Folios: 302-303v. County of Yorkshire. Pleas of claims of liberties and quittances...

Folios: 302-303v. 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]:

The abbot of St Mary of York: The abbot claims to have the tithe of the whole venison of the forest of Pikeryng [Pickering] forever, namely in meat and hides, from whoever takes the said game, without labour and trouble, and that he and his successors can forever catch fox and hare in the forest without opposition of anyone, and similarly can hold a certain close in the marsh of Normanby enclosed from his own ground. And he says that Henry, late king of England, progenitor of the present king, granted to God and St Mary of York and the abbot of the same place, his predecessor, to have the whole tithe of his game of Everwyk Shira [Yorkshire] forever, namely in meat and hides, by a charter [recited], which he produces here and which bears witness to this, the charter being witnessed by Humphrey Bigcapel and Edmund the steward at Pickering. Which grant King John confirmed. By virtue of which charter and confirmation, he and all the abbots of the same place, his predecessors, from the time of the said grant, used to have the tithe of whole game of the said forest in meat and skins from whoever takes it without labour and trouble, as he claims above. And as regards catching fox and hare in the said forest without opposition, he says similarly that King John granted and confirmed to Robert, his predecessor as abbot, that he and his successors can forever take fox and hare in the forest throughout Yorkshire freely without opposition, by a charter which he produces here and which bears witness to this. Whereupon he says that by virtue of the said charter he and all abbots of the said place, his predecessors, always from time out of mind took hare and fox in the said forest, which is within the body of Yorkshire, without opposition from anyone. And as regards holding a certain close, etc, he says similarly that he and all his predecessors, from time out of mind, held it enclosed, etc. And he says that in the last eyre of the justices of this forest it was found by the ministers of the same forest that the said close is not harmful to the wild beasts of the lord, by which it was considered that the then abbot and his successors might so hold it forever. Whereupon he says that by this warrant he claims to have the tithe, etc, and to catch fox, etc, and to hold the said close, etc. And he seeks that his claim in this regard be allowed to him. And because it seems to the justices to be expedient and necessary to inquire into the possession of the same abbot and his predecessors in this matter before progress is made to the allowance of the said claims, the truth thereof is to be inquired into, etc.

Robert, son of William Wyerne, and Thomas Thurnyf: Robert and Thomas claim to have a woodward to keep their wood of Ebreston [Ebberston] according to the assize of the forest, and they claim to have bark from all oaks cut down and delivered by the bailiff or foresters of Pikeryng [Pickering] to anyone in the wood of Ebberston. And they say that a certain Thomas de Ebreston [Ebberston], at one time being seised of the manor of Ebberston, had a woodward and bark, as is contained in his claim, as if pertaining to the said manor, and he died seised thereof. After his death Thomas, his son, holds the manor by right of inheritance, and he had the said woodward and bark as if pertaining to the said manor. Which Thomas, son of Thomas afterwards enfeoffed William Thurnef of Snaynton [Snainton] and Americus Grygge of Scardeburgh [Scarborough] of the said manor, who, being seised of the said manor by virtue of the said feoffment, made a partition between them and they had the said woodward and bark. William enfeoffed Thomas Thurnef of a portion of the same manor, by virtue of which gift he is seised of part of the said manor and the profit thereof as if pertaining to a moiety of the said manor. And Americus enfeoffed Robert Wyerne, grandfather of the said Robert, whose heir he is, of his part of the same manor, to hold to him and his heirs forever. By virtue of which feoffment he was seised and he died seised thereof. And he had the share of the woodward and bark as if pertaining to a moiety of the same manor, and he died seised thereof. After his death, William de Wyerne, Robert's son and heir, entered into a moiety of the said manor and held it for the whole of his life and [held] his share of the said profit, etc, and he died seised thereof. After his death a moiety of the said manor, together with the share of the said profit, descended to William's son and heir. And so they say that they and all the tenants of the said manor, from time out of mind, had a woodward in their said wood and the bark from all felled oaks, etc. And this they are ready to verify. Therefore the truth is to be inquired into by the ministers of the same forest.

Held on: Monday next after Michaelmas 8 Edw III.