THE FORESTS OF WILTS 321 



"That none were sworn for the falling of deer brouse last winter, 

 though the Keeper had promised that one of his men should come 

 before us the regarders to be duly sworne ; and yet did appoint three 

 men who never appeared before us to ' cutte deere brouse of the 

 bowes of okes in the Queenes Wooddes in the Forest of Mylchett 

 where they dyd cutte and fall the bowes of okes of greter quantyte 

 and bygger then a bucke was able to turne over with his hedde in 

 Wynter and that they did cutt very lyttle other Woodde of the 

 Queenes for deere browse but of the bowes of okes whereas ther ys 

 hasell bysche, wethy, maple, and thorne.' 



" That in our judgement 33 loads of brouse and fire wood were cut. 



"That no cattle hath been put into the Queen's coppice, but n 

 swine the which we impounded. 



"That we have a book wherin we write offences in the Queens 

 woods if any be committed." 



James I., by letters patent dated I3th December, 1606, granted 

 to William, Earl of Pembroke, the whole of the offices of 

 keeper, warden, lieutenant, and bailiff of the forest and park 

 of Clarendon, with all its members, together with the appoint- 

 ment of all foresters, rangers, launders, palers, and stewards 

 of courts of swainmote. By this comprehensive patent the 

 earl obtained the most absolute control that probably any one 

 subject ever possessed over a royal forest. As chief ranger of 

 Clarendon Park, he was entitled to the whole of the herbage and 

 pannage, stocking it either with his own cattle or letting the 

 agistment to others ; at the felling of any of the twenty-one 

 coppices of this park the ranger had two acres of the best wood 

 for his own use, which was worth, on an average, 20 per 

 annum; the farming of the "conie berryes " in the park 

 realised 200 a year. Moreover, the patent gave the earl all 

 the Clarendon lodges, with their houses, offices, and barns ; 

 there were six of these, five termed " Innelodges" and one 

 an "Outlodge." The chief lodge, with its fees and profits, 

 was worth 140 a year. The four keepers of the other in- 

 lodges, such keeperships being now vested in the earl, who 

 need only put in deputies, had rights of grazing cows and 

 horses, which with venison fees, wages, firewood, and lodgings, 

 brought the total annual amount of the four to 358. The 

 keepership of the outlodge was worth 42 iu. 8d. a year. 

 Then, also, as bow-bearer the earl was entitled to various 



