Much the Miller's Son
Encyclopedia
Much the Miller's Son was, in the tales of Robin Hood
, one of his Merry Men
. He appears in some of the oldest ballad
s, A Gest of Robyn Hode
and Robin Hood and the Monk
, as one of the company.
Generally he becomes an outlaw when he is caught poaching. This leads to Robin Hood's outlawry in many modern adaptions.
In A Gest of Robyn Hode
, he helps capture Richard at the Lee
and when Robin lends that knight money to pay off his debts, he is one of the Merry Men who insists on giving him a horse and clothing appropriate to his station. In Robin Hood and the Monk
, he is one of the rescuers of the captive Robin; in this brutal ballad, he kills a page boy so that the boy can not bear word that the outlaws killed the monk of the title.
In other tales, he was also known as Midge the Miller's son. This is the name used by Howard Pyle
in his Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.
In other tales, he was a young boy who befriended the merry men. In several later stories, the name Much is explained by his lacklustre appearance and abilities: his parents continually referred to him as "our son, though he's not much" which was eventually shortened to "Much".
Often it is said he was forced to go into hiding with the outlaw
s as he had been caught poaching
deer
on the sheriff's
land, an offence which would get the youth hanged. The outlaws rescued the boy from the sheriff's men and later look after him in their hideout in the forest (in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
, a character resembling Much in many respects is the young boy named Wulf; another character named "Much the Miller's Son" does appear in the movie, but he has extremely little screen time).
In the earlier tales, however, Much is slightly older and takes a much more physical role; indeed he is a formidable fighter. Much is present from the very earliest Robin Hood ballads, in which he often accompanies Little John
on physical journeys and even gets involved in brawls.
In some modern tellings, Much is a female character, initially disguised as (or mistaken for) a boy.
(1984–86), where he is Robin's adopted brother (a role given to Will Scarlet
in some versions). In the series he is portrayed as somewhat mentally lacking, needing Robin to look after him. It was his killing a deer without thinking of the consequences that led to them becoming outlaws.
In the 1991 adaptation the character is played by Danny Webb
and credited as Mulch the Miller.
In the children's comedy Maid Marian and her Merry Men
(1989–94) the character is parodied as a wide boy
called Much the Mini-Mart Manager's Son.
Much played a somewhat minor role in the PC game Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood where during times when Robin Hood would consult his men for tactical advice, Much would almost always provide the worst plan with the least chance of success. His plans were often crude guesses with no real basis in tactics, which fits well with his character's background, a poor, talentless outlaw of a miller's son.
television series Robin Hood (2006-2009), but he is no longer a Miller's son — in the second episode, he claims to have no family at all. Instead, he is Robin's former manservant comrade-in-arms and best friend from the Third Crusade
, who has been given his freedom as a result of his services there but finds himself outlawed with Robin upon their return home. In this version he is the gang's cook and immensely loyal to Robin, and is often seen to be jealous of the attention Robin gives to others, especially Marian
.
Robin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
, one of his Merry Men
Merry Men
The Merry Men are the group of outlaws who followed Robin Hood, according to English folklore. An early use of the phrase "merry men" occurs in the oldest known Robin Hood ballad, "Robin Hood and the Monk", which survives in a manuscript completed around 1450. The word "merry" in this and other...
. He appears in some of the oldest ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s, A Gest of Robyn Hode
A Gest of Robyn Hode
"A Gest of Robyn Hode" is Child Ballad 117; it is also called A Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode in one of the two oldest books that contain it....
and Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin Hood and the Monk is Child ballad 119, and among the oldest existing ballads of Robin Hood, existing in manuscript from about 1450 AD.It may have been originally recited rather than sung; it refers to itself as a "talking" in its last verse:...
, as one of the company.
Generally he becomes an outlaw when he is caught poaching. This leads to Robin Hood's outlawry in many modern adaptions.
In A Gest of Robyn Hode
A Gest of Robyn Hode
"A Gest of Robyn Hode" is Child Ballad 117; it is also called A Lyttell Geste of Robyn Hode in one of the two oldest books that contain it....
, he helps capture Richard at the Lee
Richard at the Lee
Richard at the Lee was a major character in the early medieval ballads of Robin Hood, especially the lengthy ballad A Gest of Robyn Hode, and has reappeared in Robin Hood tales throughout the centuries.Sir Richard is said to have been a nobleman, the lord of Verysdale...
and when Robin lends that knight money to pay off his debts, he is one of the Merry Men who insists on giving him a horse and clothing appropriate to his station. In Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin Hood and the Monk
Robin Hood and the Monk is Child ballad 119, and among the oldest existing ballads of Robin Hood, existing in manuscript from about 1450 AD.It may have been originally recited rather than sung; it refers to itself as a "talking" in its last verse:...
, he is one of the rescuers of the captive Robin; in this brutal ballad, he kills a page boy so that the boy can not bear word that the outlaws killed the monk of the title.
