Folios: 259-261v. County of Yorkshire. Pleas of the forest of Henry, earl of Lancaster,...

Folios: 259-261v. County of Yorkshire. Pleas of the forest of Henry, earl of Lancaster, of Pikeryng [Pickering], held at Pickering before Richard de Wylughby [Willoughby], Robert de Hungerford and John de Hambury, justices itinerant on this occasion assigned to take pleas of the said forest in Yorkshire: Presentments upon the articles of the forest at Pykeryng [Pickering] before Richard de Wylughby [Willoughby], Robert de Hungerford and John Hambury, justices:

The bridge and way of Pul: The jurors present that the bridge and way of Pul within this forest, which are common transits for carts and all other carriages or pack-horses, are so ruined and broken that no one can cross through there, and that the prior of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem in England, by reason of the lands and tenements which were of the master and brothers of the order of the knighthood of the Temple of Solomon, and the prioress of Yedyngham [Yedingham] are held to repair and maintain the said bridge and way. Therefore the sheriff is ordered that he causes them to come, etc.

The prior of Bridlyngton [Bridlington]: The jurors present that the prior has his dogs in the soke of Scalby within the metes of the forest, and they are not hambled, contrary to the assize of the forest, by what warrant they do not know. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

The abbot of Ryevall' [Rievaulx]: The jurors present that the abbot has very often fished in the rivers Derewent [Derwent], Costa [Costa Beck] and Rya [Rye], which are demesne rivers and the boundaries of the forest of Pikeryng [Pickering], to the damage of the earl, but by what warrant they do not know. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause them to come, etc.

The abbot of Whiteby [Whitby]: The jurors present that, whereas the abbot of Whiteby [Whitby], has one close at Gotheland [Goathland] in this forest in a place called Frerestede, where he ought to have from ancient times 20 cows and one bull only, etc, [he has] more, to the nuisance of the wild beasts of that forest, by what warrant they do not know. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

The abbot of Whiteby [Whitby]: The jurors present that the current abbot of Whiteby [Whitby] and some of his tenants, by his demise, hold within this forest in a place called Westcroft 28 acres of land of old assart, and he holds that assart enclosed, and the said tenants for each acre of the same assart pay 6d to the abbot every year, by what warrant they do not know. The sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

The abbot of Whiteby [Whitby]: The abbot holds one cow-pasture in Gotheland [Goathland] in this forest to the damage of the earl and the nuisance of the wild beasts of the same forest, by what warrant they do not know. The sheriff is ordered to make him come, etc.

Gilbert de Aton [Ayton]: The jurors present that Gilbert caused there to be agisted external beasts in the marsh of Hoton [Hutton] outside the coppice to the nuisance of the wild beasts of the lord of this forest, by what warrant they do not know. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

Gilbert de Aton [Ayton]: The jurors present that Gilbert caused there to be agisted external beasts in the marsh of Hoton [Hutton] outside the coppice to the nuisance of the wild beasts of the lord of this forest, by what warrant they do not know. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

Master John de Edbreston [Ebberston], shepherd of Thomas del Stroyer, William del Howe, and Robert, son of Alan de Northumbria: The jurors present that they have overburdened the pasture in this forest by attracting all external beasts from the country to the nuisance of the wild beasts of the lord of this forest and the damage of the lord. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause them to come.

Robert Couperell, late groom of the forester in Foulewode [Fullwood], Thomas le Fleccher, groom of Richard de Helmele [Helmsley], Ralph son of Maud, late groom of Geoffrey de Kynthorp [Kingthorpe], Thomas le Pynder, late groom of Robert de Neustede [Newstead], woodward of Thornton, Roger, groom of Richard de Dalby, late woodward of Brumpton [Brompton], Richard Malleson, groom of the same Richard, Thomas Barry, late groom in the hay, William Reysemist, Richard Shiphill, Henry Foushan, and John son of Adam, groom of Hugh de Meland: The jurors present that the aforesaid men, not being sworn, pledge very many men passing in the forest, and so they have pledged Hugh Geryng and John Edmund and very many others contrary to the assize of the forest. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause them to come.

Robert de Wygan [Wigan], late riding-forester in this forest: The jurors present that, by colour of his office, Robert took the draught beasts of Edbreston [Ebberston] into the commons of Roston [Ruston] and Wykham [Wykeham] and drove them from the forest to Hakenesse [Hackness], and imparked them there contrary to the assize of the forest, until the men of the said vill made fine with him by half a mark for delivering the said beasts. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to make him come, etc.

John de Shirburn [Sherburn]: The jurors present that John carried timber from Stonidale in the forest at the estimation of one oak, worth 6d, to Shirburn [Sherburn] outside the forest to build his houses there contrary to the assize of the forest. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

Hugh de Yeland [Yealand], late riding-forester of Estward [the East Ward] of this forest: The jurors present that, by colour of his bailiwick, Hugh has one mare with two colts in the hay of Scalby, and that on account of his desire and insufficient custody, dry wood and branches are carried away from the said hay of Scalby yearly to the damage of the lord in 2s. And that, by colour of his bailiwick, Hugh takes from every man of Hartoft half a bushel of oats to the great oppression of the said men. Therefore the sheriff is ordered to cause him to come, etc.

Held on: Monday next after Michaelmas 8 Edw III.