OF THE FOREST LAWS. 217 



and so the like may be said of a park and a warren : and there- 

 fore the hunting, hurting, or killing any of the beasts or fowls 

 of chase, park, or warren, within the limits of the forest, is a 

 trespass of the forest, only punishable by the laws of the forest, 

 and not otherwise* 



And because the laws made for the preservation and continu- 

 ance of forests, and purlieus thereof, and the vert, venison, and 

 fowls therein, are particularly applicable unto, and only proper 

 for forests, and no other places ; therefore we shall begin with 

 a brief account of the laws that relate to the king's forest only, 

 and afterwards proceed to discourse of such other laws, as have 

 been since made for preservation of the game of hunting, hawk- 

 ing, fishing and fowling, in the chases, parks, warrens, woods, 

 or other grounds, fisheries, or vivaries, withia England and 

 Wales, belonging to the subject. 



OF THE FOREST LAWS IN GENERAL. 



It is reported by ancient historians, that forests have been 

 always in this kingdom from the first time that the same was in- 

 habited ; and the author of Concordantia Historiarum tells us, 

 that Gurguntius, the son of Belyn, a king of this island, did 

 make certain forests, for his pleasure, in Wiltshire; and that 

 divers other kings have done the like, since his time. Which 

 forests, the kings of this realm have always maintained and pre- 

 served (with divers privileges and laws appropriated thereunto) as 

 places of pleasure and delight for their royal pastime and diver- 

 sion. 



