BOOK THIRD 



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CHAPTER I. 



What are thy rents? What are thy comings in?"— King Henry V. 



IT is from the Reign of Henry VH. that we must date the be- 

 ginning of the real progress of Rossendale ; which, in no small 

 degree, is due to the king's foresight, in the measures which he 

 enacted as lord of the Hundred. 



The following instrument, promulgated by this most subtle of 

 rulers in taking advantage of whatever seemed to promise an aug- 

 mentation of his revenues, will be read with interest by all who 

 care to trace the progress of this district from its primitive con- 

 dition as a forest, harbouring " nothing else but deer and other 

 savage and wild beasts," to its present eminence in manufacturing 

 industry and skill. 



"Commission for Grauntinge of the Forrests. 

 " In anno vicessimo secundo Henrici Septimi. 

 " Henry, by the grace of God, Kinge of Englande and of France, 

 and Lorde of Irelande, to our trustie and well-beloved the Stewarde 

 that nowe is, and that hereafter shall be, of our possessions of 

 Blakburneshyere, within our countie palatyne of Lancaster, greeting. 

 —For so much as heretofore we, by our Ires of commission, under 

 the seale of our dutchie of Lancaster, have deputed and appointed 

 Sir John Boothe and others, to vewe and survey all our groundes, 

 castles, and lordshyps, within our said countie palatyne, and there- 



