The 16th day of _October_, in the year of our Lord 1649, the
Commissioners for surveying and valuing his majestie’s mannor-house,
parks, woods, deer, demesnes, and all things thereunto belonging, by
name Captain Crook, Captain Hart, Captain Cockaine, Captain Carelesse,
and Captain Roe, their messenger, with Mr. Browne, their secretary, and
two or three servants, went from Woodstock town, (where they had lain
some nights before,) and took up their lodgings in his majestie’s house
after this manner: The bed-chamber and withdrawing-room they both
lodged in and made their kitchen; the presence-chamber their room for
dispatch of their business with all commers; of the council-hall their
brew-house, as of the dining-room, their wood-house, where they laid in
the clefts of that antient standard in the High-Park, for many ages
beyond memory known by the name of the King’s Oak, which they had
chosen out, and caused to be dug up by the roots.
_October_ 17. About the middle of the night, these new guests were
first awaked by a knocking at the presence-chamber door, which they
also conceived did open, and something to enter, which came through the
room, and also walkt about that room with a heavy step during half an
hour, then crept under the bed where Captain Hart and Captain Carelesse
lay, where it did seem (as it were) to bite and gnaw the mat and
bed-coards, as if it would tear and rend the feather beds; which having
done a while, then would heave a while, and rest; then heave them up
again in the bed more high than it did before, sometime on the one
side, sometime on the other, as if it had tried which Captain was
heaviest. Thus having heaved some half an hour, from thence it walkt
out and went under the servants’ bed, and did the like to them; hence
it walkt into a withdrawing room, and there did the same to all who
lodged there. Thus having welcomed them for more than two hours’ space,
it walkt out as it came in, and shut the outer door again, but with the
clap of some mightie force. These guests were in a sweat all this
while, but out of it falling into a sleep again, it became morning
first before they spake their minds; then would they have it to be a
dog, yet they described it more to the likeness of a great bear; so
fell to the examining under the beds, where, finding only the mats
scracht, but the bed-coards whole, and the quarter of beef which lay on
the floor untoucht, they entertained other thoughts.
_October_ 18. They were all awaked as the night before, and now
conceived that they heard all the great clefts of the King’s Oak
brought into the presence-chamber, and there thumpt down, and after
roul about the room; they could hear their chairs and stools tost from
one side of the room unto the other, and then (as it were) altogether
josled. Thus having done an hour together, it walkt into the
withdrawing-room, where lodged the two captains, the secretary, and two
servants; here stopt the thing a while, as if it did take breath, but
raised a hideous one, then walkt into the bed-chamber, where lay those
as before, and under the bed it went, where it did heave and heave
again, that now they in bed were put to catch hold upon bed-posts, and
sometimes one of the other, to prevent their being tumbled out upon the
ground; then coming out as from under the bed, and taking hold upon the
bed-posts, it would shake the whole bed, almost as if a cradle rocked.
Thus having done here for half an hour, it went into the
withdrawing-room, where first it came and stood at the bed’s feet, and
heaving up the bed’s feet, flopt them down again a while, until at last
it heaved the feet so high that those in bed thought to have been set
upon their heads; and having thus for two hours entertained them, went
out as in the night before, but with a great noise.
_October_ 19. This night they awaked not until the midst of the night;
they perceived the room, to shake with something that walkt about the
bedchamber, which having done so a while, it walkt into a
withdrawing-room, where it took up a brasse warming-pan, and returning
with it into the bed-chamber, therein made so loud a noise, in these
captains’ own words, it was as loud and scurvy as a ring of five
untuned bells rung backward; but the captains, not to seem afraid, next
day made mirth of what had past, and jested at the devil in the pan.
_October_ 20. These captains and their company, still lodging as
before, were wakened in this night with some things flying about the
rooms, and out of one room into the other, as thrown with some great
force. Captain Hart, being in a slumber, was taken by the shoulder and
shaked until he did sit up in his bed, thinking that it had been one of
his fellows, when suddenly he was taken on the pate with a trencher,
that it made him shrink down into the bed-clothes, and all of them, in
both rooms, kept their heads at least within their sheets, so fiercely
did three dozen of trenchers fly about the rooms; yet Captain Hart
ventured again to peep out to see what was the matter, and what it was
that threw, but then the trenchers came so fast and neer about his
ears, that he was fain quickly to couch again. In the morning they
found all their trenchers, pots, and spits, upon and about their beds,
and all such things as were of common use scattered about the rooms.
