CHAPTER III. 



FOREST LEGISLATION SUBSEQUENT TO THE " CHARTA 

 FORESTA" TILL THE CLOSE OF THE EIGHTEENTH 

 CENTURY. 



IN the preceding chapter we have had occasional allusions 

 in the forest legislation to the conservation of trees : 

 subsequently this demanded more attention, and that on 

 different grounds. Thus far it had been attended to in 

 the interest of the sportsman wishing covert for his game ; 

 now it began to demand attention in the interest of the 

 community requiring fuel for the cooking of their food, and 

 the maintenance of comfortable warmth in their homes. 



Mr M'William writes : 



" The restriction on cutting of wood appears now to have 

 been considerably felt, for at this time they depended 

 entirely on the wood, not only for fires, but likewise light ; 

 for it was usual then to split the wood into thin slips, and 

 use it for candles, as they now do in the highlands of 

 Scotland. 



" The 13th of Edward III., chap. 1 and 2, gave consider- 

 able liberty for cutting and carrying wood ; but it was to be 

 done within view of the keepers of the forest. Henry VII. 

 made some little alterations with respect to hunting 

 illegally in the royal forests. 



" In the 17th and 25th of Henry VIII. there are several 

 acts respecting the forests ; but , they are principally 

 modifications of former acts. 



" In the 27th of this reign, chap. 7 is an act, by which 

 all the king's subjects and friends are allowed to pass 

 freely through the forests of Wales, without the payment 

 of certain fees, which used unjustly to be demanded by 

 the foresters, 



