CHAPTER I.

The Forests of England -- Our Forests amongst our most interesting Objects -- Scenery of England as we may suppose it in the Feudal Ages, and as it is now -- Charms with which our Imaginations and Town Restraints have invested the Feudal Times -- Antiquity of our Forests -- Derivation of the Name -- New Forest created by the Conqueror; Sixty-seven Forests previously existing -- Various Opinions respecting the Origin of New Forest -- the Ravages of William, and Death of his two Sons and Grandson in it -- Number of Forests, Chases, and Parks formerly belonging to the Crown -- Forest System an Imperium in Imperio -- Its Courts, Laws, and Officers -- Consequences of the few Judges, and long Intervals between Trials -- Severity of both Laws and Oaths on the Officers -- Freeholds granted in Forests subject to the Forest Laws -- Forest Boundaries of a peculiar Description -- Drifts of the Forest -- Barbarous Penalties for killing Deer decreed by the Norman Kings -- these softened by successive Monarchs -- Preamble of the Assise of the Forest of Edward I. -- Law of Attachment of Offenders in the Forest expressed in an old Rhyme -- Lawing of Dogs; in what it consisted -- Other curious Provisions of the Assises of the Forests -- Regarders appointed by Henry II. -- their Duties -- Inquisitions into the State of Forests by Elizabeth -- the Forest Laws disused after the Revolution -- List of the Ancient Forests 348