In these earlier ages, the main use of the forests was for the hunt, the mast and the pasture, and since wood was relatively plentiful, forest destruction was the rule. Those who became possessed of larger properties through the causes mentioned tried to secure an increased value of their possessions by colonization, in which especially the slaves or serfs were utilized. These often became freedmen, paying rent in product or labor, and acquiring the rights of usufruct in the property, out of which developed the so-called _servitudes_ or _rights of user_, the _praedium_ of the Romans, a limited right to use the property of another. With the development of private property there naturally also developed the right of preventing the hunting on such lands, this being then their main use. This exclusive right to the chase or hunt we find recognized as a part of the property of the kings and barons in the 8th century, when the kings forbade trespass under penalty of severe fines; the king’s _ban_ (interdiction) of 60 shillings being imposed upon the trespassers. Indeed, by the end of the 8th century the word _Forst_ (_voorst_--_foresta_) which until then had been used merely to denote the king’s property was exclusively used to designate not necessarily woodland (the latter being referred to as _silva_ or _nemus_), but any territory in which the hunt had been reserved. This right to reserve the chase and the fishing, that is, to establish _banforests_ was in the 10th century extended by the kings to territory not belonging to them, the right to the chase being according to the Roman doctrine a regal right over any property. Under this conception fields and pastures, woods and waters, and whole villages with their inhabitants became “inforested” grounds. The Norman kings, imbued with a passion for the chase, exercised this right widely, especially in England; the forests of Dean, Epping and the New Forest being such inforested territories, the inhabitants of which were placed under special “forest laws,” and adjudged by special “forest courts.” Presently the king’s right of ban was granted with the land grants to his barons and to the clergy. Banforests also grew up through owners of properties placing themselves and their possessions under the protection of kings or bishops or other powerful barons and giving in exchange this hunting right, and in various other ways. At the same time the headmen of the Mark (_Obermärker_, _Graf_, _Waldgraf_), who from being elected officers of the people had become officials of the king, began to exercise, by virtue of their office, the jurisdiction of the king, and declaring the ban for their own or their friends’ benefit, excluded the _Märker_ from their ancient right to hunt and fish freely over the territory of the Mark.