CHAP. XXVI.
Of Terms relating to Forests, and Forest-Laws.
A Forest is a place peculiarly set apart by Royal Authority for the keeping and pre∣serving of Game; and to that end there are certain peculiar Laws, Officers and Orders, many of which I shall here take notice if, and which may at large be found in the great Charter of the Forest.
A Purlieu is Ground adjoyning to Forests, which being made Forests by K. Henry the Second, Rich∣ard the First, or K. John, were by perambulations granted by Henry the Third, and severed again from the same. And a Purlieu-man is he that hath ground within the said Purlieu, and 40 s. per Annum Freehold; and such a one may hunt within his Purlieu.
To every Forest doth belong certain Officers. A Regarder is an Officer sworn to take care of the Vert and Venison, to view and enquire of all Offences committed within the Forest, and of all concealments of them, and to see that Officers do well execute their Office; and of these Regarders there are more or less belonging to every Forest according to the largness thereof.
A Forester is an Officer sworn to look after and preserve the Vert and Venison within his Bailiwick or Division, and to watch the same both by day and night, likewise to apprehend all Offenders, and to make complaint thereof to the Forest Courts.
A Verderor is an Officer chosen by the Freehol∣ders of the County, by a writ directed to the Sheriff for that purpose, and is to look after the Wood and Grass in the Forests, and of these there are also more or less according to the extent of the Forest.
A Raunger is to look after the purlieu and to drive back the Deer into the Forest and to enquire after Offenders, and to present their Offences.
An Agistor is an Officer that takes in to feed Stran∣gers Cattle, and receives for the Kings use all such Tackmony as becoms due for the same.
A Chase is much of he Nature of a Forest, be∣ing a place for the keeping of Game, to which belongs also several the like Officers.