Contents of the fikst volume
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the barrenness of the country ; the great sums which they and their ancestors had expended upon improve- ments ; the extreme distress to which they were reduced by staying the ordinary course of admittances (which it seems had been resorted to in order to force them to a composition) ; and praying that the said restraint of accustomed admittances may be repealed, &c. 6th. A tender of a confirmation of the respective titles of the tenants to the newhold lands, by decree and act of parliament, on the payment of twenty years' ancient rent. Dated May 16th, 1608. Signed SALISBURY. JULIUS C^SAR. THO. PARRIE. 7th. A letter from Rich. Townley, of Townley, Esq. and others, relating to a general contribution towards soliciting and defraying the expences of this business, and stating that, through the fantastical per- suasion of the vulgar sortc that handes sot to an instrument will bind them to they know not what inconve- niences, they are enforced to rest only on promises : now, in respect the vulgar sorte is knowne to be variable and may alter from this 2d resolution, least the peevishness of some few should disadvantage or discredit our undertaking, wo are of opinion that this, by Mr. Auditor's and your good meanes made known to the Privy Council, will worke such effect, y' according to y e proverbe, "The fryers shall not be beaten for the nunnes' fault." Signed, Rio. TOWNELEY. EDW. RAUSTHORN. And others. The superior proprietors were evidently aware of their own danger, and willing to compound for their estates upon any reasonable terms, but had to encounter that levity, selfishness, and obstinacy in the lower orders, which, as long as human nature is the same, will encumber and embitter all public concerns in which they have any part. 8th. A number of letters and instructions from Sir Thomas Walmsley, knt. one of the justices of the Common Pleas, and Ralph Ashton, esq. commissioners concerning the four forests, the last addressed to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, treasurer, and Sir Thomas Parry, knt chancellor of the Duchy, reporting the progress they had made, and stating the several difficulties which occurred. 9th. A commission from the Crown stating that a general agreement had taken place for the confirma- tion of the titles to the newhold, at twelve years' rent (not twenty, which was first demanded), and for assessing the mean rates of payment, directed to Sir Tho. Walmsley, kt. Ralph Ashton, Tho. Walmsley, John Braddyll, Rob. Holden, Ric. Greenacres, Savile Radcliffe, esqs. Lau. Habergham, gent. &c. Dated Nov. 17th, 1608.
tides within the four forests, February 1608. llth. And, lastly, an Act of the 7th Jac. 4 Sess. entitled, an Act for the perfect creation and confirma- tion of certain copyhold lands in the honor, castle, manor, and lordship of Clitheroe, or in the several! Mannors or Lordshippes of Derby, Accarington, Colne, and Ightenhill, in the county of Lancaster. (Private Act No. 3.) The consideration paid for this assurance was 12 years' ancient rent, or 3,763?. ; and thus the poverty of James I. and the chicane of the Crown lawyers, by an act of temporary BOOK III. CHAP. IV.] FOEESTS. 289 oppression, conferred a most substantial benefit upon the tenants of the Newhold, and opened the way to many subsequent inclosures and improvements. In fact this transaction appears to have been but a part of a general scheme carrying on at the same time for extorting money from the tenants of the Crown whose titles were not perfectly secure. The attempt at a resumption of the Border Lands held in cornage, 1 on pretence that, upon the Union of the Two Crowns, service in cornage had necessarily ceased, was a parallel instance.
