ing's
declining cause, and in particular to reduce the inhabitants of the
Forest, which was an object of some importance, as their iron-works, &c.,
afforded supplies to Bristol, then besieged by the Parliament forces.
The foresters had declined in their loyalty, through Sir John Winter's
occupying their woods, from which his enclosures excluded them.
Accordingly his name is rarely absent from the accounts given by
contemporary writers, of efforts made in this neighbourhood for the
Crown. Most likely he assisted Prince Rupert in his first attempt made
in the month of September, 1644, to fortify and establish a permanent
guard on the promontory at Beachley, but from which they were quickly
dislodged by Massy. We know he was present when the same effort was
renewed a month later, and had a second time to be relinquished, Sir John
Winter only effecting his escape by hard riding, and making a desperate
descent upon the river Wye, by which he was only just enabled to reach
the Prince's ships lying at its mouth.

So favourable an opportunity as this defeat gave for the capture of
Lydney House was not to be lost, and it was invested forthwith. Timely
aid was however rendered about the 2nd of April, 1645, by the arrival of
Prince Maurice with a force of 2,000 horse and 1,500 foot, who, as they
marched towards it from Hereford, took advantage of the occasion to lay
waste the Forest, as a retribution on the inhabitants for having deserted
the King's cause. Corbet says that "they plundered the houses to the
bare walls, driving all the cattell, seizing upon the persons of men, and
sending them captives to Monmouth and Chepstow, except such as escaped to
us by flight, as many did with their armes, and some few that saved
themselves in woods and mine pitts." The same authority adds that "the
King's forces returned a second time into the Forest, and took the
gleanings of the former harvest." In the course of the month of May the
royalists retired, and Sir John Winter, resolving that his house should
never harbour his enemies, burnt it to the ground. He then joined the
King, by whom he was presently despatched with letters to the Queen, in
France, and mentioning him in these terms--"This bearer, Sir John Winter,
as thy knowledge of him makes it needlesse to recommend him to thee, soe
I should injure him if I did not beare him the true witnesse of having
served me with as much fidelity and courage as any, not without much good
suc