Friar Tuck

A Beginner's Guide to ROBIN HOOD

by Allen W. Wright

Howard Pyle's classic 1883 illustration, courtesy of the RH Project.

A Fighting Friar

Here's another Merry Man you shouldn't underestimate. Friar Tuck is very overweight and seems to love food and ale as much as his God. He can be jolly, foolish, lecherous, an alcoholic, a devout holy man and sometimes wise. He is also a dangerous opponent.

Just ask Robin Hood. The outlaw leader was foolish enough to pick a fight with him.

Tuck lived by a small ford. Robin wanted to cross the river. So, he climbed on Tuck's back and ordered the friar to carry him across the water. Tuck did so. But then he forced Robin to carry him back across the water. Now, Robin climbed onto the friar's back again. But halfway across, Tuck dumped bold Robin into the water.

Then, they had an archery contest and fought with swords. Tuck won.

Robin asked a boon. He blew three blasts of his horn and fifty Merry Men appeared. Tuck asked a favour in return and blew a whistle. Fifty dogs appeared to fight the Merry Men. (In the play version, Tuck summons some men of his own. It's hard to get fifty fighting dogs on the stage.)

But Robin Hood called the fight off and asked the friar to join his band. Tuck accepted.

Click here to read the ballad Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar.

A Friar's Home

It's said Tuck comes from Fountains Abbey in Yorkshire or Fountaindale in Nottinghamshire. A 19th century celebration pegged the spot of Robin and Tucjk's first meeting to be along the banks of the River Skell, which flows from the abbey. Occasionally his full name is given as Michael Tuck. Sometimes Tuck is the Sheriff of Nottingham's chaplain. In some stories, his connection with Robin is unknown by the bad guys and, like Marian, he can give secret help to the outlaws.

In the novel Ivanhoe, Tuck is known as the Clerk of Companhurst and lives at a hermitage with his dogs, his wine and a storehouse of freshly killed venison. When he goes into battle with Robin of Locksley, Tuck discards the hermit's grey robes and dons a Lincoln green uniform. Tuck declares "When I am cased in my green cassock, I will drink, swear, and woo a lass with any blythe forester in the West Riding." He promises to confess his sins to his grey-clad priestly self.

Friar Tuck isn't in many ballads, but he's still an important part of the outlaw band.

Where to go from here:

The river Skell flowing from Fountains Abbey

Note: The basic information on this page reflects the biography or life story of Robin Hood as the end result of centuries of storytelling. For a more advanced look at how the legend has changed over time, please visit other sections of this website.

WOLFSHEAD THROUGH THE AGES: THE HISTORY OF ROBIN HOOD ON MOVIES AND TV - Learn about the growth and development of the Robin Hood legend from the medieval ballads to the modern movies and TV shows
SEARCH FOR A REAL ROBIN HOOD - Learn about the real-life people that may, or may not, have inspired the Robin Hood legend
ROBIN HOOD FAQ - The answers to your frequently asked questions about Robin Hood include links to further information
ROBIN HOOD TALES - Read Robin Hood ballads, poems, short stories and comic books

© Text Copyright 2019 Allen W. Wright - All Rights Reserved
Location photo © Copyright 2019 Allen W. Wright - All Rights Reserved
Howard Pyle illustrations are courtesy of The Robin Hood Project at the University of Rochester and are used with permission.

This site is part of Robin Hood - Bold Outlaw of Barnsdale and Sherwood