“Provided also, that this seid acte of assumpcion or resumpcion, extend not nor in any wise be prejudiciall unto Rauff Hastynges, Squier for oure body, of or in any graunte made unto hym by oure lrēs patentes, berying date the XXX day of Juyn the first yere of oure reigne, of the office of kepyng lyons, leonesses and leopardes, within our Toure of London that tyme beying, and of theym that within the same Toure for the tyme shal be, with a place for the Keper of such lyons, leonessez and leopardes there deputed, with another place there, which for the same lyons, leonessez and leopardes within oure seid Toure is ordeyned, with the wages of xii_d._ by day for hymself, and for sustentation of every lyon, leonessez and leopardes abovesaid vi_d._ by day, duryng the lyf of the said Rauf. But that oure seid lrēs patentes stande good and effectuell after the contenue of the same; the seid acte or any other acte in this Parlement made or to be made notwithstonding.” The Act of Resumption of 4th Edward IV., A.D. 1464 (_Rot. Parl._ vol. v. fo. 533), contains a very similar proviso and reservation of the office, in favour of the before-mentioned Ralph Hastings, except that it does not mention the leopards, and that the allowance is stated to be 16_d._ a day, instead of 1_s._, for fees for himself, besides what was also allowed for the keep of the lions and lionesses. The following is an extract from the act:— “of any graunte made by us to hym by any of oure lrēs patents of the office of kepying of lions and lionesses within our Toure of London; or of any graunte made by us to the said Rauff by oure lrēs patentes, of a place within the said Toure for kepying of the seid lions and lionesses there deputed, or of anoder place which for the seid lions and lionesses within the seid Toure is ordeyned, or of xvi_d._ by the day, by us graunted to the said Rauff, for his fees and occupation of the seid office, or of vi_d._ by the day by us graunted to hym, for the sustentation of every lion and lionesse.” Perhaps the latter passage may be considered as elucidated, in some degree, by another passage, which occurs in the subsequent act of 7th and 8th Edward IV., as will be next noticed; and that 6_d._ a day was allowed for the keep of each lion, &c.: no trifling sum at that time. The Act of Resumption of 7th and 8th Edward IV. A.D. 1467 and 1468 (_Rot. Parl._ vol. v. fo. 598), also contains a proviso and reservation to the same effect as the last, respecting the grant of the office to Ralph Hastings; but mentions 1_s._ a day only, for his fees, besides a further allowance for the keep of the animals. It provides that the act should not prejudice the grant to Ralph Hastings, of the office—