WITH THE GRAFTON AND OTHER PACKS OF HOUNDS. h VjVi':ci>:r-/,H9l' K, ELLIOTT. dt FAiRFAX-BLAKEBOROUQH. i^yfK^ . /t-^vc/t rte. »T^ ( ^h^j 1- t. b" TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES 3 9090 014 535 526 M oL^M I cUCdc^HX^ Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine -Cummlngs Sctioo! of VetGiinary Medicine at Tufts University 200 Westboro Road Nor-^i Grafton, MA 01536 ^jyijT'vij-.,- ii/^V'^ir:',',,^ ,■ ■• y'jfuwKT " :•' ' FIFTY YEARS' FOX-HUNTING WITH THE GRAFTON AND OTHER PACKS OF HOUNDS. George Henry, Fourth Duke of Grafton. FIFTY YEARS' FOX-HUNTING WITH THE GRAFTON AND OTHER PACKS OF HOUNDS. BY JOHN MALSBURY KIRBY ELLIOTT. EDITED BY HIS SON, EDWARD KIRBY ELLIOTT. (All Rights Reserved.) LONDON : HORACE COX, WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM'S BUILDINGS, E.C 1900. LONDON : PRINTED BV HORACE COX, WINDSOR HOUSE, BREAM's BUILDINGS, E.G. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE GEORGE SHOLTO DOUGLAS-PENNANT, BARON PENRHYN, THIS BOOK IS, BY HIS KIND PERMISSION, MOST RESPECTFULLY BY HIS OBEDIENT SERVANT, THE AUTHOR. ^Iy Lord. I feel that an attempt from me to write a book will somewhat surprise the public. Whatever opinion may be formed of my production, 1 am sure it will be universally allowed that I am very fortunate in having permission to dedicate the book to your lordship. Your lordship has done so much in support of the Grafton Hunt by taking the mastership for nine seasons ; and, after relinquishing those duties, you have continued so liberally to support and help to carry on the sport of f^ox- Hunting, with the aid, as Master, of the Honourable E. S. Douglas-Pennant, that I feel that no one will value the history of the Grafton Hunt, its noble Masters, good Huntsmen, and fine Packs of Hounds, for the last fifty years, more than your lordship. Trusting that my efforts may meet with your approval. I beg to subscribe myself, Your lordship's obedient Servant, J. M. K. ELLIOTT. Delamere House. Leamington, ilh June, 1899. PREFACE, One can readily understand a young man, with a taste for fox-hunting, looking forward with the hope of having a good time of it, to the period when he shall be established as a fox-hunter. With an aged man who has had a full share of his favourite sport, the time arrives when he should be thankful for what he has received, and he naturally looks back and recalls the past events of his life. During my lengthened career I have met many of the best men of the day, and have enjoyed hunting wath them to my heart's content. A very large number of Masters of Hounds, Huntsmen, and their Packs have contributed to my gratification and pleasure ; I feel greatly indebted to them personally, and the thought has long been in my mind that, if I were spared, I X Preface. should feel it a pleasing duty to record a word of tribute to those who have been taken from us, and of appreciation of those who are living. Haunted by the thought of the feebleness of my attempt, I have done my best, hoping to take shelter under the account of splendid Sport I am able to place before my readers. A second reason is that I am not aware of any trustworthy history of the Grafton Hunt being in existence. I feel that the country may be proud of a narrative, and I think that I am in possession of more knowledge of that which has passed during the last fifty years, than perhaps any living man ; so I feel bound to write it. Another reason which I must state, is, that we had for thirty years, in the country, a most skilful huntsman, who gave great satisfaction to his masters, in carrying out a most difficult office for so many years, and leaving a record of sport that — I may say with confidence — has never been exceeded. Frank Beers commenced in the year i860 to whip-in to Lord Southampton, two days a week ; and to his father, George Beers, also two days a week; and in 1862 he began hunting Preface. xi for the Duke of Grafton, and was huntsman for twenty-eight seasons in the Country. Frank left a good diary, cleverly written ; I am the favoured person allowed to make use of it. I know of no more fitting manner of doing so than by making it a matter of history. I could not write my experiences without mentioning the neighbouring Hunts, wherein I, for so many years, enjoyed the friendship of, and sport with, many of their Masters. CONTENTS. Chap. P-^<-t^ [._The Fourth Duke of Grafton, M.F.H., Colonel George FitzRoy ...... i II. — George Carter, Huntsman 9 III. — Adam Sherwood, Chimney-Sweep and Sports- man . . . . ... • -17 IV._Charles, Third Baron Southampton, M.F.H. . 