There is a legend in the history of Cuckfield park that should also find it's place within the folk-lore of Sussex. It tells how a former head of Cuckfield Place, or rather Rookwood, hunted a witch to death with his blood-hounds and buried her before the courtyard:

 

And while as yet the soil was wet with that poor witch's gore
A lime-tree stake did Ranulph take, and pierced her bosom's core;
And, strange to tell, what next befell! that branch at once took root,
And richly fed, within it's bed, strong suckers forth did shoot.

 

From year to year fresh boughs appear - it waxes huge in size;
And, with wild glee, this prodigy, Sir Ranulph grim espies,
One day, when he, beneath that tree, reclined in joy and pride,
A branch was found upon the ground - the next, Sir Ranulph died!

 

And from that hour a fatal power has ruled that Wizard Tree,
To Ranulph's a warning sign of doom and destiny;
For when a bough is found, I trow, beneath it's shade to lie,
E'er suns shall rise thrice in the skies a Rookwood sure shall die!

 

 

 

 

 

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