CHAP, vi SYLVA 145 



of some forest into the town, and erect it before their 

 mistresses door ; yet I think it were better to be 

 quite abolish'd amongst us, for many reasons, besides 

 that of occasioning so much wast and spoil as we 

 find is done to trees at that season, under this wanton 

 pretence, by breaking, mangling, and tearing down 

 of branches, and intire arms of trees, to adorn their 

 wooden idol. The imperial law against such disorders 

 we have in 1. ob. id. ff. ad legem Aquill. & in ff. 1. 43. 

 tit. 7. Arborumfurtim caesarum : See also Triphon. 1. 

 ig. de bon. off. cont. tab. ^el in ligna focaria^ L. Ligni. 

 ff. de lege 3, &c. 



To these I might add the laws of our king Ina ; or 

 as the learned Lambard reckons them in his "Apxcuovopia 

 de priscis Anglorum legibus^ whose title is, Be thuthu 

 baprete : Of burning trees : The sanction runs thus : 



If any one set fire of a fell'd wood, he shall be 

 punished, and besides pay three pounds, and for those 

 who clandestinely cut wood (of which the very sound 

 of the ax shall be sufficient conviction) for every tree 

 he shall be mulcted thirty shillings. A tree so felPd, 

 under whose shadow thirty hogs can stand, shall be 

 mulcted at three pounds, fife. 



6. I have heard, that in the great expedition of 

 88, it was expresly enjoin'd the Spanish commanders 

 of that signal Armada ; that if when landed they 

 should not be able to subdue our nation, and make 

 good their conquest ; they should yet be sure not to 

 leave a tree standing in the Forest of Dean : It was 

 like the policy of the Philistines, when the poor 

 Israelites went down to their enemies smiths to 



1 Severe laws against woodstealers, v. Greeneway, de II. abrog, in Hollandia 

 ad tit. arbor, furt. caesar. L. 2. One cruelly whipt for it. See also Carpzovius in 

 Prax. Crim. par. 2. Quest. 83. Num. 2. seqq. and several others to that purpose. 



SS 



