CHAPTER XXI 



THE FORESTS OF BERKSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 

 AND HUNTINGDONSHIRE 



BERKSHIRE 



IT is generally stated that there was never any forest in 

 Berkshire save that of Windsor, which, with its purlieus, 

 occupied so large a portion of the eastern section of the 

 county. But the fact is that almost the whole county was 

 forest, that is, under forest laws, in the earlier part of 

 Henry III.'s reign. In 1219, when there was a general 

 summons of forest ministers for a special inquisition, the 

 foresters and verderers of the forest of Berkshire were ordered 

 to meet at Reading. In 1221 the king granted custody of the 

 forest of Berks to the knights and free tenants residing within 

 its bounds, up to the date of his coming of age, on condition 

 of their appointing two knights who were to answer in all 

 things pertaining to the forest the chief justice of the king's 

 forests, according to the customary assize, both in vert and 

 venison, as well as other attachments, and in verderers' pre- 

 sentments. They were also to see to a regard being taken 

 every third year. The bounds of the forest of Berks are at 

 the same time set forth ; they began at Reading at the place 

 where the Kennet falls into the Thames ; thence almost due 

 west by the Kennet to the place (above Padworth) where the 

 Emborne, or Auburn, then spelt "Aleburn," falls into the 

 Kennet ; thence by the Emborne, which forms the boundary 

 between Herts and Hants, to Woodhay, and on to Inkpen ; 

 from Inkpen by a green road to Chilton Foliat ; from Chilton 

 Foliat along the boundary between Berks and Wilts to the 

 river " Lenta" ; and thence by the banks of the Lenta to the 

 place where that stream falls into the Thames ; and thence by 



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