124 The Animal-Lore of ShaJcspeare’s Time. 
Gustavus King of Sweden sent ten pair of these beasts to some noble 
men in Prussia, both for sight, and for propagation, and they were all 
set free into the woods but there came nothing of it and changing the 
place did not profit for their increase.” (History of the Goths, Swedes , 
and Vandals, p. 176.) 
Olaus Magnus, whose work on the manners, customs, 
and wars of the northern nations of Europe is frequently 
quoted by writers of the Elizabethan era, was Archbishop 
of Upsal, and Metropolitan of Sweden. He died in 1568. 
His work was originally published in Latin. It contains 
much information not found elsewhere, but is uncritically 
written, and the author’s unbounded credulity leads him 
occasionally to make the most absurd statements with the 
profoundest gravity. 
The Bed Deer, the most important of the wild animals 
R d ^ of our own country, must have been at this 
time extremely plentiful in the forests 
throughout the land. Fynes Moryson, 1591, speaks of 
the number and extent of parks containing both red and 
fallow deer existing in his time:— 
“ The kings forrests have innumerable heards of red deare, and all 
parts have such plenty of fallow deare, as every gentleman of five 
hundred or a thousand pounds rent by the yeer<e hath a parke for 
them inclosed with pales of wood for two or three miles compasse. 
Yet this prodigall age hath so forced gentlemen to improve their 
revenews, as many of these grounds are by them disparked, and con¬ 
verted to feed cattell. Lastly (without offence be it spoken) I will 
boldly say, that England (yea perhaps one county thereof) hath more 
fallow deare, then all Europe that I have seene.” (. Itinerary , part 
iii. b. 2, p. 148.) 
In Ireland, however, he finds a different state of things:— 
“ The Earle of Ormond in Munster, and the Earle of Kildare in 
Lemster, had each of them a small parke inclosed for fallow deare, and 
I have not seene any other parke in Ireland, nor have heard that they 
had any other at that time, yet in many woods they have many red 
deare, loosely scattered, which seeme more plentifull, because the in¬ 
habitants used not to hunt them, but onely the governours and com¬ 
manders had them sometimes killed with the piece.” (Page 160.) 
