some here and there, to wit, welnere to the number of two hundred for
hir daily prouision of that flesh apperteine to the prince, the rest
to such of the nobilitie and gentlemen as haue their lands and
patrimonies lieng in or néere vnto the same. I would gladlie haue set
downe the iust number of these inclosures to be found in euerie
countie: but sith I cannot so doo, it shall suffice to saie, that in
Kent and Essex onelie are to the number of an hundred, and twentie in
the bishoprike of Durham, wherein great plentie of fallow deere is
cherished and kept. As for warrens of conies, I iudge them almost
innumerable, and dailie like to increase, by reason that the blacke
skins of those beasts are thought to counteruaile the prices of their
naked carcases, and this is the onelie cause whie the graie are lesse
estéemed. Néere vnto London their quickest merchandize is of the yong
rabbets, wherfore the older conies are brought from further off, where
there is no such speedie vtterance of rabbets and sucklings in their
season, nor so great losse by their skins, sith they are suffered to
growe vp to their full greatnesse with their owners. Our parkes are
generallie inclosed with strong pale made of oke, of which kind of
wood there is great store cherished in the woodland countries from
time to time in ech of them, onelie for the maintenance of the said
defense, and safe-keeping of the fallow déere from ranging about the
countrie. Howbeit in times past diuerse haue been fensed in with stone
walles (especiallie in the times of the Romans, who first brought
fallow déere into this land, as some coniecture) albeit those
inclosures were ouerthrowne againe by the Saxons & Danes, as Cauisham,
Towner, and Woodstocke, beside other in the west countrie, and one
also at Bolton. Among other things also to be seene in that towne,
there is one of the fairest clockes in Europe. Where no wood is, they
are also inclosed with piles of slate; and therto it is doubted of
manie whether our bucke or doe are to be reckoned in wild or tame
beasts or not. Plinie deemeth them to be wild, Martial is also of the
same opinion, where he saith, "Imbelles damæ quid nisi præda sumus?"
And so in time past the like controuersie was about bées, which the
lawiers call "Feras," tit. de acquirendo rerum dominio, & lib. 2.
instit. But Plinie attempting to decide the quarell calleth them
"Medias inter feras & placidas aues." But whither am I so suddenlie
digressed? In returning therefore vnto our parks, I find also the
circuit of these inclosures in like manner conteine often times a
walke of foure or fiue miles, and sometimes more or lesse. Wherby it
is to be séene what store of ground is emploied vpon that vaine
commoditie, which bringeth no manner of gaine or profit to the owner,
sith they commonlie giue awaie their flesh, neuer taking penie for the
same, except the ordinarie fée and parts of the déere giuen vnto the
kéeper by a custome, who beside three shillings foure pence, or fiue
shillings in monie, hath the skin, head, vmbles, chine, and shoulders:
whereby he that hath the warrant for an whole bucke, hath in the end
little more than halfe, which in my iudgement is scarselie equall
dealing; for venison in England is neither bought nor sold, as in
other countries, but mainteined onelie for the pleasure of the owner
and his friends. Albeit I heard of late of one ancient ladie, which
maketh a great game by selling yeerelie hir husbands venison to the
cookes (as another of no lesse name will not sticke to ride to the
market to sée hir butter sold) but not performed without infinite
scoffes and mockes, euen of the poorest pezzants of the countrie, who
thinke them as odious matters in ladies and women of such countenance
to sell their venison and their butter, as for an earle to feele his
oxen, sheepe, and lambs, whether they be readie for the butcher or
not, or to sell his wooll vnto the clothier, or to kéepe a tan-house,
or deale with such like affaires as belong not to men of honor, but
rather to farmers, or grasiers; for which such, if there be anie may
well be noted (and not vniustlie) to degenerate from true nobilitie,
and betake themselues to husbandrie. And euen the same enormitie tooke
place sometime among the Romans, and entred so farre as into the verie
senate, of whome some one had two or thrée ships going vpon the sea,
pretending prouision for their houses; but in truth following the
trades of merchandize, till a law was made which did inhibit and
restraine them. Liuie also telleth of another law which passed
likewise against the senators by Claudius the tribune, and helpe
onelie of C. Flaminius, that no senator, or he that had beene father
to anie senator should possesse anie ship or vessell aboue the
capacitie of thrée hundred amphoras, which was supposed sufficient for
the cariage and recariage of such necessities as should apperteine
vnto his house: sith further trading with merchandizes and commodities
dooth declare but a base and couetous mind, not altogither void of
enuie, that anie man should liue but he; or that if anie gaine were to
be had, he onelie would haue it himselfe: which is a wonderfull
dealing, and must néeds proue in time the confusion of that countrie
[Sidenote: Tillage and mankind diminished by parkes.]
