370 Great Britain. 



value, so that timber of British production is usually 

 ruled out by architects. 



2. Development of Forest Policies. 



The Saxons and Normans were primarily hunters, 

 and this propensity to the chase has impressed itself 

 upon their forest treatment into modern times. 



The Teutonic Saxons undoubtedly brought with 

 them the feudal and communal institutions of the 

 Germans, under which territory for the king's special 

 pleasure in the chase was set aside as 'forest', and 

 this exclusive right and privilege was on other terri- 

 tory extended to the vassals, while the commoners 

 were excluded from the exercise of hunting privileges 

 on these grounds. 



The Normans not only increased the lands under 

 'ban', but they increased also in a despotic manner 

 the penalties and punishments for infraction of the 

 forest laws, and enforced them more stringently than 

 was done on the continent. The feudal system was 

 developed to its utmost. Besides 'forests' in which 

 the king alone had exclusive rights, and in which a 

 code of special laws, administered under special courts, 

 was applied, there were set aside 'chases', hunting 

 reserves without the pale of the forest laws; 'parks', 

 smaller, enclosed hunting grounds; and 'warrens', 

 privileged by royal grant or prescription as preserves 

 for small game. Whole villages were wiped out, or 

 lived almost in bondage to satisfy this taste for sport. 

 In the 'forests', of which in Elizabeth's time not less 

 than 75 distinct ones were enumerated, withdrawing 

 an immense area from free use, both 'vert' and 'veni- 



