In old English law. A certain territory of wooded ground and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild beasts and fowls of forest, chase, and warren, to rest and abide in the safe protection ot the prince for his princely delight and pleasure, having a peculiar court and officers. Manw. For. Laws, c. 1, no. 1; Termes de la Ley; 1 Bl. Comm. 289.
A royal hunting-ground which lost its peculiar character with the extinction of its courts, or when the franchise passed into the hands of a subject. Spelman; Cowell.
The word is also used to signify a franchise or right, being the right of keeping, for the purpose of hunting, the wild beasts and fowls of forest chase, park, and warren, in a territory or precinct of woody ground or pasture set apart for the purpose. 1 Steph. Comm. 665. Forest courts. In English law. Courts instituted for the government of the king’s forest in different parts of the kingdom, and for the punishment of all injuries done to the king’s eer or venison, to the vert or greensward, and to the covert in which such deer were lodged. They consisted of the courts of attachments, of regard, of sweinmote, and of justice-seat; but in later times these courts are no longer held. 3 Bl. Comm. 71. Forest law. The system or body of old law relating to the royal forests. Forestage. A duty or tribute payable to the king’s foresters. Cowell. Forester. A sworn officer of the forest, appointed by the king’s letters patent to walk the forest, watching both the vert and the venison, attaching and presenting all trespassers against them within their own bailiwick or walk. These letters patent were generally granted during good behavior; but sometimes they held the office in fee. Blount