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 patents before tyme gevyn." — 
Rolls of Pari. Vol. VI. p. 3/0. 
In the 11 Hen. Vll. 1495 " Warlham [Wardleham] and the office of forest [forester] of Wol 
mere'* were held by Edmund duke of Suffolk. — Rolls, lb. 4/4. 
Act of general pardon, 14 Hen. VIIl. 1523, not to extend to *• Rich. Bp. of Wynton [bishop 
Fox] for any seizure or forfeiture of liberties, &c., within the forest of Wolraer, Alysholt, and 
Newe Forest ; nor to any person for waste, &c., 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. xeiii. o. 
To these may be added some other particulars, taken from a book lately published, entitled 
** An Account of all the Manors, Messuages, Lands, &c. 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," Sic. London, 1787. 
Southampton." 
P. 64, **A fee-farm rent of 31?. 2s. llrf. out of the manors of east and west Wardleham; and 
also the office of lieutenant or keeper of the forest or chase of Aliccholt 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. HI." 
*♦ Southampton." 
*• Hundreds — Selborne and Finchdeane." 
*♦ Honours and manors," &c. 
** Aliceholt forest, three parks there. 
" Bensted and Kingsley ; a petition of the parishioners concerning the three parks in Aliceholt 
forest " 
William, first earl of Dartmouth, and paternal grandfather to the present lord Stawel, was a 
lessee of the forests of Aliceholt and Wolmer before brigadier-general Emanuel Scroope Howe. 
• See Letter >L of these Antiquities. 