21 V. — Dick Simpson, Huntsman 38 VI. — George Beers, Huntsman 56 VII.— The First Baron Penrhyn 86 VIII.— The Sixth Duke of Grafton, M.F.H. ... 88 IX. — ^Frank Beers, Huntsman ..... 90 X. — Frank Beers" Diaries . . . . • .114 XI. — Frank Beers* Diaries {continued) . . -139 XII. — Frank Beers' Diaries {continued) . . .164. XIII.— The Farmers, Fox Preservers. The Gamekeepers 198 xiv Contents, Chap. Page XIV. — Sir Charles Knightley — Sir Rainald Knightley — The Rev. Valentine Knightley — -Mr. Selby- Lowndes, M.F.H. — Bob Ward, Huntsman . 213 XV. — The Belvoir — Mr. Arkwright and The Oakley — The Pytchley and Charles Payn — Captain Anstruther Thomson . . . . -238 XVI.— H.R.H. The Prince of Wales— H.R.H. Prince Arthur (The Duke of Connaught) — H.M. The ex-Queen of Naples — H.I.M. The Empress of Austria . . . .260 XVII. — Hunting Ladies — The -Bicester — Mr. T. T. Drake, ]\I.F.H. — Tom Winfield, Huntsman — Mr. T. T. Drake, jun., M.F.H. —Viscount Valentia, M.F.H.— Baron Chesham, M.F.H. — Stovin, and other Huntsmen — The Earl of jersey — Dick Painter, Horsedealer . 280 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. No. I. 2. ') 0- 4- 5- 6. 7- 8. 9- lO. 1 1. 12. 13- 14. 15- Fourth Duke of Grafton . The Author .... George Carter. Adam Sherwood's Coat of Arms Third Baron Southampton Dick Simpson George Beers .... Hazard ..... Marquis ..... First Baron Penrhyn Sixth Duke of Grafton . ^ . Frank Beers .... Second Baron Penrhyn . Sir Charles Knightley Wm. Selby-Lowndes, Esq. Page Frontispiece. Facing I 9 18 21 38 56 81 82 86 88 108 162 213 222 XVI List of Illustrations. No. Page 1 6. Captain Arkwright . Facing 243 17. Charles Payn .... . 254 18. The ex-Queen of Naples . 267 19. The Empress of Austria . . 274 20. T. T. Drake, Esq. . . 284 21. Tom Winfield . 288 22. T. T. Drake, Esq., Jun. . . 295 23. " Jonathan " . • 305 ERRATA. Page \%, for lines 24 and 25 read '' running into coverts, where fresh ones would appear ; the hunted fox would then turn back ; Adam was very clever at seeing such," &c. Page 31, line 22^ after '' March," insert " 185 i."' Page 4.9, line i,for '' Durham ' read "■ Den ham." Page 85, line 6, for " daughter "' read " dam." Page 204, line 24, for " in it '" read " to it." Page 230, line 12, for '• Rothschild read" de Rothschild." Page 252, line 7, for " the Misses Higgins and Turvey ' read " Miss Higgins of Turvey." Page 252, line 14, for " J.'" read '' G. Race.'' Page 254, line 10, for '' George Payn " read '' Payne," J. M. K. Elliott. CHAPTER I. THE FOURTH DUKE OF GRAFTON, M.F.H., COLONEL GEORGE FITZROY. Born on the Grafton estate, at a very early age I was sent hunting by my mother on a pillow, in front of the head groom ; and, having persistently followed the Grafton Hounds for so many years, I may reasonably call myself a '' Grafton " man. The first Master of hounds my memory records was George Henry, fourth Duke of Grafton, of great renown on the turf, a most successful breeder of racehorses, as turf history tells us. His Grace won many races, and his great success upon the turf appears to have stimulated him to turn his attention to the improvement of hunters in the Grafton country. Having so fine a stud to select from, the Duke, in his great generosity, kept a proper selection of sires at Wakefield Lodge for the benefit of his farmers and friends. After a few years had passed, the Grafton country became B 2 The Fourth Duke of Grafton. very famous for hunters, and in the early part of the century gentlemen and dealers flocked to it from all parts. Breeding had become so general that a good supply was kept up for a time, but the demand was so great, and