etter
specimens of stonework on this side the Severn, of which Mr. Telford's
Over Bridge and Lord Somers's mansion at Eastnor are examples, yet
originally such was not the case, since the earliest example of its being
used for any considerable pieces of masonry occurs in the steeple of
Ruerdean Church, a work of the 15th century. Now, however, almost all
the 320 stone quarries worked in the Forest are of this stone, which is
very pleasing in tint, and, if judiciously selected, very durable.

APPENDIX.

No. I.
Papers preserved in the Lansdowne Collection at the British Museum.

"Right Honourable,

"Acoording unto your Lordship's warrant, Wee repaired unto and have
veiwed and duelie considered the severall woodes, known by the names of
Great Bradley, Little Bradley, Stonegrove, Pigstade, Buckholde Moore, and
the Copps; all lying together and conteyning by the measure of 16.5 foote
the pole, 520 acres. In wch grounds we thinke (the woodes being muche
differing in qualitie, by an equall proportion) there maie be raised for
everie acre 30 coard of woode; reserving sufficient staddells according
to the state, wch, according to the measure of the said grounds, amounted
unto the number of 15,600 cordes of woode. Uppon conference with divers
in the contrie, wee finde that such a quantitie of woode is not suddainly
to be vented in anie other sorte then to the iron workes, wch causeth
either the cheapnes or dearnes of the same; the contrie not vallewing the
said woodes uppon the stem above XIIIID the coard, although to the iron
workes it may be vallued at IIs VId the coard. So that according to the
rate of the contrie, the said proportion of woode is worthe CCCCCV li.
And according to the compictacon for the iron works, the same maie be
vallued at MIXCLX li. We imagine that the charge of ffensing the said
woodes, circuting 4 miles, will cost, to be done and kept according to
the state, aboute CC markes. The rent is 20 li. per ann.

"ROBERT TRESWELL. J. NORDEN. THO. MORGAN."

The wood standing in the 6 copses above named, Sir Edward Winter proposed
to buy for 800 lib., cutting and carrying away the same, one copse after
another, in 5 years' time. But this proposal was so impugned as to
elicit the ensuing defence from Sir E. Winter:--"A true Answere to the
objections made against my late bargaine for some of his Mties coppices
or colletts adioyning to the fforest of Deane.

"'1. Ffirst, tha