Having fallen out with Little John, a sulking Robin foolishly enters Nottingham alone and undisguised to attend mass at St. Mary’s Church.

The scene brought to life in the ballad ‘Robin Hood and the Monk’:

Beside him stood a great-headed monk
I pray to God who he be!
Who recognised good Robin
As soon he him see

Unluckily for Robin this was a greedy monk he had previously robbed of £100 and with the Sheriff alerted, a fierce fight followed before Robin was held and thrown into prison.

It was Little John who came to his rescue… teaching Robin a valuable lesson not to go into Nottingham undisguised and alone.

An interesting location for Robin to be captured by the Sheriff as the church is only a stones throw away from Shire Hall, the place where traditionally law and order was distributed.