Knight of Sherwood

by N B Dixon

  On the way home, King Richard was captured on the orders of Duke Leopold of Austria in Vienna in December 1192. He then passed into the hands of Henry of Germany. The ransom of a hundred thousand marks was set. England, which was already feeling the strain of funding the king’s war effort in the Holy Land, was ill-equipped to meet this staggering figure. Prince John is rumoured to have said he would pay someone to ensure the king never came home.

  It was agreed that some of the ransom would be paid to Henry of Germany, with the promise that the rest would follow. Needless to say, it never did.

  King Richard returned to England in March 1194, where he set about the business of re-establishing himself as king. After such a long absence, not everyone was pleased to see his return, his brother, John, least of all. Nottingham Castle refused to surrender to the king, but in the end, they had no choice after the castle’s outer defences were compromised. The rebels retreated behind their inner defences, but Richard summoned extra forces, and had several prisoners hanged. The rebels eventually surrendered. The king punished Prince John for his part in the rebellion by taking away most of the lands he had given to John, only to restore some of them shortly afterwards.

  If there is no evidence that a man named Robin Hood accompanied King Richard on Crusade, records do tell of a knight living in Loxley in Warwickshire who lost his lands and gave the local gentry some trouble as a result. It was a common practice to steal land from absent knights. Men would return from Crusade to find their lands seized, usually by neighbours who coveted what they had and saw this as a way of advancing their own fortunes. Often, these dispossessed men would turn to outlawry as a means of survival.

  In most versions of the legend, particularly in later films and novels, Robin is portrayed as being a staunch supporter of King Richard. Richard was known as the Lionheart for his bravery in battle, but not all his deeds were heroic. He was responsible for ordering the execution of almost three thousand prisoners after the fall of the city of Acre. These included women and children. He also viewed England as little more than a source of funding for his wars abroad, and it is said he could not even speak English. He spent only four months of his ten-year reign in the country and joked that he would sell London if he could find a suitable buyer. Shortly after his return to England, he left again for France in an effort to deal with his enemy Philip Augustus. He never set foot on English soil again. It does not seem likely to me that Robin, defender of the poor, would have admired a king who bled his country dry to pay for foreign wars.

  If Prince John had only bided his time and been patient, he would have eventually got the throne, as indeed happened. Richard was killed in France in 1199. John became king, and ruled until 1216.

  The story continues in

  Earl of Huntingdon

  (Outlaw’s Legacy Book 3)

  He was once Robin Hood, bold outlaw of Sherwood; now he is Robin of Huntingdon, one of the most powerful earls in England.

  Sir Roger of Doncaster, an enemy from Robin’s crusading days, is back in England and determined to take Huntingdon for his own. Caught in a desperate struggle for survival, Robin’s only solace is Will Scathelock, the man he has secretly loved for years. Roger has the might of King John behind him, and he will not rest until Robin is dead. Win or lose, Robin’s life will never be the same.

  For more information on upcoming titles in the Outlaw’s Legacy Series, visit www.nbdixonauthor.com

  About the Author

  I’ve made up stories since I was a child. I loved to take characters from my favourite books or television programs and make up stories about them or continue existing stories. In fact, if I had ever published them, I’d be in flagrant breach of copyright.

  My parents gave me books as soon as I was able to hold one and so my love of literature was born.

  I’ve always had a taste for the dramatic, so Historical Fiction was perfect. It also means I get to indulge my love of Folklore and Medieval History.

  My love affair with the Robin Hood legend began one day in a hidden corner of the school library and has extended into my adult life. I only hope I can convince my readers to love him as much as I do.

  Away from all things literary, I am an enthusiastic theatre goer. I also play the piano for pleasure and I like to sing when I’m sure no one can hear me. I’m fond of cooking and long walks and even now I’m still a self-confessed bookworm.

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  By the Author

  Heir of Locksley (Outlaw’s Legacy Book 1)

  Knight of Sherwood (Outlaw’s Legacy Book 2)

  Beaten Track Publishing

  For more titles from Beaten Track Publishing,

  please visit our website:

  http://www.beatentrackpublishing.com

  Thanks for reading!