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Chap. XXIV.
ROYAL BATTUES.
369
royal battue to call over the list of game killed by
the sportsmen present, and fines are inflicted on
conscientious persons who fire not on foxes, or on
blunderers who shoot hen pheasants, which fines become the
perquisite of the gamekeeper.
Some hundred and fifty years since matters were
differently arranged, as we read in Molesworth:—
“ Then proclamation is made, if any can inform
the king (who is both supreme judge and
executioner) of any transgression against the known laws
of hunting that day committed, let him stand forth
and accuse. The accused is generally found guilty,
and then two of the gentlemen lead him to the stag,
and make him kneel down between the horns, turning
down his head, and removing the skirts of his coat,
which might intercept the blows; then comes his
Majesty, and with a small long wand gives the offender
several lashes, whilst in the mean time the huntsmen
with their brass horns, and the dogs with their loud
openings, proclaim the king’s justice and the criminal’s
punishment: ,the whole scene affording diversion to
the queen, ladies, and other spectators, who are always
assisting, and stand in a circle about the place of
execution. This is as often repeated as there happen to be
delinquents, who, as soon as the chastisement is over,
rise up and make their obeisance.” To which chase all
the foreign ministers and strangers of distinction are
invited.
Mounting a winding staircase, you now enter the
Riddersaal—like all rooms of this date, long and
somewhat low; the ceiling a most elaborate work
and one of exquisite beauty—gilded and painted after
the manner of the day. Twenty men were occupied
vol. i. 2 b
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