12 MARSH AND FOREST PERIODS. 



from old autliors, who, like William Ti\ici, liiints- 

 man to Edward I., have written elaborate descrip- 

 tive works, supplying details of the modes pursued, 

 imd of the kinds of dog which were used. 



Our Saxon ancestors no doubt brought with them 

 from the great forests of Germany not only their 

 institutions but the love of sport of their forefathers, 

 pure and simple. With them the forests appear 

 to have been open to the people ; and, although the 

 Danes imposed restrictions, King Canute, by his 

 general code of laws, confirmed to his subjects full 

 right to hunt on their own lands, providing they 

 abstained from the forests, the pleasures of which 

 he appears to have had no inclination generally to 

 share with his subjects. He established in each 

 county four chief foresters, who were gentlemen or 

 thanes, and these had under them four yeomen, who 

 had care of the vert and venison ; whilst under 

 these again were two officers of still lower rank, 

 who had charge of the vert and venison in the 

 night, and who did the more servile work. King 

 William curtailed many of the old forest privileges, 

 and limited the sports of the people by prohibiting 

 the boar and the hare, which Canute had allowed to 

 be taken ; and so jealous was he of the privileges of 



