DUFFIELD FOREST IN TIIK .SIXTEENTH CENTURY. 2 I 5 



Endd. — To the right honourable S' ffrauncis Walsingham Knight 

 her Majestie"s principall Secretarie and Chauncello' of the 

 Duchie of Lancaster. 



The last document for which space can be found in this issue 

 ot the Journal, shows that there was another commission 

 appointed to secure true measurements of the " wood grounds " in 

 the Frith, a task which the jury appointed for the purpose found 

 impossible to execute.* 



The Answere of the Jury after thrice meting with the Com- 

 missioners taken the v"' of January 1592. 



We cannot admeasure the wood grounds within the wardes of 

 Holland Duffield and Belpar because there is divers barr)n and 

 stony places therein not being woodgrounds where the cattail] of 

 the Quenes Majesties Tenantes and Inhaiiitantes who have 

 common within the said woodes cannot for the barrenes and 

 coldnes there ioist (agist) nor gett foode in the time of winter 

 and cold weather but are forced to go into the wood groundes 

 for foode and warmenesse And also within the said wood 

 groundes there be di\'ers playnes where no woodes growe. 



The meates meares and boundes for the saide woodgroundes 

 we cannot present because of the barren places and playnes 

 therein. 



We cannot present how many ookes like to make tymber have 

 ben vsuallie vpt or lopt, but divers of them have ben cropt for 

 some browse for the cattaill of the Quenes tenantes and inhabi- 

 tantes who have common there in the tyme of hard weather 

 without which otherwayes they were not able to relieve them and 

 her Majestie hathe ben aunswered as we thinke for the saide 

 browse at her Majesties Auditt. 



Also the abovesaid tenantes and inhabitants have had therof 

 tynsell byndinges and stakes f(jr the ryng hedges and so have used 

 to have tyme out of mynde. 



Also divers trees ha\-e ben felled and some lopped and 

 topped for repaire of her Majesties tenantes Milnes weares pales 



* Duchy of Lancaster, Special Commission, No. 404. 



