144 SYLVA BOOK in 



3. From the time of Edward the Fourth, were 

 enacted many excellent laws for the planting, secur- 

 ing, cutting, and ordering of woods, copp'ces, and 

 under-woods, as then they took cognizance of them ; 

 together with the several penalties upon the infringers; 

 especially from the 25. of Hen, 8. 17, &c. confirm'd 

 by the 13 and 27. of Q. Eliz. cap. 25, 19, &c. which 

 are diligently to be consulted, revived, put in exec- 

 ution, and enlarged where any defect is apparent ; 

 as in particular the Act of exempting of timber of 

 22 years growth from tithe, for a longer period, to 

 render it compleat, and more effectual to their im- 

 provement : And that law repealed, by which willows, 

 sallows, oziers, Gfc. which they term Sub-bois^ are 

 reputed but as weeds. 



4. Severer punishments have lately been ordain'd 

 against our wood-stealers, destroyers of young trees, 

 Gfc. By an ancient law of some nation, I read he 

 forfeited his hand, who beheaded a tree without per- 

 mission of the owner ; and I cannot say they are 

 sharp ones, when I compare the severity of our laws 

 against mare-stealers ; nor am I by inclination the 

 least cruel ; but I do affirm, we might as well live 

 without mares, as without masts and ships, which are 

 our wooden, but no less profitable horses. 



5. And here we cannot but perstringe those 

 riotous assemblies of idle people, who under pretence 

 of going a Maying, (as they term it) do oftentimes 

 cut down and carry away fine straight trees, to set up 

 before some ale-house, or revelling place, where they 

 keep their drunken Bacchanalia : For though this 

 custom was, I read, introduced by the Emperor Anas- 

 tasius, to abolish the gentile majana of the Romans at 

 Ostia ; which was to transfer a great oaken-tree out 



