21G Gilpin's forest scenery. 



only liave been some little temporary oratory, 

 ■wHch, haying never been endowed, might speedily 

 have fallen to decay ; but the tree, it is probable, 

 ■would be noticed at the time by everybody who 

 lived near it, and by strangers who came to see it ; 

 and it is as probable that it could never be for- 

 gotten afterwards. They who think a tree in- 

 suflS.cient to record a fact of so ancient a date, 

 may be reminded that seven hundred years (and 

 it is not more since the death of Rufus) make no 

 extraordinary period in the existence of an Oak. 

 About fifty years ago, however, this tree became 

 so decayed and mutilated that in all probability 

 the spot would have been forgotten, if some other 

 memorial had not been raised. Before the stump 

 therefore was eradicated, a triangular stone was 

 erected by the late Lord Delaware, who lived in 

 one of the neighbouring lodges, on the three sides 

 of which stone the following inscriptions are 

 engraven, — 



1. 



Here stood the Oak Tree, on which an arrow, 

 shot by Sir Walter Tyrrel at a stag, glanced and 



