FOR 
Davis’s quadrant, the back of the observer 
is towards the object; and hence its deno- 
mination of back-staff. 
FORESTALLING, is the buying or 
bargaining for any corn, cattle, or other 
merchandize, by the way, before it comes 
to any market or fair, to be sold ; or by 
the way, as it comes from beyond the seas, 
or otherwise, towards any city, port, 
haven, or creek of this realm, to the in- 
tent to sell the same again at a higher 
price. 
At tire common law, all endeavours to 
enhance the common price of any mer- 
chandize, and all practices which have an 
apparent tendency thereto, whether by- 
spreading faise rumours, or by purchasing 
things in a market before the accustomed 
hour, or by buying and selling again the 
same thing in the same market, or by any 
other such like devices, are highly criminal, 
and punishable by fine and imprisonment. 
Several statutes have, from time to time, 
been made against these offences in gene- 
ral, which were repealed by 12 Geo. III. 
c. 71. 
But though these offences are still 
punishable upon indictment at the common 
law, by fine and imprisonment, the pro- 
priety of laws against forestalling has been 
lately very much doubted by some of the 
most eminent writers upon political eco- 
nomy, and they are now seldom enforced. 
FORESTER, a sworn officer of the 
forest, appointed by the king’s letters 
patent, to walk the forest at all hours, 
watch over the vert and venison ; also to 
make attachments and true presentments 
of all trespasses committed within the 
forest. 
Forests, are waste grounds belonging 
to the king, replenished with all manner 
of beasts of chase on venery, which are 
under the king’s protection, for the sake of 
his royal recreation ; and there are particu- 
lar laws, privileges, courts and officers 
belonging to the king’s forests. The forest 
courts are, the courts of attachments, of 
regard, of swainmote, and of justice seat, 
&c. But as the forest laws have long ago 
Ceased to be put in execution, we shall not 
enumerate them. 
FORFEITURE, is a punishment an- 
nexed by law, to some illegal act or negli- 
gence in the owner of lands, tenements, or 
hereditaments, whereby he loses all his 
interest therein, and they go to the party 
injured, as a recompence for the wrong 
which either he alone, or the public toge- 
FOR 
ther with him have sustained. The offences 
which induce a forfeiture of lands and tene- 
ments, are principally the following: trea- 
son, felony, misprision of treason, premu- 
nire, drawing a weapon on a judge; or 
striking any one in the presence pf the 
king’s court of justice. By the common 
law ; all lands of inheritance whereof the 
offender is seised in his own right, and also 
all rights of entry to lands, in the hands of 
a wrong doer, are forfeited to the king on 
an attainder of high treason, although the 
lands are holden of another. Also upon 
an attainder of petit treason or felony, all 
lands of inheritance, whereof the offender 
is seised in his own right, as also rights of 
entry to lands in the hands of a wrong- 
doer, are forfeited to the lord of whom 
they are immediately holden ; for this by 
the feudal law, was deemed a breach of 
the tenants’ oath of fealty in the highest 
mariner ; his body with which he had engaged 
to serve the lord, being forfeited to the 
king, and thereby his blood corrupted, so 
that no person could represent him; and 
all personal states, whether they are in 
action or possession, which the party has, 
or is entitled to, in his own right, and 
not as executor or administrator to ano- 
ther, are liable to such forfeiture in the 
following cases : 
1st. Upon a convictioii of treason orfelony. 
2d. Upon a flight found before the coroner, 
on view of a dead body. 3d. Upon an ac- 
quittal on a capital felony, if the party be 
found to have fled. 4th. If any person in- 
dicted of petit larceny and acquitted, be 
found to have fled for it, he forfeits his 
goods as in cases of grand larceny. 5th. 
Upon a presentment by the oaths of 12 
men, that a person arrested for treason or 
felony, fled from, or resisted those who had 
him in custody, and was killed by them in 
the pursuit or scuffle. 6th. If a felon 
waive, that is, leave any goods in his flight 
from those who either pursue him, or are 
apprehended by him so to do, he forfeits 
them, whether they are his own goods, 
or goods stolen by him; and at common 
law, if the owner did not pursue and ap- 
peal the felon, he lost the goods for ever : 
but by 21 Hen. VIII. c. 11. for encouraging 
the prosecution of felons, it is provided, that 
if the party came in as evidence on the 
indictment, and attaint the felon, he shall 
have a writ of restitution. 7th. If a man 
be felo de se, he forfeits his goods and 
chattels. 8th. A convict, within clergy, for- 
feits all his goods, though he be burnt in 
