bruary, 1640 (15th Charles I.), to Sir John
Winter, of all the mines, minerals, and stone-quarries within the limits
of the Forest, to work and use the same, together with all timber, trees,
woods, underwood growing in any part thereof, in consideration of 10,000
pounds, and the yearly sum of 16,000 pounds for six years, and of a fee
farm rent of 1950 pounds 12s. 6d. for ever. This bargain was equivalent
to selling the Forest altogether, and the inhabitants of the district,
being greatly dissatisfied, took advantage of the approaching civil
distractions to throw down the fences which Sir J. Winter had already
begun to make.

Of those distractions, the first that occurred in this part of the county
took place on the 20th February, 1643. Clarendon and Corbet record, that
on this day Lord Herbert, the Earl of Worcester's eldest son, and the
King's Lieutenant-General of South Wales, marched through Coleford and
the Forest of Dean for Gloucester, at the head of an army of 500 horse
and 1500 foot, the outfit and preparation of which is stated to have cost
60,000 pounds. At Coleford their progress was impeded by a troop of
Parliamentarians under Colonel Berrowe, aided by a disorderly rabble of
country people. An affray ensued, during which the old market-house was
burnt, and Major-General Lawley, who commanded the foot, "a bold and
sprightly man," with two other officers, were shot dead from a window,
although not one common soldier was hurt. Colonel Brett was then put in
command of the foot, Lord John Somerset continuing at the head of the
horse. They forced a passage through, after capturing Lieutenant-Colonel
Winter, together with some inferior officers and common soldiers, and so,
putting the rest to flight, marched without further molestation for
Gloucester.

In the April following, Sir William Waller, retreating from Monmouth
towards Gloucester through the Forest, narrowly escaped capture by Prince
Maurice, who was at hand to intercept him with a considerable force.
Alluding many years afterwards to this adventure, he writes:--"Upon my
march that night through the Forest of Dean, it happened through the
sleepiness of an officer, that the main body was separated from the fore
troope with which I marched, so that I was fain to make an halt for above
half an hour, within little more than a mile of the Prince's
head-quarter, in broad daylight; the allarme taken, and not 120 horse
with me. Nevertheless, itt pleased Go