An ageing Robin Hood has been a trusted captain fighting for King Richard the Lionheart for twenty years and is now in France, the Third Crusade over. Richard orders him to take a castle which is rumoured to hold a gold statue. Discovering that it i…
An ageing Robin Hood has been a trusted captain fighting for King Richard the Lionheart for twenty years and is now in France, the Third Crusade over. Richard orders him to take a castle which is rumoured to hold a gold statue. Discovering that it is defended by a solitary, one-eyed old man who is sheltering women and children, and being told the statue is worthless stone, Robin and his right-hand man, Little John, refuse to attack. King Richard, angry, orders the pair's execution and the castle attacked, but is wounded with an arrow by the old man. Richard has the helpless residents massacred, with the exception of the old man, because Richard likes his eye. Mortally wounded, the King offers to let Robin beg for his life. When Robin refuses, Richard draws his sword, lacks the strength to strike him and falls. Robin helps the dying king and, moved by his loyalty, Richard frees Robin and Little John.
The two return to England and reunite with old friends Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck in Sherwood Forest. He hears his exploits have become legendary. When Robin inquires about Maid Marian, they tell him where she lives. When he goes to see her, she finds him as impossible as ever, while he discovers she has become an abbess. He learns that his old nemesis, the Sheriff of Nottingham, has ordered her arrest in response to King John's order to expel senior leaders of the Roman Catholic Church from England.
When the sheriff comes to arrest Marian, Robin rescues her against her will, striking Sir Ranulf, the sheriff's arrogant guest, in the process. He also rescues the nuns, who have been locked in the sheriff's castle. Ignoring the Sheriff's warnings, Sir Ranulf pursues Robin into the forest. His men are ambushed and a number killed by arrows, but Sir Ranulf is spared by Robin. When the news of Robin's return spreads, old comrades and new recruits rally to him. Sir Ranulf asks King John for 200 soldiers to deal with him.
The sheriff waits in the fields outside the forest,..
