(459 ) 
People are content to ufe this method in their provifion 
of Timber, tho but for private Ufes. 
Much rather Ihould it be done then in fo publick a 
concern as the building of Ships, where tough and folid 
Timber is much more neceffary than in ordinary Build- 
ings. Nor can I yet. meet with any material Objection, 
either from Staffordfiire Gentlemen ( many of whom I 
have confuked aboui: this Affair Once I informed your 
Majefty of the advantage of it) or from any other, why 
this Practice may not be ufed here in the South of Eng~ 
land, as well as there. There is indeed an ASt of Par- 
liament i Jac, i . chap, 22. whereby your Majeflies Sub- 
jects are forbid falling Timber for ordinary Ufes (ineon- 
iideracion of the Tan), at any other time but between 
the firft of Avnl and Saft of ^nnk\ when the Sap is up 
and the Bark will run, made on fuppofition (I guefs) 
that fhould. they have admitted felling Timber in any 
other Seafon, the Tanners would have wanted a fupply 
of Bark. To which i readily anfwer, That I fear the Le- 
gislators that prefs'd the making that .&&»were ignorant 
that the Bark might be taken off in the Spring, and that 
the Tree notwithstanding would live and fiourifh till the 
Winter following,as I have feen many in Stafford/hire: So 
that tho the Tree be not fell'd till the Winter Soiftice, or 
January following, yet the Tanner is not at all defeated 
of his Tan, but has it here in as due Seafon as in any 
of the Southern Counties. The Legiflators I fay were 
ignorant of this, otherways they would never have 
made an A& fo pernicious to the whole Kingdom, as 
felling Timber at this Seafon is, for the fake of a few 
Tanners . 
But notwithftanding this ignorance, yet then they 
were fo wife as to except in that AdV the Timber to be 
ufed in building of Ships, which may be fell'd in Winter, 
or any other time $ as I am told all the ancient Timber 
remaining in the 'Royal Sovereign was, it being It'll! fo 
hard 
