The Adventures of Robin Hood Season 1, Episode 9: Checkmate

The Coming of Robin Hood

Robin of Locksley has been fighting in the crusades in the Holy Land for many years, and when he arrives home again, he finds a sorry situation. Prince John is trying to seize power, and the Normans are in control everywhere. Even Robin's own land has been seized by a Norman knight. Where can he look for friends?

The Moneylender

Robin, a new recruit to Scatlock's outlaw band, is sent out to bring back some loot from a moneylender who has exacted 100% interest from the people to whom he has lent money. But Robin's actions are displeasing to Scatlock.

Dead Or Alive

Little John escapes from the bondage of his feudal lord, but is caught in a tavern by the Sheriff's men. The sergeant offers him his freedom if he will go into Sherwood Forest and bring back an outlaw. Little John agrees, and in the forest meets Robin Hood for the first time.

30 min

Friar Tuck

Friar Tuck calls on Robin to help the course of true love run smoothly. A young girl in love with a yeoman has sought sanctuary with the Friar after discovering that the lord of the manor has a different suitor in mind for her. Disguised as a monk, Robin sets out to help.

30 min

Maid Marian

The waylaying of a courier by the outlaws has a surprising result - for Robin - who finds himself in a perilous position. Maid Marian is suspected of being an enemy of the outlaws.

A Guest for the Gallows

The Sheriff has sentenced a peasant, Will Stutely, to death. Robin disguises himself as a butcher, and plans to get an interview with the Sheriff by starting a riot - but what good will that do?

30 min

The Challenge

The Sheriff thinks one of his men is the best archer in the land. Sir Richard of the Lea says he knows of someone even better - Robin - and a contest is arranged. The outcome is never in doubt, but Sir Richard soon has cause to regret that he ever supported Robin.

Queen Eleanor

The Queen Mother, Eleanor of Acquitaine, arrives in Nottingham on a mission to collect money in aid of King Richard's was against the Saracens. The Sheriff, after making a generous donation, plots to waylay the party and get his money back, but Marian persuades the Queen to let Robin help her.

30 min

The Ordeal

Edgar, one of the outlaws, is falsely accused by the Sheriff of the murder of Jack the Wagoner. He must submit to trial by ordeal - by plucking an iron bar from a boiling caldron.

A Husband for Marian

When a rather unpleasant knight wants to marry Marian for her dowry, Robin has to act, and disguises himself as a wealthy German baron.

The Highlander

A Highland visitor to Sherwood Forest is regarded with suspicion by Robin, especially when he is seen to burgle a treasure cave. Who is he, and what is he up to?

The Youngest Outlaw

A young boy tells Robin that he is a page in Waldern Castle, but wants to join the outlaws. How can Robin refuse, when he finds out how important the 'page' really is?

The Betrothal

Gambling has always been a full-time occupation with the outlaws - gambling on their luck against the Sheriff. But Sir Richard couldn't pay the price of his gamble: he now has a month to pay the money or forfeit his estate.

The Alchemist

A poor woman has been accused of witchcraft, and is under sentence of death to be burned at the stake. At least, that was the Sheriff's plan before Robin appeared with a clever ruse.

The Jongleur

A strolling minstrel leads Little John and Robin into a trap laid by the Sheriff, but he later discovers on which side justice lies.

The Brothers

Robin is called on to aid two brothers, one of whom wants to become a priest. They are both fleeing the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Robin sends them to an abbot. However, they are caught, and the would-be priest is thrown into prison. Can Robin rescue him and help him take his vows?

The Intruders

Friendly villagers have turned against Robin and the outlaws after being robbed. To win back their confidence, he must find the thieves.

The Sheriff's Boots

The Sheriff of Nottingham prides himself on being well dressed - even down to his boots. His own bootmakers don't seem to be doing a good job, but what would he say if he knew that he was wearing outlaw boots?

Errand of Mercy

While delivering herbs to fight an epidemic of St Anthony's Fire, Robin and Little John are recognised by a beggar, and are in danger.

