146 ANENT A FOREST LODGE IN 1444.
day known as 'Queen Elizabeth's' Lodge—a building already,
from internal evidence, assigned to the century previous to that
in which she lived—or to one at Stratford, Hainhault, or else-
where, there is unfortunately no means of determining. But,
however that may be, it is still interesting to know definitely
how, and when, and why, one of these lodges came into being,
and the means adopted to raise money for its construction.
The warrant for the proceedings issued under the hand of
Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester. His 'quality,' more or less
pompously set out between his name and his titles, sums up his
relationship to the three Henrys who ascended the English throne
in succession. His name does not occur in the list of Wardens
furnished by Mr. Fisher, whose enumeration leaves blank the
years between 1379 and 1489; and the name of one Steward of
the Forest of Essex is separated by a like gap from that of the
next mentioned by him.2 Thus much having been said by way
of introduction, the document shall be left to speak for itself.
Humphrey, the son, brother, and uncle of kings, Duke of Gloucester,
Earl of Pembroke, &c.,and Chief Warden of the Forests of my Lord the King
on this side Trent, to the Steward of the Forest of Essex, or his Lieutenant in
the same, greeting. Since lately, at the last Session of the said Forest, held
before us, it was found and presented that there is not in the said forest any
lodge [logia] for the convenience of the ministers [ministrorum] of my Lord
the King of the same forest, which was very necessary and convenient for
them ; nor any pound [pimfold] for impounding and keeping cattle, swine, and
sheep, trespassing within the said forest, or strays coming into the same ;
which cattle, swine, sheep, and strays, and other forfeits, albeit they were
seized for the lord King, have, owing to the lack of this custody, for a very
long time continually got away, and do daily get away, to the no small damage
of the same my lord the King, for which we desire, as we are bound, to pro-
vide a remedy. Wherefore, on the part of the said my lord, we charge you
that, by view of the Verderers and of two or three of the Regarders of the
said Forest, you cause to be newly constructed and suitably raised without
delay a lodge and a pimfold, within the said Forest, on the soil of the same
my lord the King, and that you take so much of the wood, underwood, and
brushwood from the wood of my said lord the King as may be necessary for
the timber of the said Lodge and Pimfold, and the construction of the same ;
and also of one pair of stocks for the punishment of evildoers in the Forest;
and also that you, by view of the aforesaid Ministers within the same Forest,
take oaks to be exposed for sale wherever you see that they may be best taken
for the advantage of the same my lord the King, so as the said wood of my
lord the King may be able to bear without waste; [and] that you cause to be
felled and sold so much as is necessary, sufficient, and opportune, for the new
2 The Forest of Essex, pp. no, et seq.