acting as guardians of such houses when they are without heads.
Chapters XLVII. and XLVIII. deal again with the great grievance of the
royal forests. John undertakes to disforest all forests which have
been made in his time, and also to give up such river banks as he has
seized for his own use when engaged in sport. Twelve knights in each
county are to make a thorough inquiry into all evil customs connected
with the forests, and these are to be utterly abolished.