wherein such enormities are exercised. Where in times past, manie
large and wealthie occupiers were dwelling within the compasse of some
one parke, and thereby great plentie of corne and cattell séene, and
to be had among them, beside a more copious procreation of humane
issue, whereby the realme was alwaies better furnished with able men
to serue the prince in his affaires: now there is almost nothing kept
but a sort of wild and sauage beasts, cherished for pleasure and
delight; and yet some owners still desirous to inlarge those grounds,
as either for the bréed and feeding of cattell, doo not let dailie to
take in more, not sparing the verie commons whervpon manie towneships
now and then doo liue, affirming that we haue alreadie too great store
of people in England; and that youth by marrieng too soone doo nothing
profit the countrie, but fill it full of beggars, to the hurt and
vtter vndooing (they saie) of the common wealth.
[Sidenote: The decaie of the people is the destruction of a kingdome.]
Certes if it be not one curse of the Lord, to haue our countrie
conuerted in such sort from the furniture of mankind, into the walks
and shrowds of wild beasts, I know not what is anie. How manie
families also these great and small games (for so most kéepers call
them) haue eaten vp and are likelie hereafter to deuoure, some men may
coniecture, but manie more lament, sith there is no hope of restraint
to be looked for in this behalfe, because the corruption is so
generall. But if a man may presentlie giue a ghesse at the
vniuersalitie of this euill by contemplation of the circumstance, he
shall saie at the last, that the twentith part of the realme is
imploied vpon déere and conies alreadie, which séemeth verie much if
it be not dulie considered of.
King Henrie the eight, one of the noblest princes that euer reigned in
this land, lamented oft that he was constreined to hire forren aid,
for want of competent store of souldiors here at home, perceiuing (as
it is indeed) that such supplies are oftentimes more hurtfull than
profitable vnto those that interteine them, as may chéeflie be seene
in Valens the emperor, our Vortiger, and no small number of others. He
would oft maruell in priuate talke, how that when seauen or eight
princes ruled here at once, one of them could lead thirtie or fortie
thousand men to the field against another, or two of them 100000
against the third, and those taken out onelie of their owne dominions.
But as he found the want, so he saw not the cause of this decaie,
which grew beside this occasion now mentioned, also by laieng house to
house, and land to land, whereby manie mens occupiengs were conuerted
into one, and the bréed of people not a little thereby diminished. The
auarice of landlords by increasing of rents and fines also did so
wearie the people, that they were readie to rebell with him that would
arise, supposing a short end in the warres to be better than a long
and miserable life in peace.
Priuileges and faculties also are another great cause of the ruine of
a common wealth, and diminution of mankind: for whereas law and nature
dooth permit all men to liue in their best maner, and whatsoeuer trade
they be exercised in, there commeth some priuilege or other in the
waie, which cutteth them off from this or that trade, wherby they must
néeds shift soile, and séeke vnto other countries. By these also the
greatest commodities are brought into the hands of few, who imbase,
corrupt, and yet raise the prices of things at their owne pleasures.
