Delamere Forest. 41 



or planted, but that it was "outside," ad foras, a wild, 

 uncultivated and comparatively barren tract as opposed 

 to districts that were well farmed and sprinkled plentifully 

 with habitations. Trees there were, doubtless, and in 

 abundance, but the bond fide woods occupied only a part 

 of the "forest" in the aggregate. An idea of such a 

 forest as Delamere was in the olden time is very easily 

 formed. We need do no more than think of that 

 imperishable one, "exempt from public haunt," where 

 Rosalind found her verses, with its stream-side where the 



Poor sequester 'd stag, 



That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt 

 Did come to languish. 



The " forest," so late as two centuries ago, comprised no 

 fewer than eleven thousand acres of wood and wilderness. 

 Much has now been brought under cultivation, so that 

 only about eight thousand acres remain untilled, and of 

 these about one-half have been planted with Scotch fir, 

 whence the peculiar and solemn aspect which masses of 

 conifers alone can bestow. 



Entering this part of the "Vale," we are at once 

 attracted to the beautiful park, woods, and waters, distin- 

 guished particularly as "Vale Royal," or in full, Vale 

 Royal Abbey, the mansion, the ancient country seat 

 of the Cholmondeley family being nearly upon the site 

 of the famous monastic home founded in 1277 by 

 Edward I. Lord Delamere liberally permits access to 

 the grounds, the approaches to which are eminently 

 sweet and pleasant. The railway should be quitted at 



