3 i2 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



the rest open forest land. The parishes within the forest and 

 certain neighbouring ones turned out horses, horned cattle, 

 and ringed swine at all times of the year, but no sheep. The 

 officers were a warden-in-fee by Crown grant ; four verderers, 

 chosen by the county freeholders ; a ranger, a steward of the 

 swainmote court, and two keepers for each walk, all appointed 

 by the warden during pleasure ; twelve regarders chosen, if 

 required by the county freeholders; and two agisters appointed 

 annually, at the swainmote court. There were about 200 

 fallow deer in the East Walk, and about fifty in the West 

 Walk. A court book was extant from the year 1685, but no 

 court had been held since 1769, when it could not be opened 

 as no verderers attended. Extensive encroachments were 

 being made, and the timber and underwood of the Crown 

 lands comparatively unguarded. The commissioners strongly 

 urged that the district should be disafforested. The under- 

 keeper of the West Walk testified that until recently the deer 

 were regularly browsed with "holly, ivy, and the tops of 

 thorn bushes, when the season required it." 



Reference is made in the general section on later forest 

 history to the great chase or park that pertained to the Bishops 

 of Winchester at Waltham. 