This night there were also, in several parts of the room and outer
rooms, such noises of beating at doors, and on the walls, as if that
several smiths had been at work; and yet our captains shrunk not from
their work, but went on in that, and lodged as they had done before.
_October_ 21. About midnight they heard great knocking at every door;
after a while the doors flew open, and into the withdrawing-room
entered something as of a mighty proportion, the figure of it they knew
not how to describe. This walkt awhile about the room shaking the floor
at every step, then came it up close to the bed-side, where lay
Captains Crook and Carelesse; and after a little pause, as it were, the
bed-curtains, both at sides and feet, were drawn up and down slowly,
then faster again for a quarter of an hour, then from end to end as
fast as imagination can fancie the running of the rings, then shaked it
the beds, as if the joints thereof had crackt; then walkt the thing
into the bed-chamber, and so plaied with those beds there; then took up
eight peuter dishes, and bouled them about the room and over the
servants in the truckle-beds; then sometimes were the dishes taken up
and thrown crosse the high beds and against the walls, and so much
battered; but there were more dishes wherein was meat in the same room,
that were not at all removed. During this, in the presence-chamber
there was stranger noise of weightie things thrown down, and, as they
supposed, the clefts of the King’s Oak did roul about the room, yet at
the wonted hour went away, and left them to take rest, such as they
could.
_October_ 22. Hath mist of being set down, the officers imployed in
their work farther off, came not that day to Woodstock.
_October_ 23. Those that lodged in the withdrawing-room, in the midst
of the night were awakened with the cracking of fire, as if it had been
with thorns and sparks of fire burning, whereupon they supposed that
the bed-chamber had taken fire, and listning to it farther, they heard
their fellows in bed sadly groan, which gave them to suppose they might
be suffocated; wherefore they called upon their servants to make all
possible hast to help them. When the two servants were come in, they
found all asleep, and so brought back word, but that there were no
bedclothes upon them; wherefore they were sent back to cover them, and
to stir up and mend the fire. When the servants had covered them and
were come to the chimney, in the corners they found their wearing
apparrel, boots, and stockings, but they had no sooner toucht the
embers, when the firebrands flew about their ears so fast, that away
ran they into the other room for the shelter of their cover-lids; then
after them walkt something that stampt about the room as if it had been
exceeding angry, and likewise threw about the trenchers, platters, and
all such things in the room—after two hours went out, yet stampt again
over their heads.
_October_ 24. They lodged all abroad.
_October_ 25. This afternoon was come unto them Mr. Richard Crook the
lawyer, brother to Captain Crook, and now deputy-steward of the manner,
unto Captain Parsons and Major Butler, who had put out Mr. Hyans, his
majestie’s officer. To entertain this new guest the Commissioners
caused a very great fire to be made, of neer the chimneyfull of wood of
the King’s Oak, and he was lodged in the withdrawing-room with his
brother, and his servant in the same room. About the midst of the night
a wonderful knocking was heard, and into the room something did rush,
which coming to the chimney-side, dasht out the fire as with the stamp
of some prodigious foot, then threw down such weighty stuffe, what ere
it was, (they took it to be the residue of the clefts and roots of the
King’s Oak,) close by the bed-side, that the house and bed shook with
it. Captain Cockaine and his fellow arose, and took their swords to go
unto the Crooks. The noise ceased at their rising, so that they came to
the door and called. The two brothers, though fully awaked, and heard
them call, were so amazed, that they made no answer until Captain
Cockaine had recovered the boldness to call very loud, and came unto
the bed-side; then faintly first, after some more assurance, they came
to understand one another, and comforted the lawyer. Whilst this was
thus, no noise was heard, which made them think the time was past of
that night’s trouble, so that, after some little conference, they
applied themselves to take some rest. When Captain Cockaine was come to
his own bed, which he had left open, he found it closely covered, which
he much wondered at; but turning the clothes down, and opening it to
get in, he found the lower sheet strewed over with trenchers. Their
whole three dozen of trenchers were orderly disposed between the
sheets, which he and his fellow endeavoring to cast out, such noise
arose about the room, that they were glad to get into bed with some of
the trenchers. The noise lasted, a full half hour after this. This
entertainment so ill did like the lawyer, and being not so well studied
in the point as to resolve this the devil’s law case, that he next day
resolved to be gone; but having not dispatcht all that he came for,
profit and perswasions prevailed with him to stay the other hearing, so
that he lodged as he did the night before.
