FORESTRY 



its course it being a bound of ye Forest ' ; under Oxton, ' one by Wm. Savile, gent., by turningye 

 river Doverbeck out of its antient course' ; under Rufford, 'one by Francis Biggs there called the 

 New Inn,' and under Bulwell, ' one by a paper mill in ye tenure of Ralph Smith, gent.' 1 



In 1616 there were 1263 red deer in Sherwood Forest in addition to those in Thorney Wood ; 

 whilst an estimate of 1635 made the total 1,367* 



There was an unusual long drought in the summer of 1624, which helped to bring about a 

 destructive forest fire of vast extent. On 23 August some ill-slacked charcoal that was being carried 

 away fell upon some ling that at once blazed up, and ere long the conflagration spread with such 

 rapidity that the fire was four miles in length and one and a half in breadth. An eye witness 

 describes a thick mist of smoke over Newark, which was seven or eight miles from the scene of the 

 fire. An army of men, with spades and picks and shovels turned out to try and stop its progress 

 with trenches. Most providentially the wind abated and changed its course just as the fire was ap- 

 proaching the northern end of the great long wood that then stretched from Mansfield to Nottingham. 3 



During the Commonwealth there was much disorder and aggression throughout Sherwood 

 Forest. Many old rights and privileges, particularly if exercised by those who took the king's side, 

 were abrogated, whilst many onslaughts were made both on vert and venison by multitudes of the 

 smaller folk of the adjoining districts. At the Restoration, the king and his council were beset by 

 the claims of those who rightly or wrongly alleged their forestal rights. Charles II on recovering 

 his throne showed much interest in replenishing with game the forest and parks that had been 

 wasted during the Civil War and Commonwealth. A warrant was signed in November, 1661, for 

 the payment of ji,ooo to Sir William St. Ravy, for the expenses of transporting red and fallow 

 deer from Germany to help to restock the forests of Sherwood and Windsor. 4 In the following 

 year an order was made, in order to repair the destruction of the deer in Thorney Wood and 

 Sherwood Forest, that no fee deer of any kind were to be taken until further warrant. 5 



Early in 1662, Charles II issued the necessary authority under letters patent to investigate the 

 Sherwood claims to his old and faithful friend William earl of Mansfield and marquis of Newcastle 

 (afterwards known as ' the loyal Duke '), appointing him to act as lord chief justice in eyre. 

 The business was so complicated and required so much legal investigation that William Cavendish 

 presided over this forest court, either in person or by commission, for upwards of twelve years. 6 



The court, which was held at Mansfield, opened on 6 February, 16623 > re P eat ed 

 adjournments carried on the proceedings up to 1676. The first claim made was that of the 

 archbishop of York, who appeared by proxy in the person of John Rolleston. A long array of 

 ancient chartered privileges, from the days of Richard I onwards, was put in on his grace's behalf, 

 and their force acknowledged by a specially sworn jury. The next in order was Sir George Savile, 

 bart., of RufFord, who also appeared by proxy, claiming the privileges formerly held by the 

 Cistercian Abbey. Other claims were those of Arthur Capel, earl of Essex ; George duke of 

 Buckingham, the president of the court ; Patrick Viscount Chaworth, Richard Lord Byron (the 

 second lord of that name claiming for Newstead Priory rights), John Lord Clare, the earl and 

 countess of Devonshire, Sir William Dalston, Sir Tamworth Reresby, and Sir Humphrey Molineux. 



There were also a vast number of minor claimants, who came from all parts of the forest and 

 its surroundings ; these humbler folk appeared in person, or through the attorneys they had clubbed 

 together to pay. Some of them seem to have been unable to resist the attractions of the game, as 

 they made their way through the forest glades. Thomas Cotton, of Edwinstowe, blacksmith, was 

 convicted of shooting a hart whilst journeying to attend the court. He was fined 40*., and had to 

 find a mainpernour or bondsman (in the person of Francis Biggs, innkeeper of RufFord), who entered 

 into a recognizance of 20 for Thomas's good behaviour towards His Majesty's game for the 

 twelvemonth next ensuing. 



In 1675 the marquis of Newcastle issued the following warrant : 



Forasmuch as I am informed there are many disorderly persons dwelling in or neare who have and 



keep greyhounds, setting dogs, lurchers, gunns, nettes, and other ingins for the destruction of the deer, 



fowl, fish, hares, rabbits, partridges, peasants, powtes, and other moor game, whereby the game in the 



forest is much destroyed and disturbed. For the preservation thereof these are to authorise and require 



the Rt. Honble. John Viscount Rochford, headkeeper and forester of the walk called Blidworth Walk, by 



all means to inhibit all such persons as shall thus enter the said forest. 



The people of Blidworth came out strongly for Charles I, and Charles II, with unusual gratitude, 

 gave them the 'small wode' within their walk. They put, however, too generous an interpretation 

 on the word ' small," and as this grant also led to poaching it was cancelled. 



1 Exch. K.R. Accts. s ^-. A damaged paper book, consisting now of seven folios. 



' Ibid. App. 24. * Roy. MS. A. xviii, f. 24. 



4 Cal. o/S.P. Dom. Chas. II, xliv, 43, 103. 5 Ibid. vol. Ivi, 122. 



s The official story of this last Forest Court is told in detail in a large contemporary MS. book, now in 

 possession of Captain Sherbrooke, R.N. of Oxton Hall, near Blidworth. The contents are of much value and 

 interest, but space can only be found for a few short abstracts and extracts. 



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