THE FOREST OF THE HIGH PEAK 169 



An undated complaint, temp. Henry VII., addressed to the 

 chancellor of the duchy, is of much interest as showing the 

 power of the deputy steward of the Peak and the use made 

 of the castle as a prison : 



"To the Right Honorable Sir Reynold Bray, Knyght Chauncelor 

 of the Duchie of Lancastre. 



" Mekly compleanayth unto your good maistership your dayly 

 orator Richard Hall of Hop that when your said orator came unto 

 your debite Steward of the high peke John Savage to shew unto hym 

 howe that on of his servauntes called Randall Lee and oon Thomas 

 Slake servaunt to Robert Ayer had apeched ather other of fellony as 

 well for stellyng of horses and mayres as of shep to the entent the 

 said mysdoers myght have ben ponyshed accordyng unto the kynges 

 lawes and pore men's goodes in the countre to go in pese by them the 

 said John Savage not wyllyng to her the trewyth nor to do justice 

 comyth your said besecher for his seth saying to the Castell of Peke 

 and ther remaned by the space of iii weks and more and wold not 

 suffer his wyfe nor other or his frendes to bryng hym mete nor drynke 

 but caused hym to by it of the Constabill depute to his grete coste 

 and charge. And on this your said besecher axed Surtes of the pece 

 as well of the said Randall Lee as of the said Thomas Slake afore 

 the said John Savage. And he that notwithstandyng suffered them 

 to departe withoute any Surtes fyndyng to the grete juberdy of the 

 lyf of your said besecher withoute a Remedy may be had in that 

 behalfe. And fordermore your said orator offered the said John 

 Savage Surtes to answer to all men that cold lay anything to his 

 charge which he refused saying it was your comandement that he 

 should be comytt to the said Castell and so he was ther withoute 

 Remedy but that it pleasit your good maistership to comaund the 

 said John Savage by your wrytyng to suffer hym to go atte large 

 and to apere afore you atte the octave of seint Martyn and also 

 to bring up all suche persones as cold lay anythyng against your said 

 besecher. And on this Robert Savage and Richard Gresham which 

 is Curte Clarke to the said John Savage syttyng in an Alehouse atte 

 Hope and uppon non curte day but atte ther owen will amersed your 

 said besecher in C s . And for what cause he cane not tell. Besechyng 

 you atte the reverence of God and in way of Charite the premisses 

 tenderly concederyd that as well the said indytements as all other 

 thynges that any man cane lay to his charge may be examined nowe 

 afore you. And yf he be founde in any defaute he wyll submytt hym 

 unto your correction and yf he be note That then those that hath 

 done evyll to hym may be ponnyshed and make hym amends for the 



