10
THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Thanks to the labours of Dr. N. F. Ticehurst several items of
Essex interest and of this period have come to light. Between
1247 and 1251 Henry III issued many regulations (entered in
the Close Rolls) for provisions to the sheriffs of the different
counties of those parts of England where he happened to be
going to keep the chief feasts of the year. Twenty-two Swans
among other things had to be provided for the feast of St.
Edward (18th March), 1249 and the sheriffs of Essex and other
Counties were commanded, as they valued themselves and their
belongings, to buy six apiece in their bailiwicks and to deliver
them at Westminster on the vigil of the feast at the latest.
Then there are three further entries from the Calendar of the
Close Rolls.
33 Henry III (1249) membrane 8:—
Re provision for the King's use.
We read that the Sheriff of Essex and Hertford is directed to
obtain 10 swans, 12 peacocks, 500 hens, 200 pullets, 3,000 eggs,
7 boars, 2 cranes, and 10 fat pigs, wherever he could in his
bailiwick. He was to buy them for the King and hold them in
readiness.
33 Henry III (1249) membrane 18.
Re provision for the Feast of St. Edward.
The Sheriff of Essex and Hertford is directed, in similar
language to the foregoing, to buy in his bailiwick 500 hens, 6
swans, 12 peacocks, 4 dozen pheasants, 8 dozen partridges,
2,000 eggs and other objects.
35 Henry III (1250).
Provision for the Feast of St. Edward.
The Sheriff of Essex is similarly directed to deliver at West-
minster 500 hens, 3,000 eggs and of swans, cranes and other
wildfowl as many as he can.
That prince of historians, Morant, now supplies an item: "in
"1296 or 1297, K. Edward I granted to John de Merks in tail-
"general the maner of White-Roding and the advowson of the
"church with remainder to------------Cecily de Hastings, sister of
"the said John (w). This Cecily was wife of Humfrey de Hastings
"and held this maner . . . at the time of her decease, in 1304,
"by service of keeping two lanar falcons, or hawks, for heron-
"hawking; and a greyhound trained to make a heron rise."