Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-09

the strange cavnlcade Numbered along
the cohbled strtcts, and, after travers
ing several narrow cl0ses, drew up
with a crash In front Of curious old
structure near the matket.placc. After
much shouting, pounding aud ringing,
IN old scryitor appeared. Then the
butchers hOisted me from the cart,
much the same ~ they had shot mt
into ". Despite my protests that
was domiclled at an inn Ia Peek
Lane, | was under their charge.
10 an inn OF their choosing
must go; and with terri.
ole threats Of tepllsal 10 the little old
man 10 whom was given In charge,
should slight he put on me, or reckon.
Ing he wrong, they departed with a
rush anu roar, the huge inndO6r was
locked aud holted, ~ II against siege,
and we climbed the stone stairs TO a
quaint old chamber, into whose tiny
PANIED gable window the iirst hesitnnt
Hight OF day was family trembling from
the east.
Wholly In the spirit Of the oddly Of
the nights adventure, | related the
prctcnsions OF the butchuig ballads,
and asked the old servant II everybody
In Nottingham was descended from
Robin Hood, or some one Of his noble
victims. The old mans pride was
touched.
"Indeed, no, siflp he answered In.
dignantly. "None comes 20 that
stock, save nus rs serves In public
'ouscslv
Then he stood therc, candle In hand,
his gourd.likc nose flaming aud pallng
with awakening spirit, while lac rceled
oil aundry other ballads OF intermin.
able stanaas and iteration, showing
with und0ubtod historic accuracy aud
outlnwed rhyme md rythm pretty
nearly the same collection Of incidents
In Robin Hood's career, accounting for
the prestige, rights aud perquisites Of
serving men In English inns, ns were
vouched for In the butchers galaxy ~
song. All ri which II related, because
u suggested 10 me n new line Of In.
qulry In the Identification Of Robin
Hood with Robin Hoods Land; aud
hinted universally OF traditional
linking ofthc actual parsonage OF the
famous outlaw ~ our own time, Of
which literature gives but the faintcst
Insight.
As IL well understood, all the le-
gends, tales and ballads known TO lltcm.
tufc M Of ancient origin and founded
on supposltitlously authcnthlc Incl.
dents In the life Of Robin Hood, were
collected and Published In 1895, by 10.
seph Ritson, High Bailin Of the Lib
critics OF savoy, OF whom II was said.
Gle never appeared human except
when lie was porting over Gothic
books" He was undoubtedly one Of
the most critical and painstaking m.
tlquarinns Of his time. The entire col.
lection numbers scarcely more than
30 pieces. These were reproduced from
ancient black.lctter copies, absolutely
authenticated. Yet, Ia this one night
! had listened 10 one.third rs many ~
the famous Ritson collection contained.
IL those, the work Of writers from the
iI;h 10 the 18th centuries, could
bo regarded as possessing many In.
hcrent evidences Of having been based
ON actualities, why should not those
lingering among the masses be re-
gardod with Mt least that strong pre-.
sumption Of an original source In fact,
attributed 10 most OF the traditionafy
lore handed down from father TO son
through many generations. And II
but two classes, the butchers and Inn,
servers, were 20 fruitful In this sort OF
lore, why could not similar discover.
les be made among others Of their ilkg
l pushed the Investigation IN Noting.
ham and shire with extraordinary
results. Briefly, the members oi
every craft ana vocation whose ORR
gin antedates, or N contcmporaneous
with, Robin Hoods time, possess,
and retain with secret trcasurIng
aud pride, very many Of these ballads,
Each builds, In warm and lovir Z
way, n relationship with the outlaw
himself, with his deeds OF cunning,
valor or chivalry; or with the unior.
tunate subject, Of his mad anu merry
pranks. | have certainly counted
different ballads 81 this class 10 above
800 In number. believe In Noting.
hamshirc alone fully 1000 distinct
Robin Hood ballads could be secured
among the loSly for printing. Nor do
they comprise modern ideas and situa.
lions clad In ancient garb. In verbal
garniturc, smile, construction, Incl.
dent, aud IN what may be termed thelr
lndestructihle Wilderness, they possess
every evidence OF great antiquity.
but this In by no means the most
interesting Identification Of act.
ual or legendary hero with his
haunts afforded the patient pilgrim IN
Nottingham. In the ancient books OF
the old city aud the ancient hooks OF
the old shire IN much curious infOrmn-
ton 10 be dug up regarding Sherwood
Forest, and abundant folklore, legends
aud supcrtitions, pointing Ms uner.
ringiy as the flight Of an arrow from
his own bent bow 10 tho one-time cx =.
istence OF the unconqucrable archer
behind. The forest " Sherwood was
iirst mentioned by writer's during the
reign oj Henry II :, between 1854 and
1850; and was then place OF
royal resort for hunting. In
that time the archbishop Of York
also claimed the right Of hunting In
Sherwood three days at Christmas,
three at Easter, and three at whltsun-
tide, and kept IN the Forest his forcs.
tiers "aeryl,s Of hawks and panage."
John, before ascending the throne In
1899, while still Earl OF Monteyn, ex-
ecuted charter Of all the liberties and
free customs OF the forests Of Noting.
hamshire and Derbyshlre, specifically
including Sherwood. But II was not
until 1871, In the reign Of Henry Ill,
that the exact limits OF Sherwood
Forest were fixed. The "peramhula-
ton" under royal writ then held gave
Sherwood Forest proper length OF
nearly 30 miles, extending due north
from short distance below Not
tlngham 10 Just above Wofksop,
with mean breadth OF nine
miles. These boundaries were reaf-
firmed In 1879, and M late rs fifty
years since gave opportunity for con-
tinuing horde Of titled "FOrcst Ofil-
Gers" The chief Of these were Lord
Warden" u Chow. Bearer and Rang
ar, fnur NNnnlurnIa y Ia NsleMnIlO