SHERWOOD FOREST 211 



the king's highway, save a sworn forester, and on the king's 

 highway only in accordance with the assize of the forest. 



That no man save a sworn forester or other sworn officer 

 attach any one in the future. 



That any dweller outside the forest agisting his animals 

 therein is to have such animals taken before the verderers, and 

 the price paid, and to make answer before the justices in eyre. 



That the great burden of so many regarders is no longer 

 to be endured, but that in this forest the number be limited to 

 twelve. 



And that those taken by night or in the fence month within 

 the forest be dealt with as before. 



From the MS. book dealing with the perambulations and 

 pleas of Sherwood in the reigns of Henry III. -Edward III., 

 it appears that the very large number of 350 head of deer (both 

 red and fallow) had fallen victims to the murrain in the year 

 previous to the holding of this eyre. 



The attachment rolls of this forest for 1292-3 are chiefly 

 of interest on account of the presentment of vert offences, 

 and the fines assigned. A green oak was valued at 6d., and 

 a dry or leafless oak at \d. A sapling (bletrum*} varied from 

 id. to T>d. ; and a stub or dry trunk of a pollarded tree at 2d. 

 In one case the same offender was fined \2.d. for three dry 

 oaks, i2d. for two green ones, and 2.d. for a sapling. 



Another survey of the forest was held in 29 Edward I. 

 (1300), when the bounds as fixed by 16 Henry III. were con- 

 firmed, but with certain important additions. 



In April, 1309, the sheriff was ordered to assemble all the 

 regarders and foresters to make regard or survey therein 

 before the coming of the justices of the forest, and to cause 

 regarders to be elected in the place of those who were dead or 

 infirm, so that they be twelve in number. The foresters were 

 to swear that they would lead twelve knights throughout their 

 whole bailiwicks to view all the trespasses, and to set out the 

 same in writing. The phrase as to the coming of the justices 

 was a mere form ; it was repeated in the summons for the 

 regard of Sherwood in 1312, although in neither case was the 

 survey followed by an eyre. 



Ample provision of wood from this forest was made on the 



