A Robin Hood reseracher once said that a Robin Hood candidate should be found to be also associated with a Little John to be a good candidate. In our discovery that Robin Hood seemingly best matches Roger Godberd we do have one or more Little John candidates.
Little John might match any one or more of these 6 candidates from Roger Godberd records: John D'eyvile, Jordan le Fleming, John de Haversham, John son of John, St John the Baptist's day 1265, and/or "Roger Godberd along with John" (1264) which may or may not relate to one of the first 3 John's.
John D'Eyvile: John Deyville is described as a "leader" of the disinherited, which might be similar to some RH stories having LJ as a leader of the/a band before RH? John Deyville was associated with both Robert Deyville (who had a home at Hood), and with Roger Godberd (who is similar to Robin Hood). Robin Hood & Little John who are in 1266 & 1283 in Fordun/Bower & Wyntoun could be Roger Godberd 1260-1265-1293 & John Deyvile 1261-1265-1295. The earliest historical Robin Hood name is 1295 and earliest historical Little John name is 1292, about the same time as Godberd's & Deyville's deaths in 1293 & 1295, and the latter matches LJ dying after RH in the traditions. Deyville was described as "a man clever/cunning/canny (or hard or hot) & a warrior strong/doughty" which could be similar to "Little" John's descriptions in Robin Hood stories. John Deyville took refuge in Sherwood (with his brother Robert) in 1265/1266 about the same time that Godberd was there (1267), and the Deyvilles are stated to have been in Sherwood with Godberd. John Deyville was "keeper of the forests north of Trent" which could explain why LJ "knew the paths of Sherwood/Barndsale well" in the ballads? Sir John Deyville's settlement of a mortgage of 400 pounds to Abbot of St Mary's in 1276 has a similarity to Little John going with Sir Richard at Lee to help him pay his debt to St Mary's Abbey, and its also similar to Little John always counting the money in RH stories? The name Deyville/D'Eyvile/deEyvill/deDaiville is also maybe possibly similar to Little John's surname Little/LeLitel/LeTall or Naylor/Nailor? The triad of Roger Godberd, John Deyville and Walter Deyvas may match the triad of RH, LJ & WS in the Geste etc?
Jordan le Fleming: Jordan's name is similar to John's. One of Roger Godberd's earliest recorded events is a dispute with Jordan le Fleming,* which seems similar to Robin Hood's earliest event of a dispute and battle with Little John on a river bridge. Jordan's name is related to the name of the Jordan river which Jesus was baptised in by John the Baptist, and Little John similarly dunked Robin Hood in the river/stream/brook. Little John was tall/big/gigantic. Flemings are likely tall? The le in Jordan's full name is maybe similar to John's surname Little or Le Litel or Le Tall? Possibly the I((O)R) "John"/"James (Rex)" in Sherwood trees inscriptions might be connected with Little John and Jordan le Fleming?
John de/of Haversham: Little John was from "Hathersage", which is similar to John was of Haversham (ie Hathersage & Haversham are similar)?
John son of John: The "little" of Little John's name could match the "son of" of John son of John? (Compare some other historical namesakes who are called the great/elder/senior & the less/younger/junior?)
St John the Baptist's day 1265: Robin Hood & Little John who are in 1266 & 1283 in Fordun/Bower & Wyntoun could match Roger Godberd & St John the Baptist's day 1265. Little John dunked RH in a river like John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the river Jordan.
"Roger Godberd along with John" (1264): RH is associated with LJ in many RH stories. Roger Godberd is associated with a John in 1264. Robin Hood & Little John who are in 1266 & 1283 in Fordun/Bower & Wyntoun could be Roger Godberd & John 1264.
Timeline of LJ candidates in RH candidate Godberd's records: Jankin (A Lutle Soth Surmon c 1250)? Roger Godberd vs Jordan le Fleming 1260-1263 John Deyville 1261 "Roger Godberd along with John" 1264 Roger Godberd 1265 St John the Baptist's day 1265 Robert & John Deyville took refuge in Sherwood 1265/1266 Robin Hood & Little John 1266 (Fordun/Bower) Godberd in Sherwood 1267 (John son of John, & John de Haversham 1272) John Deyville's 400 pounds mortgage settlement St Mary's 1276 Robin Hood & Little John 1283 (Wyntoun) Earliest historical Little John name 1292 Roger Godberd's death 1293 St John the Evangelist (Skelbrooke 1294/1329); Earliest historical Robin Hood name 1295 John Deyville's death 1295
Little John is said to have been from "Hathersage" (in Derby), and to have been buried there. However, the name Hathersage might not refer to Hathersage in Derby but might possibly really relate to Major Oak nearby Edwinstowe, which is not far from Rufford Abbey where Roger Godberd was active. "Hathershead/Hathersedge/Hathersage/Hathersuch/Hatherchurch" could be either "at the quercus/oak", or "at the kirk/church" (of Edwinstowe), or "Hatfield chase" (of Edwin). One of the theories to explain the huge size and odd shape of Major Oak is that it might be more than one tree fused together as saplings, which may confirm that both RH & LJ (and other merry men?) were buried there (ie a seed or tree planted over each of the graves which were close to each other). (There is also a Lidgett near Edwinstowe which might be similar to "Little"?)
