SHERWOOD FOREST 213 



Sherwood were again held at Nottingham, namely, on 2nd 

 March, 1334, before Ralph de Neville, Richard de Aldborough, 

 and Peter de Middleton. The following is an example of a 

 venison presentment at this eyre, having reference to a tres- 

 pass that was nine years old : 



"It is presented and proved that Hugh of Wotehall of Wood- 

 boroug-h, William Hyend, Wilcock formerly the servant of the 

 parson of Clifton, and Stephen Fleming of Nottingham, on 13 

 June, 1325, were in the wood of Arnold, in the place which is called 

 Throwys, with bows and arrows. And they shot a hart so that it 

 died. And its flesh was found putrid and devoured by vermin in a 

 place which is called Thweycehilli ; and the arrow was found in the 

 said hart, wherewith it was shot. And the aforesaid Hugh came 

 before the justices and is sent to prison. And the aforesaid William 

 and Wilcock are not found. Nor have they anything whereby, etc. ; 

 therefore let them be exacted. And the aforesaid Stephen Fleming 

 is dead ; therefore nothing of him. And afterwards the aforesaid 

 Hugh is brought out of prison, and is pardoned because he is poor. 

 And the aforesaid William and Wilcock were exacted in the county 

 and did not appear ; therefore they are outlawed." 



The number of venison presentments at this eyre was 119, 

 which was not at all large considering the long period since 

 the last of these courts. In several cases there was no definite 

 charge of deer-slaying, or even being seen with dogs or bows 

 and arrows, but simply of trespass. Such trespass would be 

 by strangers at night, or during the fence month. Some of 

 the transgressors were of high position, among them including 

 John, son of Lord John de Grey, who was found in the Bestwood 

 enclosure with bows and six greyhounds, running a herd of 

 hinds (Jierdum bissaruni), of which he killed two; John le Bret, 

 "due de Wenton," who killed a hind with four greyhounds ; 

 and Henry Curson, of Breadsall, who killed a hind at 

 " Crossedoke," in Clipston wood. 



In one case a hind met with its death in an exceptional 

 manner. John Bot, of Boltby, mower of Allerton, struck a 

 hind with a stone and broke one of its legs ; this caused its 

 death, and it was found drowned in the stream of Allerton, by 

 Langwith bridge. 



At this eyre the ministers of the forest were asked upon their 



