BERKHAMSTED COMMON. 69 



them, they finally consented to allow the Prince to 

 take 300 out of the 1,4S0 acres, on the express condition 

 that the remainder should remain open for the rights of 

 the Commoners. They alleged that they had more 

 beasts on the Common than the inhabitants of the 

 town. The townsmen, on the other hand, wished to 

 separate their portion of the Common to themselves for 

 better government and order. It was finally agreed 

 that the Prince should enclose 300 acres in the part 

 " least offensive " to the Commoners, upon condition that 

 the remainder should remain open. On February 20, 

 1619, 300 acres, forming what is now called Cold Har- 

 bour Farm, and a portion of which, within recent times, 

 has been waste and uncultivated, were inclosed and 

 separated from the Common. About the same time, 

 and as part of the arrangement, James I. conferred a 

 charter of incorporation on the people of Berkhamsted. 



A few years later, in 1638, a further effort was 

 made on behalf of the Council of the Duchy of Corn- 

 wall to appropriate another large slice of the Common. 

 A Commission was issued for the purpose. The people of 

 Berkhamsted were again not unfavourable, but demanded 

 terms ; the tenants of Northchurch were again strongly 

 opposed. They were backed up by Lord Bridgewater and 

 by Mr. Edlyn, son of the gentleman already referred to 

 as being opposed to the previous inclosure. On February 

 12th, 1639, the tenants of Northchurch were heard 

 before the Commission ; they alleged that the Council 

 of the Duchy had promised, when the previous inclo- 

 sure had taken place, that there should be no further 



