SHERWOOD FOREST. 23 



them historical, or founded on history written or traditional. 

 The temptation is strong upon me to break bounds and 

 cite one and another of the tales of romance associated 

 with this forest ; but I may not. 



The following details are given from an article entitled 

 Sherwood Forest, and some of its more Notable Trees, which 

 ap^no-^j m the Journal of Forestry for 1881 [vol. v., 

 pp. 385-399, 457-472], by Mr Llewellyn Jewitt, F.S.A., 

 illustrated richly with ballad lore, reproductions of old 

 cuts, and modern plates. 



" But few of our old forests can compare in point of 

 historical importance and legendary interest with ' merrie 

 Sherwode,' whose picturesque features have for ages proved 

 a prolific source of subjects for the pencils of artists of all 

 classes to delineate, and formed a never-ending theme for 

 innumerable prose writers and poets to dilate upon, while 

 its various characteristics have tempted scientific men into 

 long disquisitions, and found food for ballad-mongers of 

 all periods. 



" Originally a royal forest, and one of the proudest of the 

 proud possessions of the Crown, Sherwood, or Shirewood, 

 was of vast extent, and second in importance for its timber 

 and its deer to none in the kingdom, while various events 

 and scenes enacted within its boundaries give it an histo- 

 rical interest, that in some points raises it above most 

 other localities. In dimension it at one time covered an 

 area of some twenty-five miles one way, by eight or ten the 

 other, and embraced within its boundaries monasteries, 

 townships, and knightly seats. At one of its extremities 

 was Nottingham, where kings and princes stayed, ' nobles 

 did congregate,' and sheriffs swayed despotic power ; at 

 another was Mansfield, 'a favourite hunting-seat of the 

 kings of Mercia,' and where, latej on, a royal palace was 

 built, and royal court held ; and Worksop, and a score 

 other places of interest were included within, or closely 

 adjacent to, its confines. 



" The name of Sherwood or Shirewood is, there can be 



