ANCIENT AND MODERN FORESTRY 47 
evade, although he dared not formally renounce, 
the forest articles he had been compelled to 
grant since 1299. 
But the people still groaned under the op- 
pressions of the forest laws and the Foresters. 
Complaints were general that in place of accusa- 
tions being properly made, the ‘ presentments’ 
often took place at the instance of Verderers and 
Foresters, with the design of extorting money, and 
that the number of officers maintained in the 
forests was excessive, while they lived by illegal 
traffic in wood and game. At length the cry 
which went up became so loud that it had to 
be satisfied by legislation, and thus was secured 
the Forest Ordinance passed in 1306. This short 
ordinance of six sections only was much to the 
point. It contained many useful regulations 
with regard to the proceedings at the forest 
courts. ‘Trespassers were ordered to be presented 
to the next Swainmote; the Verderers were to 
be chosen by the freeholders, and appointed by 
the king’s writ; and all offences of the forest 
officers, whether against the king or the people, 
were ordered to be presented, tried, and punished. 
It also removed certain grievances of the common 
