THE FOREST OF DURHAM 



97 



Henry VIII., said: " There resorte many rede dere, stragelers, 

 to the mountaines of Weredale." The forest of Weardale 

 was held by the Bishops of Durham ; the 

 Boldon Book, of the twelfth century, affords 

 many interesting particulars as to the hunt- 

 ing regulations of the district, but as it was 

 not royal forest it would be foreign to our 

 purpose to cite them. 



Whatever small portion of Durham may 

 at some time have been under forest law 

 could only have attained that position 

 through the overlap of some forest at its 

 western extremity, whose administration 

 pertained to another county. 



In the crypt of Durham Cathedral is an 

 unusually fine memorial slab of the latter 

 half of the thirteenth century, which must 

 have marked the interment of some chief 

 forester or warden of a northern forest. 

 On the sinister side of the cross is a 

 sheathed sword with the sword belt twisted 

 round it. On the dexter is a long bow- 

 string, with the arrow fitted in the notch 

 and the head showing on the further side 

 of the sword. On the bow rests what 

 appears to be the distinctive cap of the 

 master of the forest, whilst in the angle 

 above, between the bow and the string, is 

 a small paddle-shaped implement, which 

 may possibly indicate water or fishing 

 rights. 



CHIEF FORESTER S SLAB 

 DURHAM CRYPT 



