CHAPTER III 



THE FOREST OFFICERS 



THE chief local authority over a forest was the keeper 

 or warden, who was also variously known as a steward, 



bailiff, and chief or master forester. In no two forests 

 were the terms for the various ministers 

 exactly similar, and the nomenclature often 

 varied for the same forest at different periods. 

 Certain forests, such as those of Cheshire, 

 were ruled by hereditary wardens or keepers ; 

 but they were more usually appointed by the 

 Crown, during pleasure, under letters patent. 

 This office was often held in conjunction with 

 that of keeper of the forest castle, as was the 

 case with the Peak Forest. Writs relative to 

 the administration of the forest business were 

 addressed to this chief keeper, as well as 

 orders for the delivery of venison or wood. 



For the most part he was expected to pre- 

 side personally, or through his deputy or 

 lieutenant, at the local courts. He had con- 

 siderable perquisites and privileges, and was 

 generally allowed to distribute a certain 

 amount of venison to the county gentlemen 

 of the district without direct warrant. 



The verderers were forest officers directly 

 responsible to the Crown, although, like 

 coroners, they were elected by the free-holders 

 in the county court on writ addressed to the 

 sheriff. The appointment was considered to 

 be one for life ; but any verderer could be 

 removed by the Crown for incapacity, or for 



C 17 



VKRDERER'S SLAB 

 TWELFTH CENTURY 



Bakewell, Derbyshire 



