Home1823 Edition

FORESTER

Volume 9 · 142 words · 1823 Edition

a sworn officer of the forest, appointed by the king's letters patent, to walk the forest at all hours, and watch over the vert and venison; also to make attachments and true presentments of all trespasses committed within the forest.

If a man comes into a forest in the night, a forester cannot lawfully beat him before he makes some resistance; but in case such a person resists the forester, he may justify a battery. And a forester shall not be questioned for killing a trespasser that, after the peace cried to him, will not surrender himself, if it be not done on any former malice; though, where trespassers in a forest, &c. do kill a person that opposes them, it is murder in all, because they were engaged in an unlawful act, and therefore malice is implied to the person killed.