44 DEER AND DEER PARKS. Ch, IP. 



' His Majestic having a little while reposed himselfe ' at Widdrington 

 Castle [in Northumberland] ' after his' great journey, found new occasion 

 to travel further; for as he was delighting himselfe with the pleasure of 

 the parke, he suddenly beheld a number of deere neare the place : The 

 game being so faire before him he could not forbear; but according to 

 his wonted manner forth he went and slew two of them : which done he 

 returned with a good appetite to the house, where he was most Royally 

 feasted and banketted that night.' This was altogether a most unsports- 

 manlike proceeding, having taken place on Friday, April 8, 1603, on the 

 king's journey from Scotland to take possession of the Crown of England ; ' 

 and a few days afterwards at Worksop he is related to have offended 

 against the laws of the chase in like manner." 



But perhaps the 'Proclamation against Hunters, stealers and killers 

 of Deare within any the King's Majesties Forests, Chases or Parks,' which 

 was ' given at Our Honour of Hampton Court the 9. day of September 

 Anno Dom. 1609,' will still more completely illustrate King James's incli- 

 nation and the royal habits with respect to the chase : — 



' We had hoped,' it quaintly commences, ' seeing it is notorious to all 

 pur subjects, how greatly we delight in the exercise of Hunting, as well 

 for our recreation, as for the necessary preservation of our health, that no 

 man in whom was either reverence to our person, or fear of our Lawes, 

 would have offered us offence in those our sports, considering especially, 

 that the nature of all people is not onely in things of this qualitie but in 

 matters of _greater moment so farre to conform themselves to the affection 

 and disposition of their Sovereigne, as to affect that which they know to 

 be liking to them and to respect it, and to avoyd the contrary : and we 

 must acknowledge that we have found that Gentlerhen and persons of the 



> Nichols's Progresses of King James I. , vol. i. 2 Nichols's Progresses of King James I. , voU i, 



p. 68. Sir Robert Long was the owner of p. 85. 

 Widdrington at this time. The narrative is by 

 T. Millington. 



