84 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



Soon after the " gentlemen " who indulged in "this rude 

 Gothic amusement" of night poaching had had their portraits 

 taken in their protective suits, which somewhat resemble those 

 worn by American football players, this kind of sport fell into 

 abeyance among those of position, for the poor reason that it 

 was patronised by the lower orders. Hutchins shrewdly 

 remarks that when this change came, about 1730, its votaries 

 ceased to be called deer-hunters, and were known as deer- 

 stealers. So fierce became the affrays that the forester of the 

 West Walk was killed in 1738, and shortly afterwards the like 

 fate befell the forester or keeper of the Fernditch Walk. 



There was a serious pitched battle on Chettle Common, 

 Cranborne Chase, on the night of December i6th, 1780, 

 between the keepers and deer-stealers, the latter headed by a 

 sergeant of dragoons, who were then quartered at Blandford. 

 One of the dragoon's hands was severed from the arm by a 

 hanger of a keeper, whilst one of the keepers was rendered 

 permanently lame by the blow of a swindgel. In another 

 affray in 1791 one of the deer-stealers was killed and ten were 

 taken prisoners, and eventually transported for life. 



The only known relics of these terrible chase strifes are two 

 of the straw caps and an example of that deadly weapon, the 

 swindgel, secured by the keepers from the deer-stealers in 1791. 

 They belong to Mr. Castleman, of Chettle Lodge, and were 

 specially photographed for the Reliquary (N. S. i., 241), in 

 1887. 



The two straw caps or helmets, shown on Plate xin., are 

 painted dark green to hinder their being noticeable at night- 

 fall. The lining is thickly stuffed with wool. The longer arm 

 of the swindgel is 14 in. long, whilst the shorter arm is only 

 6 in., but has a circumference in the widest part of 4! in. The 

 total weight is i Ib. 2 oz. ; it is made of a hard, close-grained 

 wood. The swivelled hinges are of iron, and there is a leathern 

 handle-loop to go round the wrist. 



Towards the close of the eighteenth century increased atten- 

 tion was given to the importance of forests as yielding timber 

 for the maintenance of the Navy. Commissioners were ap- 

 pointed to inquire into the state and condition of the woods 

 and forests belonging to the Crown. Between 1787 and 1793 

 they issued seventeen reports. The first two reports, as well 



