Henry II was passionately fond of them. John spared no expense to procure good horses and swift hounds, and appears frequently to have received greyhounds in lieu of money on the issue or removal of grants. For the renewal of a grant in the year 1203 he received five hundred marks, ten horses, and ten leashes of greyhounds, and for another, in 1210, one swift running horse and six greyhounds. The Isle of Dogs, now devoted to purposes of commerce, received its name from its having been, at this period, the receptacle of the greyhounds and spaniels of this monarch. It was selected on account of its contiguity to Waltham and the other royal forests where coursing was a frequent amusement. For the same purpose he often took up his abode at Greenwich. [12] Blount's Ancient Tenures abound with instances of the high repute in which this dog has ever been held in Great Britain. The holders of land in the manor of Setene in Kent were compelled, as the condition of their tenure to Edward I and II, to lend their greyhounds, when this king went into Gascony, "so long as a pair of shoes of 4d price would last." Edward III was partial to greyhounds; for when he was engaged in war with France he took with him sixty couples of them, besides other large hunting dogs. Charles I was as fond of the greyhound as his son Charles II was of the spaniel. Sir Philip Warwick thus writes of that unfortunate monarch; "Methinks, because it shows his dislike of a common court vice, it is not unworthy the relating of him, that one evening, his dog scratching at his door, he commanded me to let in Gipsy; whereupon I took, the boldness to say, Sir, I perceive you love a greyhound better than you do a spaniel. Yes, says he, for they equally love their masters, and yet do not flatter them so much." On most of the old tombs in the sculpture of which the dog is introduced, the greyhound is represented lying at the feet of his master; and an old Welsh proverb says that a gentleman may be known by his hawk, his horse, and his greyhound. The following poetical record of the fidelity, prowess, and ill-fate of Gêlert, the favourite greyhound of Llewellyn Prince of Wales, and son-in-law to King John, will he read with interest: The spearman heard the bugle sound And cheerly smiled the morn, And many a brach and many a hound Obeyed Llewellyn's horn. And still as blew a lowder blast, And gave a louder cheer, "Come, Gêlert! why art thou the last Llewellyn's horn to hear?" "Oh, where does faithful Gêlert roam? The flower of all his race! So true, so brave; a lamb at home, A lion in the chase?" 'Twas only at Lewellyn's board The faithful Gêlert fed, He watched, he served, he cheered his lord, And sentinel'd his bed. In sooth he was a peerless hound, The gift of royal John; But now no Gêlert could be found, And all the chase rode on.