TRANSACTIONS OP THE SECTIONS. 101 



vicar of Chillingham was, by an agreement with Robert de Muschamp, 

 to be allowed as much timber as he wanted for repairs, of the best oak 

 out of the Great Wood of Chillingham, the remains of which were ex- 

 tant in the time of my grandfather. The more ancient part of the 

 castle also appears to have been built in the next reign, that of Henry 

 III., since which it has been held, without interruption, by the family 

 of Grey. At what period, or by Avhat process, the park became in- 

 closed, it is impossible to say; but it was closely bounded by the do- 

 mains of the Percies on the one side, and by the Hibburnes on the 

 other, the latter of whom had been seated there since the time of King 

 John ; and as the chief branch of the Greys always made Chillingham 

 their principal residence, until it passed into the hands of Lord Ossul- 

 ston, by his marriage with the daughter and heiress of Ford Lord Grey, 

 it is reasonable to suppose that, in order to secure their cattle, Avild and 

 tame, they had recourse to an inclosure probably at an early period. 

 It is said there are some other places in which a similar breed is found : 

 Lyme Park, in Cheshire ; Hamilton, as I before mentioned ; and Chart- 

 ley Park (Lord Ferrers). The first I have not seen, but they are de- 

 scribed as of a different colour, and different in every respect. Those 

 at Hamilton, or rather Chatelherault, I have seen, and they in no de- 

 gree resemble those at Chillingham. They have no beauty, no marks 

 of high breeding, no wild habits, being kept, when I saw them, in a 

 sort of paddock; and I could hear no history or tradition about them, 

 which entitled them to be called wild cattle. Those at Chartley Park, 

 on the contrary, closely resemble ours in every particvilar; in their 

 colour, except some small difference in the colour of their ears — their 

 size — general appearance ; and, as well as I could collect, in their 

 habits. This was a very ancient park, belonging formerly to Deve- 

 reux, Earl of Essex, who built the bridge on the Trent, to communi- 

 cate with his chace at Channock and Beaudesert, then belonging to 

 him ; and the belief is, that these cattle had been there from time im- 

 memorial. With respect to their habits, it is probable that you will 

 learn more from Cole, who has now been park-keeper at Chillingham 

 for many years, than from any information I can give. I can mention, 

 however, some particulars. They have, in the first place, pre-emi- 

 nently, all the characteristics of wild animals, with some peculiarities 

 that are sometimes very curious and amusing. They hide their young, 

 feed in the night, basking or sleeping during the day; they are fierce 

 when pressed, but, generally speaking, very timorous, moving off on 

 the appearance of any one, even at a great distance. Yet this varies 

 very much in different seasons of the year, according to the manner 

 in which they are approached. In summer, I have been for several 

 weeks at a time without getting a sight of them, they, on the slightest 

 appearance of any one, retiring into a wood, Avhich serves them as a 

 sanctuary. On the other hand, in winter, when coming down for food 

 into the inner park, and being in contact with the people, they will let 

 you almost come among them, particularly if on horseback. But then 

 thej'^ have also a thousand peculiarities. They will be feeding some- 

 times quietly, when, if any one appear suddenly near them, particu- 



