The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

Some other Terms and Descriptions relating more particularly to Forest and Forest-Laws.

A Forest, is a place priviledged by Royal Authority and differs from Park, Warren, and Chase, and is on purpose allotted for the peaceable abiding and nourishment of the Beasts and Fowls thereto belonging. For which there are certain peculiar Laws, Officers, and Orders; part of which appear in the Great Charter of the Forest.

A Forester, is an Officer of the Forest, sworn to pre∣serve the Vert and Venison therein, and to attend the wild beasts within his Bailiwick, and to watch, and endeavour to keep them safe by day and night. He is likewise to apprehend all Offenders in Vert and Veni∣son, and to present them to the Courts of the Forest to the end they may be punished according to their of∣fences.

A Purlieu, is all that ground adjoyning to Forests, which being made Forest by Henry the second, Richard the first, or King John, were by perambulations gran∣ted by Henry the third, and severed again from the same.

A Purlieu-man, is he that hath ground within the Purlieu, and hath 40 s. a year Free-hold; and such a one with some caution may hunt within his own Pur∣lieu.

A Regarder, is an Officer of the Kings Forest, that is sworn to take care of the Vert and Venison, and to view and enquire of all the offences committed within the Forest, and of all the Concealments of them; and whether all other Officers do execute their Office or not.

Woodgeld, is the gathering or cutting of Wood in the Forest, or the money paid for it to the use of the Foresters; or an Immunity for this by the King's Grant.

A Raunger, In some Forests there are twelve Raun∣gers, whose Offices are to look after the Purlieu, and drive back the wild Beasts into the Forest again; and to see, hear, and enquire of offenders there, and to present their offences.

A Verderor, is an Officer of the King's Forest, and chosen by the Free-holders of the County where the Forest is, by the Kings Writ directed to the Sheriff for that purpose. Their Office is chiefly to look after the Wood and Grass in the Forest.

An Agistor, is an Officer of the Forest that takes in to feed the Cattle of Strangers, and receives for the Kings use all such tack-Money as becomes due from those Strangers.

A Chase, is a place used for the receipt of Deer and Beasts of the Forest: It differs from a Forest and Park. It may be in the hands of a Subject, which a

Forest in its proper nature cannot be. Neither is it in∣closed as a Park always is; and it hath a larger compass, more store of Game, and more Keepers and Over∣seers.

Expeditate, is (saith Mr. Crompton) the cutting out the ball of the Foot of great Dogs in the Forest; but (saith Mr. Manwood) it is the cutting off the three fore-Claws by the Skin; and that the owner of every such Dog, unexpeditated in the Forest, shall forfeit 3s. 4d.

Fence Month, hath 31 days, begins 15 days before Midsummer, and ends 15 days after: In which time it is unlawful for any to hunt in the Forest, or to go a∣mongst the Deer to disquiet them; because it is the time of Fawning.

Frank Chase, is a liberty of free Chase in a Circuit annexed to a Forest, whereby all men that have ground within the circuit are forbidden to cut down Wood, or discover, &c. within the view of the Forester, though it be his own Demesne.

Green-hue, or Vert, they both signifie one thing, it being every thing that doth drow and bear green Leaf within the Forest, that may cover and hide the Deer.

Over Vert, is all manner of high Wood.

Nether Vert, is all sorts of under-wood. Brushwood is called Cablish.

Horngeld, is a Tax within the Forest for all manner of horned beasts.

Footgeld, is an Amercement on such as live within the Forest, for not expeditating their Dogs. And to be quit of Footgeld, is a priviledge to keep Dogs there Unlawed without Punishment or Controle∣ment.

Pawnage, is Money taken by the Agistors for the feed of Hogs with the Mast of the Kings's Forest;

but (Mr. Crompton saith) it is most properly the Mast, Woods, Lands, or hedg'd Rows, or Money due to the owners of the same for it.

A Scotale, is where any Officer of the Forest doth keep an Ale-house in the Forest by colour of his Office, causing men to come to his House, and to spend their money there for fear of having displeasure; but this is forbid∣den by Charta Forest.

Perambulation, is the admeasurement and setting down of Bounds and Limits to the Forest.

Drift of the Forest, is an exact view and examination taken at certain times, as occasion shall serve, to know what beasts are there; that none Common there but such as have right; and that the Forest be not over∣charged with the beasts of Forreigners.

An Assart, is a great offence committed in the Fo∣rest, by grubbing up the Woods, Coverts, and Thic∣kets, and making them plain as Arable Land, or the like.

Minoverie, is a Trespass or Offence committed by some Engine set up in the Forest to catch Deer, or the like.

Tritis, is a freedom that one hath from holding a Grey-hound in ones hand when the Lord of the Forest is hunting there, or to be amerced for his default.

Protoforestarius, was a great Officer heretofore in Windsor Forest.

Stablestand, is when one is found standing in the Forest with his Bow ready bent to shoot at any Deer or, with his Grey-hound in a Lease ready to slip.

Swainmote, or Swannimote, is a Court appointed to be held thrice in a year within a Forest; the first, 15 days before Michaelmas; the second, about Mar∣tinmas; and the third, 15 days before St. John Bap∣tist.

Chiminage, is taken by Foresters in fee throughout

their Bailiwick for Bushes, Timber, &c. and signifies the same with Toll.

Afforest, is to turn Land into Forest.

Disafforest, is to turn Land from being Forest to o∣ther uses.

Let what hath been said be sufficient for an Introdu∣ction, and let us conclude it with a perswasion to all generous Souls not to slight this noble and worthy Ex∣ercise, (wherein is contained so much health and plea∣sure) for the besotting Sensualities, and wicked De∣baucheries of a City, in which the course of Nature seems to be inverted, Day turn'd into Night, and Night into Day; where there is little other Recreation but what Women, Wine, and a Bawdy Play can afford them; whereby, for want of Labour and Exercise, Mens Bo∣dies contain as many Diseases as are in a sickly Hospi∣tal.