A Geste of Robyn Hode (c. 1450)

Stop and listen, gentlemen,

Who are of freeborn blood;

I’ll tell you of a good yeoman,

His name was Robin Hood.

2 Robin was a proud outlaw,

While he walked on ground;

So courteous an outlaw as he was

Was never yet one found.

3 Robin stood in Barnsdale,

And leaned on a tree;

And by him there stood Little John,

A good yeoman was he.

4 And also did good Scathelock,

And Much, the miller’s son;

There was no inch of his body

But it was worth a pound.

5 At that time spoke Little John

All unto Robin Hood;

Master, if you would dine on time,

It would do you much good.

6 Up then spole good Robin;

‘To dine have I no lust,

Till that I have some bold baron,

Or unknown guest.

7 [‘We shall await some bold abbot]

That may pay for the best,

Or some knight or some squire

That dwells here in the west.’

8 A faithful style had Robin then;

In the land where that he were,

Every day ere he would dine

Three masses would he hear

9 The one in worship of the Father,

Another of the Holy Ghost,

The third was of our deal Lady [Mary the Virgin]

That he loved yet the most.

10 Robin loved our dear Lady;

For fear of deadly sin,

Never would he harm a company

That any woman was in.

11 ‘Master,’ then said Little John

‘Before we our board shall spread,

Tell us where that we shall go

And what life we shall lead.

12 ‘Where we shall take, where we shall leave,

Where we shall abide behind;

Where we shall rob, where we shall reave,

Where we shall beat and bind?’

13 ‘Never use force, then said Robin;

‘We shall do well enough;

But look you do no farmer harm,

That tills with his plow.

This is an excepted section from Fytte 1 of the anonymous A Geste of Robyn Hode, which dates to the mid-fifteenth century, and is a long-form poem about Robin Hood’s notable deeds and exploits. This passage describes how Little John follows Robin Hood, as well as Scathelock (Will Scarlet) and Much the Miller’s son. The men discuss a knight who is in need of cash and contemplate helping him. Robin then talks about religion. He discusses his worship and that the one he loved the most was the Virgin Mary, to whom he was most devoted. Then Little John asks Robin Hood what kind of life they, as his followers, would lead. Robin tells them that they never use force. They never harm the innocent. This is the first inkling in this primary source of Robin Hood taking from the rich to give to the poor and his protecting the poor. The animated film Robin Hood(1973) takes this from the source and depicts Robin Hood as a man of the people who cares for the poor. The source describes him as an outlaw with followers. He tells his followers not to harm the simple man.