TROUBLOUS TIMES. 279 



the question of reclaiming waste lands, and there is 

 a document at the Record Office dated 1630, which 

 sets out his intentions. After reciting that there are 

 immense moors in Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall, 

 the property of the Crown, it goes on : 



" His Ma''^' intendments are to drawe all such 

 unnecessary Forests and Waste Lands to improve- 

 ment, whereof many are lately accomplished. And 

 it is without question, that out of theis three 

 Counties, there may in short space be raised in p-sent 

 money, to his Ma*'" use, at least ;^ 100,000 in Fines, 

 and a great yearly Rent, reserved to the Crown. . . 



" If some great person were authorised by his 

 Ma*'^ to undergo the weight of it, the business would 

 proceed happily ; but without such assitant, those 

 works are not to be dealt in." 



It was rather a sanguine view of the value, but a 

 " great person," name suppressed, but from the 

 description an " ambassador," came forward with an 

 offer for the forest of Exmoor, if the King would 

 grant a commission to disafforest, to get the work 

 put through and pay a rent of 4^. an acre for 60 

 years for such part as should be allotted to the 

 King. 



This would have worked out at a rental of about 

 ;i^2oo a year, and the commissioners in 1651 valued 

 the whole forest at £\']'^ \%s., so it seems a very 

 fair offer. Charles accepted the offer, and ordered 

 Mr Attorney or Mr. Solicitor to draw up the 

 necessary Commission, and lease. 



