28 EXTINCT BRITISH ANIMALS. 



tained with this sport, it was the duty of the 

 Master to provide bears and dogs, and to super- 

 intend the baiting. He was invested with un- 

 limited authority to issue commissions, and to 

 send his officers into every county in England, who 

 were empowered to seize and take away any bears, 

 bulls, or dogs that they thought suitable for the 

 royal service. The latest record by which this 

 diversion was publicly authorized is a grant to Sir 

 Saunders Duncombe, dated October u, 1561, "for 

 the sole practice and profit of the fighting and com- 

 bating of wild and domestic beasts within the realm 

 of England, for the space of fourteen years. " 



The nobility also kept their " Bear-ward," who 

 was paid so much a year, like a keeper, falconer, or 

 other retainer. Twenty shillings was the payment 

 made in 1 5 1 2 to the " Bear- ward " of the fifth Earl of 

 Northumberland "when he comyth to my lorde in 

 Cristnias with his lordshippes beests for makynge of 

 his lordship's pastyme the said xij. days." 



The Prior of Durham, in 1530-1534, kept bears, 

 and apes too, as we learn, from an entry in the 

 accounts of the bursar of the monastery, where 

 the following entry occurs : Et custodi ursorum et 

 cimearum [simiarum] domince Principle, i Junii . . 5$. 



A travelling "Bear- ward" depended entirely on 

 his patrons. In the "Household Book" kept by 

 the steward of Squire Kitson, of Hengrave, Suffolk, 

 and commenced in 1572, we find, under date July, 

 1574, the entry : "To a Bear man for bringing his 

 Bears to Hengrave .... ij.s vjd." 



