110 EPPING FOREST. 
it was enacted that all lands added to the Royal Forests 
by Henry II., Richard, and John, should be thrown 
out again, and that they were to be viewed for that 
purpose by good and lawful men. <A copy of this 
survey exists in the Bodleyan Library. 
It appears from this and other documents that 
this perambulation substantially coincided with another 
in the reign of Edward I., the record of which also still 
exists. In spite of this, there appear to have been 
disputes from time to time with respect to the extent 
of the Forest, which were not definitely settled till the 
time of the Long Parliament. 
The Forest was in these early periods, and for 
centuries later, the favourite resort of the sovereigns. 
It was described even so late as 1628 by Sir Robert 
Heath as being 
“a very fertile and fruitful soyle; and being full of most 
pleasant and delightful playnes and lawnes, most useful and 
commodious for hunting and chasing of the game or redd and 
falowe deare 
“especiallie and above all their other fforests, prized and 
esteemed by the King’s Majestie, and his said noble pro- 
genitors the Kings and Queenes of this realme of England, as 
well for his and their pleasure, disport, and recreation from those 
pressing cares for the publique weale and safetie, which are in- 
separablie incident to theire kinglie office, as for the interteyne- 
ment of forreigne Princes and Ambassadors, thereby to show 
unto them the honor and magnificence of the Kings and Queenes 
of this Realme.” 
In the reign of Edward VI. complaint was made 
that the forest laws had been neglected. The King 
