72 THE FORESTS OF FRANCE. 



'12. He shall cause to be marked with his marteau the 

 corner trees of the sites, and all the other trees to be 

 reserved, at all times when he thinks it proper to have this 

 dooe. 



' 13. He shall hold sales by auction of our woods, both 

 coppice and timber, before the month of January in each 

 year, of the number, quantity, and quality stated in the 

 regulations approved by our Council, with explicit charge 

 to the purchaser to pay the amount of his bidding into the 

 hand of the Receiver-General or special receiver for woods, 

 whom he may have appointed there, or otherwise to the 

 Receiver-General of the domain, at such time as may be 

 fixed by the Grand-Master, but in no case later than St. 

 John's Day in the year after the sale; besides which he 

 shall pay into the hand of the Receiver one sol or sou per 

 livre of the price bidden by him, in terms of sale, to be 

 spent in payment of wages, fees, and dues of officers, 

 according to the allowance to be made to them by the 

 Grand-Master, on their simple receipt ; and if the one sol 

 per livre do not suffice for this the remainder shall be paid 

 out of the proceeds of the sales. 



' 14. They cannot increase or dimmish sales of their own 

 authority, nor the burden of any usage, supply of firewood, 

 rights or servitudes, nor can they grant or deliver wood in 

 kind, or order payment of money in consequence of any 

 gifts, on pain of dismissal and a fine of ten thousand livres. 



' 15. They shall as often as possible make verifications 

 by Reformations that it may be known if officers of 

 Maitrises have abstracted, or have misrepresented, or have 

 too lightly sentenced merchants for abuses and malversa- 

 tions committed by them, in which cases they may condemn 

 them to pay the penalties which the merchants would legi- 

 timately have incurred. 



'16. If the Grand-Masters in their visitations and veri- 

 fications in our woods and forests observe void and vacant 

 spots, and thin and stunted trees, they may cause these 

 spots to be sown or replenished to give to them value ; and 

 they also may cause trenches to be made at our cost and 



