A.D. 1198. PLEAS OP THE KTNO'S CEOWÏT. may not be destroyed. For if, after this, these woods shall happen to be destroyed, they towhom such woods shall belong are distinctly to understand, that by themselves or from their lands reparation shall be made, and not by any one else. The king also orders that his foresters shall make oath that, to the utmost of their ability, they will observe his assize which he has made relative to his forests, and that they will not be guilty of vexatious conduct towards knights or respectable men, by reason of this supervision which the king has given them over their woods. The king also orders that in every county in which he keeps venison, twelve knights shall be appointed to keep watch over vert and venison in his forests, and that four knights shall be appointed for agisting92 his woods, and for receiving his pannage,83 and for the purpose of guarding and protecting the same. He also orders, that no one shall agist his own woods within the limits of his forests, before their woods shall have been agisted; and notice is given, that the agistments of our lord the king begin fifteen days before the feast of Saint Michael, and continue for fifteen days after the said feast. The king also orders that, if his forester has in his charge demesne woods of the king, and those woods are destroyed, and he cannot, and knows not how to, show a just cause why such woods are destroyed, nothing is to be exacted of the said forester beyond his own body.9 4 He also orders that no clerk shall commit any offence against him relative to his venison or his forests, and he gives strict orders to his foresters, if they shall find them so offending, not to hesitate to seize them, in order to prevent them so doing, and to make them prisoners; as he will exact sureties of them in consequence of so doing. The king also orders that all his assarts95 shall be viewed every third year, after regard,98 both old and new, and the same as to all pourprestures, and all wastes in his woods ; and that each of the same shall be registered by itself. The king also orders that the archbishops, bishops, earls, barons, knights, and freeholders, and all men in his lands, shall come at the summons of his 9 2 " To agist," is to find the cattle of strangers in the king's forest, and to receive the money due for the same. 9 1 " Pannage," is the money so taken by the agistors. 8 4 He is to be punished by imprisonment, and not by fine. 9 5 Forest lands from which the trees have been rooted up, and are thus reudered fit for cultivation. 9 6 View by the regarders of the forest.