54 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



taining references to the local salting, and to the general 

 distribution of the venison, are here given. 



The master forester of Needwood, for the year 1313-14, 

 was John de Myneers. His venison accounts for the year 

 show that 95 fat bucks and 12 does were killed in the twelve- 

 month. Ten of the bucks served for the king's hospitality at 

 Tutbury, ten more were sent to the king at Melburne, and 

 twenty-three bucks and six does to the king at Castle Donning- 

 ton. Six does were sent to Bagworth for the hospitality of 

 Robert de Holand. Twenty-one bucks were distributed, on 

 the king's warrant, to John de Ashborne, Walter de Mont- 

 gomery, and ten other gentlemen. The remainder were salted 

 down for winter use in the larder. The master forester's 

 accounts include igs. $d. for 4 qrs. 6 Ibs. of salt for the larder, 

 whilst 4-s 1 . t\\d. were paid as wages of the larderer for five weeks' 

 work. 



Nicholas de Hungerford was at the same time (1313-14) 

 master forester of Duffield Frith. His general accounts for 

 the forest showed receipts of 15 i6s. o\d. Of this amount 

 9 2s. 6d. was paid in wages, 16^. 8d. for salt for salting the 

 venison, and i stag and 31 bucks and does in the forest larder 

 at Belper. The deer taken this year, by order of the master 

 forester, under the warrants of the Earl of Lancaster, were 

 i stag, 41 bucks, and 25 does. In addition to this, Lord 

 Robert de Holand the foundations of whose great moated 

 house still remain within the Hulland ward was allowed to 

 take 20 bucks for the earl's larder. The master forester paid 

 9-r. 8d. for the carriage of 33 bucks from Belper to Kenilworth, 

 and 14.?. for the carriage of 12 bucks from Belper to Castle 

 Donnington, and 4 bucks to Melburne, in accordance with 

 letters from the earl. 



It was the custom in every forest to cut what was usually 

 termed browsewood or clear browse for the sustenance of the 

 deer in the winter season. The references to this practice are 

 innumerable and interesting throughout almost every class of 

 forest proceedings. Manwood says : 



" When there is not sufficient foode for the deere, neyther of grasse 

 nor of such fruites, then the forresters that have the charge of the 

 wild beasts, must provide browsewood to be cut downe for them to 

 feed upon." 



