Sir Roger of Doncaster Red Roger

Sir Roger (a.k.a. Red Roger)

The final story of the cycle has rather a different tone. Robin is ill and goes to visit his cousin, a prioress who is a renowned healer. She lets his blood - a common medieval healing practice - but has been bribed by an enemy called Red Roger to bleed Robin to death. Little John, who accompanies Robin to the healer, kills Roger, but he is too late to save Robin Hood. In a final act of generosity, Robin forgives his cousin and commands Little John to take him to his grave.
Allies Prince John, Prioress of Kirklees
Origin Sir Roger, called Red Roger in later ballads, appears as the ally of the Prioress of Kirklees who aids her in the murder of Robin Hood and in some version pays her to kill her weakened cousin.
Possible Historical Figure Several historic individuals have been proposed as possibly being or being the inspiration for the Robin Hood vilian.
P. Valentine Harris found in the Wakefield Court Rolls a record of a knight Roger de Doncaster whom he recognized as the same man as a Roger de Doncaster described as a clergyman in a quitclaim witnessed by a Robert de Pavley from March 13, 1301. In 1309 a Roger de Doncaster thought by Harris to possibly be this same fellow was charged for adultery with Agnes, wife of Philip de Pavely. The Wakefield Court Rolls give another mention of a Roger de Doncaster in the record of a court order from January 22, 1327 that 8 acres at Crigleston be given to Roger, son of William de Doncaster. A further mention of Roger de Doncaster son of William de Doncaster from 1333 names his paternal uncle as Elias and a cousin in Elias' son Thomas. The dates for this individual, if it was indeed just one and not several persons, make him a contemporary to Robert Hood of Wakefield an individual popularly theorized to have been the source of some Robin Hood legends.
Other possible candidates include a Roger de Doncaster who was the keeper of the priory at Lenton from 1267-1270.
Appearances in Media Ballads: c.1460 Lytell Geste of Robyn Hode/A Gest of Robyn Hode Robin Hood's Death Literature: 1852 The Ballad Hero : Robin Hood by Joseph Hunter 1951 The Truth About Robin Hood by P. Valentine Harris

Physical Description

Specialized Equipment

Glaive (from back when the word could still mean sword)

Mental characteristics

Gender Identity

Male

Social

Religious Views

Catholic

Relationships

Sir Roger of Doncaster Red Roger

sth

Towards Prioress of Kirklees

0

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Prioress of Kirklees

sth

Towards Sir Roger of Doncaster Red Roger

0

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History

Despite the fact that she was head of a nunnery she the treacherous Prioress of Kirklees is considered to have taken Sir Roger for her lover before he became her co-conspirator in Robin's death due to these lines:
"For the love of a knyght, Syr Roger of Donkester, that was her owne special"

Sir Roger of Doncaster Red Roger

enemy

Towards Robin Hood

0

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Robin Hood

enemy

Towards Sir Roger of Doncaster Red Roger

0

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History

Red Roger is one of Robin's most dangerous and unexpected foes as he is among the very small number of them Robin had never robbed or otherwise encountered prior to his very successful attack on the rouge.

Honorary & Occupational Titles

Lord of Doncaster, Knight

Circumstances of Death

Little John, who accompanies Robin to the healer, kills Roger, but he is too late to save Robin Hood.

Spouses

Siblings

Gender

Male