BEAR. 
247 
sessed that country for some centuries before that 
period. In Madox’s Antiquities of the Exchequer, 
there are two writs extant from that monarch, di- 
recting the sheriffs of London to furnish sixpence 
a day to support our white bear in our Tower of 
London ; and to provide a muzzle and iron chain 
to hold him when out of the water ; and a long and 
strong rope to hold him when he is fishing in the 
Thames. 
