Friar Tuck was an unlikely member of Robin Hood's band of merrie men for he was not an outlaw but recruited by Robin to join, so that all his men in Sherwood Forest could have a priest of their own who would conduct services and hear confessions. The good Friar was a formidable swordsman who gave a ferocious account of himself to anyone foolish enough to cross blades with him. Robin made the mistake of thinking him nothing more than a portly cleric who was as soft as he was round and challenged him to a fight. He quickly realised he had grossly underestimated the prickly priest who nearly punctured Robin Hood's inflated ego by bettering him at sword play. Only the intervention of other outlaws prevented an embarrassing defeat. Robin quickly reappraised his opinion of the Friar and was thankful that such a man of arms would be on the side of the honest men of the forest and set against the evil Sheriff of Nottingham and the scurrilous, black hearted prince he so treasonously followed. Friar Tuck was appalled at the savagery of the Norman Sheriff and Prince John, but felt impotent to prevent the daily burning of homes and brutal beating of the saxon peasantry who were quite unable to pay the exorbitant taxes demanded by their Norman conquerors. He felt their pain and empty feeling of helplessness and did what he could to comfort his parishioners who drifted unstoppably into poverty and sickness.
   The fates conspired to bring together the glowing beacon of hope for the oppressed, Robin Hood, and a man of God who could defend the destitute as fiercely with his sword as he could with his faith. Once they had recognised the true worth of each other, they set about to establish a hospital for the uncared for villagers, and places to live for the homeless -- all this within the limits of that vast expanse of England called Sherwood Forest. All the outlaws spread terrifying tales about the sinister sprits that haunted the forest and the horrible enchantments that befell all who dared enter it -- this ploy helped to keep the Normans well away, Normans being well known for their paranoid fear of the supernatural.

Friar Tuck's Sanctum (Enesco)