The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-02-07

| Okk4GE lhAAANd VI
stauzas and iteration, showing with I'M
doubted historic accuracy and outlawed
rhyme aud rythm, pretty nearly the
same collection OF incidents in Robin
Hoods career, accounting for the pres
tige, rights and peTquisites OF serving
men In English iuns, as were youchet
for in the butchers galaxy OF song. All
OF which Is related, because it suggested
to me- new line OF inquiry in the
Identification OF Robin Hood with Robin
Hoods land; and limited universally
OF traditional linking OF the actual per
sonage OF the famous OUTLAW TO our Q wn
time, OF which literature gives but the
'faiutsst Insight.
AS is well understood, all the legends,
tales and ballads known TO literature as
OF ancient origin and founded on sup.
pnsititiouply authentic incidents In the
life of Robin Hood we're collected and
published in 1905, by Joseph Ritson,
High Bailitf Of the Liberties Of Savoy, OF
whom 1t was said: SIZE never appeared
human except when be was poring over
Gothic books" He was undoubtedly
one Of the most critical aud painstaking
antiouarians of his time. The entire
collection numbers scarcely more than
so pierts. Thess were reproduced from
ancient black.letter copies, absolutely
authenticated, Yet, in this one night [
had listened to one.third as many as the
famous Rttson collection contained. II
those. the wUrk.of writer's from the 14;h
to til 18th centuries, could bs regarded
as DO .sessing many inherent evidences
OF hs wing besn based on actualities, why
shou d not those lingering among the
mas va be regarded with at least that
strong presumption OF an original source
in fsct, attributed to most OF the tradi.
tionary lore handed down from father to
son through many generatlonsp And II
but two classes, the butchers and inn.
teryers, were so fruitful in this sort OF
lore, why could not similar discoveries
be made among others of their ilk? l
pushed the investigation in Nottingham
and shire with extraordinary results
Briefly the numbers OF every craft and
vocation whose origin antedates, or Is
contemporaneou with, Robin Hoods
time, possess, and retain with secret
treasuring and pride, very many OF these
ballads. Each builds, in warm aud
loving way, q relationship with the out
law himseli; with his deeds OF cunning,
yalor or chivafry; or with the unfortn-
nate subjects of bis mad and merry
pranks. I have certainly counted diff.
ierent ballads OF this class to above 800
in number. believe in Nottingham.
shire alone, fully 1000 Distinct Robin
Hood ballads could be secured among
the Lowry for printing. Nor do they
modern ideas and situations
clad in ancient garb. In verbal gaTni.
lure, aimile, construction, incident, and
in what may be termed their indestructi.
BILE Wilderness, they possess every evi.
dence OF great antiquity.
But this is by no means the most inter
esting Identification OF actual or legend
airy hero with his haupts, afforded the
patient pilgram 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 approximations, point
ing as unerringly as the flight Of an arrow
from his own bent bow 10 the one.time
existence OF the unconquerable archer
behind. The Forest OF Sherwood was
first mentioned by writer's during the
reign of Henry H., between 1l54 and
1889; and was then place OF royal resort
for hunting. In that time the Arch
bishop OF York also claimed the right Of
hunting in Sherwood three days at
Christmas, three at Easter and three at
Wkitsuutide, and kept in the Forest bis
fnresters 'aeryles OF hawks aud panage."
John, b,fore ascending the throne in
1850, while still Earl Of Monteyn, ex-
ecuted a charter Of all the liberties
and fr customs Of the forests
OF Notlinghamshire and Derbyshire,
specifically including Sherwood. But II
was not untiil23l, in the reign OF Henry
III, that the exsct limits OF Sherwood
Forest were fixed. The DECENTRALIZATION"
under royal writ then held gave thirty
miles, extending due moth from short
distance below Nottingham TO just above
Workshop, with q mean breadth OF nine
miles. These boundaries were reaGirmed
in 1872, and as late as fifty years since
gave opportunity for continuing horde
Of titled Forest Officers" The chief Of
these were "Lord Warden" "Bow.
Bearer and Ranger" four "Verdurers,"
a 'steward" and nine "Keepera;' and
1t Is an interesting fact that Lord Byron,
the poet, held office az one OF the last
"Bow. Bearers and Rangers" OF this his.
toric forest. II has been frequently
stated that all traces Of Sherwood Forest
had entirely disappeared. This ID not
true. l found near Newstead Abbey
several groups Of it's original oaks
In the district comprising Its
former southern reach, about Bran.
cote, and TO the east, near Sutton
and Carleton, are q number Of the
gnarled old Sherwood patrisrchs. The
entire district Is now dotted with towns
and villages, interpreted with farms
gentlemen's seats and demesnes Of the
nobility. In the parks, and frequently
in the beech and FIR plantations Of the
demesnts, especially In the northern
district between Newstead Abbey and
Workson, that portion Of Sherwood in
ancient times known as High Forest, are
q very CREST number; no doubt from
5000 70 5000 trees. These are generally
unknown, because shut IRON puollC
gaze by park and demesnes walls. Their
the friendship Of gamekeeper or po6rhel
must be made. Through these, founC
nearly 800 Of the ancient oaks in Wei
beck Park. There are fully that nun
her ia Clumbsr Park, near WoEksoP
Some OF these oaks are supposed to b
more than / 900 years old. found scorel
to be above twenty-five feet in Circum
ference, aud quite number to exceeC
thirty.fve feet. None are OF grea
height; but all are tremendous in trunl
and overaIching limbs. Their scars
knots and gnsrled growth are identica
With the most ancient written dCEciip
tons Of the Forest.
As with the Nottingham lowIy OF al
ancient crafts, the peaSantry OF the entir
diAtFict are saturated with Robin Hool
legends and superstitions. There Is no
q forester, gamekeepef or poasheF within
the ancient boundaries but has bis ballad
tradition or superstitious practice base,
on the existence and cpstoEas Of the oldel
outlaw tenantyy. Wayside linus ar
named in honor Of the outlaw, Of SOM
Of his followers, or In commemorsion Q