have been set aside, and much severer terms imposed, as will appear from the follow- ing fragment [of a Petition to Parliament], which proves the matter not to have been finally settled before the Restoration : of Clitherowe, parcel of the Duchy [of Lancaster] upon the King's behalf by the then Attorney of the'Dutchy 11 in qu and the inclosures and improvements of Commons [upon th]em made ; upon a Commission for that purpose issued in the year of King James his reign, came to composition with his Majesties Commissioners, and agreed to pay for confirmation and settlement thereof forty years' copyhold rent : the one moiety upon passing Decrees for that purpose in the Court of Dutchy Chamber, and the other moiety within one moneth next after the same should be confirmed by Act of Parliament. Decrees of all the several manors and places so compounded for were passed, and the first moiety of the Composition Money thereupon paid in King James his time : And in the sixteenth year of the late King Charles a Bill for confirmation thereof passed both the Houses of Parliament ; but through the distractions then growing was prevented of being perfected by the royal assent. The said late King Charles in the fifth year of his reign granted by letters patents the second moiety of the said Composition Money remaining in the Copyholders' hands to the Navy and Tower Creditors towards satisfaction of certain debts contracted by Sir Allen Apsley in victualling the Navy and Tower : who in the year 1650 obtained from the pretended Parliament then sitting an Act to confirm to the said Copyholders their customs and improvements according to the said Compositions and Decrees : and to compell them to pay the remaining moiety of Composition Money to the said Creditors, with a nomine pcence of 5 per diem upon default of payment after the 1st of September next following.
according to the Act. But the nomine pcence being great and the Creditors severe in levying it according to the power given them, those that were careful of preserving their estates and preventing further damage procured and paid the whole moiety, together with a great overplus, amounting to 5,833 in all, for satisfaction of the said moiety and nomine poence forfeited, and so freed themselves and many others who are still bchinde with their due proportionable parts, and yet have no security for confirmation of their customs and estates. All which considered, the said Copyholders, having long since, as aforesaid, paid their whole composition to the King's use, do humbly pray the said Decrees and their Customes may be confirmed according to their contract by the Parliament, and that power may be given to certain Commissioners to leavy the moneys in arrear and reimburse to those that have laid out above their proportions so much as shall reduce the payments and account to an equality and due proportion according to a Bill prepared for that purpose.
it has been shown in an essay by Francis Morgan Nichols, esq., F.S.A., printed in the Archseologia, vol. xxxix. pp. 349-356! that Littleton and all legal writers have been mistaken in understanding cornage to have been derived from the winding of a horn at the approach of the Scots or any other enemy. It was really a tax on horned cattle, equiva- lent to the Saxon Horngeld.~\
290 HISTORY OF WHALLEY. [Boon III. CHAP. IV. The Forest of Blackburnshire was subdivided into those of Pendle, Trawden, Rossen- dale, and Accrington. Of these in order. [ Copia scripti de Blakeburnschire. (This is very likely the comune chartre deposited at Whalley: see p. 265, note.) Henry de Lacy counte de Nichole et conestable de Cestre a toutz ceaux qe cest escrit verrount ou orrount Salutz en nostre Seignour. Sachez nous avoir graunte et par cest nostre present escrit conferme a touz nos fraunkes homes de Blakeburnschir qe eaux et lours heirs et toutz lours tenauntz a toutz jours mes soient quites des alures de nostre chastel de Cliderhou a fere et a piture du chival nostre chief forester et de son garceon les queux soloient sojourner a custages du payis. Nous avons ensement graunte pur nous et pur nos heirs qe si nule manere de beste sauvage soit trove morte ck>ynz les