Page "Robin Hood" Paragraph 153

Some ballads, such as Erlinton, feature Robin Hood in some variants, where the folk hero appears to be added to a ballad pre-existing him and in which he does not fit very well.

He was added to one variant of Rose Red and the White Lily, apparently on no more connection than that one hero of the other variants is named " Brown Robin.

" Francis James Child indeed retitled Child ballad 102 ; though it was titled The Birth of Robin Hood, its clear lack of connection with the Robin Hood cycle ( and connection with other, unrelated ballads ) led him to title it Willie and Earl Richard's Daughter in his collection.