In the years of King Richard the Lionheart (1189-1199) there lived a brave and intelligent man called Robin Hood. He was a feared outlaw, who loved liberty and hated oppression. He took the law into his own hands and robbed the rich to give to the poor. People loved him and thought of him as a justice-maker. In time he acquired a heroic reputation and came to represent the ideal of heroism of his age.
Stories about him and his closest friends Friar Tuck, Little John, and Maid Marian may be found in the time. They say that Robin Hood and his companions lived in Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham. They were called the ‘merry men’ and used to wear green clothes, a particular shade of green, called ‘Lincoln green’. They also say that Robin’s outlaws were very well-organized and skilful in their attacks. They were very disciplined and obeyed strict rules of behaviour.

The story goes that one day the Sheriff’s men caught Will Scarlet, one of Robin Hood’s outlaws, and took him to the Sheriff of Nottingham. ‘We’ve caught one of Robin Hood’s men,’ said one of them. The Sheriff, who was green with envy because all the people loved Robin Hood, said ‘Take him to the gallows in the market square tomorrow! Let people see what happens to Robin Hood’s companions!’
Robin Hood was having dinner with his friends in Sherwood Forest when he heard the bad news. He thought of a plan to rescue his friend. ‘We are on the Sheriff’s back list. He will have no mercy for Will. We must save him before it is too late’. Early the next morning he started out for Nottingham together with his youngest and strongest men. They all wore long coats over their green clothes. Under their coats they carried swords or bows and arrows.
On their way to Nottingham they saw an old man in a dirty black cloak. Robin asked him ‘Any news from Nottingham?’ ‘The news is sad, my Lord,’ the old man said. ‘They are going to hang two prisoners tomorrow, at twelve o’clock. One o