Example of this last I can giue also in bookes, which (after the first
impression of anie one booke) are for the most part verie negligentlie
handled: whereas if another might print it so well as the first, then
would men striue which of them should doo it best; and so it falleth
out in all other trades. It is an easie matter to prooue that England
was neuer lesse furnished with people than at this present; for if the
old records of euerie manour be sought, and search made to find what
tenements are fallen, either downe, or into the lords hands, or
brought and vnited togither by other men: it will soone appéere, that
in some one manour seuentéen, eightéene, or twentie houses are
shrunke. I know what I saie by mine owne experience: notwithstanding
that some one cotage be here and there erected of late, which is to
little purpose. Of cities and townes either vtterlie decaied, or more
than a quarter or halfe diminished, though some one be a little
increased here and there; of townes pulled downe for sheepe-walks, and
no more but the lordships now standing in them, beside those that
William Rufus pulled downe in his time; I could saie somewhat: but
then I should swarue yet further from my purpose, wherevnto I now
returne.
Wée had no parkes left in England at the comming of the Normans, who
added this calamitie also to the seruitude of our nation, making men
of the best sort furthermore to become kéepers of their game, whilest
they liued in the meane time vpon the spoile of their reuenues, and
dailie ouerthrew townes, villages, and an infinit sort of families,
for the maintenance of their venerie. Neither was anie parke supposed
in these times to be statelie enough, that conteined not at the least
eight or ten hidelands, that is, so manie hundred acres or families
(or as they haue béene alwaies called in some places of the realme
carrucats or cartwares) of which one was sufficient in old time to
mainteine an honest yeoman.
King Iohn trauelling on a time northwards, to wit 1209 to warre vpon
the king of Scots, because he had married his daughter to the earle of
Bullen without his consent: in his returne ouerthrew a great number of
parkes and warrens, of which some belonged to his barons, but the
greatest part to the abbats and prelats of the cleargie. For hearing
(as he trauelled) by complaint of the countrie, how these inclosures
were the chéefe decaie of men, and of tillage in the land, he sware
with an oth that he would not suffer wild beasts to féed vpon the fat
of his soile, and sée the people perish for want of abilitie to
procure and buie them food that should defend the realme. Howbeit,
this act of his was so ill taken by the religious and their adherents,
that they inuerted his intent herein to another end; affirming most
slanderouslie how he did it rather of purpose to spoile the corne and
grasse of the commons and catholikes that held against him of both
estates, and by so doing to impouerish and bring the north part of the
realme to destruction, because they refused to go with him into
Scotland. If the said prince were aliue in these daies, wherein Andrew
Boord saith there are more parks in England than in all Europe (ouer
which he trauelled in his owne person) and saw how much ground they
consume, I thinke he would either double his othes, or laie the most
of them open that tillage might be better looked vnto. But this I hope
shall not néed in time, for the owners of a great sort of them begin
now to smell out, that such parcels might be emploied to their more
game, and therefore some of them doo grow to be disparked.
Next of all we haue the franke chase, which taketh something both of
parke and forrest, and is giuen either by the kings grant or
prescription. Certes it differeth not much from a parke; nay, it is in
maner the selfe same thing that a parke is, sauing that a parke is
inuironed with pale, wall, or such like: the chase alwaie open and
nothing at all inclosed, as we see in Enuéeld & Maluerne chases. And
as it is the cause of the seisure of the franchise of a parke not to
kéepe the same inclosed, so it is the like in a chase if at anie time
it be imparked. It is trespasse, and against the law also, for anie
man to haue or make a chase, parke, or frée warren without good
warrantie of the king by his charter or perfect title of prescription:
for it is not lawfull for anie subiect either to carnilate, that is,
build stone houses, imbattell, haue the querke of the sea, or kéepe
the assise of bread, ale, or wine, or set vp furels, tumbrell, thew,
or pillorie, or inclose anie ground to the aforesaid purposes within
his owne soile, without his warrant and grant. The beasts of the chase
were commonlie the bucke, the roe, the fox, and the marterne. But
those of venerie in old time were the hart, the hare, the bore and the
woolfe; but as this held not in the time of Canutus, so in stéed of
the woolfe the beare is now crept in, which is a beast comonlie hunted
in the east countries, and fed vpon as excellent venison, although
with vs I know not anie that féed thereon or care for it at all.
