{Robin Hood and his Morris Men}[9th January 1988]

[Redbook4:300][19880109:1445b]{Robin Hood and his Morris Men}[9th January 1988]

.1445

[continued]

The previous* entry {in Brewer['s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable]} relates to the Morris Dance – {present} in England since the 15^th century. Dancers often (as part of the May games) played characters from the Robin Hood stories, and others; e.g.{:}

**Robin Hood*** – Outlaw, Protector of Women, Redistributor from rich to poor.

**Maid Marian – Queen of the May; later Robin Hood's sweetheart.

(Maid Marian moved from Morris Dances to Robin Hood) (See Malkin [below].)

**Bavian the Fool (See Much the Miller's Son [below]).

**Malkin (the Clown) – diminutive of Matilda; untidy slut, kitchen wench.; sometimes as Queen of the May.

**The Hobby Horse – draped wicker frame in which Morris dancer gambolled; preceded by a (man dressed as a) woman, the 'Teaser'.

**or A Dragon – the Greek word drakon from a verb meaning to see, look out; watch, flash.

(cf. Chinese festivals, e.g. New Year, with dragon in streets).

Foreigners (probably Moriscoes, or Moors) – [Moors:] Medieval European for all Moslems.

Little John (Nailor) – a big stalwart man who tumbled Robin Hood into the brook (with Quarter-Staffs [sic]?)

Will Scarlet.

**Much the Miller's Son – played the part of the Fool in the Morris Dance, striking the heads of spectators with a bladder of peas.

Allen-a-dale – Minstrel in Robin Hood (and [Walter] Scott's [']Ivanhoe[']): Robin Hood helped him carry off his bride when she was about to be married against her will to a rich old knight.

(As Good As) George-a-Green – resisted alone a trespass by R[obin] H[ood], W[ill] S[carlet] and L[ittle] J[ohn], as pound-keeper of Wakefield.

Friar Tuck – Chaplain and Steward of Robin Hood.

*[See last previous entry.]

**(: particular Morris Dance characters?)

***cf. Robin of the Wood, Robin Goodfellow (Puck).

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