SIK THOMAS TYKINGHAM, EIGHTH MASTER. 117 



who killed a poacher " in the execution of the duty of his 

 place," the case was referred to the King, who decreed that the 

 assassin should be held harmless in the matter, as the offence 

 (if any) occurred within the precincts of the Royal park, there- 

 fore it came under the Royal prerogative, and consequently the 

 common law could take no cognisance of it. The most curious 

 part of this case was that, when it was submitted to the law 

 officers of the Crown, they concurred with the judgment of 

 the British Solomon, On another occasion, Henry Sawyer, of 

 Holme, Huntingdonshire, a professional mole-catcher, while 

 exercising his vocation in a field near Windsor, was overheard 

 to remark that the King would be assa.ssinated during his pro- 

 gress in Scotland. Sawyer was therefore arrested and arraigned 

 before Sir Thomas Tyringham, who carefully investigated the 

 alleged " plot " ; but he, finding there was neither high nor 

 low treason in the matter, let the indiscreet mole-catcher off 

 scot-free. Sir Thomas Tyringham, by virtue of his keepership 

 of Windsor Park, apparently made free with the King's deer ; 

 but he did not forget absent friends, as frequent mention of a 

 " huntsman's token," i.e., two venison pasties, " a brace of 

 buck's shoulders and ambles," and occasionally a haunch or 

 two, are mentioned as presents sent to his friends and patrons, 

 by whom such gifts were thankfully received and gratefully 

 acknowledged. 



These were not mere expressions of ordinary courtesy ; they 

 meant very much more than the words conveyed. In those 

 days the sale of venison was prohibited, and the savoury viand 

 could only be obtained from the King, or surreptitiously, 

 through the officials of the royal forests, parks, and chases — 

 hence the proverb : Non est inquirendum unde venit venison. 

 This probably indirectly led to subsequent abuses, as we 

 find Sir Thomas Tyringham was ordered by warrant, dated 

 November 1G33, not to kill any deer in Windsor Park without 

 he had special directions under the Royal sign manual to do so. 

 Keepers of ordinaries, hotels, etc., were prohibited to buy any 

 venison ; nor were they allowed to buy any pheasants, par- 

 tridges, or grouse to sell again. 



