HISTORY OF STAFFORDSHIRE. 49 



dence of the Kings of Mercia, who dwelt here in security against 

 any sudden attack of an enemy. But the first certain information 

 on record respecting Tutbury is that immediately after the Normau 

 Conquest in 1066 ; Hugh de Albrincis was in possession of Tutbury 

 Castle, but was deprived of it by the Conqueror, who gave it to one 

 of his greatest favourites and friends, Henry de Ferrers. In the 

 year 1250, it passed to the Earl of Lancaster, in consequence of 

 Robert de Ferrers having joined Simon Montford in rebellion 

 against Henry III. In 1322, Thomas Earl of Lancaster fortified 

 it against Edward II. but could not hold out, and was obliged to 

 surrender. Tutbury Castle consequently reverted to the Crown. 

 It was afterwards neglected and fell into decay, till it came into the 

 possession of John of Gaunt, who re-built it of hewn freestone, upon 

 the ancient site in 1350.* This castle was now the principal seat 

 of the Dukes of Lancaster, and was for ages distinguished as the 

 scene of festivity and courtly splendour. The number of minstrels 

 which crowded to it was so great, that as an expedient for preserv- 

 * ing order among them, the celebrated John of Gaunt, appointed a 

 chief minstrel, with the title of King, with inferior officers under 

 him to assist in the execution of the laws. A charter to that effect 

 was granted to the chief minstrel in 1381, by the Duke of Lancaster, f 

 On the demise of John of Gaunt, the Duchy of Lancaster and its 

 dependencies devolved on Henry Plantagenet, his only surviving 

 son ; and when that Prince afterwards ascended the throne by the 

 title of Henry the Fourth, the honour and castle of Tutbury being 



* Erdeswick, p. 205. 



f Among other sports and pastimes introduced at Tutbury Castle by this 

 eccentric, yet good-natured, Prince, was the annual custom called " Tutbury 

 Bull-running." On the festival of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the 

 minstrels assembled to matins at the Priory. In the afternoon they met at the 

 gate, where a bull was given by the Prior. The animal had previously been 

 prepared for this inhuman sport, having his horns, ears, and tail cut off, his 

 body besmeared with soap, and his nostrils blown full of pepper. In this state 

 he was let loose, and if the surrounding minstrels could catch and hold him so 

 long as to deprive him of the smallest portion of his hair, he was declared their 

 property, provided this could be done in Staffordshire, and before sun-set. 

 This custom is supposed by some antiquaries to have originated in an imitation 

 of the bull-fights in Spain ; which is not improbable, as John of Gaunt was 

 King of the Spanish provinces of Castile and Leon. In the lapse of ages, the 

 pursuit of the bull, which had been confined to the minstrels, became general, 

 and the multitude promiscuously joined in the barbarous sport, which some- 

 times terminated in a battle royal and bloodshed. The custom was abolished 

 nbout forty-two years ago by the Duke of Devonshire, who gave the minstrels 

 tour marks in lieu of their former prize. 



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