296 THE COOKERY OF VENISON 



woodland was indefatigably hunted by packs of 

 wolves. 



Vert and venison with us were strictly guarded 

 by the atrocious severity of the Norman forest laws. 

 The deer were preserved, under pain of death or muti- 

 lation, for the sport and table of the sovereign. Even 

 under the Tudors there were still 70 royal forests, 13 

 chases, and no fewer than 700 parks. The park was 

 enclosed by oaken palings, and the forest was defined 

 by natural boundaries, by streams, metes or meres. 

 The barons and the monastic orders were granted 

 privileges in their own domains by special licence. 

 We may be sure that the Church took excellent care 

 of itself. Landseer's picture of 'Bolton Abbey in 

 the olden time' carries us back to the jovial days 

 which preceded and hastened the dissolution of the 

 monasteries. The portly prior, with the flower of the 

 holy brotherhood, is standing over the slaughtered 

 deer. The good monk is grateful for the gifts of God, 

 and though the smile of expectant complacency is 

 benignant, woe be to the brother who presides in the 

 kitchen, if he ' sins the mercies ' by careless cookery. 

 We can conceive his stern air of solemn reprobation, 

 by referring to Scott's companion picture, dashed in 

 with pen and ink, in the ' Monastery.' The Abbot of 

 Saint Mary's had paid a visit to the lonely tower of 



