BERKHAMSTED COMMON. 69 
them, they finally consented to allow the Prince to 
take 300 out of the 1,480 acres, on the express condition 
that the remainder should remain open for the rights of 
the Commoners. They alleged that they had more 
beasts on the Common than the inhabitants of the 
town. The townsmen, on the other hand, wished to 
separate their portion of the Common to themselves for 
better government and order. It was finally agreed 
that the Prince should enclose 300 acres in the part 
‘least offensive ” to the Commoners, upon condition that 
the remainder should remain open. On February 20, 
1619, 300 acres, forming what is now called Cold Har- 
bour Farm, and a portion of which, within recent times, 
has been waste and uncultivated, were inclosed and 
separated from the Common. About the same time, 
and as part of the arrangement, James I. conferred a 
charter of incorporation on the people of Berkhamsted. 
A few years later, in 1638, a further effort was 
made on behalf of the Council of the Duchy of Corn- 
wall to appropriate another large slice of the Common. 
A Commission was issued for the purpose. The people of 
Berkhamsted were again not unfavourable, but demanded 
terms; the tenants of Northchurch were again strongly 
opposed. They were backed up by Lord Bridgewater and 
by Mr. Edlyn, son of the gentleman already referred to 
as being opposed to the previous inclosure. On February 
12th, 1639, the tenants of Northchurch were heard 
before the Commission; they alleged that the Council 
of the Duchy had promised, when the previous inclo- 
sure had taken place, that there should be no further 
