The Forest And The Forest Laws

Question 1

What was a forest ?

Answer 1

Any area of land the king said was to be used chiefly for hunting

Important to note that
- the word forest doesn’t mean an area of wooded land
- instead it comes from the Latin word ‘Foris’ meaning outside the normal legal system, as these areas or land had a separate legal system

Question 2

Why where they called forests ?

Answer 2

Comes from the Latin word Foris meaning outside the normal legal system

Question 3

Why did the they get the name forests ?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What where the new Norman forests used for ?why is that important

Answer 4

Hunting
Enjoyable pastime for the wealthy and good training for war- requires high skill i riding and mastery of the bow

Question 5

What was the reaction of the native English to the Norman use of forests ?

Answer 5

• deeply hated by the English
• created in Hampshire so over 2,000 people and 12 villages where moved and destroyed to make hunting easier
• Hampshire wasn’t good for farm land but still huge disruption to everyday life

Question 6

Why did the new forest laws cause the most hatred ?

Answer 6

• 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

Question 7

What where some things that where illegal in the new forest laws ?

Answer 7

• hunting in the forests unless permitted
• owning a bow
• ## cutting down trees and collecting wood to repair homes or act as fuels

Question 8

Who acted out the laws and rules set in place in the new forest laws ?

Answer 8

• 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

Question 9

What where some advantages for William ?

Answer 9

• money from the fines goes straight to him
• when rebels hid in forests his officials could hunt them down

Question 10

What could the forest laws show ?

Answer 10

• Again showing the Norman control over the English
• power differential
• English are powerless to stop them