208 THE HISTOKY OF THE EOYAL BUCKHOUNDS. 



within the forest there, with licence to make and enclose the 

 park and warren thereof. In the autumn of this year we find 

 him officiating as one of the verderers of the bailiwicks of 

 Rockingham and Brigstock in the forest of Rockingham, rela- 

 tive to Hassell's coppice thereon, belonging to Sir Christopher 

 Hatton, who had applied to the Earl of Holland, Chief Justice 

 in Eyre, of all the forests south of the Trent, for leave to fell 

 the covert of the said coppice in the ensuing fall. Thereupon 

 the verder was requested to report if Sir Christopher's appli- 

 cation could be allowed without destruction to the vert, or 

 prejudice to the royal game. The verderer having certified 

 that the coppice might be felled for that year only by its 

 owner, without prejudice to the King's deer, or destruction 

 to the vert, Hatton's application was graciously granted. 

 When the Civil War broke out. Sir Lewis Watson, at his own 

 cost, garrisoned Rockingham Castle for the King ; but he does 

 not appear to have held any military command in the Royal 

 service during " these troubles." Whilst actively employed in 

 this work, a muster of horses took place in the county of 

 Huntingdon, where he held some property. In consequence 

 of his other occupation in Northamptonshire he forgot to send 

 his " light horses " to the muster in Hunts. Whereupon he 

 was returned as a delinquent, and threatened with the Royal 

 displeasure, besides dire pains and penalties by the Council 

 of State in London. Having, however, soon after conformed 

 with the requirements in this respect, by producing before the 

 Lord-Lieutenant and the other authorities of Huntingdon the 

 number of cavahy mounts proper to his estate in that county, 

 he was discharged from the delinquency which he unintention- 

 ally incurred. 



Although this Manorial or Hereditary Master of the Buck- 

 hounds held no military office under the King, he was other- 

 wise active in the Royal cause. The defence of Rockingham 

 Castle must have entailed him in considerable expense. 

 When it fell into the hands of the Parliamentary forces a 

 great quantity of provisions aud munitions of war was cap- 

 tured. Apart from this loss, it appears by an inventory 



