Chapter XV

THE WILLEY SQUIRE AMONG HIS NEIGHBOURS. The Squire among his Neighbours—Sir Roger de 173 Coverley—Anecdotes—Gentlemen nearest the fire in the Lower Regions—Food Riots—The Squire quells the Mob—His Virtues and his Failings—Influences of the Times—His career draws to a close—His wish for Old Friends and Servants to follow him to the Grave—To be buried in the dusk of the evening—His Favourite Horse to be shot—His estates left to his cousin, Cecil Weld, the First Lord Forester—New Hunting Song Appendix 189 Index 201

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

PAGE LORD FORESTER _Frontispiece_ THE VALLEY OF THE SEVERN 1 TRAINED FALCON 8 HOODED FALCON 9 MORFE FOREST 17 STAG 17 BOAR HUNT IN MORFE FOREST 21 FALLOW DEER 31 DEER LEAP 36 CHAPTER HOUSE OF WENLOCK PRIORY 38 WATERFALL 44 FOREST SCENERY 46 LADY OAK AT CRESSAGE 50 THE BADGER 53 GROUP OF DEER 54 NEEDLE’S EYE 56 DEER AND YOUNG 59 ATCHAM CHURCH 62 RICHARD FORESTER’S OLD MANSION 65 WILLEY OLD HALL 70 THE OLD SQUIRE 77 FAVOURITE DOGS 83 PORTRAIT OF A FOX-HOUND 93 BUILDWAS ABBEY 100 MOODY’S HORN, TRENCHER, CAP, SADDLE, &c. 122 GONE TO EARTH 122 A MEET AT HANGSTER’S GATE 140 THE FIRST IRON BRIDGE 147 VIEW OF BRIDGNORTH 154 WILLEY CHURCH 173