Robin Hood and the Monk
Encyclopedia
Robin Hood and the Monk is Child ballad 119, and among the oldest existing ballads of Robin Hood
, existing in manuscript from about 1450 AD.
It may have been originally recited rather than sung; it refers to itself as a "talking" in its last verse:
However, this is by no means certain, since the word "talking" could also mean a written discourse or information in Middle English
.
There are notable parallels between this ballad and that of Adam Bell
, Clym of the Cloughe and Wyllyam of Cloudeslee, but whether either legend was the source for the other can not be established.
talks of the May morning, but Robin Hood
is still unhappy, because he can not go to Mass
or matins
. He decides to go to a service in Nottingham, inspired by his devotion to the Virgin Mary. "Moche, the mylner sun" (Much the Miller's Son
) advises him to take at least twelve men; he refuses and goes with only Little John.
On the way, he makes a bet with Little John, loses, and refuses to pay. Little John leaves him.
Robin goes to St. Mary's in Nottingham and prays. A monk sees him and tells the sheriff, who goes with many men and fights with him.
The text breaks off at this point; neither Robin's capture nor the news reaching his men are included, but the story takes up with the men's shock, and Little John's being the only one to keep his wits about him. He declares they must rescue him. They catch the monk riding with a little page; Little John kills the monk for his treachery, and Much kills the page so that he could not tell who they were.
Little John and Much go to the (unnamed) king with the monk's letters and tell him the monk died on the way. The king gives them gifts and directions to bring Robin Hood to him. Little John brings the letters to the sheriff and tells him that the monk did not come because the king had made him an abbot. They get into the prison, kill the jailor, and escape with Robin. As they make their escape, they empty half of the jailor's treasury of tax money, and it is made vaguely clear that the sheriff had been extorting the townfolk. The sheriff does not dare face the king. Robin says that Little John has done him a good turn in return for the ill one he played, and offered to be his man; Little John still wants him to remain his master.
The king is enraged that the men managed to fool him, but admits that Little John is the most loyal man in England, and since they were all fooled, lets it go.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, existing in manuscript from about 1450 AD.
It may have been originally recited rather than sung; it refers to itself as a "talking" in its last verse:
- Thus endys the talkyng of the munke
- And Robyn Hode i-wysse;
- God, that is euer a crowned kyng,
- Bryng vs all to his blisse.
However, this is by no means certain, since the word "talking" could also mean a written discourse or information in Middle English
Middle English
Middle English is the stage in the history of the English language during the High and Late Middle Ages, or roughly during the four centuries between the late 11th and the late 15th century....
.
There are notable parallels between this ballad and that of Adam Bell
Adam Bell
Adam Bell was a legendary English outlaw.He and his companions William of Cloudsley and Clym of the Clough lived in Inglewood Forest near Carlisle and were figures similar to Robin Hood...
, Clym of the Cloughe and Wyllyam of Cloudeslee, but whether either legend was the source for the other can not be established.
Synopsis
Little JohnLittle John
Little John was a legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood, and was said to be Robin's chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.-Folklore:He appears in the earliest recorded Robin Hood ballads and stories...
talks of the May morning, but Robin Hood
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
is still unhappy, because he can not go to Mass
Mass (liturgy)
"Mass" is one of the names by which the sacrament of the Eucharist is called in the Roman Catholic Church: others are "Eucharist", the "Lord's Supper", the "Breaking of Bread", the "Eucharistic assembly ", the "memorial of the Lord's Passion and Resurrection", the "Holy Sacrifice", the "Holy and...
or matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
. He decides to go to a service in Nottingham, inspired by his devotion to the Virgin Mary. "Moche, the mylner sun" (Much the Miller's Son
Much the Miller's Son
Much the Miller's Son was, in the tales of Robin Hood, one of his Merry Men. He appears in some of the oldest ballads, A Gest of Robyn Hode and Robin Hood and the Monk, as one of the company.Generally he becomes an outlaw when he is caught poaching...
) advises him to take at least twelve men; he refuses and goes with only Little John.
On the way, he makes a bet with Little John, loses, and refuses to pay. Little John leaves him.
Robin goes to St. Mary's in Nottingham and prays. A monk sees him and tells the sheriff, who goes with many men and fights with him.
The text breaks off at this point; neither Robin's capture nor the news reaching his men are included, but the story takes up with the men's shock, and Little John's being the only one to keep his wits about him. He declares they must rescue him. They catch the monk riding with a little page; Little John kills the monk for his treachery, and Much kills the page so that he could not tell who they were.
Little John and Much go to the (unnamed) king with the monk's letters and tell him the monk died on the way. The king gives them gifts and directions to bring Robin Hood to him. Little John brings the letters to the sheriff and tells him that the monk did not come because the king had made him an abbot. They get into the prison, kill the jailor, and escape with Robin. As they make their escape, they empty half of the jailor's treasury of tax money, and it is made vaguely clear that the sheriff had been extorting the townfolk. The sheriff does not dare face the king. Robin says that Little John has done him a good turn in return for the ill one he played, and offered to be his man; Little John still wants him to remain his master.
The king is enraged that the men managed to fool him, but admits that Little John is the most loyal man in England, and since they were all fooled, lets it go.