28 MORFE FOEEST. 



lower down, for sick and suffering pilgrims, which 

 had unusual forest privileges allowed by royal 

 owners, was killed whilst hunting. Here too, 

 higher up on the hill, may still be seen the remains 

 of the old Forest Lodge, which, with its picturesque 

 scenes, must have been associated with the visits of 

 many a noble steward and forest-ranger. Many a 

 hunter of the stag and wild boar has on the walls 

 of this old Lodge hung up his horn and spear, as he 

 sought rest and refreshment for the night. 



The names of some of the stewards and other 

 officers of the forest are preserved, together with 

 their tenures and other privileges. By an inquisi- 

 tion in the reign of Henry III., it was found that 

 E-obert, son of Nicholas, and others were seized of 

 ^^Morffe Bosc."* In the 13 Hen. lY., "Worfield 

 had common of pasture in Morffe.'* Besides 

 many tenures (enumerated in Duke's " Antiquities 

 of Shropshire," p. 52), dependent upon the forest, 

 the kings (when these tenures were grown useless 

 and obsolete) appointed stewards and rangers to 

 take care of the woods and the deer ; in the 19 

 Rich. II., Richard Chelmswick was forester for life : 

 in the 1 Henry lY., John Bruyn was forester ; and in 

 * Inquis. Henry III., incerti temporis, Nu. 6, 156. 



