4 8 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



people suffered at the hands of the nobles. The 

 perambulations of the forests had thrown many 

 disafforested lands into the hands of certain 

 barons, who gained personally ; but they ground 

 down their tenants so much, that the latter 

 wished their lands to become part and parcel 

 of the royal forest again, in order to secure their 

 former rights of pasture and common ; and this 

 was secured to them, if they wished such a 

 privilege, under the new ordinance. 



There was no fresh legislation during Edward 

 II. 's reign ; but as soon as Edward III. ascended 

 the throne, in 1327, pressure was again success- 

 fully applied in amending the still vexatious 

 laws. The statute then passed regulated still 

 more definitely the procedure at the Swainmote, 

 and ordained * that henceforth no Man shall be 

 taken nor imprisoned for Vert or Venison, unless 

 he be taken with the manner* or manouvre, that 

 is to say, as regards Vert, either in cutting or 

 carrying it away, and as to Venison, in being 

 taken in Stable-stand, Dog-draw, Bloody-hand, or 

 Back-bear, as the various terms were for lying 

 in wait for, chasing, breaking up, and carrying 

 off the royal deer. Another statute, also passed 



