THE EXTINCT BRITISH WOLF. 
59 
on the subject are to this effect, that “he, Edgar, imposed a 
tribute upon the King of Wales, exacting yearly 300 wolves. 
This tribute continued to he paid for three years, but ceased 
upon the fourth, because 4 nullum se ulterius 'posse invenire 
professusj 4 it was said that he could not find any more.’ ”* 
“ Cambria’s proud Kings though with reluctance paid 
Their tributary wolves, head after head, 
In full account, till the woods yield no more, 
And all the ravenous race extinct is lost.” 
But this must be taken to refer only to Wales, for in the first 
place it can hardly be supposed that the Welsh chieftain would 
be permitted to hunt out of his own dominions, and in the next 
place there is abundant documentary evidence to prove the 
existence of wolves in England for many centuries later. 
Holinshed, who gives ,a much fuller account, says :f — 44 The 
happie and fortunate want of these beasts in England is 
vniuersallie ascribed to the politike gouernment of King Edgar, 
who to the intent the whole countrie might once be clensed 
and clearelie rid of them, charged the conquered Welshmen 
(who were then pestered with these rauenous creatnres aboue 
measure) to paie him a yearlie tribute of woolfes skinnes, to 
be gathered within the land. He appointed them thereto a 
certaine number of 300, with free libertie for their prince to 
hunt and pursue them ouer all quarters of the realme ; as our 
chronicles doo report. Some there be which write how Ludwall, 
prince of Wales, paid yearelie to King Edgar this tribute of 
300 woolfes, whose carcases being brought into Lloegres, were 
buried at Wolfpit, in Cambridgeshire, and that by meanes 
thereof within the compasse and terme of foure yeares, none of 
these noisome creatures were left to be heard of within Wales 
and England. Since this time, also, we read not that anie 
woolfe hath beene seene here that hath beene bred within the 
bounds and limits of our countrie : howbeit there haue beene 
diuerse brought over from beyond the seas for greedinesse of 
gaine, and to make monie onlie by the gasing and gaping of 
our people vpon them, who couet oft to see them, being strange 
beasts in their eies, and sildome knowne (as I haue said) in 
England.” 
The learned Dr. Kayf acquiesced in the vulgar opinion of 
* “Hist. Reg. Anglorum,” lib. ii. cap. 8. See also Wynne’s “ Caradoc,” 
p. 51. 
t “Chronicles of Engl., Scot., and Irel.” (ed. 4to. 1807), Vol. i. p. 378, 
bk. iii. chap. iv. “ Of Savage Beasts and Ver mines.” 
% “ Joannis Caii Britanni ‘ de Canibus Britannicis ’ Liber unus. Be 
rariorum animalium et stirpium Historia.” Londini, per Gulielmum 
