THE FOREST OFFICERS 



axe-bearer, appointed directly by the Crown, and the recipient 

 of certain perquisites. 



Foresters were officers sworn to preserve the vert and venison 

 in their own divisions, or walks, or wards, which were some- 

 times termed bailiwicks. They had to "attach" offenders, and 



FORESTER'S SLAB 

 THIRTEENTH CENTURY 



Bakewell, Derbyshire 



} cnrt.ii 



FORESTER'S SLAB 

 THIRTEhNTH CENTURY 



Hope, Derbyshire 



present them at the forest courts. If they found any man in 

 the forest with bows and arrows, snares or dogs, they might 

 arrest and imprison him as if they had actually seen him hunt 

 or kill the deer. They had to take special care of the deer 

 during the fence or close month, i.e. the fortnight before and 

 after Midsummer Day, when the fawns were usually dropped, 

 and to provide them with deer-browse or tree-clippings in the 



