Clafsl. BUCK. 35 



that of the ocean •, nor confeilt^d any particular maf- 

 ter» When the Saxons had eftablifhed themfelves ia 

 the Heptarchy^ they were referved by each fovereign 

 for his own particular diverfion ; hunting and war 

 in thofe uncivilized ages were the only employ of the 

 great ; their aftive, but uncultivated minds, being 

 fufceptible of no pleafures but thofe of a violent kind, 

 fuch as gave exercife to their bodies, and prevented 

 the pain of thinking. 



But as the Saxon kings only appropriated thofe 

 lands to the ufe of forefts which were unoccupied •, fo 

 no individuals received any injury ; but when the 

 conquefi had fettled the Nor?nan line on the throne, 

 this pafiion for the chace was carried to an excefs, 

 which involved every civil right in a general ruin ; in 

 fuperfeded the confideration of religion even in a fu- 

 perllitious age : the village communities, nay, even 

 the mod facred ccdifices were turned into one vaft 

 wafte, to make room for animals : the objefts of a 

 lawlefs tyrant's pleafure* The new foreft in Hamp- 

 jhire is too trite an inftance to be dwelt on : fangui- 

 nary laws were enadled to preferve the game; and in. 

 the reigns of William Rufus, and Henry the firft, it was 

 lefs criminal to deftroy one of the human fpecies than 

 a bead of chace *, Thus it continued while the Nor" 

 man line filled the throne ; but when the Saxon line 

 was reftorcd under Henry the fecond, the rigor of the 

 foreft laws was immediately foftened. 



When our Barons began to form a power, they 



* An ancient hiftorian fpeaks thus of the penalties incurred j 

 Si cervum coperent aut aprum eculos eis evelUbat j amavit etiim fcras 

 tan^uam erut pater (arum, 



D ij claim- 



