How Did Robin Hood Actually Die?
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Published 2020-06-14
In medieval times - and long before that - sick people would visit physicians who "bled" them. What, exactly, was that process? According to "A Brief History of Bloodletting," by Gilbert R. Seigworth:
Bloodletting is a procedure that was performed to help alleviate the ills of mankind. For an operation with a 3,000-year history, bloodletting has attracted little attention in recent historic accounts of medicine. Bloodletting began with the Egyptians of the River Nile one thousand years B.C., and the tradition spread to the Greeks and Romans; its popularity continued throughout the Middle Ages. It reached its zenith during the beginning of the nineteenth century, but had virtually died as a therapeutic tool by the end of that century.
What was it supposed to do?
Bloodletting was a method for cleansing the body of ill-defined impurities and excess fluid. The early instruments included thorns, pointed sticks and bones, sharp pieces of flint or shell, and even sharply pointed shark's teeth.
Robin Hood, as the story goes, believed he was dying and decided he should be bled. He went to a religious person - the prioress of Kirklees Nunnery, part of Kirklees Abbey (in West Yorkshire) - who had experience in bleeding people. That was also common because:
The physician and priest were one and the same since disease was thought to be caused by supernatural causes. (See, Seigworth.)
In Robin's case, he happened to seek help from a religious person who was also his relative. He did not realize, however, that she was angry with him (for opposing corruption in the church).
Barbara Green, an expert on Robin Hood and Kirkless Priory, has written an easy-to-understand summary of the medieval legends of Robin Hood's demise. Hereafter are a few excerpts from her booklet, The Mystery of Robin Hood's Grave:
The circumstances of Robin Hood's death are fairly well known. Realizing he is dying, Robin decides to be bled by his kinswoman, the prioress of Kirklees, a woman "skilled in physic." Will Scarlet is against this, but Robin sets out on the journey accompanied by his faithful comrade in arms, Little John. On the way to the priory, they meet an old hag by a stream who curses Robin...
On arrival at the nunnery, the prioress takes Robin into the gatehouse and sends Little John away. She then proceeds to bleed Robin accompanied by her lover, the convent priest Red Roger of Doncaster.
Growing weaker, Robin comprehends that his relative has harmed, not helped, him. Using a prearranged signal, the dying man summons Little John. He has one last job to do, but he needs Little John's help:
When he realizes that he is dying Robin summons Little John to his assistance by blowing three blasts on his hunting horn. When Little John arrives it is too late to save Robin, but he helps his beloved leader fire his last arrow from the gatehouse window, promising Robin that he will bury him where it falls. Little John vows to raze the nunnery to the ground and put all the nuns to the sword in revenge for the princess's vile deed, but Robin forbids him, reminding his distraught friend that it was their code never to hurt women.
This image depicts the rear view of the gatehouse, at the Priory of Kirklees, from which Robin Hood reportedly shot his last arrow - then died.
Equipment used to make this vlog:
Lumix g9 Camera,
Panasonic lumix g9, 8-18mm f2.8-4.0 Leica Lens,
Peak Design Capture Clip,
Rode Video Micro Mic,
Manfrotto Pixi Mini Tripod,
Manfrotto X Pro 4 section Monopod,
Atlas Athlete Backpack,
Edited using :
Adobe Premiere Pro,
All Comments (21)
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Great vlog. MCMV is 1905
We live in Nottingham so are surrounded by Robin Hood places. -
another great vlog,love my sunday nights now,cold beer while watchin your vlogs.
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Very spooky ... I half expected something to jump out! 😱
What other spooky stories do you have, really enjoyed that 👍 -
Robert, I've heard many versions of Robin Hood but this is really the best ..
your the best vlogger in all of England😎👍👍👍👍 -
The points about the grave of Little John are very uplifting. It confirms THE TRUTH in the legend of Robin Hood without doubt.
It’s entirely plausible that Robin would say in a delirious state of mind “bury me where the arrow falls”, it’s also certain that Little John would then find the most suitable spot NEAREST to where the arrow landed for the burial. It’s also plausible that he would be buried at some unknown spot DIFFERENT to the ‘official’ location in case the official site became the target of grave robbers and trophy hunters. -
MCMV are roman numerals for 1905. Makes you wonder about little John being buried under a yew tree. Yew trees themselves have an amazing mythology story about them and very often found in grave yards, the roots are said to grow down into the eye sockets of the dead and holds them down to stop them rising up again. Maybe you can find the yew tree as they can live up to 3,000 years and don't forget it was the Yew tree that long bows were made from. Great interesting video.
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wonderful content Robert John Kerr. I crushed that thumbs up on your video. Continue to keep up the very good work.
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Hope you attach more videos like this.
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Robert, it’s always about the journey and the story :) Another excellent video buddy. Cheers, Dave.
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i understand why people call that forest haunted. even if you dont believe in ghosts or the paranormal, theres no doubt that forest has a weird vibe to it.
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Robin was Robert de Brus, whose Prince John was his cousin, not John Lackland. Their dispute over the Earldom was likely the source of the legend.
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I was on the edge of my seat for a while. Nice video feel. Are those forest shots slowed down or did you just move slowly? That stonework on the building certainly makes me feel it’s older than 1905. Great vlog. Robin Hood will always be Richard Greene for me.
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I'm not going to lie, but this is actually pretty useful info for my homework
I hope you get more known, and i'm going to subscribe😁 -
Hi Robert, great video. Where do you park to have a look around? Were wanting to take the kids today 👍
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Interesting vlog Robert, some great camera work there. I used to love watching Robin Hood the TV series as a kid, that wood could be your next potential wild camp?😉
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I remember my dad taking me to see this when i was around 6 years old, almost 40 year ago now. Thanx for the flashbaks i could almost smell the outdoors watching this so vivid. Cheers 👍
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Robert this was fantastic, I had goosebumps... I was waiting for someone to jump out. Walked to the Snow stone weekend, just finishing a video of my walk... Not as good as yours.
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Great video sir! Greetings from Sri Lanka! ♥
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Have you tried metal detecting the surrounding farmland ? Or the wood ?
I've had some great finds from old Woodlands , I recently found a silver coin of Roman emperor Vespasian* ( 1st century) which was just a few inches away from a copper/alloy thimble from the Tudor era, 15th century (a beehive thimble ) -
Another great vlog Robert and a nice story about the nuns just asking how would you like a wild camp in them woods ??
