|
 Maid Marian was not in the earliest of the Robin Hood ballads,
and she's not in many of the later ones. This ballad is from the
17th century and explains how Marian joined the band. It's much like
ballads depicting how Little John, Will Scarlet and many tradesmen
joined the Merry Men.
Marian a damsel in distress, sometimes she's a Norman noblewoman,
daughter of Lord Fitzwalter or Sir Richard at the Lee, a knight who
was helped by Robin Hood. She meets Robin when he ambushes a group
of Norman knights. However, in other stories, she's a Saxon who's
known Robin since they were children.
Other times she is the ward of the sheriff or Prince John. And
her unwanted suitors include the sheriff, Guy of Gisborne and even
Prince John. Our hero will have to rescue her from these men.
There are times when Maid Marian is merely the hero's girlfriend.
In some tales the happy couple refuse to marry until the Merry Men
are pardoned, hence she is called Maid Marian. |
