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.