OF SELBORNE. 555 



emolument might hang to this appointment, yet are 

 there reasons why it might be highly acceptable ; and, 

 in a few reigns after, it was given to princes of the 

 blood 6 . In old days gentry resided more at home on 

 their estates, and, having fewer resources of elegant 

 in-door amusement, spent most of their leisure hours 

 in the field and the pleasures of the chase. A large 

 domain, therefore, at little more than a mile distance, 

 and well stocked with game, must have been a very 

 eligible acquisition, affording him influence as well as 



forest [forester] of Wolmere " were held by Edmund, Duke of Suffolk. 

 Rolls, ib. 474. 



Act of general pardon, 14 Hen. VIII. 1523, not to extend to "Rich. 

 Bp. of Wynton [Bishop Fox] for any seizure or forfeiture of liberties, &c. 

 within the forest of Wolmer, Alysholt, and Newe Forest ; nor to any 

 person for waste, &c. within the manor of Wardlam, or parish of Ward- 

 lam [Ward le ham ;] nor to abusing, &c. of any office or fee, within the said 

 forests of Wolmer or Alysholt, or the said park of Wardlam." County 

 Suth't. Rolls prefixed to first Vol. of Journals of the Lords, p. xciii. b. 



To these may be added some other particulars, taken from a book 

 lately published, entitled "An Account of all the Manors, Messuages, 

 Lands, &c. in the different Counties of England and Wales, held by 

 Lease from the Crown ; as contained in the Report of the Commissioners 

 appointed to inquire into the State and Condition of the Royal Forests," 

 &c. London, 1787. 



" Southampton." 



P. 64. " A fee-farm rent of 3H. 2s. lid. out of the manors of East and 

 West Wardleham; and also the office of lieutenant or keeper of the 

 forest or chase of Aliceholt and Wolmer, with all offices, fees, commodi- 

 ties, and privileges thereto belonging. 



" Names of lessees, William, Earl of Dartmouth and others (in trust). 



" Date of the last lease, March 23, 1780 ; granted for such term as 

 would fill up the subsisting term to thirty-one years. 



" Expiration March 23, 1811." 



" Appendix, No. III." 

 " Southampton." 



" Hundreds Selborne and Finchdeane." 

 " Honours and manors," &c. 



" Aliceholt Forest, three parks there. 



" Bensted and Kingsley ; a petition of the parishioners concerning the 

 three parks in Aliceholt Forest." 



William, first Earl of Dartmouth, and paternal grandfather to the pre- 

 sent Lord Stawel, was a lessee of the forests of Aliceholt and Wolmer 

 before brigadier-general Emanuel Scroope Howe. 



6 See Letter II. of these Antiquities. 



