194 THE RED DEER OF EX MOOR. 



holding land near Taunton at the present day — held 

 office with the same locum tenens, who afterwards 

 acted for Edmund Mortimer without anyone over 

 him. Who James Payn was there is no record. 

 In 1382, owing to the fact that Roger was a minor, 

 the custody of the forest was granted during his 

 minority to Sir Peter de Courtenay. 



The Dukes of York followed the example of the 

 Mortimers in appointing deputies, and Collinson's 

 History gives the following list : — 



1389 Richard Brittle and Geoffrey Chaucer (the poet). 



1396 Geoffrey Chaucer. 



141 6 Thomas Chaucer. 



1429 William Wrothe and Thomas Attmore. By the Duke 



of York. 

 1450 Sir William Bonville and Richard Luttrell. 

 1454 Richard Stafford and Richard Luttrell. 

 1459 James Boteler, Earl of Ormonde. 



In 1460 the forestership merged in the Crown, 

 and the succeeding officers were duly appointed 

 foresters, not deputies. 



1462 Philip de St. Maur. 



1465 Sir Giles Daubeny for life. 



1507 Robert Wrothe held the office of forester for Petherton 



for thirty-five years, but whether he acted for Exmoor 



as well seems doubtful. 



Of Richard Brittle nothing is known, but Burtle is 

 a common name in Somerset further up the county. 



Geoffrey Chaucer's works, like those of all writers 

 of that period, show much knowledge of hunting and 

 other sports, the occupation of gentlemen ; but there 

 is no reason to suppose that he ever took an active 



