The Verderers' Hall was a large rectangular chamber. At the far end a raised dais ran the width of the room like a magistrate's bench, with the royal coat of arms on the bare wall behind it. Round the walls were deers' heads and antlers and glass-fronted showcases. In a place of honour, the ancient stirrup was displayed through which dogs had to pass unless they were to be lawed. The floor was taken up with wooden benches except for the space at the front where there was a table and a witness stand. Old oak beams crossed the ceiling. Dottie, somewhat dazed, sat at the back, trying not to stare at her companion.

'The Verderers' Court meets on the third Monday of the month, ten months a year,' he murmured. 'The Official Verderer's appointed; a few represent official bodies; the rest are elected. They have to have commoning rights to stand.'

'This is the court set up in 1877 to replace the old medieval court?' She'd done her homework. She wondered if it impressed him.

'Modified once or twice, but basically, yes. Here they come.' The verderers were filing in. He gave her quick sketches of them as they appeared. Two had published books on the New Forest. The Official Verderer was a prominent landowner. Most of them had roots in the Forest that went back centuries. There were eight present on the dais that morning. In front, in green uniforms, stood the two agisters. The Head Agister, by the witness stand, called out:

'Oyez, oyez, oyez. All manner of persons who have any presentments to make, or matter or things to do at this Court of Verderer. Let them come forward and they shall be heard.' She was back, Dottie thought, in the Middle Ages.