Class I. WOLF. 89 



tax of gold and silver into an annual tribute of 

 300 wolves heads. Notwithstanding these his 

 endeavours, and the assertions of some au- 

 thors, his scheme proved abortive. We find 

 that some centuries after the reign of that Savon 

 monarch, these animals were again increased to 

 such a degree, as to become the object of royal 

 attention; accordingly Edward I. issued out 

 his mandate * to Peter Corbet to superintend 

 and assist in the destruction of them in the se- 

 veral counties of Gloucester, Worcester, Here- 

 ford, Salop, and Stafford: and in the adjacent 

 county of Derby, as Camden, p. 902, informs 

 us, certain persons at TFormhill held their lands 

 by the duty of hunting and taking the wolves 

 which infested the country, whence they were 

 stiled JVolve hunt. To look back into the Saxon 



* Pro Petro Corbet, de Lupis Capiendis. 



Rex, omnibus Ballivis, &c. Sciatis quod injunximus dilecto 

 etjideli nostro Petro Corbet quod in omnibus forestis et parcis et 

 aliis locis intra comitatus nostros Gloucester, Wygorn, Hereford, 

 Salop, et Stafford, in quibus lupi poterunt inveniri lupos cum 

 hominibus canibus et ingeniis suis capiat et destruat modis omni- 

 bus quibus viderit expedire. 



JEt ideo vobis mandamus quod eidem intendentes et auxiliantes 

 estis. Teste rege apudW estm. 14 Maii A. D. 1281. Rymer, 

 vol. i. pars 2. p. IQ2. 



By the grant of liberties from king John, to the inhabitants of 

 Devonshire, it appears that these animals were not then extir- 

 pated, even in that southern country, vide Appendix No. II. 



