184 AROUND AN OLD HOMESTEAD. 



environment in which to peruse and think over the 

 quaint, and sometimes delightfully interesting, "pictur- 

 esque remarks" of the old Nature lover. There were 

 keepers of the forest, it seems, whose offices included 

 that of ranger and bow-bearer (come down to them), 

 and underkeepers, in smaller dwellings. "The under- 

 keeper feeds the deer in winter— ^browses' them in sum- 

 mer — knows where to find a fat buck — executes the 

 King's warrants for venison — presents offences in the 

 forest-courts — and prevents the destruction of game." 

 Another of his duties was "to drive the forest" and 

 mark the cattle. Who would not have been one? But 

 Gilpin's picture of a certain Mr. Henry Hastings, one 

 of the keepers of New Forest, and his lodge ( 't is 

 almost a den, like the lair of a wild beast) , is especially 

 attractive, surcharged, as it is, with the very atmos- 

 phere of the ancient, historic wood, savory of game, 

 and redolent of many things archaic, and antique, and 

 forest-like : 



"Mr. Hastings was low of stature, but strong and active; 

 of a ruddy complexion, with flaxen hair. His cloaths were 

 always of green cloth. His house was of the old fashion ; in 

 the midst of a large park, well stocked with deer, rabbits, and 

 fish-ponds. He had a bowling-green in it; and used to play 

 with round sand-bowls. Here, too, he had a banqueting-room 

 built, like a stand, in a large tree. He kept all sorts of hounds, 

 that ran buck, fox, hare, otter, and badger; and had hawks of 

 all kinds, both long, and short winged. His great hall was 

 commonly strewed with marrow-bones; and full of hawk- 

 perches, hounds, spaniels, and terriers. The upper end was 

 hung with fox-skins of this^ and the last year's killing. Here, 

 and there a pole-cat was intermixed ; and hunter's poles in great 



