LEICESTERSHIRE AND RUTLAND 235 



"The perambulation of the forest of Rutland begins from that 

 place where the old course of the Little Eye flows into the Welland 

 opposite Cotton ; and from thence along the course of the water of 

 the Welland up to the boundary between the counties of Lincoln and 

 Rutland ; by metes and bounds as far as Stumpsden ; and from 

 thence by metes and bounds as far as Great Casterton bridge ; and 

 from that bridge along the course of the water of the Gwash as far 

 as Empingham bridge ; and from that bridge along the course of the 

 water as far as Stanbridge ; and from Stanbridge through the middle 

 of the park of Barnsdale as far as Twiford ; and from Twiford along 

 the course of the water through the middle of the town of Langham; 

 and from thence as far as the park of Overton, and from thence 

 between Flitteris and the wood of Knossington as far as the water of 

 the Gwash, and from thence along the boundaries between the open 

 field of Braunston and Knossington as far as the Wisp ; and from 

 thence along the boundaries between the field of Owston and With- 

 cote as far as the door of the castle of Sauvey, and from thence by 

 the rivulet which runs down from Sauvey as [far as Harewin's mill ; 

 and from thence to Coptre, and from Coptre as far as the boundaries 

 of Finchford ; and from thence by the old course of the Little Eye 

 into the Welland opposite Cotton." 



Space cannot be afforded for following up the story of this 

 forest in detail, but mention must be made of another eyre 

 held more than two centuries subsequent to the one first 

 recorded. By that time this forest of Rutland and Leicester 

 was usually known as Leighfield Forest, and the justice seat 

 was at Uppingham. On September loth, 1490, pleas of the 

 forest were held at that town by Sir John Ratcliffe and Sir 

 Reginald Gray. Sir Edward Hastings appeared as keeper, 

 Thomas Sapcote as lieutenant, Robert Rokeby as ranger, and 

 Christopher Parker as bow-bearer. There were also present the 

 two foresters of each of the bailiwicks of Braunston and Beau- 

 mont, and the one forester of Ridlington park, together with 

 two verderers. The five woodwards who appeared repre- 

 sented respectively the- prior of Brook, the Bishop of Lincoln 

 in Stokehern, the Earl of Warwick in Le Haw, Everard 

 Digby in Stokehern, and Robert Mawes in Wardley wood. 

 There were also present fourteen regarders, eleven free tenants, 

 a jury-panel of the king, juries of the hundreds of Martinsley 

 (Rutland) and Goscote (Leicestershire), and of Oakham Soke, 