such good prices were given, that the breeders made a great mistake ; they were tempted by the high prices, and sold the mares which had bred the stock. Pioneer was a sire of great fame ; the horses from him were wonderful hunters, but bad hacks. The mares were exceedingly good. The farmers could not resist the pecuniary temptation, ;^i5o and ;^200 apiece was freely given. The Duke was a great buyer himself, and recommended many to his friends. A letter written by the Duke in 1830, to one of his tenants, the original of which is in my possession, shows clearly how agreeably his Grace did business : — The Duke of Grafton's compliments to Mr. Elliott, and has ridden his mare quite enough to satisfy him that she is worth his buying, on account of the ease of her motion and knowledge of her business. As Lord James (who has gone hunting to-day) told the Duke of Grafton that the price of the mare was 150 guineas, he has taken her at that price, considering her to be perfectly sound as she seems to be. Mr. Roper will have directions to pay Mr. Elliott for the mare when he meets him at Towcester on Tuesday next, or the Duke of Grafton can send a draught by the post to-morrow. The Fourth Duke of Grafton. 3 just as .Air. Elliott pleases; and will Mr. Elliott be so good as to send a line on this point by whoever he sends back with the pony, upon which the Duke has sent back Mr. Elliott's servant. Wd. Lodge, \ past 2, Thursday. ^ If Mr. E. prefers taking a chesnut horse of the Duke of Grafton's, Norman, four years old, thoroughbred, he may have him at 100 guineas. But as this would be quite a matter ■of fancy or speculation on the part of Mr. E., he might ride the horse whenever he chooses, and for as long a time •as he likes. Wakefield Lodge, \ past 2, Thursday. His Grace generally had the offer from his tenants of anything likely to suit him. A farmer on the estate named Parish was a good rider, and was employed by his brother farmers to show the young horses when ready. The Duke saw Parish riding a good-looking young Pioneer horse, and he said : '' Parish ! '' " Yes, your Grace? " " You don't bring that horse to show me." " No, your Grace." '^Why not?" '' I don't think he would suit your Grace." ''What's the matter?" ''Well, your Grace, he has broken his knees." B 2 4 The Fourth Duke of Grafton. "Oh dear! I am very sorry, Parish! How did it happen ? " '' In a very extraordinary way ; he was going down the road, he caught his toe and fell, and it was a 'fair fall' !" The Duke, greatly amused, said it would not suit him ; but he had never heard of a '* fair fall '^ before. The Duke took great pains with young horses, and was in the habit of taking out two at a time with some of his good riding grooms ; if they showed, good temper and fine horsemanship with a way- ward horse the Duke always rewarded them on the spot. I must add that the succeeding dukes- have done their best to provide sires of the best blood. The results are only satisfactory when the mares are good ; but there is a great dearth of strong, well-bred mares in the country, and not much disposition on the part of the farmers to breed at the present time. In hunting circles the Duke was known as- the *' Green Duke." Three dukes kept hounds, and they were called after the colour of their liveries, green, blue, and red. When I first saw the noble Duke in the hunting field — to know who he was — he was riding the beautiful Bolero, by Partisan out of Minuet, by Waxy. It was The Fourth Duke of Grafton. 5 his Grace's habit to be very punctual at the meet, 10.30, and to ride round and say "Good morning " to all. 1 am afraid that there are not many living now who hunted in those days ; but there are some ; two may be mentioned— Mr. Joe Bailey and Mr. Richard Shepherd, both staunch fox-hunters. The Grafton country, at that time, extended from Weedon on the north to Creslow on the south, Brackley on the west, and Easton Horn Wood on the east. A rather large slice on the north was, and is now, neutral with the Pytchley, •and I can bear testimony to the liberal manner in which that hunt has acted towards the Grafton during my life. On the eastern side, from the end of Easton Horn Wood to the Northampton and Newport Turnpike, the country is neutral with the Oakley. In the time of the Duke of whom I am now writmg, the hounds hunted three days a week only. Foxes were not very plentiful, but ran straighter than they do now. With so much neutral country, it gives me the greatest pleasure to state that from those early days until the present I never knew of the slightest friction between the Grafton and their neighbours. On the contrary, the greatest friendship existed. 