Forest of Rosseitdale. 153 



The said inhabitants have of their good Devotions and Charity's borne their 

 own costs and charges, whereby there hath grown no kind of discommodity, 

 charge, or hurt, either to the King's Majesty, or to the Parson or Curate 

 of their Parish Church before mentioned ; but the same Chapel hath been 

 therewith mentained, and kept of their own several charges, costs, and 

 expences, to the better serving of God and the King, and for the Augmenta- 

 tion and increase, as well of great number of people, as of the Commonweale 

 of this Realm, in so much as Ijy reason thereof the lands within the said 

 forrest, which served before that time but only for the increase of wild beasts, 

 now not only well and substantially manured and occupied, to the increase of 

 tillage, corn, and cattle, but also to the great increase of people and 

 Christian souls ; for which there was at the time of the disforresting of the 

 forrest, not above the number of 20 persons in the said forrest, there be in the 

 said forrest at this present day, the number of 1000 young and old people ; of 

 the which people, as of their bound and humble duties, hath required the King 

 his highness, from time to time, hath been as well served in his Gracious 

 most regal affairs of his wars, as in any one place within all his highness' 

 dominions ; and for divers other great causes and considerations, the King his 

 highness, and his Council of the Dutchy of Lancaster moving. — It is ordered 

 and decreed by the Chancellor and Council of the Dutchy, that the 

 Inhabitants of the said forrest, and the Inhabitants of the Lenches, Cowpe, 

 Brandwood, Rockcliffe, Greaveclough, and Tongue, adjoining and intermingled 

 to and with the said Forrest, for the more ease and quietness, and in 

 avoiding their peril in Travell aforesd., and that God may be the better 

 served, shall from henceforth have, use, and enjoy the said Chapel above 

 specified within the said forrest, together with one parcel! of ground, inclosed 

 and invironed with a hedge, called the Chappell yard, for ever. And that the 

 said Chapel shall from henceforth be and remain for ever as a Church 

 within the Forrest of Rossendale ; so that the people dwelling and inhabiting 

 within the said Forrest and other the places above mentioned, shall and may 

 at all times hereafter assemble together in the said Chapel to hear divine 

 service, and every thing and things which now be, or hereafter shall be, set 

 forth by the King's highness, his heirs, and successors, for the service of God, 

 and his highness, and receive the most Holy and Blessed Communion and 

 supper of our Lord; and there also to receive Christendome, Matrimony, 

 Burial, and all other Sacraments and Ordinances of Holiness, and all other 

 thing and things as now be, or hereafter shall be commanded by our said 

 Sovereign Lord the King his Majestic, his heirs, or successors, to be done, 

 frequented, and used in the said Chapel, as within other Parish Churches 

 within the said County of Lancaster.— And that it shall be lawfull to and for 

 the Inhabitants aforesaid for the time being from hence forth, from time to 



