the freeholders of the county. Thefe officers, 

 fince the jufticiary-in-eyre has been a fmecure, 

 are the only judges of the foreft-courts. The 

 verderor is an ancient forerr-officer. His name 

 occurs in the earlieft account of foreft-law. 

 But tho his appointment has at prefent a 

 democratical call:, it is probable, that he was 

 formerly a royal officer , and that his election 

 by the free-holders of the county was extorted 

 from the crown in fome period favourable to 

 liberty. As . New-foreft was always thought 

 a great magazine of navy-timber, the ver- 

 derors were impowered by an a<5l of parlia- 

 ment in king William's time, to fine delin- 

 quents to the amount of five pounds in their 

 attachment-courts : whereas in all the other 

 forefts of England, the fine does not amount 

 to more than a few pence, which was the 

 original amerfement, The verderor is an 

 officer without falary : but by ancient cuftom 

 he was entitled to courfe, a.nd take what 

 deer he pleafed, in his way to the foreft- 

 court ; but this privilege is now compounded 

 by an annual fee of a buck, and a doe. 



Befides thefe ancient officers of the foreft, 

 there is one of later inftitution, fince timber 

 became valuable as a material. He is called 



c 3 the 