6 The Fourth Duke of Grafton. I may relate one little incident, or rather two, for it was double-barrelled : — George Beers was in his zenith, hunting a rare pack in the Oakley country ; it Avas in the year 1838. Carter, a great fox-catcher, doing the same in the Grafton country. Both packs w^ere on the eastern side, from the Grafton. Beers found a fox one afternoon, a long way down in the Chase, and ran him for his Hfe up to Salcey Forest. He had no sooner reached the forest than he found Carter's hounds breaking up his fox. Beers behaved better than one might have expected, knowing his failing, a hasty temper. He said to Carter, '' I will be even with you, old boy, one day." During the following season the two packs were hunting in the same district. Carter's fox ran into the Chase ; Beers heard them coming, collected his hounds, and set his whippers-in to look out. It was not long before they viewed Carter's fox ; Beers took up the line, and killed him. The latter came up and said to Beers : '' You have killed my fox ! " '' Yes, old man, now we are quits ! " Since that time nothing of the kind has occurred. Mr. Arkwright, who hunted the Oakley for so many years, never made an appointment on The Fourth Duke of Grafton. 7 that side of the country without writing to the Grafton, and the same courtesy was extended by them. I must now return to the Grafton Field. It consisted of a large number of farmers, a few resident squires, and a nice sprinkling of parsons, for whom I had the greatest regard, as I think one of their great duties on earth is to counte- nance and encourage good fellowship. The Reverend Lorraine Smith hunted in those days, and a finer specimen of an English gentle- man, a better dressed man, or a kinder man to the poor never lived. Mrs. Lorraine Smith and her two daughters, with Miss Stone from Blis- worth, were the only ladies who hunted then. The Misses Lorraine Smith rode in scarlet bodices and grey skirts. The improved side-saddle was not then invented to enable a lady to ride over fences. The farmers rode good horses in those days, and the good mounts they had gave them a great taste for riding over the country, and made many good horsemen. By the time I began — as the ladies say of their babies — " to take notice," the Duke of Grafton was in declining years, and I saw very little of his Grace in the field. During the last four or five vears of the Duke's keeping hounds. Colonel 8 The Fourth Duke of Grafton. George FItzRoy, of Grafton-Regis, took the management in the field, and carried out his uncle's directions to the satisfaction of everyone. No finer horseman, no better sportsman than he was, ever lived in the Grafton country. He rode three beautiful chesnuts of the Duke's, and the same number of his own ; his manners were as perfect as his horsemanship ; his judgment was good all round ; he was for many years consulted by the Grafton Masters, and all the huntsmen sang his praises. He planted a covert on a farm which he rented of the Duke ; it is called the Colonel's Covert to this day, and I hope it will stand for all time to the memory of that good man. f r $^' ^ W H < u Pil o O CHAPTER II. GEORGE CARTER, HUNTSMAN. In the year 1833, during my early boyhood, Carter was first whipper-in to Ned Rose ; he left for a time, and went to the Oakley. Ned was not successful, and let the hounds get out of repute, so he gave up. Carter was engaged, and came as huntsman, but he found the hounds so bad that he went to the Duke after the first season, and told his Grace he was