POACHING — DESTRUCTION OF THE DEEK. 147 



of Windsor Castle, with custody of game in the forest and 

 parks thereto appertaining, was conferred on the Earl of 

 Pembroke, " basest among the base," but not until very little 

 game was left for protection, as poaching was indulged in 

 on a holy and a wholesale scale, truly commensurate with 

 enlightened views inculcated by the worthy citizens who 

 saved their country from such dire consequences in those 

 Cromwellian days. Frequent orders were issued for the 

 preservation of game. Sheriffs and justices of the peace were 

 ordered to suppress all unlawful hunting of deer, nevertheless 

 the abuse continued unabated. On February 18, 1641, the 

 Earl of Holland informed the Lords " of the ofreat destruction 

 and killings of His Majesty's deer in the Forrest of Windsor, 

 especially in the New Lodge, where the people of the country, 

 in a continuous and tumultuous manner, have lately killed a 

 hundred of His Majesty's fallow deer, and besides red deer, 

 and do threaten to pull down the pales about the said lodge." 

 Investigations were ordered; some transgressors were occasion- 

 ally ammerced, but poaching became so general that Cromwell, 

 on September 4, 1649, was compelled to issue a proclamation 

 prohibiting soldiers (who were the principal offenders) to keep 

 hounds or greyhounds for killing deer in chases, parks, or 

 warrens. According to a survey of Windsor Forest, made 

 by order of Parliament February 27, 1649-50, there had been 

 no deer in it for " several yeares past " ; '■' but rabbits were 

 represented to be abundant. The deputy-keeper of the forest 

 about this time narrates as follows : " I sent out my keepers 

 into Windsor Forest to harbour a stag to be hunted to-morrow 

 morning (August 23) ; but I persuaded Colonel Ludlow that 

 it would be hard to show him any sport, the best stags being 

 all destroyed, but he was very earnest to have some sport, 

 and I thought not fit to 'deny him." A stag being found, 

 his Republican friends met Colonel Ludlow next morning 

 by daybreak. He adds, " it was a young stag, but very 



* According to a survey of the estates, etc., " of the late Charles Stuart," 

 made, by order of Parliament, March 20, 1649-50, the deer in Windsor Great 

 Park were then estimated to be of the value of 951/, 



