3. (Robin Hood &) Will Scarlet and/or Will Stutley.
Will Scarlet is one of the 2 or 3 main associates of Robin Hood in the Little Geste and other stories. There is both a Will Scarlet and a Will Stutley in Robin Hood traditions and in some stories some versions have Scarlet while others have Stutley. In the discovery that Robin Hood matches Roger Godberd we also found a seeming match for Will Scarlet, and maybe a possible match for Will Stutley too.
Will Scarlet might match Walter deEwyas/Devyas/Deyvas in the Godberd records. Some sources seem to have a triad of Roger Godberd, Walter Deyvas and John Deyville, which is similar to the triad of Robin Hood, Little John and Will Scarlet. The name "Will" could have been a nickname given by the outlaws or by the folk traditions or balladists. Both Walter and Will are similarish names beginning with W-. Nicknames for Watler are Wal and Wat, and the Wal one is pretty similar to Will.
"1269 Pardon, at the instance of Edward the king’s son, to Walter de Ewyas for the death of William fuiz le Chapeleyn, of which he is indicted, as it appears by inquisition made by Gilbert de Preston that he is not guilty." "1271 Power to Richard Folyot to conduct Walter Deuyas, charged with divers trespasses to the king, doing right and taking restum according to the law and custom of the realm and bringing him back to his own again; until the morrow of Martinmas."
One of these might provide an explanation for the "Scarlet" of Will Scarlet's name (i.e. scarlet/blood/murder/slain, or scarlet/trespasses/wrongdoer or scarlet/martin)? Perhaps also compare Wat Tyrel?
(Also note that sicarius "murderer, dagger-man" is mentioned in Fordun's/Bower's passage about Robin Hood in c 1266.)
"1272 Calendar of the Close Rolls, Henry III 1268-1272, 19380, P. 462. Richard Foliot is accused of harbouring Roger Godberd, Walter Deyvas, and others. The mainpernors of lord Richard Folyot, that he should come before the king in the quindene of St Michael in the 57th year of the reign of the king, to make and receive justice concerning those things, which were imposed on him both concerning the harbouring of Walter Deyvas, Roger Godberd and other wrongdoers...." "Whereas Richard Folyot had been indicted of the harbouring of Walter de Euyas, Roger Godberd and other Wrongdoers...."
(Notice that Walter is mentioned first before Godberd as the first of the wrongdoers.)
"1272 Calendar of Close Rolls 1268-1272, p. 584. Lestrange himself claimed 100 marks (66 pounds, 13 shillings, and 4 pence) for expenses incurred in his pursuit and capture of Deyvas." "c. 1272 Annales Monastica, Chronicle of Furness Abbey, continuation of William of Newborough's chronicle, mention of Walter Devyas being hanged."
In the RH stories Will Scarlet is captured but he is soon rescued. Walter Devyas is said to have been hanged though. It may be that either he was hanged but the RH stories replaced the bad with a happier ending, or that he was only thought to have been hanged but had really been rescued.
Scarlet is said to be buried at Blidworth. Deyvas was captured and allegedly hanged in 1272 immediately before the mention of "Bridgenorth, Shropshire" in the next record (also 1272).
There were also (Will) Scarlet persons/places names in Godberd's times: William Robehod/Rabunhod 1261/1262/1272; Scarlet family 1275 (Blidworth)? "Scarlet Cross [or Scarlet Close?] 1279/80"? William Shirelock/Shyreloke 1286-7; William Scathlock 1287 (St Mary's).
Other candidates for Will Scarlet in the records are William Godberd the brother of Roger, William de Grey, William le Wasteneys, or the Parson of Schirlond.
Two candidates for Will Stutley's name in the Godberd records are Robert de Estutevill/Stutevill, or William le Wasteneys?
William of Goldesborough of RH's grave inscription might be a memory of William Godberd the brother of Roger, or else a corrupted version of Guy of Gisbourne / Warin de Bassingburne.
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* The origin &/or meaning of the (nick)name Scarlet/Scarlok/Scadlock/Scathlock/Scathelocke/Scaffelocke is supposed to be from either: "scar", "red (locks, clothed)", "lock-smasher", "scaffold"?
Other earlier and later candidates for Will Scarlet have included: St Wilfrid of Ripon; William Trussel 1179; Will Scarlet 1199 (Somerset); William Warin fugutive 1225/6-1234; William Robehod/Rabunhod 1261/1262/1272; William Scathlock 1287 (St Mary's); William le Dale; William Schakelock 1305; William Schakelock 1316 (Berwick); William Scarlet 1318; William Clericus; William de Skargill/Scargill 1332; Willie o Douglas Dale.
Other candidates for Will Stutley have included: William de Cauntelo buried Studley 1254; "William de Studley dead by 1316"? William Stoodley 1316-1322; William Tempest of Studley 1382; William Tempest of Studley 1409; William Tempest of Studley 1444 (Yorks); William Mallory of Studley 1475.