228 THE FORESTS OF ENGLAND- 



" The act in the same year, chap. 28, by which Henry 

 seized the greater part of the church lands, with their 

 timber, and converted them to his own use, was a severe 

 blow to the woods in general. 



" In the 35th of this reign was passed an act for the 

 preservation of wood, but principally respecting coal and 

 billet wood. 



" In chap. 17, an act for the preservation of timber, we 

 find : ' The king our sovereign, perceiving and right well 

 knowing the great decay of timber and wood universally 

 within the realm of England, and that, unless a speedy 

 remedy in that behalf be provided, there is a great and 

 manifest likelihood of scarcity and lack, as well for build- 

 ing houses and ships, as for firewood ; it is enacted, that 

 in copse of underwood felled at 24 years' growth there 

 shall be left twelve standrells, or store oaks, on each acre, 

 or in default of oaks, so many elm, ash, or beech, &c. ; and 

 that they be of such as are likely trees for timber, and 

 such as have been left at former fellings, if there have 

 been any left before; under pain of forfeiting of 3s. 4d. 

 for every such standard not left, one half to the crown, and 

 the other to the party who may inform, and may choose 

 to sue for it in any court of record, which might be done 

 as in an action for debt. When cut under fourteen years' 

 growth, the ground shall be enclosed or protected for four 

 years, by the proprietor or the lawful possessor of the 

 wood, under pain for not enclosing for every rood so left 

 unenclosed 3s. 4d. for every month it may remain so un- 

 enclosed. No calves are to be put in for two years after 

 felling, and no other cattle for four years. Wood cut from 

 14 to 24 years of age to be six years enclosed under the 

 same penalty ; after 24 years twelve trees to be left, under 

 penalty of 6s. 8d. each tree, the moiety to the crown, and 

 the informer may recover as before. The ground to be 

 kept enclosed for seven years, under the penalty of 3s. 4d. 

 per rood per month as before.' And cutting trees on 

 waste or common lands was to be punished by forfeiting 

 6s. 8d. for every tree so cut : but in the county of Corn- 



