THE WILD CATTLE OF CHARTLE I 
47 
Derby, who, in the reign of Henry III., conveyed some of them 
from the Forest of Need wood to his park at Chartley, where 
they have ever since been carefully preserved, and the breed kept 
in its original purity, under the vigilant superintendence of his 
descendants the Earls Ferrers.” This fortunate rescue of these 
cattle took place, no doubt, in consequence of the passing of the 
Charta Forestae in the ninth year of Henry III. (1225), which 
enacts in Chapter X. that all lands which had been afforested 
by Kings Henry II., Richard I., and John, except the proper 
demesnes of the Crown, should be disafforested and freed from 
the forest laws so as to remit to the former owners their rights. 
Upon this disafforesting the wild cattle, deer, and game, no 
longer having the protection of the former very stringent game 
laws, soon began to diminish in number, and in some parts of 
the country became entirely extirpated. 
The theory that the Chartley breed of wild cattle is indigenous 
appears to be further supported by their general habits at the 
present day. When alarmed they start off at full gallop for a 
short distance, then turn and face their foe in a semi-circle, with 
the bulls in front, the cows behind, and the younger animals and 
calves still further in the rear. If further approached these 
tactics, which are clearly those of wild animals, are repeated, or 
the adversary is charged and attacked. Again, they conceal 
their young in fern or long rushes, and the cows, when calves 
are born, become exceedingly fierce and dangerous, especially if 
an intruder should get between a cow and her calf. The affection 
of the cows for their young is excessive, as with most wild 
animals, but if the calves are touched by human hands the cows 
will frequently desert their offspring. The calves, which are 
