156 S Y L V A BOOK m 



In the mean time, commissioners made purveyers 

 for timber (tho for the King's use) cannot by that 

 authority take timber-trees growing upon any man's 

 free-hold, it being prohibited by Magna Charta : Cap. 

 2 1 . Nos nee Ballivi nostri^ nee alii^ cupimus bos cum alienum 

 ad castra^ ve/ ad alia agenda nostra^ nisi per voluntatem 

 cujus boscus ille fuerit. 



We might here enlarge this title, by shewing how 

 different the forest-laws are from the common-laws 

 of England, both as to their antiquity and extream 

 severity against all offenders, (of what degree soever) 

 till the oppression was somewhat qualified by the 

 Charta de Foresta, and afterwards by yet more favour- 

 able 1 concessions ; since indeed, our Kings, after the 

 rigor and example of the stern northern princes, 

 rendred it intolerable : But because much of this 

 concerned the preserving Royal game ; when as to 

 timber-trees (like Germany) the whole island was 

 almost but one vast forest, and wood so abounding, 

 that what people might have had almost for carrying 

 off the ground it grew on, is now grown so scarce, 

 in those very places, as that fuel is sold by weight : 

 I think Mr. Camden mentions Oxfordshire ; even so 

 long since : 'And here I might mention that vast 

 Caledonian forest, heretofore in Scotland (whence the 

 sea has its name), and the people Caledonians, having 

 now not so much as a single tree to shew for it. 

 Have we not then the greatest reason in the world to 

 take all imaginable care for the preservation and 

 improvement of this precious material ? 



We have said nothing of the laws against wood- 

 stealers, (especially those who cut up to the very 

 roots, the most hopeful and thriving oaks, and sell 



1 Assises Forestce, &c. 



