226 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



story of Wyre forest is to be found in Eyton's Shropshire 

 (iv., 276-9), where he tells us that at the time when Prince 

 Edward was embarking for Palestine, in 1270, this forest was 

 fenced for miles to prevent any depredation of the deer in the 

 adjacent cultivated districts. But Roger de Mortimer took 

 occasion of his powerful position to enlarge his rights as 

 though royal, and to level no less than two leagues of this 

 fence, so as to give free transit to the deer to the great havoc 

 of the country. Moreover, Mortimer arrogated to himself a 

 right of free chace, not only in Wyre forest, but in the manor 

 of his tenants at Kinlet and Baveney, and even in those of the 

 king's tenants of Stottesden and Bardley, as set forth by the 

 jurors of Stottesden in the Hundred Rolls of 1274. 



The forest of Clee, somewhat further to the north in this 

 county, also bears witness, by the general maintenance of that 

 name rather than Clee chase, to its former royal rights. The 

 attempts of the Cliffords to re-establish therein quasi-royal 

 forest jurisdiction are also dealt with by Mr. Eyton (v., 196-202). 



WORCESTERSHIRE 



In early days there was probably no part of England more 

 generally covered with woodland than the district afterwards 

 known as Worcestershire. In the Norman time there were 

 five forest districts within the shire : Wyre, Feckenham, 

 Ombersley, Horewell, and Malvern. 



Of Wyre forest mention has just been made under Shrop- 

 shire. The Crown maintained certain forest rights over the 

 Worcestershire or Bewdley part of this ancient forest as late 

 as the time of Elizabeth, as shown by certificates at the Public 

 Record Office : " Two'of her majesty's regarders or presserva- 

 tors of woods in Bewdley Park and Forest of Wyre" received 

 a warrant in 1587 from the Lord President of Marches for 

 felling 200 loads of firewood for use at Her Majesty's house 

 called "Tycknell" ; and six timber trees were to be supplied 

 for the repair of the west chamber there, called Yew Lodging, 

 and another one for repairs to the stable. Henry Blount, of 

 Bewdley, gentleman, was keeper of Bewdley park, and 

 claimed all the lop and top of these seven timber trees as his 

 fee. The two regarders, or rather woodwards, reported that 



