deire, maney woods, and fair games o f hunting.” O f Skye, Scalpay, Raasay, and Harris also,
other quaint notices o f similar character are to be found in his works.
From this period onwards till the commencement o f the present century the deer forests
o f Scotland are everywhere mentioned ; and it is interesting to note that many o f the most
extensive forests o f the present time, such as Athole, Mar, Gaich, Glenfeshie, Black Mount,
Jura, and Harris, are precisely those o f which special mention is made by ancient authorities.
In the sixteenth century King James V. seems to have done his hunting in Scotland on
quite a respectable scale. We read that he
made proclamation to all lords, barons, gentlemen, landwardmen, and freeholders to compear, at Edinburgh
with a month s victual to pass with the king to danton (subdue) the thieves o f Teviotdale, etc.; and also
warned all gentlemen that had good dogs to bring them, that he might hunt in the said country. The
Earl o f Argyle, the Earl o f Huntley, the Earl o f Atholl, and all the rest o f the Highlands, did, and brought
their hounds with them to hunt with the king. His Majesty therefore passed out o f Edinburgh with
G