_ _d._
To a Clerk p 25 0 0
Ann.
To a Stock 16 0 0
taker
To a Carpinter 09 13 4
For other 20 0 0
Reprs, as Oyle,
Greese, &c.,
Coibus Annis
64 13 4

_li._ _s._ _d._
Totall of the 5609 18 8
Furnace,
deducting the
Officers' Fees,
&c., is
Totall of the 0667 06 8
Forge,
deducting the
Officers' Fees,
&c., p An. is
6277 5 4

So considerable a balance each year, from one furnace and a single forge,
admits of comparison with the profits made by ironmasters now.

The Commissioners further report that all necessary appliances existed on
the spot:--

"One excellent Furnace called the Park Furnace, and one Forge called
Whitecros Forge. The later is in good repre, but the Furnace wants a
Roofe to ye Cole hous, and some other Reprs, wch we compute may cost
us circa 40li, and care must be taken whensoever his Maty shall take
them into his own handes, that all the Implemts the late psons
intrusted wth the managemt thereof had deliv'd to them by inventory
or otherwise, be forthcoming, or else it will be a great prjudice to
his Maty."

It was also pointed out that, besides "the greate yearely pfitt" likely
to accrue to the King, should he take the Iron Works into his own hands,
they were "capable to serve his Navey both wth beter Iron and at much
Easier Rates then now he payes for all sorts, and wee conceive that Iron
Ordinance might be cast here for ye Service of ye Navey also at ye same
rates." Some of the Forest iron, in the form of iron hoops, had already
found its way to the navy store at Woolwich. {46}

Even the last winter's great storm (18th of February, 1662) is made to
support their counsels, for the Commissioners affirmed that--"500li,
together with the young beechen timber lately blowne downe in the Lea
Bayley, will sett the workes a goeing."

Lastly, the same officials suggested that a check should be put to the
practice of sending iron ore and cinder out of the Forest, lest the
supply to the king's works, as proposed, should run short. They suggest
a tax "6d. at first, for fifteen bushells," adding "that they were
i