DUFFIELD FOREST IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 2O9 



thinke and finde that the same preferment is and may be in like 

 sorte used within her Majesties manners and groundes aswell 

 within her Majesties Wapentake of Wirkesworth as els where 

 within her countie of Derby being parcel! of the possessions of 

 her honor of Tudbery or Duchy of Lancaster And it is worthe 

 to be geven for every loade of ower so to be bought by pre- 

 emption one halfe peny of which loades every twelve do comonlie 

 make a fother or there aboutes and In witness of which this our 

 Certificate for the execution of the said Commission we whose 

 names be hereunder written have hereunto sett our handes and 



scales. 



E. Stanhope. Wm. Agard. 



Svmon Arden. 



In 1587 the inhabitants of Duffield Frith .sent the following 

 Petition to the Queen through the Duchy official. 



Most humblie besecheth your honor your poore suppliantes 

 the inhabitantes and borderers of the Queue her Majesties Chase 

 called Duffelde ffrith being her Majestie's waste of her mannor of 

 Duffield and of her highnes honor of Tutberie in the Countie 

 of Derbie that where your honours humble suppliantes inhabit- 

 ing and borderinge the same Chase being of Coppie houlders 

 free houlders and auncient Cottagers and househoulders In 

 number five hundred and nine and of their wifes children and 

 families in number eighteen hundred all which freehoulders 

 coppie houlders and all those whose estates they haue beynge her 

 Majestie's tenants have tyme out of mynde hade taken and quietly 

 enjoyed free comon of pasture for their catle without number in 

 the same Chase and waste ground called Duffield fryth and have 

 also used by all the same tyme every yeare from the feaste daye 

 of saint Martine in winter to crope and browse of her Majestie's 

 said woods in the said Cha.se rea.sonable and sufficient bowwood 

 of all maner underwoodes therfore their saide Catle so oft as 

 snoe froste or any harde wether sholde hapen to be and as their 

 Catle needed vntill the ende of februar}'e nexte following the 

 said feaste dale of Sainte Martine And in thende of everv winter 

 14 



