EPPING FOREST. 105 
could be erected without the consent of the forest 
authorities, “because of the increase of men and dogs 
and other things which might frighten the deer from 
their food.” Trees could not be cut down without the 
same permission. 
Among other rights claimed by the Crown was 
that of entering into any private owner’s woods within 
the range of the Forest, and cutting there the branches 
of trees as “broust” for the deer’s winter food; this 
was exercised so late as the nineteenth century. Deer 
and other game were protected for the exclusive sport 
of the Sovereign by most severe laws, enforced in 
Courts peculiar to the Forest, by officers responsible to 
the Crown. 
Dogs in the district were “expeditated,” that is, 
three claws of their fore feet were cut close to the ball 
of the foot to prevent their chasing the deer. Mutila- 
tion and even death were the penalties in early times 
for killing a deer. These were mitigated by the Charta 
de Foresti extorted from King John at the same 
time as Magna Charta; but for centuries after, the 
forest laws were very harsh and were enforced with 
rigour. 
The Forest Courts consisted of the Court of Attach- 
ment, presided over by four Verderers, elected by the 
freeholders of the County of Essex, who had summary 
jurisdiction in offences of a trivial character, where the 
damage was not more than fourpence; and the Court of 
Swainemote, also presided over by the Verderers, assisted 
by a jury of freeholders, who tried for offences of a 
