If Robin Hood had existed, would he, and his merry men except for maybe Friar Tuck,

[raccoon]

have worn tights?

Robin Hood is generally thought to have lived (if he did) during the reign of Richard the Lion-hearted (reigned 1189-1199) or Edward III (reigned 1327-1377).

Did men of either of those times wear tights? Especially if they were hanging around in the woods where there are all kind of branches and briars to rip up tights.

Reading this article about Stephen Knight’s book Robin Hood: A Mythic Biography made me think about this.

“But whether he existed or not, Robin would never have worn tights as depicted by Errol Flyn in the 1938 film The Adventures of Robin Hood, said the professor (Stephen Knight).

He said that image was based on the Victorian stage plays where Robin's part would have been played by a woman, and she would have worn tights to show off her legs.”

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/3001010.stm

Another source: (that seems to me to make good sense):

“Tights on men of the Middle Ages were an invention of stage and screen, perhaps to give the actors something of the look of the age without going to the trouble of finding accurate costumes.

Men, both the Anglo-Saxon pagans and the Christians of the early Middle Ages, sometimes wore leggings. These were made of linen or leather. They were either fitted (made to form to the leg) or they were bound by leather laces around the legs. Anglo-Saxons sometimes wrapped squares of leather around their legs with bindings, which gave a similar look.”

http://www.bigsiteofamazingfacts.com/why-did-men-wear-tights-in-medieval-times-and-how-did-they-originate


That seems to me to make more sense.

[DCKit]

1. Better than assless chaps, at least in the briar patch. nt

[xchrom]

2. fitted leather pants.

makes sherwood sound more like central park late saturday night. nt

[jwirr]

3. Men wore pants that were usually tight because of fighting with swords.

Can you imagine wearing some of the loose pants we do today and getting your sword caught in the clothe when you bring it up for an attack?

[xchrom]

4. I had that happen in the 80s - remember parachute pants? Nt

[jwirr]

6. LOL

[Kennah]

5. Robin (Cop), Little John (Construction Worker), Friar Tuck (Native American), Will Scarlet (Cowboy)

[raccoon]

7. Come to think of it, I doubt seriously if anyone could even make tights in those days, as we do now.

The leggings, as described in my OP, make much more sense.

[Motown_Johnny]

8. Nay