Original printed Laws of Parliament ''for the better preservation of the game'', printed in 1717 offered here in the context of greyhounds interest, t

Original printed Laws of Parliament ''for the better preservation of the game'', printed in 1717 offered here in the context of greyhounds interest, two sheets printed recto/verso, mounted between glass in a wooden frame, 37 by 53cm., reasonably good condition Due to the practice of poaching, from the reign of King James I of England laws were in placed banning the ownership of greyhounds unless the individual owned land to the rental of ?10 per year, or was a Baron of Parliament. The laws relating to the keeping of greyhounds continued to be strengthened, including under the reign of Queen Anne in 1706 when amongst the measures of an Act for the Preservation of Game, powers were given to any lord or lady or Justice of the Peace, to confiscate for their own use any greyhound found owned by a person not entitled to keep such a dog. The original, printed Laws being offered in this lot represent amendments made to the 1706 Act a decade later under the reign of George I. This was to prove to be the last of such laws. As time went on the farming community revolted and there were many protests against the Game Laws, and authors and journalists made their voices heard in print. Eventually the Ground Game Laws made hare no longer the sole property of the gentry, and the landlord and farmer had equal rights.