PLANTING BY CHARLES II xi 



As evidence of the King's interest in planting, even 

 when allowance is made for the laudatory language of 

 the age (and Evelyn was no mean courtier), the opening 

 paragraphs of the author's " Dedication to the King's 

 Most Sacred Majesty," 4th edition, dated December 5, 

 1678, is as worthy of remembrance now as it is impor- 

 tant historically : 



*' For to whom, Sir, with so just and equal right 

 should I present the fruits of my labours, as to the 

 Patron of that Society, under whose influence it was 

 produced, so to whose auspices alone it owes the favour- 

 able acceptance which it has received in the world ? 

 To You, then, Royal Sir, does this Fourth Edition 

 continue its humble addresses, tanquam Nemorum 

 Vindici, as of old, they paid their devotions Herculi 

 & Silvano ; since you are our ©eo? v\ck6<;, our 

 Nemorensis Rex ; as having once had your Temple, 

 and Court too, under that sacred Oak which You 

 consecrated with your presence, and we celebrate, 

 with just acknowledgment to God, for Your Preserva- 

 tion. I need not acquaint your Majesty how many 

 millions of timber - trees, besides infinite others, 

 have been progagated and planted throughout your 

 vast dominions, at the institution, and by the sole 

 direction of this work ; because your gracious Majesty 

 has been pleased to own it publicly for my encourage- 

 ment, who, in all that I here pretend to say, deliver 

 only those precepts which your Majesty has put into 

 practice ; as having, like another Cyrus, by your own 

 royal example, exceeded all your predecessors in the 

 plantations you have made, beyond, I dare assert it, 

 all the Monarchs of this Nation, since the conquest of 

 it. And, indeed, what more august, what more worthy 

 your Majesty, or more becoming our imitation, than, 

 whilst You are thus solicitous for the public good, we 



