Stories of Robin Hood

In Short

Bertha E. Bush gathers the foundational tales of Sherwood Forest into a clear, brisk narrative for young readers. Driven into the woods by Norman tyranny and cruel forestry laws, young Robin Hood builds a brotherhood of skilled yeomen committed to redistributing the wealth of corrupt officials and churchmen to the starving poor. Through archery matches, quarter-staff bouts, disguised church visits, and woodland feasts, the outlaw band repeatedly outsmarts the Sheriff of Nottingham and earns the respect of King Richard. Its timeless mix of natural justice, camaraderie, and spirited defiance accounts for its enduring appeal.

The Story

The tale begins in an England suffering under Norman oppression, where harsh laws sentence poor Saxons to death or displacement for hunting game to feed their starving families. Deeply moved by the tragic hanging of a neighbor and the expulsion of his family, young Robin Hood vows that when he grows up, he will force the wealthy to share their riches with the needy.

Taking to Sherwood Forest as an outlaw, Robin gathers a band of over a hundred loyal yeomen. They hone their skills daily in archery, wrestling, and staff-fighting while living simply under the trees, sleeping on rushes and deer skins, and feasting around open fires. Robin quickly becomes an adversary to the greedy lords, oppressive church leaders, and especially the bitter Sheriff of Nottingham. When the Sheriff attempts to trap Robin by staging a grand archery tournament with a golden arrow as the prize, Robin attends in rags and a eye patch, wins the contest right in front of the Sheriff, and later slips a message into the Sheriff’s house to reveal his true identity.

As his reputation grows, Robin expands his band by seeking out formidable opponents. On a narrow footbridge, he meets the towering John Little; after a friendly quarter-staff duel leaves Robin in the river, the stranger joins the outlaws and is playfully rechristened Little John. Later, to help the heartbroken young singer Allen-a-Dale recover his betrothed from an forced marriage to an old knight, Robin tracks down the eccentric Friar Tuck at Fountain Dale. After a wrestling match in the river, Friar Tuck joins the cause, interrupts the forced wedding at Emmet Church, and officially marries Allen-a-Dale to his true love while Robin provides a dower of gold.

Robin’s band continues to enforce woodland justice, intercepting wealthy travelers like the Bishop of Hereford and using their confiscated gold to relieve a ruined knight whose estate was facing foreclosure. Eventually, King Richard the Lionheart hears of Robin’s legendary marksmanship and travels to Sherwood disguised as an abbot. After testing Robin and his men in an archery challenge, the King reveals his identity, grants them full pardons, and invites Robin and his chief lieutenants to join the royal court, while turning the rest into forest rangers.

Robin serves the King faithfully, but the rigid politics of court life make him long for the open woods. Following King Richard's death, King John takes the throne, and Robin returns to Sherwood Forest to gather his band once more. There he lives out his remaining years until, falling ill in his old age, he seeks medical aid from his cousin, the prioress of Kirklees. She betrays him, but Robin dies true to his ideals, forgiving his enemy and forbidding his men from taking revenge.

How It Unfolds

A vow against tyranny Witnessing the execution of an innocent neighbor by the Sheriff and the eviction of his family by a wealthy abbot, young Robin Hood pledges to champion the poor against oppressive rulers. He retreats to Sherwood Forest, assembling a skilled band of outlaws who make the wilderness their home.

Winning the golden arrow When the Sheriff of Nottingham sets a trap by hosting an archery contest, Robin stains his hair, covers an eye, and dresses as a ragged beggar. He outshoots the finest archers in England to claim the golden arrow, later sending a note attached to a goose quill to mock the Sheriff.

Recruiting Little John Blocking a narrow bridge, a massive stranger challenges Robin to a quarter-staff duel and knocks him into the stream. Admiring the youth's spirit and archery skill, Robin invites John Little into the band, where he is rechristened Little John and becomes Robin's closest companion.

Rescuing Allen-a-Dale's bride Determined to help a grieving minstrel whose beloved is being forced to marry an old knight, Robin seeks out the jovial Friar Tuck. After an amusing battle of wits across a river, the friar joins the band, halts the wedding at Emmet Church, and performs the ceremony for Allen-a-Dale instead.

