New Forest Act 1697

III. Whenever the Woods growing in the said Inclosures are past danger of browsing of Deer, &c. so that the same may be laid open, the King may inclose the like Quantity of Acres for so much laid open, &c. free from Common, &c.

Wood not to be felled unless allowed, &c. by Officer; Nor Coppice Woods cut, &c. until marked, &c. by Officer; Penalty £50.

And it is hereby further enacted and declared That at all times hereafter whensoever the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury Lord Treasurer of England or Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being shal be satisfyed and shal determine that the Woods and Trees which shal be growing on the said Two thousand Acres or any part thereof within the Inclosures which shal afterwards be made as aforesaid are become past danger of browsing of Deer Cattell or other Prejudice and shal think fit to lay the same or any part thereof open and in common and shal cause the same so to be done that then and so often it shal and may be lawful to and for His Majesty His Heirs and Successors from time to time to inclose out of the said Forest in lieu of so much as shal be so laid open of the said Two thousand Acres or of the said Number of Acres authorized to be inclosed as aforesaid the like Quantity out of any other part of the Residue of the said Wasts to be set out and made in like manner and by the like Commission and Admeasurement as aforesaid and to be holden inclosed freed and discharged of and from all manner of common Herbage and Pannage or other Rights for so long time as the same shal remain and continue inclosed according to the Direction Purport and Intent of this present Act to be a Nursery for Timber as aforesaid instead of so much as shal be laid open as aforesaid and whensoever any Wood or Timber shal at any time or times hereafter be directed to be felled in any part of the said Forest Two or more of the Verderers and Four or more of the Regarders of the said Forest shal have notice thereof and the same shall be first viewed and allowed to be felled by a Commissioner or Officer of His Majesties Navy and shal not be cut or felled until such View and Allowance nor shal any Coppice Woods hereafter to be raised be cut or drawn until the Surveyor of the Woods for the time being or such Officer or Purveyor of the Navy shal have marked with a broad Arrow and Crown so many and such Trees as are fit to be reserved and kept standing for Timber upon every Acre intended to be cut or drawn and shal also certify (as he or they are hereby impowred and required to do) unto the Lord High Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being the Names of the Places and the Number of the Trees so viewed and allowed to be felled and so marked to be preserved for the use of the Navy as aforesaid and if any Person or Persons shal at any time or times hereafter either fell or cut down any Wood or Trees upon the Premises or any part thereof before such View and Allowance made thereof as aforesaid contrary to the true meaning of this present Act or shal after cut down any of the said marked Trees without good Warrant for the same the said Person or Persons shal for every Tree so felled forfeit the Sum of Fifty pounds one Moiety whereof to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors and the other Moiety to him or them that wil inform and sue for the same in any of his Majesties Courts of Record wherein no Essoign Wager of Law or Protection shal be allowed the Defendant.