Medieval Sourcebook:
The Dialogue of the Exchequer: On The Forests, 1177
Book I, C.12.
Disciple: What is the forest of the King, and what is the reason for this name?
Master: The forest of the King is a safe lair for wild beasts; not of any kind
of beast but of those of the woods only; not in any place whatsoever but only in certain
places and in those suitable to the purpose; whence such a place is called a forest, the
"o" having been changed from "e" as it was in "feresta," i.e.,
the place of wild beasts.
Disciple: Is there a forest of the King in every county?
Master: No. But in wooded counties where there are lairs for wild beasts and
forage in abundance; it is immaterial who owns the woods, whether the King or a noble, the
wild beasts are safe and may roam at will anywhere.
Source.
From: William Stubbs & H. W. C. Davis, eds., Select Charters of English
Constitutional History, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1913), p. 222, reprinted in Roy C.
Cave & Herbert H. Coulson, A Source Book for Medieval Economic History, (Milwaukee:
The Bruce Publishing Co., 1936; reprint ed., New York: Biblo & Tannen, 1965), pp.
73-74.
Scanned by Jerome S. Arkenberg, Cal. State Fullerton. The text has been modernized by
Prof. Arkenberg.
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