The Preface to the Matter.

1 have placed them first of all before any others, to the endthat those that (hall re d this Boost, mayboth fee and knowwhat Lawes there were in the beginning, concerning Forests,and how they have altered and changed stom time to timeand to that end I have here set down all the Statutes concer-ning Forests, that have been made since the time of the malt-ing of the said Latest, because that it may thereby appearthe more plainly how any one of them have abrogated another,or any p art thereof, by /eafon whereof that 'dehich is Lawand in force at this Day may the more easier lee dis-cerned, and kgiown.

It appeareth by the Laws of Canutus the Dane King inhis nanon the zo.That before his time,all wild Beasts andbirofwere only the King^and that no other person mightkill or hurt them.For the King by his Loyal Prerogative,his Canutusright and priviledge was fitch in England-r/wt all such things Canon j®.that none of his Subjects could challenge any property in, theywere then said to be the Kingstas wild Beasts,Birds,and suchlike,in whole Lands or Woods soever they were found.

Wherefore the fame King made this LawfiV olo ut omnis li-ber homo pro libitosoo habeat venerem five viridem inplanis this super terras (has, sine Chacea tamen: & divitentomnes meam ubicuq^neam habere voluero; which is: Thatfrom henceforth,! will (faith the King) that every free manmay take his own vert and venison, or hunting that he canget upon his own ground,or in his own fields, being out ofmy Chafe: And let all men refrain from my venery in eve-ry place where I will have the fame. And also it appi-areth inthe Book n f Edward the Cms iff or, which Book is the very The book of theroot and original ground of alt the ancient laws of England, J 1,

that the fame K. Edward the Confessor did confirm the fame Confdlor 'Law i n these words : Volo Ut omnis homo sit venatione foadignus in nemore,campo, A dominico tuO;8r abftineat om-nis homo a veneriis meis ubrcunq; pacem eos habere volosuper peenam vitæ, And so it appeareth , that betb the said

Kings ,