“xiv INTRODUCTION. 
they were transferred to the Tower ; and numerous orders 
issued in this and the succeeding reigns to the sheriffs of 
London and of the counties of Bedford and Buckingham 
to provide for the maintenance of the animals and their 
keepers are extant among the Records. Thus in the year 
1252 the sheriffs of London were commanded to pay four 
pence a day for the maintenance of a white bear; and in 
the following year to provide a muzzle and chain to hold 
the said bear while fishing, or washing himself, in the 
river ‘Thames. In 1255 they were directed to build a 
house in the Tower for an elephant which had been 
presented to the king by Louis king of France; and 
a second writ occurs in which they were ordered to 
provide necessaries for him and his keepers. 
From various orders during the reigns of Edward the 
First, Second, and Third, we learn that the allowance 
for each lion or leopard was six pence a day, and the 
wages of their keeper three halfpence. At later periods 
the office of keeper of the lions was held by some person 
of quality about the king, with a fee of six pence a day 
for himself, and the same for every lion or leopard 
under his charge. On these terms it was granted by 
King Henry the Sixth, first to Robert Mansfield, Esq. 
marshal of his hall, and afterwards to Thomas Rookes, 
his dapifer. It was not unfrequently held by the lieu- 
tenant or constable of the Tower himself, on the condition 
of his providing a sufficient deputy. ‘There was also 
another office in the royal household somewhat resem- 
bling this in name, that of master, guider, and ruler of 
the king’s bears and apes; but the latter animals appear 
to have been kept solely for the royal “ game and plea- 
sure.” 
During all this period, and even almost down to our 
