EXTINCT WOODS AND FORESTS. 141 



Henry II., and Richard I., dying in the year 1191, and 

 who wrote a history of his native town, tells in a passage 

 to which I have already had occasion to refer, of a 

 large forest then existing round London, " in which were 

 woody groves; in the covers whereof lurked bucks and 

 does, wild boars and bulls." For hundreds of years this 

 forest continued to exist; but where is it now ? 



Fitz-stephan has not only made mention of the forest, 

 but he has given us a glimpse of the recreations of 

 Londoners in this forest in his day, some seven centuries 

 ago. Writing of the sports pursued then on grounds and 

 marshes now densely peopled with inhabitants, he says : 

 " Cytherea leads the dances of the maidens, who merrily 

 trip along the ground beneath the uprisen moon. Almost 

 in every holiday in winter, before dinner, foaming boars 

 and huge -tusked hogs, intended for bacon, fight for their 

 lives, or fat bulls or immense boars are baited with dogs. 



" Most of the citizens amuse themselves in sporting 

 with merlins, hawks, and other birds of a like kind, and 

 also with dogs that hunt in the woods. The citizens have 

 the right of hunting in Middlesex, Hertfordshire, and all 

 the Chilterns, and Kent as far as the Ruid Craig."* Where 

 could they hunt in these places now ? 



* It rnay be interesting to take a glance also at an account given by this writer of 

 the winter sports of the London youths of his day. " When," says he, " that great 

 marsh, which washes the walls of the city walls marked at the principal points, I may 



mention, by the great gates of Aldgate Bishopsgate, Cripplegate. Aldersgate and Lud- 

 gate as the north side is frozen over, the young men go out in crowds to divert 

 themselves upon the ice, some having increased their velocity by a run, placing their 

 feet apart, and throwing their bodies sideways, slide a great way ; others make a seat 

 of large pieces of ice, like millstones, and a great number of them running before, and 

 holding each other by the hand, draw one of their companions, who is seated on the ice ; 

 if at any time they slip in running so swiftly, they all fall down headlong together. 

 Others are more expert in their sports upon the ice, for, fitting to and binding under 

 their feet the shin bones of some animal, and taking in their hands pores shod with iron, 

 which at times they strike against the ice, they are carried along with as great rapidity 

 as a bird flying, or a bolt discharged from a cross-bow. Sometimes two of the skaters 

 having placed themselves at a great distance apart, by mutual agreement come together 

 from opposite sides ; they meet, raise their poles, and strike each other ; either one or 

 both of them fall, not without some bodily hurt ; even after their fall they are carried 

 along to a great distance from each other by the velocity of the motion ; and whatever 

 part of their head comes in contact with the ice is laid bare to the skull. Very fre- 

 quently the leg or arm of the falling party, if he chance to light on either of them, is 

 broken. But youth is an age eager for glory, and desirous of victory, and so young 

 men engage in counterfeit battles that they may conduct themselves more valianrly in 

 real ones." 



