FORESTRY 141 



Coke of Menestede, who were appointed by letters 

 patent of the King to cut down and sell certain 

 underwoods specified as growing in certain places, 

 and to account for "money paid for enclosing 

 720 perches of wood and underwood at 4e#. the 

 perch, and in making three gates to the said 

 enclosure, with hinges, hooks, hasps, staples, locks 

 and keys, bought for the said gates." Further 

 accounts of the same date refer to sales of wood 

 and underwood sold within the bailiwick of East 

 Lynwode (i.e. Broomy Walk), and to the enclosing 

 of 785 perches by a hedge made around the 

 wood, with gates, hinges, hasps, &c. &c. 



In the twenty -sixth year of Henry VIII there 

 is a note concerning Godshill Coppice (a planta- 

 tion of oak still existing, though its present timber 

 is only one hundred years old), and money was 

 paid to divers persons for the making of 10 fur- 

 longs 24 perches round the said coppice for the 

 safe keeping of the springs or stools thereof." 



Similar records as to coppices in the New 

 Forest are very numerous, and prove that the 

 practice of enclosing woods and fostering the 

 growth of both timber and underwood was care- 

 fully attended to as was the system of forestry 

 of that date. 



A further advance was made in the reign 

 of Henry VIII by the passing of the " Act for 