afraid he should not give satisfaction. The Duke, with his usual urbanity, said, " Carter, I am quite satisfied with what you have done." From that tmie Carter took heart, and made a pack that was of the highest character. As I was not out of my teens before Carter left, I only intend to give a few early impressions which are imprinted on my mind. On leaving school, I went hunting as often as I •could get leave from my father to do so. Carter lo George Carter, Huntsman. was very fond of boys, and did not mind my riding- after him, but encouraged me. A young gentle- man was out on his pony, riding near Carter, one day at Mantel's Heath, when a fox came away in front of them. " What's that ? " the boy asked. George took off his cap, and, waving it towards the fox, he said : " That is him, sir! " I was one day with the hounds in Whittlebury Forest, then full of deer. Carter found a fox, and hounds ran well for a time. We then saw hundreds of deer go off Wakefield Lawn into Lady Coppice ; the hounds went in at the side as the deer came in at the top. In a few minutes the pack broke up, every hound seemed to have a deer; I never saw such a scrimmage I The young deer fell a prey, and from their cries I always thought that they killed three brace. Carter, of course, blew his horn. Stevens and Dickens, the whippers-in, were at work ; the deer crossed the riding at such speed and with such bounds that we were obliged to look out. Carter rode quietly down the riding. Some of the old hounds came at once ; as their numbers increased he walked down to Broadmoor pond, and gave them a drink. Clarke, the Royal keeper, came upon the scene — George Carter, Huntsman. i r a fine man, but rather lame; he was uttering^ great lamentations, and, mopping his forehead, said ruefully : — - " You will kill half my deer!" George and the keeper were great friends, so- he replied : " My dear fellow, I can't help it, I have hounds out to-day which will run anything from an earwig to an elephant ! ! ! " Mr. Clarke was a superior man in his position, and had been in the forest for many years. The keepers had a pack of bloodhounds with which to hunt the deer out of the enclosed coppices ; at times the deer would leave the forest and run over the country. Knowing I was fond of hunting, Clarke told me that, when he first came to the forest, there were marten cats in it, and that the greatest treat I could have with a pack of hounds would be to hear them running a marten cat ; the note changed, and the music was delightful ; they ran the thickets for a time, then went up a tree, and no scent was so welcome to a hound as that of a marten cat. Being great poachers, they were exterminated. Clarke said : " Our foxes are stout;" and added that ''In the old days the hounds went to Euston, the Duke of Grafton's 12 George Carter j Hunts?nan. seat in Suffolk, for a month or two in the season. Foxes were dug out in the forest, and sent down, all of them marked. They dug out an old fox of great size, and sent him ; the next year they dug him out again at Wakefield ! ! and sent him down once more. He beat the hounds a second time, and, on his return, a sheep-dog caught him near Newmarket and killed him" — an ignoble end. I must now hark back to Carter. No huntsman ever had a finer voice than he bad, and at proper times he w^ould use it to some purpose ; his cheer was soul-stirring. In a cast, when a hound made a good hit, you might have heard him for miles ! He always named the hound he was cheering. Carter did not ride into the woods when trying. He had many friends, and liked a chat. Every now and then he would let his hounds hear him all over the wood. He said that if hounds were used that way they w^ould get on the drag better than when hurried along ; and would draw all the covert if they knew where he was, and the Field would stand with him. He was, one day, which happened to be New Year's Day, riding very slowly, at the end of Grimscote Heath, talking to Mr. Winkles, who said : " George, I have heard a fox run down the George Carter^ Huntsman. 