Sherwood Forest. 



Many perambulations of this forest were made in different reigas ; 

 one in the 28th of Edward I., another in the 30th of Henry VIII. 

 and a third in the 14th of Charles ^11. The forest is described in a 

 survey made in 1609, as being divided into three parts or districts, 

 called the north, south, and middle parts. The whole quantity of 

 ground was as follows according to that survey : — 



Inclosures 

 Woods . 

 Wastes. 



Clipstone Park 

 Beskwood Park 

 Bulwell Park 

 Nottinfrham Park 



According to this survey there were found to be in 1609, 21,000 

 oak trees in Berkland, and 28,000 in Bilhalgh, and the trees in general, 

 even at that time, were past maturity. By another survey in 1686, 

 there were in Berkland 12,516 trees, and 923 decayed hollow trees, 

 and in Bilhalgh 21,080 trees, and 2,797 hollow trees. By a survey in 

 1797, there were in Berkland and Bilhalgh together, only 10,117 ; 

 these at the time were estimated at £L7,147 15s. 4d., so that in seventy- 

 seven years (from 1609 to 1686) 2,593 trees had been cut down, and 

 in 104 years (from 1686 to 1790) 27,199 trees were so dealt with, but 

 in so long a period many may have been laid low by the effects of the 

 wind. The officers of the forest used to be a lord warden, a bowbearer 

 and ranger, four verderers, a steward, clerk of the Swainmote, nine 

 keepers, and a beadle. Piooke in his "Sketch of the Ancient and 

 Present State of Sherwood Forest," says that letters have been found 

 cut or stamped in the body of the trees, marking the king's reign, and 

 gives engraving of such letters found in the middle of oaks. One has 

 the hollow or indented letter I and R, for James Rex, a second has the 



