OF SELBORNE. 519 



Well-head 1 , which induced them to build by the banks 

 of that perennial current ; for ancient settlers loved to 

 reside by brooks and rivulets, where they could dip for 

 their water without the trouble and expense of digging 

 wells and of drawing. 



It remains still unsettled among the antiquaries at 

 what time tracts of land were first appropriated to the 

 chase alone for the amusement of the sovereign. Whe- 

 ther our Saxon monarchs had any royal forests does 

 not, I believe, appear on record ; but the Constitutiones 

 de Foresta of Canute, the Dane, are come down to us. 

 We shall not therefore pretend to say whether Wolmer 

 Forest existed as a royal domain before the conquest. 

 If it did not, we may suppose it was laid out by some 

 of our earliest Norman kings, who were exceedingly 

 attached to the pleasures of the chase, and resided 

 much at Winchester, which lies at a moderate distance 

 from this district. The Plantagenet princes seem to 

 have been pleased with Wolmer ; for tradition says that 

 King John resided just upon the verge, at Ward le ham, 

 on a regular and remarkable mount, still called King 

 John's Hill, and Lodge Hill ; and Edward III. had a 

 chapel in his park, or enclosure, at Kingsley 4 . Hum- 

 phrey, Duke of Gloucester, and Richard, Duke of York, 

 say my evidences, were both, in their turns, wardens of 

 Wolmer Forest; which seems to have served for an 

 appointment for the younger princes of the royal family, 

 as it may again. 



I have intentionally mentioned Edward III. and the 

 Dukes Humphrey and Richard, before King Edward II. 

 because I have reserved, for the entertainment of my 

 readers, a pleasant anecdote respecting that prince, 

 with which I shall close this letter. 



As Edward II. was hunting on Wolmer Forest, 



3 Well-head signifies spring-head, and not a deep pit from whence we 

 draw water. For particulars about which see Letter I. to Mr. Pennant. 



4 The parish of Kingsley lies between, and divides Wolmer Forest 

 from Ayles Holt Forest. See Letter IX. to Mr. Pennant. 



