82 THE FORESTS OF ENGLAND. 



disliked the impending changes, which would interfere 

 with their unlicensed pilferings, and restrain their pursuits 

 Even late in the present century, the Commissioners of 

 Woods and Forests gave orders for the destruction of all 

 deer in the Forest of Dean, from the temptation they 

 presented to the labouring population to kill them when- 

 ever they could, and the immorality and crime that pre- 

 vailed while they were preserved in the woods and coverts." 



In the work cited, details are given of the successive 

 holders of the Chase granted by Edward I. to the Earl of 

 Gloucester ; and of the complicated claims of others which, 

 after the decree issued by Charles I., in 1632, for the " dis- 

 afforesting of the Chase of Malvern, and for freeing the lands 

 within the bounds, limits, and jurisdiction thereof, of and 

 from the game of deer. These and the forest laws " led 

 to opposition by several powerful land-owners with rights 

 or claims upon the Chase. The execution of this decree, 

 and the presentation by others of a bill in Chancery pray- 

 ing for its reversal, and the exhibition of an information 

 in the Court of Star Chamber against others, "for certain 

 riots and other misdemeanours supposed to have been done 

 in opposition and hindrance of the execution of the said 

 decree." 



" To end the dispute an order in Council was made at 

 Whitehall, 5th September, 1632, to explain the former 

 decree, and for 'the settlement of the differences ' that had 

 disturbed the country. By this it is declared that the 

 third part to be enclosed should not be the best selected, 

 but ' indifferently taken, bad and good,' and that ' the 

 other two parts shall be left open and free for the free- 

 holders and tenants and commons, to take their common 

 of pasture and common of Estovers therein ;' with the 

 restriction that no enclosure shall be made, or woods or trees 

 felled within the two reserved third parts. This ' Order of 

 Explanation ' was to be held as part of the said decree, and 

 still remains in force (being afterwards confirmed by Act 

 of Parliament 16th Charles II.) as to such waste lands in 



