t[rusty] and w[elbeloved] Brian Sandford Stuard of our honnor of Pykeryng
in our Countie of York and Constable of our Castle there and master
Forster of our game within the said honnor and to al forsters and kepers
within the same and in their absence to ther deputies ther and to every of
them gretyng. Forasmuch as it is common unto our knowledge that our game
of dere and warenne within our seid Honnor is gretly diminnisshed by
excessive huntyng within the same and likely to be destroied, without
restreynt in the same be had in that behalf, we desire the Replenisshyng
of our seid game, not only for our singler pleasure but also for the
disport of other our servantes and subgettes of Wirshipp in theis parties.
And therfor we wol and straitly charge you all & every of you that from
hensforth ye suffre no manner of personne or personnes of what estate
degree or condicion soever he or they be, to have shot sute ne course at
any of our game within our seid Honnor duryng the space of iij years next
ensuyng after the date herof, without special warraunt undre our seale of
oure seid Duchie and if any personne or personnes presume or attempt in
any wise the breche of this our special restreinte and commandment, we
eftsounes wol and straitly charge you al and every of you, that without
delai ye certifie us of theire name or names so offendyng, to thentent
that we maye provide for their lawful punycion in that behalf, which we
entend sharply to execute and punysshe in example of al othre like
offenders, not failyng herof as ye wol avoide our grevous displeasure and
answher unto us at their perell."

[Footnote 1: "North Riding Records," vol. i., New Series, p. 123.]

[Illustration: CATTLE MARKS OF THE PICKERING DISTRICT.

Copied from a MS. book dated at the close of the sixteenth century and in
the possession of the Rev. A. Hill of Thornton-le-dale. The names are