s.'"

Here it may be noted, that there happened on the night of 18th February,
1662, a dreadful storm of wind, alluding to which Pepys writes:--"We have
letters from the Forest of Deane, that above 1,000 oakes and as many
beeches are blown down in one walke there;" and Mr. Fosbroke has recorded
from some other source, that near Newent "the roads were impassable till
the trees blown down were cut away, in some great orchards it being
possible to go from one end to the other without touching the ground."

The Commission mentioned above was directed to Lord Herbert, as Constable
of the Castle of St. Briavel's and Warden of the Forest, and others, to
examine the state and condition thereof. After a careful survey, it was
reported by them that they had found 25,929 oaks and 4,204 beeches,
containing 121,572 cords of wood, fit for being converted into charcoal,
as used at the iron furnaces, and 11,335 tons of ship timber suitable for
the navy. They add, however, that "cabins of beggarly people, with
goats, sheep, and swine, began to invade the same as formerly." A fresh
agreement was forthwith entered into with Sir John Winter on the part of
the Crown, who thereupon surrendered his former Patent, reserving the
woods called Snead and Kidnalls, and nominated Francis Finch and Robert
Clayton to receive a new grant of all such trees as were not fit for
shipping, together with the use and occupation of the King's iron-works,
and liberty to dig for and use iron ore and cinders in the Forest.
Touching the drawing up of this agreement, Mr. Pepys's 'Diary,' under
date 20th June, 1662, supplies us with the following particulars:--"Up by
4 or 5 o'clock, and to the office, and there drew up the agreement
between the King and Sir John Winter about the Forest of Deane; and
having done it, he come himself, whom I observed to be a man of fine
parts; and we read it, and both liked it well. That done, I turned to
the Forest of Deane, in Speede's Mapps, and there he shewed me how it
lies; and the Lea-bayly with the great charge of carrying it to Lydney,
and many other things worth knowing." They evidently enjoyed each
other's society, for in the month of August next following they again met
at "the Mitre," in Fenchurch Street, "to a venison pasty," whither Mr.
Pepys was brought "in Sir John Winter's coach, where I found him" (he
records) "a very worthy man, and good discourse, most of which was
concerning the Forest of Deane, and the timbe