devises de Blakeburnschir qe par ceo pas ne soient chalengez grevez ne amerciez tout soit ceo qe ils ne trevesent ne ne presentent par ky cele beste soit morte. Sauve a nous et a nos heirs nostre querel vers les meffesours quant nous troverons queux ils serrount. Ensement nous volouns et grauntons pur nous et pur nos heirs qe la ou nous et nos aunccstres solions avoir en Blakeburnschir deux seriaunts a chival et deux au pee qe desormes ne eions mils ne nos heirs a nul jour en Blakeburnschir forsqe un soul seriaunt a cheval ovesqe un garceon pur son chival garder et un soul seriaunt au pee a custages du payis. Issi ne purquant qe quant mester serra le garceon le seriaunt soit receu et condu pur seria unt a pee pur office de seriaunt faire. Et qe nul boef de seysine ne soit prys par nous ne par nos heirs ne par nos seneschals de nul de nos fraunkes homes avantditz ne de lour tenauntz fors taunt soulement de ceus qe teynent par service de Chyvaler ou en Thaynage et de ceaux soit nul boef prys tauntqe al heir soit rendu seysine de sa terre. Totites cestes fraunchises allegeaunces et fraunche custumes volouns et grantouns pur nous et pur nos heirs qe toutz nos fraunks homes de Blakeburnschir et lours heirs et lours tenauntz ayent et tienent a toutz jours issi qe nous ne nos heirs rien de droit ne de claym ne puissous a nul jour vers eaux demander ne chalenger en les services et les coustumes qe par cest escrit sount relesscz ou a eaux rechargier de nulle chose encountre les allegeaunces a eaux par cest escrit grauntez. Sauve a nous et a nos heirs toutes autres maneres de services et de custumes a nous dues et ncustumes le queux ne sount mye par cest escrit relessez. Et hors prys en tout cest graunt Sire Robert de Holland et Elisabeth sa feme et lours heirs, Sire Johan Devias et Cecile sa feme, et lours heirs et toutz les tenauntz de Samelsbyr les queux nous foreprenouns pur ceo qils ount escrit severamment par eaux. Et qe toutes cestes choses avauntdites soient fermes et etablies a toutz jours a ceo nostre present escrit avouns fait mettre nostre seal a ces tesmoignes, Sire Will'm de Botiller, Robert le fitz Roger, Will'm le Vavassour, Johan de Hodleston, James de Nevile, Wauter Bek, Will'm de Stoppham, Wakelyn de Arderne, Adam de Hodleston, Robert de Hertford, chyvalers. (Coucher Book, p. 1161.)
Conventus salutem eternam in Domino. Noverit universitas vestra nos quietum clamasse domine Margarete Comitisse Lincoln et Penbr' meremium viginti plaustrorum quod capere consuevimus in tercia parte foreste de Blakeburnsyre ipsam Margaretam Comitissam contingentem nomine dotis sue quoad vixerit pro decem solidis argenti quibus nobis assignavit idem Comitissa per litteras suas patentes recipiendis apud Pontefractum die Sancti Egidii singulis annis tota vita sua de Ballivo suo de Blakeburnsyr qui pro tempore fuerit. In cujus rei testimonium has litteras nostras dicte Comitisse fieri fecimus patentes. Dat' apud Hauton in crastino sancti Benedict! Abbatis anno regni Regis Henrici tricesimo tercio (22 March, 1249). (Great Coucher of the Duchy, I. 80.) CHARGES of QUEEN ISABELLA against the ABBOT OF WHALLET and others for Transgressions in the Forest. Abbas de Whalleye distringitur ad respondendum domine Isabelle Regine Anglie de quibusdam transgressionibus eidem Regine factis. Abbas venit et calumpniatus est, quod fecit servientes suos scindere diversas quercus virides et siccas in bosco de Romesgreve et cum plaustris suis per diversas vices eas carfare apud Whalleye injuste, ad dampnum BOOK III. CHAP. IV.] FORESTS. 291
Eegine xls. Abbas venit et dicit quod emit Buscam l in bosco de Romesgreve quam fecit scindere et cariare et nullam aliam per preceptum suum, nee ipso sciente, et super hoc tetendit legem, et habet diem ad faciendam legem suam ad proximum, etc.
animalia agistata ad herbagium Regine de Brendewod per Ministros Regine usque faldam Regine de Eoclif et ibidem ea imparcaverunt, Ita quod Eegina agistamenta eorum amisit, ad dampnum Regine xl s. Abbas dicit quod ipse et dictus Arnaldus animalia inventa in suo separali fugaverunt, et in falda sua propria imparcaverunt et non in falda Regine, et super hoc tetendit legem. Et habet diem etc.
