THE WILD BOAR IN BUCKINGHAMSHIRE. 349 
parish of Chetwode, as its name implies, was formerly thickly 
wooded; indeed it formed a part of an ancient forest, called 
Rookewood, which is supposed to have been conterminous with 
_ the present liberty of Chetwode. At a very early period it is 
said that this forest was infested with an enormous Wild Boar, 
which became the terror of the surrounding country. The 
inhabitants were never safe from his attacks; and strangers, who 
heard of his ferocity, were afraid to visit or pass through the 
district ; so that traffic and friendly intercourse were seriously 
impeded, as well as much injury done to property, by this savage 
monster. ‘he Lord of Chetwode, “a true and valiant knight,” 
determined to rid his neighbours from this pest, or to die in the 
attempt. Bent on this generous purpose, he sallied forth into 
the forest, and, as the old song has it— 
“Then he blowed a blast full north, south, east, and west— 
Wind well thy horn, good hunter ; 
And the wild boar then heard him full in his den, 
Ag he was a jovial hunter. 
Then he made the best of his speed unto him— 
Wind well thy horn, good hunter ; 
Swift flew the boar, with his tusks smeared with gore, 
To Sir Ryalas, the jovial hunter. 
Then the wild-boar, being so stout and so strong— 
Wind well thy horn, good hunter ; 
Thrashed down the trees as he ramped him along, 
To Sir Ryalas, the jovial hunter. 
Then they fought four hours in a long summer day— 
Wind well thy horn, good hunter ; 
Till the wild-boar fain would have got him away 
From Sir Ryalas, the jovial hunter. 
Then Sir Ryalas he drawed his broad sword with might— 
Wind well thy horn, good hunter ; 
And he fairly cut the boar's head off quite, 
For he was a jovial hunter. 
Matters being thus settled, the neighbourhood rung with the 
praise of the gallant deed of the Lord of Chetwode, and the news 
thereof soon reached the ears of the King, who “liked him so 
well of the achievement” that he forthwith made the knight 
tenant in capite, and constituted his manor paramount of all the 
