THE FOREST CHARTER. 293 



Charta de Foresta the forest laws were better de- 

 fined and the penalties mitigated. The vast im- 

 portance attached to the Forest Charter may be 

 inferred from the fact, that although granted by 

 King John at Runnymede, at the same time as the 

 Great Charter, it was not incorporated in it, but 

 was made the subject of a separate and distinct 

 document. The Forest Charter was likewise con- 

 firmed by Henry III., contemporaneously with 

 the Great Charter. On the latter occasion the 

 Forest Charter was counter-signed by sixty-four 

 bishops, abbots, and barons ; and sentence of ex- 

 communication against all persons who should 

 violate it was, with great ceremony, denounced 

 in Westminster Hall, by the archbishop, in the 

 presence of the king, bishops, and nobles, the 

 bishops being robed and bearing torches. 



The oath administered, at twelve years of age, 

 to every young man dwelling within the precincts 

 of a royal forest, was in the following rhymes : 



You shall true Liege-Man be 



Unto the King's Majesty : 



Unto the Beasts of the FOREST you shall no hurt do, 



Nor to any Thing that doth belong thereunto : 



The Offences of others you shall not conceal, 



But to the utmost of your Power, you shall them 



reveal 



Unto the OFFICERS of the FOREST, 

 Or to them who may see them redrest : 

 All these things you shall see done, 

 So help you GOD, at his HOLY DOOM ! 



