THE DARK TALE OF ROBERTUS-DE-LOKESLEY
VOLUME I
The Dark Tale of Robertus-De-Lokesley. Volume I England, 1228AD
England is under the reign of the young King Henry III. The Church of England is a dominant power within the country.The country is starved and robbed, for the greed of the church and monarch. This is the time England call upon a hero.
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St. Mary’s Abbey,York, Yorkshire
he sun shining down onto the Abbey, sound of the large church bells and the vast atmosphere of York made for a beautiful day for Sunday Mass for the locals. But today will be a day that many Yorkshire folk would remember for a lifetime. Walking through the town was the many monks of the abbey, but one was a dark, mysterious, unknown figure. Making his way to mass to have a long awaited pray for his sins, this masculine frame receives looks from all angles on the streets. As he enters the abbey’s environment people still gaze upon him with confusion and mystery. An odd snide remark is over heard in the bemused audience outside the Mary’s gate. “Murderer!”
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The monk shows no emotion, and carries on his journey, ignoring the crowd from being able to view the hooded monk. The rumor that the infamous yeoman, Robin Hood lurks in York has caught attention of the Sheriff of Nottingham, and the Sheriff of Yorkshire.These men who had chased the outlaw up and down the country, finally the time had come to capture the trickster. On the arrival of the sheriffs, they were warned of the monk seen near the abbey.They went to investigate the area with armed knights who had also been travelling with them courtesy of King Henry III, to help with the hunting of the outlaw.
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s the monk emerges from the church, unaware that enemies were in his presence. He took a look up at the quiet crowd, all gazing at him, as a gap opened up to a group of angry sheriffs and knights. Stood wondering to himself, the monk waited for his audience to approach, preparing himself mentally for the worst to happen. They fronted him, and shouted, “Wait there monk!” The sheriff of Nottingham raised his arms in the air and announced, “People ofYork, I am honored to grace your presence here today with a man so mythical, that even his royal highness himself King Henry III wishes to greet. He is the man they name Robin Hood, and the man we named an outlawwww!!!”
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The knights approach Robin and he doesn’t react to their forceful grasp, when they attempt to arrest the outlaw.The sheriff approach’s Robin, smiles with hatred, and orders the knights to chain him.The whispers to Robin, “I finally found the one, who so many had failed to find before.Your adventures are over Robin.” Whilst the knights are chaining him, Robin bursts out of their control and takes a dagger from inside his monk’s attire and stabs one in the chest. The other knight is kneed in the face, stumbling backwards onto the ground. He rises and starts to draw his sword, but Robin spins around and slashes the knight’s arm. Robin grasps him before he can react. He stands behind with his knife stinging the skin of the bewildered knights throat, as the knight starts to drip sweat, and cry for mercy, Robin slashes his throat! A burst of blood flew forth onto the faces of the sheriffs.
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hocked by his reaction the sheriff of Yorkshire shouts the order for the guards to attack, whilst pulling the petrified sheriff of Nottingham to safety. The archers in the towers look on as the trouble emerges through the abbey’s grounds. Robin was making his getaway through the crowds, whilst the remaining two knights chase him down with their swords leading the way. Loud screams and gaps in the crowd are all the knights can follow, as Robin is stealthy about his getaway. The Sheriffs follow up on horseback, and try to locate the outlaw before he escapes the abbey’s walls. Robin see’s the sheriff and the guards surrounding the gates. Surrounded and unarmed Robin cannot do much to his enemy. He targets the weaker men, them novices with a sword, finally the sheriffs.
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He jumps from the roof of a nearby building aiming at the sheriff of Yorkshire, throwing him off his horse, the sheriff of Nottingham rears his horse onto its hind legs, and strikes his sword in an attempt to hit the outlaw. Robin throws his dagger at the sheriff’s horse, causing the beast to collapse, injuring the sheriff of Nottingham. The Yorkshire sheriff stood to fight this heroic outlaw. He was stood staring into the darkness within the hood, expecting the man to reveal a weapon. Robin waits… the sheriff comes throwing the weight of his sword around; dodging the attacks robin grabs his hand and twists the sword out of his grip, a powerful punch follows, knocking the sheriff down. Robin whips up the sword and vertically plunges it into the sheriff lying on the ground. “Death will come to whomever get in my way” Robin announces out loud.
