By the Rev. Chr. Wordsvjorth. 305 



hedges, that have been greatly in decay, of other young Copses formerly, for 

 the use hath been, and still ought to be, that at the sale of every Coppice there 

 there hath been taken and reserved sufficient Wood to repair the Hedges of 

 all the young Copses formerly sold, until they have been seven years old, 

 whereas now the Woodward doth sell all without reserving ^ any for that 

 purpose, and therefore where any of the Hedges of the young Copses are in 

 decay, fell and cut down the Woods in the nearest Coppice thereto, which 

 Coppice being then in common and unclosed the spring thereof are [s«e] utterly 

 destroyed. 



Further, we say that those Coppices, being but small in quantity and 

 barren, and the Deer many in number for want of Pasture are enforced, for 

 their relief, some to leap the Hedges of the young Coppices, if possibly they 

 may, and others to range abroad without the heart and regard of the Forest 

 into the purlieus, and some altogether forth of the regard or heai't of the 

 Forest and Purlieus also, into foreign places," and being chased home, and 

 finding there little pasture and less hay, they are enforced for the most part 

 of the Winter to leave with Cats-tails-' which hang on the tops, of the Hazels,'' 

 in pulling down for the said Cats-tails they break and thrash all, when they 

 are four or five years old, to the great spoil thereof. 



Further, we present that the Inhabitants of Berwick St. James, Stapleford, 

 Stoford, Newton, Chilhanipton, Ditchampton, and Wilton, do often use, as 

 namely Good Wife White of Stapleford, and others there, John Hooper of 

 Stoford and divers others there. John Baker of Everall, the Clerk of Newton 

 and divers other there, and out of Ditchampton some, and out of Wilton 

 very many, — do often resort into Grovely Woods and fetch fern and wood 

 there, without any authority for the doing thereof. 



And therefore we humbly desire that reformation thereof may be had by 

 the Kangers and Keepers there. 



And likewise we present that whereas the Lords and Tenants of Wishford 

 and Barford St. Martin have common of Pasture in Grovely for all manner 

 of Cattle to go and feed there at all times of the year, excepting only for 

 Cattle of two teeth ^ and Goats and Pigs above one year old in the Fence 

 month^ only. 



And whereas some of the Poor Neighbours of the said Wishford this Present 

 winter, 1603, did according to their right and custom drive some of their 

 Cows and Beasts, and put them into the Woods of the said Grovely, there 

 to pasture, the Beasts then being left there in their Common, and afterwards 

 going by chance into the young Copses, and the Woodward finding them 

 there, through his own default for not looking to the mending of the Hedges 

 as he ought to do, but suffering them to lie shamefully open and all to^ torn 



' Preserveing : H. (iii., 190). 



" Forrayne partes : H. 



^ " To leave with Catts tayles " : B.. i.e., to live off hazel-oatkins. 



* Topp of harsells, W*" hasells : H. 



* See above, p. 294 n. 



^ See above, p. 294 n. 



' " all to" = altogether. Cf. Judges, ix., 53 (A.V.). 



