14 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE RED DEER 



the pasty provided for the occasion were indisputable, 

 nor was there any stint of good liquor to slake the 

 thirst of those who assisted in driving a stag from the 

 hill to the lower ground. The house at Dalehead 

 was a large ' banqueting room, hung round with the 

 heads of stags killed in the chase, on the adjoining hills.' 

 Wordsworth himself tells us that the room in ques- 

 tion was 'fitted up in the sportsman's style, with a 

 cupboard for bottles and glasses, with strong chairs 

 and a dining table ; and ornamented with the horns 

 of the stags caught at these hunts for a succession of 

 years, the length of the last race each had being re- 

 corded under his spreading antlers.' 



The name of Martindale seems to be a corrup- 

 tion of Markendale, for the latter word occurs in 

 Saxton's map of 1576. I admit that John Man wood 

 refers to the district as Martendale as early as 1 598, 

 but he was probably incorrect. Hutchinson wrote 

 only a century ago, * Mr. Hazell of Delmain is 

 possessed of the Chace of Markendale, which borders 

 on the lake (Ulleswater), and includes most of the 

 heights which lie on the eastern side. The lands of 

 his manse being of customary tenure are attended 

 with this badge of servility, the tenants are bound to 

 attend their Lord's hunt within this chase once a 

 year, which is called in their court roll a Boon Hunt. 



