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Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 6-10 Summary

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Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 1-5 Summary

In this post, we continue the novel The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle by summarizing chapters 6-10. In it, we will learn more about Little John and Will Scarlet and other merry men. We will also see a deepening conflict between Robin and the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 6-17 Summary

In chapter 6, Little John attends the Nottingham Fair disguised as a yeoman. Due to his immense size and strength, he wins over those attending the fair. While playing at an archery contest, he wins the grand prize, besting everybody including the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men.

The text states, “Near the target, in a good place, sat the Sheriff upon a raised dais, with many gentlefolk around him … A score of brave shots were gathered there, and among them some of the keenest hands at the longbow … and among them Little John stood taller than all the rest” (Pyle).

The Sheriff offers Little John a job, which he takes in order to gain more information for Robin Hood.

In chapter 7, Little John becomes a trusted employee of the Sheriff. He uses his position to keep Robin Hood informed as to the Sheriff’s business. Little John eventually uses the Sheriff’s idea to host a feast. In this way, he can get back at the Sheriff by luring him into Robin Hood’s good graces.

“Then one of the band brought the Sheriff a cup of sack, bowing low as he handed it to him; but the Sheriff could not touch the wine, for he saw it served in one of his own silver flagons, on one of his own silver plates,” the story states.

However, Robin gives the Sheriff his own stolen goods back. He tells him to “take thou thine own again … and hearken to me, good Sheriff, take thou a piece of advice with it. Try thy servants well er thou dost engage them again so readily.” With this warning and fair bit of advice, the Sheriff leaves Sherwood Forest.

Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 8-10 Summary

Chapter 8

In chapter 8, Little John encounters a tanner named Arthur-a-Bland on his way to Blyth. Both men engage in a physical duel and are comparable in many ways, which leads to them ceasing their quarrel. Robin, watching the battle happen from the bush, notes that he had never “thought to see Little John so evenly matched.”

Little John tells Arthur that he is one of Robin’s men. This excites the tanner who then agrees to join the merry men.

The tanner exclaims: “Will I join thy band? … Ay, marry, will I!”

Chapter 9

In chapter 9, Robin Hood meets Will Scarlet, a man who dresses in red and who is quite skillful with both sword and bow. After a duel with Robin, wherein the “dust of the highway rose up around them like a cloud” and there was “the rattle of staves against one another,” Will Scarlet reveals that he is related to the outlaw of Sherwood himself, for he is Robin’s nephew. Will explains to Robin that he fled from a crime he did not commit. He then wants to join Robin’s merry men. Robin welcomes him warmly.

Chapter 10

In chapter 10, Robin encounters a miller’s son, Midge. Midge does not want to give up his goods; believing Robin is a common thief, he refuses to relent. Meanwhile, the man impresses Robin with his tenacity. He asks him to join the merry men. Midge accepts and joins the group.

The text states:

“So that night all was ablaze with crackling fires in the woodlands, for though Robin and those others spoken of, only excepting Midge, the Miller’s son, had many a sore bump and bruise here and there on their bodies, they were still not so sore in the joints that they could not enjoy a jolly feast given all in welcome to the new members of the band. Thus with songs and jesting and laughter that echoed through the deeper and more silent nooks of the forest, the night passed quickly along, as such merry times are wont to do, until at last each man sought his couch and silence fell on all things and all things seemed to sleep.”

Analysis of Robin Hood

Popularity and Menace

These chapters inform the reader of the merry men’s growing popularity. Will Scarlet joins the group along with Arthur and Midge; all of whom boast their own skills and exceptions. The thought of new comrades joining Robin Hood and his merry men is charming. Considering the story is set during the medieval era, which is such a dark time, a little levity helps.

Moreover, these chapters continue building the Sheriff of Nottingham’s menace. While Robin dupes Little John, he is still an intelligent and crass man. As Robin sees the skill in Little John and still employs him to his company (even though he doesn’t know his identity). However, we also see the Sheriff’s shortsightedness, as he follows the trail of somebody who wronged him too closely. This ensnares him in a trap. Having Robin outsmart the Sheriff further cements their stature as heroes of yore. They they clearly show the Sheriff but remain kind and generous to him.

