57 



the year 1145, which is nearly two centuries after the reign of Edgar ; 

 and some time afterwards, Allan, Earl of Bretagne, gave to the monks 

 of that abbey the privilege of taking, by themselves or their servants, 

 the remains of the deer, which had been killed and partly devoured by 

 the wolves in the Forest of Wensleydale.^ 



In the tenth year of the reign of William I. (1075), Robert de Hur- 

 fraviU, Lord of Tours and Vian, otherwise called Robert with the Beard, 

 being a kinsman to the king, obtained from him a grant of the Lord- 

 ship, Valley, and Foi'est of Riddesdale, in the county of Northumber- 

 land, with all the castles, manors, lands, woods, pastures, waters, pools, 

 and royal franchises, which were formerly possessed by Mildred, the 

 son of Akmau, late Lord of Riddesdale, and w'hich came to that king 

 upon his conquest of England, to hold by the service of defending that 

 part of the country for ever, from enemies and wolves.^ 



In the first year of King John (1199), he. granted to William 

 Briwere a license " to hunt the hare, fox, cat, and wolf, throughout all 

 Devonshire ; and likewise the goat, out of the regard [sight] of the 

 forest ; and to have free warren throughout all his own lands, for hares, 

 pheasants, and partridges."^ 



In the reign of Henry III. Northumberland appears to have been 

 infested with wolves, because the Manor of Laxton was then held by 

 the tenure of the possessor of it, chasing wolves, with dogs.* 



In the ninth year of Edward I. (1281), wolves existed in such num- 

 bers in several parts of England. that a royal commission was issued 

 by him to Peter Corbet, for the destruction, by means of men, dogs, 

 and engines, of wolves, in all forests, parks, and other places, in 

 Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Eerefordshire, Shropshire, and Staf 

 fordshire; and all bailiffs, &c., were commanded to be aiding and assist- 

 ing Peter Corbet in the destruction of wolves in those counties. 



The commission is alluded to by Bingley, the naturalist, but it is 

 remarkable that he has altogether omitted to give the date, or any 

 reference where an account of it was to be found. Dr. Whitaker does 

 not notice it, although he more than once, in his "History of Craven," 

 adverts to the existence of wolves in England after the reign of Edgai". 



' Dr. Whitaker's "History of Whalley," 3rd editioo, p. 200, (note) referring to " Burton's 

 Monast, Ebor," under " Fors Abtey." — Dr. Whitaker's " History of Riclimondsliire," vol 1 , 

 \). 40(1. It is rcinarkaMe that so laborious and talented an antiquary as Dr. Whitaker, 

 states that the above was the last positive evidence which he had met with of the existence 

 of wolves in England. He properly disputes tlie vulgar opinion of their extermination bj- 

 FIdgar. 



* Dugdale's " Baronage," vol. 1, p. 604. 



" Ibid, p. 701. 



■* Brand's History and Antiquities of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, vol 2, p 393, (Note) referring 

 111 an rntry in Iho Harleiau M.S. tein. Hon :ird. 



