10 *rHE FORESTS OF FRANCB. 



a chase or a warren, with all such things as are incidental 

 or belonging thereto," it is stated by the author, Manwood, 

 a writer deservedly held in reputation as an authority in 

 such matters, that 'a forest, in law, is a certain territory 

 of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for wild 

 beasts and fowls of forest, chase, and warren, to rest and 

 abide, under the protection of the king, for his princely 

 delight, bounded by definite marks determined by record 

 or prescription.' 



The existence of trees in a forest, as defined by the 

 English law, in France at the time in question, was a mere 

 accessory, and of importance only as affording covert and 

 shelter for game ; and it is mentioned by Manwood, in 

 regard to forests as thus defined, ' there have existed certain 

 laws and forest courts for the adjudication of these laws.' 

 Such is forestry in English law, and such was forestry then 

 in France. 



M. Cezanne goes on to say ; — ' By degrees the posses- 

 sion of a forest became the visible sign of seignory, or of 

 nobility, and the condition of admissibility to certain 

 honours ; there was no baron, however petty, who did not 

 maintain a wood on his property ; and in case of lack he 

 usurped some field in the neighbourhood. The title deeds 

 of the middle ages are full of contentions, in which is seen 

 a descendant of the Gallo-Romans claiming his vineyard or 

 his meadow, incorporated by violence in the forest of the 

 Frank seigneur. 



' In the South of France the Roman law remained ic 

 force, but not their policy: the forest which previously 

 was public, became communal, and the destruction of 

 woods, subjected to no administration or control, pro- 

 ceeded more rapidly than it did in the North. 



' Amongst the most active of the clearers away of woods 

 in the middle ages we must reckon the monks. (1) A 

 hermit retired into the solitude of the woods ; some dis- 

 ciples joined him there; the place became sacred; a 

 community was founded, and uprooting the trees around 



