hood and the Potter in Middle English. Two observations - First there is a French influence "Gereamarsey" grande a merci which translates as a big thank you as spoken by the sheriffs wife and later God a marsey meaning God thank you. Second, Dam, the devil spede him - Dam or diminutive of Madam, again French + the devil spede him - the devil take him or commonly now - to hell with him. I am not sure if Devil speed him is lost to common usage; however here in New Scotland we continue usage of God speed for safe journey. It was an interesting read. In parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia you can still hear old variants of the English, Scottish (Gaelic) and Irish language which can be quite delightful. In all, I could be completely off my Greenwood tree - but I had a such a wonderful morning pouring over old poetry and clips of film devoted to Robin Hood. Thank you.
"In other words, there was a time in the later Middle Ages when to set oneself up as ‘a Robin Hood’ seems to have been like putting on Joker make-up and buying automatic rifles in the modern United States." This sentence is indicative of the juicy little tidbits that compare NOW and THEN that are sprinkled throughout Powers and Thrones and for me make your writing so compelling! Well done mate! Now if Robin Hood would have shown up at the January 6th Moron's Party with an AR 15....because as you might suspect, here, AR 15s are cheaper than dirt https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/firearms/tactical/ar-15-rifles/
Medieval minstrel ballads appear to be grassroots newspapers of their time. Their fingers being on the pulse of the people, they reflected attitudes both political & personal of their time. That being said, with this constant COVID crisis, I rather enjoy Kevin Costner’s comic Robin Hood.
My personal favorite ‘Hood is the “Men in Tights” movie. Who doesn’t love a bad boy 😜
Unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent 😉 between that and the Princess Bride I had such a crush on Cary Elwes when I was a kid
Same here. Gotta love Cary Elwes. Those are my go-to movies, esp “Men in Tights.”
Before I read this, the best Robin Hood ballad/jingle is the Weetabix one. After he spots the Sheriff eating Weetabix, it goes should he retreat back to Sherwood?, Course he should, course he should. Love that....
I had the great honour of meeting The Real (Disney) Robin Hood (plush) last year, who visited with a friend, a re-enactment I was participating in. It was a horrible wet weekend, so this was definitely a highlight!
Alan Rickman and a decent soundtrack save Prince of Thieves. But, Men in Tights is the best one.
Wow, what a fantastic read Dan. Never knew the history of Robin Hood was so in depth. Can you still get the Robin Hood and the Monk in print? If I remember rightly there was a piece on Look North (local news) about Robin Hood being from Wakefield but I suppose that might be just one of the old oral tales.
For myself though the definitive Robin Hood is the Disney cartoon as I loved the movie as a little kid.
As brilliant as the Cockerel who we all know was the real star of Disney’s Robin Hood! “Oo-de-lally, oo-de-lally, golly what a day”. Although I’m a little disappointed that wasn’t “the way it really happened in Sherwood Forest”. 😕☺️
That one’s my favorite version of Robin Hood.
Love this. Give us more medieval outlaws!
Bad behaving sexy men get a great deal of good press and the women involved are referred to as loose, stupid, whores and worse. Yuck which rimes with another practice of same men.
This is fantastic - look forward to more!
As for a fave portrayal over the years, it’s hard to pin one down, as they each have their merits - though I gravitate towards those that actually give Maid Marion a brain! 😅😎
Magic how you created a piece new and interesting on such a well-worn tale
But what about the tv series: Richard Green and his incredible travelling tree?! Best version ever with a script by a Hollywood writer who came over here as a result of the McCarthy witch hunt.
Intrigued, I read Robin Hood and the Monk, and Robin Hood and the Potter in Middle English. Two observations - First there is a French influence "Gereamarsey" grande a merci which translates as a big thank you as spoken by the sheriffs wife and later God a marsey meaning God thank you. Second, Dam, the devil spede him - Dam or diminutive of Madam, again French + the devil spede him - the devil take him or commonly now - to hell with him. I am not sure if Devil speed him is lost to common usage; however here in New Scotland we continue usage of God speed for safe journey. It was an interesting read. In parts of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia you can still hear old variants of the English, Scottish (Gaelic) and Irish language which can be quite delightful. In all, I could be completely off my Greenwood tree - but I had a such a wonderful morning pouring over old poetry and clips of film devoted to Robin Hood. Thank you.
Can’t wait to hear about Clim of the Clough!
"In other words, there was a time in the later Middle Ages when to set oneself up as ‘a Robin Hood’ seems to have been like putting on Joker make-up and buying automatic rifles in the modern United States." This sentence is indicative of the juicy little tidbits that compare NOW and THEN that are sprinkled throughout Powers and Thrones and for me make your writing so compelling! Well done mate! Now if Robin Hood would have shown up at the January 6th Moron's Party with an AR 15....because as you might suspect, here, AR 15s are cheaper than dirt https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/firearms/tactical/ar-15-rifles/
Alas, instead we got the horned shaman who whined in prison when they would give him organic food. Tragedy indeed!
Medieval minstrel ballads appear to be grassroots newspapers of their time. Their fingers being on the pulse of the people, they reflected attitudes both political & personal of their time. That being said, with this constant COVID crisis, I rather enjoy Kevin Costner’s comic Robin Hood.
Great stuff, Dan! Thanks also to those who suggested this subject.