i n A DISCOURSE

Book 111 -Metals, with ‘Pit-coal, Sea-codl, and Brujk-fuel ; his pity it did notfocceed.

There are several Acres of Wood-land, of no mean Circuit, neatRochester, in the County of Kent , extending as far as Bex ley, and in-deed for many Miles about Shooter’s Hill, near the River of Thames,which, were his Majesty Owner of, might in few Tears be of an unva-luable Improvements and Benefit,] considering how apt they are togrow Forest, and how opportune they lie tor the Use of the RosdNavy at Chatham.

12.. But yet to prove what it is to manage Woods discreetly; I readof one Mr. Christopher Darell, a Surrey Gentleman of Nudigate, thathad a particular Indulgence for the cutting of his Woods at pleasure,though a great Iron-master ; because he so ordered his Works, thatthey were a Means of preserving even his Woods, notwithstandingthose unfatiable Devourers. This may appear a ‘Paradox, but itto be made out ; and I have heard my own Father (whole Estate wasnone of the least wooded in England.) affirm, that a Forge, and tomeother Mills, to which he furnished much Fuel, were a Means of main-taining and improving his Woods ; I suppose, by increasing the Indtt*fry of Planting, and Care ; as what he left standing of his own plant-ing, enclosing and cherishing , lately in the Possession of my most ho-noured Brother George Evelin of Wotlon in the fame County (andnow in mine ) did (before the late Hurricane) sufficiently evince : Smost laudable Monument of his Industry, and rare Example ; for with-out such an Example, and such an Application, I am no Advoc&F’ for Iron-works, but a declared Denouncer. But Nature has though 1 -fit to produce this wasting Oar more plentifully in Wood-lanhthan any other Ground, and to enrich our Forests to their own D e ‘ftruction.

a 0 Poverty! still safe', and therefore foundInfest’rably with Mischiefs under Ground!

Woods tall and reverend, from all Time appearInviolable, where no Mine is near.

For so our sweet Poet deplores the Fate of the Forest of He anc.

13. The fame AB we have confirmed and enlarged in the twenty-seventh of Queen Eliz. Chap. xix. for the preserving of Timber-tr ees »and the Penalties of impairing Woods much increased ; the Tops an< ^i Offal only permitted to be made use of for this Employment.

Nay, our own Law makes it Waste, to cut down high Trees (thoughthey be not properly Timber) standing for Safe-guard and Defence ota Mansion-house, though it be done for necessary Repairs - whilstmany (and with Reason) hold it un-healthful to suffer a Dwelling 10be choaked with Trees, for want of free Passage to the Air. Tomedy this, there needs only a competent Distance to be left void-* lord north. But, as a Noble * Person observes, People in these Days are so dis?^oeconom. p e( j t0 q Uarre i with Timber, as there shall need no Advice to dento^PTrees about their Houses upon this Account : In the mean Time, aSto the Incroacliment of Trees fo near our Dwellings, for the f seer

a O semper bona pauperies! & conditus ahaThesaurus tellure nocens O semper ovantes,Xntegr*, salyscque solo non diyite Silva; !

Couiiii PI.Lib, yi.

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