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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 

 jurifdiction of foreft law, might be matter of 

 inquiry. Some of them undoubtedly belonged 

 to private perfons ; but on the whole, the 

 forefts of Engknd were both more numerous 

 in proportion, and more appropriated to the 

 crown, than the forefts of Scotland. How 

 many of thefe diftricts exifted between the 

 foreft of Englewood in Cumberland, and 

 New-foreft in Hamplhire, may eafily be 

 fuppofed y when we are allured, that in the 

 laft named county alone there were an- 

 ciently at leaft a dozen; tho we can fcarce 

 at this time trace above haJf that number. 



At prefent indeed even the veftiges of moft 

 of our Englilh forefts are obliterated. Of a 

 few of them we find the lite marked in old 

 maps ; but as to their fylvan honours, Icarcc 

 any of them hath the leaft remains to boaft. 

 Some of the woods were deftroyed in licen- 

 tious times : and many have been fuffered, 

 through mere negligence, to wafte away the 

 pillage of a dimoneft neighbourhood. 



' X 2 The 



