1865 - Redfern, Francis - History of Town of Uttoxeter (4)
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2020-10-18. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2020-10-18.
Allusion
Chartley Castle, six miles west of Uttoxeter, was built in 1220, by Richard Blundeville, Earl of Chester, on his return from the Holy Land, and an import was levied on all his vassals to defray the expense of building. After the death of the founder, the castle and estates ffell to William Ferrars, Earl of Derby, whose son Robert forfeited them by his rebellion. Afterwards he was allowed to retain them. They were subsequently carried by marriage to the family of Devereux, and then to those of Shirley and [p. 334:]
"It is traditionally said," Mr. Redfern observes, "that Robin Hood found asylum at Chartley Castle, and its founder, Randall of Chester, is thus named in connection with the famed Robin, by the author of ' Piers Plowman.'
I can rhyme of Robin Hood, and Randall of Chester.'"
Does the coupling together of these two names favour the idea of a Robert de Ferrars being no other than a Robin Hood? [1]
Source notes
IRHB silently omits a foot-note reference after 'High Fields, near Uttoxeter.' as well as the note itself.
Lists
- Not included in Dobson, R. B., ed.; Taylor, J., ed. Rymes of Robyn Hood: an Introduction to the English Outlaw (London, 1976), pp. 315-19.
- Outside scope of Sussex, Lucy, compil. 'References to Robin Hood up to 1600', in: Knight, Stephen. Robin Hood: A Complete Study of the English Outlaw (Oxford, UK; Cambridge, Massachusetts: Blackwell, 1994), pp. 262-88.
Editions
Notes