There were many reasons why people were outlawed. For example when the eldest son inherited the family possessions the rest of the family were left homeless.
Hopefully his sisters would make a good marriage or failing that enter the church while the men sought shelter in the woods. Another reason for outlaws in the
forest was that those who had fought on the loosing side in battle were either taken prisoner or they escaped to the woodland. Whatever the reason for
fugitives being in the woods they were 'home' to many people, the woodland providing shelter and concealment, food from their poaching activities, and
money and jewellery from the proceeds of highway robbery while they attempted to buy their way back into society and obtain a pardon.
The association with forest living may explain the origin of the name 'Robin Hood' which is derived from the Saxon word "Houdt" meaning "the whood." Robin being a coruption of Robber giving us 'Robber in the Wood.' Over the years it has become Robin Hood.
Robert of Loxley stood out from the rest and 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(1), 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 ?(2) 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:
"These bisshoppes and these archebishoppes,
Ye shall them bete and bynde;
The hye sherif of Notyingham,
Hym holde ye in your mynde."
(A warning the sheriff may be passing that way and to look out for him.)
"This worde shalbe holde," sayde Lytell Johnn,
"And this lesson we shall lere;
It is fer dayes, God sende us a gest,
That we were at oure dynere!"
"Take thy gode bowe in thy honde," sayde Robyn;
"Late Much wende with the:
And so shal Willyam Scarlok,
And no man abyde with me.
"And walke up to the Saylis,
And so to Watlinge Strete,
And wayte after some unkuth gest,
Up chaunce ye may them mete.
Further along:
"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.
In summary the earliest date for Robin Hood is AD1160 in Loxley which ties in with the legend of Robert of Loxley killing his stepfather at plow and fleeing to the woods. Secondly the first place to bear his name was in the Royal Forest not far from Hathersage and Loxley. Thirdly the only surviving 'handwritten manuscript' places him in Loxley on the Nottingham/Derbyshire/Yorkshire boundary which is his legendary home and is in precisely the right location mid-way between Barnsdale and Nottingham. Lastly it should be noted there were several men who were sheriffs of both Nottingham and Yorkshire and this accounts for the Sheriff of Nottingham being in Yorkshire.
Notes
(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 despite the fact he lived in Sheffield only a short distance from Hathersage. From that day to this the county boundary remains unchanged and divides Loxley from Hathersage which until the mid 1800's came under Nottingham's administration. Had the decision gone the other way Loxley would have been a part of Nottingham.
This explains the Sloane Manuscript that says according to some Loxley was in Nottingham, and also 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."
Had it not been for a twist of fate Loxley would have been in Nottingham but due to a border dispute it is in South Yorkshire along with Barnsdale.
(2) [Illegible but from the context it could be noble]
("Nottingham Town" is the place. Nottinghamshire is the county. Nottingham is the area administered by the Sheriff's court and included Derbyshire.)
The association with forest living may explain the origin of the name 'Robin Hood' which is derived from the Saxon word "Houdt" meaning "the whood." Robin being a coruption of Robber giving us 'Robber in the Wood.' Over the years it has become Robin Hood.
Robert of Loxley stood out from the rest and 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(1), 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 ?(2) 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:
"These bisshoppes and these archebishoppes,
Ye shall them bete and bynde;
The hye sherif of Notyingham,
Hym holde ye in your mynde."
(A warning the sheriff may be passing that way and to look out for him.)
"This worde shalbe holde," sayde Lytell Johnn,
"And this lesson we shall lere;
It is fer dayes, God sende us a gest,
That we were at oure dynere!"
"Take thy gode bowe in thy honde," sayde Robyn;
"Late Much wende with the:
And so shal Willyam Scarlok,
And no man abyde with me.
"And walke up to the Saylis,
And so to Watlinge Strete,
And wayte after some unkuth gest,
Up chaunce ye may them mete.
Further along:
"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.
In summary the earliest date for Robin Hood is AD1160 in Loxley which ties in with the legend of Robert of Loxley killing his stepfather at plow and fleeing to the woods. Secondly the first place to bear his name was in the Royal Forest not far from Hathersage and Loxley. Thirdly the only surviving 'handwritten manuscript' places him in Loxley on the Nottingham/Derbyshire/Yorkshire boundary which is his legendary home and is in precisely the right location mid-way between Barnsdale and Nottingham. Lastly it should be noted there were several men who were sheriffs of both Nottingham and Yorkshire and this accounts for the Sheriff of Nottingham being in Yorkshire.
Notes
(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 despite the fact he lived in Sheffield only a short distance from Hathersage. From that day to this the county boundary remains unchanged and divides Loxley from Hathersage which until the mid 1800's came under Nottingham's administration. Had the decision gone the other way Loxley would have been a part of Nottingham.
This explains the Sloane Manuscript that says according to some Loxley was in Nottingham, and also 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."
Had it not been for a twist of fate Loxley would have been in Nottingham but due to a border dispute it is in South Yorkshire along with Barnsdale.
(2) [Illegible but from the context it could be noble]
("Nottingham Town" is the place. Nottinghamshire is the county. Nottingham is the area administered by the Sheriff's court and included Derbyshire.)
