Note 18 — WINDSOR FOREST.
Reading edition
The Forest Laws.—Pope.
The killing a deer, boar, or hare, was punished with the loss of the delinquent's eyes.—Warton.
Thierry believes that the forest laws had a more serious object than to secure for the king a monopoly of sport. The chief intention was to keep the newly conquered Saxons from going armed under the pretext that they were in pursuit of game. Hence the penalty was of a nature to incapacitate the offender for military service.