42 



himself ''without reproach and without fear" in some strife 

 more deadly than that or a Tournament. 



Even as late as 1321, an Archbishop of York is described, 

 without remark of its being unusual, as making his visitations 

 with a train of two himdred attendants, and a pack of hounds, 

 with which he hunted from parish to parish.* Even as late 

 as the reign of Elizabeth females sought amusement in the 

 Chase, in Bear Baitings and Tournaments. 



These habits nurtured the odious system of the Forest-Laws, 

 which were a distinguishing mark of the Norman dynasty ; 

 and fettered the improvement of the twin, but less polished 

 sister of our Art, Agriculture. Laws oppressive and destruc- 

 tive of Agriculture would only remotely be accessary to the 

 retardation of Gardening, but the warlike propensities, and 

 excessive passion for field sports which are features of that 

 period, by fostering a laborious idleness, and weakening the 

 love of home, had a proportionate tendency to discourage our 

 Art. 



Down to the conclusion of the 13th Century, England had 

 been a strictly Agricultural country, and even the produce of 

 her soil had been so limited, that she had little surplus to en- 

 able her inhabitants to become important as merchants, for 

 we were also without manufactures. Now, whatever may be 

 the cause it is not for us here to enquire, but, it is certain, that 

 as in the abstract, in commercial, and more especially manu- 

 facturing districts, the mental powers of the people are more 

 strong and cultivated, a greater desire and research after im- 

 provements are elicited, and that from them by far the greater 

 number of men distinguished either in the Arts or Sciences 

 arise • so in the aggregate it is certain that a coimtry enriched 



» W'hittaker's Hist, of Craren. p. 342. 



