[1535/18]¹

For keeping of forests

²Item, for keeping of all forests, woods and parks within the realm for wild beasts and hunting, it is devised, statute and ordained that all manner of persons claiming to have office of forestry in heritage or tacks of the forests of his grace the king shall be caused at such a day and place as pleases the king's grace, [Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss], his comptroller, and [James Foulis of Colinton], his advocate,³ for the production and showing of their rights and infeftments by which they claim the said offices to pertain to them, to be seen and considered by the lords of council and what clauses they contain, so that good rule and order may be put to them for keeping of the said forests in time coming, with certification that whether they compear or not, the king's grace, with the advice of his lords, will dispose of the said offices and make such constitutions as pleases his highness for the good keeping of the same, pasturing of wild beasts and hunting therein in times coming; and also ordains letters to be directed to command and charge all manner of persons claiming the said offices to pertain to them in heritage or tacks that they let no manner of goods, nolt, sheep, horse, mares or other cattle to be pastured within the forests of his grace the king, under the pain of losing their offices and escheating of their movable goods; and if any manner of person is found putting their goods to pasture in the said forests, that they be taken and brought to the prison of his grace the king and their goods found in the said forests to be escheated by the keepers thereof and brought in, the two parts to the use of his grace the king and the third part to the keepers of the said forests; and if they are negligent and found culpable, to be called and punished thereof in their persons and goods and loss of their offices.⁴ And if there be any baron or other landed man, either spiritual or temporal, who has enclosures, woods or forests of their own, it shall be lawful for them and the keepers thereof to escheat all such goods that are found in manner foresaid within their forests to their use.