_October_ 26. This night each room was better furnished with fire and
candle than before; yet about twelve at night came something in that
dasht all out, then did walk about the room, making a noise, not to be
set forth by the comparison with any other thing; sometimes came it to
the bedsides, and drew the curtains to and fro, then twerle them, then
walk about again, and return to the bed-posts, shake them with all the
bed, so that they in bed were put to hold one upon the other, then walk
about the room again, and come to the servants’ bed, and gnaw and
scratch the wainscot head, and shake altogether in that room; at the
time of this being in doing, they in the bed-chamber heard such strange
dropping down from the roof of the room, that they supposed ’twas like
the fall of money by the sound. Captain Cockaine, not frightened with
so small a noise, (and lying near the chimney) stept out, and made
shift to light a candle, by the light of which he perceived the room
strewed over with broken glass, green, and some of it as it were pieces
of broken bottles; he had not been long considering what it was, when
suddenly his candle was hit out, and glass flew about the room, that he
made haste to the protection of the coverlets; the noise of thundering
rose more hideous than at any time before; yet, at a certain time, all
vanisht into calmness. The morning after was the glass about the room,
which the maid that was to make clean the rooms swept up into a corner,
and many came to see it. But Mr. Richard Crook would stay no longer,
yet as he stopt, going through Woodstock town, he was there heard to
say, that he would not lodge amongst them another night for a fee of
500 L.
_October 27_. The Commissioners had not yet done their work, wherefore
they must stay; and being all men of the sword, they must not seem
afraid to encounter with any thing, though it be the devil; therefore,
with pistols charged, and drawn swords laied by their bedsides, they
applied themselves to take some rest, when something in the midst of
night, so opened and shut the window casements with such claps, that it
awakened all that slept; some of them peeping out to look what was the
matter with the windows, stones flew about the rooms as if hurled with
many hands; some hit the walls, and some the beds’ heads close above
the pillows, the dints of which were then, and yet (it is conceived)
are to be seen, thus sometime throwing stones, and sometime making
thundering noise for two hours space it ceast, and all was quiet till
the morn. After their rising, and the maid come in to make the fire,
they looked about the rooms; they found fourscore stones brought in
that night, and going to lay them together in the corner where the
glass (before mentioned) had been swept up, they found that every piece
of glass had been carried away that night. Many people came next day to
see the stones, and all observed that they were not of such kind of
stones as are naturall in the countrey thereabout; with these were
noise like claps of thunder, or report of cannon planted against the
rooms, heard by all that lodged in the outer courts, to their
astonishment, and at Woodstock town, taken to be thunder.
_October_ 28. This night, both strange and differing noise from the
former first wakened Captain Hart, who lodged in the bed-chamber, who,
hearing Roe and Brown to groan, called out to Cockaine and Crook to
come and help them, for Hart could not now stir himself; Cockaine would
faine have answered, but he could not, or look about; something, he
thought, stopt both his breath and held down his eye-lids. Amazed thus,
he struggles and kickt about, till he had awaked Captain Crook, who,
half asleep, grew very angry at his kicks, and multiplied words, it
grew to an appointment in the field; but this fully recovered Cockaine
to remember that Captain Hart had called for help, wherefore to them he
ran in the other room, whom he found sadly groaning, where, scraping in
the chimney, he both found a candle and fire to light it; but had not
gone two steps, when something blew the candle out, and threw him in
the chair by the bedside, when presently cried out Captain Carelesse,
with a most pitiful voice, “Come hither, O come hither, brother
Cockaine, the thing’s gone of me.” Cockaine, scarce yet himself, helpt
to set him up in his bed, and after Captain Hart, and having scarce
done that to them, and also to the other two, they heard Captain Crook
crying out, as if something had been killing him. Cockaine snacht up
the sword that lay by their bed, and ran into the room to save Crook,
but was in much more likelyhood to kill him, for at his coming, the
thing that pressed Crook went of him, at which Crook started out of his
bed, whom Cockaine thought a spirit made at him, at which Crook cried
out “Lord help, Lord save me;” Cockaine let fall his hand, and Crook,
embracing Cockaine, desired his reconcilement, giving him many thanks
for his deliverance. Then rose they all and came together, discoursed
sometimes godly and sometimes praied, for all this while was there such
stamping over the roof of the house, as if 1000 horse had there been
trotting; this night all the stones brought in the night before, and
laid up in the withdrawingroom, were all carried again away by that
which brought them in, which at the wonted time left of, and, as it
were, went out, and so away.
