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Hunting Bishops 2
By the time of Henry IV the Bishop of Ely had enjoyed the hunting rights over the forests around Somersham for over 200 years. The image of a bishop hunting deer may seem odd today, but for the men of Somersham manor, the bishop was just another landowner. Over time the thick forest around the village had been cleared to accommodate more deer and that much of the land was now lightly wooded and in places, open grasslands. As the grant below had been made at the end of Richard II's life, no doubt Thomas Warde was very anxious that the new King Henry IV would reconfirm the grant and not offer it to one of his own men.
6 June 1402
Inspeximus and confirmation to Thomas Warde of letters patent of John Bishop of Ely, dated at his manor of Somersham, County Huntingdon, 1st October 22nd year of King Richard II, granting to the said Thomas his servitor the custody of the park and chace of Somersham and the deer in it receiving 3d daily for wages at the hands of the bailiff or reeve of the manor, and other accustomed fees and profits, so that he find another suitable man with him for the exercise of the custody. Confirmed by the prior and chapter of the cathedral
For 1/2 mark paid in the hanaper.