Righteousness and Goodness

Robin has already grown from outlaw on the run to hero of Sherwood forest. He stands up for both peasants and servants. His growth can be seen in his actions. He both welcomes new members to the merry men, and he gives the Sheriff necessary “advice” to steer him away from crookery. These are certainly the qualities of a hero. Robin his overtly standing up for people who have very little power compared to sheriffs and kings.

Robin’s motivations seem purely out of the goodness of his heart. But, I have to wonder, why put yourself in harms way if only to stand up for the little guy? What does Robin have to gain? I think an immediate answer is: what does he have to lose? At this point, he has killed a man in self-defense and lives on the lamb to avoid punishment from the Sheriff of Nottingham who simply can not be impartial when it comes to Robin’s sentencing, as the Sheriff was related to the murdered man. Therefore, Robin can only take on the mantle of hero for the people, as his unjust, albeit self-imposed, exile may be a motivating factor.

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Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 11-15 Summary

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In this post about Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 11-15, we are going to read about Robin Hood’s further adventures in Sherwood Forest. Robin encounters the minstrel Allan-a-Dale and Friar Tuck. He disrupts a wedding, and he also saves a knight from ruin. This is a really exciting chunk of the book. It has more meetings between Robin and various allies, and it also shows him in triumphant in multiple vignettes.

Chapter 11: Allan-a-Dale

In this chapter, Robin runs into Allan-a-Dale, a rather upset minstrel. Why is he upset? Well, Sir Stephen of Trent, a knight, is marrying Allan’s true love. Robin, also upset at the man’s sorrow, agrees to help him.

As Robin states: “Methinks I have a plan might fit thy case, Allan,” said he. “But tell me first, thinkest thou, lad, that thy true love hath spirit enough to marry thee were ye together in church, the banns published, and the priest found, even were her father to say her nay?” (Pyle).

And after Allan agrees, Robin tells him: “Then give me thy hand, Allan,” cried Robin, “and let me tell thee, I swear by the bright hair of Saint AElfrida that this time two days hence Ellen a Dale shall be thy wife. I will seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey tomorrow day, and I warrant I will get upon the soft side of him, even if I have to drub one soft” (Pyle).

Allan then sings a beautiful song titled: “May Ellen’s Wedding.”

The final stanza of this 18-stanza poem tells of Allan’s want to spirit Ell o’ the Dale (his love) away:

    "There's ancient men at weddings been,
     For sixty years and more,
     But such a wondrous wedding day,
     They never saw before.
     But none could check and none could stay,
     The swans that bore the bride away."

Chapter 12: Robin Hood Seeks the Curtal Friar

And so, Robin ventures out to find the Friar, so they have somebody willing to marry the minstrel.

“Now will I go to seek this same Friar of Fountain Abbey of whom we spake yesternight, and I will take with me four of my good men and these four shall be Little John, Will Scarlet, David of Doncaster, and Arthur a Bland,” Robin says of his venture.

They travel far and eventually come to a place where there is a “shallow ford” and where just on the other side of the stream is a “little hermitage.” Here, the Friar of Fountain Dale dwells. Robin, walking toward the hermitage, suddenly stops. He believe he hears two voices nearby instead of the expected singular voice of the friar.

“Tis strange … surely there be two people that spoke the one to the other, and yet methinks their voices are mightily alike.”

Upon seeing that it is in fact the Friar alone and talking to himself, Robin lies in wait. He sees what else the man is up to by his lonesome in the forest. The Friar finished his meal and drank from his flask while talking to himself in two separate voices. Eventually, he began to sing “The Loving Youth and the Scornful Maid.”

The Meeting of Robin and the Friar

Toward the end of the song, Robin Hood joins in with the Friar and they sing together:

“So it’s hark! hark! hark!
To the joyous lark
And it’s hark to the cooing dove!
For the bright daffodil
Groweth down by the rill
And I’ll be thine own true love.”

After a tense confrontation between the two involving men and dogs, both parties settle down. The men exchange their pleasantries.

“Why, truly,” said the Friar demurely, “some do call me the Curtal Friar of Fountain Dale; others again call me in jest the Abbot of Fountain Abbey; others still again call me simple Friar Tuck.”

“I like the last name best,” quoth Robin, “for it doth slip more glibly off the tongue. But why didst thou not tell me thou wert he I sought, instead of sending me searching for black moonbeams?”

