This week I am thrilled to welcome my friend and prolific writer, Jennifer Ash to Saga Saturday - Jenny also writes contemporary novels under the name Jenny Kane... over to you, lovely lady!
Outlaw Inspired
Many thanks for inviting me to your blog, Rachel.
If
you have encountered any of my work before, then you can’t have failed to
notice I have something of a passion for the outlaw Robin Hood. This obsession,
which struck at the age of 14, came from a deep and all consuming love for the
television series, Robin of Sherwood. Thirty three years later, and my fascination
with this legendary hero remains, as does my interest in the real fourteenth
century family that guided my historical research when I was a PhD student back
in the 1990’s. The Folvilles of Ashby Folville
in Leicestershire - who have since gone on to provide the focus for my medieval
crime series, The Folville Chronicles.
Although
it cannot be categorically stated that the compilers of the Robin Hood ballads
were influenced by the actual criminal gangs of the day, it is highly likely.
Why wouldn’t the writers of the past be influenced by the political and local
economic situation around them, just as we are today? If you study the
literature and the criminal records of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries-
as I did for five years- many similarities can be noted between the actions of
gangs like the Folvilles, and those detailed in the ballads and political songs.
The earliest mention found (to date)
of the name Robin Hood in literature appears in the poem The
Vision of Piers Plowman, which was written by William Langland
in c.1377. This was a protest poem complaining about the harsh conditions
endured by the poor in the Fourteen Century. Not only did it mention Robin
Hood, but it also makes reference to a real outlaw gang, the Folvilles.
“And some ryde and to recovere that
unrightfully was wonne:
He wised hem wynne it ayein
wightnesses of handes,
And fecchen it from false men with
Folvyles lawes.”
In
1310, John de Folville, Lord of Ashby Folville, died, leaving his widow Alice
and seven sons. The eldest son, also John, inherited the Ashby-Folville manor.
Historical records show that John lived largely within the bounds of the law.
However, his brothers, Eustace, Laurence, Richard, Robert, Thomas and Walter
formed a criminal gang which became notorious. Between the mid 1320’s and
1330’s, the Folville brothers ran the town of Ashby Folville and its surrounds
as a base for criminal activity.
The
first crime that brought the Folvilles to the notice of the authorities was the
murder of the Baron of the Exchequer, Roger Belers. Over the following decade,
the Folville brothers’ travelled the countryside assaulting those they
considered deserving of such treatment, and holding people and places to
ransom. They hired themselves out as mercenaries, willing to commit crimes for
the right price. In fact, if you look closely enough at the criminal activities
of the Folville family and the Robin Hood ballads, you’ll see a great number of
similarities. So many in fact, that I began to wonder if the ballad writers had
been influenced by the actions of Folvilles - or if Folvilles had been
influenced by the popularity of the ballads.
It
was this latter theory that forms the inspiration behind The Folville Chronicles (The
Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter Outlaw, Edward’s
Outlaw and Outlaw Justice).
These
medieval murder mysteries show Robert de Folville and his brothers used the
ballads of Robin and his outlaws as a code of behaviour. Be warned however-
this isn’t the code of behaviour we associate with Robin Hood today. There’s no
robbing the rich to give to the poor in the fourteenth century. The original ballads
were all about punishing the greedy, lazy and the cruel. There was never any
question of any money gained from such punishments being given away.
Perhaps it was inevitable that my doctoral
research, combined with my love for the stories of Robin Hood, would eventually
inspire my novels.
Writers, filmmakers and poets ever since the
tales were first spoken, have all adapted the outlaw figure to fit
their imagination, and to appeal to the audience of the age. The Robin
Hood needed by the fourteenth century listener isn’t going to be the same one
demanded of the Tudor population, and that version of the hero has been
reinvented again and again ever since. From the wonderfully thigh slapping
Errol Flynn, the mystical Robin’s portrayed by Michael Praed and Jason Connery
in the 1980’s, to the pantomime figure presented in the late 90’s by Kevin
Costner, and the PVC nightmare of the most recent incantation by Taron
Egerton…perhaps each generation gets the Robin Hood it deserves?
Having already written
three Folville books, I’m currently writing the fourth episode in the series- Outlaw Justice. Like with the other
novels, it takes one crime from the Folville archive and uses it as the centre
piece for the story.
In 1332 the Folville gang committed
their most serious crime. They kidnapped the Justice of the Peace, Sir Richard
Willoughby, on the road between Melton Mowbray and Grantham, near Waltham-on-the-Wolds.
It is this crime that forms the backbone of the fourth in the series – Outlaw Justice – so I will say no more
about it, for fear of giving spoilers!
Rather than tell the story of the
Folville brothers through their eyes, I introduced an outsider; a fictional
protagonist to see their world with fresh eyes. Enter Mathilda of Twyford.
