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with private property — that the limits of 

 others were very undefined — and laftly, when 

 we refledl, how eafy a matter it was, by a 

 ftretch of royal authority, to fix the locality 

 of a trefpafs in a foreft, tho it was never 

 committed there j we may eafily conclude, 

 from the whole, how fertile a fource of 

 vexation foreft-law might be made, tho it 

 merely refpecfted game. 



But other grievances accrued. Many in- 

 croachments were made on private property. 

 Extravagant claims were pretended by forefl- 

 officers ; and heavy tolls were levied on fuch 

 merchandize, as pafi'ed through the king's 

 forefts, tho in fadl, it could pafs in no 

 other diredlion*. Sometimes alfo needy prin- 

 ces, (and mofl: of them were needy) with a 

 view to raife money, would fend commifiioners 

 purpofely to examine into foreft-trefpaffes ; and 

 on thefe occafions, we may be fure, there was 

 always exaggeration enough. 



This accumulation of hardfhip was at all 

 times deeply felt, and refented -, and whenever 

 the reins of government llackened in the hands 



See King John's charter of forefts. 



of 



