RINGWOOD TO FOKD1NGBKIDGE. 105 



disguised as a peasant, was captured by his pur- 

 suers hiding in a ditch amongst Bracken, Bram- 

 bles and other wild growths. Gilpin, it has been 

 noticed, stated in his Forest Scenery that Mon- 

 mouth was well acquainted with the New Forest 

 from having hunted there, and his suggestion that 

 the fugitive duke probably intended to hide for 

 a season amongst the woods of Hampshire is sup- 

 ported by Macaulay who says that Monmouth's 

 object was to { lurk in the cabins of deer-stealers 

 among the Oaks of the New Forest till means of 

 conveyance to the Continent could be procured.' 

 All the country eastwards of the Avon was then 

 doubtless thickly wooded, though now covered by 

 meadow and pasture for some distance from the 

 river. Macaulay says that ' men then living could 

 remember the time when the wild deer ranged 

 freely through a succession of forests ' (he doubt- 

 less means woods, for the whole formed but one 

 forest) ' from the banks of the Avon in Wiltshire 

 to the southern coast of Hampshire.' But Mon- 

 mouth was arrested when almost within sight of 

 the forestal coverts whose friendly shelter he 

 sought. 



