been exercised by himself and his ancestors from ancient time, the
housebote and hedgebote being appurtenant to his free tenement in
Levisham, and brousewood and dry wood being taken to feed his furnaces. An
inquiry is directed, and it is found that Sir John and his ancestors have
from ancient time enjoyed the rights so claimed without interruption.
Judgment is given in accordance with the verdict."

"Ralph de Bulmer claims to have a free park at Thornton Riseborough, and
to keep hounds to hunt there. He claims that King John by deed granted to
one Alan de Winton, then holder of the park, and his heirs, liberty to
inclose and make a free park, and to keep his hounds to hunt there; by
virtue whereof Alan, whose estate he now holds, exercised the rights. He
says that Edward II. inspected the grant of John, and granted to Ralph,
that he and his heirs might hold the park with its appurtenances as Alan
held it, without let or hindrance on the part of the King or his Justices,
Escheators, Sheriffs, or other bailiffs, or officers whatsoever.

"Thomas de Pickering and Margaret, his wife, claim to have a woodward to
keep their demesne wood at Lockton, and that no one may lop branches
therein or fell any tree without their consent, and that they may fell and
give away at pleasure green trees and dry, and give and sell dry trees at
pleasure without view of the foresters." In the following claim a mention
is made of the "wildcat." "Thomas Wake of Liddell claims to have a free
chase for fox, hare, wildcat, and badger, within the boundaries of his
barony of Middleton, namely, from the place called Alda on the Costa to
the standing stone above the Spital Myre of Pickering, etc."

"Hugh de Nevill is indicted, for that whilst he was bailiff of Pickering,
under colour of his office, he arrested one Robert the Dyer, lately
residing in Ebberston, bound his hands as if he were a felon, though he
had not been indicted, and took from him a horse, harness, and other goods
and chattels to the value of 20s. Afterwards he entrusted him to the care
of his servant to take to York, but when they reached Malton, the servant
let his prisoner escape.

"Henry de Rippley, sub-bailiff of Pickering, fined for having seized goods
and chattels of Sir Robert de Scarborough, at Ebberston, for which he was
indicted and found guilty on his own confession, 3s 4d."

A case in which the poachers showed their total disregard for the officers
of the forest is give