Meeting the King in disguise King Richard rides into Sherwood disguised as an abbot to evaluate the famous outlaw band firsthand. Impressed by their discipline, warm hospitality, and unmatched marksmanship during a forest tournament, the King reveals himself, pardons the outlaws, and takes Robin into his service.

Return and quiet end Finding court life stifling, Robin returns to Sherwood Forest after King Richard's death to live out his days as an outlaw. In old age, he falls ill and is betrayed by the prioress of Kirklees, dying peacefully while commanding his men to spare his killer.

The People

• Robin Hood wants to alleviate the suffering of the Saxon commoners by redistributing wealth taken from corrupt officials. Facing relentless pursuit by the Sheriff, he relies on swift wit, mastery of the longbow, and an open heart, growing from an indignant boy into a wise, beloved leader who remains loyal to his ideals to his final breath.
• The Sheriff of Nottingham wants to capture and hang Robin Hood to enforce royal authority and satisfy his personal spite. Obstinate, proud, and lacking kindness, his arrogance leaves him repeatedly outwitted and humiliated by Robin’s clever disguises and bold maneuvers.
• Little John starts as a proud, colossal youth who refuses to yield the right-of-way on a forest bridge. After proving his strength in staff-fighting and his skill with a bow, he becomes Robin's second-in-command, serving him with unwavering loyalty for decades.
• Friar Tuck seeks good cheer, robust meals, and solitude at Fountain Dale, frequently holding humorous two-person conversations with himself. He is drawn into Robin's circle by a battle of wits, quickly becoming the band's fiercely protective, boisterous priest.
• Allen-a-Dale is a gentle minstrel paralyzed by grief because his true love is being forced into a loveless marriage. With Robin's intervention, he secures his bride, joining the greenwood brotherhood as its sweetest singer.

In Its Own Voice

"Christ have mercy on his soul That died on the rood! For he was a good outlaw And did poor men much good."

An ancient ballad stanza cited by the text to frame Robin Hood's legacy as a benefactor of the common people.

"The greedy lords and rich, ease-loving churchmen strip the people bare and go rolling in wealth while the rest of the people are starving."

A young Robin Hood reacts indignantly upon learning how harsh forestry laws and heavy taxes ruined an innocent neighbor's family.

"I take your meaning, but I am no guest for you, for I have no money. Indeed, I am in great sorrow by reason of this very thing."

A bankrupt knight explains his predicament to Robin, unaware that the outlaws intend to pay off his predatory mortgage using gold seized from a corrupt bishop.

What It's Really About

The narrative examines the tension between moral justice and statutory law. Set against the backdrop of the Norman Conquest, the text depicts a legal framework designed to protect the privilege of rich landholders while brutalizing the poor for simple survival. Robin Hood’s outlawry is presented not as lawlessness for personal gain, but as a necessary counterweight to systemic greed and misgovernance. Through its depiction of shared meals, open-air living, and democratic camaraderie, the story presents an idealized vision of community grounded in mutual respect, fair play, and generosity. True nobility is defined not by birth or high office, but by personal integrity, kindness, and how one treats the vulnerable.

Why Read It Today

This retelling offers an ideal entry point for readers seeking a clean, classic presentation of the Robin Hood legend. Bush writes with directness and momentum, focusing on the core dramatic beats that made these stories endure for centuries. The prose strikes a balance between traditional folk narrative charm and accessible modern storytelling, avoiding dense period archaisms while retaining the spirited flavor of the original ballads.

Readers who enjoy outdoor adventure, clever trickery, and clear-cut moral triumphs will find much to admire here. The narrative moves swiftly from archery matches to woodland duels, keeping the tone light and optimistic even when addressing themes of poverty and political injustice. While modern audiences may notice the simplified black-and-white portrayal of characters—where villains are thoroughly sour and heroes invariably cheerful—this straightforward clarity is part of the book's fundamental appeal. It captures the comforting rhythm of legendary storytelling, leaving the reader with an enduring sense of hope, loyalty, and the triumph of common decency over corrupt power.