![LAWS OF THE FOREST, in English. Manuscript on paper, [England, first quarter of the 16th century]. 300 x 200mm, 16 leaves. Written in brown ink in a fine secretary hand, headings in red, pages rubricated in red throughout (margins badly frayed, but text generally complete and legible).](https://www.christies.com/img/LotImages/1995/CKS/1995_CKS_05424_0025_000(103221).jpg?w=1)
Details
LAWS OF THE FOREST, in English. Manuscript on paper, [England, first quarter of the 16th century]. 300 x 200mm, 16 leaves. Written in brown ink in a fine secretary hand, headings in red, pages rubricated in red throughout (margins badly frayed, but text generally complete and legible).
This is a treatise of all laws that appertain to forests in England and Wales. Beginning with a definition of a forest and the order of making a forest, a definition of the King's woods and others. Describing who may make a forest by the Common Law, and that apart from the king the bishop of Durham has royal power to make a forest. Chapters on what officers are appointed to keep a forest, on the Court of Swanimote, about lands to be disaforested. That it is not lawful to take wild beasts in the forest, that men dwelling in the forest are not compelled to appear before the justices of the forest, describing the diversity between the justice of the forest and the justices in Oyer, and who ought to come before the justices of the forest; also rules regarding bishops and earls, as well as for a lord found hunting with hounds in the forest, etc. A man who owns land to the value of 40 shillings a year, has the right to hunt on adjoining land of lesser value, but only in the same county.
On the last otherwise blank page is a large curious round imaginary? armorial in yellow, brown and black, the surround lettered 'Deus omnipotens Beata Regina Nora'.
TEXTS IN ENGLISH ON LAWS REGARDING FORESTS AND HUNTING ARE RARE, AS ONLY VERY FEW SURVIVE
This is a treatise of all laws that appertain to forests in England and Wales. Beginning with a definition of a forest and the order of making a forest, a definition of the King's woods and others. Describing who may make a forest by the Common Law, and that apart from the king the bishop of Durham has royal power to make a forest. Chapters on what officers are appointed to keep a forest, on the Court of Swanimote, about lands to be disaforested. That it is not lawful to take wild beasts in the forest, that men dwelling in the forest are not compelled to appear before the justices of the forest, describing the diversity between the justice of the forest and the justices in Oyer, and who ought to come before the justices of the forest; also rules regarding bishops and earls, as well as for a lord found hunting with hounds in the forest, etc. A man who owns land to the value of 40 shillings a year, has the right to hunt on adjoining land of lesser value, but only in the same county.
On the last otherwise blank page is a large curious round imaginary? armorial in yellow, brown and black, the surround lettered 'Deus omnipotens Beata Regina Nora'.
TEXTS IN ENGLISH ON LAWS REGARDING FORESTS AND HUNTING ARE RARE, AS ONLY VERY FEW SURVIVE