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greatly extended the forefts to the prejudice of private 

 perfons. It was therefore declared, that all lands 

 afForefted by Henry the firft or Richard, except demefne 

 woods of the crown, fhould be difafForeltcd ; and various 

 regulations were provided, refpedling the woods of fub- 

 je(Sts within forefts, the making the regard of the foreft, 

 lawing of dogs, and holding the fwainmote courts ; and 

 it was exprefsly declared that no perfon fhould lofc life 

 or member for taking the king's deer. A perfon con- 

 vidled of this offence was to pay a confiderable fine ; 

 and if he could not pay it, was to be imprifoned for a 

 year and a day, and find fecurity for his good behaviour ; 

 and if he could not find fuch fecurity, he was to abjure 

 the realm. 



The regulations thus made were repeated in the reign 

 of Henry the third, and at length fully fubmitted to 

 and confirmed by Edward the firft. The wifeft of our 

 kings have generally rcfpeded the free and equal fpirit 

 of our conftitution as the bafis of juft and permanent 

 authority. The good government of the country, and 

 the union of every part by a firm and regular policy, 

 were principal objects of the ambition of Edward. He 

 had experienced the evils arifing from ariftocratical 

 tyranny, and from the turbulence of a democracy ; and 

 he aimed at preferving that balance of power which 

 fhould keep the crown in it's juft poife. To prevent 

 difputes on the extent of the king's forefts, perambula- 

 tions of the forefts were required by the people, and 

 fubmitted to by the king. The boldnefs of offenders 

 in forefts chaces and warrens, and probably the difpofi- 

 tion of juries to find againft thofe who were appointed 

 to keep fuch places, had made it neceffary to give pro- 

 tection to the keepers. By the ftatute 21. Edward I. 

 *' de malefadoribus in parcis" it was ordained, that if 



b 4 fuch 



