What's the most peaceful county of England

A.� If you mean peace as in war, look no further than tiny Rutland. Only one battle has been fought on Rutland soil - a place known as Bloody Oak. < xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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Q.� Sounds nasty.

A.� Nasty indeed. On 12 March, 1470, 10,000 men were killed in a clash between Edward IV's army and the House of Warwick's men. It's known locally as the Battle of Losecoat Field for reasons I shall explain later.

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Q.� Tell me more.

A.� The rising arose in Lincolnshire under Lord Welles, supported by Warwick and Clarence (King Edward IV's brother). Edward IV took Lord Welles into custody, first pardoned him and then executed him. Edward then raised an army and marched north to Stamford in Lincolnshire to put down the rebellion. On March 12, Edward found that the rebels were about five miles away under Lord Welles's son Sir Robert Welles, camped in a field, awaiting reinforcements from Warwick and Clarence. When Sir Robert refused to disperse his men, both his father and Sir Thomas Dymock, the King's Champion, were executed.

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Q.� Then

A.� Edward attacked immediately, so that there would be no time for the rebels to be reinforced by Warwick and Clarence. He found them in a field some five miles north-west of Stamford, just off the present A1 road. The rebels were so terrified by the few rounds fired by the King's artillery that they fled, hastily casting off their heavy coats, so they could run more quickly. The field and the battle became known as Losecoat Field from then onwards. Sir Robert Welles was captured and beheaded, after making a confession implicating Warwick and Clarence in the rebellion - a fact not previously realised by the King.

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Q.� No more

A.� There was also a short siege during the Civil War by forces under Lord Grey of Henry Noel in his house at North Luffenham. And of course, there was a much more recent, but bloodless battle...

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Q.� Namely

A.� The fight for Rutland's name. I shall explain. Rutland, Britain's smallest county, was forcibly incorporated into neighbouring Leicestershire after boundary changes in 1974. Rutlanders - or Raddlemen - were not happy.

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Q.� So I should imagine. This is your opportunity for a brief county biography, isn't it

A. Thank you, I was coming to that. Rutland's motto is Multum in parvo (a lot in a little). The county's green banner is emblazoned with a golden horseshoe in a ring of acorns - symbol of Rutland at least since William the Conqueror gave the 125-square-mile estate to Baron Henri de Ferrers, whose family gave its name to farriers. One of his privileges was to claim a horseshoe from anyone of rank visiting his lordship in Oakham.

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Q.� But it goes back before the Conquest

A.� Correct. Rutland's original independence is thought to date back to the pre-Norman Kingdom of Mercia, when it was part of queens' dowries. The area, roughly a square, 16 miles across, is a geographical entity, bordered by the River Welland to the south, the plains of Leicestershire to the west and the Fenlands to the east. It is the original home of Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pies.

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Q.� Any famous Raddleman

A.� Yes - and one who was famous for being small. Geoffrey Hudson was a boy only 18in tall when he was served up in a pie to Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria during a visit to Oakham in 1619. The Queen insisted on taking him back to court, where he grew to 39in, became a curt favourite, was knighted - and even fought for the Royalists at Newbury.

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Q.� So this tiny and proud county didn't taken kindly to being part of Leicestershire

A.� Absolutely. It was not a bloody battle, though. By day, workmen took down the signs telling motorists that they were entering Rutland. By night, Raddlemen put them back up. They also defied the Post Office by writing Rutland as their address. Strong stuff indeed for the most peaceful county.

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By Steve Cunningham