SiO

A DISCOURSE

Hall to acquaint him what pity it was to cut down such young and thri-ving trees, Mr. Crane was persuaded to allow the said Thomas Wastneyfourscore pounds to let them stand; since which time, the said Mr.Crane sold as many of those trees and saplings as came to about fortypounds, and left growing, and remaining on the ground, about thirteenhundred and eighty trees ; which, in August 1675, being (upon the desireof Mr. Crane) valued by the said Daniel Hall, were estimated to be worth7001. himself since offering for some of the said trees forty or fifty shillingsa tree; .five hundred of them being better worth than 5001. Now the saidLatimer-Wood, were it cleared of the timber, would not be let for abovefour or five shillings per acre at the most. The particulars of this historyI received under the hands and certificates of the above-mentioned DanielHall, who is the timber-merchant, and'two of the stubbers or labourers,yet living, that were employed- to clear the ground. I have likewisetransmitted to me the following account from Mr. Sharp, under the handof Robert Daye, Esq. one-of Ms Majesty’s Justices of the Peace for thecounty of Norfolk .

There were,: in 1636, an hundred timber-trees of Oak, growing onsome grounds belonging then to Thomas Daye, of Scopleton, in the countyof Norfolk , Esq. which were that year sold to one Robert Bowgeon ofHingham, in. the said county, for 1001. which price was believed to beequal, if not to surmount their intrinsic worth and value; but, after agree-ment made for them, a refusal 1 happening, (which continued the treesstanding till the year 1671) those very trees were sold to Thomas Ellys ofWindham, timber-master, and one Henry Morley, carpenter, by Mr.Daye (son of the said Thomas Daye, Esq.) for 5601. And'this comes tome attested under the hand of Mr. Daye himself, dated May 4, 1678 p .

From the same Mr. Sharp I receive this instance of an Ash planted bythe hands of one Mr. Edm. Slater, in that county, which he sold for 40sbefore his death ; but this is frequent.

I am likewise afsured that three acres of barren land, sown with acornsabout sixty years since, are now become a very thriving wood : The ini-

s’ A few years ago, fifty Oak-trees growing in the park at Nostell, the seat of Sir Row-land Winn, Bart, were sold for 25001.