English Royal Forests under the Angevin Kings
Charles R. Young
Historians have never been properly grateful for that perpetually inquisitive student in medieval dialogues whose chief claim to fame is he elicited bursts of wisdom from the ever-patient master. To him we owe this rather curious definition English royal forest as formulated by master Richard fitz Nigel's Dialogue Exchequer written about 1178: The King's a safe abode wild animals, not all them but only woodland ones, and everywhere, particular places suitable purpose. That why it called “forest” ( foresta ), though e feresta (i.e. haunt ferarum statio were changed into o . Fortunately, had already discussed essential point was an area special jurisdiction subject law: whole organization forests, punishment, pecuniary or corporal, offences, outside other courts, solely dependent on decision King, some officer specially appointed him. has its own laws, based, said, Common Law realm, arbitrary legislation King; so what done accordance with law “just” without qualification, “just, according law.” Although modern scholarship suggests nature thirteenth century exaggerated, there can be no question bad reputation among contemporaries, who raised cry placed protection beasts above men.
Journal of British Studies