Certes it should seeme, that forrests and franke chases haue alwaies
béene had, and religiouslie preserued in this Iland for the solace of
the prince, and recreation of his nobilitie: howbeit I read not that
euer they were inclosed more than at this present, or otherwise fensed
than by vsuall notes of limitation, whereby their bounds were
remembred from time to time, for the better preseruation of such
venerie and vert of all sorts as were nourished in the same. Neither
are anie of the ancient laws prescribed for their maintenance, before
the daies of Canutus, now to be had; sith time hath so dealt with them
that they are perished and lost. Canutus therefore seeing the dailie
spoile that was made almost in all places of his game, did at the last
make sundrie sanctions and decrées, whereby from thenceforth the red
and fallow déere were better looked to throughout his whole dominions.
We haue in these daies diuerse forrests in England and Wales, of
which, some belong to the king, and some to his subiects, as Waltham
forrest, Windlesor, Pickering, Fecknam, Delamore, Gillingham,
Kingswood, Wencedale, Clun, Rath, Bredon, Weire, Charlie, Leircester,
Lée, Rokingham, Selwood, New forrest, Wichwood, Hatfeeld, Sauernake,
Westbirie, Blacamore Peke, Deane, Penrise, & manie other now cleane
out of my remembrance: and which although they are far greater in
circuit than manie parkes and warrens, yet are they in this our time
lesse deuourers of the people than these latter, sith beside much
tillage, & manie townes are found in each of them, wheras in parks and
warrens we haue nothing else than either the keepers & wareners lodge,
or at least the manor place of the chéef lord & owner of the soile. I
find also by good record, that all Essex hath in time past wholie
béene forrest ground, except one cantred or hundred; but how long it
is since it lost the said denomination in good sooth I doo not read.
This neuerthelesse remaineth yet in memorie, that the towne of Walden
in Essex standing in the limits of the aforesaid countie doth take hir
name thereof. For in the Celtike toong, wherewith the Saxon or
Scithian spéech dooth not a little participate, huge woods and
forrests were called Walds, and likewise their Druides were named
Walie or Waldie, bicause they frequented the woods, and there made
sacrifice among the okes and thickets. So that if my coniecture in
this behalfe be anie thing at all, the aforesaid towne taketh
denomination of Wald and end, as if I should say, The end of the
wooddie soile; for being once out of that parish, the champaine is at
hand. Or it may be that it is so called of Wald and dene: for I haue
read it written in old euidences Waldæne, with a diphthong. And to
saie truth, Dene is the old Saxon word for a vale or lowe bottome, as
Dune or Don is for an hill or hillie soile. Certes if it be so, then
Walden taketh hir name of the woodie vale, in which it sometime stood.
But the first deriuation liketh me better, and the highest part of the
[Sidenote: Gipping, of going vp to anie place.]
towne is called also Chipping Walden, of the Saxon word gipping, which
signifieth Leaning or hanging, and may verie well be applied
therevnto, sith the whole towne hangeth as it were vpon the sides of
two hils, wherof the lesser runneth quite through the middest of the
same. I might here for further confirmation of these things bring in
mention of the Wald of Kent: but this may suffice for the vse of the
word Wald, which now differeth much from Wold. For as that signifieth
a woodie soile, so this betokeneth a soile without wood, or plaine
champaine countrie, without anie store of trées, as may be seene in
Cotswold, Porkewold, &c. Beside this I could saie more of our
forrests, and the aforesaid inclosures also, & therein to prooue by
the booke of forrest law, that the whole countie of Lancaster hath
likewise beene forrest heretofore. Also how William the Bastard made a
law, that whosoeuer did take anie wild beast within the kings forrest
should lose an eare; as Henrie the first did punish them either by
life or lim: which ordinance was confirmed by Henrie the second and
his péeres at Woodstocke, wherevpon great trouble insued vnder king
Iohn and Henrie the third, as appeareth by the chronicles: but it
shall suffice to haue said so much as is set downe alreadie.
