[Wombat101]

As for Robin Hood, I haven't actually gone as far as to research it. The only I can tell you for sure is that Maid Marian is an invention, and is based upon a tale told in the Low-Countries about a farm girl who gets sweet talked into going to the big city. She narrowly avoids rape, and manages to get home, where she never leaves her farm again.

Sometime during the 11th-13th century when the tale of Robin Hood was being told, it was apparently decided that Robin needed a love interest, up sprang Maid Marian in different guise. I can honetsly tell you that I forget just where I heard/read that.

[Wombat101]

Oh, almost forgot, you might want to check out the Comelot Project at the University of Rochester:

www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/cphome/stm