He is the black bear of Arden.

Guy Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, was so called, both from his crest, which was a black bear, and from having himself a black and grim countenance, as well as on account of his being a man of undaunted courage. Arden was a forest anciently occupying all the woodland part of this county. This saying was used to express that the person spoken of, and so denominated, was really an object of terror.

Entry taken from Provincial Glossary, edited by Francis Grose.

previous entry index next entry

Sussex
He is none of the Hastings

Warwickshire.
He is the black bear of Arden

Westmoreland
Let Uter Pendragon do what he can

Nearby

Warwickshire. in Nuttal Encyclopædia

Antique pictures from Warwickshire.