Gilbert o' the Red Cap

Origin
Gilbert is the name given by Howard Pyle to the Sheriff of Nottingham's chief archer whom the Sheriff asks or allows to enter the archery competition for the golden and silver arrows. Gil is considered the best archer in the Sheriff's employ an performs well in the contest reflecting well upon his employer. He ends up finishing variously as second or third behind Robin in the contest in versions where it is allowed to be completed.

Sometimes the Sheriff moves in to try and capture Robin before the competitors are finished and occasionally Robin's disguise in tattered scarlet works and he goes undetected keeping the competition from devolving into violence in an attempt to capture him. The other competitors to finish well in the tourney include the Merry Man Gilbert Whitehand, Adam o' the Dell, Diccon Cruikshank, William o' Leslie, Hubert o' Cloud, Swithin o' Hertford and a stranger in blue who claims to be from London but may instead be the Merry Man named Gilbert listed above.

In the 1950s show The Adventures of Robin Hood this character is instead named Giles Black.

Literature:

 * 1883 Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle

Film:

 * 1938 The Adventures of Robin Hood
 * 1948 The Prince of Thieves

Television:
—"The Challenge" (1955) played by unknown as Giles Black
 * 1955-1959 The Adventures of Robin Hood