88 THE FORESTS OF ENGLAND. 



Mercia, when the former was killed, and his army com- 

 pletely routed. 



It possesses for us, however, some interest on other 

 grounds. In Malvern Chase we have a forest converted 

 into a Chase ; in Cannock Chase a Chase become a waste ; 

 in Hatfield Chase, we have a swamp made into a chase, a 

 morass which covered deep the remains of what was a rich 

 woodland fifteen hundred years before, and had perished 

 ages before the conventional distinctions of forests and 

 chases and parks were known, details of which remains, 

 and of inferences drawn from them, will afterwards be 

 given in connection with notices of remains of other 

 ancient forests Avhich have been found buried in the 

 ground, or submerged in the sea. 



D. Loxley Chase. 



Another Yorkshire Chase is Loxley Chase, a well- 

 known locality in the vicinity of Sheffield, much fre- 

 quented by the artizans of that town, and known in his- 

 tory as the birth-place of Robin Hood. 



E. The Forest of Oaultries. 



Hatfield Chase and Hoxley Chase are both situated in 

 the West Riding of Yorkshire; in the centre of York- 

 shire there formerly existed an extensive hunting-ground, 

 called the Forest of Gaultries. It extended close up to 

 the walls of York, and enclosed portions of it still remain. 

 Whether it was a forest or a chase 1 have failed to learn. 

 The name would indicate its having belonged to the crown ; 

 but beyond this I have no evidence in the case. But the 

 portions of it which yet remain are now enclosed, and are 

 out of the jurisdiction of the crown. It was formerly a 

 favourite hunting-ground of the clergy; and the following 

 quaint story is as quaintly told of one of the Bishops of 

 Durham while out hunting there : 



" Sir Anthon Bek, Bnsshop of Dureme in the tyme of 



