Robin Hood
Robin Hood is a folk hero from the Middle Ages. People have told lots of stories about him throughout the years. There are many versions of his stories but in most cases they agree on some main features.
Robin of Loxley, better known as Robin Hood, lived in the time of Richard the Lionheart. He was a highly skilled archer and swordsman who rebelled against the laws that restricted hunting rights in the forest.
At that time the deer in a royal forest belonged to the king; killing the king's deer was considered treason, and punished by death. Because Robin Hood hunted deer, he was outlawed.
Once declared an outlaw, Robin took to the Sherwood Forest and made a living by stealing from rich travellers and distributing the loot among the poor. By and by he made a band of followers, the Merry Men; among his men there was Little John, Much the Miller’s son, Friar Tuck, and Will Scarlet. In the band there was also a woman, Robin’s best childhood friend, Maid Marian, who became his wife. His enemies were the Sheriff of Nottingham who was hot on his heels but never got to capture him, and rich landowners and clergymen.
Country people loved Robin for whenever they asked him for help, they never went away with an empty fist.
Although he was against rich clergymen, Robin Hood was not against the church. He never attacked poor men or bands in which there were women.