Robin then asks the Friar to accompany them back to Sherwood forest so that he may explain the problem they have. The friar agrees and they venture to back home.

Chapter 13: Robin Hood Compasses a Marriage

On the day of the wedding, Robin and his Merry Men awake and prepare for their honorable assignment. Robin disguises himself and he and his men travel to the church where Ellen is to be married.

After waiting awhile, guests and participants begin to arrive at the church. They were “holy men” of the “church,” such as the Bishop and the Prior; they were “jesting and laughing between themselves about certain fair dames, their words more befitting the lips of laymen … than holy clerks.”

Then, Sir Stephen and Ellen arrive–and Robin notes her beauty and her sadness in the moment. Just before the ceremony begins, Robin blows his horn and his trusty men take charge. The men at arms who protect the church fall away quickly. Allan-a-Dale arrives with 18 “yeomen all clad in Lincoln green.”

In quick succession, Robin and his men convince Sir Stephen and the Bishop to leave Ellen o’ the Dale alone. She then weds Allan-a-Dale. Robin and his companions–including Ellen o’ the Dale–leave and travel back to Sherwood Forest. “That night there was such a feast held in the greenwood as Nottinghamshire never saw before. To that feast you and I were not bidden, and pity it is that we were not; so, lest we should both feel the matter the more keenly, I will say no more about it.”

Chapter 14: Robin Hood Aids a Sorrowful Knight

Changing Seasons

As time moves on in our story, the community is saving for the long, arduous winter season. The “gentle springtime” fell away and passed the “yellow sunlight” and “quivering heat and deep, bosky foliage.”

In the text, the author writes: “So passed the seasons then, so they pass now, and so they will pass in time to come, while we come and go like leaves of the tree that fall and are soon forgotten.”

The merry men, meanwhile, convalesce in Sherwood Forest and ready themselves for the winter by hosting a feast. Robin splits the group between he and Little John to go seek admirable guests for the feast. They then travel and wait for guests to come to them from the road.

The Knight

While waiting, a sorrowful knight approaches and Robin strikes a up a conversation with him.

Robin tells his men: “Yon is verily a sorry-looking gallant, and doth seem to have donned ill-content with his jerkin this morning; nevertheless, I will out and talk with him, for there may be some pickings here for a hungry daw. Methinks his dress is rich, though he himself is so downcast. Bide ye here till I look into this matter.” 

The knight introduces himself as Sir Richard of the Lea. The man explains his sorrow as a debt owed to the Priory of Emmet. He also stands to lose his lands. The knight, contrary to standard, is poor due to a ransom paid to save his son and other unfortunate events.

The knight tells Robin that he should not be “ashamed” but, “friend, I tell thee the truth, when I say that in my purse are ten shillings, and that that is every groat that Sir Richard of the Lea hath in all the wide world.”

Robin invites him to Sherwood, where they find the Bishop of Herford. Little John has done well capturing the man. For entertainment, Robin and his men engage in contests, such as archery and singing. Then, Robin tells of Sir Richard of the Lea’s problem and passively implies the bishop’s duty to relieve the man.

They send the knight off with gifts and hold fast to the bishop for three days. After which, they send him with an escort. Though, the Bishop rode away untroubled, “he vowed within himself that he would sometime make Robin rue the day that he stopped him in Sherwood.”

Chapter 15: How Sir Richard of the Lea Paid His Debts

The Travels of Sir Richard

Sir Richard of the Lea travel down a long, dusty highway toward Emmet Priory. Once there, he tells one of his men to knock on the door. A porter tells Sir Richard that he was expected.

Inside, they enter and find a feast underway. Here, Prior Vincent, the Sheriff of Nottingham, a doctor of law and others join them. Before Sir Richard attends, they converse about the knight’s debt. They also discuss his penury and land. Sir Richard arrives and begs them for mercy. They insist that he pays for his debt. While they are unrelenting in their insistence, Sir Richard produces a bag of money and pays his debt.

Little John reveals himself to be one of the knight’s men. Then he tells him that he will report back to Robin Hood.

The author tells us that: “At this, the tall man-at-arms, who was no other than Little John, turned, grinning, to the Sheriff. ‘I give thee good den, fair gossip,’ quoth he. ‘I would say, sweet Sheriff, that I have heard all thy pretty talk this day, and it shall be duly told unto Robin Hood. So, farewell for the nonce, till we meet again in Sherwood Forest.’ Then he, also, turned and followed Sir Richard down the hall, leaving the Sheriff, all pale and amazed, shrunk together upon his chair.”

