Page:Douglas & Piercy, or, The hunting at Chevychase (1).pdf/5

 But, whilſt the Earl was at ſupper with divers Knights, 'Squires and Gentlemen, on a table of boards laid on ſupporters of turf, and ſitting on ſeats railed on a turf bank, ſuch accommodation as the rural place could afford; at the cloſe of it, and juſt as he was about to give orders to the huntſmen to begin the ſport the next morning with the ſun-riſing, in came a meſſenger dreſſed in ſcarlet livery, laced with gold, and a badge of arms on a plate of ſilver, faſtened on his breaſt; which ſnewed him to be ſent by ſome perſon of quality. Whereupon, the Earl commanding ſilence, demanded from whence he came, and what his buſineſs was. Upon which he thus began, with a haughty mein:

“Sir,” ſaid he, “whoever you are I know not, but my Maſter, the noble, valiant, and always victorious Earl Douglas, chief Ranger to the King of Scotland, and to whom theſe Parks and Chaſes belong, hearing you have boldly preſumed to enter them, and deſtroy his deer, without leave or conſent, by me tells you, that if you do not ſuddenly depart, your lives ſhall pay for the injury you have done, before to-morrow noon!”