The Forest And The Forest Laws Flashcards
What was a forest ?
Any area of land the king said was to be used chiefly for hunting
Why where they called forests ?
Comes from the Latin word Foris meaning outside the normal legal system
Why did the they get the name forests ?
They had their own legal system hence why the name stems from Foris
They could have trees or be Moreland but they didn’t have a specific type
What where the new Norman firsts used for ?why is that important
Hunting
Enjoyable pastime for the wealthy and good training for war- requires high skill i riding and mastery of the bow
What was the reaction of the native English to the Norman use of forests ?
- deeply hated by the English
- created in Hampshire so over 2,000 people and 12 villages where moved and destroyed to make hunting easier
- not good farm land but still huge disruption to everyday life
Why did the new forest laws cause the most hatred ?
- many people still lived+farmed in the forests
- William sets up a new forest legal system which is much harsher
- anyone caught hunting could be blinded or executed
- no one could even own a bow
What where some things that where illegal in the new forest laws ?
- hunting in the forests unless permitted
- owning a bow
- ## cutting down trees and collecting wood to repair homes or act as fuels
Who acted out the laws and rules set in place in the new forest laws ?
- forest officials had their own courts to carry out the legal system and punish offenders
- fines where high and money went straight to the king- makes William more wealthy
What where some advantages for William ?
- money from the firms goes straight to him
- when rebels hid in forests his officials could hunt them down
What could the forest laws show ?
- Again showing the Norman control over the English
- power differential
- English are powerless to stop them
