of his household; and Richard the Chaplain, lately
dwelling with Thomas de Haselyntine, Rector of the
Church of Theydon Boyes, are accused of hunting- in the
Forest with their dogs and harriers after stags and hinds,
and chasing the same from their haunts; and in 1495,
Duch.ofLanc. Edmonde Coyre, the King's footman, and Gylbert
gH.V, ' Lambert, groom of the King's chamber, several hus-
bandmen and a servant, William Brekyll a merchant of
London, and another Londoner, killed deer without
warrant; but "a buke scleyn for the meir of London,"
and another slain by Bolday, one of the clerkes of the
Chauncery, were both killed by warrant.
In the 1 6th century the poachers were very numerous
and bold. In 1594 a father and son named Dimsdale,
and one John French, all of Woodford, were great
offenders. One or both of the Dimsdales stood up at
night with a crossbow, at a corner in the Forest, while
French " fetched the wanlace," that is, drove the deer
towards his companions. On one occasion the three went
to Chigwell hills, where William Dimsdale (the father)
" killed a hynde at stalke."

Sometimes the poachers and the keepers came to
blows. On a night in 1593, when John Porter and
others, of Kelvedon, were coursing deer in the Forest,
" the keeper's man coming in unto them did chardge
them in God his name and the Queen's to stand;* then
the said John Porter did alight of his horse, and main-
teininge his mastief upon the keap's man, w*^ a bill
did very sore hurt him." On another occasion, it is



Id.
Id.
' " You are to bid any man stand in the Prince's ndime."— Dogberry's
Charge.
