18 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



Portsmouth road, did not think the forest of Wolmer 

 beneath her royal regard. For she came out of the great 

 road at Lippock, which is just by, and, reposing herself on 

 a bank smoothed for that purpose, lying about half-a-mile 

 to the east of Wolmer Pond, and still called Queen's Bank, 

 saw with great complacency and satisfaction the whole herd 

 of red deer brought by the keepers along the vale before 

 her, consisting then of about five hundred head. A sight 

 this, worthy the attention of the greatest sovereign ! But 

 he farther adds that, by means of the Waltham blacks, or, 

 to use his own expression, as soon as they began blacking, 

 they were reduced to about fifty head, and so continued 

 decreasing till the time of the late Duke of Cumberland. 

 It is now more than thirty years ago that his highness sent 

 down a huntsman, and six yoeman-prickers, in scarlet 

 jackets laced with gold, attended by the stag-hounds ; 

 ordering them to take every deer in this forest alive, and 

 to convey them in carts to Windsor. In the "course of the 

 summer they caught every stag, some of which showed 

 extraordinary diversion : but in the following winter, when 

 the hinds were also carried off, such fine chases were 

 exhibited as served the country people for matter of talk 

 and wonder for years afterwards. I saw myself one of the 

 yeoman-prickers single out a stag from the herd, and must 

 confess that it was the most curious feat of activity I ever 

 beheld, superior to anything in Mr. Astley's riding-school. 

 The exertions made by the horse and deer much exceeded 

 all my expectations ; though the former greatly excelled 

 the latter in speed. When the devoted deer was separated 

 from his companions they gave him, by their watches, law, 

 as they called it, for twenty minutes ; when, sounding their 

 horns, the stop-dogs were permitted to pursue, and a most 

 gallant scene ensued. 



