MORE ANCIENT MISCELLANEA.

A.D. 1217.—Extract from the Papal Registers in the Ides of Novr.:

"A mandate was issued to the Dean, the Chancellor, and the Precentor of Lincoln to determine a suit between the Abbot and Brethren of Croxton and the Prior and Canons of Newstead, in the diocese of York, touching the Church of Hokenhale, the Proctors, Priors and Brethren of either party having appeared at Rome.

The Pope ordered the Cause to be heard by R. Cardinal of S. Angelo."

A.D. 1228.—The Close Rolls contain the following command from King Henry III.: —

"On behalf of the men of Hucknall, Henry the King to the Sheriff of Nottingham, etc.:

WE command you that you release on warrant the foresters and men of Hucknall whom we commanded to be taken if they be still under arrest, and if they be not yet taken that you require of them sufficient sureties, and allow them to be in peace with their chattels until we command you otherwise.

AS WITNESS our hands at Northampton, the 15th day of January, in the 12th year of our reign."

A.D. 1304.—Prior Richard de Grangia, of Newstead, had leave to enclose and cultivate 1,800 acres of forest waste of Linby.

A.D. 1334.—At the Court of Forest Pleas at Nottingham, John, Lord de Grey, was charged with being found in the Bestwood enclosure of Sherwood Forest with bows and six greyhounds running a herd of hinds, of which he killed two.

At the same Court a man was fined sixpence for taking honey out of an oak tree, and for stealing an oak tree a man was fined two shillings.

A.D. 1415.—Battle of Agincourt. It is more than probable that Hucknall bowmen took part in this fray. According to Chaucer, each archer wore a coat and hood of grey, bearing in his belt a sheaf of peacock arrows bright and keen, and in his hand a mighty bow.

The cottages at this period were all of one story, and, as a rule, consisted of one chamber. They were built with a framework of wood filled up with mud and thatched with straw. The little windows were filled with linen cloth or paper, and the floor was of mud. The dwellings, as a rule, were filthy dirty.

A.D. 1558-1603.—In the reign of Elizabeth a number of notable people resided in and near this parish. John Byron (founder of the charity) owned Bulwell Wood, and a fair-sized mansion was built there in 1584. The Merings, Flowers, Fentons, Curtises and Broughs lived near the Church Hill and High Street; a branch of the Strelley family were in residence at Linby, the Rollestons at Watnall, and Georgy Chaworth, high sheriff, was at Annesley Hall. Egidius Darbishier, Edward Holte, and Robert Grace were vicars in succession during Elizabeth's reign. Very little was done at the Church fabric, but it is very probable the home of the Curtis family was built in High Street, also the substantial stone house on Rolleston's land, now situate down Coupe's Yard.

The population at this period, judging from the deaths and baptisms recorded in the Church register, would be about 450.

The Box Tree Farmhouse shown in the accompanying picture was a well preserved specimen of the timber framework houses which were tenanted by the well-to-do Hucknallites who lived two or three hundred years ago in the parish. The box tree was reported by tradition to have been planted about the year 1575. For many years the Shaws lived at the old farmhouse, and the family probably gave the name to "Shaw Lane," that part of Watnall Road which stretches from High Street to Beardall Street.

In Elizabeth's reign the enclosure of Sherwood Forest was rapidly carried on.

A.D, 1582.—The "Nottingham Borough Records" have the following entry: —Item: Payd to a man of Huchnall for makinge a skol cart." Scold-caxts were used for the public punishment of scolds—women viragos—who in these days are represented by the drunk and disorderly class.

Notitia Parochialis contains the following:—Hucknall: All the tithes of hay and corn are impropriated to ye Lord Biron anything of wool and lamb ye curate has, which may amount to £5 or £6 a year, and there is a small glebe let for £5 per year.

A.D. 1604.—Payd to Butler of Hucknall for xiij lodes of bulders ijs (Borough Records).

A.D. 1605.—William Trynder of Sneinton, husbandman, bound for Sir John Byron for debts amounting to £88. (Borough Records.)

