LETTER RE COMPLAINTS ABOUT DEER IN SALCEY FOREST

                                                                                   Burley.  July 14, 1705

Sir

I have received complaints from our Stoke Tenants that above half their cropps (sic) will be eaten up by the Forest Deer, which live upon them in great numbers every night and Campion is resolved…??? Some remedy can be that he will quitt (sic) at Lady Day.

I have acquainted my Lord Nottingham with it and have this post, by his order, writ to our Bailiff at Milton to go immediately to Mr Montague, the Chief Ranger of the Forest and represent the case to him, and to acquaint him, that if speedy care be not taken to keep the Deer within their due limits by erecting the forest hedges sufficient, the Trustees of Doctr Busby must insist upon  their privilege of destroying those Deer upon their Territorys, for that they cannot suffer their Tenants to be ??? for that will lend to a prejudice of many poor people to whom a Plate? is to be distributed in charity.

Might…in the favour of you (in case Mr Montague be in… London?….)       show at my Lord Halifax,  for he is the nephew to my Lord…? upon him in the name of Dr Busby’s Trustees for ….?….above mentioned….?                                                                  Sir

                                                            Your most humble and most faithful Servant

                                                         G.  Armstrong

Mr Needham(?)

 

 

 

(transcribed from poor photocopy)

(NB George Montague, 1st Earl of Halifax became the Chief Ranger in 1690 and lived at Horton House nearby)