he court of the wood," at the "speech" before the
Verderers, but more particularly to the court for debtors at St.
Briavel's Castle, and to the mine court, as regulated by the constable,
clerk, and gaveller, and the miners' jury of twelve, twenty-four, or
forty-eight, where all causes relating to the mines were to be heard.
"Three hands," or three witnesses, were required in evidence, and the
oath was taken with a stick of holly held in the hand. The miners of
Mitchel Deane, Little Deane, and Ruer Deane are called "beneath the
wood."

It also appears that at Carleon, Newport, Barkley, Monmouth, and
Trelleck, the manufacture of iron was carried on by "smiths," who were
connected with smith-holders living in the Forest, and supplying the ore,
at each of which places it is remarkable that iron cinders have been
found. The document concludes with the names of the forty-eight miners
by whom it was witnessed, confirmed, and sealed.

[Picture: Map of limits of the Forest]

Such then were the mining privileges and regulations existing amongst the
operatives of the Forest at this period, A.D. 1300, which by their
settled and methodical character bear out the statement made in the
preface to "the Customes," &c., that they had been then granted "time out
of mind," and consequently were more ancient than the sieges of Berwick,
to which it appears many of the Forest miners and bowmen were summoned,
and perhaps received for services then rendered their peculiar rights.

Another important characteristic of this reign (Edward I.) is the
unsettled state of the Forest boundaries, as indicated in the various
perambulations which were made about this time. A record of that made in
1302 is preserved in the Tower of London, whilst the register of the
perambulation performed by Letters Patent the year following, exists in
Walter Froucester's transcript of it, in the possession of the Dean and
Chapter of Gloucester. Both documents agree in setting forth the same
limits, no longer extending to Gloucester, Chepstow, and Monmouth, or
even including Hewelsfield, Alvington, Ailberton, Lydney, Purton, Box,
Rodley, Westbury, Blaisdon, Huntley, Longhope, Newent, Taynton,
Tibberton, Highnam, Churcham, and Bulley as formerly; but confining them,
as nearly as can now be determined, to the bounds laid down in the
accompanying map of the district. It appears that these perambulations
were made by a numerous and important staff of