Dean Forest Act 1819

VIIPrincipal Gaveller of Dean Forest may distrain for Gale Rents or Gawle Rents, due to His Majesty.

And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the Person who now does or who shall be appointed to and hold the Office of Gaveller or Keeper of the Gawle, called The Gawle above the Wood, within the Forest of Dean, in the County of Gloucester, and the Office of Keeper of the Gawle under the Wood, within the said Forest for the Time being, from and after the passing of this Act, to recover and levy any Sum or Sums of Money now due and owing, or which shall hereafter become due and payable to His Majesty, from any Person or Persons, for and in respect of the annual Compositions usuale called Gale Rents or Gawle Rents an, payable within said forest, by Distress and Saloe of the Goods and Chattels of the Person or Persons from whom such Compositions are or shall be due and owing, wheresoever the same shall be found, together with the Costs and Charges of such Distress and Sale, as in the Nature of a Distress for Rent; and in case the Goods and Chattels distrained shall be replevied by the Owner or Owners thereof, and a Suit or Action in Replevin shall be brought, and prosecuted or commenced against the said Gaveller, or the Person or Persons making such Distress, it shall and may be lawful for the Person holding the said Office of Gaveller to plead to the said Action, or to avow the taking the said Goods and Chattels, and for the Person or Persons making such Distress to make cognizance as the Bailiff of the said Gaveller for the Time being for the making the said Distress, alleging in such Avowry or Cognizance, that the said Distress whereof the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs complained, was made by Authority of and according to the Purport of this Act, for so much Gale Rent or Gawle Rent due from the Plaintiff to the said Gaveller, as Gaveller of the Forest of Dean, without expressing or rehearsal of any other Matter; to which Avowry or Cognizance the Plaintiff shall be admitted to plead that the Defendant did take the said Distress of his own wrong, without any such Cause alleged by the Defendant ; whereupon the Issue in such Action shall be joined, and upon the Trial of that Issue the whole Matter to be given by both Parties in Evidence according to the very Truth of the same.