1420 - Wyntoun, Andrew of - Original Chronicle (2)

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Allusion
Date c. 1420
Author Wyntoun, Andrew of
Title The Original Chronicle
Mentions Hudde of Ednam; Alexander de Ramsay; Roxburgh

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2013-08-07. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2021-01-07.

Allusion

Richt airely on a Pasche day
Alexander þe Ramsay
Throu preve convoying of ane,
That hattyn wes Hude of Edname, [p. 162:]
Come to Roxburght, quhen it wes myrk,
And þare his men sa can wirk
That with ledderis his menȝe all,
Throu help of Hude, clam our þe wall.
Doun fra þe wall þan ar þai gane,
And with fors has þe castell tane,
Magre þaim all þat stude agane.
Sum þai tuke, and sum has slane,
[Wemyss MS, ll. 5745-56.]

Richt arly on þe Pask Day
Alexander de Ramsay
Throw cowyne of ane, þat to naym̄e
Hude was hattyn of Ednayme, [p. 163:]
Come to Roxburghe, qwhen it was myrk,
And wiþe his menȝe þar gert ge wyrk,
Withe helpe of Hude, þat his men all
Withe ledderis clambe vp our þe wal.
Downe our þe wal syne are þai gane,
[And wyth fors has the castelle tane.
Off all the folk, war thame agayne,]
Sum haf þai tane, sum haf þai slayne.
[Cottonian MS, ll. 5941-52.][1]

IRHB comments

This allusion occurs under the year 1342. Andrew of Wyntoun's Original Chronicle, so called because it begins with the Creation, was completed c. 1420. It is preserved in nine MSS. The variant readings for this passage are insignificant. Laing thought this passage refers to Robin Hood,[2] and some modern scholars would also like to believe so[3]. However, this is unlikely for several reasons. Wyntoun has already mentioned Robin Hood in an earlier passage, where he puts the activities of Robin Hood and Little John under the year 1283, and whatever little he has to say about them there suggests all he knew were traditional tales. On the other hand, the present passage puts "Hwde" firmly in an historical context, one that is Scottish and sixty odd years later than that of the earlier, genuine Robin Hood allusion. "Hwde" is an inhabitant of Ednam which, as Bradbury notes, is a place just north of Kelso. Quite possibly "Hwde" is the ME first name Hudde, but if it is in fact the surname, we must note that Robin Hood is rarely if ever referred to by surname only. I see no reason why this person should have had anything to do with the traditional character.

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