604 A. M. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



be saved for their own benefit, and the benefit of them that shall 

 spring up after them, as all good commonwealths men would do, and 

 whereas many do pretend by their lopping off young cedai's to pre- 

 serve them, they by their negligence, or to save them the labor 

 to carry away the bush, they fire it so near the trees, that they do 

 burn iip the cedars that might by the blessing of God be fit for any 

 use, which the Inhabitants will in a short time stand in need of, even 

 to the destruction of the land, if not timely prevented. These are 

 therefore for to will and require every person and persons in the land 

 to use their uttermost endeavors for the preservation of all young- 

 cedars, and to be every year a planting of young cedars for the fenc- 

 ing of their grounds, so by that means the fruits of the earth may be 

 preserved from blasting ; and as the old timber doth decay, the 

 young trees may grow up for the use of the land, that the land may 

 not be deserted, for without timber we cannot subsist. Therefore, 

 whosoever for the future, shall be found guilty in any of the premises, 

 they must expect no favour, but to receive condign punishment 

 according to their several demerits. These are desiring all to take 

 notice hereof whom it may concern, as they will answer the contrary 

 at their uttermost perils." 



The following are among the General Orders of the Company to 

 Governor Fflorentia Seymer [Seymour], when he was appointed in 

 'October, 1662 :— 



" In the first place. To prevent the destruction of Timber in the 

 Islands and the want that is like to ensue thereuppon, wee have 

 ordered as followeth, 



(1) That no Tenent shall fell any Tree but for necessary repayres. 



(2) That no Timber be felled as aforesaid in any of the Tribes for 

 necessary repayres but what shall be allowed by the Councellr of 

 the same Tribe before it be fallen. 



(3) That the stealing of Timber be provided against by a severe 

 punishment of the offender. 



(4) That at cleering of ground no tree shall be lopped but at seven 

 foot height and in seasonable time and that no brush wood be burnt 

 upon the place where any Treese do grow and arc fallen, but be 

 used as fewell by the respective Tenents in their houses. 



(5) That every owner and occupier of land do maintain e his fences 

 according to the law in that behalf and that in the fences in an 

 husbandlike maner, they plant Cedar, Olive, Lime, Pomegranate, 

 Fig, Orange Trees, which will sufficiently supply the want of Timber 

 and make the place fitter for growth and defensable against windes 

 that otherwise proove soe destructive in the place." 



