150 THE NEW FOREST 



Browne, and the presentment was made absolutely 

 against the consent of the regarders and verderers," 

 being " solely fermented by Phanatics who have a 

 prejudice to all customes used tyme out of mynd." 

 Prays to have fine remitted. 



I am afraid, though, that the punishment was 

 inflicted with but little thought for the preserva- 

 tion of the timber of the Forest, and a good deal 

 of that desire to put a stop to all ancient forms 

 of recreation which prevailed during the lugubrious 

 times of the Commonwealth, like to the famous 

 prohibition of the sport (?) of bear-baiting not 

 because it gave pain to the bear, but because it 

 gave pleasure to the people ! 



There are, however, some cases where these old 

 woods consist wholly, or nearly so, of oaks alone. 

 There can be no doubt in these cases that the 

 woods were carefully cultivated with a view to the 

 purposes of the navy, to the exclusion of other 

 considerations, and that great pains must have 

 been taken to eradicate all the beech, under the 

 impression that the oak would thrive better with- 

 out it a view that is not endorsed by modern 

 foresters nor by the result before us. 



A second point will strike any observer of 

 trees as he wanders through these ancient groves. 

 It is that almost every beech and some oaks 

 are pollarded. And it is perhaps to this treat- 