_October_ 29. Their businesse having now received so much forwardnesse
as to be neer dispatcht, they encouraged one the other, and resolved to
try further; therefore, they provided more lights and fires, and
further for their assistance, prevailed with their ordinary keeper to
lodge amongst them, and bring his mastive bitch; and it was so this
night with them, that they had no disturbance at all.
_October_ 30. So well they had passed the night before, that this night
they went to bed, confident and careless; untill about twelve of the
clock, something knockt at the door as with a smith’s great hammer, but
with such force as if it had cleft the door; then ent’red something
like a bear, but seem’d to swell more big, and walkt about the room,
and out of one room into the other, treading so heavily, as the floare
had not been strong enough to beare it. When it came into the
bed-chamber, it dasht against the beds’ heads some kind of glass
vessell, that broke in sundry pieces, and sometimes would take up those
pieces, and hurle them about the room, and into the other room; and
when it did not hurle the glasse at their heads, it did strike upon the
tables, as if many smiths, with their greatest hammers, had been laying
on as upon an anvil; sometimes it thumpt against the walls as if it
would beat a hole through; then upon their heads, such stamping, as if
the roof of the house were beating down upon their heads; and having
done thus, during the space (as was conjectured) of two hours, it
ceased and vanished, but with a more fierce shutting of the doors than
at any time before. In the morning they found the pieces of glass about
the room, and observed, that it was much differing from that glasse
brought in three nights before, this being of a much thicker substance,
which severall persons which came in carried away some pieces of. The
Commissioners were in debate of lodging there no more; but all their
businesse was not done, and some of them were so conceited as to
believe, and to attribute the rest they enjoyed the night before this
last, unto the mastive bitch; wherefore, they resolved to get more
company, and the mastive bitch, and try another night.
_October_ 31. This night, the fires and lights prepared, the ordinary
keeper and his bitch, with another man perswaded by him, they all took
their beds and fell asleep. But about twelve at night, such rapping was
on all sides of them, that it wakened all of them; as the doors did
seem to open, the mastive bitch fell fearfully a yelling, and presently
ran fiercely into the bed to them in the truckle-bed; as the thing came
by the table, it struck so fierce a blow on that, as that it made the
frame to crack, then took the warming-pan from off the table, and
stroke it against the walls with so much force as that it was beat flat
together, lid and bottom. Now were they hit as they lay covered over
head and ears within the bed-clothes. Captain Carelesse was taken a
sound blow on the head with the shoulder-blade bone of a dead horse,
(before they had been but thrown at, when they peept up, and mist;)
Browne had a shrewed blow on the leg with the backbone, and another on
the head, and every one of them felt severall blows of bones and stones
through the bed-clothes, for now these things were thrown as from an
angry hand that meant further mischief; the stones flew in at window as
shot out of a gun, nor was the bursts lesse (as from without) than of a
cannon, and all the windows broken down. Now as the hurling of the
things did cease, and the thing walkt up and down, Captain Cockaine and
Hart cried out, In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, what
are you? What would you have? What have we done that you disturb us
thus? No voice replied, (as the Captains said, yet some of their
servants have said otherwise,) and the noise ceast. Hereupon Captains
Hart and Cockaine rose, who lay in the bed-chamber, renewed the fire
and lights, and one great candle, in a candlestick, they placed in the
door, that might be seen by them in both the rooms. No sooner were they
got to bed, but the noise arose on all sides more loud and hideous than
at any time before, insomuch as (to use the Captains’ own words) it
returned and brought seven devils worse than itself; and presently they
saw the candle and candlestick in the passage of the door, dasht up to
the roof of the room, by a kick of the hinder parts of a horse, and
after with the hoof trode out the snuff, and so dasht out the fire in
the chimnies. As this was done, there fell, as from the ceiling, upon
them in the truckle-beds such quantities of water, as if it had been
poured out of buckets, which stunk worse than any earthly stink could
make; and as this was in doing, something crept under the high beds,
tost them up to the roof of the house, with the Commissioners in them,
until the testers of the beds were beaten down upon, and the
bedsted-frames broke under them; and here some pause being made, they
all, as if with one consent, started up, and ran down the stairs until
they came into the Councel Hall, where two sate up a-brewing, but now
were fallen asleep; those they scared much with the wakening of them,
having been much perplext before with the strange noise, which commonly
was taken by them abroad for thunder, sometimes for rumbling wind. Here
the Captains and their company got fire and candle, and every one
carrying something of either, they returned into the Presence-Chamber,
where some applied themselves to make the fire, whilst others fell to
prayers, and having got some clothes about them, they spent the residue
of the night in singing psalms and prayers; during which, no noise was
in that room, but most hideously round about, as at some distance.