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obin quickly mounts the sheriff’s free horse and flea’s before the guards surround him, breaking out of the crowd and towards St. Mary’s Gate. He hears more trouble, but knows it’s the only option. He see’s a group of guards struggling to maintain the wild behavior of this huge man.Armed with a huge spear, the hammerhead is swung around demolishing all in its way; this monstrous creature hits guard after guard throwing their weak bodies around him. Robin uses the distraction and makes it through the gate, riding into the crowd and slashing his sword, he shouts, “Hurry John, we must go!” The huge man turns and runs to the stabled horses and fleas with Robin into the deep woods of Yorkshire.York was left stunned, a sheriff had been murdered, and an outlaw broke free once more, the search for the infamous Robin Hood continued…
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Forest of Galtres,York, Yorkshire
obertus and Little John settle down by the campfire, of their temporary residence. Covered in the blood and sweat of their enemies, they bathe, rest and reflect on the events the day has seen. Robertus said to John, “The day came that a hero needed a hero, a brother needed a brother’s help, I thank you Little John”, John replies quietly, “I do what I can to protect the men that have love for their country.Them soldiers were nothing compared to fighting in the crusades, you should know of my reputation by now Robin.”
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John asks, “Robertus where do we go next? I can’t stay aroundYork and these rich folk any more.” Robertus picks up his bows and starts sharpening them individually, he answers John “We will go south, towards Nottingham at first light.” A quiet night for the outlaw’s as from tomorrow they’re journeying south begins.
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Months later. Denby Dale,Yorkshire
n the early morning in this small Yorkshire village, two masculine men stroll there way through. No awkward silences from the locals, no scared looks by the children, these men blend into the public.They don’t have to lurk in the crowds, nor cause anarchy or threat.Although the locals rejoice the fact these men are in they’re presence they don’t show it. “Robertus!” a stranger shouts.A street monk approaches, “We heard of your bravery inYork. We don’t mourn for the sheriff, as he didn’t mourn over us, a celebration is at hand, come!” Robertus and John celebrated with the monk. Honey mead and women would be the evening’s uproar.
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The following morning, the monk approached the men with some information he heard by local farmers.The hangover of the Meade was to be ignored.The outlaw’s didn’t have time to sit around and relax, they’re movements had to be sly. The monk whispers “You men must leave for Penistone. I urge for your help”. Robertus, looking startled asks why, “What is so important that we must belong our journey and head to Penistone?” The monk cries out “The church is stealing the grain, its in Bradfield, ready to be sent toYork, you can’t let this happen! We can’t live without this grain!”… The outlaws stop and turn. “The folk of Denby Dale will be assured to help you” the monk says quietly, scared he has been rude to the outlaw. Robertus leaves an order that no man shall follow them.All he requires is a place to hide the grain in Denby Dale when it has been retrieved. Short numbered, and unaware of who could be waiting there, they make they’re way to Bradfield.
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Bradfield, Hallamshire
hen they arrive, they sneak around the town, towards the Parish. They locate the Benedictine Monks (Dark Monks), corrupt, greedy, evil scum, who have been robbing the local counties of they’re goods and food for the ‘good of the church’. In the very churches the citizen’s of England pray for a miracle, the greed of corrupt swine within the Church of England robs them of they’re livestock and grain to treat themselves like King’s, whilst the others starve. The monks talking amongst themselves in the urbaneness of the town’s surrounding’s, so they don’t strike, they wait for the opportunity of stealth. Nightfall will be there weapon.They retreat to the nearby woods overlooking the town to wait for darkness.
