OF THE FOREST LAWS. 241 



resemblance. These barbarians were governed by a number of 

 warlike princes, but were, nevertheless, extremely jealous of their 

 rights, and possessed a generous liberty unknown to their civi- 

 lized neighbours, and perhaps incompatible with the extreme re- 

 finements of the most polished state of society. Hunters from 

 necessity as well as choice, with their conquests they introduced 

 a passion for the chase ; and when their subsistence no longer 

 depended upon the pursuit of wild animals, they followed the 

 chase as an amusement, and hence originated laws for the pre- 

 servation of what has since been known under the denomination 

 of game. 



It would appear, that laws were known on the subject of field 

 sports, as early as the times of the Saxon dominion in this country, 

 which were, however, extremely mild compared with those en- 

 acted in after times by Canute, and more particularly by William 

 the Conqueror. 



Canute, the Dane, instituted what are called the Forest Laws, 

 or, at least, I am not aware of any written evidence on the sub- 

 ject farther back than the time of this monarch ; but whatever 

 censure may be due to regulations, which at the present time 

 would be insupportable, must not be laid solely to the account of 

 the Dane, as the nobility were despotic on their own estates, 

 and ruled, not only more absolutely, but more tyrannically, than 

 the king himself. Thus, while various forests were appropriated 

 to the use of royalty, the nobility, in imitation of the monarch, 

 had each either his forest, chase, park, or purlieu, over which 

 he exercised unbounded authority ; in fact, these forest laws 

 appear to have been instituted in compliance rather with the wish 

 of his nobility, than from the spontaneous inclination of Canute. 

 The first charter of the forest, it seems, was granted by this 

 monarch at Winchester, in the year 1062; and, as a few ex- 

 tracts from Manwood's Forest Laws will be both amusing and 



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