Forest of Rossetidale, 85 



" The said late King Charles, in the fifth year of his reign, 

 granted, by letters patent, the second moiety of the said Composi- 

 tion Money, remaining in the Copyholders' hands, to the Navy 

 and Tower Creditors, towards satisfaction of certain debts con- 

 tracted by Sir Allen Apsley in victualling the Navy and Tower ; 

 who, in the year 1650, obtained from the pretended Parliament, 

 then sitting, an Act to confirm to the said Copyholders their 

 customs and improvements according to the said Compositions 

 and Decrees, and to compel them to pay the remaining moiety of 

 Composition Money to the said Creditors, with a nomine pcence of 

 jQS per diem upon default of payment after the first of September 

 next following. 



"Several of the Copyholders failed in providing their money, 

 which caused their deficiency of payment according to the Act. 

 But the nomine fcence being great, and the Creditors' severe in 

 levying it, accordingly to the power given them, those that were 

 careful of preserving their estates, and preventing further damage, 

 procured and paid the whole moiety together with a great overplus, 

 amounting to ;^5,833 in all, for satisfaction of the said moiety and 

 nomine poence forfeited, and so freed themselves and many others, 

 who are still behind with their due proportionable parts, and 

 yet ha^'e no security for confirmation of their customs and 

 estates. 



"All which considered, the said Copyhelders having long since, 

 as aforesaid, paid their whole composition to the king's use, do 

 humbly pray the said Decrees and their Customes may be con- 

 firmed according to their Contract by the Parliament. And that 

 power may be given to certain Commissioners to leavy the moneys 

 in arrear, and reimburse to those that have laid out above their 

 proportions so much as shall reduce the payments and account to 

 an equality and due proportion, according to a Bill prepared for 

 that purpose." 



An Act of Confirmation was passed accordingly, " and on this 

 foundation," remarks Dr. Whitaker, "rest all the titles to wapon- 

 take, or copyhold lands of the new tenure in Blackburnshire. By 