13 wood ; I have heard of a fox being found in a bird's nest ! " '' He must have come out of one," said Carter. In a minute there was a holloa away, and a fine run we had, and killed the fox near Northampton. A Scottish gentleman named Wemyss was out : I heard him singing the praises of hounds and huntsman. In 1 841, a fox from Grub's Coppice took us over Foxley Fields to Tite's Coppice, Green's Park, Weedon Wood, skirted Allithorn, over Stuchbury, down to Thenford, and through it into Middleton field ; he turned to the left over the brook, near Willifer's Covert, and up to Farthinghoe to some farm buildings, where a rat-catcher was busy at his calling. The hounds ran up to him, Carter stood still, but the hounds could do no more. Carter said, " You have killed my fox!" etc. His tone was so severe that the man was frightened, and would not confess. The hounds had not been gone more than half-an-hour before the farmer came home, and made the rat-catcher fetch him the fox out of the loft. Carter forgot that honey catches flies better than vinegar ! That vv^as a good run imprinted on my mind by its merits, and by what I saw that day. A lady 14 George Carter, Huntsman. named Miss Nellie Holmes was out, topping the fences like a bird, to the admiration of all ; and when we came to the brook, over she went ; I went with Carter to the ford. That was the first lady whom I saw go over a country. There is one certainty about ladies, what one does another will do, if it be worth the doing. Very soon others were at the game^ and many have played it well since. Mr. Tom Westley was the ladies' pilot. He was a good rider, and rather noted on the turf for the num berof horses he ran and the few races he won. He did win the Chester Cup with Councillor, bred within about two miles of Wakefield. On the dam's side was Grafton blood. Mr. Osbaldeston, owing to Westley's bad luck, ■called him '' Worseley." This was also the first day I saw Jem Mason in the hunting field. I had seen him win steeple- chases on Lottery not long before. I have never seen a man since who could show off a hunter, or a good suit of clothes, to greater advantage. I hope I may say more of Jem later on. Carter's last season with the Grafton Hounds was that of 1841-42. The sport was exceed- ingly good throughout, and foxes were caught in all directions, which greatly alarmed Lord George Carter) Hnnts7nan. 15 Southampton, who was to succeed the Duke. There was one old fox which Carter could not manage ; he ran him twice from Seawell Wood, but did not catch him; As I cannot give a ■correct account of the sport, I pass on to the second week in February, 1842. Carter found his fox at Tite's Coppice, and came away with a capital scent over the brook in the bottom, pointing for Foxley, hounds bearing to the right •over the hill about a mile from Green's Norton. Mr. Jack Smith, a grandson of the Duke of Grafton, and Mr. Richard Shepherd, on two grey horses, were having a fine set-to. On the hill was my good father, out for the last time to see the hounds. As we passed him he called to me to go on, saying " That mare can beat either of those grey horses." I never disobeyed my father's orders, so I called upon my mare; she was 16,2, and in the Stud Book. At the first fence -l went up to them, in the next field I passed theim and jumped a good bullfinch first ; I was no- sooner over than it struck me that my head was far too empty to keep matters balanced before two such horsemen, so I held back, while these two smart young men, in green coats, on grey horses with bang tails, were having a real contest. 