SHERWOOD FOREST 



221 



itself when the wood is cut in that direction. The piece No. 3 has the 

 letters W. M., with a crown for King William and Queen Mary. 

 No. 4 has the letter I, with an imperfect impression of a blunt 

 radiated crown, resembling" those represented in old prints on the 

 head of King John ; another piece, cut out of an oak some years ago, 

 had the same kind of crown with I. O. and R. for John Rex. The 

 piece of oak No. i, with the letters I. and R., was about one foot 

 within the tree and one foot from the centre ; it was cut down in the 

 year 1786. That with W. M. and a crown was about nine inches 

 within the tree and three inches from the centre ; cut down in 1786. 



) C Wi.ll 



LETTERS IN CENTRE OF OAK 



The piece marked I, for John, was eighteen inches within the tree 

 and above a foot from the centre ; cut down in 1791." 



In 1834, Earl Manver's woodman felled an oak near Ollerton 

 Corner, wherein the initials C. R. were found impressed upon 

 the wood, 15 inches from the surface. It is impossible not to 

 feel sceptical as to the tree branding of the time of King 

 John. The question was discussed, in 1813, in the Beauties 

 of England and Wales (vol. xii., part 2, pp. 62-3). There are 

 interesting references to the subject of the permanence of 

 brands cut on the actual wood of growing trees in Notes and 

 Queries (iv. Series, vols. ix. and x.). 



Though the glories of Sherwood as a royal open forest have 

 long ago passed away, the noble private parks of Clumber, 