Howbeit, that I may restore one antiquitie to light, which hath
hitherto lien as it were raked vp in the embers of obliuion, I will
giue out those laws that Canutus made for his forrest: whereby manie
things shall be disclosed concerning the same (wherof peraduenture
some lawiers haue no knowledge) and diuerse other notes gathered
touching the ancient estate of the realme not to be found in other.
But before I deale with the great charter (which as you may perceiue,
is in manie places vnperfect by reason of corruption, and want also of
congruitie, crept in by length of time, not by me to be restored) I
will note another breefe law, which he made in the first yeare of his
reigne at Winchester, afterward inserted into these his later
constitutions, canon 32, & beginneth thus in his owne Saxon tong; "Ic
will that elc one," &c: I will and grant that ech one shall be worthie
of such venerie as he by hunting can take either in the plaines or in
the woods, within his owne fée or dominion; but ech man shall abstaine
from my venerie in euerie place, where I will that my beasts shall
haue firme peace and quietnesse, vpon paine to forfet so much as a man
may forfet. Hitherto the statute made by the aforesaid Canutus, which
was afterward confirmed by king Edward surnamed the Confessor; &
ratified by the Bastard in the fourth yeare of his reigne. Now
followeth the great charter it selfe in such rude order and Latine as
I find it word for word, and which I would gladlie haue turned into
English, if it might haue sounded to anie benefit of the vnskilfull
and vnlearned.
_Incipiunt constitutiones Canuti regis de foresta._
"Hæ sunt sanctiones de foresta, quas ego Canutus rex cum consilio
primariorum hominum meorum condo & facio, vt cunctis regni nostri
Angliæ ecclesijs & pax & iustitia fiat, & vt omnis delinquens secundum
modum delicti, & delinquentis fortunam patiatur.
[Sidenote: Pegened.]
1. "Sint tam deinceps quatuor ex liberalioribus hominibus, qui habent
saluas suas debitas consuetudines (quos Angli Pegened appellant) in
qualibet regni mei prouincia constituti, ad iustitiam distribu[=e]dam,
vna cum p[oe]na merita & materijs forrestæ cuncto populo meo, tam
Anglis quàm Danis per totum regnum meum Angliæ, quos quatuor primarios
forestæ appellandos censemus.
[Sidenote: Lespegend.]
[Sidenote: Nunc forte Fringald.]
2. "Sint sub quolibet horum, quatuor ex mediocribus hominibus (quos
Angli Lespegend nuncupant, Dani verò yoong men vocant) locati, qui
curam & onus tum viridis tum veneris suscipiant.
3. "In administranda autem iustitia nullatenus volo vt tales se
intromittant: mediocrésq; tales post ferarum curam susceptam, pro
[Sidenote: Ealdermen.]
liberalibus semper habeantur, quos Dani Ealdermen appellant.
[Sidenote: Tineman.]
4. "Sub horum iterum quolibet sint duo minutorum hominum, quos Tineman
Angli dicunt, hi nocturnam curam & veneris & viridis tum seruilia
opera subibunt.
5. "Si talis minutus seruus fuerit, tam citò quàm in foresta nostra
locabitur, liber esto, omnésq; hos ex sumptibus nostris manutenebimus.
[Sidenote: Michni.]
6. "Habeat etiam quilibet primariorum quolibet anno de nostra warda,
quam Michni Angli appellant, duos equos, vnum cum sella, alterum sine
sella, vnum gladium, quinque lanceas, vnum cuspidem, vnum scutum, &
ducentos solidos argenti.
