nt back unexecuted." Until the deer were
removed, each of the four verderers was entitled to a buck and a doe
every year.

[Picture: The King's Bowbearer]

"When I first remember the Forest," Mr. Machen remarks, in his private
papers, "now 65 years since, the deer were very numerous. I recollect my
father taking me up to the Buckholt in an evening for the purpose of
showing them to me, and we never failed of seeing several:" this was
about 1790. "From that time for 20 years, in consequence of the decrease
of the covert and the increase of poachers, they rapidly diminished,
until in 1810, when I do not believe there were ten in the whole Forest.
At this period the enclosures were made for the preservation of timber,
and woodmen appointed to the care of them; the few deer that were left
were protected, and as the young trees grew up so as to afford them
shelter, they rapidly increased, and in thirty years, viz. in 1840, I
should think there were not less than 800 or 1000 deer in the Forest."

"The red deer were introduced in 1842 by Mr. Herring, who brought down on
24th February, from Woburn, two stags and four hinds. They were in fine
condition, and were turned loose in Russell's Enclosure, one mile from
the Speech-house." Mr. Machen further notes as follows:

"October, 1842.--Two of the hinds have calves with them."

"October 20th.--One of the stags was hunted from Trippenkennet, in
Herefordshire, and swam the Wye three times: the hounds brought him into
Nag's Head Enclosure."

"July, 1844.--Two stags, three hinds, and a calf are now in Park Hill
Enclosure, and are frequently seen in the meadow in front of Whitemead.
One old stag is at Edge Hills. A hind is sometimes seen in the
Highmeadow Woods, and it is known that one was killed there."

"October.--A young hind was sent down, and turned out in Haywood
Enclosure."

"October, 1845.--The two old stags are wandering about, and seldom in the
Forest."

"October 4.--Hunted the stag near Park End; ran four hours, but lost him,
night coming on."

"September 20th, 1846.--The stag that was about Staunton and Newland was
killed this day, after a run of three hours. He was found on the old
hills near Newland, and killed in Coleford. This was a four years old
deer, calved in the Forest; the hind and calf went to Staunton, and never
returned: the hind was killed by poachers. The venison of the stag was
excellent: the haunches were 45 lbs. e