146 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



reported generally as to everything affecting the 

 forest. 



Their jurisdiction was confined to the territory 

 within the metes, or meres, and bounds of the 

 forest Hence the word '' regard " came also to be 

 used as meaning the territory over which the 

 regarders exercised their office. 



The inquisition, which is dated 1366, is headed, as 

 Is the case with all the inquisitions of which we 

 have records, and they extend from 1257 to 1368, 

 " Concerning the state of Exmoor Forest, in the 

 county of Somerset " ; further, it will be noticed that 

 the presentment itself describes the forest as in the 

 county of Somerset, but sets up a claim to enter 

 that part of the " regard which is in the county of 

 Devon." This looks like an attempt of the forest 

 officers to draw a distinction between the forest itself 

 and the regard of the forest. 



It will be noted that John, when freeing the county 

 of Devon, perpetuated certain restrictions as to deer 

 leaps and such-like unlawful contrivances on lands 

 which marched with the Forest of Exmoor. These 

 restrictions obviously would be inoperative unless the 

 forest officers of Exmoor could enforce them, as 

 there were no forest officials in Devon having juris- 

 diction ; hence it is suggested the claim was set up 

 that certain parts of Devon were within the regard 

 of Exmoor for these purposes. The claim with 

 regard to the Hundred of Witheridge, no part of 

 which is within many miles of Exmoor, and the whole 