It should have been told before, how that when Captain Hart first rose
this night, (who lay in the bed-chamber next the fire,) he found their
book of valuations crosse the embers smoaking, which he snacht up and
cast upon the table there, which the night before was left upon the
table in the presence amongst their other papers; this book was in the
morning found a handful burnt, and had burnt the table where it lay;
Browne the clerk said, he would not for a 100 and a 100 L that it had
been burnt a handful further.
This night it happened that there were six cony-stealers, who were come
with their nets and ferrets to the cony-burrows by Rosamond’s Well; but
with the noise this night from the Mannor-house, they were so
terrified, that like men distracted away they ran, and left their haies
all ready pitched, ready up, and the ferrets in the cony-burrows.
Now the Commissioners, more sensible of their danger, considered more
seriously of their safety, and agreed to go and confer with Mr.
Hoffman, the minister of Wotton, (a man not of the meanest note for
life or learning, by some esteemed more high,) to desire his advice,
together with his company and prayers. Mr. Hoffman held it too high a
point to resolve on suddenly and by himself, wherefore desired time to
consider upon it, which being agreed unto, he forthwith rode to Mr.
Jenkinson and Mr. Wheat, the two next Justices of Peace, to try what
warrant they could give him for it. They both (as ’tis said from
themselves) encouraged him to be assisting to the Commissioners,
according to his calling.
But certain it is, that when they came to fetch him to go with them,
Mr. Hoffman answered, that he would not lodge there one night for 500
L, and being asked to pray with them, he held up his hands and said,
that he would not meddle upon any terms.
Mr. Hoffman refusing to undertake the quarrel, the Commissioners held
it not safe to lodge where they had been thus entertained any longer,
but caused all things to be removed into the chambers over the
gatehouse, where they stayed but one night, and what rest they enjoyed
there, we have but an uncertain relation of, for they went away early
the next morning; but if it may be held fit to set down what hath been
delivered by the report of others, they were also the same night much
affrighted with dreadful apparitions; but observing that these passages
spread much in discourse, to be also in particulars taken notice of,
and that the nature of it made not for their cause, they agreed to the
concealing of things for the future; yet this is well-known and
certain, that the gate-keeper’s wife was in so strange an agony in her
bed, and in her bed-chamber such noise, (whilst her husband was above
with the Commissioners,) that two maids in the next room to her, durst
not venture to assist her, but affrighted ran out to call company, and
their master, and found the woman (at their coming in) gasping for
breath; and the next day said, that she saw and suffered that, which
for all the world she would not be hired to again.
From Woodstock the Commissioners removed unto Euelme, and some of them
returned to Woodstock the Sunday se’nnight after, (the book of
Valuations wanting something that was for haste left imperfect,) but
lodged not in any of those rooms where they had lain before, and yet
were not unvisited (as they confess themselves) by the devil, whom they
called their nightly guest; Captain Crook came not untill Tuesday
night, and how he sped that night the gate-keeper’s wife can tell if
she dareth, but what she hath whispered to her gossips, shall not be
made a part of this our narrative, nor many more particulars which have
fallen from the Commissioners themselves and their servants to other
persons; they are all or most of them alive, and may add to it when
they please, and surely have not a better way to be revenged of him who
troubled them, than according to the proverb, tell truth and shame the
devil.
