A case in which the poachers showed their total disregard for the officers of the forest is given as follows.

“Stephen son of Richard of Eskdale, Nicholas the Taylor of Whitby, and John de Moorsholm of Sneaton Thorpe, were indicted for having, on Wednesday 23rd March 1334, at Blakey Moor [near Saltersgate], within the forest, hunted with bows, arrows and greyhounds, and taken sixty-six harts and hinds, of which they cut off the heads of nine and fixed them upon stakes in the Moor.”

“As regards those who caught hares and wandered in the forest with bows and arrows contrary to the assize of the forest, Mathilda de Bruys is accustomed to hunt and catch hares.”  She compounded for 5s, Robert Bruce and John Perot being sureties.

The Coucher Book mentions that Henry I. issued a writ dated at Pickering.  This would suggest that Pickering Castle was standing between 1100 and 1135, for the king would scarcely have visited the place unless he had had proper quarters for himself and his suite, and the castle alone could have afforded this.  A record of 1347 mentions the pillory at Pickering, and suggests a lively scene that took place in the august presence of the Earl of Lancaster.  “William de Kirkby and others conspired amongst themselves to indict John de Buckton, Hugh de Neville, John de Barton, and others for that they on Monday, 25th June 1347, took six harts in Pickering Forest and set up the head of one in the sight of the Earl of Lancaster upon the pillory in Pickering town, in consequence of which John de Buckton, Hugh de Neville and John de Barton were taken and imprisoned in Pickering Castle and suffered great loss of their goods.  Afterwards, in the same town, William appeared in the King’s Bench and asked to be allowed to compound for the offences presented against him, as well as those to which he had already pleaded as the rest.  The request was granted, and he paid the fine entered in the rolls.”

“The jurors of the several wappentakes of Yorkshire presented that David de Wigan and others on Wednesday, 11th July 1347, violently entered by night the house of Thomas, Vicar of Ebberston, seized him and led him to Pickering Castle until he compounded with them for L2, though,” adds the record, “he had never been indicted for any offence” (!) This David de Wigan must have terrorised the neighbourhood at this time, for he and others scarcely a week later “seized Adam del Selley Bridge at Selley Bridge [near Marishes Road Station] and led him with them until he compounded with them for L4.”  On the same Tuesday they violently seized Robert de Sunley at Calvecote and led him to Pickering Castle until he paid L2.  On the 30th July Thomas Oliver of Sawdon was taken in the same manner and detained for five days.  After all this David was summoned and he pleaded guilty.  By trustworthy witnesses, however, it was proved that he was penniless and had nothing wherewith to satisfy the king for his offences,