FOREST OF BEAN. 251 



nation and make good their conquest, they should yet 

 be sure not to leave a tree standing in the Forest 

 of Dean." Mr. Nicholls, the historian of the Forest' 

 says on this, that Evelyn may have heard this story 

 from Mr. Secretary Pepys, who might have been 

 informed by his friend, Sir John Winter, the grandson 

 of Sir William Winter, vice- Admiral of Elizabeth's fleet, 

 and kinsman to Thomas Winter of Huddington, who 

 was constantly aiding the Spanish Romanists in their 

 intrigues. 



In 1638, we first come across indications that there was 

 fear of failure of the supply of timber from this Forest. 

 A report was received by the Crown that the trees 

 numbered 105,000, containing 02,000 tons of timber, of 

 which only 14,000 loads were fit for shipbuilding, as 

 the trees were generally decayed and past their full 

 growth. By the authority of Sir Bayham Throgmorton 

 16,000 acres were ordered to be taken in. The Com- 

 moners after some discussion assented, in consideration 

 of 4,000 acres being set apart for their own use, in 

 different parts of the Forest. Before, however, any- 

 thing could be done in this direction, Charles I., in his 

 necessities, sold all the mineral rights in the Forest, and 

 all the timber trees and underwood in it, to Sir John 

 Winter, for 10,000 down, the yearly sum of 16,000 

 for six years, and a fee farm rent of 1,950 for ever. 



This act was equivalent to a sale of the Forest, 

 though the ownership of the soil was still retained in 

 the Crown. The commoners and inhabitants of the 

 Forest were greatly dissatisfied ; they took advantage 



