THE FORESTS OF WILTS 327 



served, as it forms the noble park round Tottenham House, 

 the seat of the Marquis of Ailesbury. Outside the actual 

 deer park, on the east, is a considerable extent of heavily 

 timbered open ground. 



CHUTE 



Chute forest lay to the south-west of that of Savernake, and 

 extended some distance into Hampshire, though always con- 

 sidered to be in the main a Wiltshire forest. In early days it 

 seemed to have joined Savernake forest, and was at times 

 under the same chief keepership. The entries as to royal gifts 

 from this forest by Henry III. are numerous. Red deer (both 

 harts and hinds) were presented to royal favourites, and also 

 dispatched hence for the king's table ; oaks were bestowed, 

 inter alia, on the abbess of St. Mary's, Winchester, and on 

 the prioress of Amesbury for building purposes, and on the 

 Countess of Pembroke for repairing the mills at Newbury. 



The original records relative to this forest, temp. Edward IV. 

 and Henry VII., are numerous. The presentments at the 

 swainmote courts of 1485-6 include one for creating "a 

 pyggyshouse " by the boundary oak within the forest. The 

 forester of the west baily reported the death, through murrain, 

 during that year, of two bucks, four does, and a sorrel, whilst 

 the forester of the east baily returned the death, through 

 a like cause, of three bucks, one sore, eight does, and three 

 fawns. Sir Nicholas Lysle was the warden or keeper, and 

 under him were three foresters for the respective wards of the 

 west baily, the east baily, and Hippingscomb, as well as one 

 riding or itinerant forester. The ministers also included two 

 verderers and two agisters. 



These forest pleas for Chute were heard at Andover by 

 Justices Ratcliff and Gray, on 4th September, 1490. Sir 

 Nicholas Lysle, "warden by olde inheritaunce of ye Forest of 

 Chutte," petitioned the king, complaining of interruption of 

 his privileges by the forest justices. Among his vert claims 

 were an acre with its bear of the coppice wood set to sale, 

 and all wood felled and not carried away before the fence 

 month, which had hitherto been always allowed to him and his 

 ancestors for the guarding and safe keeping of the forest ; 



