CHASE OF THE WILD RED DEER 3 



hunt and kill wild beasts in some sort, when they 

 can take them in their wildnesse, bein«- far off from 

 any forest, chase, or purlieus ; and some men may 

 in some sort kill them on the purlieus.' * 



The privilege of following- the beasts of chase in 

 ancient times was reserved to the kinof, and to 

 those who, by grantt or licence derived from the 

 Crown, were permitted to enjoy the sport. I will 

 not trouble my readers by showing how, by degrees, 

 the severity of the forest laws was mitigated, or 

 how restrictions have been gradually taken off, so 

 that every man may indulge in the sport which all 

 enjoy, but I shall be content with congratulating 

 myself and my readers that we live in the 

 nineteenth century, and may participate in the 

 pastime of chasing a deer without fear of losing a 



* Treatise of the Laws of the Forest, cap. iv. 5, 7. 



t Some of the old grants of rights of forest and warren are couched 

 in very quaint language. Edward the Confessor granted his Forest 

 in tlie hundred of Cholner and Dancing in the following terms : — 



" Iche, Edward Konyng, 

 Have geven of my forest the keping 

 Of the hundred of Cholner and Dancing, 

 To Randolf Peperking and to his kindling 

 With heort and heynd, doe and bock, 

 Hare and fox, cat and brock 

 Wild fowell, with his flock, 

 Partridge, fesent hen, and fesant cock," Sec. 



B/ount's Tenures, p. 103. 



