OF SELBORNE. 27 



frequented by foxes, and sometimes by pheasants ; and the 

 bogs produce many curious plants. 1 [For which, consult 

 Letter XLI. to Mr. Barrington.] 



By a perambulation of Wolmer Forest and The Holt, 

 made in 1635, and in the eleventh year of Charles the First 

 (which now lies before me) , it appears that the limits of the 

 former are much circumscribed. For, to say nothing of the 

 farther side, with which I am not so well acquainted, the 

 bounds on this side, in old times, came into Binswood ; and 

 extended to the ditch of Ward le ham Park, in which stands 

 the curious mount called King John's Hill, and Lodge Hill ; 

 and to the verge of Hartley Mauduit, called Mauduit-hatch ; 

 comprehending also Short-heath, Oakhanger, and Oak- 

 woods ; a large district, now private property, though once 

 belonging to the royal domain. 2 



It is remarkable that the term purlieu is never once ? 

 mentioned in this long roll of parchment. It contains, c i 

 besides the perambulation, a rough estimate of the value 

 of the timbers, which were considerable, growing at that 

 time in the district of The Holt; 3 and enumerates the 

 officers, superior and inferior, of those joint forests, for 

 the time being, and their ostensible fees and perquisites. 

 In those days, as at present, there were hardly any trees 

 in Wolmer Forest. 



Within the present limits of the forest are three con- 

 siderable lakes, Hogmer, Cranmer, and Wolmer; 4 all of 



1 This pond has long since been drained, and cattle now graze in its 

 bed. The covert in which wild ducks and foxes formerly abounded has 

 almost entirely disappeared. ED. 



2 In the beginning of the summer (1787), the royal forests of Wolmer 

 and Holt were measured by persons sent down by government. Gr. W. 

 Wolmer, with but two enclosures within its precincts, extended over 

 5,949 acres. The royal forest of The Holt, with its enclosures, was 

 then found to comprehend 2,744 acres. ED. 



3 At the date of the survey referred to in the preceding note, the 

 timber of The Holt was valued at 61,100. ED. 



4 The name Wolmer is doubtless a corruption of Wolf-mere, or Wolve- 

 mere : and it is not a little remarkable that the three great meres of 

 that district Hogmer, Cranmer, and Wolmer were named after wild 

 animals, which are all now extinct in Britain, namely, the hog, or wild 

 boar, the crane, and the wolf. ED. 