There remains this observation to be added, that on a Wednesday morning
all these officers went away; and that since then diverse persons of
severall qualities, have lodged often and sometimes long in the same
rooms, both in the presence, withdrawing-room, and bed-chamber
belonging unto his sacred Majesty; yet none have had the least
disturbance, or heard the smallest noise, for which the cause was not
as ordinary as apparent, except the Commissioners and their company,
who came in order to the alienating and pulling down the house, which
is wellnigh performed.
A SHORT SURVEY OF WOODSTOCK, NOT TAKEN BY ANY OF THE BEFORE-MENTIONED
COMMISSIONERS.
(This Survey of Woodstock is appended to the preceding pamphlet)
The noble seat, called Woodstock, is one of the ancient honours
belonging to the crown. Severall mannors owe suite and service to the
place; but the custom of the countrey giving it but the title of a
mannor, we shall erre with them to be the better understood.
The mannor-house hath been a large fabrick, and accounted amongst his
majestie’s standing houses, because there was alwaies kept a standing
furniture. This great house was built by King Henry the First, but
ampleyfied with the gate-house and outsides of the outer-court, by King
Henry the Seventh, the stables by King James.
About a bow-shot from the gate south-west, remain foundation signs of
that structure, erected by King Henry the Second, for the security of
Lady Rosamond, daughter of Walter Lord Clifford, which some poets have
compared to the Dedalian labyrinth, but the form and circuit both of
the place and ruins show it to have been a house and of one pile,
perhaps of strength, according to the fashion of those times, and
probably was fitted with secret places of recess, and avenues to hide
or convey away such persons as were not willing to be found if narrowly
sought after. About the midst of the place ariseth a spring, called at
present Rosamond’s Well; it is but shallow, and shows to have been
paved and walled about, likely contrived for the use of them within the
house, when it should be of danger to go out.
A quarter of a mile distant from the King’s house, is seated Woodstook
town, new and old. This new Woodstock did arise by some buildings which
Henry the Second gave leave to be erected, (as received by tradition,)
at the suite of the Lady Rosamond, for the use of out-servants upon the
wastes of the manner of Bladon, where is the mother church; this is a
hamlet belonging to it, though encreased to a market town by the
advantage of the Court residing sometime near, which of late years they
have been sensible of the want of; this town was made a corporation in
the 11th year of Henry the Sixth, by charter, with power to send two
burgesses to parliament or not, as they will themselves.
Old Woodstock is seated on the west side of the brook, named Glyme,
which also runneth through the park; the town consists not of above
four or five houses, but it is to be conceived that it hath been much
larger, (but very anciently so,) for in some old law historians there
is mention of the assize at Woodstock, for a law made in a Micelgemote
(the name of Parliaments before the coming of the Norman) in the days
of King Ethelred.
And in like manner, that thereabout was a king’s house, if not in the
same place where Henry the First built the late standing pile before
his; for in such days those great councils were commonly held in the
King’s palaces. Some of those lands have belonged to the orders of the
Knights Templers, there being records which call them, _Terras quas Rex
excambiavit cum Templariis_.
But now this late large mannor-house is in a manner almost turned into
heaps of rubbish; some seven or eight rooms left for the accommodation
of a tenant that should rent the King’s medows, (of those who had no
power to let them,) with several high uncovered walls standing, the
prodigious spectacles of malice unto monarchy, which ruines still bear
semblance of their state, and yet aspire in spight of envy, or of
weather, to show, What kings do build, subjects may sometimes shake,
but utterly can never overthrow.
That part of the park called the High-park, hath been lately subdivided
by Sir Arthur Haselrig, to make pastures for his breed of colts, and
other parts plowed up. Of the whole saith Roffus Warwicensis, in MS.
Hen. I. p. 122. _Fecit iste Rex Parcum de Woodstock, cum Palatio, infra
prædictum Parcum, qui Parcus erat primus Parcus Angliæ, et continet in
circuitu septem Miliaria; constructus erat. Anno 14 hujus Regis, aut
parum post_. Without the Park the King’s demesne woods were, it cannot
well be said now are, the timber being all sold off, and underwoods so
cropt and spoiled by that beast the Lord Munson, and other greedy
cattle, that they are hardly recoverable. Beyond which lieth
Stonefield, and other mannors that hold of Woodstock, with other woods,
that have been aliened by former kings, but with reservation of liberty
for his majestie’s deer, and other beasts of forrest, to harbour in at
pleasure, as in due place is to be shewed.