THE NEW FOREST DEER 77 



promise for the inevitable subscription towards 

 the building of the new Abbey. These royal 

 personages and great churchmen were infinitely 

 human ! 



But the deer and the care of them, at an 

 assize held shortly after the date last mentioned, 

 led to a very serious charge and conviction 

 against a prominent Forest official for it was 

 presented " that John le Espaniell yeoman 

 [valetus] to the Queen took in the Forest in 

 55 Henry III, twenty does for the behoof of the 

 Queen, and Walter de Kane' took in the same 

 year one hart [cervus] and six bucks [damos] for 

 the behoof of the Queen. And the said John le 

 Espainell was in the same year with the Queen 

 in foreign parts. The verderers and foresters 

 being asked present this. They say that Walter 

 de Kane' caused this to be so enrolled and well 

 they recollect that the said John took the said 

 bucks though they erred in their presentation. 

 But they say that Walter took venison at his 

 own will at all times of the year when he was 

 steward. The verderers are amerced for a bad 

 presentation concerning John. Concerning Walter 

 the verderers and foresters being asked as to 

 the destruction which the said Walter made for 

 venison in the Forest, say that he and John 

 de Buttesthorne and William de Barthon, and 



