26 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 
locality, and ordering a perambulation of the 
same to be carried out. This perambulation 
being returned, certified, and recorded, a writ was 
issued to the local sheriff, ordering proclamation 
throughout the county that the land in question 
had been afforested, and that no one might hence- 
forth hunt there. Until forest officers were ap- 
pointed by the king, however, the tract remained 
only a Chase (Chaceus), or sanctuary for beasts of 
venery and other wild animals. As such the 
right of hunting there could be conferred on sub- 
jects, whereas it was only a Forest (Foresta) when 
retained by the king for his own use and recrea- 
tion. A Forest differed from a Chase in the three 
matters of having particular laws, certain officers, 
and particular courts for executing these laws; 
a Chase was usually smaller than a Forest. A 
Park (Parcus) was also a place of sanctuary for 
wild beasts of all descriptions, but it differed from 
a Chase in being enclosed, while it was usually 
smaller in extent. If left open in place of being 
kept properly enclosed, it was liable to seizure by 
the king as a free chase. Hence, when such 
tracts or portions of chases were granted to 
subjects, license to impark was given at the same 
