ANCIENT AND MODERN FORESTRY 5 1 



the word * forest * may have been a casual error 

 in place of a purposeful innovation. 



Thenceforth, for many years nothing in the 

 way of forest legislation was enacted by Parlia- 

 ment. Henry VII. made it a felony to hunt deer 

 at night in the forests with painted visors, and 

 Henry VIII. made it also felonious to enter a 

 forest with intent to steal deer ; but this last 

 rule was soon repealed by Edward VI. Neither 

 Mary nor Elizabeth gave any particular attention 

 to their forests. The last royal forest created in 

 England was Hampton Court, afforested by Act 

 of Parliament in the thirty-first year of Henry 

 VIII. 's reign. The two statutes enacted by Henry 

 in the year following that concerned themselves 

 with the * Drift of Forests/ or driving of horses 

 and other beasts of the field to ascertain that the 

 forests were not burdened to a surcharge by 

 those holding rights of common, and with en- 

 abling the Justices in Eyre to appoint a deputy 

 to make their circuit or Iter. Such circuits were 

 regularly made down to 1635, when they ceased. 



Chases, or Purlieus, or without Licence, in the Forest, Chase, or 

 Purlieu of any other Person, or make any Sale of the same 

 Wood : It shall be lawful to the same Subject,' &c. 



