thefe forefts fcattered over the different parts 

 of it. 



In Scotland alfo feveral forefts exifted : 

 but whether they were in general the fovereign's 

 property; or indeed any of them under the 

 jurifdiclion of foreft law, might be matter of 

 inquiry. Some of them undoubtedly belonged 

 to private perfons; but on the whole, the 

 forefts of England were both more numerous 

 in proportion, and more appropriated to the 

 crown, than the forefts of Scotland. How 

 many of thefe diftricls exifted between the 

 foreft of Englewood in Cumberland, and 

 New- foreft in Hampfhire, may eafily be 

 fuppofed; when we are allured, that in the 

 laft named county alone there were anciently 

 at leaft a dozen ; tho we can fcarce at this time 

 trace above half that number. 

 t At prefent indeed even the veftiges of moft 

 of our Englifh forefts are obliterated. Of a 

 few of them we find the fite marked in old 

 maps ; but as to their fylvan honours, frarce 

 any of them hath the leaft remains to boaft. 

 Some of the woods were deftroyed in licen- 

 tious times : and many have been fiuTered, 

 through mere negligence, to wafte away the 

 pillage of a difhoneft neighbourhood. 



x 2 The 



