JOHN SELWYN. 145 



trial of wind and endurance, your well-built sinewy native 

 will generally be found to be the best man. 



In times of yore, however, we Sassenachs have produced 

 huntsmen able and skilful in killing the stag. Not to 

 mention the feats of Robin Hood and Little John, or the 

 other unlicensed deer-slayers "of merrie Sherwood," we 

 are told that, "In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, John 

 Selwyn, under keeper at the park at Oatlands, in Surrey, 

 was extremely famous for his strength, agility, and skill in 

 horsemanship ; specimens of which he exhibited before the 

 Queen at a grand stag hunt at that park ; where, at- 

 tending, as was the duty of his office, he, in the heat of 

 the chase, suddenly leaped from his horse upon the back 

 of the stag (both running at the same time at their utmost 

 speed, and not only kept his seat gracefully, in spite of 

 every effort of the affrighted beast, but drawing his sword, 

 with it guided him towards the Queen, and coming near 

 her presence plunged it in his throat, so that the animal 

 fell dead at her feet. This was thought sufficiently won- 

 derful to be chronicled on his monument, which is still to 

 be seen in the chancel of the church of Walton upon 

 Thames, in the county of Surrey. He is there repre- 

 sented on an engraved brass plate, sitting on the back 

 of a deer at full gallop, and at the same time stabbing him 

 in the neck with his sword." * 



This feat of John Selwyn has been paralleled very lately 

 by one recorded in another page of this work ; and in still 

 earlier days, perhaps, was equalled in jockeyship, by Merlin 

 Sylvester, the Wild, as mentioned by Geoffry of Mon- 

 mouth. 



* Antiquarian Repertory. 

 L 



