298 English Coppices and Copsewoods. 



soon found to be so insufficent that during Queen Elizabeth's 

 reign, in 1570, the period of enclosure ordered for the different 

 classes of woods had each to be increased by two years, 

 " for that by experience it is found that the space and time 

 of the said several years of inclosure or preservation is not 

 sufficient/' 



Indeed, the national outlook for timber was at that time 

 not only gloomy, but also a matter of extreme importance. 

 Already prominently .mercantile, the national prosperity 

 depended to a great extent on the proper maintenance of 

 the naval and mercantile fleets; and while these latter 

 continually tended to increase numerically, the capacity of 

 the English woodlands to supply the necessary quantity of 

 timber, especially of oak timber, was apparently rapidly 

 diminishing. Surveys of the existing stock of timber in the 

 royal forests were made in 1565, by Roger Taverner, and 

 about twenty years later by John Taverner, probably Roger's 

 son or nephew ; and another survey was also made in 1608 

 by order of King James I. From a careful study of the 

 subject it seems to me that, without doubt, the reign of King 

 James I. marked the highest level as regards endeavours to 

 attain a high standard of arboriculture in English coppices 

 and copse-woods, whether belonging to the Crown or to the 

 great landowners in general. 



That James I. was evidently very anxious to preserve 

 the timber in the royal woodlands is clearly shown in the 

 instructions of a Commission concerning Woods (State 

 Papers, Domestic ; 1607), which orders that these things are 

 to be considered in the execution of the Commission by the 

 Commissioners and the jury, that is to say — 



" A survey of the number of coppice woods ; how many acres each coppice con- 

 taineth ; of how many years' growth the same is ; what every coppice is worth by 

 the a^re ; in whose possession the same is ; if granted to any person, then for what 

 term and upon what consideration ; whether the trees and the standels be preserved 

 in every coppice according to the Statute ; and what waste and spoil hath been made 



in the same coppices or any of them, and by whom To consider how 



many acres of coppice woods will be necessarily reserved for the fencing and enclosing 

 of new woods to be raised that the number of the trees sold may be trebled by that 

 planting, and whether the aldermores*, lops of thorns, and such like underwoods, 

 will be sufficient for continuing the enclosure." 



* Aldei mores — i.e., alder moors, on the boggy parts. 



