Forest of Rossendale. 91 



in any one year, as was sometimes the case, this was disbursed 

 from the receipts of the Greave next ensuing. If it is meant that 

 the salary or remuneration of the Greave was contributed by four 

 of the principal householders, that may have been the case, though 

 we know of nothing to justify such a conclusion. It is probable 

 that the Greaves being usually persons of property in the district, 

 served their term of office free of charge, and that only the hired 

 or deputy Officers were paid, and those by the nominal Greave for 

 the time being. 



Of late years this Officer's duties have been much circumscribed, 

 being limited to a periodical attendance at the Halmot Court, and 

 the summoning of Juries for the transaction of business appertain- 

 ing thereto. This Court for the Old-hold and New-hold of the 

 Manor of Accrington, of which Rossendale now forms part, is 

 held at the Court House in Haslingden twice every year, in the 

 months of April and October, and its authority extends over all 

 property within the Manor, held under what is technically called 

 "copy of Court roll." 



The Reeve who is introduced by Chaucer as one of the Pilgrims 

 in the " Canterbury Tales," has many points in common wilh-the 

 Greave or Reeve of Rossendale Forest; though they differ in 

 some essential particulars ; the Reeve of Chaucer being a permanent 

 Officer, and in this respect resembling the Steward of the Manor 

 of the present day. 



Among a number of old documents, which, by the kindness of 

 a friend, were placed in my hands, I have discovered a list 

 of persons who held the Office of Greave of the Forest of Rossen- 

 dale from .\.D. 1559, the 2d year of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 

 down to A.D. 1726. 



Being desirous to complete the list, I made application to Dixon 

 Robinson, Esq., of Clitheroe Castle, Steward of the Honor, who, 

 in response to my request, in the kindest manner, continued the 

 names to 181 1, since which time there are no appointments of 

 Greaves appearing on the Court Rolls. From another and equally 



