THE WOLF. 141 



the mind of the prince, that he erected a tomb over 

 the faithful dog's grave on the spot where afterwards 

 the parish church was built, called from this incident 

 Bedd Gelert, or the grave of Gelert. From this 

 story was derived the common Welsh proverb, "I 

 repent as much as the man who slew his greyhound. " 



The dog referred to belonged probably to the race 

 called by Pennant "the Highland gre-hound," of 

 great size and strength, deep-chested, and covered 

 with long rough hair. This kind was much esteemed in 

 former days, and was used for hunting by all the great 

 chieftains in preference to any other. Boethius styles it 

 " genus venaticum cum celerrimum turn audacissimum." 



1216-1272. In the following reign of Henry III. 

 Wolves were sufficiently numerous in some parts of 

 the country to induce the king to make grants of 

 land to various individuals upon the express con- 

 dition of their taking measures to destroy these 

 animals wherever they could be found. 



In 1242 it appears that Vitalis Engaine made 

 partition with William de Cantelupe, Baron of Ber- 

 gavenny, of the manor of Badmundesfield, in Suffolk, 

 as heir to William de Curtenai, and the same year 

 had a summons, amongst divers great men, to attend 

 the king, well appointed with horse and arms, in 

 his expedition into France. He died in 1 249, seized, 

 inter alia, of part of the lordships of Laxton and 

 Pichesle, in the county of Northampton, held by 

 "petit serjeanty" viz., to hunt the Wolf whensoever 

 the kiny should command* 



* Dngdale's " Baronage," vol. i. p. 466. 



