Expediate

EXPEDIATE—is a term tranſmitted from one book to another by former writers, but is at preſent little uſed in either theory or practice. It implies the cutting out the centrical ball of the foot of a dog, or ſuch claws as ſhall totally prevent his purſuit of game. In earlier times, when the forest laws were more rigidly enforced, the owner of any dog not expediated, living within the diſtrict, was liable to a fine for non-obedience.

Among other liberties, they were permitted to assart their lands in Woodford and many other places, and enclose them with a ditch and low hedge, that they might take of their woods at pleasure; to have the forfeiture of their own men; to hunt the fox, hare, and cat, in the forest; that their dogs should not be expediated†. […] † Expediating dogs, according to the forest laws, signifies to cut out the ball of dogs' fore-feet; the mastiff is to have only the three claws of the fore-foot, on the right side, cut off next the skin, for the preservation of the king's game. Every one that keeps any great dog, not expediated, forfeits 3s. 4d. to the king.

The statute, which prohibited all but a few privileged individuals from keeping Greyhounds or Spaniels, provided that farmers and substantial freeholders dwelling within the forests might keep Mastiffs for the defence of their houses within the same, provided such Mastiffs be expediated according to the laws of the forest. This “expediating,” “hambling,” or “lawing,” as it was indifferently termed, was intended to maim the dog as to reduce to a minimum the chances of his chasing and seizing the deer, and the law enforced its being done after the following manner: “Three claws of the fore foot shall be cut off by the skin, by setting one of his fore feet upon a piece of wood 8 inches thick and 1 foot square, and with a mallet, setting a chisel of 2 inches broad upon the three claws of his fore feet, and at one blow cutting them clean off.”