George Blount and the Wyre Forest

Sir George Blount of Kinlet was appointed keeper of Cleobury Park in the Wyre Forest in 1531. In July 1550 he was granted a lease of the manor of Earnwood and Earnwood Park for 21 years, except the “gross trees”. He was also made master of game for the Wyre Forest; those parts of the forest that were not enclosed in parks. However, he was suspected of abusing his position by cutting down mature trees as and (presumably) selling them to the inhabitants of the hamlets, villages and towns on the fringes of the forest. A commission was set up in 1572 to investigate his dealings and its terms of reference are detailed below. The original document is in the National Archives

E178/3143: Wyre Forest Presentment as to the felling of timber (The Queen v. Blount, Osborne, Smith, and Carpenter). 12 Elizabeth

Commission to inquire
1) That within the towns and hamlets of Earnwood, Catsley, Kinlet, Overmille, Nethermille, Hammond’s and Winwood’s in the county of Salop and within the woods called Hawkyard Wood, Styrtwood, Earnwood, Corbett Park and Bennes Vallets in the Forest of Wyre, it was usual before 6th July 4 Ed IV that the inhabitants of the said woods by delivery of the master of game had timber for repair of their houses and firebote.
2) Whether that George Blount, master of game, with William Osborn, John Smith and Thomas Carpenter his servants, by his command between 7th July 4 Ed IV and 23rd Nov 11 Eliz delivered unto John Smith and George Pygott of Kinlet and William Burnell and Humphrey Dallow of Earnwood and diverse other inhabitants… 200 oaks out of the forest [for] the repair of their houses and … thousand cart loads of wood for …. firewood.
3) Whether the inhabitants of Bewdley and Barkhill were entitled to timber for repair of their houses
4) Whether Blount delivered 200 oaks to the inhabitants of Bewdley and Barkhill for repair of their houses
5) Whether John Blount, father of George, did take for his own use the rotten oaks otherwise called the rwyn oaks or dead standards within the said forest and all trees blown down by the wind and all barks of trees fallen by wormant
6) Whether George Blount and his servants between 6th July E Ed IV and 23 Nov 11 Eliz did sell 200 cart loads of wood of the boughs and arms of oak and whether the same were fallen by him
7) Whether between those dates Blount felled any oaks which were not dead standards or boughs, etc.