The Vandals

A man is found murdered in Sherwood Forest, and the arrow that killed him is sworn to be Robin's. Local looting in the village is also being blamed on him, so Robin must find the vandals, in order to clear his name.

Richard the Lionheart

There are many men who don't believe it, but the outlaws are among the most faithful of King Richard's subjects.. Peregrinus believed them , but they were getting fidgetty with him around. They are not know how closely he is connected to the King.

Ladies of Sherwood

Arthur of Tetsbury is to be hanged for keeping money from King Richard's crusade, instead of paying it in taxes to Prince John. The Sheriff suspects Robin will try to rescue him, and frobids anyone to enter or leave the city. But a woman's robes can hide even a man's Lincoln Green.

Will Scarlet

Will Scarlet has an eye for the girls, and this lands him in trouble with the Sheriff's men. Robin comes to the rescue, but Will's willingness to trust everyone is still liable to land him in trouble.

The Deserted Castle

The Sheriff is puzzled by something very strange going on in a ruined castle. When he arrives with his men-at-arms, he finds that the castle contains an unnusual occupant.

The Miser

When Robin hears that the villagers have been charged double taxes, he decides to teach miserly Sir William de Courcier a lesson. Robin pretends to be helpful, but the miser soon learns the error of his ways.

Trial By Battle

Marian is arrested and sent for trial, suspected of murder, after the King's Commissioner is killed with a dagger of hers. But it's a strange trial, because two men have to fight, and only if her defender wins is she proved innocent.

Children of the Greenwood

When the freeman A'Bland flees from a false accusation of murder that means imprisonment and death, his children,Alice & Oswald, are seized by the men-at-arms who serve the Lord FitzUrse. In the great castle they are treated harshly at the hands of the lord and his menials. A'Bland joins the outlaws, and together they decide on a rescue.

The May Queen

The May Queen is being made to marry a man she does not love, but a tournament has been arranged, and perhaps under cover of the jousting, Robin will be able to do something.

The Wanderer

Derwent the outlaw makes a friend to whom he will be everlastingly grateful. Sir Walter de Lys discovers that there is such a thing as hygiene, after a healer called Joseph cures him by unconventional means, which riles the other healers in Nottingham. Then the Sheriff takes a hand...

The Byzantine Treasure

The outlaws rarely have attacks of conscience, but when they discover solid gold plates belonging to Queen Eleanor have been stolen, something has to be done. The Byzantine treasure is too 'hot' for them to hold.

Secret Mission

A mysterious hooded pilgrim, Peregrinus the palmer, seems anxious to make the acquaintance of the outlaws, and proves himself a worthy friend when he shows how well he can use a bow. But he asks awkward questions about their loyalty to King Richard.

The Inquisitor

Robin and Little John find new ways of getting into inaccessible abbeys: Little John through the kitchen, and Robin by riding in a wine barrel.

Tables Turned

Derwent and Much 'obtain' some loot which they heard was jewels. But it turns out to be two children, who prove to be more than a nuisance. Soon the tables are turned, however.

The Traitor

Robin and his men may be outlaws, but they are not traitors, and when they find that one of three men on a special mission is not to be trusted, they decide to do something.

The Thorkil Ghost

Harold of Thorkil Castle insists he is being haunted by a vicious Viking ghost. At least that's what he tells Robin, but Robin doesn't believe in ghosts.

The Knight Who Came to Dinner

A penniless knight, Sir Richard of the Lea, has mortgaged his estate to the abbot, and cannot repay his debt. The outlaws lend him the sum he needs. To ensure they get their money back, Robin sends Friar Tuck to the abbey in the guise of Sir Richard's squire.

The Wager

Robin bets Friar Tuck that he can collect more money by begging than Tuck can by prayer. But Norman soldiers make things very difficult for these apprentice beggars.

The Prisoner

A courier has come to Prince John, and Robin thinks he bears important news. The Prince says it is of King Richard's death, but Robin disbelieves this, and sets to work to discover the truth.