INTRODUCTION. 19 



same spot which formed the park of Henry L, 

 who, we are told by H. Huntingdon, had a 

 park at Woodstock. * 



The word " park" is originally Celtic, and 

 like the French word pare, signifies an en- 

 closed spot for the confinement of animals. 

 " No man can now," says Wood, " erect a 

 " park, without a licence under the broad 

 " seal ; for the common law does not en- 

 " courage matters of pleasure, which bring 

 " no profit to the Commonwealth. But there 

 " may be a park in reputation, erected with- 

 " out lawful warrant ; and the owner of such 

 " park may bring his action against persons 

 "killing his deer." It is considered in law 

 to be no longer a park when all the deer are 

 destroyed, for a park must consist of vert, 

 venison, and enclosure; and to pull down 

 park-walls or pales, subjects the offender to 

 the same punishment as killing deer. 



It will be necessary now to make some ob- 

 servations on the formation and planting of 



* Chaucer, the father of English poets, thus notices 

 park in the time of Edward III. : 



" I found a little weie 

 Toward a parke, enclosed with a wall, 

 In compace rounde : and by a gate small, 

 Who so that would he irelie mighten gone 

 Into this parke, ywalled with grene stone." 



e 2 



