ANTIQUITIES OF SELBORNE. 
351 
little emolument might hang to this appointment, yet are there 
reasons why it might be highly acceptable ; and, in a few reigns 
after, it was given to princes of the blood.* 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 com- 
mand a view of near two-thirds of the forest. 
That Gurdon, who had lived some years the life of an out-law, 
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 depre- 
dations, 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, 
at Lode, ranger of our forest of Wolmere, to him by oure letters pateuts before tyme gevyn-" — 
Rolls of Pari. Vol. VI. p. 370. 
In the 11 Hen. VII. 1495 " Warlham [Wardleham] and the office of forest [forester] of Wol- 
mere" were held by Edmund duke of Suffolk. — Rolls, ib. 4/4. 
Act of general pardon, 14 Hen. VIII. 1523, not to extend to "Rich. Bp. of Wynton [bishop 
Fox] for any seizure or forfeiture of liberties, &c., within the forest of Wolmer, Alysholt, and 
Newe Forest; nor to any person for waste, See, within the manor of Wardlam, or parish of 
Wardlam [Wardleham;] nor to abusing, &c., of any office or fee, within the said forests of Wol- 
mer or Alysholt, or the said park of Wardlam."— County Suth't. Rolls prefixed to 1st. Vol. of 
Journals of the Lords, p. xciii. b. 
To these may be added some other particulars, taken from a book lately published, entitled 
*' An Account of all the Manors, Messuages, Lands, Sec. in the different counties of England and 
Wales, held by Lease from the Crown ; as contained in the Report of the Commissioners ap- 
pointed to enquire into the State and Condition of the Royal Forests," &c. London, 1/87. 
" Southampton." 
P. 64, "A fee-farm rent |of 31Z. 2s. lid. out of the manors of east and west Wardleham; and 
also the office of lieutenant or keeper of the forest or chase of Aiiceholt and Wolmer, with all 
offices, fees, commodities, and privileges thereto belonging. 
Names of lessees, 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." 
" Appendix, No. III." 
" Southampton." 
" Hundreds — Selborne and Finchdeane." 
" Honours and manors," &c. 
** Aiiceholt forest, three parks there. 
" Bensted and Kingsley ; a petition of the parishioners concerning the three parks in Aiiceholt 
forest." 
William, first earl of Dartmouth, and paternal grandfather to the present lord Stawel, was a 
lessee of the forests of Aiiceholt and Wolmer before brigadier-general Emanuel Scroope Howe. 
* See Letter II. of these Antiquities. 
