The first mention of “forest masters” (_maîtres des eaux et forêts_) dates back to 1291, and later ordinances mention higher officials. But the credit for a full and detail organization and regulation of management belongs to Charles V, the wise Valois, in his ordinance of 1376. This organization, after various changes, by the end of the 16th century, under the reign of Henry IV, took about the following form: Under a general superintendent of forests, titulary head of the forest service, a number of _grands maîtres_, _généraux réformateurs des eaux et forêts_, some 17, were appointed by the King to watch over the conduct of the _maîtres_ and _gruyers_, officers in charge of the forest districts (_maîtrises_). All of these officials had their deputies and lieutenants under various designations (_procureur du roi_, _greffier_, _gardemarteau_, _sergent du garde_, etc.) A stamping hammer (kept by the _gardemarteau_) was employed for marking trees which defined the boundaries, or which were to be reserved in the fellings. In addition to these regular officers there were employed a great number of _capitaines des chasses_ whose functions, as the title indicates, related mainly to the chase. The function of the forestmasters did not stop with the supervision of the use of the forest and sale of wood, but included also the jurisdiction of all misdemeanors and crimes committed in the royal, and later, in all forests. They became thus gradually a privileged class of immense power. Graft and sale of offices became the order of the day. Sometimes the offices were made hereditary, and again were limited to three or four years’ tenure, in the endeavour to break up the shameful practices. For nearly three centuries all efforts at reform were failures. The method of prescribing the rules and regulations during the 12th to 17th century was by ordinances like those issued by the German princes; the first ordinance on record being that issued by Louis VI in 1215. These ordinances usually appeared under the name _Le fait des eaux et forêts_ (the matters of waters and woods), curiously enough thus suggesting the relation of the two. The latter term was used exactly like that of the German _Forst_, designating the reserved territory under the ban, while _bois_ is used to designate actual woodland (silva). In 1376, Charles V, in his endeavor to build up a navy against England, made reservations for naval timber and also issued the ordinance of Melun, a general forest code, the provisions of which lasted largely until the reform of 1669. In 1402, the many ordinances, often contradictory were codified under one text, and another codification was made under Francis I in 1515.