55 



that point, from some person wlio had lived in Scotland, before the 

 extinction of wolves in that countrj% and, consequently, it might easily 

 be believed by either of them, that wolves were to be found there at the 

 time when that passage was written. 



Holiuslipd wrote his Chronicles in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, 

 and he mentions that wolves then abounded in Scotland : " First of all 

 therefore in the fields and wild places of the country there is great 

 plenty of hares, red deere, fallow deere, roes, wild horsses, wolves, and 

 foxes." * * * * * * * * 



" The wolves are most fierce and noisome to the heards and flocks in 

 all parts of Scotland, saving in one parcell of Angus, called Glennorsdale, 

 where these beasts doo no manner of hurt unto the domesticall catell, 

 but preie onlie upon the wild." Holinshed's Chronicles, "Description 

 of Scotland," vol. 2, fol. 14. 



We also know from Camden, who likewise wrote in the reign of Queen 

 Elizabeth, that at the time when he wrote, wolves were very common 

 in Scotland.^ He also informs us in another place, that " Scotland 

 was 'grievously' infested with fierce wolves, which not only iflake 

 dreadful havoc of cattle, but even fall upon men, with such inveteracy 

 and mischief, not only in this but in many other parts of Scotland, that 

 by act of parliament, the sheriffs and inhabitants in every county, are 

 obliged to go out three times a year, to destroy the wolves and their 

 young ones."' ^ 



We also learn from Camden that at that time Ireland swarmed with 

 wolves.* 



Althougli it appears to be known with some degree of certainty, about 

 what period they ceased to exist in Scotland and Ireland, there is great 

 difficulty in ascertaining at what date they became extinct in England ; 

 and, in consequence of its greater population, its not having many 

 mountainous and wild districts, and, as suggested in Buffon's work, its 

 not having extensive woods, it is certain that wolves would be much 

 sooner exterminated in England, than in Scotland or Ireland. 



At the time of the Anglo-Saxon sway, wolves abounded in great 

 numbers in England; and in the tenth century, in the reign of Athel- 

 stan, a place of retreat was erected at Flixton, in Yorkshire, in order to 

 protect travellers from being devoured by wolves.* 



It has been said that in the reign of Edgar, also in the tenth cen- 

 tury, an annual tribute was imposed upon the Welsh princes, of three 



' Camden's "MaRna Britannia," Goiigh's eilition, vol. 3, p. 16. 



'' Ibid, vol. Z, p. 445, undw the Title " Stratlinavern." 



' Ibid, vol. :{, p. 464. 



' Cuiiideii's "Magna Britantiiu," Gough's edition, vol. .3, p. 16. 



