Folios: 300-300v. County of Yorkshire. Pleas of claims of liberties and quittances...

Folios: 300-300v. County of Yorkshire. Pleas of claims of liberties and quittances at Pikeryng [Pickering] before Richard de Wylughby [Willoughby], Robert de Hungerford and John de Hambury, justices itinerant assigned for pleas of the forest in the forest of Henry, earl of Lancaster, of Pikeryng [Pickering]:

John de Melsa [Meaux], knight: John claims to have housebote and haybote for himself, his men and tenants of Levesham [Levisham] in his woods of Levisham according to the assize of the forest, and to have reasonable estover from digging turves for himself and his said men and tenants in his demesnes of Levisham, and to have a forge and mine for iron in his woods of Levisham, paying 2s yearly to the earl for this; and to have nests of falcons, merlins and sparrowhawks and honey found in his woods of Levisham. And he claims to have a woodward in his woods of Levisham. And he says that he and all his ancestors, from time out of mind, used for themselves, their men and tenants to have housebote and haybote in the said woods, as pertaining to their free tenement in the same vill. And similarly to have reasonable estover from digging turves for themselves, their men and tenants in their demesnes of Levisham, and he and all his ancestors always, from time out mind, used and enjoyed [these liberties]. And he says similarly that he and all his ancestors always, from time out mind, had a forge and mine for iron in their woods of Levisham and took windfallen and dry wood in the same for the maintenance of the same by the said rent. And similarly they had nests of falcons, merlins and sparrowhawks and honey found in the same woods, and similarly a woodward in the same, and this he is ready to verify by the ministers of the forest. And because it seems to the justices to be expedient and necessary that it be inquired into how John and his ancestors used the said liberties, the truth is to be inquired into, etc.

Held on: Monday next after Michaelmas 8 Edw III.