Robin Hood in York
Introduction continued:
Disaster struck young Robin when his stepfather, a knight of the realm, died in the first year of the Black Death. His mother died a few weeks later, but that did not stop people from blaming Robin for his stepfather’s demise. So, being sensible, Robin fled to Kirklees Priory to escape a possible blood feud with his half-brother, a knight of the Garter, and the king’s companion. While at Kirklees, Robin developed a lifelong friendship with Little John, the herdsman. The cattle provided milk and beef for the convent and finance when sold in the market at Wakefield. Margaret Saville, the prioress, looked after the poor and ill. At the same time, her brother, Sir John Saville, kept law and order as High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1381, 1383, and 1388.
A road from the west of England passed Loxley and Hathersage before joining Watling Street at Robin Hood’s Well. The increase in traffic attracted a motley band of outlaws, including beggars, the unemployed, and the unemployable. “They included soldiers discharged from the French wars and servants forced to flee by penniless lords and gentry. Professional poachers and the dispossessed were all there.” (G. M. Trevelyan, historian to Queen Elizabeth II). Hundreds of equally desperate robin hoods (a spurious nickname, Holt) roamed the length and breadth of the nation. To avoid being robbed and perhaps killed, travellers hired soldiers from Tickhill Castle for protection on the last leg of their journey to York. Once there, they deposited their valuables in the castle’s strongroom. It gleamed with gold and precious gems when the king and his parliamentarians were in England’s second capital city.
Johannes Hood the Miller lived in York, and Robin, born Robert Dore, adopted the name Hood. Among Robin’s merry men was Much, the miller’s son. Robin entered the clothing trade as an apprentice in 1354 and trained as a dyer of cloth. His journeyman and mercantile period began in 1361, and he became a freeman of York in 1364. (York Archives). Later, Will Scarlett and Much, the miller’s son, made new clothes for the impoverished knight, and Robin supplied King Edward with green cloth. The king surrounded himself with loyal men, among whom were John Gisbourne, the hated mayor of York; John Morton, the sheriff of Yorkshire; and his brother, Robert Morton, the sheriff of Nottingham. The Morton family were from West Yorkshire, the same as Robin.
Knowing the Morton family, if only by reputation, Robin warned his men to beware of Nottingham’s sheriff. His father worked as the king’s secretary, and their mother attended King Richard’s Queen as a lady-in-waiting, they had the king’s ear. Robert Morton, a Yorkshireman by birth, held several high offices in the Duchy of Lancaster. His duties included Sheriff of Nottingham, steward of Conisbrough Castle in Barnsdale, and deputy to John of Gaunt, the king’s son. Gaunt’s primary residence, Pontefract Castle, also in Barnsdale, was near Conisbrough Castle. In addition, Robert acted as Yorkshire’s bailiff and oversaw matters of national importance in Parliament. Small wonder Robin told his men to beware of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the king’s man in Yorkshire.
NOTES:
The courts identified convicted robbers as robinhoods. There were hundreds across England and Scotland. Professor Holt calls it a “spurious nickname” (page 190).
Old maps identify a wood named Saylis within sight of the well. (Tim Midgley)
Trysting trees are trees of any species. Because of their prominent appearance or position, they became traditional meeting places for specific purposes. Names, dates, and symbols need carving on trees with smooth bark. Beech, hornbeam, and sycamore trees are ideal. (Wiki)
Copyright © 2020, Graham Kirkby All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
Conisborough Court Roll The Geste as a play in modern English is HERE .
Disaster struck young Robin when his stepfather, a knight of the realm, died in the first year of the Black Death. His mother died a few weeks later, but that did not stop people from blaming Robin for his stepfather’s demise. So, being sensible, Robin fled to Kirklees Priory to escape a possible blood feud with his half-brother, a knight of the Garter, and the king’s companion. While at Kirklees, Robin developed a lifelong friendship with Little John, the herdsman. The cattle provided milk and beef for the convent and finance when sold in the market at Wakefield. Margaret Saville, the prioress, looked after the poor and ill. At the same time, her brother, Sir John Saville, kept law and order as High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1381, 1383, and 1388.
A road from the west of England passed Loxley and Hathersage before joining Watling Street at Robin Hood’s Well. The increase in traffic attracted a motley band of outlaws, including beggars, the unemployed, and the unemployable. “They included soldiers discharged from the French wars and servants forced to flee by penniless lords and gentry. Professional poachers and the dispossessed were all there.” (G. M. Trevelyan, historian to Queen Elizabeth II). Hundreds of equally desperate robin hoods (a spurious nickname, Holt) roamed the length and breadth of the nation. To avoid being robbed and perhaps killed, travellers hired soldiers from Tickhill Castle for protection on the last leg of their journey to York. Once there, they deposited their valuables in the castle’s strongroom. It gleamed with gold and precious gems when the king and his parliamentarians were in England’s second capital city.
Johannes Hood the Miller lived in York, and Robin, born Robert Dore, adopted the name Hood. Among Robin’s merry men was Much, the miller’s son. Robin entered the clothing trade as an apprentice in 1354 and trained as a dyer of cloth. His journeyman and mercantile period began in 1361, and he became a freeman of York in 1364. (York Archives). Later, Will Scarlett and Much, the miller’s son, made new clothes for the impoverished knight, and Robin supplied King Edward with green cloth. The king surrounded himself with loyal men, among whom were John Gisbourne, the hated mayor of York; John Morton, the sheriff of Yorkshire; and his brother, Robert Morton, the sheriff of Nottingham. The Morton family were from West Yorkshire, the same as Robin.
Knowing the Morton family, if only by reputation, Robin warned his men to beware of Nottingham’s sheriff. His father worked as the king’s secretary, and their mother attended King Richard’s Queen as a lady-in-waiting, they had the king’s ear. Robert Morton, a Yorkshireman by birth, held several high offices in the Duchy of Lancaster. His duties included Sheriff of Nottingham, steward of Conisbrough Castle in Barnsdale, and deputy to John of Gaunt, the king’s son. Gaunt’s primary residence, Pontefract Castle, also in Barnsdale, was near Conisbrough Castle. In addition, Robert acted as Yorkshire’s bailiff and oversaw matters of national importance in Parliament. Small wonder Robin told his men to beware of the Sheriff of Nottingham, the king’s man in Yorkshire.
NOTES:
The courts identified convicted robbers as robinhoods. There were hundreds across England and Scotland. Professor Holt calls it a “spurious nickname” (page 190).
Old maps identify a wood named Saylis within sight of the well. (Tim Midgley)
Trysting trees are trees of any species. Because of their prominent appearance or position, they became traditional meeting places for specific purposes. Names, dates, and symbols need carving on trees with smooth bark. Beech, hornbeam, and sycamore trees are ideal. (Wiki)
Copyright © 2020, Graham Kirkby All rights reserved NEXT PAGE
Conisborough Court Roll The Geste as a play in modern English is HERE .