88 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



The forest of Northumberland is repeatedly mentioned in 

 the Patent and Close Rolls of Henry III., at times when there 

 were general directions as to the forests at large. Thus in 1222, 

 when orders were given to the sheriffs, verderers, and foresters 

 throughout England as to the woodfall after the great storm, 

 Daniel de Newcastle received particular instructions as warden 

 of the forest of Northumberland. 



When forest perambulations were being undertaken in 1225, 

 the duty of surveying the Northumberland forest was assigned 

 to Roger de Morlay and Roger Bertram, with Nicholas de 

 Hudham as clerk. In January, 1229, the sheriff, foresters, 

 and regarders were instructed to make a regard before the end 

 of the octave of the ensuing Easter, preparatory to the holding 

 of an eyre by the justices. 



In 1281 a scheme for the disafforesting of Northumberland 

 was drawn up. The inhabitants of the forest district were to 

 pay an annual rental of 40 marks to the Crown for this privi- 

 lege, in proportion to the value of their lands ; 23 marks were 

 to be paid by those north of the Coquet, and the remaining 

 17 marks by those to the south of the same river. 



In February, 1286, William de Vesey, Thomas de Norman- 

 vill, and Richard de Crepping were nominated as justices to 

 hold an eyre of the forest of Northumberland, to cover the 

 period from the holding of the last eyre in the reign of 

 Henry III. up to the date of the disafforesting. 



The barony of Alnwick was held during most of Edward I.'s 

 reign by that great palatinate bishop, Anthony Bek, of Dur- 

 ham. In 1299, a special commission was held to inquire into 

 the breaking of the bishop's parks and chase at Alnwick, 

 where his deer had been hunted and carried away, and arrows 

 drawn upon his parkers, some of whom were wounded. But 

 as the parks and chases of this district ceased to be under forest 

 law from 1281, their history must not be pursued any further. 



Henry Algernon Percy, the sixth Earl of Northumberland, 

 died without issue in 1537. The family of his brother, 

 through the attainder of their father, who had been executed 

 for his support of the Pilgrimage of Grace, were incapable 

 of succession. The earldom, therefore, became extinct, and 

 the chief part of the estates passed to the Crown, and thus 

 continued for twenty years. 



