192 France. 
moitres des eaux et foréts, who were appointed to 
watch over the execution of the ordinances and the con- 
duct of the officers in charge of the forest districts 
(maitrise). Under these, with similar functions in 
smaller spheres, were maitres particuliers with lieuten- 
ants under them under various designations (Procureur 
du roi, greffier, gardemarteau, sergen du garde). A 
stamping hammer was employed for marking trees 
which defined the boundaries, or which were to be re- 
served in the fellings (kept by the gardemarteau). In 
addition to these regular officers there were employed a 
great number of capitaines des chasses whose functions, 
as the title indicates, related mainly to the chase. 
By the middle of the 17th century the devastation of 
forests had progressed so far and the abuses in the man- 
agement of the royal domain had become so evident that 
Louis XIV’s great minister, Colbert, was induced to 
make the historical remark “France will perish for lack 
of woods,” and instituted a most searching investigation 
and reform which took shape in the celebrated forest 
ordinance of 1669; this ordinance superseded all others. 
For this purpose he instituted in 1661 a commission 
which not only investigated conditions but was clothed 
with power to reform the abuses which it might discover. 
As the first act it recommended the ceasing of all cutting 
in the royal forests, and after deliberation and consul- 
tation with interested parties through eight years, the 
final law was enacted, a masterpiece whose principles 
and prescriptions to an extent have persisted into the 
19th century. The commission from time to time made 
reports giving in detail their findings, and these form a 
most interesting record of conditions prevailing at that 
