The Tale of Maid Marion

Introduction

Many years ago in the Forests of Sherwood lived an ordinary man. His name was Robin. He spent his time making arrows for his longbow - a weapon he was very good at using, and helping those less fortunate than himself. He did not like how the rich Norman Noblemen treated the Saxon people who had to work very hard every day, living in small huts while the Normans wasted money on big feasts in large castles.

The King of England, King Richard, was a Norman, and enjoyed hunting, and allowed many dear to roam around the Forest ready to be hunted. The only people allowed to hunt these deer though were the Normans, and there were nasty punishments for any Saxon caught killing a royal dear.

King Richard was an Honest, religious man. He had left England to join in a Crusade to save Jerusalem from being invaded by people he did not like. He placed his brother, Prince John, in charge of looking after the country. Prince John was an evil, and nasty man. He plotted against the people and took their money. With the help of the Sheriff of Nottingham he managed to make as much money as he could from the people of Nottingham.

Robin had been caught killing a royal deer with his longbow once, and had been declared an outlaw by Prince John. He had lost his house, his money and everything else that he owned.

The Saxon people took pity on Robin, and they helped him to live in the forest, giving him food and shelter when he needed it, and in return Robin offered to protect them from the King and his Knights.

While Robin helped to defend the Saxon people against the Normans, he became friends with a local poacher, a man who stole food from the Royal Forest, by the name of Will Scarlett. Soon the two men became good friends, and together they helped more and more people.

In times of warm weather Robin and Will would spend their days in the deep of the Forest at the Major Oak. A large tree that had a large open space around it. In later times this was to become the main hideout of Robin and his outlaw band.

The Tale of Maid Marion

Although Robin did not like the Norman Sheriff, he was friendly with a Norman landowner, Sir Richard Fitzwater and his daughter, Marian.

Robin had offered to escort the young maiden and her servants through a dangerous part of the Forest. As he rode to meet them he noticed that the ground seemed to have many hoof marks in it. Robin wondered why there would be so many horses traveling in this part of the forest. He realized that Marian and her servants were riding towards a trap set by the Sheriff of Nottingham. No doubt he had told his Knights to go and rob anybody they could find and bring the money back to him.

Robin hurried towards Marian and her servants. As he approached them he noticed, hiding in the bushes to the side of the road, some of the Sheriffs Knights. Robin quickly rode past Marian and called out, “Stop riding, it is a trap”.

Hearing this the Knights leapt out at Robin.

“Get off the road Saxon” they shouted, “This is the Sheriffs business.”

Quick as a flash Robin drew his bow and an arrow and killed two of the Knights instantly. The remaining Knights turned and began to run back towards the safety of the Sheriff and Nottingham Castle.

“Run to your master”, shouted Robin, “Tell him that any Knight who travels through this forest will be stopped by Robin Hood”

Robin turned towards the shaken Marian and her servants and asked them to travel with him to her home, before the Sheriff returned with more men.

Finally after much traveling the party arrived at Marians home. She greeted her father, then explained what had happened, and how Robin had saved them all.
Sir Richard turned towards Robin and said, “Thank you, Robin for saving my family, but I fear that even as we speak, The Sheriff will be writing an order for your arrest. You must go into the forest and hide.”

“I am not scared of the Sheriff”, replied Robin, “Nor of his helper, Sir Guy of Gisborne. Let them try to arrest me”.

“I offer you the protection of my home anytime you need it Robin” added Sir Richard, “Remember that. I am in your debt.”

Robin turned, bowed to the fair maiden and then left to return to his forest home.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31