OF SELBOENE 17 



Waldon-lodge, the other Brimstone-lodge : these the keepers renew 

 aiinually on the feast of St. Barnabas, taking the old materials for 

 a perquisite. The farm called Blackmoor, in this parish, is obliged 

 to find the posts and brush-wood for the former ; while the farms 

 at Greatham, in rotation, furnish for the latter ; and are all 

 enjoined to cut and deliver the materials at the spot. This 

 custom I mention, because I look upon it to be of very remote 

 antiquity. 



LETTER VIII. 



TO THE SAME. 



On the verge of the forest, as it is now circumscribed, are three 

 considerable lakes, two in Oakhanger, of which I have nothing 

 particular to say ; and one called Bin's, or Bean's 'pond} which is 

 worthy the attention of a naturalist or a sportsman. For, being 

 crowded at the upper end with willows, and with the carex 

 cespitosa,^ it affords such a safe and pleasing shelter to wild ducks, 

 teals, snipes, &c. that they breed there. In the winter this 

 covert is also frequented by foxes, and sometimes by pheasants ; 

 and the bogs produce many curious plants (for which consult 

 Letter XLII. to Mr. Barrington). 



By a perambulation of Wolmer forest and The Holt, made in 

 l6'35, 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 Binsmood ; and extended to the ditch of 

 Ward le ham^ark, in which stands the curious mount called King 

 John's Hill, and Lodge Hill ; and to the verge oi Hartley Mauduit, 

 called Mauduit-hatch ; comprehending also Short-heath, Oakhanger, 

 and Oakwoods ; a large district, now private property, though once 

 belonging to the royal domain. 



It is remarkable that the term purlieu is never once mentioned 

 in this long roll of parchment. It contains, besides the perambu- 

 lation, a rough estimate of the value of the timbers, which were 



i[Now drained. The covert has disappeared.] 



2 1 mean that sort which, rising into tall hassocks, is called by the focesters 

 torrets; a corruption, I suppose, of turrets. 



Note. In the beginning of the summer 1787 the royal forests of Wolmer and 

 Holt were measured by persons sent down by government. 



2 



