Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor David Hinchliffe (Labour), on Tuesday, 3 February 2004, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 29 members in total.

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ROBIN HOOD OF YORKSHIRE

That this House contrasts the complete lack of any factual basis to Nottinghamshire's claims to be the county of Robin Hood with actual records of his Yorkshire connections; believes he was most likely to have been Robert Hode of Wakefield, a forester, recorded in the Wakefield Court Rolls as living with wife Matilda at Bichill, Wakefield, in 1316; notes he is not among the defaulters when, in 1320, Thomas, Earl of Lancaster, took over the Manor of Wakefield and raised an army against Edward II; believes that Robert Hode was one of the rebels outlawed when Thomas was defeated and executed in 1323, when records also indicate that his house in Wakefield was among properties seized and that, after this failed rebellion, Robert and Matilda fled to what became the focus for much of the Robin Hood legend, the Barnsdale Forest; recalls that the outlaw is known to have met his death at the hands of the Prioress of Kirklees, around 1347; notes, in addressing Nottinghamshire's claims, that in medieval times there was afforestation from Sherwood, through Barnsdale, nearly to Leeds and that prior to the creation of the title of Sheriff of Nottingham in 1449, the Sheriffs were actually of Nottinghamshire with a jurisdication including parts of Yorkshire and no doubt a role in bringing to justice the rebels; and concludes that just as the current Sheriff of Nottingham is a Yorkshireman, historical evidence also indicates that so was the real Robin Hood.

Amendments

The Early day motion has received 4 amendments.

535A1

Line 16, after 'Yorkshireman' insert, 'as is the current Lord Mayor of Nottingham,'

535A2

Line 1, delete from 'House' to 'believes' in line 3 and insert, 'notes with great amusement the ludicrous claims of Yorkshire to the legacy of Robin Hood, claims also made by historians for Devon, Derbyshire, Sussex and Berkshire. However enjoys the following historically inaccurate myth:'

535A3

Line 1, leave out from 'House' to end and insert 'notes that, in keeping with the ethics of Nottinghamshire's Robin Hood, he would be content to see a little taken from the culturally rich and given to the culturally poor; and further notes that the only circumstantial evidence to support that claim that Robin Hood was a Yorkshireman was that he always expected others to put their hands in their pockets.'

535A4

leave out from 'House' to end and add 'believes that it matters less whether Robin Hood functioned in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or elsewhere than that the coming budget should be based on his principle of taking from the rich to give to the poor.'.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

535 

535A1 

535A2 

535A3 

535A4 

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Yorkshire and the Humber Nottinghamshire Hood, Robin

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk