document: Brit framer buried in unmarked grave is outlaw behind Robin Hood legend ? A historian has claimed that a farmer buried in an unmarked tomb in Britain , could have been the outlaw who became the basis for the Robin Hood legend . David Baldwin , 64 , claims that a grave in Warwickshire that is half covered in moss and with no headstone belongs to Roger Godberd , a 13th century farmer who committed burglaries , arson and murder like Robin Hood . He has written a book setting out the evidence in favour of his claim that Godberd was Robin Hood , and according to his research , Godberd lived from the early 1230s to the 1290s , led a gang of outlaws . Medieval court documents show that his band of men ranged across Leicestershire , Nottinghamshire and Wiltshire terrorising the wealthy and that he was eventually imprisoned for his crimes . He was even accused of poaching deer in Sherwood Forest along with his companion Walter Devyas - believed to be the Little John of popular legend . '' `` The story of Robin Hood is a mystery which has captured people 's imaginations , '' '' the Daily Mail quoted Baldwin , a retired university lecturer and author from Leicester , as saying . '' `` Some of the individuals who have been identified as Robin in the past have something to be said for them but none are entirely convincing . '' `` Robin Hood is a composite character in that stories told of other outlaws have been borrowed over the years and added to his legend . '' `` There are probably several outlaws whose deeds have contributed to the modern-day stories of Robin Hood . '' `` But I believe there is one man whose career underpins the stories . His name is Roger Godberd and he was an outlaw who was active in the late 1260s . '' `` Quite a number of his activities seem to be replicated in the stories found in the earliest Robin Hood ballads . '' `` He poached deer in Sherwood Forest , was captured by the Sheriff of Nottingham , was imprisoned in Nottingham Castle and had the assistance of a friendly knight who helped him stay one step ahead of the law . '' `` He certainly robbed churchmen , just as the legendary Robin Hood did . '' `` It has been claimed that the legendary Robin Hood figure lived as early as the reign of Richard the Lionheart and as late as that of Edward II - a period of up to 140 years . '' `` But Walter Bower , one of the earliest writers to mention Robin Hood , says that he was forced into outlawry after being involved in Simon De Montfort 's rebellion in the 1260s . '' `` Roger Godberd was one of Simon de Montfort 's supporters which ties in with this very well . His name has been mentioned in some of earlier books about Robin , but the evidence has never been fully examined before , '' '' he said . After evading the authorities for years , Godberd was eventually captured in the early 1270s and jailed , but he was pardoned at his trial at the Tower of London and returned to his farm where he lived until his death . '' `` I believe Godberd 's career inspired some of the early ballads , and I hope the book will encourage people to re-examine what they believe they know about Robin Hood , '' '' Baldwin added . Robin Hood - the English Outlaw Unmasked published by Amberley Publishing costs 9.99 pounds .
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