314 Great Britain. 



in order to lend historical color to his assertion of 

 'forest' rights. \ 



A partial reduction of forests, and a modification of 

 the cruelty and unreasonableness of the laws was 

 obtained by the Charta de Foresta, in 1225, which 

 formulated the laws into a code, and again by the 

 Forest Ordinance of 1306. But not until 1483, under 

 Edward IV, were the people living within 'forests', 

 permitted to cut and sell timber, and to fence in for 

 seven years, portions of the reserved territory. The 

 last territory was 'afforested', i. e. withdrawn for 

 purposes of the chase, under Henry VIII, but he had 

 to secure the consent of the freeholders. The Long 

 Parliament in 1641 stopped at least the extension of 

 forests, and modified the application of the laws to a 

 more reasonable degree. 



The forest laws are still on the statutes, but have 

 fallen into desuetude; the last 'forest court of justice 

 seat' was held under Charles I. The 'forests' them- , 

 selves have also almost entirely vanished, some being 

 abolished as late as Queen Victoria's time, by act of 

 parliament, but the last action under the 'forest laws' 

 was had in 1862 when the Duke of Athole tried to 

 establish his right as 'forester' for the crown. 



In Scotland the same usages and laws existed, only 

 very much less rigorously enforced, until in 1681 the 

 extension of 'forests' was discontinued by parliamen- 

 tary act. 



It will be understood that the term forest did only 

 distantly refer to woodland and that no economic 

 policy had anything to do with the laws. Only 

 incidentally was forestgrowth protected and preserved 



