.^ 



Forest of Rossendale. i6 







prayde fore yr for evr 3s. 4d. ffynyally, what so evr remaynyth of my gudds. 

 &c. I bewethe it to the sayd Sr. Thomas Holden, priest, John Nuttow yema, 

 and Rychard Gregorye my brother to take the paynes to be my executors. 

 In wyttenes whereof to these presents I have subscribed my name the day 

 and yere above rehersed. Thes wyttenes Sr. Thorns Holden, curet, Rycd 

 Harppe, Olvyr Holt, Edmnd Pycoppe, and John Pycoppe. 



"Sr. GEORGE GREGORYE + 



" Hec sunt debita quce ego debeo. The schappell of Rossendayle 13s. 4d. 

 Edmnd Pycoppe 13s. 4d. Hec sunt debita quce iniiti debentr. John alias 

 Jenkyne Lord 30s. Perys Hey 5s. Sr. Rycrd Mychell, priest, 3s. 4d. Ells 

 Holt 2s. Henr Hey i8d. Relcta John Butterworth I2d. The chapell ryves 

 of Rossondayle 3re watrs wayges. that is to say Wyllyham Hasworth 8s. 3d. 

 John Nuttow gd. Ale.xandr Haworth, 8s. 3d. John Tattrsall 8s. jA. ob. 

 Rye Wytteworth 7s. lod. ob. Xpof Brygche 7s. lod. ob. 



"The Invetorye of the gud of Sr. George Gregorye, priest, prsed with 

 Alexander Haworth, John Tattrsall, Thurston Bertwyssell, and John Pycoppe. 

 In primis, one foole los. 7 yardes of carssay gs. 4d. • 3 covrlettes 3s. fid. 

 One mattresse 2s. One holde gawne 2s. 8d. One holde clooke 2s. One 

 leyther dublet 2od. 2 holde jackettes 3s. 4d. 2 holde cappes l6d. One 

 holde sacke fid. 2 yves 6s. 8d. One holde saddell fid." 



We learn from this singular Will, tliat Bees were kept in 

 Boothfold, Rossendale, during the i6th century. But though the 

 district is still favourable to the production of the finest quality of 

 honey — for this, when gathered from a heathy country, is 

 esteemed for its peculiarly rich and delicate flavour — it would 

 scarcely yield the commodity in such abundance as to repay the 

 cultivator. This, and the growing of grain, which a century ago 

 was common in Rossendale, notwithstanding the uncongenial soil 

 and climate, are a department of economy which, in this district, 

 has succumbed before the more profitable pursuits of the Woollen 

 and Cotton Manufacture and the attendant occupations to which 

 these of necessity have given rise. Where agriculture is here still 

 pursued as a source of profit, it is altogether confined to the 

 produce of the dairy, which will always command a ready market 

 in a populous and thriving neighbourhood. 



In Vol. XII. of The Record Society a list is given of 

 " Contributions from the Clergy of the Diocese of Chester, 1622, 