1 6 George Carter^ Huntsman. They took their own hne, and swung over the tops of the hedges, and famously matched they were ; we came to three large ploughed fields, still going evenly ; then grass again, big fences, and so they went to the end, which was at the Towcester Lodges, leading up to Easton Neston House. Carter soon came up and asked where hounds checked. '' Just here," was the reply. ''He can't have gone over the wall, or up the road ; he is about here somewhere," was his remark. He called the hounds back to a large hedge near the road. " Here he is ! " Carter said, and hounds killed him. That was the last day on which I hunted with Carter. My father, who was in a weak state of health, broke a blood- vessel, and passed away on the 21st of that month, so I did not hunt again that season. Mr. Assheton-Smith came and bought the pack in March, and Carter went with them. Ned Stevens went to the Warwickshire as hunts- man, and Will Dickens to Mr. Lowndes as first whipper-in. CHAPTER III. ADAM SHERWOOD, CHIMNEY-SWEEP AND SPORTSMAN. No history of the Grafton Hunt can be considered complete which does not contain a memoir of one who was a great celebrity in his day — T mean Adam Sherwood, a sweeper of chimneys residing at Stony Stratford. He had a great taste for fox-hunting, and gained a considerable know- ledge of the '^ Art and Science." Living so near to the forest, he obtained a good deal of practice in the autumn and spring. He had no great taste for cross-country work ; for, truth to tell, his steed was not exactly thoroughbred. Adam's hunting costume consisted, most appropriately, of a " chimney-pot " hat, the altitude of which had been considerably lowered by repeated bangs upon the top, and large wrinkles on the sides ; a green smock-frock, and corduroy continuations com- pleted his attire. Adam always wore a smile upon c 1 8 Adam- Sherwood. his face, and had a twinkle of humour In his eye, which greatly illuminates the countenance, even if it be a dark one. He was gifted with a very pleasing voice ; and when he used it it was evident that it was directed by an intelligent and active mind. On hunting days he always carried a fiask. It was the first of the. kind I ever saw ; two glass bottles welded together at the lower ends and up to the necks ; and each mouth was neatly corked ; in fact it was very like one of the oil and vinegar cruets with the crossed necks. In offering refreshment to a friend, he would say, '' One side gives gin, the other brandy; I am sure it is pure," and he would name his wine-merchant. Adam became so popular that Mr. Lorraine Smith provided him with a coat of arms, which I am happy to be able to reproduce. When hounds were running in the forest, Sherwood was a great authority ; he was very correct about a hunted fox, and had learned the secret of keeping his mouth shut when he saw a fresh one. In the forest foxes were fond of running into coverts. When fresh ones appeared, and turned back, Adam was very clever at seeing them, and when he did, he would make the wood ring with his "view-holloa." One day the Duke '/. , / M^ 7,4,i^.^!ru ,^,/ -' / /^ ^ ,'/>' ^-^f' ' '/ .■ ^- - / .../ .//.,y 7 ..,.. ./C...,.: ,/ /.,y/./ /j, ,Ky Thomas's Wood, through Bucknells, past Charlock Farm, down to Handley to the railway at Green's Norton ; through Kingthorn Wood to Bradden, along the bottom to Slapton, through Bucknells, Crown Lands, Hatch Woods, Biddlesden Wood and Park, and killed him in Biddlesden Gardens. Three and a half hours ; for hound work I think it was the best hunting run I ever saw. Dog-pack with a few bitches — 17^ couples. 1888-89. 1888. — During cub-hunting killed twenty-eight foxes. " Nov. 1 2th. — Stowe-Nine-Churches. Found in Ever- don Stubbs ; ran a line to the Lodge on Banbury and 1888-89] Frank Beers Diaries. 187 Daventry road leading to Fawsley, where a brute of a dog turned the fox back to Badby Wood; ran through it and over the brook, lost him through a shep- herd's dog running the fox ; we could never make any more of him. Found again in Mill Spinney, and ran to ground close to Badby Wood. Hit on the line of another fox at HogstafT, hunted him to Preston, and gave up late in the afternoon. Rode Conqueror and Tom Moody. '' Nov. 26th. — Woodford. Found a good fox in Hinton Gorse. After dwelling in covert with a bad scent hounds went away. Out of covert the scent was as good as one wants to see. They ran capitally away to Charwelton road, and over the hill to within one hundred yards of Griffin's Gorse ; away over a beautiful bit of country at best pace to Prior's Marston, Hellidon-. on the right, down the valley pointing for Shuckburgh, bore away