158 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



committed the offenders for trial at the forest court, 

 taking sureties for their attendance. The principal 

 offences were waste, that is cutting down woodlands 

 or burning heather ; the more serious offence of 

 assarte, which consisted of grubbing up woodlands 

 or heath, so that they would never grow again, and 

 cultivating the land ; and purpresture, or enclosing a 

 piece of ground. 



As examples of these three kinds of offence we 

 find in the rolls of 1257 : 



" Putteford Wood is wasted of old by Gervaise 

 Juans, who is dead, and Adam Juans, half a mark, 

 now holds it, therefore he is in mercy half a mark. 



" From VVarinne de Seccheville for old waste in 

 Oare wood half a mark. 



" From Hillary de Munceaus for old waste in 

 Ashway wood half a mark. 



" From Walter de Sydenham for old waste in 

 Sydenham wood half a mark." 



It was customary for the Crown to acquiesce in an 

 old waste and allow the offender to continue to 

 cultivate it on payment of a fine at each court. 

 Compare the following : 



" From John Parson, of Hawkridge, for sowing one 

 acre and a half once with rye and twice with beans 35'. 

 And because he made this assarte newly without 

 warrant, therefore he is in mercy and the land is 

 taken into the hand of the Lord King. 



" Hameline le Fugel and Henry le Fugel and 

 Matilda de la Bere made of old a certain purpresture 



