as "not more than six pits had
ever been so situated, and now not one, those plantations having grown
up, and their fences down." The sum total of salaries paid to the
conservators and six keepers was 210 pounds per annum, arising from wood
sales. Various repairs are stated to have been necessary. The Castle of
St. Briavel's, it is said, "hath been a very great and ancient building,
but the greatest part is ruined and fallen down, and only some part kept
up for a place to hold the courts in for the King's manor and hundred
thereof, and also for a prison for debtors attached by process out of the
said courts, and for offenders and trespassers within the Forest. The
same is very necessary to be repaired; and for mending the roof and
tyling, and in glazing, plaistering, repairing the prison windows, and
building a new pound, &c., will cost the sum of 10 pounds 14s. 2d. The
cost of rebuilding Worcester and York Lodges, pulled down by the rioters
in 1688, and repairing the Speech House, which was likewise much injured
at that time, will be, they calculate, 219 pounds 10s."

As to injury done to the woods, the following presentments amongst many
others made by the keepers were instanced:--"John Simons of Blackney, for
cutting green orle wood. Edward Revoke and James Drew of Little Dean,
for cutting and carrying away a young oak. The same Edward Revoke, for
building some part of his house with wood out of the said Forest."
Respecting these depredations the commissioners recommend that, in
consideration of the colliers having, time out of mind, had an allowance
of wood, but not timber for the support of their pits, but which has been
stopped for some time, it may be again allowed to them by order of the
verderers, and taken by view of a woodward or keeper. The Attachment and
Swainmote Courts are stated to have been "duly kept, although
ineffectually to the preservation of the Forest, as they can only
convict, but cannot punish; and that the trespass-money paid into the
said courts in this reign does not exceed 5s., the only remedy being in
having a justice seat held for the purpose once a year, for six or seven
years." The report is signed by Wm. Cooke, Re Pynder, Wm. Boevey, J.
Viney, Jo. Kyrle, Phil. Ryley.

The _ninth_ Mine Law Court was held on the 25th of April, 1694, at
Clearwell, before John Higford and George Bond, Esqrs.

It confirmed the punishment already awarded against "the abominable
sin of perj