October 1643
[2 October, 1643.]
Whereas there is a great scarcity of Fewell in and about the
Cities of London and Westminster, the Suburbs and Liberties
thereof, the line of Communication, and Parishes within the bill of
Mortality, by reason of the surprisall of the Towne of Newcastle,
by the papall and malignant forces, which heretofore did furnish
these parts with Sea-coale, the want of which in Winter may
prove almost an insupportable misery, especially to the poorer
and meaner sort of people unlesse it be opportunely prevented:
And whereas also the common sort of people have of late
destroyed, and still are destroying great store of Timber trees
being urged thereunto by necessity, to procure to themselves
Fewell, The which if not timely prohibited will be of a
dangerous consequence to the Common-wealth; Therefore to
the end that there may be an orderly and reasonable supply of
fellable wood for fewell, without destroying of any Timber-trees:
It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament.
Fellable wood may be cut within three score miles of London.; Officers to be appointed
I. That the circuit and extent for the cutting and felling
onely of fellable wood, and underwood for the supply aforesaid,
without any destruction of Timber-trees, bee within threescore
miles of London; And the Committee of Lords and Commons
for that purpose shall appoint all Overseers and other Officers,
and Ministers, Treasurers, and Sub-committees for the better
execution of this service, as they shall thinke fit; And also in
what places and in what proportion the same Woods shall be
cut, and felled, and to be accountable for the same and for the
moneys thereby received, to both Houses of Parliament, or such
as they shall appoint.
Officers' Powers.
II. That for that purpose the said Overseer or Overseers,
Officers and Ministers, shall have full power and authority, to
enter in, and upon the Woods, Groves, and Springs and other
Lands, where fellable Wood is or shall be growing, or being
belonging to any Archbishop, Bishop, Deanes and Chapters, in
their politicke or naturall capacity, Papists and other Delinquents, described in the Ordinance for Sequestring of Delinquents
estates, And in all Forests, Chases, and Parkes, belonging to
the Kings or Queenes Majestie: And there to cut, fell, and
carry away such proportions and quantities thereof as the
aforesaid Committee shall thinke fit for the furnishing of the
Cities of London and Westminster, with the Suburbs and
Liberties thereof, the Line of Communication, and Parishes
within the Bill of mortality: The poorer sort of every Parish to
be first served; and after the other degrees and rankes of
people: And that the said quantities and proportions of Wood
so felled, and brought to any part of London and Westminster
&c. shall be respectively distributed by the Church-wardens and
Overseers of the poore of every Parish, to the poore of such
Parish, and by such others as shall be named by the said Committee to other persons, they only allowing rateably for their
proportions of Wood, such easie and indifferent Rates as the
said Committee shall set downe or appoint. Provided that this
present power and Authority doe not extend to enable the said
Overseers; Officers and Ministers, or any of them to enter into
any such part of the said Woods, Groves, Springs, and other
the Lands belonging to any Arch-bishop, Bishop, Deane and
Chapter, and other Delinquents; or in any Forrest, Chase, and
Parke belonging to the Kings Majesty or Queenes Majesty,
where any private person, or other, not being any Papist or
delinquent, shall have any reall interest by Lease or Grant upon
valuable or good consideration; nor to any Woods or Trees
belonging to the scite of any mansion House, or to any Gardens,
Orchards, or Walkes. Provided also, that in the felling of any
Woods by force of this Ordinance, the Studils be left according
to the Statutes in that behalfe made.
Only persons properly appointed to fell and carry away wood.
III. That none shall dare to cut, fell, or carry away any of the
said Wood cut, or designed to be cut, but onely those that shall
be appointed by vertue of this Ordinance, under the penaltie of
fine and imprisonment, and the said Fines to be leavied by
distresse by the Officers appointed by the said Committee: And
in case the party be not sufficient to satisfie the said Fine, then
to undergoe such corporall punishment as by the authority of
Parliament shall be thought fit.
Carts and Vessels may be impressed
IV. That the said Officers and Ministers, for the better
accomplishing the said work, for the felling, bringing, and selling
of the said Wood, are to be enabled to cause by Land the
Inhabitants of the adjacent places with horses and carts, And by
Water with Lighters, and other Vessels, upon reasonable hire, to
convey the said wood to London and Westminster, &c. And in
case of peremptory refusall, to certifie the names of the Refusers
to the said Committee, or such other as the said Committee
shall appoint, that order may be taken therein.
Defalcation from sums received.
V. That the Officers and Ministers may defalke out of the sale
of the said Wood such reasonable allowance for the sufficient
fencing, inclosing, and preserving of the said Woods from the
spoile and hurt of Cattell and Deere: As also for his and their
paines, and for the charges in cutting and carrying, as the said
Committee shall appoint.
No woodmonger to ingrosse wood.
VI. That no Woodmonger, or any other person or persons,
shall ingrosse any of the said wood, to retaile the same againe,
unlesse by appointment of the said Committee.
Work to go on till Parliament shall inhibit same.
VII. That the said worke and imployment for the cutting and
felling of the Wood aforesaid, shall continue untill such time as
the two Houses of Parliament shall inhibit and recall the same.
Resistance to officers.
VIII. That in case the said Officers, or any of them be resisted
and disturbed by any person or persons in executing of the said
imployments; That then all Deputy Lievtenants, Justices of
Peace, Constables, Officers, Military Forces, Trained Bands, and
all other Souldiers raised for the defence of the King and
Parliament within the said Counties, or in any Garrison neere
the said places, shall be-assistant and aiding unto the said
Officers; and shall and may detaine and imprison the said
parties, untill they have satisfied the Parliament for their said
contempt; or otherwise receive such punishment as by the
authority of Parliament shall be thought fit.
Indemnity.
IX. That as well the said Officers, and other Ministers whatsoever, and all other persons which shall doe any thing in
execution of this Ordinance, or in obedience thereof, shall from
time to time be protected and saved harmlesse by the power
and authority of both Houses of Parliament.
Provided further, and be it Ordained, That the said Committee of Lords and Commons, take care for the preventing of
spoyle, and cutting downe of Woods upon mens grounds
without lawfull authority, and for the due punishment of the
Offenders therein.