224 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



about the first two centuries of the Norman occupation it was 

 at least eight miles in length and about six in breadth, but it 

 became curtailed by the forest charter of Henry III., and still 

 more so in the days of Edward L, and was wholly in the 

 county of Salop. The bounds are ably dealt with in Eyton's 

 Salop. 



Pleas of the forest were held at Shrewsbury on March i4th, 

 1209, before Hugh Neville and Peter de Lion. A very 

 curious case was brought before the justices. A certain 

 hart entered the bailey of the castle of Bridgnorth through 

 the postern gate ; the guards took it and carried it into the 

 castle. When the forest verderers heard the news, they 

 demanded of Thomas de Erdinton, the sheriff, what had 

 been done with the hart. He acknowledged the offence, and 

 promised that his men should come before the justices, and 

 the town of Bridgnorth was attached for the offence. Thomas 

 de Erdinton was sheriff of both Salop and Staffordshire 

 through most of John's reign, and a royal favourite ; the 

 calling of him to account for such a matter as this by the local 

 verderers is a proof of the stringency of the forest laws at 

 that date. 



Another interesting case at this eyre is set forth in the 

 translation given by Mr. Turner, involving the seeking 

 sanctuary in a church. 



"Richard of Holton, Wilkin of Eastlegh, Hulle of Hinton, 

 and Hulle Roebuck, the Serjeants of the county, found venison 

 in the house of Hugh le Scot. And Hugh fled to the church ; 

 and when the foresters and verderers came thither, they 

 demanded of Hugh whence that venison came. And he 

 and a certain other person, Roger of Wellington by name, 

 acknowledged that they had killed a hind from which that 

 venison came. And he refused to leave the church, but 

 lingered there for a month ; and afterwards escaped in the 

 guise of a woman. And he is a fugitive ; and Roger of 

 Wellington likewise. It is ordered that they be exacted, and 

 unless they come let them be outlawed." 



The sheriff of Salop was ordered, in 1274, to see that all 

 the venison taken for the king's use in the forest of that 

 county was forwarded without delay to Westminster, to be 

 there delivered to the keeper of the king's larder. 



