164 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



agistment, proved against the large majority of the heredi- 

 tary foresters-of-fee, and against so many of the highest 

 position in the district and county, shows that there was very 

 little moral stigma attached at that time to forest transgres- 

 sions in the Peak. In no other forest district does there seem 

 to have been quite so much laxity. This exceptionally bad 

 feature of the Peak Forest probably arose from the long-con- 

 tinued state turmoil of so much of the period between the two 

 eyres of 1250 and 1286 throughout this district, which brought 

 about great laxity of administration. After these foresters 

 had been duly convicted and fined for many transgressions, 

 their respective bailiwicks, because of their poverty, were not 

 forfeited, but taken into the king's hands to be replevied at 

 his will when the required fine had been paid. The justices 

 were authorised to reinstate them in their offices during the 

 king's pleasure, whilst the fines were being paid, if they saw 

 just cause, and in several cases the penalties were reduced. 



As examples of instances of convictions of men of consider- 

 able position, the following may be mentioned : Peter de 

 Gresley, who had to pay 20 for the single offence of killing 

 a doe in 1268; John lord of Queenbury, Yorks, 20; and 

 John lord of Shipley, 40^. Other offenders were Sir Stephen 

 le Waleys, William Bagshawe, and Thomas, Henry, and 

 William Foljambe. 



There were, of course, various venison offences committed 

 by men in humbler positions, but these seem to have been 

 quite the exception. Michael, son of Adam de Wormhill, was 

 presented for having killed fawns (of red deer) in the forest, 

 and sold their skins in the open market. The justices at this 

 eyre were merciful, and had regard to poverty in other besides 

 the foresters-of-fee. Thus Richard de Baslow and Hebbe the 

 fisherman were in the company of Richard de Vernon, when he 

 was bailiff at the taking of venison for the king, and appropri- 

 ated five head of game to themselves. Baslow was fined 20^., 

 but Hebbe, who admitted the offence, was afterwards pardoned 

 through the king's mercy because he was poor. 



The vert charges of this eyre, particularly those that deal 

 with the wholesale damage of the king's woods, charged 

 against the respective townships, are of special interest, as 

 enabling us to see in detail that the woodlands were then fairly 



