The record-union., 1891-02-08


SONS OF the butchers ballads, ana asked
the old servant ii everybody in Noting
ham was descended from Robin Hood, or
some one of his noble victims. The old
mans pride was touched.
indeed, no, sir!" he answered indig-
nantiy. None comes o. that stock, save
b us us serves in public 'ouses!,'
Then he stood there, candle in hand,
his gourd-like nose flaming and paling
with awakening spirit, while he reeled off
sundry other ballads with interminable
stanZas and iteration, showing with un-
doubted historic accuracy and outlawed
rhyme and rythm, pretty nearly the same
collection of incidents in Robin Hoods
career, accounting for the prestige, rights
ana perqulsites OF serving men in Eng
hsh inns, as were vouched for in the
butchers galaxy of song. All of which
is related, because it suggested to me
new line of inquiry into the identitica-
ton OF Robin Hood with Robin Hoods
Land; and hinted universality of tradi-
tional linking of the actual parsonage of
the famous outlaw to our own time, of
which literature gives but the faintest in
sight.
As is well understood, all the legends,
tales and ballads known to literature as
OF ancient origin and founded on suppo-
sititiously authentic incidents in the life
OF Robin Hood were collected and pub
lished in 1895 by Joseph Ritson, High
Balilff of the Liberties OF Savoy, of whom
1t was said: HE never appeared human
except when he was poring over Gothic
BOOKS" he was undoubtedly one of the
most critical and painstaking antiquarians
ofhls time. The entire collection numbers
scarcely more than fifty pieces. These
were reproduced from ancient black let
ter copies, absolutely authenticated. Yet
In this one night / had listened to one
third as many as the famous Ritson col
lection contained. If those, the work of
writers from the 14th to the 18th centur-
les, could be regarded as possessing many
Inherent evidences of having been based
ON actualiteis, why should not those
lingering among the masses be regarded
with at least that strong presumption of
an original source in fact, attributed to
most OF the traditionary lore handed
down from father to son through many
generations? And if but two classes, the
butchers and inn-servers, were so fruit
full in this sort of lore, why could not
similar discoveries be made among others
Of their ilk?
pushed the Investigations in Noting
ham and shire with extraordinary results.
Briefly, the members of every craft and
vocation whose origin antedates or is con-
temporaneous with Robin Hoods time,
possess, and still retain with secret
80 ing ,'nu PiiuS' 'ei Hiany VI tneSe
ballads. Each builds, in a warm and
loving way, a relationship with the out
law himself; with his deeds of cunning,
valor or chivalry; or with the unfortu-
nate subjects of his mad and merry
pranks. have certainly counted differ
ent ballads of this class to above 300 in
number. l believe in Nottinghamshire
alone, fully 1000 distinct Robin Hood
ballads could be secured among the lowly
for printing. Nor do they comprise
modern ideas and situations clad in an
cient garb. In verbal garniture, simile,
construction, incident, and in what may
be termed their indestructible Wilderness.
they possess every evidence Of great an
tiquity.
But this is by no means the most inter-
estIng Identification of actual or legend
ary hero with his haunts afforded the
patient pilgrim in Nottingham. In the
ancient books OF the old city and the
ancient hooks of the old shire is much
curious information to be dug up regard
ing Sherwood Forest, and abundant folk
lore, legends and superstitions, pointing
as unerringly as the flight of an arrow
from his own bent bow to the one-time
existence of the unconquerable archer
behind. The forest of Sherwood was first
mentioned by writers during the reign of
Henry H., between 1164 and 11S9, and
was then place of royal resort for hunt
ing. In that time the Archbishop of
! ork also claimed the right of hunting
IN Sherwood three days at Christmas,
three at Easter, and three at Whitsuntide.
and kept in the forest his foresters,
"aeryles OF hawks and panage." John,
before ascending the throne in 1199, while
still Earl of Monteyn, executed charter
OF all the Liberties and free customs OF the
forests of Nottinghamshire and Derby
shire, specifically including Sherwood.
tk-rf ~ ,Nt
Henry Ill, that the exact limits of Sher-
wood Forest were fixed. The "perambu-
lation' under royal writ then held gave
Sherwood Forest proper a length of
nearly thirty miles, extending due
north from short distance below Not
tingham to just above Worksop, with
mean breadth of nine miles. These
boundaries were reaffirmed in 1872,
and as late as fifty years since gave OPP
portunity for continuing a horde of il
tied Forest Officers" The chief of
these were ''Lord Warden" Bow
Bearer and Ranger" four ''Verdlrers - a
Steward and nine Keepers and it
is an interesting fact that Lord Byron,
the poet, held office as one of the last
"Bow-Bearers and Rangers of this his
toric forest.
1t has been frequently stated that all
traces of Sherwood Forest had entirely
disappeared. This is not true l found
near Newstead Abbey several groups of
its original oaks. In the district com
prising its former southern reach, about
Bramcote, and to the east, near Sutton
and Carleton, are number of the gnarled
old Sherwood patriarchs The entire dis
trict is now dotted with towns and vii
lagos. lnterspersed with farms, gentle
mems seats and demesnes of the nobility.
In the parks, and frequently in the beech
and hr plantations of the demesnes, espe-
cially in the northern distrRf between
Newstead Abbey and Worksop, that por-
ton of Sherwood in ancient times known
as High Forest, are very great number,
no doubt from 5000 to 5000 trees. These
are generally unknown, because shut
from public gaze by park and demesne
walls. Then the friendship of game
Keeper or poacher must be made.
Through these / found nearly 500 of the
ancient oaks in Welbeck Park. There
are fully that number in Clumber Park,
near Worksop. Some of these oaks are
supposed to be more than ]. 900 wears old.
L found scores to be above 25 feet in cir
cumference, and quite a number to ex-
ceed 80 feet. None are of great height:
but all are tremendous in trunk and over
arching limbs. Their scars, knots and
gnarled growth are identical with the
most ancient written descriptions of the
Forest.
As with the Nottingham lowly of all
ancient crafts, the peasantry of the entire
district are saturated with Robin Hood
legends and superstitions. There is not a
forester, game-keeper or poacher within
the ancient boundaries but has his ballad,
tradition or superstitious practice based
on the existence and customs of the olden
outlaw tenantry. Wayside inns are
named in honor of the outlaw. of some
of his followers, or in commemoration of
some of the bold archer's deeds. Every
simple farmer has customs or half-super-
stitious practices, originating in some re-
puted thing Robin Hood did, or would
not do. Kinds, harvesters and cottars
preserve his memory in tradition. custom