238 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



As the Conqueror built Rockingham castle, it is practically 

 certain that, at the same time, he afforested the district around, 

 and probably included within its then vast bounds the whole 

 of the Nassaburgh hundred. 



HUNTING COSTUME. FOURTEENTH CENTURY 

 (See p. 65.) 



The earliest known record of forest pleas, which is among 

 the "Treasury of Receipt Forest Proceedings" of the Public 

 Record Office, pertains to this county, and has been given in 

 extenso by Mr. Turner; it relates to the pleas held at Northamp- 

 ton on 2Oth February, 1209. The proceedings are full of in- 

 terest. The following are some examples of the cases brought 



