The red deer still lives and breeds along the southern coast of the Severn Sea, and this is I believe the only part of Great Britain in which this right royal animal still ranges at large in all the freedom of nature. I am informed by my friend Mr. Townshend that in Ireland they are kept as an ornament in some gentlemen’s parks, but that in a free state of nature they survive only in the mountains of Killarney. Here it will be useful to read Leland’s notes of travel across the lowlands of Somerset, especially as they touch some places with which we are concerned. (I quote from the Proceedings of the Somersetshire Archæological and Natural History Society, No. xxxiii, ‘Leland in Somersetshire, 1540–1542.’) ‘Thens to _Cury-Malet_ a 3. Miles, wher is a Parke longging to _Chambernoun_ of Devonshire. I left this Parke a litle on the lift Hand, and sone after cam over a great Brook, that resith West South West, and rennith East North East into Ivel a 2. Miles above _Michelborow_ by Estimation. (Here I cam from the Hilly Ground to the Low and Marschy Ground of _Somerseteshir_.) Thens to _North Cury_ stille by low Ground aboute a 2. Miles or more. The Chirch of _Welles_ hath fair Landes here. And hereabout is _Stoke Gregory_, wher the Chirch of _Welles_ hath Possessions. Thens about a Mile to the Ripe of _Thone_ Ryver, by the which I passed by the space of half a Mile, and then I went over _Thone_ by a Wood Bridge. Athelney lyith half a Mile lower on _Thon_, and ther is a Bridge of Wood to entre thabbay[39], and beneth that almost at the very Confluence of _Thone_ and _Ivel_ is another Wood Bridge over _Thone_. _Thonetoun_ alias _Tawntoun_ is a 5. Miles by South West from _Athelney_. Ther is a great Bridge on _Thone_ at _Basford_ a Mile lower then _Thonetoun_. From this Bridge by _Athelney_ I rode by a low Marsch Ground a 2. Miles to _Pedertun Park_. Here at _Pederton_ the soyle Westward and South West rysith agayn and ys not fenny. There ys a great Numbre of Dere longging to this Park, yet hath it almost no other Enclosure but Dikes to let the Catelle of the Commune to cum yn. The Dere trippe over these Dikes and feede al about the Fennes, and resort to the Park agayn. There is a praty Lodge moted yn the Parke. There cummith a praty Broke thorough the Park, and half a Mile beneth the Park it goith ynto _Ivel_. This Brooke is caullid _Peder_, and risith West South West yn the Hylles aboute a 2. Myles of. First it cummith by _Noth Pedreton_, a praty uplandisch Toun, wher is a fair Chirch, the Personage whereof was impropriate to _Mynchin bocland_. Then it touchith on _South Pederton_, in the which Paroch the Parke standith, and so to the Ryver of _Ivel_. From the Lodge in _Pederton_ Parke to Northpedertun a Mile. From _Northpedertun_ to _Bridgewater_ 2. Miles. The way or I cam ynto _Bridgwater_ was caused with Stone more then half a Myle.’