Guy of Gisbourne
Sir Guy of Gisbourne (also spelled
Gisburne,
Gysborne or
Gisborn) is a villain in the
Robin Hood legends. In
The Ballad of Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne (a
Child Ballad) in which Robin kills him and cuts off his head, he is described so:
There were they ware of a wight yemàn, [wight = sturdy]: His body lean'd to a tree.:A sword and a dagger he wore by his side,: Of manye a man the bane;:And he was clad in his capull-hyde [capull-hyde = horse-hide]: Topp and tayll and mayne: [...]:‘I dwell by dale and downe,' quoth hee,: ‘And Robin to take I'me sworne;:And when I am callèd by my right name: I am Guy of good Gisborne.'
There is some evidence that he originally had an independent legendary tradition which became absorbed in the Robin Hood tradition.
The role of Guy of Gisburne has been played by such actors as
Basil Rathbone (
The Adventures of Robin Hood, 1938),
Tom Baker (
The Zany Adventures of Robin Hood, 1984),
Robert Addie (in the British
television series Robin of Sherwood, 1984-6) and
Michael Wincott (in the movie
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves). In the British television series
Maid Marian and her Merry Men he was portrayed as an overgrown spoilt child by
Ramsay Gilderdale. In the
Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "
Q-Pid" he was portrayed by
Clive Revill. In the 2006 production of
Robin Hood he will be played by
Richard Armitage. He does not appear in the 1973 version of
Robin Hood for some reason, although the snake Sir Hiss is similar.
He inspired the nickname of
Guy Gibson, leader of the Dambusters.
*
Text of The Ballad of Robin Hood and Guy of Gisbourne*
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne*
Robin Hood and Guy of Gisborne with commentary