In other tales, he was also known as Midge the Miller's son. This is the name used by Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle
Howard Pyle was an American illustrator and author, primarily of books for young people. A native of Wilmington, Delaware, he spent the last year of his life in Florence, Italy.__FORCETOC__...
in his Merry Adventures of Robin Hood.
In other tales, he was a young boy who befriended the merry men. In several later stories, the name Much is explained by his lacklustre appearance and abilities: his parents continually referred to him as "our son, though he's not much" which was eventually shortened to "Much".
Often it is said he was forced to go into hiding with the outlaw
Outlaw
In historical legal systems, an outlaw is declared as outside the protection of the law. In pre-modern societies, this takes the burden of active prosecution of a criminal from the authorities. Instead, the criminal is withdrawn all legal protection, so that anyone is legally empowered to persecute...
s as he had been caught poaching
Poaching
Poaching is the illegal taking of wild plants or animals contrary to local and international conservation and wildlife management laws. Violations of hunting laws and regulations are normally punishable by law and, collectively, such violations are known as poaching.It may be illegal and in...
deer
Deer
Deer are the ruminant mammals forming the family Cervidae. Species in the Cervidae family include white-tailed deer, elk, moose, red deer, reindeer, fallow deer, roe deer and chital. Male deer of all species and female reindeer grow and shed new antlers each year...
on the sheriff's
Sheriff of Nottingham
The Sheriff of Nottingham was historically the office responsible for enforcing law and order in Nottingham and bringing criminals to justice. For years the post has been directly appointed by the Lord Mayor of Nottingham and in modern times, with the existence of the police force, the position is...
land, an offence which would get the youth hanged. The outlaws rescued the boy from the sheriff's men and later look after him in their hideout in the forest (in the 1991 movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is a 1991 American adventure film directed by Kevin Reynolds. Kevin Costner heads the cast list as Robin Hood...
, a character resembling Much in many respects is the young boy named Wulf; another character named "Much the Miller's Son" does appear in the movie, but he has extremely little screen time).
In the earlier tales, however, Much is slightly older and takes a much more physical role; indeed he is a formidable fighter. Much is present from the very earliest Robin Hood ballads, in which he often accompanies Little John
Little John
Little John was a legendary fellow outlaw of Robin Hood, and was said to be Robin's chief lieutenant and second-in-command of the Merry Men.-Folklore:He appears in the earliest recorded Robin Hood ballads and stories...
on physical journeys and even gets involved in brawls.
In some modern tellings, Much is a female character, initially disguised as (or mistaken for) a boy.
Appearances in other media
Much has a notable role in the television series Robin of SherwoodRobin of Sherwood
Robin of Sherwood , was a British television series, based on the legend of Robin Hood. Created by Richard Carpenter, it was produced by HTV in association with Goldcrest, and ran from 1984 to 1986 on the ITV network. In America it was retitled Robin Hood and shown on the premium cable TV channel...
(1984–86), where he is Robin's adopted brother (a role given to Will Scarlet
Will Scarlet
Will Scarlet was a prominent member of Robin Hood's Merry Men. He was present in the earliest ballads along with Little John and Much the Miller's Son....
in some versions). In the series he is portrayed as somewhat mentally lacking, needing Robin to look after him. It was his killing a deer without thinking of the consequences that led to them becoming outlaws.
In the 1991 adaptation the character is played by Danny Webb
Danny Webb (actor)
Danny Webb is a British television and film actor. He may be best known for his role as the prisoner Morse in Alien 3. He has appeared in many famous British television programmes including The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, Emmerdale Farm, Our Friends in the North, A Touch of Frost, Agatha...
and credited as Mulch the Miller.
In the children's comedy Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men
Maid Marian and her Merry Men is a British children's sitcom created and written by Tony Robinson and directed by David Bell. It began in 1989 on BBC One and ran for four series, with the last episode shown in 1994...
(1989–94) the character is parodied as a wide boy
Wide boy
Wide boy is a British term for a man who lives by his wits, wheeling and dealing. According to the Oxford English Dictionary it is synonymous with spiv. The word 'wide' is in this sense means wide-awake or sharp-witted...
called Much the Mini-Mart Manager's Son.
Much played a somewhat minor role in the PC game Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood where during times when Robin Hood would consult his men for tactical advice, Much would almost always provide the worst plan with the least chance of success. His plans were often crude guesses with no real basis in tactics, which fits well with his character's background, a poor, talentless outlaw of a miller's son.
BBC series
Much is also a major character in the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Robin Hood (2006-2009), but he is no longer a Miller's son — in the second episode, he claims to have no family at all. Instead, he is Robin's former manservant comrade-in-arms and best friend from the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
, who has been given his freedom as a result of his services there but finds himself outlawed with Robin upon their return home. In this version he is the gang's cook and immensely loyal to Robin, and is often seen to be jealous of the attention Robin gives to others, especially Marian
Maid Marian
Maid Marian is the wife of the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood. Stemming from another, older tradition, she became associated with Robin Hood only in the 16th century.-History:The earliest medieval Robin Hood stories gave him no female companion...
.