Forest of Rossendale. 53 



chase— first, to a considerable extent in other manors adjoining to 

 their own domains ; and, secondly, within the forests themselves." 

 It is related that Liwlphus, one of the Deans of Whalley, while 

 hunting in the Forest. of Rossendale, at a place called Deansgreve, 

 cut off the tail of a wolf, and in consequence of this incident 

 acquired the appellation of " Cutwulph," being afterwards known 

 by the name of " Liwlphus Cutwulph." This circumstance hap- 

 pened about the reign of King Canute (1016— 1035), in whose 

 time the aforementioned Dean lived. 



Any outline of the History of the Forest of Rossendale would 

 be manifestly incomplete which failed to give some account of the 

 Laws by which the English Forests were governed, and the 

 peculiar customs and practices which prevailed therein in primitive 

 times. Those particulars I propose, briefly, to supply. 



A Forest is a certam Territory of woody grounds, with occa- 

 sional clearances or cultivated pastures, privileged for wild beasts, 

 and fowls of Forest, Chase, and Warren, to abide and rest there, in 

 the king's safe protection, and for his delight and pleasure. This 

 Territory or ground so set apart, is meered and bounded with 

 certain marks, meres, and boundaries, known either by matter of 

 . record or by prescription ; and replenished with beasts of Venery 

 or Chase, and great coverts of Vert, for the succour of the various 

 beasts. And tl^t this Territory may be preserved and continued, 

 along with the Vert and Venison which it contains, there are par- 

 ticular Officers, Laws and Privileges, requisite for that purpose, 

 proper only to a Forest, and to no other place, {a) 



The Enghsh Forests are of a very remote antiquity, the latest 

 formed being the New Forest, in Hampshire, created by William 

 the Conqueror, and the Forest of Hampton Court, by Henry 

 VHL Their first lawmaker was the Danish King Canute, who 

 promulgated the Constitutiones de Foresia. These were super- 

 seded, though in their principal features closely imitated, by a code 

 of laws inaugurated after the Conquest ; and certain officers were 



(a) Manwood's Forest Laws, ed. 171 7, p. i43 



