CHAPTER IV. 



FORMER GAME LAWS. 



THE legislation of England throughout the centuries 

 preceding the present has shown endeavours to restrict 

 the devastation of forests; but it was all in the interest of the 

 sportsman. I quote again the report of Mr M'William: 

 " Notwithstanding the havoc committed by the Romans, 

 this country abounded with high woods and thickets ; and 

 these were full of wild beasts, which after their time 

 annoyed the inhabitants so much, that they were anxious 

 to destroy the woods in order to drive the wild beasts 

 farther from them. In the year 954, Edgar, a Saxon 

 prince, was king of this island. He nearly exterminated 

 the wolves and foxes, both in England and Wales, so that 

 but few remained. As a ready way of destroying them, 

 he obliged the Welsh to pay him yearly a certain tribute 

 of wolfskins. When the ravenous beasts were destroyed, 

 the others afforded great amusement to the king and his 

 nobles. The kings then began to be careful of them, 

 particularly venison and those which were delicate food,* 

 and to privilege or protect the woods, where these wild 

 beasts remained ; so that no man was allowed to cut or 

 destroy these woods, and these receptacles for wild beasts 

 became forests. At that time, all beasts and birds, that 

 were wild by nature, were wholly the property of the king, 

 on whosever ground or lands they were found,t within any 

 part of the realm, as well as those that were out of the 

 forests, chases, and warrens, as those that remained within 

 any of them ; so that it was not lawful for any man to 



* Manwood. t ibid. p. 13. 



