301 



APPOINTMENT OF A GAMEKEEPER, 

 AND HIS AUTHORITY. 



By the 22nd and 23rd of Charles II. c. 25. s. 2. lords of 

 manors and other royalties, not under the degree of an esquire,* 

 may, by writing under their hands and seals, appoint gamekeepers 

 within their manors and royalties, who then become authorized 

 to seize all guns, greyhounds, setting dogs, or any other dogs 

 for killing hares or rabbits ; as well as snares, nets, &c. for the 

 purpose of taking hares, partridges, or other game, which may 

 be found within their respective manors, used by unqualified 

 persons. This act, however, does not authorize gamekeepers 

 to kill game, but merely to preserve it. 



The 5th of Anne, c. 14. s. 4. however, enables lords of manors 

 to appoint a person to kill game. But, if he sell game, he is 

 liable, on the oath of one witness, to be sent to the house of 

 correction for three months, and kept to hard labour. 



Twenty-five Geo. III. c. 5. s. 2. enacts that every deputation 

 of a gamekeeper granted to any person in England or Wales, 

 shall be registered with the clerk of the peace in the county 

 where the manor lies, for which such person is appointed. A 

 neglect of this, as also of taking out a certificate of such registry, 

 incurs the penalty of twenty pounds. But gamekeepers to the 

 royal family are exempt from the operations of this act. 



The following is the form of a gamekeeper's deputation or 

 appointment : 



" Know all men by these presents, that I, SIMON SULKY, of 



* Willes, J. in the case of Jones, v. Smart, said, that a lord of a manor 

 is not an esquire by virtue of his manor or royalty, though in common 

 acceptation he may be considered as such. 



2c 



