a 











































Communicated by Miss M. Eyre Matcham, of Newhouse. 293 
“I mentioned to you that I remembered the holding of a Commission at 
Shaftesbury about the Bounds of the Chace, when I was a School Boy There, 
about the Year 1734 or 1735—but by looking into Hutchens I see, that 29th 
of July, 1732, at Dorchester Assizes that Dispute was determined—now if 32 
was the year, I was not then at School at Shaftesbury, not going thither till 
the Autumn of 1733—in Case Mr. H. is correct I must have been there on a 
Visit to my Relations, for I well remember seeing Mr. Harry Bower at the 
George Gateway, when the Commission was holding—I desire therefore You 
will set me right in the Date—i.e., if 32 was the year the Cause was determined 
at Dorchester—but if Mr. H. has given an erroneous era—what year was 
that Commission held at Shaftesbury ? 
“T think you mentioned that Mr. I.-L-s. of Aston was very possitive and 
circumstantial on Points touching the Boundaries—I have known Mr. I. L. 
his Father and Brother (who were both renowned Deer-Hunters) above Fifty 
years. Would then the following Questions be improper to ask Him ?— 
do you know, or have you ever heard that your Father was a renowned 
Deer-Hunter? (now called Stealer)—have you never heard y' Father relate 
his Exploits, in Cap and Jack in Cranborne Chace ?—if this happened before 
your memory—you must well remember your Brother John was a great 
Deer-Hunter ?—did you never accompany Him? (I think He has) do you 
recollect any Instances of the Keepers with a Warrant and Tythingman, 
searching for Venison in any of the Parishes about the Chace ? and on their 
_ finding any Venison, that the Person, in whose Custody It was found, being 
convicted ? and at the Searches that the Keepers took and carried away Dogs, 
Nets, and other Toils, (these are Facts He must have heard of or known)— 
if no Instance of their searching ever happened to your knowledge—you must 
have repeatedly heard that the Keepers had at times in the several Parishes 
_made such Searches, and whenever they found any Skin or Venison, the Owner 
of the Barn, Stable, or House where found, being carried before a Justice of 
the Peace, and convicted! You know also that the Deer hunters secreted 
their Venison under an apprehension of a Visit from the Keepers (He cannot 
deny It). 
*T think S". you said that many Witnesses would appear on the same 
Proof with Mr. I. L. the same questions put to every one of Them will prove 
_ either from their knowledge, or from a general Tradition, or Report, that the 
Keepers have at sundry Times Searched for Venison in the adjoining Parishes, 
and when found, Convictions have been the Consequence—now from the 
Keepers exercising this Power and the Justices convicting when Venison 
was found—is a clear Demonstration that those Parishes and Places were 
deemed to lie within Cranborn Chace. 
**Surely S" Convictions for Venison found in the Parishes, or for hunting 
or killing in the Woods lying in Wiltshire must be found on a careful search 
—I recommend a nice Search from about 1710 to 1730. 
“T think you said that it was given out, that as often as Deer came down 
into the Parishes They were killed in Open Day. I believe such Cases seldom 
happened—and whenever one did, I’m pretty confident, that ‘twas not as a 
matter of Right, but that the Party knew he had none, and also did it in such 
manner (hugger-mugger) as discovered He was conscious He had none, 
