The Legend of The Robin

A long time ago, a handsome young Saxon nobleman named Oswyn fell in love with a beautiful Norman lady named Honnourée; the wife of a wealthy and powerful Norman baron; the Baron de Mortain.

But they could not be seen together in public and so the Saxon lord, by means of a heart shaped celtic charm, would transform himself into a Robin and fly over forest and field to her, perching himself upon her balcony, often bringing her gifts of flowers or jewelled rings or love letters tied with golden thread in its beak.

One night, however, the maid of the Norman lady, a young girl called Poline, saw them together and she went and told her master.

Angry and vengeful, the Baron swore that he would kill the robin and so he had an archer stand guard below his lady’s balcony with orders to shoot a robin if it came near.

But then Poline, feeling guilty about what she had done, told her lady and, when next the robin came,Honnourée reached out and, grasping hold of it, held it close to her bosom and so the archers arrow went through both the robin and her heart killing them both.

But the bright stars that shine for lovers saw the terrible crime and from that day on, so it is said, the Robins breast has always been deepest red.