forest laws

• William enlarged the forest by taking it off land holders
• Forest land was not necessarily covered in trees but was used for hunting
• many families were evicted from their homes as their land was classed as forest
• most famous forest = The New Forest
• forest laws were to protect the vegetation and animals
• it was an offence to carry hunting weapons into the forest
• hunting dogs were prohibited and claws were removed from normal dogs
• restrictions were put on cutting wood, clearing land and constructing buildings
• forest laws made life difficult as you couldn't live in the forest without breaking the law

  timber = fuel and buildings

  rabbits, deer = food
• significance of the forest

  • extending the demesne increased the amount of land the king held - it copied the land-grabs of the sheriffs and so made their actions seem more legitimate as the king was the source of law
  • people felt it was unfair that animals were given protection whilst they went hungry
  • it became another source of income from fines and sales of hunting rights
  • it showed the power of the king to be above everyone else
  • harsh punishments for breaking the forest laws - blinded for shooting a deer - brutality of Norman rule