114 EPPIXG FOB EST. 



ever. It will be seen later that he authorised the 

 disafforesting of Malvern Forest by Cornelius Ver- 

 muyden, and probably received a very large sum 

 for it. 



The Forest of Waltham was in even greater danger 

 of extinction during the Commonwealth. On the 22nd 

 of November, 1053, the then Parliament passed an Act 

 vesting all Forests and all honours and lands within 

 their precincts and perambulations, belonging to the 

 late King, his relict or eldest son, and all royalties, 

 privileges, etc., belonging to them, in trustees, to be 

 sold for the benefit of the Commonwealth. But 

 Cromwell in the following year took the matter out of 

 the hands of the Parliament, and soon afterwards we 

 hear less of the Commonwealth and more of the Pro- 

 tector, fn 1(554 an ordinance was made by " His 

 Highness the Lord Protector, by and with the advice 

 and consent of his Council," that Commissioners should 

 be appointed by His Highness under the Great Seal to 

 survey all the late King's Forests, according to the 

 perambulations made in 1 7 Car. I., and to consider how 

 the same might, both for the present and the future, be 

 best improved and disposed for the benefit and advan- 

 tage of the Commonwealth. They were directed to 

 make minute inquiries into the situation of the Forests, 

 and the public and private rights in them, includ- 

 ing rights of wood and pasture ; to hear and deter- 

 mine claims of rights and interests ; to make allot- 

 ments in satisfaction of them, and for highways, and 

 to treat for the disafforesting of all forest lands. 



