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yet that our discourse may be as ample, and as little 

 defective as we can render it, something 'tis fit should 

 be spoken concerning such laws and ordinances as 

 have been from time to time constituted amongst us 

 for the encouragement and direction of such as do 

 well, and for the animadversion and punishment of 

 those who continue refractory. 



But before we descend to our municiple, and 

 present laws and constitutions, let us enquire what 

 was anciently meant by a forest. (Waving those, I 

 think, impertinent etymologies, quid forts est, (Lum- 

 bard Gloss^ &c.J a forest is properly an harbour for 

 wild beasts : quasi Jerarum statio ; for which, mighty 

 tracts and portions of land have been afforded (as the 

 term is) by the kings and monarchs of this nation, 

 beyond any other in Europe, and guarded with such 

 strict, rigorous, and severe laws, as did not extend to 

 the prohibition of killing and destruction of deer and 

 venison alone ; but even to that of killing little silly 

 birds ; and that not only to the forfeiture and loss of 

 goods, but of limb and life. Such, among others, 

 was that of Richard the First, upon incurring the loss 

 of the offender's eyes and testicles, &c. to the unsuf- 

 ferable hindrance of great improvements ; whilst there 

 might have been not only enough for royal diversion, 

 but for the increase of timber and people, which are 

 the true glory and safety of this nation. In the mean 

 time, 'tis remarkable that William Rufus (successor 

 to the great Conqueror) chasing a stag under a spread- 

 ing oak, was by the glance of an arrow levell'd at 

 the beast, depriv'd of his life. The historian recounts 

 it as God's visiting the sin of the father upon the 

 children, for his demolishing so many churches and 

 villages, and turning them into receptacles and dens 



