The history of forests in Prussia was the focus of a major study by F. Mager, but still some details remain unclear. The Polish literature on this subject has thus far been limited. The last discussion by T. Brzeczkowski was the most serious. This study does not provide a complete picture of the subject, but rather includes detailed comments supplementing the existing historiography. The basis for the considerations is the area of two elderships in south-eastern Masuria – the Lec (ie Giżycko) and Ryn elderships. The notes cover the period from the 14th to the beginning of the 18th century, and are mainly based on archival sources from the former Königsberg archives.