A HISTORY OF DORSET 



improved for the king. The lessee was to maintain 400 deer in the park for the king's recreation.'* 

 But the following February Sir James Fullerton had a grant of all the deer within the forest and 

 park." In March, 1628, a revised lease was granted to Sir James, under which licence was granted 

 to dispark.^' 



In August, 1629, William Connock, one of the king's huntsmen, petitioned the king as to a 

 roval grant made him in the previous year of trees to the value of j^ 1 00 in the forest of Gillingham, 

 and trees were appraised to him by the commissioners. These trees Connock afterwards sold for 

 /190, and he was called upon to repay the overplus. He prayed that he might retain the overplus 

 and his prayer was granted.*^ 



It was about the close of 1628 that Charles I by commission formally disafforested Gillingham, 

 allotting several shares to the commoners and borderers and making Sir James Fullerton farmer of the 

 considerable crown portion with right to inclose and fence it. This inclosing of what had been for 

 centuries common pasture land was vehemently resisted. Mobs, armed and disguised, threw down 

 the fences, filled up ditches three miles in length, sawed up the rails, carrying them off or burning 

 them, and threatened the farmer's workmen with death. They took an oath to be true to each 

 other, and to rescue any who might be apprehended. Eventually sufficient force was obtained to 

 secure the arrest of the ringleaders and early in 1630 the Attorney-General proceeded against Henry 

 Hoskins and eighty-seven others for riot and destruction in the Star Chamber. Thirty of the 

 delinquents (many of whom were of good position) were fined ;^200 each, thirty-five ;/^lOO each, 

 and nine ;^40 each. All were bound to good behaviour for two years and additional fines were 

 imposed for damages to Sir James Fullerton and to the two king'smessengers whohad been assaulted. 

 Hoskins, who was styled the colonel of the rioters, Alford the captain. Cave the lieutenant, and 

 Miller the corporal were also set in the pillory with papers on their heads declaring their ofiFence.** 

 Sir James Fullerton, in 1630, was granted by the king the whole of the Star Chamber fines levied 

 on the rioters.^' 



In considering the story of the deer and the timber of any particular county, both of which are 

 included in the old significance of the term forestry, some attention should be paid to the private 

 parks as well as to the actual forests or royal hunting. Parks or fenced inclosures for deer, con- 

 taining more or less timber and coverts, could not be formed without royal licence ; but not only 

 were such licences pretty readily granted to the larger landowners from the thirteenth century 

 onwards, but the sovereign was frequently ready, as we have noticed in this county, to make grants 

 of live deer for the purpose of park-stocking. 



There is extant an interesting record ''- of the Dorset parks, inclosures, and commons, drawn up 

 in the year 1583, for the information of the authorities who were anxious to encourage the breeding 

 of horses for military purposes. Similar lists were prepared for several other of the southern 

 counties. 



The true certificate of all and every the parkes, inclosures and Comons within the said County 

 expressing their several! circuits and names of the lords and owners of them And what nomber of 

 horses mares and stalliands for brede are yearly kepte accordinge to the Statute. 



Hundred of Cogdenne. — Imprimis there is within the said hundred two parks belonging to the 

 house of Canford. The great parke called Canford Parke being one myle di in compasse And no mares 

 kept there. The Litle parke called Lye Parke being a myle in compasse And no mares kept there 

 Thearle of Huntingdon and Mr. John Baker owners of the said parkes but no dere in either of 

 them. 



Item there is within the said hundred a Comon about the compas of iij myles belonging to the 

 house of Canford and the villages adjoining upon the said Comon are these viz. Corf Mullen, Mr. John 

 Phillips and Mr. Thomas White of Fisleford lords of the said village. 



Item Mr. Henry Trenchard Lorde of Litchet Matreverd and his tenants do entercomon upon the 

 waste grounde of Cogdenne. 



Item Sir Thomas Kitson knight lord of South Latchett and all his tenants do entercommon upon 

 the said waste grounde of Cogden. 



Item there are within the said hundred one other parke called Litchett park Mr. Henry 

 Trenchard lorde thereof. And is in compasse i myle or more And no dere kept there And but one 

 mare kept there according to the Assize of the Statute. 



Hundred of Badburye. — Item there is a parke within the said hundred called Holte parke which is 

 the Quenes majesties continent in compasse iij miles And there are deere kept. Mr. Thomas Lovell 

 hath the herb.ige thereof by lease And doth kepe there I mare agreable to the Statute. 



Item there is a Comon within the said hundred called Holte fForeste which is her m.ijesties and is 

 compass iij m}les And her majesties tenants do comon there. But no mares or Stalliands kept upon 

 the same agreable to the Statute. 



•^ S.P. Dom. Chas. I, vol. 4, No. 97. '' Ibid. App. 563. 



** Ibid. vol. 15, No. 79. -' Ibid. vol. 148, No. 73. 



'" Ibid. vol. 159, No. 28 ; vol. 143, No. 66 ; Rushworth, Hist. Coll. 1639-40, App. 28. 



" S.P. Dom. Chas. I, vol. 187, No. 46. '- S.P. Dom. Eliz., vol. 163, No. 20. 



294 



