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during the reign of Henry VII., it is probable that the Wolf became finally extirpated in England, although for nearly two centuries later, as will presently appear, it continued to hold out against its persecutors in Scotland and Ireland. That it was rare if not quite extinct in England about this time, may be inferred from the circumstance that little or

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A WOLF-HUNT. FROM AN ENGRAVING OF THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY.

no mention is made of it either in this or any subsequent reign. It is true Professor Newton, in his "Zoology of Ancient Europe," has stated (p. 24) that the Wolf was found in the North of England in the reign of Henry VIII., a statement which has been also advanced, or copied, by other

writers, but we have not met with any proof of this. Indeed, Professor Newton has lately been good enough to inform us that he has forgotten his authority for the statement, and thinks it possible a reference to the MS. of his essay, which was not preserved, would show that, by a typographical error, the numerals VIII. were printed for VII.

In Longstaffe's "Memoirs of the Life of Ambrose Barnes," it is stated that "his immediate ancestors held an estate of 500l. a year of the Earls of Rutland and Belvoir, one of whom (a Barnes of Hatford near Barnard Castle) was commonly called Ambrose 'Roast wolf,' from the many wolves which he hunted down and destroyed in the time of Henry VII."‡

In a footnote to this passage, the editor remarks that "the statement must be taken cum grano salis. Belvoir is not a title, and the Manners family did not become Earls of Rutland until 1525, in the reign of Henry VIII.§ On the other hand, the period of VII. is late for wolves, although Richmondshire might well yield some of the latest specimens in England. Doubtless they were familiarly associated with wildness of country long after their extinction. Many a tradition would linger in the families of their destroyers. Ambrose Roast Wolf' was probably a real person of some date or other."

* Wise's "New Forest, its History and its Scenery," p. 14.

"Memoirs of the Life of Mr. Ambrose Barnes, late Merchant and sometime Alderman of Newcastle-upon-Tyne," p. 28. (Surtees Society, 1867.)

See also Longstaffe's "Durham before the Conquest," p. 49.

§ It is possible that a typographical error may have been made here also, and that Ambrose "Roast Wolf" may have lived in the reign of Henry VIII., not Henry VII.

Within the precincts of Savernake Forest, the property of the Marquis of Ailesbury, near Marlborough, there is still existing a very old barn and part of a house, known as "Wolf Hall," or "Wulf-hall." It was the ancient residence of the Seymours, and when Henry VIII. married Lady Jane Seymour it was here that he came a-courting, here that he was married, and in this barn the wedding festivities are said to have taken place. In reply to an inquiry whether any tradition exists in the county to explain the name "Wolf Hall," the Rev. A. C. Smith, of Yatesbury Rectory, Calne, has obligingly written as follows:-"It is supposed to have had nothing to do with the animal 'Wolf,' but rather with 'Ulf,' the owner's name, if there was such a person, and in the Domesday record it is spelt 'Ulfhall.'* At the same time I must add that Leland in his Itinerary (ix. 36) calls it in Latin Lupinum villa splendida,' and again in his poem on the birth of the Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward VI., Incoluit villam, quæ nomine dicta lupinum.'t Bishop Turner also ("Bibl. Brit. Hibern.") speaks of certain epistles written by Edward, the future Protector, son of John Seymour, 'de Puteo Lupino, vulgo Wolfhall.' So I am not so certain that the derivation is not from the animal. At all events, it is quite clear that no place could be more fitted for Wolves than the wild extensive forest of Savernake hard by ; indeed, if Wolves existed at all in England now, that would be just the very harbour for them."

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* See Wilts Archæological Magazine, June 1875, p. 143. "Genethliacon illustrissimi Eluardi Principis Cambriæ,” 1543.

Many names of places compounded with "Wolf” still remain to attest probably the former existence of this animal in the neighbourhood. Wolmer—i.e., Wolfmere or Wolvemere-is an instance of this. Wolferton is another. Besides these, we have Wolfscote, Derbyshire; Wolfhamcote, Warwickshire; Wolferlow, Hereford; Wolfs Castle, Pembroke; and Wolfpits, Radnorshire; the last named very suggestive, as indicating probably a former burial-place for the carcases of Wolves brought in during the period of their persecution in Wales. In the parish of West Chiltington, near Pulborough, Sussex, on the south edge of the lower greensand formation which overlooks the Weald, is a spot called " Wolfscrag," where, tradition says, the last Wolf of the Weald was killed. Three fields in the neighbourhood still bear the respective names of Great Den, Little Den, and Far Den fields.

Wolfenden in Rossendale, and Wolfstones in Cliviger (Lancashire), both attest the existence of this animal there when those names were imposed.* Many other instances, no doubt, might be adduced. In the parish of Beckermont, Cumberland, is a small hill, commonly called "Wotobank." A traditionary story, of great antiquity, says that a lord of Beckermont and his lady and servants were one time hunting the Wolf; during the chase this lord missed his lady; after a long and painful search, they at last, *Whitaker, "History of Whalley," i. p. 74.

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The first mention of Rossendale by name is in the memorable story of Liwlphus, Dean of Whalley, who, at a place called Ledmesgreve, cut off the tail of a Wolf in hunting" (tom. cit. p. 316.)

to his inexpressible sorrow, found her body lying on this hill or bank, slain by a Wolf, and the ravenous beast in the very act of tearing it to pieces, till frightened by the dogs. In the first transports of his grief the first words that he uttered were, "Woe to this bank!" since which time it has been commonly called "Wotobank."*

In Lancashire, Dr. Whitaker particularly mentions the great forests of Blackburnshire and Bowland as among the last retreats of the Wolf."+

The "wolds" of Yorkshire appear, from the dates of parish books, to have been infested with Wolves perhaps later than any other part of England.

"In the entries at Flixton, Hackston, and Folkston, in the East Riding of Yorkshire," says Blaine,

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are still to be seen memoranda of payments made for the destruction of Wolves at a certain rate per head. They used to breed in the 'cars' below, amongst the rushes, furze, and bogs, and in the night-time to come up from their dens; and, unless the sheep had been previously driven into the town, or the shepherds were indefatigably vigilant, great numbers were sure to be destroyed."

Apparently, however, some error has been made in the orthography of the localities referred to. Flixton is in the parish of Folkton, near Scarboro'. We can

*Hutchinson, "Hist. and Antiq. Cumberland” (1794), vol. ii. p. 16. Upon this tradition was founded an "elegant elegiac tale" by Mrs. Cowley, which will be found prefixed to the second volume of the work quoted.

Op. cit. i. p. 205. The last herd of red deer was destroyed there in 1805.

Blaine's "Encyclop. Rural Sports" (1858), p. 105.

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