64 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



and liable to be put under pledges if it were 

 * found in anie forest ; and he be nocht bound 

 in bands/ while 'gif ane hairhound be found 

 rinnand, to the hurt of the forest ; he sould 

 be taken, and presented to the forestar, or viri- 

 dier: quha sail send him to the King, or to 

 the cheif Justiciar of the Forest.' Offences 

 against game were, as under English law, con- 

 sidered the most serious ; yet even they were, 

 by comparison with the Southern laws, very 

 mildly dealt with. 'Gif anie man takes ane 

 wilde beast in the forest, without ane warrant/ 

 he was to be arrested, and could not be set at 

 liberty ' without speciall command of the King, 

 or of his Justiciars ' ; while ' gif anie hunts within 

 the King's forest, without licence ; he sail pay ten 

 ponds.' Successful hunting was therefore a much 

 more heinous offence than the mere pleasure of 

 the chase. A free tenant who had * be vertew of 

 his infestment, free power to hunt within his awne 

 land, marchand neare to the Kings forest . . . 

 may follow his hounds within the Kings forest, 

 as farre as he may cast his home or his dog- 

 leisch.' Otherwise, ' he sail pay aucht kye : and 

 sail tine his hounds, with the beast.' 



