ANCIENT AND MODERN FORESTRY 39 
there was a general complaint that the foresters 
oppressed and extorted money from the people, 
not only directly, but also by appointing an un- 
necessary number of walkers and under-keepers, 
who, receiving no payment, lived only by extor- 
tion. Freeholders and those exercising rights 
of common had hay, corn, lambs, pigs, and the 
like, as well as money, wrung from them clan- 
destinely, and this was a serious aggravation of 
forest laws savage and brutal enough in them- 
selves. Extortion of this sort had subsequently 
to be prohibited by statute, as also the custom 
of illicit Scotale, or extortion ‘colore Officii, by 
keeping of an ale-house or the sale of drink by 
any officer of the forest, where men were induced 
to go and spend their money in order to avert 
the displeasure of the official, The Swainmote 
was charged to inquire into cases of unlawful 
Scotale, and to punish and dismiss from office any 
forester found guilty of this offence. Although 
prohibited from such extortion ‘by colour of 
his office,’ yet he was entitled to various benefits 
or lawful Scotale ‘by virtue of office’; for he had 
the right of making collections by tenure, grant, 
and prescription. Thus he received five shillings 
