The royal forests of Scotland, in ancient times, seem to have been nearly as numerous as those of England. In Perthshire, there were the forests of Athole, Mamlorn, Glenartney, Glenfynlas, Glenalmond, Birnam, Cluny, Alyth, etc. In Forfarshire, there were Platan, Montrethmont, Kilgerry; in Kincardineshire, Cowie and Durris; in Aber deenshire, the Stocket, Dyce, Kintore, Benachie, Drum, Birsc, Braemar; in Banffshire, the Boyne and the Enzie; in Morayshire, Darnaway, etc. South of the Forth, there were the forests of the Torwood, Cadzow, Ettrick, Selkirk, Jedburgh, Traquair, the New forest in Dtfulfriesshire, etc. The Leges Scottish forest laws— have been printed more than once; the best edition is iu The Acts of the Parliaments of Se-otland, vol. i. pp. 323-328 (Edin. 1844). The forest cede of Scotland, though neither so complete nor administered with the same rigor as that of England, was still generally complained of for its severe penalties or vexatious restraints. The grant of a right of forestry conferred the same privilege as if the ground over which it extended had been originally, and had continued to be, a king's forest. Hence arose great oppression and annoyance to neighboring proprietors, and in 1680 the supreme civil court suggested that a representation should be made to the king against the granting of new forests.
From a case which was recently decided, it would seem that the high pretensions of royal foresters have in some places survived to the present day. The dukes of Athole still hold the extensive mountainous district called the forest of Athole, either in their own right or as foresters for the crown. Iu virtue of his rights of forestry, the sixth duke claimed the power of preventing his neighbor, the laird of Lude, from killing deer on his own lands, and maintained that be was bound to allow the duke and his keepers to enter on his lands, and drive back any deer that might stray upon them from the forest of Athole. But the court decided (Mar. 1, 1862) against the duke on both points.
Forest courts were courts established for the purpose of enforcing the F. L. in the royal forests. Of these courts, there were in England four—viz., the court of attach ments, the court of regard, the court of swainmote, and the court of the lord justice in eyre in the forest, or justice seat. The last court of justice seat that was held where business was transacted was in the reign of Charles I., before lord Holland.