INTRODUCTORY 9 



be under the king's protection for his 

 princely delight, bounded with irremov- 

 able marks and meres, either known by 

 matter of record or prescription ; re- 

 plenished with beasts of venery and chase, 

 and great coverts of vert for succour of 

 the said beasts ; for preservation thereof 

 there are particular laws, privileges, and 

 officers belonging thereunto." 



Until the making of Carta de Foresta 

 by Henry III. in 1224, confirmed by 

 Edward I. in 1229, forest offences were 

 punished in the severest manner — some- 

 times by death itself — at the mere will of 

 the sovereign. But by this charter many 

 of these hunting preserves were abolished, 

 and many others were shorn of their more 

 oppressive privileges. These cruel laws 

 were further ameliorated by successive 

 monarchs, whether of their own clemency 

 or under political pressure, and may now 

 be said to be wholly obliterated from the 

 statute-books. 



Though it does not appear that the 

 Scottish kings addicted themselves to the 



