OF SELBORNE. 281 



resided just upon the verge, at Ward le ham, on a regular 

 and remarkable mount, still called King Johns Hill, and 

 Lodge Hill ; and Edward III. had a chapel in his park, or 

 enclosure, at Kingsley Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, and 

 Richard, duke of York, say my evidences, were both, in their 

 turns, wardens of Wolmer-forest ; which seems to have served 

 for an appointment for the younger princes of the royal 

 family, as it may again. 



I have intentionally mentioned Edward III. and the dukes 

 Humphrey and Richard, before king Edward II. because I 

 have reserved, for the entertainment of my readers, a pleasant 

 anecdote respecting that prince, with which I shall close this 

 letter. 



As Edward II. was hunting on Wolmer-forest, Morris Ken, 

 of the kitchen, fell from his horse several times ; at which 

 accidents the king laughed immoderately : and when the 

 chase was over, ordered him twenty shillings; 11 an enormous 

 sum for those days ! Proper allowances ought to be made 

 for the youth of this monarch, whose spirits also, we may 

 suppose, were much exhilarated by the sport of the day : but, 

 at the same time, it is reasonable to remark that, whatever 

 might be the occasion of Kens first fall, the subsequent ones 

 seem to have been designed. The scullion appears to have 

 been an artful fellow, and to have seen the king's foible ; 

 which furnishes an early specimen of that his easy softness 

 and facility of temper, of which the infamous Gaveston took 

 such advantages, as brought innumerable calamities on the 

 nation, and involved the prince at last in such misfortunes and 

 sufferings too deplorable to be mentioned without horror and 

 amazement. 



m The parish of Kingslcy lies between, and divides Wolmer-forest from 

 Ayles Holt-forest. See Letter IX. to Mr. Pennant. 



n " Item, paid at the lodge at Wolmer, when the king was stag-hunting 

 there, to Morris Ken, of the kitchen, because he rode before the king 

 and often fell from his horse, at which the king laughed exceedingly a 

 gift, by command, of twenty shillings." A MS. in possession of 

 Astle, esq, containing the private expenses of Edward II. 