7. "Mediocrium quilibet vnum equum, vnam lanceam, vnum scutum, & 60
solidos argenti.
[Sidenote: * [Sic.]]
8. "Minutorum quilibet, vnum[*] lanceam, vnam arcubalistam, & 15
solidos argenti.
9. "Sint omnes tam primarij, quàm mediocres, & minuti, immunes,
liberi, & quieti ab omnibus prouincialibus summonitionibus, &
[Sidenote: Hundred law.]
popularibus placitis, quæ Hundred laghe Angli dicunt, & ab omnibus
[Sidenote: Warscot.]
armorum oneribus, quod Warscot Angli dicunt, & forincesis querelis.
10. "Sint mediocrium & minutorum causæ, & earum correctiones, tam
criminalium quàm ciuilium per prouidam sapientiam & rationem
primariorum iudicatæ & decisæ: primariorum verò enormia si quæ fuerint
(ne scelus aliquod remaneat inultum) nosmet in ira nostra regali
puniemus.
11. "Habeant hi quatuor vnam regalem potestatem (salua semper nobis
nostra præsentia) quatérq; in anno generales forestæ demonstrationes &
[Sidenote: Muchehunt.]
viridis & veneris forisfactiones, quas Muchehunt dicunt, vbi teneant
omnes calumniam de materia aliqua tangente forestam, eántque ad
[Sidenote: Ofgangfordell.]
[Sidenote: Purgatio ignis, triplex ordalia.]
triplex iudicium, quod Angli Ofgangfordell dicunt. Ita autem
acquiratur illud triplex iudicium. Accipiat secum quinque, & sit ipse
sextus, & sic iurando acquirat triplex iudicium, aut triplex
iuramentum. Sed purgatio ignis nullatenus admittatur, nisi vbi nuda
veritas nequit aliter inuestigari.
[Sidenote: Pegen.]
12. "Liberalis autem homo. l. Pegen, modo crimen suum non sit inter
maiora, habeat fidelem hominem qui possit pro eo iurare iuramentum.
[Sidenote: Forathe.]
l. Forathe: si autem non habet, ipsemet iuret, nec pardonetur ei
aliquod iuramentum.
13. "Si aduena vel peregrinus qui de longinquo venerit sit calumniatus
de foresta, & talis est sua inopia vt non possit habere plegium ad
primam calumniam, qualem * nullus Anglus iudicare potest: tunc subeat
captionem regis, & ibi expectet quousque vadat ad iudicium ferri &
aquæ: attamen si quis extraneo aut peregrino de longè venienti * *
sibi ipsi nocet, si aliquod iudicium iudicauerint.
14. "Quicúnq; coram primarios homines meos forestæ in falso testimonio
steterit & victus fuerit, non sit dignus imposterum stare aut portare
testimonium, quia legalitatem suam perdidit, & pro culpa soluat regi
[Sidenote: Halfehang.]
decem solidos, quos Dani vocant Halfehang, alias Halsehang.
15. "Si quis vim aliquam primarijs forestæ meæ intulerit, si liberalis
sit amittat libertatem & omnia sua, si villanus abscindatur dextra.
16. "Si alteruter iterum peccauerit, reus sit mortis.
17. "Si quis autem contra primarium pugnauerit, in plito emendet
[Sidenote: Pere & Pite.]
secundum pretium sui ipsus, quod Angli Pere & pite dicunt, & soluat
primario quadraginta solidos.
[Sidenote: Gethbrech.]
18. "Si pacem quis fregerit, ante mediocres forestæ, quod dicunt
Gethbrech, emendet regi decem solidis.
19. "Si quis mediocrium aliquem cum ira percusserit, emendetur prout
interfectio feræ regalis mihi emendari solet.
20. "Si quis delinquens in foresta nostra capietur, p[oe]nas luet
secundum modum & genus delicti.
[Sidenote: Ealderman.]
