In the Robin Hood traditions there are stories of his encounters with the Bishop of Hereford and/or the Bishop of Ely. On one occasion Robin Hood and his men play a prank on the bishop of Hereford by posing as shepherds as roasing venison by he road-way. Later on the Bishop of Hereford hunts and tries to capture Robin Hood and almost catches hi, but Robin escapes through the aid of an old woman helping him. Looking at our Roger Godberd records we found that there is a seeming possible match for the original "bishop of Hereford", and possibly also one for the "bishop of Ely", but as usual the names have been altered and/or conflated abit.
Bishop of Hereford candidates: - John de Breton debts c 1255, owed 210 in 1261, disappears from 1265, bishop of Hereford in 1275? (- An alleged RH in Hereford in 1263?) - The abbot of Gerewedon/Garendon abbey/convent which/who Godberd raided in 1266? - Rufford Abbey where Godberd was caught in 1270? (Fer(r)esdale/Ferysdale mentioned in Rufford abbey charters?) - Lord W(alter Giffard) Archbishop of York who was present at the pressing of charges against Richard Foliot in 1272. He was also sheriff of Nottingham in 1270-1272. (Also note that John Romanus archbishop of York also hunted in Sherwood 9 days in the year in around about the same times period.) - The "gaol of Hereford" which Godberd was delivered to in 1275, and the "Sheriff of Hereford" who delivered Roger from there to London in 1275?
Bishop of Ely candidates: - Robert Deyville in Ely in 1266/7? - Robert Hod of Ely/Cambridge 1269? - The abbot of Stanley abbey which/who Godberd robbed in 1270? (Compare -ley & Ely?) - outlaws/robberies in "Leic/Leyc" in 1272? - W de Helynn before who Godberd was delivered to the gaol of Hereford in 1275? - Bishop of Ely & Peter House 1284? - Someone ingeniously suggested that Ely's association with Hereward the Wake might make the bishop of Ely and bishop of Hereford the same?
Notice the intriguing possibility that the Bishop of Hereford and Bishop of Ely might match the Abbot of Gerewedon and Abbot of Stanley?
Bishop's Tree, which Robin Hood is supposed to have tied the bishop to, is in Barnsdale. Godberd was in the area because the records mention Richard Foliot's castle of Fenwick which was in Barnsdale. (Perhaps Slephil/SleepHill is where RH played the shepherds prank on the bishop?)