The Character of the Conqueror
CERTAINLY in his time men had great hardship and very many injuries. Castles he caused to be made, and poor men to be greatly oppressed. The king was so very rigid, and took from his subjects many a mark of gold, and more hundred pounds of silver, which he took, by right and with great unright, from his people, for little need. He had fallen into covetousness, and altogether loved greediness.
He planted a great preserve for deer, and he laid down laws therewith, that whosoever should slay hart or hind should be blinded. He forbade the harts and also the boars to be killed. As greatly did he love the tall deer as if he were their father. He also ordained concerning the hares, that they should go free.* His great men bewailed it, and the poor men murmured thereat; but he was so obdurate, that he recked not of the hatred of them all; but they must wholly follow the king's will, if they would live, or have land, or property, or even his peace. Alas! that any man should be so proud, so raise himself up, and account himself above all men.
abridged and emended
That is, that the hares should not be hunted. This is not evidence of William’s love of wildlife. In 1079, he cordoned off the New Forest in Hampshire as a vast game reserve for the exclusive use of the King and his noblemen, forbidding all others to hunt game there. In so doing, he deprived huge numbers of the general public, peasants and noblemen, of daily food from venison to hare stew.