246 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



was given to princes of the blood. 1 In old days gentry 

 resided more at home on their estates, and having fewer 

 resources of elegant in-door amusement, spent most of 

 their leisure hours in the field and the pleasures of the 

 chase. A large domain therefore, at little more than a 

 mile distance, and well stocked with game, must have been 

 a very eligible acquisition, affording him influence as well 

 as entertainment ; and especially as the manorial house of 

 Temple, by its exalted situation, could command a view of 

 near two-thirds of the forest. 



That Gurdon, who had lived some years the life of an 

 outlaw, and at the head of an army of insurgents, was for 

 a considerable time in high rebellion against his sovereign, 

 should have been guilty of some outrages, and should have 

 committed some depredations, is by no means matter of 

 wonder. Accordingly we find a distringas against him, 

 ordering him to restore to the bishop of Winchester some 

 of the temporalities of that see, which he had taken by 

 violence and detained, viz., some lands in Hocheleye, and a 

 mill. 2 By a breve, or writ, from the king he is also enjoined 

 to readmit the bishop of Winchester, and his tenants of the 

 parish and town of Farnham, to pasture their horses, and 

 other larger cattle, " averia," in the forest of Wolmer, as 



Aliceholt and Wolmer, with all offices, fees, commodities, and privileges thereto 

 belonging. 



"Names oflessees, William, earl of Dartmouth, and others (in trust). 



" Date of the last lease, March 23, 1780; granted for such term as would fill 

 up the subsisting term to 31 years. 



"Expiration March 23, 1811. 



" Southampton. 



" Hundreds Selborne and Finchdeane. 

 " Honours and manors, &c. 



" Aliceholt forest, three parks there. 



" Belted Z.K& Kingsley \ a petition of the parishioners concerning the three 

 parks in Aliceholt Forest." 



" William, first earl of Dartmouth, and paternal grandfather to the present Lord 

 Stawcl, was a lessee of the forests of Alicekolt9S\& Wolmer before brigadier-general 

 Emmanuel Scroope Howe, " [G. W.] 



1 See Letter II. of these Antiquities. [G. W.] 



2 Hocheleye, now spelt Haivkley, is in the hundred of Selborne, and has a mill 

 at this day. [G. W.] 



