1 82 DUFFIELD FOKEST IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 



and Elizabeth, with a few introductory remarks, reserving for 

 some future occasion both the earlier and later history. It is 

 also hoped that a map of this forest will be supplied, with a 

 subsequent article, on which the exact positions of the various 

 parks and other important sites within its limits may be 

 marked. 



In writing of this or any other forest district of England, it 

 is well to recollect that the term never implied, in medieval 

 English history, a mere tree-clad extent of country ; it meant 

 a certain defined area, reserved in the main for the purposes of 

 the chase. Old Manwood, in his Forest Laws, thus defines it : — 

 " A forest is a certain territory of woody grounds and fruitful 

 pasture, priviledged for wild beasts and fowls of forest chase and 

 warren to rest and abide in the safe protection of the king, for 

 his princely delight and pleasure ; which territory of ground so 

 priviledged is meered and bounded with unremoveable marks, 

 meers, and boundaries ; and also replenisht with wild beasts of 

 venery or chase, and with great coverts of vert, for the succor 

 of the said wild beasts to have their abode in ; for the preser- 

 vation and continuance of which said place, together with the 

 vert and venison, there are certain particular laws, priviledges, 

 and officers belonging only to the same." 



The manor and forest of Duffield were assigned to the great 

 family of Ferrers after the Conquest, and remained with them 

 until their rebellion in the time of Henry III., when their vast 

 estates were confiscated in 1266. Duffield Frith was then 

 granted by Henry to his third son, Edward, Earl of Lancaster. 

 It continued in the Duchy of Lancaster until the days of 

 Charles I., having come into the immediate hands of the crown 

 in 1399, when Henry, Duke of Lancaster, became king. 



The particularly interesting nature of the early account rolls 

 of this portion of the Duchy of Lancaster, which was a member 

 of the Honor of Tutbury, will become apparent when two or 

 three facts are taken from a single one (jf these altogether unex- 

 jjlored contributions to Derbyshire history, namely, the roll from 

 Michaelmas, 1314, to Michaelmas, 1315. From this document 



