The story opens in the greenwood shades of Sherwood Forest near Nottingham Town, where a young archer named Robin Hood is unjustly outlawed after killing one of the King's foresters in a rash dispute over a wager. Fleeing into the wilderness, he gathers around him a band of castouts, poachers, and oppressed yeomen who choose him as their leader. Together, they vow to despoil haughty barons, wealthy abbots, and proud squires, while returning justice and aid to the poor and downtrodden of Nottinghamshire.
Soon, the legendary crew grows with the addition of the giant Little John, whom Robin meets upon a narrow bridge and fights with quarterstaves before christening him in a tub of ale. Other colorful figures join the outlaw brotherhood over time, including the merry tinker Wat o' the Crabstaff, the jovial minstrel Allan a Dale, the mighty tanner Arthur a Bland, and Will Scarlet, Robin's skilled and daring cousin.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff of Nottingham vows to capture Robin Hood to claim a royal reward and avenge his slain kinsman. He attempts to trap the outlaws through law, cunning, and brute force, proclaiming grand shooting matches and sending armed bands into the forest. Each time, however, Robin's wit and disguises triumph over the Sheriff's schemes, making the local authorities a laughingstock throughout the shire and cementing the outlaws' legendary status.
The narrative also follows Robin's chivalrous adventures aiding those in genuine need, such as rescuing the sorrowful knight Sir Richard of the Lea from financial ruin at the hands of greedy churchmen. Robin and his men orchestrate a daring rescue at the altar to unite Allan a Dale with his true love, Ellen, confounding both her father and the pompous Bishop of Hereford in the process.
As the seasons turn and the outlaws continue their merry defiance beneath the forest boughs, the Sheriff's frustration deepens, yet he ultimately retreats to his castle walls, defeated by the resilience and unity of the greenwood band. The adventures portray a timeless world of rustic justice, where cleverness and loyalty conquer tyranny and greed in the heart of merry England.
