Forest of Rossendale. 35 



" In the same hundred King Edward had Hunnicot (Huncote), with two 

 carucates of land ; Waletune (Walton), with two carucates of land ; Penil- 

 tune (Pendleton), half a hide. The whole manor and hundred paid to the 

 king for rent thirty-two pounds two shiUings. 



"The whole of the hundred was given by Rogerius Pidavenis to Rogerio de 

 Btisli and Alberto Greslet, and there are as many men who have eleven 

 carucates and a half ; they allowed these to be exempt lor three years, and 

 therefore they are not rated.'' 



As Lords of the Hundred of Blackburn, or Honor of Clitheroe, 

 the house of Lacy exercised power and authority through a series 

 of generations, its members being more or less distinguished, till 

 the marriage of Alice de Lacy to Thomas, the Earl of Lancaster, 

 already mentioned. 



This event united the two powerful families of the county, the 

 rich and vast possessions of which, from that time forth, all centred 

 in the house of Lancaster. This unfortunate earl was beheaded 

 for joining the insurrection of the barons against the De Spencers, 

 and his estates and title devolved to his brother Henry. 



Among the records preserved in the Treasury of the Court of 

 Exchequer, on a roll endorsed " Pleas of the Crown, &c., county 

 of Lancaster, in the 17th year of King Edward HL,"— it is stated 

 that, after the death of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster (beheaded), his 

 wife Alice surrendered into the hands of King Edward H. all the 

 Forest of Eossendale, with the appurtenances, at whose death it 

 descended to his son, King Edward HL, who granted the same 

 Forest, with its appurtenances, to Isabella, Queen of England, his 

 mother, to hold for the whole of her natural life— and that during 

 the time of her possession she confirmed a grant of the office of 

 forester to Richard de Radeclyve. 



The ownership of the Forest is not pursued further in the roll in 

 question ; but at the death of Isabella, the possession returned to 

 the Earl of Lancaster, agreeably to the Act obtained by Henry, 

 Earl of Lancaster, in the first year of Edward III., for reversing 

 the attainder of his brother Thomas, whose vast possessions had 

 been forfeited on account of his share in the rebellion. 



