It is therefore f nrther ordered by the Court that the said W. T. , J. T. , 

 and F. M. shall then show cause why a decree should not be drawne upp, as 

 is desired, and that a sub pcrna with the tenor of this order be awarded to give 

 all the defendants notice thereof. 



Signed, Fanshawe. 



Lord Craven succeeded the Earl of Lindsey in the possession of these 

 Forests. He had lent Lord Lindsey £2,000 on mortgage, and for this sum 

 and £4,000 more he purchased the Estates altogether. (D. C. jjapers.) 



The folio wing petition from the Commoners of Deerfold to Lord Craven is 

 copied from an old deed partially illegible. It is without date, but it doubtless 

 belongs to the middle or end of the 17th century : — 



"Wee, whose names are ; many of us his Majestie's 



poore tenants, subjects, inhabitants within the sev of Wigmore, 



Atforton, Walford, Letton, Newton, Lye, Leintwai-dine, Lingen, Shorley (?), 

 and other places adjacent to a certaine waste or wood called Dervold, haring (aa 



our ancestors time out of mind did heretofore and enjoyed), as 



appertanent to our sererall messuages free right of Commons of 



pasture in the said pasture and wood thereof, for all manner of 



cattel, and commons of Estorers to the greate common support of. us, our wires 



and chilJren and f amUys of so are not able to subsist and undergoe 



the pay and duties as are necessarily incumbent upon us freedome. 



May it please your Lordship, wee have and without any in- 

 terruption or denyall untill of late for these years last past. One 



Master Whitby, a messenger employed for the gathering of his Majestie's rentes 



in this county of Hereford, hath severall times come upon the said waste 



cattel and sheep depasturing of, destrayning for arrears of 



rent due unto his Majestic for the same, and thereupon compelled us to the 

 payment of severaU sumes of money for the redeeming of the said cattel, so by 



him driven to very great wrong and damage of us freeholders Commoners 



The said Sir. Whitby does stUl give out that he will continue driving oflE the 

 said waste untill his Majestie's rent, with the arrears due for the same, be 

 discharged ; so that wee, the freeholders and commoners, can with noe security 

 depasture our catteU, in such wise as we ought of right to doe : which, unless by 

 some good measure timely redressed, will be to the great impoverishing if not 

 the utter ruine of most of us. Wee are therefore bould to make our humble 

 address to your geod Lordship, beseeching you that you wiU be pleased in pitty 

 and compassion to us, the freeholders and commoners, to order some course of 

 settlement for the payment of his Majestie's rent, with the arrears (if any are 

 yet unpaid), that in the future wee, who are known free commoners, and in 

 ne way rightfully Hable to the payment of any rent sr mulct at aU in the 

 relation to the said waste and wood, may quietly and without disturbance enjoy 



the benefitts and advantages which to us doe of right appertayne in tha 



same, according usage of us and our ancestors. 



"To the Lord Craven." 



