In those days there were not schooles for young ladies as
now, but they were educated at religious houses.
CHAPTER X.
BEASTES.
[THIS Chapter, with the three which follow it, on "Fishes", "Birds",
and "Reptils and Insects", constitute a principal branch of the work.
On these topics Aubrey was assisted by his friend Sir James Long, of
Draycot, Bart., whose letters to him are inserted in the original
manuscript. Besides the passages here given, the chapter on "Beastes"
comprises some extracts from Dame Juliana Berners' famous "Treatyse
on Hawkynge, Hunting, and Fisshynge" (1481); together with a minute
account of a sculptured representation of hunting the wild boar, over
a Norman doorway at Little Langford Church. This bas-relief is
engraved in Hoare's Modern Wiltshire. - J. B.]
I WILL first begin with beastes of venerie, whereof there hath been
great plenty in this countie, and as good as any in England. Mr. J.
Speed, who wrote the description of Wiltshire, anno Domini [1611],
reckons nine forests, one chace, and twenty-nine parkes.
This whole island was anciently one great forest. A stagge might have
raunged from Bradon Forest to the New Forest; sc. from forest to
forest, and not above four or five miles intervall (sc. from Bradon
Forest to Grettenham and Clockwoods; thence to the forest by
Boughwood-parke, by Calne and Pewsham Forest, Blackmore Forest,
Gillingham Forest, Cranbourn Chase, Holt Forest, to the New Forest.
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