OF FOREST-TREES. ^81 



planting not only too near our habitations, but from priding ourselves in CHAP. Vl. 

 our most stately avenues, the late boasts of our seats, as by sad experience '^-^'V^^ 

 myself and thousands more have found, that there is nothing stable in this 

 world which invisible spirits cannot subvert and demolish, when God 

 permits them to do mischief, and convince those who believe there are 

 none, because they do not see, though they feel their effects. 



As to the law of tithes, I find timber-trees pay none, but others do, gee l. Bishop 

 both for body, branches, bark, fruit, root, and even the suckers growing °^ Worcester, 



concemiD!? 



out of them, and the tenth of the body sold or kept, and so of WiUows, S'ckJg?!''? 

 Sallows, and all other trees not apt for timber : also of Silva Csedua, as 

 coppices and underwoods, the tenth is paid whenever the proprietor 

 receives his nine parts : but if any of these we have named unexempted, 

 are cut only for mounds, fencing, or plough-bote within the parish in 

 which they gi ow, or for the fuel of the owner, no tithes are due, though 

 the vicar have the tithe-wood, and the parson that of the places so in- 

 closed ; nor are underwoods grubbed up by the roots tithable, unless for 

 this and any of the former cases there he prescription. But for timber- 

 trees, such as Oak, Ash, Elm, (which are accounted timber in all places 

 after the first twenty years,) also Beech, Hornbeam, IMaple, Aspen, and 

 even Hasel, (many of which are in some countries reputed timber,) they 

 are not to pay tithes, unless they are felled before the said age of twenty 

 years from their first planting. 



Some think, and pretend, that no tithe is due where there is no 

 annual increase, as corn and other grain, hay, and fruit of trees, and 

 some animals ; and that therefore Silva Ctedua, till it become timber, is 

 exempted : but a parliament at Sarum did make it tithable, in which 

 are named even Willows, Alder, Beech, Maple, Hasel, &c. 



In the wild of Sussex, tithe-wood is not paid, as for faggots ; but in 

 the downs they pay for both, as I am told ; at which I wonder, there 

 being so little wood at all upon them, or likely to have ever been. — 

 Note here. 



If the owner fell a fruit-tree, (of which the parson has had tithe that 

 year,) and convert the wood into fuel, the tithe shall cease, because he 

 cannot receive the tithe of one thing twice in one year. 



