† Roberdsmen Obs.
Forms: 4 (7) Roberdesmen (7–8 Roberdsmen), 4 Robertes men, 6, 8–9 Robertsmen.
[Probably from the proper name Roberd Robert, but the allusion is obscure.]
A certain class of marauding vagabonds that infested the country in the 14th century.
All the instances later than the 14th century are merely historical.
| 1331 Act 5 Edw. III, c. 14 Diverses roberies, homicides, & felonies, ont este faitz einz ces heures par gentz qi sont appellez Roberdesmen, Wastours & Draghlacche. 1383 Act 7 Rich. II, c. 1 §5 Ordeignez est & assentuz que lestatutz..de Roberdesmen & Drawlacches soient fermement tenus & gardez. c 1394 P. Pl. Crede 72 Ryȝt as Robertes men [they] raken aboute, At feires & at ful ales & fyllen þe cuppe. 1567 Harman Caveat (1869) 27 These were then the commen names of these leud leuterars, Faytores, Robardesmen, Drawlatches, and valyant beggares. 1581 Lambarde Eiren. ii. vi. (1588) 196 Drawlatches, Wastours, or Robertsmen, that is to say, either miching or mightie theeues. a 1633 Coke On Litt. (1648) III. 197 What this Robin Hood was that hath raised a name to these kind of men called Roberdsmen, his followers. 1731 Gentl. Mag. I. 238/1 [He] instances in Robin Hood, and says that from him Thieves and Highwaymen are called Robertsmen. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. xvii. 244 Persons in disguise..(who seem to have resembled the Roberdsmen, or followers of Robin Hood). 1796 Sporting Mag. VIII. 76 Men of his [Robin Hood's] lawless profession were from him called Roberdsmen. |