t the boar.
Commonage was likewise given to the Abbot of Flaxley. The bailiwick of
Dean Magna was granted to Walter Wither. The men of Awre were allowed,
by custom, pasturage in the Forest; those of Rodley, estover, dead and
dry wood, with pannage and food for cattle as well.

The earliest of the various perambulations of the Forest, in the ensuing
reign of Edward I., was in the year 1282, and comprised the peninsula
formed by the Severn and Wye, proceeding north-east as far as Newent, and
north to Ross, as in fact it had always done. It may be also observed
that about this period the Abbot of Gloucester purchased thirty-six acres
of land in Hope Maloysell, held by Gilbert and Julian Lepiatte, receiving
also Thomas Dunn's gift of all his lands in the same parish. The most
ancient of the justice seats for these parts sat the same year at
Gloucester Castle. By its proceedings, some of the records of which
happily still exist, we learn that upwards of seventy-two "_Forgeae
errantes_," or moveable forges, were found here; that the sum which the
Crown charged for licensing them was at the rate of seven shillings a
year, viz. three shillings and six pence for six months, or one shilling
and nine pence a quarter; that a miner received one penny, or the worth
of it in ore, for each load brought to any of the King's ironworks; but
if conveyed out of the Forest the penny was paid to the Crown; and that
in those cases where a forge was farmed, forty-six shillings was charged.
{12} No less than fifty-nine mines were let at this time to Henry de
Chaworth, who had besides forges at work in the Forest.

A careful examination of the oldest copy extant of 'The Miners' Laws and
Privileges,' regarded, as Mr. Wyrrall tells us, writing in the year 1780,
"as the Magna Charta of our miners and colliers," incontrovertibly proves
that it belongs to this period. It was first printed by William Cooper,
at the Pelican in Little Britain, 1687, from a manuscript copy preserved
in the office of the Deputy Gaveller, to which a postscript is added,
"written out of a parchmt. roll, now in ye hands of Richard Morse of
Clowerwall, 7 June, 1673, by Tho: Davies." Richard Morse was then one of
the deputy gavellers. The date of the compilation has heretofore been
considered as determined by the wording of the short introduction with
which it is prefaced, commencing thus--"Bee itt in minde and Remembrance
what ye Customes and Franchises hath been that