We first meet Mathilda in Book One, The
Outlaw’s Ransom. A nineteen year old unmarried woman,
Mathilda’s life revolves around looking after her father and brothers, running
the home and the family pottery business since the death of her mother. Her
life changes abruptly when she is forced to get to know the notorious Folville
family rather better than she would have liked – and Mathilda finds herself
surrounded by criminals and under a very frightening type of suspicion...
Blurb- The Outlaw’s Ransom
When potter’s
daughter Mathilda is kidnapped by the notorious Folville brothers as punishment
for her father’s debts, she fears for her life. Although of noble birth,
the Folvilles are infamous throughout the county for using crime to rule their
lands—and for using any means necessary to deliver their distinctive brand of
‘justice’.
Mathilda must
prove her worth to the Folvilles in order to win her freedom. To do so, she
must go against her instincts and, disguised as the betrothed of Robert de
Folville, undertake a mission that will send her to Bakewell in Derbyshire, and
the home of Nicholas Coterel, one of the most villainous men in England.
With her life
in the hands of more than one dangerous brigand, Mathilda must win the trust of
the Folville’s housekeeper, Sarah, and Robert Folville himself if she has any chance
of survival.
Never have
the teachings gleaned from the tales of Robyn Hode been so useful…
Extract from The Outlaw’s Ransom
...The Folville didn’t
say anything else, but satisfied himself with watching Mathilda as she stood,
half bowed, before him. She wasn’t shaking now. He’d noticed how hard she had
fought within herself to still her external reactions to his news of her change
in circumstance and had admired her self-control. It was almost as if she had
an offended dignity about her rather than terror; an unusual reaction from a
prisoner in the presence of a Folville.
He wondered if she’d been taught her letters. Most
families didn’t waste their time teaching their womenfolk such things, but
Mathilda of Twyford was clearly sharp and capable. With her mother gone, she’d
run the household, and he imagined she did that job well. He saw that his
family’s plan for this girl might work, but only if she kept that nerve.
Otherwise… well, she wouldn’t be the first to die during his family’s quest to
maintain their position.
Breaking the silence that had stretched out between
them he said, ‘I recall you have questions for me. I can see your head jarring
with them.’
‘If I may, my Lord?’
‘You may, although I should caution you, I may not
choose to offer a reply.’
Mathilda licked her lips and ran her clammy palms down
her grubby belted surcoat, which largely hid her brother’s leather hose, and
flexed her numb bare toes.
‘Please, my Lord, who are you?’
This produced a bark of laughter, ‘You are
well-mannered despite the indignity of being thrust, if only for a short while,
into our cell. I am Robert de Folville, one of seven brothers of this manor.’
Mathilda curtsied, more out of natural impulse than
any feelings of reverence towards this man, whom she knew for certain, had been
party to at least one murder. ‘You are kin to my Lord Eustace, my Lord?’
‘Yes, girl, I am.’ He cocked his head to one side.
‘That worries you?’
‘He is a man I have been taught to fear, forgive my
impudence, my Lord.’
He snorted. ‘I would rather have honest impudence than
bluff and lies. So, you have been instructed by your father to be wary of us?’
‘Not only my father, sir.’ Abruptly worried that her
boldness might place her family in more danger, Mathilda clamped her mouth
shut. Seeing, however, that the Folville wasn’t cross, but had an expression of
acceptance on his face, Mathilda braved a further question.
‘Where is my father, my Lord, and Matthew and Oswin,
my brothers?’
Robert de Folville paused and, after a moment’s consideration, gestured for the servant boy to bring her a chair. Mathilda was glad to be allowed to sit down, but was puzzled at the equal status she was being afforded after her earlier abuse, as Folville sat next to her, leaning uncomfortably close to her slight, tense frame….
BUY LINKS
The Outlaw’s Ransom - mybook.to/theoutlawsransom
The Winter Outlaw- mybook.to/thewinteroutlaw
Edward’s Outlaw - mybook.to/EdwardsOutlaw
Outlaw Justice - mybook.to/OutlawJustice
You can also find the Robin of Sherwood audio dramas and novels I’ve written here – www.spitefulpuppet.com
Many thanks for hosting
me today.
Happy reading,
Jennifer xx
Bio
Former
archaeologist and historian, Jennifer Ash, has written The
Folville Chronicles series: The Outlaw’s Ransom, The Winter
Outlaw, Edward’s Outlaw and Outlaw
Justice (Littwitz Press, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020). Jennifer has also penned
a selection of audio stories and novels inspired by the popular 1980’s
television show, Robin of Sherwood, including, The Waterford Boy, Mathilda’s Legacy, The
Baron’s Daughter, The Meeting Place, Mathilda’s Legacy, The Power of
Three and The Servant (Spiteful
Puppet in 2017/2018/2019/2020).
Jennifer
also writes romances and romcoms as Jenny Kane. www.jennykane.co.uk
Twitter-
@JenAshHistory
Facebook
- https://www.facebook.com/jenniferashhistorical/
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-ash-25735f1e-0428-4248-b0df-5c44c4a4e762
Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17908746.Jennifer_Ash
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