next ensuing. That the whole wastle soil be re-afforested, and
subject to the Forest laws; but that the severity of the Forest laws
be taken off from the lands in several, belonging to the freeholders
and inhabitants within the said Forest, they themselves being
contented to serve his Majesty, according to their several offices
and places, as formerly at the Forest courts.

"That the deer to be kept on the said waste soil may not exceed 800
at any one time; and the fees which belong to the particular
officers, touching venison, may be preserved to them, as to venison
only, and not to wood and trees.

"That it is consented to that the winter heyning and fence month,
according to the Forest law, being such times wherein no kind of
cattle be permitted to abide in any part of the said waste, may be
understood to be from Saint Martin's day in the winter to Saint
George's day in April; and afterwards, from fifteen days before
Midsummer to fifteen days after.

"That all grants of any part of the waste soil of the said Forest be
re-assumed and made void; and that no part of the said waste or soil
be aliened for ever from the Crown, or farmed to any particular
person or persons, by lease or otherwise.

"And that this may be settled by Act of Parliament.

"(Signed) HEN: HALL. DUN: COLCHESTER,
WM. PROBIN. JO: WITT."

The importance of the foregoing propositions appears from the use made of
them, more than a century afterwards, by the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests in 1788, who informed the descendants of those gentlemen who
appended their names to the above document, that they had thereby lost
all claim to any perquisite in the way of bark and windfalls; observing
also, that the important Act of 1668 (20 Charles II.) resulting from it
was approved by and obtained at the desire of the freeholders,
inhabitants, and commoners then living.

Another proposition intended to further the preservation of the Forest
woods was presented to the Lord Warden of the Castle of St. Briavel's by
the freeholders thereof, promising on their part to relinquish claims to
wood and timber for so long a time as "his sacred Majesty" should resolve
to suspend his iron-works therein, whom they implore to call in the
patent granted to Sir John Winter.

Some idea may be formed of the strength of public feeling against Sir
John Winter, o