Medieval peasants used saws to steal wood silently
To avoid the king's forest guards, 14th-century thieves traded their efficient axes for quieter hand saws to harvest timber under the cover of night.
In the 13th and 14th centuries, the royal forests of Normandy were under constant surveillance by verderers and sergeants. As forest cover declined and timber became a vital source of revenue for the French crown, the administration of Waters and Forests imposed strict regulations on who could harvest wood. While aristocrats and religious institutions often held generous usage rights in exchange for prayers or military service, commoners were required to pay fees in money or goods like herring, oats, and eggs.
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