engine," constructed, probably, on Watt's
principle, patented in the previous year, is understood to have been put
up in this neighbourhood. It also specifies the "Brown's Green Colliery"
near Lydbrook, opened in 1772; the "Moorwood Coal Works" in 1773;
"Arthur's Folly" in 1774, begun in the "Thirty Acres," and brought up
into "Little Cross Hill;" and also the undertaking called "The Gentlemen
Colliers."

On the 26th August, 1777, the Court of Mine Law, by which the coal-works
in the Forest had been ever regulated, sat, as it proved, for the last
time, having been held according as business required three or four times
a year, with some few exceptions, since 1668. A memorandum with which
its last minute is endorsed is thus expressed:--"Mine Law Court, 26
August, 1777. There has been no Court holden for the miners since this
day, which is a great loss to the gaveller, and causes various disputes
amongst the colliers, which is owing to the neglect of the
Deputy-Constables."

A careful perusal of the papers in which the proceedings of the Court of
Mine Law are recorded from 30th April, 1706, supplies the following
particulars illustrative of the manner in which the miners of the first
half of the 18th century conducted their works, together with the usages
of the Court then in vogue. Nearly all the sittings were held at the
Speech-house, under the supervision of the deputies for the time being of
the Constable of St. Briavel's Castle, attended by the clerk of the
court, and the gaveller or his deputy. Rarely more than twelve, but
sometimes twenty-four miners constituted the jury; the suits they had to
try being mostly for debts and trespasses between miner and miner, such
as for leaving open dangerous pits, breaking "forbids," refusing to pay
tax for defending the rights of the mine, loading "foreigners'" teams at
the pits, for perjury, for keeping more than four horses in carrying
coal, or for removing pit lamps, scores or cowls, &c. Copies of two such
entries, with other proceedings of the Court as specimens, are given in
the Appendix No. VI.

As early as the year 1718 the proceedings of the Court were occasionally
disturbed by the persons attending it. Thus, on the 13th of May, the
following amercements were made and recorded:--

John Davis, for talking in Court 2_s._
John Kear, for talking in Court 2_s._
Wm. Budge, for disturbing ye 2_s._
Court
Nich. Whitstone, for the like 2_s._
Tho