CHAP. CV. CORYLA‘CEE. QUE’RCUS. 1751 
cut down than to plant.” , The statute of Henry VIII., c. 35., appears to be 
the first on record which enjoins the “ replantation of forest trees, to cure the 
spoils and deyastations that have been made in the woods ;” and the plant- 
ations thus made appear to have been enclosed, as Tusser says in his directions 
for April, — 
** Fence coppice in, 
Yer hewers begin.” 
And again, — 
** Sow acornes, ye owners that timber do love; 
Sow hay and rie with them, the better to prove: 
If cattle or coney may enter the crop, 
Young oak is in danger of losing his top.” 
In the reign of Elizabeth, a work was published on Forest Law ; in which its 
author, Manwood, tells us that “ the slender and negligent execution of the 
forest law hath been the decay and destruction (in almost all places within 
this realm) of great wood and timber; the want whereof, as well in this 
present time as in time to come, shall appear in the navy of this realm.” 
(Manwood on Forest Law, c. ii. 6.) In consequence of this, or some previous 
representations, fresh laws were enacted (13 Eliz.) for the preservation and 
restoration of the royal woods. In the reign of James I. (in 1611), Arthur 
Standish published his celebrated Commons’ Complaint, wherein is contained two 
special Grievances ; the first of which is, “ the generall destruction and waste of 
woods in this kingdome, with a remedy for the same; also, how to plant wood 
according to the nature of any soyle,” &c. To this work is appended a kind 
of mandate :—“ By the king, to all noblemen, and other our loving subjects 
to whom it may appertain. Whereas, Arthur Standish, gentleman, hath taken 
much pains, and been at great charges in composing and publishing in a book 
some projects for the increasing of woods, the decay whereof in this realm is 
universally complained of; and, therefore, we would be glad that any intention 
might further the restoring thereof; we have therefore been pleased to give 
allowance to his book, and to the printing thereof. And if the same shall be 
willingly received of such of the gentlemen, and others of ability, who have 
grounds fitting for his projects, it shall much content us; doubting not but 
that such as shall think good to make use of the book will deal worthily with 
him for his pains. And we are also pleased, for the better encouragement of 
the said Standish, hereby to declare, that our pleasure is, that no person or 
persons whatsoever shall print any of the said books, but for and to the use 
of the said Standish, and none others. Given under our signet at Andover, 
the first day of August in the ninth year of our reign of England, France, and 
Ireland, and of Scotland the five-and-fortieth. God save the king.” 
In the same reign (1612), another book was published, entitled “ An Olde 
Thrift newly revived ; wherein is declared the manner of planting, preserving, and 
husbanding young trees of divers Kindes for Timber and Fuell; and of sowing 
Acornes, Chesnuts, Beech-mast, the Seedes of Elmes, Ashen-keyes, &c.” In 
this work are given directions for planting acorns, and rearing and protecting the 
young trees ; and the abuses in the management of the royal woods are pointed 
out. The necessities of Charles I. induced him to make ruinous grants of 
the royal woods to any person who would supply him with money ; and, in 
the civil wars which followed, many of the forests were nearly destroyed. In 
the reign of Charles II., an order was issued under the king’s “ sign manual to 
Sir John Norton, woodward of the New Forest, to enclose 300 acres of waste, 
as a nursery for young oak; the expense of which was to be defrayed by the 
sale of the decayed wood. This order bears date December 13. 1669. But, 
though the enclosure here specified was trifling in itself, yet it had the merit 
of a new project, and led to farther improvements.” (Gilpin’s For. Scen., 
vol. ii. p. 29.) These improvements, however, are not stated; and no per- 
manent regulation appears to have been made till the reign of William IIL, 
when a statute was passed (Will. 10.) empowering certain commissioners to 
enclose 2000 acres in the New Forest for the growth of naval timber; and 
200 more every year for the space of 20 years. From this period, go- 