A.D. 1609.—Payd to Sir John Byron's minstrel on Mygelmas day xijd.    (Borough Records.)

A.D. 1613.—Payd for the Cunstabyles charges goinge to Hucnold with tow prisoners, one beinge ther fore strykyn to see yf he wolde accuse eyther of them or no, xiijd.

A.D. 1638.—Richard Williamson made his will, commencing:— "In the name of God, I, Richard Williamson, of Hucknall Torkerd, in the county of Nottingham, Blacksmith, being broke in body, but of good comfort, praised by God for the same, do this 3rd day of August, 1638, make my last will and testament in manner and form following:—"1st I commend my soul into the hands of God Almighty, hoping that by the merits and sacrifice of Christ Jesus my Saviour and Redeemer I may come to the land of everlasting joy, and for my body to be committed to the earth and be buried in the graveyard of Hucknall Torkerd," etc. The witnesses to Williamson's mark were J. A. Curtis and George Brough.

A.D. 1646.—A pestilence ravaged the country, and although Hucknallites would probably suffer in company with other village people in the country, the registers (being neglected at that period) give us no clue as to the number of victims here. It is probable the human bones found in the Carlingford Road trenches were the remains of the plague victims, the space in the little churchyard being very limited.

A.D. 1650.—In the time of the Commonwealth, a Commission was formed to decide whether Bestwood, being part of the Royal Forest of Sherwood, should be sold to increase the National revenue. George Flower, of Hucknall, was chairman, and the committee described Bestwood Lodgs as being built of wood, lime, and plaster, and containing 38 rooms. It was estimated that if the Hall were pulled down the value of the materials would be £50. A few years afterwards, when Charles II. came to the throne, the Bestwood part of Sherwood Forest was given by the King to his illegitimate boy, in compliance with Nell Gwynne's wish, the King also giving the boy the title of Duke of St. Albans.

A.D. 1651.—March 2nd. Richard Chetam, of Hucknall Torkerd, laborer, made his will. He left to Margaret his wife "my watch, chain, and gold for her goodness for ever"; 2 shillings to his nephew Edward; 5 shillings to his nephew Richard, and the "residue to Margaret on condition that she educates and brings up Margaret Revell (or Rowell) whom I give in charge to bring up, to find for meat and drink, in lynen, a wollen gown, and all other apparell meet for her estate." Lancelot Curtis declared that he wrote the will and J. A. Curtis, George Lymbie, John Clark, and A. Hardstaffe witnessed the marking of it by Chetam.

A.D. 1684.—February 25th. A Grand (Sherwood) Forest Court was held at Mansfield before William, Marquis of Newcastle. There were present the Archbishop of York, Earl and Countess of Devon, Viscount Chaworth, and William Curtis.

A.D. 1685.—Bestwood Park was well stocked with deer.

At this period Thomas Baskerville visited Forge Mill and wrote: "From Nottingham to Mansfield is accounted 12 miles: the way leads through Shirwood Forest, by a forge driven by water, where with weighty hammers, bigger than men can handle, they knock or beat out long bars of iron when they are made red hot in that great forge or fire blown up by those mighty bellows; in these dams or pools of water that forge the iron are great store of trout."—From the Portland MSS.

A.D. 1722.—There was an election in Notts. County for two members of Parliament. The Hon. Francis Willoughby and Wm. Levinz were the tory candidates, and Lord Viscount Howe and Sir Robert Sutton whigs. The whigs were elected. At Hucknall the tory voters were:—John Brough, 1 vote; John Curtis, 3, Nicholas Stone 4, Wm. Butler (living at Oxton) 2, Wm. Hodgkinson (living at Felley Mill) 1, and Thos. Curtis (living at Nottingham) 11. The whig supporters were Richard Sargeant 2, Daniel Wood (living at Greasley) 2, and Wm. Morrice (living at Blidworth), 1 vote. Each voter was required to be a freeholder, having lands or hereditaments producing 40s. per annum.