Ch. II. SINCE THE NORMAN CONQUEST. 27 



CHAPTER II. 



Sketch of the History of Deer Parks frofti the beginning of the 

 Sixteenth Century to the Present Time. 



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^mi 



ARRISON, in the curious description of England prefixed to the 

 first edition of Holinshed's Chi-onicles, gives us a valuable, but 

 I think an exaggerated account of the number of Deer Parks in 

 his time, the early part, of the sixteenth century : — ' In every 

 shyre of Englande,' he writes, ' there is great plentye of Parkes, whereof some 

 here and there appertaine unto the Prince, the rest unto such of the nobilitye 

 and gentlemen as have their lands and patrimony lying neere unto the 

 same ; I would gladly have set downe the just number of these inclosures 

 to bee founde in every countye, but sith I cannot so doe, it shal suffice to 

 say, that in Kent and Essex only are to the number of a hundred, wherein 

 great plenty of fallowe Deere is cherished and kept.' And again : — ' Our 

 Parkes are" generally inclosed wyth strong pale made of oke, of which kinde 

 of woode there is great store cherished from tyme to tyme in cache of them, 

 onely for the maintenaunce of the sayde defence and safe keeping of the 

 Deere from raunging about the countrey. The circuite of these inclosures in 

 lyke maner containe oft times a walke of foure or five myles, and sometimes 

 more or lesse, whereby it is to be scene what store of ground is employed 

 upon that vayne comoditie which bringeth no maner of gaine or profit to 

 the owner, sith they comonlye give awaye their fleshe, never taking penny 

 for the same, because venission in England is neither bought nor soulde by 

 the right owner, but maintained only for hys pleasure, to the no smal 

 decay of husbandry, and diminution of mankinde : For when in times 

 past, many large and welthy occupiers were dwelling within the compasse 

 of some one Parke, and therby great plenty of corne and cattell scene, and 



