What order did Friar Tuck belong to?

[goforgoal]

Yes, I do realize that Friar Tuck is a fictional character (at least I think he was) but I wanted to know what religious order (if any) did Friar Tuck belong to? or was he a lay brother?

I've always enjoyed watching Disney's Robin Hood

[taylor2]

Looks Franciscan to me, but I could be mistaken.

[Petergee]

If he was a "lay" (i.e. unvowed) brother, he wouldn't have been called "Friar". He wouldn't have been a Grey Friar (Franciscan) or a Black Friar (Dominican) because these orders weren't founded until the 13th century, and Robin Hood is usually said to have flourished in the late 12th century or even earlier. He may have been (supposed to be) an Austin (Augustinian) Friar, which order was very numerous at the time in England and elsewhere.

[DrSharkey]

always thought he was a Franciscan .

[goforgoal]

Originally quoted from Petergee

If he was a "lay" (i.e. unvowed) brother, he wouldn't have been called "Friar". He wouldn't have been a Grey Friar (Franciscan) or a Black Friar (Dominican) because these orders weren't founded until the 13th century, and Robin Hood is usually said to have flourished in the late 12th century or even earlier. He may have been (supposed to be) an Austin (Augustinian)
Friar, which order was very numerous at the time in England and elsewhere

Yes, that makes sense.

Originally Posted by DrSharkey

always thought he was a Franciscan .

Me too.

[CHRISTINE77]

The oldest references to Robin Hood are not historical records, or even ballads recounting his exploits, but hints and allusions found in various works. From 1228, onwards the names 'Robinhood', 'Robehod' or 'Hobbehod' occur in the rolls of several English Justices. The majority of these references date from the late 13th century. Between 1261 and 1300, there are at least eight references to 'Rabunhod' in various regions across England, from Berkshire in the south to York in the north.[24]

The first allusion to a literary tradition of Robin Hood tales occurs in William Langland's Piers Plowman (c. 1362–c. 1386) in which Sloth, the lazy priest, confesses: "I kan [know] not parfitly [perfectly] my Paternoster as the preest it singeth,/ But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood."[26]

this is from Wikipedia. I say that since the tale was written when there were Fransican Friars, that Friar Tuck was a Franciscan, even though historically he couldn't have been.

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by CHRISTINE77

I say that since the tale was written when there were Fransican Friars, that Friar Tuck was a Franciscan, even though historically he couldn't have been.

Which gets to the question, when did Friar Tuck enter into the tales of Robin Hood? Presumably, like many legends, the tale grew with time, as new story tellers added new elements. As you suggest, by the time the story was actually written down, Franciscans existed and that may be how Friar Tuck was depicted.

[HCC]

Friar Tuck was most certainly a Franciscan. Couldn't be anything else.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qcN8tGojXY

[Dale_M]

To add to the mystery, the earliest known instance of Friar Tuck in the Robin Hood tales comes in the ballad "Robin Hood and the Curtal Friar." In it, the friar lives in Fountains Abbey, which was Cistercian. And, of course, Cistercians are monks, not friars.

http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/teams/curta.htm

[HCC]

Hmmm...good detective work Dale M. He has always, in my mind and in modern representation been a Franciscan. Cistercian? That is interesting.

[OrdinaryMelkite]

Originally Posted by goforgoal

Originally quoted from Petergee



Yes, that makes sense.




Me too.

Me three.

In all the movie versions throughout the years and from what I remember, he is ALWAYS portrayed as Franciscan.

[CHRISTINE77]

I actually heard that Friar Tuck may have been masquerading as a friar. He certainly wasn't very holy!

[Warrenton]

I think the reference "friar" may just come down to us from the Norman french "frere" - brother. The "title" of a monk is "brother." Later, it took on a more technical meaning.

[Dale_M]

Originally Posted by Warrenton

I think the reference "friar" may just come down to us from the Norman french "frere" - brother. The "title" of a monk is "brother." Later, it took on a more technical meaning.

That would explain the confusing reference in the ballad I had mentioned earlier.

[goforgoal]

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Did Friar Tuck leave his order? or was he still in the order but ventured off alone?

Favorite Friar Tuck (character)?