THE WOLF. i6i 



traps, excepting for Wolves.* It seems that, in order 

 to protect their flocks, the monks of Melrose were 

 in the habit of setting traps for Wolves as early as the 

 reign of William the Lion ( 1 165-12 14). t Wolfclyde, 

 a part of the barony of Culter, in Lanarkshire, passed 

 by grant to the Abbey of Melrose in 143 r 4 



In a grant of Alexander II. (12 14-1249) to the 

 monks of Melrose, in Ettrick Forest, mention is 

 made of " Wulfhope," a name still familiar in the 

 south of Roxburghshire. § 



In 1283, there was an allowance made for " one 

 hunter of Wolves" at Stirling. || 



In 1427, in the reign of James I. of Scotland, an 

 Act was passed for the destruction of wolves in that 

 kingdom. Further Acts with the like object were 

 passed in 1457, in 1525, and in iS77- The Act of 

 1525, however, is merely a modernized version of 

 the law of 1427, which is referred to in the statute 

 of 1577 as "the auld act made tharon." 



The law required " that ilk baron within his barony 

 in gangand time of the year sail chase and seek the 

 quh elpes of Wolves and gar slay them. And the baron 

 sail give to the man that slays the Woolfe in his 

 barony and brings the baron the head, twa shillings. 

 And when the baron ordains to hunt and chase the 

 Woolfe, the tenants sail rise with the baron. And 

 that the barons hunt in their baronies and chase the 



* Morton's " Monastic Annals of Teviotdale," pp. 273, 274. 



t Chalmers' " Caledonia," ii. p. 132. Chart. Mel. 91. 



J Morton, op. cit. p. 276. 



§ Chalmers' " Caledonia," ii. p. 132. 



11 Innes' " Scotland in the Middle Ages," p. 125. 



