increase of
the navy being found necessary; whilst the stock of timber then standing
in different parts of the kingdom was judged so insufficient for the
wants of the Government, that recent acts of the legislature had directed
that "twelve standils or storers likely to become timber should be left
on every acre of wood or underwood that was felled at or under
twenty-four years' growth," and prohibited the "turning woodland into
tillage," and required that, "whenever any wood was cut, it must be
immediately enclosed, and the young spring thereof protected for seven
years." Moreover, no trees upwards of a foot in the square were to be
converted into charcoal for making iron.

The returns from Sir Julius Caesar's collection preserved in the
Lansdowne MSS. recognise the above regulations, as well as the market for
wood created by the Forest iron-works, now greatly enlarged; they possess
considerable interest, and will be found in Appendix No. I.

CHAPTER II.
A.D. 1612-1663.

Grants in the Forest to Earl of Pembroke--Mining restricted to the
Foresters--Iron cinders of old workings re-smelted in the new
furnaces--Last justice seat held in 1635, extending the limits of the
Forest to those of Edward I.--Grant to E. Terringham--Forest surveyed in
1635--Sale of the woods to Sir J. Winter--Disturbances of the Civil War
at Coleford, Highmeadow, Ruerdean--Adventures of Sir J. Winter at
Westbury, Little Dean, Newnham, Lydney--Events on the north side of the
Forest--Incidents of the Protectorate, riots and devastations of the
Forest--Sir J. Winter's patent restored--Effects of a great storm--Survey
of the Forest in 1662--Mr. J. Pepys and Sir J. Winter on the Forest--The
latter resumes his fellings--Inhabitants suggest replanting and enclosing
the Forest--Act of 20 Charles II., c. 3--Sir J. Winter's licence
confirmed.

On the 17th of February, 1612, William Earl of Pembroke obtained a grant
"of 12,000 cords of wood yearly for twenty-one years at 4s. per cord,
being 2400 pounds, and reserving a rent besides of 33 pounds 6s. 8d. per
annum," with "liberty to dig for and take within any part of the said
Forest, or the precincts thereof, such and so much mine ore, cinders,
earth, sand, stone, breaks, moss, sea coal, and marle, as should be
necessary for carrying on the iron-works let to him, or which he should
erect; no person or persons whatsoever other than the said Earl to be
permitted during the said term to take or carry