Hood

( Riley ), smart boy who is willing that his grandmother “may pit Gener’l Washington an’ the old man Noah agin one ’nother right at the door of the ark,” provided his father does not compel him to authenticate her stories or be thrashed.—Richard Malcolm Johnston, Other Georgia Folk (1887). Hood ( Robin ), a famous English outlaw. Stow places him in the reign of Richard I., but others make him live at divers periods between Cœur de Lion and Edward II. His chief haunt was Sherwood Forest, in Nottingham shire. Ancient ballads abound with anecdotes of his personal courage, his skill in archery, his generosity, and great popularity. It is said that he robbed the rich, but gave largely to the poor, and protected women and children with chivalrous magnanimity. The ballad, “The Death of Robin Hood,” says that he was treacherously bled to death by his sister, the Priore of the Abbey of Kirklees. Stukeley a erts that Robin Hood was Robert Fitzooth, earl of Hunting don; and it is probable that his name hood , like capet given to the French king of the Hugues, refers to the cape or hood which he usually wore. ⁂ The chief incidents of his life are recorded by Stow. Ritson has collected a volume of songs, ballads, and anecdotes called Robin Hood... that Celebrated English Outlaw (1795). Sir W. Scott has introduced him in his famous novel Ivanhoe , which makes the outlaw contemporary with Cœur de Lion. Robin Hood’s Men. The most noted of his followers were Little John, whose surname was Nailor; his chaplain, Friar Tuck; William Scarlet, Scathelooke (2 syl. ), or Scadlock, sometimes called two brothers; Will Stutly or Stukely; Mutch, the miller’s son; and the maid Marian.