Forest of Rossendale. 49 



in Bolland, Pendle, and Rossendale forests for one year ending 

 Michaelmas, to Sir Thomas Stanley, of Knowsley, Comptroller of 

 the Household, and Chamberlain to the King. This deed bears 

 date the 20th November in the 23rd year (1445) of the reign of 

 Henry VI. 



Assuming, as we may fairly do, that this payment represented 

 the one tenth part of the value of the cultivated lands in the three 

 forests named, it would appear that in 1445 the total yearly value 

 amounted to ;^ii6 13s. 4d. In the year 131 1, the herbage in 

 Rossendale (excluding Brand wood) was valued at only ;^5 los. 

 per annum, and in 1507 it had increased to j^t^-j 19s. 6d. ; so that 

 even before the disforesting, a marked progression in value is 

 apparent. 



The following Commission of King Henry VII, relates to the 

 Future Rents within the Forests, exclusive of Brandwood, which 

 was exempt from all claim for puture : — 



" To oure right trustie and well-beloved Father, the Erie of Derbie ; George 

 Stanley, Knt. ; Lord Strange; Sir Henry Halsall, Knt.; Sir Ihon. Towneley; 

 Sir Ric. Sherburne, Knt., &c. 



" Whereas of olde use and custome the Foresters and keepers of oure 

 Forests of Penhull, Rossingdale, Accrington, and Trawden, have hadde of 

 verie right and dutie at c'tayne tymes and dales meate and drinke of the 

 tenants therein and adjoining, the which is now called Puture, otherwise 

 Forster Fee, as is sett forth in a boke, in which boke it also apperith, that for 

 divers displesours and annoyances that ye seide Forster committed agaynst 

 ye seide tenants, ther wyves, and s'vaunts, ye seide tenaunts made complaynt 

 to our p'genitors Dukes of Lancaster, whereupon ye seide tenaunts bounde 

 themselves, their heyres, and tenures, to our p'genitours, to pay for tyme 

 being, yerely XII/. XIIIs. IVd. to seide Foresters towards ther wages, and 

 in recompence of ther meat and drinke, called Forster Fee, ye which was paid 

 to ye ist yeare of King Edward IVth. ; in which yere, by labr and meanes 

 made with hym, ye seide Puture was putt in respite, soe that CXIX/. Vis. 

 Vllld. is now in respite, wch, if it shod be longer delayed, wold turn to our 

 disherison, and ye utter destruction of oure Forst, for lack of kepyng : 



testimonium sigillum nostrum commune presentibz est appensum. Dat. 

 vicesimo die Novembris anno regni Regis Henrici sexti vicesimo tertio. 



The Sir Thomas Stanley above named was summoned to Parliament as 

 Baron Stanley on 2oth January, 1456. 



