The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-06-24

coTu1nce with 4 twelfth century statute,
which required that three toes be cut of
each forefoot, but graciously permitted
the ball Of the foot 10 remain where ma
ture placed II.
This was called "expediting," and was
perhaps less cruel than Canutes method
of laming the dogs. which was described
as handing" Or "hoxing"
But what consideration for mere canine
happiness can be looked for in Canute's
code. which estimates the value Of a
''meene man" at ten pounds in the coin OF
the realm?
The worth Of a freeman is accurately
fixed at twelve hundred shillings-exactly
the same as that OF wild beeste Of the
forest
II a greedy ravening dog doe bite a
wild beeste in the forest, then the owner
of the dog shall yield recompence accord
doe bi,e a royal beast, he snail be guilty
Of the greatest offense''
1t appears that a royal beeste was worth
somewhat more than freeman, and was
equa4 in value to at least six "neene
men or serfs. And how many serfs-
poor pawns in LIES great game-would
counter vale one ngar6er-seeing that the
satisfaction Of striking him was thought
equal to the JOY OF Staying a royal beeste?
The sum might be interesting TO one pro-
ncient in higher algebra
But there were some limits, it seems, TO
the power OF the regarders and even to
that Of the verderors. since they may not
make use Of the trial by fire purgatio
ignis). unless they be unable to arrive
otherwise at the naked truth
The grim passage refers TO the fiery or
deal by which an ago % faith referred de-
cisions to heaven. The accused person. in
some cases, was compelled to walk bare
foot over red-hot ploughshares, or TO run
for a certain distance carrying an iron
weight glowing with heat Nowadays the
fire would burn alike saint or sinner. but
this. 1t seems, was not its habit thou.
Sand years ago. for Holinshed gives a de.
tailed account Of the fiery trial OF royal
lady. mother 10 Edward the Confessor.
the last Saxon king of England.
She was led blindfold between two men
TO pass over ploughshares which were
glowing red hot, and did passe over them
without hurt before she thought she had
been come to them" The particular mode
OF fiery ordeal undergone by this royal
dame was a prerogative Of rank in those
days.
Bondsmen and rustics. who probably
were the most persistent offenders in the
kings vert and venison," underwent the
''purgatio iGnis" after q different manner.
They were required to dip the hand into
boiling water or oil, and take out a stone
or ring
Let US hope that the regarder was gen
orally able to arrive otherwise at the
naked truth"
The word venison is derived from the
Latin ''Venor. veneris. wild. and in old
law, old stories. and old songs it is a
general term for anything that can be
hunted.
Thus Holinshed in his description Of
England tells US that in the East coun-
tries they doe use to hunt the bear.
which, faith, is excellent good venison,
and an old law says that II man shall
hunt in the forest and kill hare his
oTense is a trespass in the Kings veni-
son"
But in Shakespere's England nothing
was accounted venison save the flesh of
the red or yellow deer"
The term vert" includes everything
that bears green leaves which may hide
a deer.
BY Canutes code the kings vert no less
than his venison is TO be let alone. No
man may lay his hands upon a tree or
shrub without the ver3ero-'s leave, and
dire penalties. including a fine of twenty
shnHngs, are inflicted upon any one who
cuts down a holly. or any other tree Of the
forest which doth bear fruit for food
FOR the Wild beasts"
In az country 80 overgrown with woods
as was the England of that day timber
or fagots could be readily obtained with
out eucroaching on the royal forest, and
every man was permitted TO take his own
vert in his own domains. But this pre-
servation Of woodland growth was pub
lie grievance nevertheless. for the beasts,
grown bold under legal protection, came
close to isolated homes ana even TO VIII
lagos and destroyed the crops and pas
lures. Hence the villagers would gladly
have destroyed the woods near dwellings
as z means Of getting rid Of the wild
animals sheltered there.
Canute's code. harsh though it seems.
was less cruel than the forest laws which
followed it. Those were introduced by
the Norman kings and were. according
to BOnneCour. 4 transfer Of French Gus
toms to the soil Of conquered England.
In mediaevel France the death of a hare
was a hanging matter. and the murder OF
q plover capital crime. Death was in
ficted on those who spread nets for pi-
geons. Wretches who had drawn a bow
upon a stag were tied to the animal alive,
and arnong the seigneurs il was a stand
Ing excuse for having killed game in for
hidden ground that they had aimed at a
serf
William the Norman. ConQueror and
king of England had been born and
reared where these fierce laws held sway.
he loved the tail deer says an old
chronicler. "as If he had been their
father" lie laid down laws that whoever
should slay a hart or hind should be
blinded.
He ordered whole villages and towns
to be swept away. says dickens. TO
make forests for his deer. Not satisfied
with the six;y-eight royal forests which
had contented his less grasping prede-
cessors he laid waste an immense dis
trict TO form another" and this. after
the lapse OF nearly a thousand years, is
stil called the New Forest.
He had fun legal r.ght 20 raze any
buildings found upon It. efrace its bound
rates suffer us growing crops 10 be
trampIed or devoured by the wild crea-
lures Of the land. and give no recomponss
10 the ousted inhabitants. This royal
prerogative has been obsolete for several
centuries. but ore need not De an oldest
fuhabitaut 20 recall the doing u like deeds