* * * * *
_Parkership, Porkership, Pokership._--With every deference to the
ingenious suggestions of Mr. Bolton Corney (No. 15. p. 218.), I think it
will be found, on reference to the original documents, that "Pokership"
is a misreading of the ancient writing for "Parkership." This question
might be determined if any correspondent, acquainted with the present
excellent arrangement of our records, could inform us whether the
appointments under the old Earldom of March are extant. A large portion
of Herefordshire was held under his tenure. Thomas Croft, of Croft, was,
in 1473, "Parker" of Pembrugge, in that county: _Rot. Parl_. vi. 342. In
1485 John Amyas {324} was, by the act of settlement made on the accession
of Henry VII., continued in his office "of the kepyng of our chase of
Moketree in Wigmoresland under the Erledom of Marche," and Thomas Grove
"in the keepying of our chase of the Boryngwood in Wigmoresland and of
the 'Poulterership' and keping of the ditch of the same."
In _An Abstract of the late King's Revenues_ (printed 1651, 4to.) is
this entry relating to Bringwood:--
"To Sir Robert Harley for keeping Boringwood alias Bringwood Forest
Com. Heref. 6l. 2s. 8d. per ann., for the Pokership 30s. 5d. by the
year, and for the keeping the forest of Prestwood 18s. by the
year."
In a survey made of mocktree and Bringwood Forests in 1633, it is
stated, that "these Forests are stately grounds, and do feed a great and
large Deer, and will keep of Red and Fallow Deer two or three thousand
at the least."
These enclosures were disafforested temp. Charles II., and they now form
part of the Downton Castle Estate.