334 THE ROYAL FORESTS OF ENGLAND 



the length and breadth of the vast area under forest law in the 

 thirteenth century would have been impossible to Execute and 

 absurd to attempt. 



Another interesting point about the Somerset eyre of 1257 is 

 the presentment of the woodwards of wood owners. It appears 

 that at that period the presentment of such officials before the 

 justices was obligatory. Thus John Syward, the woodward of 

 the Bishop of Bath and Wells for the wood of Cheddar, had 

 been presented by the bishop's steward to William de Plessis, 



THE HARE (TURBERVILE) 



the hereditary keeper, but not before the forest justice ; where- 

 upon the bishop was declared in mercy and the wood taken 

 into the king's hands. Before, however, the eyre closed, the 

 bishop's steward appeared, made fine for the wood, and pre- 

 sented Syward to the justices, who took the necessary oaths. 

 Thereupon the wood was restored to the bishop. Like proce- 

 dure was taken with regard to another of the bishop's wood- 

 wards, as well as a woodward of the abbot of St. Augustine's, 

 Bristol. At the same pleas, the abbess of Shaftesbury and two 

 laymen duly presented their respective woodwards. 



Pleas of the forest were again held for Somerset in May, 



