mineral being placed alternately in layers within a circular structure of
stone, resembling the rude furnaces said to be used amongst the natives
of central Africa.

The "_forgioe errantes_," or itinerant forges, {216} mentioned in the
records of the Justice Seat held at Gloucester Castle in 1282, were no
doubt improvements on the structures just mentioned, being at the same
time so formed as to admit of being removed and set at work elsewhere, as
is in fact intimated by the name given to them, as well as by the more
frequent occurrence and smaller size of those cinder-heaps which are
found nearer to the centre of the Forest; and consequently of more modern
date, presenting a striking contrast to the larger and more ancient
mounds existing in places more remote, the refuse of the earlier forges
kept at work for many years in one spot.

The moderate capacity of the _forgioe errantes_ may be inferred from the
circumstance that in the reign of Edward I. there were seventy-two of
them in the Forest alone, supplied with ore by at least fifty-nine
iron-mines, by which Gloucester, Monmouth, Caerleon, Newport, Berkeley,
Trelleck, &c., are stated in the Book of the Laws and Customs of the Mine
to have been furnished with that metal. We also know that the two forges
at Flaxley consumed two oaks every week, and that in that age 46 pounds
was paid to the King by such persons as farmed any of them, or 7s. if
they held a year's licence.

In the year 1841, when that part of the old road leading up to the
Hawthorns from Hownal was altered, near the brook below Rudge Farm, the
hearths of five small forges, cut out of the sandstone rock, and
curiously pitched all round the bottom with small pebbles, were laid
open, and an iron tube seven or eight inches long, and one inch and a
half bore, apparently the nozzle of a pair of bellows, was found, as well
as scores of old tobacco pipes, bits of iron much rusted, and broken
earthenware, besides a piece of silver coin; but unfortunately none of
these relics have been preserved.

[Picture: Effigy of a Forest Free Miner]

The heraldic crest here copied from a mutilated brass of the 15th
century, within the Clearwell Chapel of Newland Church, gives a curious
representation of the iron-miner of that period equipped for his work.
It represents him as wearing a cap, holding a candlestick between his
teeth, handling a small mattock with which to loosen, as occasion
required, t