Forest land is a small fraction of the European landscape in the twenty-first century, but in the early Middle Ages, much of Europe’s land mass was forested quite densely.
Most English forests were owned by the king. The monarch’s workers managed the forest and were expected to keep poachers away. The penalties for trespass could be severe. Even the ‘underwood’, the fallen branches, grass and fruits which grew at ground level was protected.
The Uses of a Medieval Forest
Forest land was a place which fulfilled many basic human needs; the trees provided shade and shelter, and even a place to hide. The forest offered a supply of water and an abundance of live and plant-based food resources, as well as wood to make a fire and build houses and ships. By-products such as honey and nut oils were also used for a variety of household purposes. Little wonder then, that English peasants were continually at odds with those trying to protect the forest for the king.
Anyone who lived within a royal forest was subject to strict restrictions, even on his own land. For example, a forest-dweller couldn’t cut down trees without permission and was required to keep fences in good condition at his own expense, so that the king’s hunt might not be spoilt.
English Medieval Forest Laws
Most English forest laws passed in medieval times were to protect the land and animals of royalty or aristocracy from common people. Certain categories of animal, particularly valuable beasts such as deer and boar couldn’t be hunted without permission.
The forest law had its own separate officials and process of law. The term forest did not usually just mean a wooded area, it could cover scrubland, heath and marshland and even towns and villages in an area. All such areas would be subject to the relevant forest laws. For example, any dog kept by a person who lived in a forest area had to have three of its claws cut off and most forest householders were not allowed to burn charcoal or cut down branches.
English Forest Officials in the Middle Ages
The monarch was the highest in the chain of forest officials and below him was the justice of the forest, in charge of the wardens who patrolled the forests. The post of warden could either be hereditary or a direct appointment from the king. Next, were a few verderers per forest, who attended the forest courts when necessary and finally, the foresters, who lived in the forest and walked the area daily, to ensure laws were adhered to.
The 1217 Charter of the Forest
The 1217 Charter of the Forest was sealed by King Henry III, two years after the far-reaching Magna Carta and differed drastically from any previous forest law. It moved some of the rights held by the king to unquestioned use of the forest, to the supervision of a panel of knights.
The charter was one of England’s most long-running laws and only fell out of use in 1971. Its most important effect was the abolition of the death penalty for the taking of royal game.
This law forced to king to allow a panel of officials to rid the country of ‘evil customs’ relating to the forest laws. Such ‘evil’ customs included the practice of allowing beasts to fatten in an area whilst common people starved nearby and severe penalties for minor offences, such as poaching a single rabbit.
The Introduction of Common Land in Medieval Times
Towards the end of the medieval period, there was more of a move towards the provision of common land for grazing animals and sometimes cultivation. This form of progress for commoners was guarded jealously. More and more trees were being chopped down to support the growing population and the forests became less dense. Never again would forest life be so widespread.
Sources
Hindley, Geoffrey A Brief History of The Magna Carta [Constable & Robinson,2008]
Gies, Frances, Gies, Joseph Life in a Medieval Village [Harper Perennial, 1991]
Rachel Bellerby - I am an experienced UK writer with two non-fiction books and more than 100 articles published in the UK and US. As a mum of three young ...