ad herbagium Regine quod positum fuit in defensa pro salvagio Regine, ita quod per eadem averia dictum herbagium depastum fuit et calcatum ad dampnum Regine Ix s. Et quia dictus Adam de Bradescliagh non est presens, dictus Abbas habet diem saum ad proximum, etc. Idem Abbas calumpniatus est, quod J(ohannes) de Rad(eclyve) Gustos terre Regine in Blakeburnschire et Boulaud per preceptum domine Regine et consilii fecit seisire in manu Regine diversa terras et tenementa que dictus Abbas adquisivit infra dominium de Blakeburnschire. Idem Abbas post seisinam captam nomine Regine, dicta terras et tene- menta manu operabatur et proficuum suum inde fecit, et predictam seisinam fregit ad dampnum Regine C. s. Abbas- dicit quod habuit licenciam de dicta domina Regina ad adquirendas xxx libratas terre infra dominium suum in Comitatu Lancastrie, qui tantas terras adhttc non adquisivit ibidem, et quod terras et tenementa que sic adquisivit manu opera- batur et proficuum suum inde fecit, sicut ei bene licuit, sed nullam injuriam dicte Regine fecit. Dictum est eiclem Abbati per Seneschallum quod ulterius responderet ad querelas. Abbas dicit quod satis sufficienter respondit, et petit judicium. Et judicium ponitur in respectu pro defectu judicis.
Abbas dicit quod nullam purpresturam de vasto Regine fecerat ibidem. Et super hoc tetendit legem. (Addit. MS. 10,374, f. 128.)
myere de Bouland et de Blakeburnschir saluz. Notre cher en Dieu Labbe de Wh(alleye) nous monstra nadgaires coment il avoit demande dismes des Ministres et tenauntz notre dite dama et Miere de sa Seignourie suisdite parochens le dite Abbe de sa eglise de Wh(alley), cestasavoir de feyn, agistementcz et autres choses dismables, et sur ceo vous luy respondistes, que par resoun que tieles dismes ne furent mye paiez illoeques devaunt ces houres, et notre dite dame et Miere nad estat en la dite Seignourie forsque a terme de sa vie, la reversion ent a nous regardaunt, vous nosastes tel charge surmettre a la dite Seignourie, ne a les tenauntz dy celle saunz assent et comandemente de nous. Et pour ceo que nous estoioms bien enfourmez, que dismes sont dues a Seynte eglise de tous lieux parsitz surdaunte deyniz les boundes de paroche, et nyent voisauntz que ceo que appartient de droit a Dieu et a Seynte eglise soit southretrete par nous ne par les noz : vous signifiasmes par nous autres lettres que en cas que les dites dismes ne feussent detenuez par autre cause si noun par resoun que eles ne ount mye estie paiez avaunt ceste houre, que adonques feissez ordyner, qe dismes feussent paiez au dit Abbe de foyn agistementz et toutes autres choses dismables deynz les boundes de sa paroche avantdite. Nient countresteaunt qil nen ad estie seisi devaunt ces houres. Et ja auoms entenduz iqe coment qe par vertue de notre dit comandement vous avez fait liverere audit Abbe certeynes parcells de dismes susdites, niyent- meyns vous luy avez detenuz et detenez uncore les dismes des agistementz et de southboys deynz la dite Seignourie en prejudice de luy et de Ga eglise avant dite, per qi vous mandoms, qe si ensi soit adonqes luy facez deliverere et soeffrez avoir et enjoyere entierement meismes les dismes, cestasavoir si bien des agistementz et de southboys come dautres choses solome lefiect de notre primer mandement avauntdite. Et ceo ne lessez. Done souz notre prive seal a Westm' le xvi jour de Juyl. Lan de notre regne Dangleterre vyntisme second et de France noefisme. (16 July 1348.) (Addit. MS. 10,374, f. 7.) 1 Ligni ECU arboris stipes, caudex focarius, Gall. Busche. Du Cange. 2P2 292 HISTORY OF WHALLEY. [BOOK III. CHAP. IV. CUSTOMS OF THE HONOR OF CLITHEROE. The Customs of the several Manors and Copyhold Lands within the Honor of Clithero in the County of Lancaster are as followeth, Per Jer. Ainsworth 1670. The said Honor of Clithero doth consist of these several manors, viz. : 1. Chadburn, 2. Worston, 3. Pendleton, 4. Colne, 5. Ightenhill or Heiffham, 6. Ackrington, 7. Tottington and 8. the wapentake copyhold lands of Blackburn parish ; and their several courts are and, time out of mind, have been holden and kept as followeth : l CHATBURN. Chatburn, Worston, and Pendleton be three little manors, having only one court kept for them altogether at Clithero Castle, which is called an Halmot Court, and is both a court leet and copyhold court
for Pendleton two, and for Chatburn three, and so after this rule and proportion until a full jury be returned. COLNE. The manor of Colne consisteth of ancient copyhold land and the Forest of Trawden, and these have the like court, which is kept at Colne, and either of them a greave, and these greaves do make return either of them a jury.
