94 FOREST CREATURES. 



palatial seats that every wliere arose on the woodland 

 slopes, or in the woods themselves ; or when we hear of 

 what stags Avere seen, of their size and magnificent 

 antlers, it all sounds very like a fairy tale. 



But thus pursued, the passion was as gambling in 

 its effect : leading on and plunging its votaries in 

 extremes, till it brought down poverty, desolation, and 

 ruin. 



In Hesse Darmstadt the finances were so deranged by 

 it, that in 1725, when lOOl. was wanted for certain daily 

 expenses of the sovereign's retinue during the rutting 

 season, it absolutely could not be procured : all that 

 was paA\Tiable had been pledged, and as no more cash 

 was to be raised by promissory notes, payable at a 

 distant period, a lOl. note was borrowed of an agent in 

 Frankfort, that, at least for the next few days, the 

 board-wages of the underlings might be paid them 

 while attending their lord. 



Landgrave William of Hesse Cassel, whose territory 

 abounded in game, wrote himself in a letter to his 

 brother (1575): "Moreover, each of us entertains 

 such a number of foresters, cooks, and servitors, that 

 verily each mountain has its own verderer, each sauce- 

 pan its own cook, and each winebutt its own cup- 

 bearer ; and this, by my troth, cannot fail at last to 

 work evil." 



