[1] It is worthy of note, that of late years the Derbyshire Volunteers have received the marked compliment of being specially noted for their manly bearing and their distinguished appearance by her present Majesty, and by the Commander-in-Chief, H.R.H. the Duke of Cambridge, on each of the occasions of general review of the Volunteer force in Hyde Park.

[2] Ancestor of the present Earl of Harrington, of Elvaston.

[3] Darwin, the river Derwent.

[4] Sparrow Pit is a small hamlet about two miles from Chapel-en-le-Frith, situated at the "four lane ends," where the Buxton and Castleton and the Chapel-en-le-Frith and Tideswell roads intersect each other.

[5] Paislow Moss, about half way between Sparrow Pit and Sandy Way Head.

[6] Chapel-en-le-Frith is a considerable and important market town, about six miles from Buxton.

[7] Whaley Bridge, near Chapel-en-le-Frith.

[8] Chamber Knoll is about half a mile from Peak-Forest.

[9] For an account of this discovery see "The Reliquary," vol. I., page 129 et seq, where, in a paper entitled "The Ballad Hero, Robin Hood," an excellent resumÈ of his life is given by Mr. Gutch.

[10] "Locksley in Nottinghamshire." It seems pretty certain that the real birthplace of Robin Hood, although often attributed to Nottinghamshire, was at Loxley Chase, in Yorkshire, not far from Sheffield, and near the borders of Derbyshire.

[11] The Pinder of Wakefield, in Yorkshire, is often alluded to in Robin Hood ballads—

"In Wakefield there lives a jolly pinder, In Wakefield all on a green."

The Pinder was, of course, an impounder of stray cattle.

[12] Adam Bell was a northern outlaw, so celebrated for archery and other matters as to become proverbial, and

became a common expression. He was also the subject of various ballads, and is thus alluded to by D'Avenant in 1673:—

[13] Clim of the Clough was another famous archer, and is also alluded to in the extract given above. "Clough" signifies a ravine, or narrow glen, or close wooded dale.

[14] William of Cloudeslee was also a noted archer.

[15] Guy, Earl of Warwick.

[16] Gamwell of Gamwell Hall. The family of Gamwell to which this lady belonged, was, I believe, of Cheshire, not of Nottinghamshire.

[17] Clorinda is, I presume, the same personage as the one so often alluded to as "Maid Marion."

[18] "Titbury day:" the day on which the "Minstrels' Court," with its "Bull-running," and other wild amusements, was held. The Minstrels Court at Tutbury, to which all minstrels living in the counties of Stafford and Derby did service, was presided over by a "King of the Minstrels," who was selected yearly by the four stewards, two of whom were chosen from the minstrels of Derbyshire, and the other two from those of Staffordshire. The court was held before the Stewards of the honour of Tutbury, on the morrow after the Assumption. A deed of "John of Gaunt, King of Castile and Leon, Duke of Lancaster," dated in the fourth of Richard II., confers certain powers on the "King of the Minstrels in our honour of Tutbury," and speaks of service and homage which even then had been performed by the Minstrels "from ancient times." By a later instrument it was ordered "that no person shall use or exercise the art and science of music within the said counties, as a common musician or minstrel, for benefit and gains, except he have served and been brought up in the same art and science by the space of seven years, and be allowed and admitted so to do at the said court by the jury thereof," under certain fines; that he shall not teach or instruct any one for a less time than seven years; and that he shall, under pain of forfeit, appear yearly at the "Minstrels' Court." On the day of holding the court,—"Tutbury Day," as it is called in the ballad,—all the minstrels within the honour came to the Bailiff of the Manor and proceeded in procession to the parish church, the "King" walking between the Bailiff of the Manor and the Steward of the Minstrel's Court, and attended by his own four stewards, bearing white wands. From church they proceeded in the same order to the Castle hall, where the "King" took his seat, with the Bailiff and steward on either side. The court was then opened by proclamation ordering that every minstrel dwelling within the honour of Tutbury, either in the counties of Derby, Stafford, Nottingham, Warwick, or Lancaster, should draw near and give his attendance, and that all pleas would be heard, and fines and amercements made. The musicians having been called over by court roll, two juries were empanelled and charged. The jurors then proceeded to the selection of officers for the ensuing year. The jurors having left the court for the purpose, the King and Stewards partook of a banquet, while the musicians played their best on their respective instruments. On the return of the Jurors they presented the new King whom they had chosen from the four Stewards, upon which the old King, rising, delivered to him his wand of office, and drank a cup of wine to his health and prosperity. In like manner the old Stewards saluted, and resigned their offices to their successors. This ended, the court rose, and adjourned to a general banquet, in another part of the castle. The sports of the day then commenced by a wild and infuriated bull being turned loose for the minstrels to catch. The bull was thus prepared: his horns were sawed off close to the head; his tail cut off to the stump; his ears cropped; his body rubbed all over with grease; and his nostrils, to madden him still further, blown full of pepper. While these preparations were being made, the Steward made proclamation that all manner of persons should give way to the bull, no person coming nearer to it than forty feet, except the minstrels, but that all should attend to their own safety, every one at his peril. The bull being then turned out, was to be caught by some one of the minstrels, and no one else, between that hour and sunset on the same day, within the county of Stafford. If he escaped, he remained the property of the person who gave it (formerly the Prior of Tutbury); but if any of the minstrels could lay hold of him so as to cut off a portion of his hair and bring it to the Market Cross, he was caught and taken to the Bailiff, by whom he was fastened with a rope, &c., and then brought to the bull-ring in the High Street, where he was baited by dogs. After this, the minstrels could either sell him or divide him amongst themselves. This custom appears to have prevailed from 1377 to 1778, when it was very properly discontinued. The day was one of feasting, revelry, and great excitement, for the whole district.