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* "Row with Jordan le Fleming 1260. 1260 Roger Godberd demises his manor to Jordan le Fleming then ejects him by force. Curia Regis Roll 168, Mich., 44/45 Henry III, 1260, m. 16 d Leyc. Jordan le Fleming v. Roger Godberd in a plea wherefore, since the said Roger demised to Jordan his manor of Swaninton for a term of 10 years, and the same Jordan had not held the manor for one whole year, the said Roger ejected Jordan from the said Manor with force and arms, and took and carried away Jordan’s goods and chattels to the value of 20 pounds. Roger did not appear. Order for attachment. Suit continues until 1263. 1263 Surrey Eyre. Roger Godberd V Jordan le Fleming."
Other candidates of others' and/or of our's for LJ associated with other earlier & later RH candidates have included: Johannes at St Ives; Peter of York & John of Beverley & Wilfrid of Ripon 1138; John de Rampagne & Fulk fitz Warin 1190s/1197/1203/1256/12th; "RH & LJ 1199" (Rapin), John Hood 1199-1202/1214; LJ's Shot "12th cent" (near Dublin), Johannes Helaye de Kyme & Robert de Kyme 1210-1226/7; Iunois fugitive & Hobbehod 1225/6-1234; John (le) Scot (Earl of Huntingdon & Chester) 1237; "LJ died 1237"? Jankin (A Lutle Soth Surmon c 1250)? John Rabunhod 1272 (Hants); Little John & Petit Johan 1292; John Balliol 1292-1296; St John the Evangelist (Skelbrooke 1294/1329); John Hood 1296-7 (Sowerby); Sowerby forester John de Midgley late 1200s? John Hood of Wakefield 1313-29; Archer captain 'Liteljohn' of Thomas Earl of Lancaster; * John Littsells & Robert Hood 1316-1322/23/24-47; * John le Litel 1318 (band of radiers); * John de Methele 1318? Little John 1320s (sailor) * Little John of C0ckcroft 1322; * Littel John 1323 (made off with deer, Yorks); * John Petmari 1323; Litell/Lutel Colle 1323; Jack Langworth 1323; Grete Hobbe 1323 (Robert Hood); John Attelme 1327; John Robynhod 1328 (Berks); John Hood of Wakefield 1329; John le Carter 1329 (Skelbrooke); Jolyrobin 1332 Cumberland, John Hood of Newton 1341; John Robhode 1350-99 (Suffolk); John Litel 1354-67, Johannes Hud 1379? John Ball 1381 (Robert Dore/Wadsley/Hood)? Jack Straw 1381/1485 (Robert Dore/Wadsley/Hood), Iohan But, Johannes Robbehed 1381 Enborne Berks. John Robynhode 1386 (Berks), John Hode 1417 (expedition), Sir Geoffrey Luttrell from Hooton Pagnell d 1419? Johannes Robynborlas 1428 Pidre, Cornwall. John Hoode 1440-1449, John Hode 1443 (expedition), John Robhode/Robewode 1445/1456-60 (Suffolk), Jack Cade 1450, Sir John/William Conyers "Robin of Redesdale" 1469/1485? (The) RH & LJ inn 1500s (Yorks) Little Jack Horner 1509/1510-1547, John Major 1521, RH's Stone & LJ's Stone 1540/1713. LJ's Close Whitby 1540/1713/1779/1969? John Robhood 1544-1551, John Littlestone of Barnstaple (Devon, 1585)? LJ's grave 1650s/1652/1680/1798 (Hathersage, Derby) RH & LJ Inn 1671. John Little 1786 (Beeston, Notts) LJ's Stone / St John's Stone 1797/1834 LJ's Well 1838/1840.