Classic English Literature
Penelope Devereux was perhaps one of the finest exponents of the renaissance art and literature art historians. While she inspired some of the finest Elizabethan poetry and sonnet sequence by Sir Philip Sidney in Astrophel and Stella, it is with utmost curiosity that generations later, people sought to see this person in flesh. An undated photo which many historians claimed to be that of her and her sister Dorothy, and taken with many other paintings from Leicester House and listed among the paintings in the high gallery shows the two sisters in costumes worn in the late 1570s. While the authenticity of the painting to the two girls was debatable, there was a writing which read:
“ij Ladyes in one pycktwer my La: Rych & my La: Doryt” which lends substance to its proclamation (Margetts, 1988) p.760
While it would be difficult to know her true nature, the Elizabethan poetry, Nicholas Hilliard’s miniature painting and Sir Philip Sidney’s song and sonnet sequences show that Penelope Devereux must have been very pretty. An excerpt from Sir Philip Sidney says:
“There came to my remembrance a Vanitie wherein I had taken delight, whereof I had not ridd my selfe. It was my Ladie Rich. But I ridd my selfe of it, and presentlie my loy and Comfort returned within fewe howers” (Robertson, 1964) p.297
While there is some evidence to prove that there was some form of relationship between Sir Philip Sidney and Penelope Rich, John Florio's translation of Montaigne, the Essayes published in 1603 clearly mentions Rich even though it is omitted from Sidney’s Stella:
I know, nor this [Montaigne's style and work], nor any I have seen, or can conceive, in this or other language, can in aught be compared to that perfect-vnperfect Arcadia, which all our world yet weepes with you, that your all praise-exceeding father (his praise-succeeding Countesse) your worthy friend (friend-worthiest Lady) lived not to mend or end-it (Hudson, 1935) p.97
Who was Robin Hood? Though no one knows his true identity, stories and revelations about his true identity continues to be a topic of immense speculation. However, there are traces of certain historical events that took place during the French invasion of England in 1216 that faintly pointed or gave hint to who he could have been:
In William Langland's epic poem from 1377, Piers Plowman, the priest Sloth admits he does not know his Paternoster well, but 'I kan [know] rymes of Robyn hood', indicating an existing tradition (McGlynn, 2013) p.24
Considering that Robin Hood must have been there before 1377, William of Kensham can be considered to be the closest to matching Robin Hood:
William of Kensham (also known as Cassingham and variations of Collingham) appears frequently in the official records of King John, Henry III (r.1216-72) and even Edward I (McGlynn, 2013) p.25.
Louis arrived in May 1216 with a large invasion force and established himself in England (McGlynn, 2013) p.25.
William's band comprised around 1,000 archer volunteers (sagittarii) from the rural regions. These men knew the area well enough to take full advantage of it, hiding in the forest and laying ambushes, using their skills as bowmen to inflict serious casualties among the French (McGlynn, 2013) p.26.
The chronicler referred to as the Anonymous of Béthune, a royalist participant in the 1216-17 war, speaks admiringly of William's ‘noble prowess’ and how he was feared and 'renowned in Louis’ army’ (McGlynn, 2013) p.26.
Eustace the Monk is regarded as a major influence on the Robin Hood stories; be was a key player in the events of the 1216 invasion, meeting his end at the battle of Sandwich, when he was captured and decapitated on his ship (McGlynn, 2013) p.27.
A genuine monk in his early career before turning to piracy, would be not in any case serve better as a model for Friar Tuck? (McGlynn, 2013) p.27
Dodds (2011), in ‘Jaime el Barbudo and Robin Hood: bandit narratives in comparative perspective,’ compares the Spanish bandit Jaime el Barbudo to Robin Hood. Burbudo (1783-1824), like Robin, is said to have invited, in this case, a lieutenant, to his hideout where he is impressed by the discipline and respect they have for Burbudo:
‘Here is a wonder semely syght;
Me thynketh, by Goddes pyne,
His men are more at his byddynge
Then my men be at myn
Translation:
‘How do you make your men obey you without rules and discipline?’
‘By being the bravest, the best informed, first in the face of danger and last when the
booty is being shared out. (Dodds, 2011)
Even though Robin Hood may not have been a person in flesh and blood, despite many conflicting views that Robin Hood was this or that, he has come to be one of the most loved characters. Therefore, when movies made on him degraded the hero to a clown, no one was amused. Said Thomas Leitch, in Adaptations without Sources: The Adventures of Robin Hood says that:
The history of my own very limited exposure to the Robin Hood story helps explain both why viewers are so ready to dismiss adaptations of the outlaw's story as unfaithful! and why fidelity to an original text is impossible (Leitch, n.d) p.21
Robin Hood continues to mystify us. Was there really a Robin Hood and if so, what do we have to prove it? Maurice Keen (1991), in Robin Hood a Peasant Hero, bids to make progress in understanding this elusive figure. There are a lot of prank doing the rounds about the man, including this:
The tomb in Yorkshire, under which he was long said to be buried, was carved in an age when he was already famous (Keen, 1991) p.20
Keen, in his research deplores the conflicting dates and events that took place for him to point to a particular person and identify him to Robin Hood:
The ballad makers, indeed, were anxious to portray Robin Hood as a nobleman in his own right. One tale represents him as the disinherited Earl of Huntingdon; another, as the child of ‘Earl Richard’s daughter,’ born in the green woods- out of wedlock, indeed, but of a father who was of gentle blood: O Willie’s large O’lith and limb And come of high degree (Keen, 1991) p.23
Conclusion
On the study of Penelope Rich and Robin Hood, it remains grounded in mystery about Penelope Rich’s personal life even though the many studies conducted here shows that Penelope had many affairs in her life. A painting depicting her standing with her sister is inconclusive even though there is a mention of it in the archives of the high gallery. She is said to have modeled for Nicholas Hilliard, and known Sir Philip Sidney quite well. The most convincing detail of who Robin Hood was came from the research by McGlynn who traced the existence of William of Kensham as the most possible persona close to Robin Hood. There are many contradictions o the period of when Robin Hood could have existed, but none were really convincing enough to demonstrate the true identity or existence of Robin Hood.
Reference
Dodds, B, (2011), Jaime el Barbudo and Robin Hood: bandit narratives in comparative perspective, Social History, Taylor & Francis, Vol. 36 No. 4, ISSN 0307-1022, p.464
Hudson, H. H, (1935), Penelope Devereux as Sidney's Stella, The Huntington Library Bulletin, University of California Press, No. 7, p. 89-129
Keen, M, (1991), Robin Hood A Peasant Hero, History Today – The First Decade, p.20-23 Leitch, T, (n.d), Adaptations without Sources: The Adventures of Robin Hood, p. 21
Margetts, M, (1988), Lady Penelope Rich: Hilliard's Lost Miniatures and a Surviving Portrait The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 130, No. 1027, p.758
McGlynn, S, (2013), History Today: The Real Robin Hood, p.24-31
Robertson, J, (1964), Sir Philip Sidney and Lady Penelope Rich, The Review of English Studies, New Series, Oxford University Press, Vol. 15, No. 59, p.296-
.
.
