Forest of Rossendale. 79 



the manor of Rochdale had exercised certain acts of ownership 

 over this district, by letting coal mines under the waste, and by 

 impounding through his pinder cattle belonging to strangers and 

 copyholders, and even to freeholders, when a larger stock was put 

 upon the common than it could support. 



" For the defendant it was contended that Brandwood formed 

 part of the manor of Rpotland, and that it descended from the 

 monastery of Stanlaw to the monks of Whalley, and from them to 

 the family of Earl Howe, according to a chartulary in his lordship's 

 possession, exhibited in court." In this is recited the deed making 

 the original grant, which has already been given at length. The 

 grant and confirmation of Edward III. was likewise put in; as 

 was also the grant of Henry, Earl of Lancaster ; and the inquisi- 

 tion, post mortem, of Henry first Duke of Lancaster. " In addi- 

 tion to this documentary evidence, several acts of ownership, by 

 living witnesses, were shown to have been exercised over this land, 

 and, after a trial of three days' continuance, the jury returned a 

 verdict for the defendant, thereby declaring that the district of 

 Brandwood had been separated from the manor of Rochdale." 



Thus ended a trial involving important local interests. It settled, 

 beyond cavil, the freeholders' rights to much valuable property, 

 their title to the possession of which is thus traced with the greatest 

 ease and precision back to the time of the Conquest. 



