46 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



Seton. No fewer than fifty-six persons were presented at the 

 Epping Forest justice seat of 1323-4 for keeping goats on the 

 forest contrary to the assize. 



When Henry III. was tarrying at Stamford in 1229, he 

 was approached by the men on the royal demesne of Kings- 

 cliff and the neighbouring townships, complaining piteously 

 that Hugh de Neville, the keeper of Rockingham forest, and 

 his bailiffs prohibited them from turning out their goats in the 

 forest of Cliff according to ancient custom. The goats must 

 have been in considerable numbers, for the men asserted that 

 they could not support their lives if this prohibition was sus- 

 tained. The king thereupon ordered that they should be per- 

 mitted to pasture their goats in the more open part of the 

 wood (in clariori bosco), and wherever they would do the least 

 injury to the forest. 



