DUFFIELD FOREST IN THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 211 



love towardes us her highnes faythfull Inyall people who without 

 redrese by your honor are in great feare least we and all ours 

 shalhe made poore and unable to abide where we are not only 

 by your honors wysedom and authoritie vnder her highnes to 

 assist and shield us her majestie's people from that extremitie 

 sought against us and so order our cause as to your wysedom 

 maye seme meetest for her Majestie and us her poore subjectes 

 but also to move her highnes most honorable and gracious favor 

 towardes us so as her Majestie's graunt of these woodes if any be 

 by bill assigned or otherwise paste from her Majestie as we 

 feare ther is her Majestie by your honors good meanes may be 

 moved to revoke the same And we her Majestie's people 

 prayinge for her highnes as we alwayes have done shalbe bound 

 to praye also for your honors longe contynuance in the state of 

 government vnder her Majestie wherein your faithfull service to 

 her highnes hathe bene and with all care and dew respecte to 

 her Majestie moste honorable imployed. 

 Endd. 2 Sept. 1587. 



The petition of the inhabitants and borderers of Duffield 

 fryth in the County of Derrby. 



I 



In June, 1588, Mr. Edward Stanhope was appointed by the 

 council to enter into the grievances of the tenants of the Frith, 

 and wrote them the following letter : — 



I commende me hartely unto you and as the bearer can informe 

 you it is Mr. Chauncellors expresse pleasure that I should 

 appoint a tyme when half a score of you best acquaynted with 

 the state of your liberties may come in the behalfe of you all 

 unto me to Nottingham where I may make you acquainted with 

 his honours intention in a late sute made unto him for some 

 comodite to be raysed to her Majestie of some of the woods and 

 underwoods in Duffield ffrieth as well how farr forth the same 

 is meant to be done as wherein the same may prejudice you or 

 any of you her Majestie's tenantes wherein his honour will I 

 hope be drawrn to graunt litle or no more then was about five 

 or sixe yeres past certified by a Commiseion directed to me and 



