Robin Hood:

Originally a woodland elf of infinite antiquity, was a "good yeoman" in his greatest days toward the close of the middle ages. He only became vulgarized as a disquised Earl of Huntingdon late inthe 16th century. His story, as it is knwn to us today, dates from late Platagent to Early Tudor times. The King with whom the early ballads connected him not to Richard I, but and Edward, probably the first. Robin's feats with a longbow and animosity against rich Churchmen bespeak a period subsequent to the thirtenth century, and his "friar" Tuck has had a time to acclimatize himself to the Island atmosphere. Maid Marrion, who seems to have had an earlier existence on her own account, did not join Robin's troupe before 1500, yet the fully developed idea of her is as distinctively English as any part of the legend. Perhaps she owrs most to Peacock in the 19th century!

note: I forget the name of the book that this comes from, _A History of The Anglo-Saxons_ , I believe. I can picture the book on my father's shelf (he's big history buff).Anyways, I should be over at their place this weekend and I will jot it down then.

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