February 1647: Ordinance for Preservation of Game.

February, 1647

[20 February, 1646/7.]

Whereas Provision is made, by the Statutes of this Realm, for the Preservation of Game in this Kingdom, and that the Justices of the Peace and others are by the said Statutes authorized and required to punish the offenders in that kind as by the said Statutes doth appear; but, by reason of the great Liberty that several idle and loose Persons at this Time take unto themselves, by Guns, tracing of Hares in the Snow, setting Dogs, and other unlawful Means, to kill and destroy the Game of all kinds throughout the whole Kingdom, in Contempt of Law and Authority, which, if not timely prevented, will prove a Destruction to the said Game in all Parts: It is Ordered, by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the Justices of the Peace in the several Counties of the Kingdom, and specially about the King's Honours, Castles, Parks, Chaces, and Houses, are hereby charged and required, by virtue of their Places, and the Tenor of the said Statutes, to take special care that they put the said Statutes in due Execution against all such Offenders as shall trespass in this kind, according to the Nature of their several Offences; And herein the said Justices of Peace and others authorized are hereby required to take special Care in the Execution of the Premises, as the contrary will be answered to this House.