"attend and listen gentlemen that be of freeborn blood I shall tell you of a good yeman His name was Robyn Hode" opening lines of "A Gest of Robyn Hode" Who was Robin Hood? Was he historical fact or simply a medieval fiction? Why has the Robin Hood Legend become so loved and well known across the world and through the generations? Most of our knowledge about the Robin Hood legend derives from the earliest ballads and tales which have passed through the centuries. Of these, the most significant are:   A Gest of Robin Hood Robin Hood and the Monk Robin Hood and the Potter Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar Robin Hood's Death  All these tales were written down before 1550. Details of these tales can be found in the society pages of this site. Despite Robin's "legend" status, there are many reasons to believe that Robin Hood could well have been a real historical figure. Researchers into the legend have uncovered compelling evidence about this historical period here in Nottingham that points to an underlying reality for our favourite Outlaw.