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As green as he was compassionate
In a recent lecture, Prince Charles argued that Henry VIII "instigated the very first piece of green legislation in this country", when he "passed laws to protect forests by preventing shipbuilders from felling too many oak trees".
He said: "What was instinctively understood by many in King Henry's time was the importance of working with the grain of nature to maintain balance between keeping the Earth's natural capital intact and sustaining humanity on its renewable income."
This is a very partisan account. The Act of 1543 did order the preservation of large trees for naval timber, but, far from being an early modern ecowarrior, Henry VIII was primarily concerned with hunting.
In 1539, he had created the completely new 10,000-acre forest of Hampton Court Chase, where "forest law was to prevail". This protected deer for him to hunt, and the vegetation where they lived (including trees), on land that largely belonged to other people.
From medieval to early modern times, there were literally hundreds of statutes and royal regulations introduced to protect forests for hunting. None could be described as "green legislation" as we understand it today, and punishments for offenders were harsh. Indeed, many historians consider forests to be among the most potent symbols of arbitrary regal power.
About the author
John Langton is a fellow in geography, St John's College, Oxford.