The following is a brief
synopsis of A
Fancyfull Historie of Robyn Hood. Click on links to read respective scenes
and excerpts from the script.
At the close of the 12th century, King
Richard the Lion-Hearted is kidnapped upon his return from the Crusades and
held for ransom by the Holy Roman Emperor. When the stewardship of England
passes to the Archbishop of Rouen, King Richard’s envious brother John, the
Earl of Oxford, hatches a plot to secure the
crown for himself.
Meanwhile, the authority to raise the
king’s ransom is woefully abused, and the worst abuser is Sir Henry Falconberg,
High Sheriff of Yorkshire and Nottingham. Earl John spies
an ally in the corrupt sheriff and enlists him to collect
a ransom contribution from the king of Scotland. In truth, Earl John plans to
use that money to fund an invasion of England by Flemish mercenaries who will
install him on the throne.
Unbeknownst to the earl, Falconberg has agreed
to perform a minor service for the queen upon his return from Edinburgh: to
meet the Lady Marian of York and escort her as far as Nottingham. While passing
through South Yorkshire, Falconberg, Marian and her companion Sabina are
waylaid by Robin Hood’s men and taken to their camp in Barnsdale Wood. Of
course, Robin doesn’t know that the
treasure he steals from the sheriff is the key to Earl John’s plan to usurp the
throne. Robin also doesn’t know that he will soon be a victim of theft as well,
for it isn’t long before his
heart is stolen by the
beautiful and high-spirited Lady Marian.
After his release by the outlaw band, Falconberg reports the theft of the
Scottish gold to a furious Earl John. But Falconberg has a plan for revenge,
one that promises death to Robin Hood, doom to King Richard, and a kingdom for
Earl John. Falconberg will lure Robin into a trap by means of an archery
contest, where the Golden
Arrow of Albion will be
awarded to the winner by Lady Marian. Once Robin is in his clutches, Falconberg
will disguise himself as the famed outlaw and steal the king’s ransom from its
keeper, the trusty Earl of Arundel. If the king’s kidnappers are true to their
word, they will execute their hostage when they learn the ransom will not be
paid. Afterwards, with earl John secure upon the throne, Falconberg will
announce his capture of the notorious Robin Hood, who will then bear the full
brunt of the citizen’s fury over the death of Richard.
Falconberg’s wicked plot nearly succeeds
but for the bravery of Marian and the cunning of Little John. While the latter
is busy rescuing Robin from the sheriff’s dungeon, Marian disguises herself in
boy’s clothing and makes her way toward Barnsdale Wood. After a near-fatal encounter with the outlaw Will Scarlock, Marian and Sabina
finally reach the secret camp. There she warns Friar Tuck and the others of the
sheriff’s plan and—in a burst of rousing
oratory—inspires them to take up arms and save the king’s
ransom.
In the epic climax, the Flemish invasion is
thwarted, King Richard is freed from his captors, and Robin Hood and Falconberg
clash swords in a bloody battle to the death. The play comes to its joyful
conclusion with the betrothal of Robin
and Marian and the blossoming of love all around.