"Hops and heresy, turkeys and beer, came into England all in one year."

"Beer" in the Middle Ages was called ale - it didn't become beer until the Dutch 'introduced' hops in the 15th Century (1450s is the first confirmed reference I found), although there are vague and unsupported references to hops earlier. See here for the whole story. So it is quite feasible that Cousin Prioress offered Robin Hood an ale, for the reasons I suggested above, but the use of 'beer' is a modern interpretation.

From the Turkey facts site: "Turkeys are believed to have been brought to Britain in 1526 by Yorkshireman William Strickland. He acquired six turkeys from American Indian traders and sold them for tuppence in Bristol. Henry VIII was the first recorded monarch to eat turkey and as he died in 1547, this puts a definate 'here by' date on it.

As for heresy - the usual belief is that this refers to Martin Luther, who first made his protestations in October 1517, being excommunicated for them and other remarks in 1521.

So here we have a selection of dates for turkey, heresy, hops and beer entering Britain. Anywhere between 1450 and 1526 really... bit more than one year don't you think?

Still, it's nowhere near the 1190-1194 absence of Richard on the Third Crusade, his subsequent capture and ransom that caused John to try and overthrow his appointed 'deputy', the Bishop of Ely, William Longchamp that inspired the Robin Hood legends. The earliest mentions I could find are about 30 years after this Third Crusade when Robin Hood was used as a sort of 'John Doe' to describe any outlaw who lived wild. Literary references go back to 'Piers Ploughman' in the 1370's, when beer was still being called ale.

LTS