[19] "Arthur a Bradly." This curious ballad, I have reason to believe, is a purely Derbyshire one, the locality being Bradley near Ashborne, within only a few miles of Tutbury. Of this ballad I shall probably have more to say in another part of the present volume.

[20] "Dubberidge." This is Doveridge, a village in Derbyshire, about seven miles from Tutbury.

[21] Combs Moss, one of the highest hills in the neighbourhood, between Chapel-en-le-Frith and Buxton.

[22] A large village closely adjoining Buxton.

[23] In a copy of an ancient map made at the time of the enclosure of the wastes and commons in the parish of Chapel-en-le-Frith, (part of the ancient Forest of the High Peak,) in the year 1707, an old wall is traced, which is still a boundary fence of the wild moor called Combs Moss. This wall is named on the map "the Archer's Wall," and the length of it is traditionally called "Robin Hood's Marks."

[24] Another version has—

[25] Another version says—

[26] Another version has—

[27] "Gawn" is a provincialism for pail,—a milk pail.

[28] Football was essentially a Derby game, and was played every year, frequently with highly disastrous consequences, until put down by the authorities a few years back. On Shrove Tuesday business was entirely suspended, and the townspeople being divided into two parties,—All Saints and St. Peters,—the ball was, at noon, thrown from the Town Hall to the densely packed masses in the market-place, the two parties each trying to "goal" it at their respective places. The fight—for it was nothing less—continued for many hours, and sewers, brook-courses, and even rivers, were invaded, and scores of people who were fortunate enough not to get killed or lamed, were stripped of their clothing in the fray.

[29] Stretched,—i.e., fastened it down with pegs to dry.

[30] Sinfin Moor is a few miles from Derby. It is a place where, in former times, Derby races were held. Another version says "Swinscoe Moor," which is in the neighbourhood of Ashborne.

[31] I take it that this verse is a later addition to the song, put in, probably, by some singer who was antagonistic to Methodism. It does not appear in most of the versions I have collected.

[32] Another version says—

[33] A foot-pad.

[34] A promooter, was an informer.

[35] A provincialism for hare.

[36] A sempstress.

[37] A milliner.

[38] This verse is evidently altogether a shaft levelled against the follies of fashion and foppery of the time, and against those who made it their trade to promote them.

[39] Carbanado, a steak cut crossways for broiling.

[40] The "Cap of Maintenance" was a mark of dignity: the "Pudding of Maintenance" is evidently a severe satirical allusion to the fondness for good living of corporate functionaries.

[41] Hench boy,—a page; an attendant on a nobleman or dignitary.

[42] Small thin pieces of bread soaked in gravy or broth.

[43] Warden was a large baking pear. "Warden pies" were very favourite dishes, and are frequently to be found alluded to by the old writers. The wit of "Church-warden pie" is very obvious.

[44] Derby ale.

[45] Ashford-in-the-Water, a considerable village and parish, three miles from Bakewell, in the High Peak of Derbyshire.

[46] Endcliff, or Entcliffe, is about a mile from Bakewell, on the way to Ashford.

[47] Bakewell is a town of considerable importance in the High Peak, about twenty-five miles from Derby, and twelve from Buxton.

[48] Shirley Park.—Shirley, a village and parish, lies about ten miles from Derby, and three and a half from Ashborne. From it the noble family of Shirley, Viscount Tamworth and Earl of Ferrars, takes its name. It has, however, long ceased to be the seat of the Shirleys.

[49] Wyaston.

[50] Tinker's Inn is a hamlet about a mile and a half from Osmaston-by-Ashborne.

[51] The Weaver Hills are among the highest in Staffordshire, lying about midway between Alton Towers and Ilam Hall.

[52] "Squire Boothby of Ashborne" and "Mr. Boothby of Bradford," were of the family of the Boothbys of Ashborne Hall, a family connected by marriage with the Vernons. The present Dowager Lady Vernon was a Miss Boothby.

[53] Longford, about two miles from Shirley. Longford Hall is now the residence of the Hon. E. K. Coke.

[54] Wooton is under the Weaver Hills, on the side next Alton.

is a common, though not very complimentary, saying regarding this place.