21. "P[oe]na & forisfactio non vna eadémq; erit liberalis (quem Dani
Ealderman vocant) & illiberalis: domini & serui: noti & ignoti: nec
vna eadémq; erit causarum tum ciuilium tum criminalium, ferarum
forestæ, & ferarum regalium: viridis & veneris tractatio: nam crimen
veneris ab antiquo inter maiora & non immeritò numerabatur: viridis
verò (fractione chaceæ nostræ regalis excepta) ita pusillum & exiguum
est, quòd vix ea respicit nostra constitutio: qui in hoc tamen
deliquerit, sit criminis forestæ reus.
22. "Si liber aliquis feram forestæ ad cursum impulerit, siue casu,
siue præhabita voluntate, ita vt cursu celeri cogatur fera anhelare,
decem solidis regi emendet, si illiberalis dupliciter emendet, si
seruus careat corio.
23. "Si verò harum aliquot interfecerit, soluat dupliciter &
persoluat, sitque pretij sui reus contra regem.
[Sidenote: Staggon or Stagge.]
24. "Sed si regalem feram, quam Angli Staggon appellant, alteruter
coegerit anhelare, alter per vnum annum, alter per duos careat
libertate naturali: si verò seruus, pro vtlegato habeatur, quem Angli
[Sidenote: Frendlesman.]
Frendlesman vocant.
25. "Si verò occiderit, amittat liber scutum libertatis, si sit
illiberalis careat libertate, si seruus vita.
26. "Episcopi, abbates, & barones mei non calumniabuntur pro
venatione, si non regales feras occiderint: & si regales, restabunt
rei regi pro libito suo, sine certa emendatione.
27. "Sunt aliæ (præter feras forestæ) bestiæ, quæ dum inter septa &
sepes forestæ continentur, emendationi subiacent: quales sunt
capreoli, lepores, & cuniculi. Sunt & alia quàm plurima animalia, quæ
qu[=a]quam infra septa forestæ viuunt, & oneri & curæ mediocrium
subiacent forestæ, tamen nequaqu[=a] censeri possunt, qualia sunt
[Sidenote: Bubali olim in Anglia.]
bubali, vaccæ, & similia. Vulpes & lupi, nec forestæ nec veneris
habentur, & proinde eorum interfectio nulli emendationi subiacet. Si
tamen infra limites occiduntur, fractio sit regalis chaceæ, & mitiùs
emendetur. Aper verò quanquam forestæ sit, nullatenus tamen animal
veneris haberi est assuetus.
28. "Bosco nec subbosco nostro sine licentia primariorum forestæ nemo
manum apponat, quòd si quis fecerit reus sit fractionis regalis
chaceæ.
[Sidenote: Ilices aliquando in Brit[=a]nia nisi intelligatur de quercu.]
29. "Si quis verò ilicem aut arbor[=e] aliquam, quæ victum feris
suppeditat sciderit, præter fractionem regalis chaceæ, emendet regi
viginti solidis.
30. "Volo vt omnis liber homo pro libito suo habeat venerem siue
viridem in planis suis super terras suas, sine chacea tamen; &
deuitent omnes meam, vbicúnq; eam habere voluero.
[Sidenote: Greihounds.]
31. "Nullus mediocris habebit nec custodiet canes, quos Angli
Greihounds appellant. Liberali verò, dum genuiscissio eorum facta
fuerit coram primario forestæ licebit, aut sine genuiscissione dum
remoti sunt à limitibus forestæ per decem miliaria: quando verò
propiùs venerint, emendet quodlibet miliare vno solido. Si verò infra
septa forestæ reperiatur, dominus canis forisfaciet & decem solidos
regi.
[Sidenote: Velter.]
[Sidenote: Langeran.]
32. "Velteres verò quos Langeran appellant, quia manifestè constat in
ijs nihil esse periculi, cuilibet licebit sine genuiscissione eos
[Sidenote: Ramhundt.]
custodire. Idem de canibus quos Ramhundt vocant.