Known Merry Men Merry Men

robin hood , merry men (illustration pablo marcos, ca. 1995)



little john – robin s lieutenant. later stories depict him huge man joins band after fighting robin quarterstaves on river.
much miller s son – grown man , seasoned fighter in ballads. later stories depict him 1 of youngest of merry men. name suggests, son of miller.
will scarlet – companion, appearing in ballads gest of robyn hode . in robin hood newly revived skilled swordsman , robin s nephew.
arthur bland – appears in 1 ballad, robin hood , tanner . accused poacher bests robin in fight , joins band.
david of doncaster – appears in robin hood , golden arrow . warns robin against going sheriff of nottingham s archery contest because trap. in novel merry adventures of robin hood, howard pyle identifies david anonymous wrestler of gest of robyn hode .
will stutely – appears in 2 ballads, robin hood , little john , robin hood rescuing stutly . in former, gives little john outlaw name; in latter, must rescued after caught spying sheriff of nottingham. confused scarlet.
friar tuck – resident clergyman of band. tuck developed separately robin hood tradition; similar characters appear in 15th- , 16th-century plays, , 15th-century outlaw used alias friar tuck. fighting friar appears in ballad robin hood , curtal friar , though not named. robin , friar engage in battle of wits, @ 1 point involves holy man carrying outlaw across river, toss him in. in end, friar joins merry men. later stories portray tuck more ale-loving , jovial belligerent.
alan-a-dale – roving minstrel. appears in later ballad robin hood , allan-a-dale , in robin helps him rescue sweetheart being forced marriage man. despite relatively late appearance, became popular character in later versions.
gilbert whitehand (or gilbert white hand) – portrayed in gest of robyn hode skilled archer equal robin. appears along other merry men during shooting match gold , silver arrow, , again in barnsdale forest during visit disguised king.
reynold greenleaf - although name used alias little john in gest of robyn hode when tricked way sheriff s service, there reynold presented later in ballad separate member of merry men competed in archery match gold , silver arrow alongside robin, little john , others of band.
maid marian – robin hood s romantic interest. marian developed separately robin hood tradition; medieval french play jeu de robin et marion tells story of shepherdess marian , knight robin, , unrelated robin hood. medieval archetype of marian became associated english , scottish may day festivities, , associated robin hood. protagonist of ballad robin hood , maid marian , mentioned in robin hood , queen katherine , robin hood s golden prize . in maid marian joins merry men fighting robin draw while both in disguise. in victorian literature takes more passive role noblewoman , robin s desired, ended in 20th century marian resumed role cross-dressing tomboy , capable fighter. depicted such in 1952 film story of robin hood , merrie men, television series robin of sherwood, , 1991 film robin hood: prince of thieves. children s comedy television series maid marian , merry men takes step further placing marian in charge of group. in 2006 series robin hood, marian works double agent, feeding robin critical information sheriff.
the tinker – tinker profession (a tinsmith , mender of utensils) tried capture robin reward money, became 1 of merry men. though not named in original ballad robin hood , tinker given various names in later adaptations. howard pyle calls him wat o crabstaff (a reference quarterstaff uses weapon), while in bold robin hood , outlaw band louis rhead named dick o banbury.
the cook – cook lived in household of sheriff. sometime after little john had tricked way sheriff s service, , cook fought each other swords. neither 1 besting other, became friends , cook invited little john join robin s band. though not named in gest of robyn hode (in first appeared), given various names in later adaptations. in life , adventures of robin hood john b. marsh known epithet firepan , skill cook matched fame swordsman. in stories of robin hood , merry outlaws j. walker mcspadden, none other himself served sheriff cook until joined merry men after duel little john.
the ranger – forester responsible protecting king s deer. when encountered robin , learned poaching, fought each other swords , quarterstaves. forester (who not named) defeated robin offered him place among company of outlaws told in robin hood , ranger .
the pinder – pinder profession (an impounder of stray animals) encountered robin, little john , scarlet together. other tales in robin duels opponent , meets match, engaged in swordplay until truce made. pinder invited join merry men pledged after day of michaelmas when contract former employer ran out, told in jolly pinder of wakefield . though character not identified in ballad, named in robin hood play george greene, pinner of wakefield printed in 1599, 1632 chapbook famous history of george greene, pinder of wakefield , other similar works of period. name likewise used maude radford warren in 1914 collection robin hood , merry men serves self-appointed guardian of peace. henry gilbert in robin hood (1912) calls him sim of wakefield.
the scotchman – scot robin met while on journey north. offered serve robin refused @ first, thinking prove false, agreed on condition first engage in duel. scot won fight , became member of robin s band, told in robin hood , scotchman .
the 3 yeomen - 3 yeomen (landowning farmers) hanged sheriff of nottingham poaching until saved robin , company of archers. taken safety of greenwood , joined robin s band, told in robin hood , beggar (version 1).

several modern adaptations add member group moor or saracen:

this began 1984–86 television series robin of sherwood, included character nasir (portrayed mark ryan), former hashshashin joins merry men. character influenced writers of 1989–94 bbc tv children s series maid marian , merry men, featured black character barrington (played danny john jules) , 1991 s robin hood: prince of thieves, included moor azeem (played morgan freeman).
the 1993 mel brooks comedy robin hood: men in tights featured dave chappelle achoo, parody of freeman s azeem comically depicted modern african american mannerisms , speech.
the 1997–99 television series new adventures of robin hood featured kemal (played hakim alston), saracen professional assassin in palestine.
the 2006 series robin hood introduced djaq (anjali jay), saracen ex-slave. twist in djaq s description djaq girl disguised boy.




^ robin hood , curtal friar: introduction. retrieved january 22, 2007.
^ gest of robyn hode lines 1165–8, 1600–16
^ gest of robyn hode lines 595–600
^ gest of robyn hode lines 1169–72
^ jeffrey richards, (1980). swordsmen of screen: douglas fairbanks michael york, p. 190. routledge & kegan paul, lond, henly , boston.
^ robin hood , maid marian: introduction. retrieved january 22, 2007.
^ robin hood , tinker
^ pyle, howard (1929) [1883]. merry adventures of robin hood. charles scribner s sons. p. 15.
^ rhead, louis (1912). bold robin hood , outlaw band. harper & brothers. p. 100.
^ gest of robyn hode lines 651–715
^ marsh, john b. (1865). life , adventures of robin hood. george routledge , sons. pp. 259, 268.
^ mcspadden, j. walker (1904). stories of robin hood , merry outlaws. thomas y. crowell & company. p. 56.
^ robin hood , ranger
^ jolly pinder of wakefield introduction
^ jolly pinder of wakefield ballad text
^ george greene robin hood: facts , fiction.
^ international robin hood bibliography
^ warren, maude radford (1914). robin hood , merry men. rand mcnally & company. p. 46.
^ gilbert, henry (1994) [1912]. robin hood (originally published robin hood , men of greenwood). wordsworth editions. p. 102. isbn 1853261270.
^ robin hood , scotchman
^ robin hood , beggar,