[55] Handford acted as Whipper-in.

[56] Jack Wilson. The Coke version of the ballad says "Wheeldon," and Mr. Coke adds a note, "Wheeldon the huntsman." I am inclined, however, to think "Jack Wilson" is the correct name.

[57] Sutton-on-the-Hill, the adjoining village to Trusley.

[58] In the Trusley version this verse occurs:—

* Blood, one of the beaters.

+ Willett, the Squire's gardener, on foot and tired.

[59] Oker Hill, near Darley Dale.

[60] Birchover.

[61] Roo Tor, or Row Tor, by Birchover, an old seat of the Eyre family.

[62] Hassop, a principal residence of the family of Eyre.

[63] Stanton, the present residence of W.P. Thornhill, Esq.

[64] The Caltons were an old Derbyshire family, long settled in this district and at Chesterfield.

[65] Bache, this family resided for two centuries at Stanton Hall, and from them the name of Bache-Thornhill was derived.

[66] Stancliffe, now the seat of Joseph Whitworth, Esq., the inventor of the celebrated Whitworth rifles and rifled canons.

[67] Steere. Stancliffe Hall passed to the Steeres by purchase in 1655, from whom it passed to Jenkinson, and from them, in 1715, to Greensmith.

[68] Columbell. Nether Hall, Darley Dale, was for many years the chief seat of the Columbell family, who held it till the death, in 1673, of John Columbell, whose heiress married Marbury.

[69] The Milwards held Snitterton for a long time. The last of the family, John Milward, died circa 1670, when the estate passed by marriage of his heiress with Adderley.

[70] Riber Hall, in Matlock parish, was for many generations the property and seat of the Wolley family. Anthony Wolley, the last of that branch, died a bachelor in 1688, when his co-heiresses sold the estate to Statham.

[71] Dethick.

[72] Anthony Babington, the unfortunate conspirator, was of Dethick.

[73] Now the seat of Gladwin Turbutt, Esq.

[74] Ashover.

[75] The family of Crich was one of considerable note in this parish, and at one time owned the Stubbing Edge estate.

[76] The Dakeynes were of Ashover and of Darley Dale, and were people of much note.

[77] Hodgkinson. Part of the Old Hall Manor, as well as Overton Manor, in this parish, belonged to this family. Overton passed from them, by marriage, to Sir Joseph Banks.

[78] This Pye was composed of Pheasants, Turkeys, Plovers, Snipes, Woodcocks, Partridges, Ox Tongue, and Hare, &c.

[79] When their present Majesties honoured the City of London with their Presence, Sir Samuel Fludyer, Bart., late Lord Mayor, entertained them with more Elegance than ever was known.

[80] According to Aldrovandus, the Pheasant is very fond of viewing his own image.

[81] According to the same writer, the Turkey is originally a BÆotian bird.

[82] Earl Spencer, Earl of Hardwicke, and C. R. Colvile, Esq., M.P.

[83] The original is in the Bateman Collection at Lomberdale House.

[84] An error for 20th.

[85] This word signifies uncle. Vide Ash. Dict.

[86] Sic. query corrosive?

[87] These executions were also commemorated by Thomas Deloney, in a ballad edited by Mr. J. P. Collier, for the Percy Society, in 1840.—Old Ballads, p. 104.

The lines on Babington are—

And of those executed on the 21st, he makes Donne and Jones both complain of Babington.

Richard Jones had been licensed on 27th August, to print a Ballad authorised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, "beinge a joyfull songe made by a citizen of London in the behalfe of Her Mat^ies subjectes touchinge the Joye for the taking of the Traytors." Registers of the Stationers' Company, vol. II., p. 214; but no copy is known to be extant.

[88] A great impediment to the man[oe]uv'ring of the Militia, about 15 years ago.

[89] This tune is the same as "The Barking Barber" and "Date obolum Belisario."

[90] On examining the parts of the skull, they did not appear to be the least decayed.

[91] Author of the "History of Buxton," "History of Lincoln," &c., &c.

[92] Beresford Hall, Dove Dale, his residence.

[93] "Henry Brome at the Gun in St. Paul's Churchyard," who published many of Cotton's works.

[94] Query Ludchurch.

[95] Okeover Hall.

[96] Brailsford.

[97] Parwich.

[98] Brassington.

[99] Wilne.

[100] "Puss-in-boots" at Windley.

[101] Markeaton.

[102] Tutbury.

[103] Rodsley.

[104] Uttoxeter.

[105] Burslem.

[106] Hanley.

[107] The Rev. A. G. Jewitt, who was the author of several well-known works, was born at Chesterfield in 1794, and died in 1828.

[108] Another account says 1758.

[109] At the Friday morning service.

[110] Now called the Rutland Arms.

[111] The door in the south transept, locally called the Newark door.

[112] The river Lathkil issues from a cavern in the limestone rock, directly opposite the Parson's Torr.