THE FOREST OF PICKERING 115 



fifty-six hinds, and forty-two fallow deer for the earl's larder ; 

 fourteen harts and eighteen hinds for tithe to the abbot of 

 St. Mary's, York ; three hinds for the Bishop of Ely ; and a 

 large number of single deer to all the chief families of the 

 district. The two roe deer and two calves were taken acci- 

 dentally by his hounds when in the forest, and he was not able 

 to rescue them alive. He denied taking and giving away 

 three hinds and two fallow deer, but judgment was given 

 against him in that, and he was fined 2, and had to find 

 sureties for good behaviour. During the time of his office 

 several hundred oaks were felled that were chiefly used for the 

 fortifications and repairs of the buildings and stockades of the 

 castle. Dalton was able to produce warrants for all save five 

 oaks, and for these he had to answer at the rate of 6d. each, 

 and 3or. for the offence. 



Kilvington, when he was constable, had felled 107 oaks in 

 the forest, and 305 in Haugh Rise and Birkhow. In his time 

 152 harts and 159 hinds and fallow deer were taken in the 

 forest. He appeared, and said that all that he had done was by 

 royal warrant, save that thirty harts and fifty hinds had died 

 of murrain, and that their putrid carcases were hung on oaks 

 in the forest. He was given till i3th March, 1335, to obtain 

 certificates from the Exchequer. These certificates were ac- 

 cordingly produced at that date, but as they did not entirely 

 free him he was allowed to make a fine to the earl of 20 to 

 clear the remainder. 



Richard Skelton, the late keeper, was dead ; the foresters 

 certified that during his time 390 harts and 524 hinds and 

 calves, etc., were killed, but about 500 of them died of murrain, 

 and that he gave a hunt after the earl's game to Anthony Bek, 

 Bishop of Durham, and another to Robert Bigot, who in each 

 case carried off their game ; but they were both dead. 



They also made short returns for the brief periods that 

 .William le Eure, Adam Skelton, and Simon Simeon were 

 successive keepers ; in each case there were many deaths from 

 murrain. 



Ralph Hastings was able to produce warrants for all vert 

 and venison since he had been keeper. 



The Regard of the forest, presented on the opening day of 

 the eyre, introduced another class of business and investigation 



