MAMMALIA 6 1 



Egremont. Mr. Tyson ascertained from his parishioner that he 

 could give no date for the dying out of this herd of Red Deer. 

 This strengthens my belief that it took place about 1780, as 

 nearly as one can guess. That is only rough approximation ; 

 but I do not think that it is more than ten years too early, or 

 too late, whichever the case may be. 



The only ancient forest which still continues to afford shelter 

 to the an tiered monarchs of the glen, and to supply a grateful 

 bracken-shade to the young calves carpeted on the delicate fronds 

 of the parsley fern, which grows luxuriantly in these wilds, is 

 that of Martindale. This is the one surviving centre now pos- 

 sessed by the descendants of the lordly stags that bellowed 

 hoarsely to their loves on the pathless hills above the lake, 

 in the days when the various wild creatures enjoyed the com- 

 pany of their natural mates in a peace and seclusion only broken 

 when man first appeared upon this lovely scene. 



When Thomas Pennant visited the Lake district, he was told 

 that the Red Deer, which still ran wild in Martindale Forest, 

 sometimes strayed down to the neighbourhood of Windermere. 1 

 This forest is only noticed in Saxton's map of 1576, as ' Marken- 

 dale chapel.' Our knowledge of its early history is derived from 

 an unpublished portion of the Machel MS., quoted by Nicolson 

 and Burn, by Clarke, and other writers. Thus Hutchinson 

 states : ' Mr. Hazel of Delmain is possessed of the Chace of 

 Markendale, which borders on the lake [Ulles water], and includes 

 most of the heights which lie on the eastern side. The lands of 

 his manse being of customary tenure, are attended with this 

 badge of servility, the tenants are bound to attend their Lord's 

 hunt within this chase once a year, which is called in their court 

 roll a Boon Hunt. On this occasion they have each their district 

 allotted on the boundaries of the chase, where they are stationed 

 to prevent the stag flying beyond the liberty.' 2 



Clarke says that Martindale was a separate and independent 

 manor until Queen Elizabeth granted it to the Earl of Sussex 

 as parcel of the barony of Barton, reserving to herself and her 

 successors for her pad when she came to hunt there. Under 

 this tenure it was bought by Sir Christopher Musgrave, along 



1 Tour in Scotland, vol. ii. p. 41. 2 An Excursion to the Lakes, p. 82. 



