midnight
Note A. -- The Ranger or the Forest , that cuts the foreclaws off our dogs . A most sensible grievance of those aggrieved times were the Forest Laws . These oppressive enactments were the produce of the Norman Conquest , for the Saxon laws of the chase were mild and humane ; while those of William , enthusiastically attached to the exercise and its rights , were to the last degree tyrannical . The formation of the New Forest , bears evidence to his passion for hunting , where he reduced many a happy village to the condition of that one commemorated by my friend , Mr William Stewart Rose : `` Amongst the ruins of the church The midnight raven found a perch , A melancholy place ; The ruthless Conqueror cast down , Woe worth the deed , that little town , To lengthen out his chase . '' The disabling dogs , which might be necessary for keeping flocks and herds , from running at the deer , was called `` lawing '' , and was in general use . The Charter of the Forest designed to lessen those evils , declares that inquisition , or view , for lawing dogs , shall be made every third year , and shall be then done by the view and testimony of lawful men , not otherwise ; and they whose dogs shall be then found unlawed , shall give three shillings for mercy , and for the future no man 's ox shall be taken for lawing . Such lawing also shall be done by the assize commonly used , and which is , that three claws shall be cut off without the ball of the right foot .