Sometime Later

After some time has elapsed (twelvemonth and a day), we see that Sir Richard’s money has grown. As such, he means to repay Robin Hood.

“But the year had brought great change, I wot, to the lands of Sir Richard of the Lea; for, where before shaggy wild grasses grew upon the meadow lands, now all stretch away in golden stubble, betokening that a rich and plentiful crop had been gathered therefrom. A year had made a great change in the castle, also, for, where were empty moats and the crumbling of neglect, all was now orderly and well kept.”

On his journey to Sherwood, the knight stops to witness a wrestling match at the Denby Fair. The match is controversial. A new entrant, David of Doncaste, outwrestles the local champion, William of the Scar. Doncaster receives the grand prize. The crowds accost the young man (and new champion) as he leaves. He is then attacked by a blacksmith and leader of the mob. However, the blacksmith is smacked down accordingly by the young champion

Then, Sir Richard intervenes to assert the fairness of the bout.

As the young man frees himself, he states that, “Sir Richard of the Lea, mayhap thou hast saved my life this day,” and the knight responds, “Who art thou that knowest Sir Richard of the Lea so well?” quoth the Knight. “Methinks I have seen thy face before, young man.” Of course, the recognition is based on Sir Richard’s familiarity with the merry men of Sherwood, which causes the knight to laugh out loud. Afterward, the knight reintroduces David of Doncaster to the militant group of citizens and excuses the crowd, giving them wine as a consolation prize.

The Aftermath

Sir Richard then ventures to Robin Hood to pay his respects. He gives each man a bow and a quiver of arrows. For Robin, he gives him “a stout bow inlaid with the cunningest workmanship in gold, while each arrow in his quiver was innocked with gold.” Soon after, they lead the knight out of Sherwood through a parade of lit torches. The chapter ends with, “Thus Robin Hood helped a noble knight out of his dire misfortunes, that else would have smothered the happiness from his life.”

Analysis

Much like the previous set of chapters, we find that the merry men are attracting more characters and talent. Allan-a-Dale, Ellen o’ the Dale, Friar Tuck, and so on have all been well met in their travels with Robin Hood. Therefore, this adds an element to the group (intelligence, cleverness, and kindness). The addition shows that the merry men are capable of change. They evolve when new members join, as long as it is helping some one in need in some way.

Moreover, these chapters really show Robin Hood’s character as a charitable, kind individual who looks to exact justice where he sees malice and oppression. Allan-a-Dale for instance is upset at a lost love, but it is the oppressive nature of marriage that turns Robin into a justice seeker. That is to say, he saves Ellen o’ the Dale from a marriage that would cause great sadness. Additionally, Robin’s understanding of unfair taxation and debts leads him to help a knight who has simply had a round of bad luck. These acts give us keen insight into who Robin Hood is and what he stands for in the long run.

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Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 1-5 Summary

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In this post regarding Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 1-5 , we begin our medieval adventures with The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle. Last year, we examined another medieval classic, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and I had so much fun conducting research and analyzing the text that I wanted to relive that experience.

Background of Robin Hood

To begin, we just have to know that this text was published in 1883 and that it is considered to be the book on Robin Hood. After discussing urtexts on here, we find that there are many ballads written about Robin Hood from yesteryear, including “A Gest of Robyn Hood,” “Robin Hood and the Monk,” “Robin Hood and the Potter,” and “Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne.” However, as contemporary readers, we need to consider accessibility of language, so I have settled on Pyle’s more straightforward text.

Additionally, the stories are episodic and detail many of Robin Hood’s most famous adventures, from his meeting with Little John, a famous archery contest, and his final days. I hope you enjoy this Reading of… series and hope you stick with it until the end.

(Also, you can find the book on Project Gutenberg for free!

Robin Hood: Chapter 1-2

The Making of Robin

In the beginning, Robin lives in the English countryside. He was a talented archer and “could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning” that no other stood in his way. Robin was a virtuous, honorable man.

