ROBIN HOOD.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 18 September 1914, Page 8

ROBIN HOOD.

There has never been* an outlaw round whose name such romance has hung as "Robin Hood" of the Middle Ages. Even his existence has been doubted ; but it is now fairly certain that such a person did exist, and that he gathered round him a baud of "merry men." These outlaws haunted Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham, and the identity of the leader has never been ascertained for certain. Some have thought he was the last of the great Saxons who held out against the Normans when these conquered the kingdom, others that he was the outlawed Earl of Leicester, who led a revolt in the reign of Edward II.; others that he was the leader of those who were scattered after the death of Simon de Montfort.

It seems certain, however, that he was the "Rohvn Hode" who was

pardoned by King FMward 11., who gave him a pension on condition that he gave up his lawless life and remained at Court. But tiring of this quiet after his previous career, he left the Court, and summoning round him the remains of his band, he became again a terror to travellers, until, feeling old age and illness creeping upon him, he entered the Abbey of Wakefield in search of medical aid, and was treacherously bled to death by a monk, who coveted the reward set upon his head. His death took place on October 28, 1020, according to one account, and he was buried, as he had desired at the spot where his arrow fell when he drew his famoua bow for the last tin*.