By the Rev. Canon J. E. Jackson, F.S.A. 151 



and the Chase to John, then Earl of Mortaigne (afterwards King 

 John), who thus, in right of his wife, became Earl of Gloucester. 

 It is not until it came into the hands of John that we know how 

 far the Chase extended. Whilst he held it an inquiry was made, 

 by what was called a " Perambulation." This was a solemn legal 

 proceeding, in which the sheriff of the county, justices and other 

 officials, met to inquire into and settle the limits. Whether they 

 walked the bounds, or rode them, or were conveyed in perambulators 

 of the period, I cannot tell you, but, travel how they might, their 

 walk or ride was rather a long one, not less than a hundred miles. 

 It is more likely that they only met, took evidence from witnesses, 

 maps and records. The fact is that, even at that time, there had 

 been for many years growing up a general discontent about the 

 overgrown extent of royal forests : grievances were frequent and 

 complaints loud. It was accordingly determined, first, to ascertain 

 what additions had been made : then, to disafforest such parts and 

 reduce the forests to their original small dimensions. That was 

 the reason for the Perambulation being taken in the time of John, 

 whilst Earl of Mortaigne and of Gloucester. 



John was divorced from his wife, Isabella, who had brought him 

 Cranborne Chase. She re-married Geoffrey de Maudeville, who 

 thereby became owner. There was then another inquiry as to the 

 extent : but nothing was done about reduction. On the lady's 

 death the Earldom of Gloucester, and Cranborne, passed to a nephew 

 Gilbert de Clare. Again nothing was done. Then followed Richard 

 de Clare, a minor, who, on coming of age, claimed the full extent, 

 as set out in the Perambulation of John. Another investigation 

 went against him, for it was declared that the Wiltshire part was 

 not properly within the Chase. Still no step was taken. What 

 ought to have followed would have been a Royal Order to disafforest 

 that part : but no such document has ever been found among the 

 public records. If it could have been found it would, have saved an 

 immensity of trouble afterwards. 



Among the principal complainers was the Abbess of Wilton, then 

 one of the greatest landowners in that quarter. She protested 

 against the Earl of Gloucester exercising forest rights all along her 



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