128 THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



there, they shall be selected and taken in the woods of 

 our subjects, as well those of ecclesiastics as of others, 

 without distinction and quality; but under burden of being 

 paid for at their just value, which shall be determined by 

 experts, in regard to whom our Attorney in the Maitrise 

 and the parties shall agree before the Grand-Master, who 

 in default or refusal, shall officially nominate them. 



' 3. We forbid the Grand-Master to proceed to mark the 

 wood thus required beyond ordinary sales, excepting in 

 virtue of letters patent issued in conformity to the state- 

 ments and advice of the Superintendent of our Buildings 

 or of the Comptroller-General of our Finances, in execution 

 of which, and after the enregistering of which in the Par- 

 liament, and Chambre des Comptes in the Province of the 

 Maitrise, he shall go to the localities and shall make a 

 minute of the number, situation, age, girth, and quality of 

 the trees selected ; mark them then with our mark and 

 his own, in presence of the Officers, and the contractor for 

 the work or other tenderer for the delivery shall sign the 

 minute along with all the assistants, and he shall cause it to 

 be immediately transcribed on the Register of the Maitrise, 

 of which minute the Registrar shall deliver a copy gratis 

 to those who have charge of the exploitation of the woods. 



' 4. The trees which may be found bent over or broken 

 by the fall or bringing out of the pieces taken shall like- 

 wise be marked with our marteau and with that of the 

 Grand-Master, who, after having made a minute of their 

 age, girth, and quality, and also of their value on report of 

 an expert in the form above described, shall deliver them 

 to the contractor to make an account of them to our 

 profit, and to take them away immediately without per- 

 mitting any abuse or depredation to be committed by the 

 workmen whom he has employed, and he shall be respon- 

 sible for the same. 



' 5*. The branches, tops, and remains of the trees thus 

 taken for our buildings, and those which may be bent over 

 or broken by their fall and transport, shall be sold at the 

 Court of the Maitrise with the formalities prescribed for the 



