Medieval Crime discussion

Might seem an obvious topic for a group dedicated to medieval crime, but I thought it worth posting something on England's most famous outlaw.

For the past ten years or so I've been involved with a research group - we have a private online discussion forum, not because we're snobs, but because a lot of the information put on there is the product of original research and we don't want it plagiarised - focused on trying to uncover the historical origins of the Robin Hood legend: whether he was a real man, or the product of a balladeer's fertile imagination, or a combination of historical characters - etc. The novel I'm writing at the moment is based on one particular theory.

Does anyone here have any opinions on this subject: who they think the hooded man was, if anyone?

I was looking at some research material the other day, and came across a version of the Hood story: he murdered a publican, Symon de Wynton, who was noted for his foul temper and evil nature. The body was found after Easter 1276. Hood had been his accomplice in a past life, allegedly, and murdered the guy, After that he had to run, and made his way to Sherwood ... See "Growing up in Medieval London", Barbara Hanawalt, OUP 1993, pages 191-194.

Personally I think that the legend of Hood has grown and changed over the years. Perhaps he did steal from the rich to give to the poor, but I find it unlikely.

My own favourite concept would be that he was a rebel against the Normans. Killing off the invader would be perfectly understandable, after all!

I've not heard of the Wynton entry - fascinating! I'll look up the source. The practice of giving known criminals the surname 'Robehod' and 'Robynhod' (and variants) would suggest the legend started some years before the first such reference in Berkshire c.1261.

There are several 'candidates' before that date - the fugitive Robert 'Hobbe' Hod in Yorkshire in 1225, the Robert Hot (variant of Hod/Hood) accused of felonies during Richard I's absence in 1194, and the rebellious knight Robert fitz Ode of Locksley in the Stephen/Matilda period. Among others.

All of which would make prime candidates for fiction!

Well, we can't have enough vicious, murderous felons in my humble opinion! Oddly enough, in a book in the late 90s which was a study of violence called 'Men of Blood' by Elliott Leyton, the Canadian criminologist saw direct proportions of murders per 100,000 of population depending upon (political correctness alert) social groups. Thus, WASPs in the US were guilty of roughly the same number of crimes as WASPs in the UK, ie 1:100,000. Swiss in their country or US had the same murder rate; Scots were much higher, by the same proportion; Italians killed as many in the US as in Italy. His conclusion: it's the culture, stupid. Some were brought up to revere murder and theft as a valid means of getting on.
He elaborated on this theory. In the US, the cultural legends were folks such as Billy the Kid, Jesse James, Bonnie and Clyde. People who rebelled against any authority, and murdered their way to fame. But in gentle England, the main cultural stereotypes were characters who stole from the rich, etc. Interesting theory. Must read it again some time.

I never read the book

Christine wrote: "I never read the book"

...Ok.

Has anyone read a book called Hodd by Adam Thorpe? Supposedly puts an interesting idea on the Robin Hood legend. :)

I never read that book

Joseph wrote: "Christine wrote: "I never read the book"

...Ok.

Has anyone read a book called Hodd by Adam Thorpe? Supposedly puts an interesting idea on the Robin Hood legend. :)"

No, afraid not. Is it worth a look?

I don't think i would like that book

As part of my research , I dug out some extract from common pleas of Public Record office available on line concerning Robin Hood and his fellows all together.
This led me to think that the main author of the myth of Robin Hood( the Gest of Robyn Hode) was related to them and identifying the author is the key issue.
Probably, People would have never heard of Robin Hood
without the author of the "Gest of Robyn Hode"
So Identifying the author will help to understand the Robin Hood caharacter and origin.