This school-year at our English outside reading lessons we had read many interesting stories about Robin Hood. The most interesting story is a story about Golden Arrow. In the 11th century England was conquered by the Normans who had come from the North of France. They began to take away lands and homes from the Saxons, the native population of the British Islands. The Saxons suffered very much from the Normans and hated their new masters. Many of them had to run away into the forests and to become outlaws. There are many legends and songs about one of these outlaws – Robin Hood. Robin Hood with his 300 men, so the legends say, lived in the Sherwood Forest, not far from the town of Nottingham. He often attacked the rich Normans, but he was a friend of the poor and helped them as much, as he could. The Sheriff of Nottingham wanted to catch Robin Hood. He journeyed to London to ask Prince John for help. Prince John said him that it was his task and he had to deal with it quickly. The Sheriff did not argue and went back to Nottingham, angrier than ever. He was worried by what Prince John had said. As he was not a brave man, his thoughts soon turned to trickery. He decided to have a shooting match and hoped that Robin Hood and his men would appear there to try their luck. He decided to make a beautiful gold arrow as the prize for the best archer. He was right: when the news of the golden arrow travelled to Sherwood, Robin decided to enter the competition. But his friend David said him that it was only a trick of the Sheriff. Then Little John, Robin's great friend said that he had a plan. He suggested to dress in different colours, because Sheriff expected to see them in green. Thus, dressed in many colours Robin Hood and his men went to Nottingham. The sheriff was actually looking for people in green. He thought Robin Hood was a coward and did not come. The archery started and Robin Hood was better than all the rest, and won the golden arrow. Some days later the Sheriff was seated at his dinner table and boasting that Robin was afraid to show his face in Nottingham. Suddenly through the window flew in an arrow. It hit the big fat goose. It had a message. The Sheriff read the message and understood that once again Robin Hood had outwitted him.
The noble robber lived with his detachment in the Sherwood Forest, hunted game, feasted, robbed the rich, gave his conquered to the poor, brought trouble to the foresters, the sheriff. Did Robin Hood really exist? Scientists have conducted a number of studies and believe that the events described actually took place during the reign of kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III. V of the legendary Robin Hood has several historical prototypes that lived at different times and in different places. According to one version, a Saxon nobleman, deprived of inheritance and lands, took part in the revolt against the king. Others claim that he was the son of a miller or a free peasant, and there is speculation that the noble robber is a former serf. The court archives mentions a resident of the city of Robin Hood, who refuses to fight the Scots, and after the punishment - the confiscation of his house - went into the forest and was engaged in poaching. There are references to Robin Hood in the archives of other cities. The name Robin Hood was common and popular in England. The exact place of his birth is unknown, although the village of Locksley is traditionally considered the birthplace of the favorite of English folk ballads. There is a grave in Kirklea Monastery where "The One Who Called Himself Robin Hood" is buried. The name Robin Hood means cap, hood or wood. The forest army of the noble robber consisted of several dozen free shooters who skillfully wielded a bow. They lived in Sherwood Forest, wearing green clothes. There are about 40 known ballads about Robin Hood. They are combined into two large cycles "A Little Song about the Life of Robin Hood" and "The Life of Robin Hood".