kept at Burnley, and of the Forest of Pendle, which hath a halmot court within itself at Heigham. ACKRINGTON. The manor of Ackrington Old, Huncote, and Haslingden, which are ancient copyhold lands, and of Ackrington New and Rossendale, which are forest lands, and all these have one halmot court i i kept together at Ackrington, and two grand juries, the one returned by the greaves of Ackrington Old and Haslingden and the rest by Ackrington New and Rossendale. TOTTINGTON. The manor of Tottington hath one halmot court, which is kept at Halcome within the said manor, wherein is no forest lands, and therefore hath but one grand jury for the said manor ; there is likewise a court leet there kept for that which was called the fee of Tottington, which consisted of these several townships (to wit), Bury, Middleton, Chatterton and Foxdonton, and Ackrington, at which said court leet these several townships have time out of mind appeared as at their proper leet, and the constables of these towns make return of juries to inquire and present as followeth (to wit), Bury 4 men, Middleton 4, Chatterton and Fox- denton 4, and Ackrington 2.
cerning this court leet are directed. The suitors which are called and appear at this court leet are Charles Earl of Derby for Bury ; Sir Ralph Ashton, Knt. and Bart, for Middleton ; Edward Ashton, Esq. for Chat- terton and Foxdonton ; Robert Lever, Esq. for Ackrington. 1 The General Courts of the Duke of Buccluuch and Queensberry, for the several manors and forests within the Honor of Clitheroe, are now usually holden as follows : The Halmot Court and Court Baron for the Manor of Chatburn, Worston, and Pendleton, at Clitheroe Castle. The Halmot Courts and Courts Baron for the several Manors of Accrington Old-hold and Accrington New-hold, at k I the Court House in Haslingden. The Halmot Court and Court Baron for the Manor of Tottington, at the National School in Ramsbottom. The Halmot Court and Court Baron for the Manor of Ightenhill, at the Court House in Burnley. \l The Halmot Courts and Courts Baron for the Manor of Colne, and Forest of Trawden, at the Court House in Colne. The Halmot Court and Court Baron for the Forest of Pendle, at the Court House in Higham. The Audit is afterwards liollen at Clitherce Castle. 1 The reeves, or bailiffs : see p. 284. BOOK III. CHAP. IV.] CUSTOMS OF THE HONOR OF CLITHEROE. 293 The several halmot courts before mentioned are commonly kept twice in the year, (to wit) within a month after Easter and within a month after Michaelmas, but may be by the custom kept oftener if need require, and have been kept at all times in the year.
take copyholders receive their admittances and have all their transactions concerning their copyhold lands and not elsewhere.
in form and nature of all kinds of writs there, and these are to be tried within all the manors (saving Tot- tington), a jury of twenty-four copyholders to be returned by the greaves, out of every manor a certain number, and in the manor of Tottington by twelve within their own manor, and in Wapentake likewise by twelve of their own copyholders.
kinds of actions and are not limited. A copyholder of the Newhold or Forest cannot be empanneled and sworn upon a jury of the Oldhold, nor on the contrary, although they be all of one manor. If a copyholder be presented by the homage for wrongful withholding of lands, &c. from another, the steward or his deputy may give time at his discretion for a traverse to be entered thereupon, and if the person presented do not enter his traverse within the time limited to be tried the next court, and sufficient pledges within the same manor, and hold to answer for the mesne profits, the steward may grant his warrant to the greave to give possession of the same lands to him from whom they were withholden.
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