For she came out of the great road at Lippock, which
is just by, and reposing herself on a bank smoothed for that
purpose, lying about half a mile to the east of Wolmer-pond, and
still called Queen's-bank, saw with great complacency and
satisfaction the whole herd of red deer brought by the keepers
along the vale before her, consisting then of about five hundred
head. A sight this, worthy the attention of the greatest sovereign!
But he further adds that, by means of the Waltham Hacks, or, to
use his own expression, as soon as they began blacking, they were
reduced to about fifty head, and so continued decreasing till the
time of the late Duke of Cumberland. It is now more than thirty
years ago that his highness sent down an huntsman, and six
yeoman-prickers, in scarlet jackets laced with gold, attended by the
stag-hounds; ordering them to take every deer in this forest alive,
and convey them in carts to Windsor. In the course of the summer
they caught every stag, some of which showed extraordinary
diversion; but, in the following winter, when the hinds were also
carried off, such fine chases were exhibited as served the country
people for matter of talk and wonder for years afterwards.
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