SHIRWOOD-FOREST, (Nottinghamshire) which takes in almost all the W. part of the Co. and was heretofore the famous head-
quarters of Robin Hood, Little John, and their gang of thieves, is now stripped of its woods, which were their shelter,
and contains several fine parks and noble seats. The chief officers of this forest, according to Dr. Thoreton's account in
1675, were a warden, his lieutenant, and a steward, a bow-bearer and a ranger, 4 verdurers, 12 regarders, 4 agisters, and
12 keepers or foresters in the main forest, all of them under the chief forester, the E. of Chesterfield, and his heirs;
whose ancestor, Sir John Stanhope, had the same granted in fee, with liberty to kill what deer they pleased, reserving a
hundred in the whole walk. Thomas D. of Newcastle was warden of this forest in the R. of Cha. II. and in the first year of
K. Geo. I. his nephew, the present D. was constituted steward, keeper, and warden of this forest. There were moreover
several woodwards for every T.-ship within the forest, and one for every principal wood. In some parts of this forest they
dig a sort of coal, of the same nature as the pit-coal of Lancashire and Yorkshire; but more unctuous and sulphureous. For
the rest, the soil of it is not so fertile as some other parts of the Co.