SHERWOOD FOREST 205 



the younger, answered to the forest pleas. He controlled the 

 forest, and held the profits under the Crown. On the for- 

 feiture of the Peverel estates the forest lapsed to the king, and 

 was for some time administered by the sheriffs for the joint 

 counties of Derby and Nottingham. 



In the time of Richard I., Matilda de Caux and her husband 

 Ralph Fitz-Stephen, were confirmed in the office of chief 

 foresters of Sherwood. Matilda died in 1223, when she was 

 succeeded as chief forester-of-fee by her son John de Birkin, 

 and he in his turn by his son Thomas de Birkin. In 1231 

 this hereditary office came to Robert de Everingham in 

 right of his wife Isabel, who was sister of Thomas de Birkin. 

 Adam de Everingham was chief forester or keeper of Sherwood 

 at the beginning of the reign of Edward I., and he was 

 succeeded by his son Robert de Everingham. Soon after 

 this, Robert de Everingham incurred the king's displeasure, 

 and this office was seized by the Crown as forfeited. This 

 Robert de Everingham, who was keeper in 1284, was the last 

 of hereditary descent. The office was afterwards conferred at 

 will by the Crown upon various persons of high position as 

 a mark of royal favour. 



From the Close Rolls of 1286, it would appear that the offence 

 which brought about the downfall of the last hereditary keeper 

 of this forest was certain grievous abuse of his position as 

 guardian of the king's deer. In November of that month the 

 Crown addressed a letter to the deputy of the forest justice 

 beyond Trent ordering the release from Nottingham gaol of 

 Robert de Everingham, John de Everingham, John the Con- 

 stable, and eight others, imprisoned for trespass of venison in 

 Sherwood, in bail to twelve men, who were bound to produce 

 them at the next eyre, and on condition that they would not 

 hereafter incur forfeiture in that forest. 



The royal grants of oaks from Sherwood Forest were fre- 

 " quent throughout the reign of Henry III. In 1228 four oaks 

 were given to William Avenel, described in the grant as wait- 

 ing on the King of Scotland ; two to the leper hospital of 

 Chesterfield ; six to the priory of Bligh ; six to the canons 

 of Newark ; and three to the priory of Thurgarton. The gifts 

 to religious houses usually specify that the trees were for the 

 works then in progress at the churches or other buildings. 



