MAMMALIA 53 



border country from Brampton to Christenbury. 1 How long 

 the Forest of Walton was recognised as a deer-preserve I can- 

 not discover ; but the fact of a chase existing on our northern 

 march in the reign of Queen Elizabeth has been emphasised by 

 the attractions which it possessed for the Scottish nobles, who 

 availed themselves of the privileges of sport enjoyed by their 

 neighbours with scant courtesy, until the liberties which they 

 took were suppressed with a heavy hand. Sir Robert Carey 

 was the Englishman who came into contact with the Scottish 

 hunters, after being appointed Warden of the Middle March. 



'The next summer after,' says the Warden, 'I fell into a 

 cumbersome trouble, but it was not in the nature of theeves or 

 malefactours. There had beene an antient custome of the 

 borderers, when they were at quiet, for the opposite border to 

 send to the Warden of the Middle Marsh (sic) to desire leave 

 that they might come into the borders of England, and hunt 

 with their greyhounds for deere, towards the end of summer, 

 which was never denyed them. But towards the end of Sir 

 John Foster's gouvernment, when he grew very old and weake, 

 they took boldnesse upon them, and without leaveasking would 

 come into England, and hunt at their pleasure, and stay their 

 owne time ; and when they were a hunting, their servants would 

 come with cartes and cutt down as much wood as every one 

 thought would serve his turne, and carry it away to their houses 

 in Scotland.' Carey wrote to ' Fernherst, the Warden over- 

 against mee, to desire him to acquaint the gentlemen of his 

 March that I was no way unwilling to hinder them of their 

 accustomed sportes to hunt in England as they had ever done, 

 but withall I would not by my default dishonour the Queene 

 and myselfe to give them more liberty than was fitting : I 

 prayed him therefore to let them know, that if they would, 

 according to the antient custome, send to mee for leave, they 

 should have all the contentment I could give them ; if otherwise 

 they would continue their wonted course, I would do my best to 



1 Lysons says that Thomas de Hextoldesham, elected Prior of Lanercost 

 in 1357, was compelled by his bishop to make a solemn promise that he 

 would not frequent public huntings, or keep as large a pack of hounds as 

 he had done previously. 



