FOREST OF HUNTINGDONSHIRE 269 



Henry II. 's time, to the districts west and north of the county 

 town, generally known as the forest or forests of Weybridge 

 and Sapley. Mr. Turner, in Pleas of the Forest (74-9), has 

 reproduced interesting matter relative to Huntingdonshire 

 forest inquisitions of the years 1248-53, with regard to 

 cases of venison trespass presented by the foresters and 

 verderers of Weybridge and Sapley. 



Pleas of the forest were also held in June, 1255, before 

 William le Breton, Nicholas de Romsey, Geoffrey de Lewk- 

 nor, and Simon de Thorpe, justices in eyre. The roll of this 

 eyre is of special interest, and has been reproduced and 

 translated by Mr. Turner (Pleas of the Forest, 1 1-26). The 

 following is one of the more striking cases : 



"It is presented by the foresters and verderers that it is proved 

 by an inquisition of the towns of Alconbury, Weston, Great Stukeley 

 and Little Stukeley, that a certain Gervais a man of John of Crake- 

 hall was seen at night in the forest, for the purpose of evil doing with 

 unknown evil doers, with greyhounds, bows and arrows. And after- 

 wards the same Gervais was found carrying the harness of his lord, 

 John of Crakehall, within the court of the granges of the priory of 

 Huntingdon, and was there taken by the foresters and put in the 

 prison of Huntingdon. And upon this came Walter, the vicar of the 

 church of St. Mary of Huntingdon, and other chaplains of the same 

 town, whose names are not known, and William of Leicester, a 

 servant of the bishop of Lincoln. And they took the said Gervais 

 from prison as a clerk, and led him away with them. And now the 

 same Gervais does not come ; and therefore Master Roger of Raven- 

 ingham, archdeacon of Huntingdon, who is present, is ordered to 

 have the said Walter the vicar and the others before the justices on 

 Sunday etc. At that day came the said Master Roger, and brought 

 Walter the vicar, who says that when the said Gervais was taken and 

 imprisoned as aforesaid, he came with his fellow chaplains and 

 admonished them that they should deliver the same Gervais from 

 prison, and restore him to holy Church on the ground that he was a 

 clerk. And the foresters, fearing excommunication, permitted him 

 to depart and did nothing else. And the said Walter was told that 

 he took out of prison, and carried away the aforesaid Gervais against 

 the peace and by force. And, being asked how he wished to acquit 

 himself, he says that he will not answer in this court ; therefore the 

 foresters and verderers are asked whether the said Walter and the 

 others carried away the same Gervais from the prison or whether 



