46 THE FORESTS OF ENGLAND. 



" In this reign, probably at the time of this first peram- 

 bulation (inasmuch as the bounds assigned to the forest in 

 the document* we are referring to were those known to 

 have prevailed at that time, but to have been considerably 

 diminished soon afterwards), the king confirmed the 

 charters and privileges of the foresters, which were even 

 then regarded as ancient : ' Bee it in minde and remem- 

 brance what y e customs and franchises hath been that 

 were granted tyme out of minde, and after in tyme of the 

 excellent and redoubted Prince, King Edward, unto the 

 miners of the Forrest of Deane, and the Castle of St 

 Briavells.' 



"Any free forester might, with the approval of the 

 king's gaveller, dig for iron ore or coal where he pleased, 

 and have right of way for carrying it, a third part of the 

 profits going to the king, whose gaveller called at the 

 works every Tuesday, ' between mattens and masse.' 

 Timber was allowed for the use of the works above and 

 below ground. 



" The same document alludes to ' the Court of the 

 Wood ' at the ' Speech ' (the Speech-house on the hill in 

 the King's Walk) before the verderers, and also to the 

 court for debtors at St Briavell's Castle, and the Mine 

 Court held by the Constable, Clerk, and Gaveller, and a 

 jury of miners. 



" The forest oath was taken by ' swearing upon a stick 

 of holly,' and no stranger or professional advocate could 

 plead in the forest courts : ' And there the debtor, before 

 the Constable and his Clarke, the Gaveller, and the miners, 

 and none other folke to plead right, but onely the miners 

 shall bee there, and hold a sticke of holly, and then 

 the said myner demanding the debt shall putt his^hand 

 upon the sticke, and none others with him, and shall 

 sweare.'t 



* The document referred to is " The Miners' Laws and Privileges," published 1687. 

 t Extract from " The Book of Dennis." 



