Articles Case Study

Case 1

It was in the spring of the second year of his insurrec-

tion against the High Sheriff of Nottingham that Robin

Hood took a walk in Sherwood Forest. As he walked he

pondered the progress of the campaign, the disposition of

his forces, the Sheriff's recent moves, and the options that

confronted him.

The revolt against the Sheriff had begun as a personal

crusade, erupting out of Robin's conflict with the Sheriff

and his administration. Alone, however, Robin Hood could

do little. He therefore sought allies, men with grievances

and a deep sense of justice. Later he welcomed all who

came, asking few questions, and only demanding a will-

ingness to serve. Strength, he believed, lay in numbers.

He spent the first year forging the group into a disci-

plined band, united in enmity against the Sheriff, and will- ing

to live outside the law. The band's organization was

simple. Robin ruled supreme, making all important deci-

sions. He delegated specific tasks to his lieutenants. Will

Scarlett was in charge of intelligence and scouting. His

main job was to shadow the Sheriff and his men, always

alert to their next move. He also collected information

on the travel plans of rich merchants and tax collectors.

Little John kept discipline among the men, and saw to it

that their archery was at the high peak that their profession

demanded. Scarlock took care of the finances, convert-

ing loot into cash, paying shares of the take, and finding

suitable hiding places for the surplus. Finally, Much the

Miller's son had the difficult task of provisioning the ever-

increasing band of Merrymcn.

The increasing size of the band was a source of satis-

faction for Robin, but also a source of concern. The fame of

his Merrymen was spreading, and new recruits poured in

from every corner of England. As the band grew larger, their

small bivouac became a major encampment. Between raids

the men milled about, talking and playing games.

Vigilance was in decline, and discipline was becoming

harder to enforce. "Why," Robin reflected, "I don't know

half the men 1 run into these days."

The growing band was also beginning to exceed the

food capacity of the forest. Game was becoming scarce,

and supplies had to be obtained from outlying villages.

The cost of buying food was beginning to drain the band's

financial reserves at the very moment when revenues were in

decline. Travelers, especially those with the most to lose,

were now giving the forest a wide berth. This was

• Prepared by Joseph Lampel. City University, London. Copyright Joseph Lampe,l 1985, revised 1991. Reprinted with permission.

costly and inconvenient to them, but it was preferable to

having all their goods confiscated.

Robin believed that the time had come for the

Merrymen to change their policy of outright confisca-

tion of goods to one of a fixed transit tax. His lieutenant

strongly resisted this idea. They were proud of the Merry-

men's famous motto: "Rob the rich and give to the poor."

"The farmers and the townspeople," they argued, "arc our

most important allies. I low can we tax them, and still hope

for their help in our fight against the Sheriff!"

Robin wondered how long the Mcrrymen could keep to

the ways and methods of their early days. The Sheriff was

growing stronger and better organized. He now had the

money and the men, and was beginning to harass the band,

probing for its weaknesses.

The tide of events was beginning to turn against the

Merrymcn. Robin felt that the campaign must be deci-

sively concluded before the Sheriff had a chance to deliver a

mortal blow. "But how," he wondered, "could this be

done?"

Robin had often entertained the possibility of killing the

Sheriff, but the chances for this seemed increasingly remote.

Besides, while killing the Sheriff might satisfy hi personal

thirst for revenge, it would not improve the situ- ation. Robin

had hoped that the perpetual state of unrest. and the Sheriff's

failure to collect taxes, would lead to his removal from office.

Instead, the Sheriff used his politi- cal connections to obtain

reinforcement. He had power- ful friends at court, and was

well regarded by the regent. Prince John.

Prince John was vicious and volatile. He was con-

sumed by his unpopularity among the people, who wanted the

imprisoned King Richard back. He also lived in

constant fear of the barons, who had first given him the

regency, but were now beginning to dispute his claim to

the throne. Several of these barons had set out to collect the

ransom that would release King Richard the Lion- heart

from his jail in Austria. Robin was invited to join the

conspiracy in return for future amnesty. It was a danger-

ous proposition. Provincial banditry was one thing, court

intrigue another. Prince John's spies were everywhere. If

the plan failed, the pursuit would be relentless and retribu-

tion swift.

The sound of the supper horn startled Robin from

his thoughts. There was the smell of roasting venison in

the air. Nothing was resolved or settled. Robin headed for

camp promising himself that he would give these problems

his utmost attention after tomorrow's raid.