INTRODUCTORY 11 



by an admission that the Scots statute- 

 book was disgraced by at least one Act, 

 1551, cap. 0, " anent them that schuttis 

 with gunnis at Deare and Wildefowle," 

 which probably no Norman enactment 

 surpassed in severity, for it actually 

 inflicted the penalty of death, as well as 

 confiscation of movables, upon such as 

 shot at these wild animals in the royal 

 preserves — an Act, however, which by 

 1686, if not earlier, had fallen into 

 desuetude. The jealous protection ex- 

 tended to the royal forests in Scotland 

 is further exemplified by the Act of 

 James VI., 1617, c. 18, which proceeds 

 upon the complaint "that the Forests 

 within the Realme are altogether wasted 

 and decayed by Shielings, pastouring of 

 Horses, Mares, Cattel, Oxen, and other 

 bestial " ; and by a representation made 

 by the Court of Session to the king 

 " against granting of new forests as pre- 

 judicial to the King's old forests and to 

 his lieges." 



In 1528 King James V. of Scotland 



