xii Contents. 



BOOK THIRD. 



CHAPTER I. 



Commission for Granting of the Forosts — Eleven Vacearies in Rossondale 

 in time of Edward II. — Afterwards increased to Nineteen — Then 

 to Twenty — Their names and estimated value — Particulars relating to 

 property in Brandwood in the time of Henry VIII., . Pp. 67-73 



CHAPTER II. 



Freehold lands in Brandwood— Possessed by Henry VIII. after the Exocn- 

 tion of John Paslew, Abbot of Whalley — Granted by the king to 

 Thomas Holt of Gristlehnrst — Subsequent descent of tho Property — 

 Manor of Rochdale possessed by tho Byron family — Letter of Lord 

 Byron — Manor purchased by James Dcarden, Esq. — Action at law 

 respecting tho manorial rights of tho Freehold in Brandwood — 

 Summary of the trial — Verdict of the jury, . . Pp. 74-79 



CHAPTER ni. 

 The titles to copyhold property in the Forests disputed by tho Crown 

 Lawyers of James I. — The land said to be only of the nature of assart 

 land — Explanation of the term — Letter of Richard Towneley, Edward 

 Rausthorn, and others — Dr. Whitakor's comments upon the proceed- 

 ings — Settlement of tho dispute — Titles to Wapontake, or copyhold 

 lands of the new tenure in Blackburnshire, . . Pp. 80-86 



BOOK FOURTH. 



CHAPTER L 



The Greave of the Forest— His Daties — Fulfilment of the ofiBoe not 

 optional— Accounts of the Greave— Dr. Whitaker and Mr. Baines on 

 the Greave of Rossendale Forest — The Reeve of Chaucer — List of the 

 Greaves of Rossendale from A D. 1559 to 1818— Historical value of the 

 list, in being an enumeration of tho oldest families of the district — 

 The Cause of the Parliament espoused by the inhabitants of Rossendale 

 during the Revolution — Names of Persons common to the 

 locality, ^ . . . . . Pp. 87-107 



