EARLY EXGLISII FOREST REGULATIONS 537 



Timber trespass. Sometimes there was a trespass reported, which 

 upon investigation would prove to be innocent, or that the alleged 

 trespasser had a right to cut the timber. At a forest court held in 

 1267, the Abbot of Rufiford was charged with having taken 483 oaks 

 from Sherwood Forest, but the Abbot plead justification through the 

 charter of Henry II and got away with it. An example of vert or 

 timber trespass is reported, the damages or value of the wood being 

 figured as follows: 3 beeches worth 75 cents, 2 oaks worth 50 cents; 

 oflfender to pay in each case an additional fine (punitive damages) 

 of $3. 



Boundaries. \'arious and extensive changes were made in the num- 

 ber and boundaries of the Royal Forests from reign to reign. William 

 the Conqueror made heavy additons and extensions to the forests. 

 There were many complaints made of the hardships caused by 

 William's autocratic acts. King John, in 1215, was compelled by one 

 of the clauses of the Magna Charta to eliminate or abolish all the great 

 tracts which he had set aside during his reign. The Child King, Henry, 

 was made to issue the Charta of the Forest in 1217, by which it was 

 provided that the boundaries of all forests made by Henry II were to 

 be carefully examined and that all but his own lands were to be elimi- 

 nated. In 1240, the sheriff was directed to summon a jury to deter- 

 mine by actual examination on the ground the boundaries of Dartmoor 

 Forest. The results of this examination still exist, with a quaint map 

 of the forest. 



Examinations of the boundaries of a forest were called "perambula- 

 tions," and there were "perambulating knights," who laid out the forest 

 as a rule. We read thit in 1301 the Forest of Essex was covered by a 

 boundary examination. In 1G30 the boundaries were again laid down, 

 which practically agreed with those of 1301. Four years later much 

 indignation was aroused by the crown officials attempting to raise 

 money by extending the area of Essex Forest. Failing in this, an at- 

 tempt was made, also futile, to secure its disafforestation (or abolish- 

 ment) and sale. This resulted in an act being passed during the first 

 .session of the Long Parliament to fix the boundaries, and a perambula- 

 tion showed that the forest contained 60.000 acres. "Forest," we recall, 

 in those days in England oftentimes included vast districts, which em- 

 braced woodlands, and wild wastes of moor, as well as patches of culti- 

 vated lands. Whole counties were taken into the forests, whorcat 

 there was much complaint by the people. 



