THE RED DEER 
not frequent the fells near Bampton and Shap to any great extent, although 
in winter many cross from The Nab to Place Fell, where there is heather. 
The Rev. H. A. Macpherson tells us that in feudal times the Lakeland 
deer were hunted alike by clergy and laity, whilst law suits as to the privi- 
leges and etiquette of hunting were of frequent occurrence. In those days 
most of the deer were fenced in by “ hunting hays,” but in recent times 
the pleasure of hunting the Martindale deer was shared by the whole 
countryside, when Squire Hasell kept open house for the whole neigh- 
bourhood at Dale Head. In the house at Dale Head there was a large 
banqueting hall, hung round with the heads of stags killed in the neigh- 
bourhood. The poet, Wordsworth, tells us that the room was 
‘‘Fitted up in the sportsman’s style, with a cupboard for bottles 
and glasses, with strong chairs and a dining -table; and ornamented 
with the horns of the stags caught at these hunts for a succession of 
years, the length of the last race each had run being recorded under 
his spreading antlers.” 
Of Martindale, Hutchinson wrote a century ago: 
‘‘Mr Hasell, of Delmain, is possessed of the Chace of Martendale, 
which borders on the lake (Ulleswater), 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.” 
Until the reign of Queen Elizabeth, Martindale was an independent 
manor, when the Queen granted it to the Earl of Sussex as a part of the 
Barony of Barton, reserving for herself and her successors accommoda- 
tion for her pad when she came to hunt there. After a time it was bought 
by Sir Christopher Musgrave. Clarke, in his “ Survey of the Lakes,” 
thus describes the old state of tenure: 
‘‘ The forest lands are held on the common forest tenure, the tenants 
having what grass they can take with the scythe. They likewise 
covenant not to drive the lord’s deer out of it at any time of the year. 
In summer, however, the deer seldom come there, they being mostly 
red deer, which always frequent the tops of mountains in that season. 
Whenever the lord goes to hunt the stag, the bailiff summons all the 
tenants before sunset the preceding night to attend to their strones 
9 
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