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The time had come.They make their way into the town sneaking through silently to where the monks are living. Two novice guards wait outside the front door. They enter at the back of the house on to the hay roof, easy to break into. Silently John ropes down Robin to the ground. Surrounded by his enemy, whom are unaware of his presence, he stands aside and gazes upon his villains as though it was a feast of meat. John joins him and they both get to the devil’s work.
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he outlaw’s approach they’re own victims, knife at the ready, they lay their hand onto the victims mouth, and instantly makes a clean slash to the throat. Painful and bloody, the throat exploded onto the bed sheets, blood shot over the body and face of the outlaw’s.The taste of your own victim must have tasted sweet, to enjoy killing your enemy to some. No sound from the victim is made, nothing but a slight rip, slicing of a knife on skin and the squirting of blood. They wipe the knife and move to the next bed, repeat the process, with the same knife, a thick layer of mixed blood drips off the end of the knife on to the floor, showing the movement of Robin and John.The five monks lay in beds covered in blood, dripping into puddles on the floor, guts hanging out of the slit in the skin, the two outlaws don’t show any mercy, no regret, no room for amateurism when being an assassin, an outlaw.They collect all treasures and luxuries they can find within the monks homes, then make a quiet escape up the rope and make their way off the roof and aim towards the barn. When they reach the barn they break in, and but they fail to locate the grain. They check the stables and find it’s ready to leave on the cart, so they ready the horses and open the stables. 34
Riding through the town there is only one road to take, past the town parish. Nearby where the monk’s are now resting in their filth, the guards are in the view of Robin. Little John driving the cart picks up the speed, making it a bumpy ride. Robin is kneeling down at the back of the cart. He removes his bow and arrow, places the arrow and readies himself. He see’s his target in the distance. Before the guards have time to see the horse and cart, Robin slowly raises from the cart keeping his balance steady. The strong longbow is shaking in his arms from the uneven, rubbly road they’re speeding along. But Robin keeps his composure, keeps his stance strong, his balance is only one can learn from years of experience. He leans back and pulls the arrows with precision, and... Gone.The arrow glides with speed through the air, the cart get’s spotted as the arrow is in the air.As the two guards turn and look at each other, one receives an arrow stabbing straight into the into his ribs and directly through the heart. The impact from the speed of the arrow causes him to fall back, flying off his feet, his arms swing forward and the strong thud from the landing shakes the other guard.
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affled and frightened, before he can react the cart is now only yard’s away from him. He see’s only a figure in the darkness, a man swinging his body, a reflection from the full moon’s light hits the swords clean, metal body and flashes a shed of light at the guards eyes, petrified, he cries out, “AHHHHH!!” He removes his sword from his basket hilt, as he does, the fresh blade has hit his neck, slicing through the skin, the bone and through the other side. As the outlaw’s make they’re way out of the town, they turn and the head is slowing rolling off the shoulders of the guard. His body still pumping blood, his soul still alive, several squirts of blood shoot out from the neck of the headless man.This will be a horrific site for any to see, and nearby homes must surely have been alerted by the man screaming. As they make their way out of the town and towards Denby Dale, they turn around and hear the glorious sound of the mourning locals when the town is alerted.
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The following morning...
s the sun shines down onto the small settlements of Yorkshire, the villagers of one small settlement ignore the darkness of the medieval era. Only these people will praise their god for the gesture of kindness. Although the town of Bradfield would be a place of depression and death after such a horrific scene the outlaw’s have caused, the villagers show no remorse for the black monks of the church. The people have waited for this time, but showing any affection of happiness could lead them to death, within the conspiracy of assisting an outlaw. But these are the people that will be the ones to spread the good name of the hero that is, Robin Hood. Robin and John leave the grain in the woods, hidden near the village of Denby Dale, they then scarper out of the area with no intention of a return to the town of Bradfield, for a long time.