While out walking through the forest one day, he is encountered by a group of foresters. The men challenge him to a shooting contest, which Robin wins handily. However, one of the members of the group, drunk and angry that Robin won so easily, attempts to murder the youth and fires an arrow at him. Robin, turning on his heels after being missed by only “three inches,” lets loose an arrow and it kills the man in return. Afterward, Robin flees into Sherwood Forest, where he decides to live as an outlaw.

Robin Hood the Rebel

Robin lives alone in the forest for a long time–away from Locksley Town–as an outlaw for murder and poaching. The Sheriff of Nottingham swears to bring Robin to justice to reap the reward and to exact revenge, as the man Robin shot down was of relation.

Robin eventually begins to attract attention from “yeomen” who see him as “their leader and chief,” and they begin their acts of kindness and generosity to the local population.

“But to the poor folk they would give a helping hand in need and trouble, and would return to them that which had been unjustly taken from them,” the text states. “… they swore never to harm a child nor wrong a woman …”

Robin and his Merry Men

While seemingly content, one day Robin’s Merry Men inform him that they have seen little fare in the woods, so Robin leaves to find game. He travels far and wide searching for food to hunt and comes upon a bridge. There, he meets a tall men who challenges him to a duel with staves. Robin agrees and the two men engage in a bout. It turns out that this man is Little John, a protector of sort, and Robin’s right hand man.

Additionally, Robin meets a tinker by the name of Wat o’ the Crabstaff, who carries a warrant for his arrest. Robin is crafty and sly though. He pretends to be somebody else and accompanies the tinker to a nearby inn. There, he plies the man with many drinks until he falls asleep. Then, he takes the warrant. The next day, Crabstaff finds Robin and they battle. The man is so brave and fierce that Robin asks him to join his Merry Men.

As Robin tells him: “”Nay, touch him not,” said Robin, “for a right stout man is he. A metal man he is by trade, and a mettled man by nature; moreover, he doth sing a lovely ballad. Say, good fellow, wilt thou join my merry men all?”

And, he does.

Robin Hood: Chapter 3-5

The Archery Contest

Continuing, Robin engages in an archery contest in Nottingham Town, which is in fact a trap to lure the outlaw into the clutches of the Sheriff of Nottingham. Robin attends the contest disguised as somebody else and wins the competition.

As the story is told, “Then the tattered stranger stepped forth, and all the people laughed as they saw a yellow patch that showed beneath his arm when he raised his elbow to shoot, and also to see him aim with but one eye. He drew the good yew bow quickly, and quickly loosed a shaft; so short was the time that no man could draw a breath betwixt the drawing and the shooting; yet his arrow lodged nearer the center than the other by twice the length of a barleycorn.”

Revealing himself after his victory, Robin escapes with a few of his Merry Men and the venture back to Sherwood. However, Will Stutely (one of the Merry Men) is captured by the Sheriff’s men and is set to be executed. Disguising themselves once again, Robin and some of his men gain access to the town and free Will in the shortly before he is to be hanged.

Will Scarlet

The author writes that Will looked up from his shackles “he felt his heart leap within him and then stand still for pure joy,” as he saw some of the men of Sherwood nearby and “his own good master in the press … Robin Hood …”

Lastly, Robin uses a disguise as a butcher to return to Nottingham. There, he sells his wares and gains the attention of the Sheriff, who invites him to dine with him. Robin gains information on the Sheriff’s plans and once again reveals himself and fights his way to escape, leaving the Sheriff humiliated and embarrassed.

“Then bitterly the Sheriff rued the day that first he meddled with Robin Hood, for all men laughed at him and many ballads were sung by folk throughout the country, of how the Sheriff went to shear and came home shorn to the very quick,” the author writes. “For thus men sometimes overreach themselves through greed and guile.”

Analysis of Robin Hood: Chapters 1-5

In Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: Chapters 1-5 we learn a great deal about Robin Hood and his Merry Men. We meet many characters, from Little John to Crabstaff and the Sherriff. We also learn why the Sheriff of Nottingham hates Robin so much, as Robin is generally a thorn in the man’s side.

These introductory chapters set the stage for conflicts to come, and it also shows that the men of the Sherwood Forest are kind, giving, and nurturing. They embody knightly qualities while also sharing the dichotomy of outlaws. That is to say, how can somebody be both hated by law but loved by the people? But such is the story of Robin Hood.

Works Cited

Pyle, Howard. The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1883. https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/964/pg964-images.html