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CHAPTER III. 



ROYAL CHASE OF SHIRLOT. 



Afforestation of Shirlot — Extent — Places Disafforested — Hayes — 

 Foresters — Hunting Lodges — Sporting Priors — Old Tenures 

 — Encroacliments upon Woods by Iron-making Operations — 

 Animals tliat have Disappeared — Eeaction due to a Love of 

 Sport — ^^Hiat the Country would have lost — " The Merrie 

 Greenwood" — Remarkable old Forest Trees, &c. 



" "Where with puffed cheek the belted hunter blows 

 His wreathed bugle horn." 



Mr. Eyton tliiiiks the afForestation of Sliirlot was 

 probably suggested by its proximity to tbe Moryille 

 and Chetton manors, where Saxon kings and Mer- 

 cian earls had their respective demesnes, and that 

 Henry I. and his successors, in visiting the Castle of 

 Bridgnorth, or as guests of the Prior of Wenlock, had 



