SHERWOOD FOREST 217 



any intent "withoute the especiall lycense of the kynge his 

 highnes, or the Justice of the Foreste, and that none from 

 hencesforthe do take aine woode for bleaching." 



At the east end of the south aisle of Blidworth church, 

 which stands on a commanding site about the centre of Sher- 

 wood Forest, is a mural tablet to the memory of a local 

 Elizabethan worthy, Thomas Leake, who was ranger of Blid- 

 worth walk or ward of this forest. The memorial tablet was 

 put up a few years later; round the margin (Plate xx.) are 

 a curious number of hunting trophies, long-bows, cross-bows, 

 horn, hounds, etc. The epitaph is : 



Here rests T. Leake, whose virtues were so knowne 

 In all these parts, that this engraved stone 

 Needs naught relate but his untimely end, 

 Which was in single fig-ht, whylst youth did lend 

 His ayde to valor, hee w l ease oerpast 

 Many slyght dangers, greater then this last ; 

 But willfulle fate in these things governs all, 

 Hee towld out threescore years before his fall, 

 Most of w 1 ' tyme hee wasted in this wood 

 Much of his wealth, and last of all his blood. 

 1608. Febr. 4. 



The date on the slab is that of its erection. The parish 

 registers show that "Thomas Leeke, esquier," was buried on 

 4th February, 1597-8. In the churchyard stands a massive 

 cross to his memory. A brass plate affixed to it in 1836 

 records that the cross was originally erected at the place in the 

 woodlands where this gladiator insignis met with his death, and 

 moved at that date to the churchyard. 



A careful survey made in 1609 showed that there were then 

 21,009 oak trees in Birkland, and 28,900 in Bilhagh, or a total 

 of 49,909, and that the trees in general were, even at that date, 

 past maturity. It may here be mentioned, as showing the 

 steady diminution of timber that went on from that date, 

 through decay, tempest, and felling, that in 1686 the Birkland 

 and Bilhagh trees only totalled 37,316, including a great 

 number of hollow or decayed trees, and that in 1790 they were 

 reduced to 10,117. 



A large number of these trees during this period were felled 

 for the navy, particularly under the Commonwefhh ; but the 

 stock was subject to further reduction on a large scale by 



