ACORN. 1 I 



the remains of the tree, against which the arrow of Sir 

 Walter Tyrrel glanced, and killed the King. Eighty 

 years ago it became so decayed and mutilated, that the 

 spot would probably have been forgotten, had not John 

 Lord Delaware, who lived in one of the neighbouring 

 lodges, erected a triangular stone, with an inscription o^, 

 each face, before the stump was eradicated. On this 

 subject Mr. Gilpin says, in his work on Forest Scenery, 

 " They who think a tree insufficient to record a fact of 

 so ancient a date, may be reminded that seven hundred 

 years make no extraordinary period in the age of an oak." 

 King William was killed in the year 1100. 



The celebrated oak in Hainault Forest, Essex, known 

 by the name of Fairlop, and under whose protecting 

 shade so many city knights and dames have enjoyed their 

 pic-nic meal, is no more. Whether it fell by a stroke of 

 sound policy, the axe of avarice, or the shock of dice, it is 

 not our intention to record, we have only in common 

 with the lovers of ancient customs to regret its loss and 



record its wonders. 



/ , 



" Nor could old age itself their pity reach, 

 No reverence to hoary barks they knew." 



It is thus mentioned by the late Rev. Mr. Gilpin: 

 " The tradition of the country," says this ingenious wri- 

 ter, " traces it half way up the Christian era. It is still 

 a noble tree, though it has suffered greatly from the de- 

 predations of time. About a yard from the ground, 

 where its rough fluted stem is sixty-six feet in circum- 

 ference, it divides into eleven vast arms, which overspread 

 an area of three hundred feet in circuit : beneath this 

 shade an annual fair has long been held on the 2d of 

 July ; but no booth is suffered to be erected beyond the 

 extent of its boughs." 



This venerable oak was cut down previous to the fair in 