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Meanwhile at the Tower of London, London
he young King Henry III is informed of the events happening in the north, his advisors warn him of the outlaw’s actions towards the church and the monarch they argued he is more dangerous than the famous rebel, Simon de Montfort.They beg the king to get rid of this annoyance. They’re worried, but they hide their emotion by masks of anger and rage.All they wish is the heads of these outlaws to be chopped from their torso. The Outlaws intrigued the king, about an alliance between the good and evil for the sake of a country in need, a country that has had years of destruction by the previous King John. He demanded more men to trek up north and find the invincible Robin Hood. Silence was the response by his advisors.
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Sherwood Forest, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
obertus and John reached a small campfire deep in the forest. They settle down and rest. For sometime now John has been wondering who Robin Hood actually is, his background and his story have never been brought up in conversation between the two outlaws. Showing emotion is showing weakness, there’s no room for weakness in the life of an outlaw. So John finally has the confidence on this dark lonely night in the forest, he speaks, “So Robertus, you going to tell me whom you really are? Where you’re from?Your background, your hobbies, your passion’s! Or am I never going to know who my loyal brother ROBIN HOOD is?” Robertus looks up at him “I’m an Englishman, born in Loxley. Robert Earl of Huntingdon is my real name - a friend I choose not to share gave me land. She was close to my heart, but not the reason I am here.”
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John look’s at Robertus in shock, and horror “Earl of Huntingdon you say, but you’re an outlaw, a man against the crown, are you not?” Robertus’ only reply is “I am a yeoman John! I take the name of Robin Hood like many before have, the name is a myth, but the man whom plays the role is the legend, Robin Hood is a more powerful name than any King or outlaw this land has seen. Robin Hood is a savor for the people, a symbol of lightness and greatness, which is what this land needs, wouldn’t you agree John?!” John nods his head, agreeing with Robertus, but he looks bewildered and baffled by what had been said. “Now we will talk no more of this John, do you understand?” Robertus shouts. John smiles and agrees.
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Many years later... Kirklees,Yorkshire
A certain grave that locals had said it was that of the man Robin Hood who rests here.The same stone had engraved...
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“Here underneath this little stone Lies Robert Earl of Huntingdon Never archer there as he so good And people called him Robin Hood Such outlaws as him and his men Will England never see again.�
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Here is the death of one legend. But the name of Robin Hood carries on within England, as the legacy of this great outlaw has not yet been fulfilled...
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT’S. This is book is based on topics brought up in the BBC Radio 4 program, ‘In our time - Robin Hood’, by Melvyn Bragg. Researching the Earl of Huntingdon, earlier Robin Hood ballads and songs, dates and events of factual evidence of Robin Hood, I have created my own tale of ‘one’ of the many names, that could have been an early Robin Hood. The program mentions that the myth of Robin Hood was altered when being modernized; there was no Maid Marian, Friar Tuck, or Merry Men, and the people of England, did not rejoice the kindness of the outlaw, they rejoiced his murders.
My personal theory behind this book, from the research I have gathered, is that there is more than one Robin Hood, and that the name may have been given down generation after generation, or Robin Hood is just a mythical name many outlaws used to protect their own identity.
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A dark, modern tale based on the travelling, murderous outlaw who was a man most commonly known as Robin Hood. Bloodthirsty illustrations and detailed text tells the short story of one adventurous and mysterious tale. Set within the era of King Henry III of England, the ruthless outlaw’s hatred towards corruption within the English Church, and the Monarch, forces him to take action throughout famous Northern and Midland routes and locations within in the 13th century.The people of England by this time had heard of the trickster.They celebrated his murders and robberies, even though Robin was a selfish and ignorant outlaw. But he had a softer side towards the people when an opportunity came to take the lives more victims. This volume tells the story of one man, one of the many men who are proclaimed Robin Hood.
“the illustrations explain the story what a beautiful piece of visual work” Neil Drabble “a twisted children’s book - I love it” Mark Povell
Illustrated and Written by Michael Ball