266 THE ANTIQUITIES 



college purchased that little estate, which is life-holding, in 

 reversion, for the generous purpose of bestowing it, and it's lands, 

 being twelve acres (three of which abut on the church-yard and 

 vicarage-garden) as an improvement hereafter to the living, and 

 an eligible advantage to future incumbents. 



The year after Gurdon had bestowed the Plestor on the Priory, 

 viz. in 1272, Henry III. king of England died, and was succeeded 

 by his son Edward. This magnanimous prince continued his 

 regard for Sir Adam, whom he esteemed as a brave man, and 

 made him warden, " custos," of the forest of Wolmer. 1 Though 

 little emolument might hang to this appointment, yet there are 

 reasons why it might be highly acceptable ; and, in a few reigns 

 after, it was given to princes of the blood. 2 In old days gentry 



1 Since the letters respecting Wolmer-forest and Ayles-holt, from p. 14 to 26, were 

 printed, the author has been favoured with the following extracts : 



In the " Act of Resumption, i Hen. VII." it was provided, that it be not pre- 

 judicial to ' ' Harry at Lode, ranger of our forest of Wolmere, to him by cure letters 

 " patents before tyme gevyn ". Rolls of Parl. Vol. VI. p. 370. 



In the ii Hen. VII. 1495 " Warlham [Wardleham] and the office of 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 N ewe Forest ; nor to any person for waste, &c. 

 ' within the manor of Wardlam, or parish of Wardlam [ Wardleham] ; 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 prefixt to ist 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." 

 /. s. d. 



P. 64, " A fee-farm rent of 31 2 n out of the manors of East and West Wardle- 

 " ham ; and also the office of lieutenant or keeper of the forest or chase of Aliceholt 

 ' ' and Wolmer, with all offices, fees, commodities, 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 31 years. 



"Expiration March 23, 1811." 



"Appendix, No HI." 

 " Southampton." 



" Hundreds Selborne and Finchdeane." 

 " Honours and manors," &c. 



" A Uceholt forest, three parks there. 



" Bensted and King s ley ; a petition of the parishioners concerning the three 

 " parks in Aliceholt forest." 



William, first earl of Dartmouth, and paternal grandfather to the present lord 

 Stawel, was a lessee of the forests of Aliceholt and Wolmer before brigadier-general 

 Emanuel Scroope Howe. 



2 See Letter II. of these Antiquities. 



