) 
A DISCO U RS E concerning the moft feafonable Time 
of Felling of Timber^ Written by the advice of the Ho- 
norable Sam, Pepys Efy Secretary of the Admiralty, and 
prefented to hts late Majefty. By Robert Plot LL.D. and 
R. S. Soc. 
May it Pleafeyour MA J EST T, 
WHEN I firft imparted to your Majefty the 
manner of felling of Timber in the County 
of Stafford, with the advantage it might 
give to your Royal Navy, were all the Timber ufed in 
building your Fleet fo felled 5 according to your Maje- 
fties command, I immediately ("the fame day) waited up- 
on Mr. Secretary Pepys and Sir Antheny Dean t and commu- 
nicated the Matter to them, who both promifed me they 
would acquaint your Majefty I had fo done, and give 
our Majefty an account of their preient Thoughts of it : 
ut the former, viz. Mr. Secretary Pepys, received fo 
ftrong an impreffion of the ufefulnefs of the Experiment, 
and thought it (after consideration) of that importance, 
that he defired roe, the day following, further to confider 
this Subject, and fee what might be added to what I had 
already written in my Hiftor^ of Stafford/hire relating to 
it 5 and what material Obfervations made, why this Cuftom 
of StaffbrdJI-ire and the Neighboring Countie^might not 
be praCtifed here in the South of England as well as therej 
and fo put all into W ruing for your Majefties ufe. 
For the performance whereof, with as much brevity 
as perfpicuity will allow me, your Majefty fe firft defired 
to recoiled what I told your Majefty in May laft, that 
the Cuftom of felling Timber here in the South of Eng- 
land, differs from that of Stajfordfpire^ only in two things, 
viz. Inthe time of Felling 5 and manner of Barking. It be- 
A ing 
