THE FOREST OF PICKERING 123 



As to the charge of wood wasting, the jury were equally 

 emphatic, declaring that neither Sir Richard, nor his brother, 

 nor any of the officials, "did sell, give, nor emploie to theire 

 owne use any maner of wodde, excepte suche tymber and 

 wodde as by theym hathe beene delivered to the King's tenaunts 

 and freehoolders as of right and due unto them." 



In addition to the findings of the juries, William Savage 

 and Thomas Magnus, before whom the inquest was held, 

 appended other valuable proof as to the condition of the forest 

 and park. They stated that they had diligently examined on 

 oath the foresters, keepers, and woodwards, as well as other 

 persons, and that even those who were adversaries of Sir 

 Richard had to admit that there were at least 200 red deer, a 

 greater number than when he entered on his office ; whilst 

 Sir Richard and others deposed that they now numbered 

 300. The Commissioners resolved to test the matter for them- 

 selves : 



" Item, we being perfitely enformed that the circuit of the said 

 foreste conteynneth upon Ix myles aboute, did take with us viij 

 persons, and went sodenly into the said foreste, and notwithstanding 

 there be noe lawnde wherunto the said dere shulde resoorte, but all 

 the moores in corne for the kingges tenants there, yet natheless the 

 said viij persons brought unto us withyne two houres vij or viij score 

 Rede dere, and soe we vewed thaym at the same sodeyn assemble." 



As to the park, Sir Richard's adversaries did not deny that 

 there were 400 fallow deer, whilst his friends deposed on oath 

 that there were 500 ; the Commissioners on view believed the 

 latter statement to be true. 



The foresters were accustomed and allowed to occasionally 

 take dead wood to Scarborough and elsewhere for sale ; but in 

 the case of John Colson, "he fortuned to toppe the toppes of 

 certaine stubbe oakes, and sold the same with his wyndefallen 

 wodde at Scarborough." But directly this came to Sir Richard's 

 knowledge, John Colson was dismissed from office openly in 

 court, and imprisoned in Pickering castle until he found 

 sureties for his future good behaviour. 



The deer of Pickering forest dwindled during Henry VIII. 's 

 reign. In a return of all the king's deer north of the Trent, 

 drawn up in 1538, there were but 140 fallow deer and 50 red 