to the right, and ran into the fox about four fields from Badby. Fifty-five minutes, as good, if not better than I ever saw in that country. Lord Spencer was out, he rode as hard and as well as anyone. We then found a fox in Parson's Gorse, near to Charwelton,. he ran in a bee-line to Catesby to ground. Found again in Charwelton osier-bed, ran hard towards Hinton, short back, hounds close at him, ran him into a hovel, and killed him. Found again in the Mill osier-bed, by the brook-side, and ran nearly to Ganderton Spinney, then turned short to the left up^ to Preston Church Wood, where the fox was headed, and ran for Louseland ; he did not enter the covert, and hounds ran through the grass-fields at Preston Capes, where we meet ; Little Preston Wood was on the right ; a big ring back to- Hogstaff, to Preston Church Wood ; had him in view here, but he got away, raced towards Snorscombe^ 1 88 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1888-89 turned through Mantel's Heath, without dwelling, through Everdon Stubbs, towards Farthingstone, ran under Hurley's House, down the hill again, nearly to Rodmere, up the hill again to Stowe-Nine-Churches, left- handed, nearly to Church Stowe, through Heyford " Grange Garden, hounds and fox all there together ; out towards the Iron-Furnace, to Mr. Hardy's along by the Railroad, turned over it to Bugbrook, a flock of sheep caused the hounds to check. I gladly stopped them, my horse had had quite enough, and everybody's horse was tired out, and it was nearly dark at 4.45. Baron de Tuyll got a fearful fall into the Charwelton Road, and frightfully disfigured his face. '' Nov. 2oth. — Horton. Found in Brayfield Furze, a very fine old dog-fox. Without any dwelling he ran as straight as a line could be drawn on the map to Wellingborough Station (we found him in the middle covert) ; away, leaving Denton on the right, Whiston on the left, across Castle Ashby Park', close by Welling- borough Mill to Great Doddington Village, pointing for Wilby ; made a ring and back, ran into him in a forty- acre field ; one hour and forty-five minutes. A superb line of country. Being a good twenty-six miles from home. Lord Penrhyn decided not to draw again. '' Dec. 6th. — I followed to his last resting-place poor Mr. Arkwright, M.F.H. of the Oakley. He was the first who ever taught me to hold a double-reined bridle ; it was entirely through him that I ever went to hounds. ''December 17th. — Preston Capes. Found in Church Wood, ran fast in a ring to ground at Newnham. Found again in the same wood ; ran to Little Preston, down to Maidford Brook, like pigeons ; turned to the right to Ganderton's, on to Woodford leaving Hinton Gorse to 1888-89] Frank Beers' Diaries. 189 the left, to Mill Spinney, Fawsley Gardens, across the Park, leaving Badby Wood to the right, over Newnham Brook to Staverton, ran into him within a mile of Daventry, killing him by the light of the moon after an hour and ten minutes' hunting. 21 couple of bitches ; all in at the death. ''Dec. 26th. — Chackmore. Found in Shalstone Spinney ; away to Westbury, and lost him. Found again at Whit- held Wood and ran to Shalstone, Stowe, nearly to Water Stratford to Shalstone Park ; back through Stratford Hill pointing for Stowe, short to the left, as hard as hounds could go, to Three Parks. Leaving that covert on the left, they ran at best pace to Boycott Manor, through the Gardens by Buffler's Holt, Radcliffe to the left, Tingewick on the right, by Chetwode to Twyford, away by Three-Bridge Mill to the corner of Claydon Woods ; away to Hillesden, and down to Preston Bassett, up to Goddington Mill. When I came up with the hounds some were on one side of the river and some on the other. With difficulty we got them away, it being 5.50 o'clock, and, of course, dark. We could not tell what had happened until next day, when it was proved that the fox had been killed — their fox : he sank, and was fished out next day. This was an extra- ordinary run ; for nearly an hour hounds went capitally, almost in the dark. It was a beautiful starlight night ; no chance of stopping them. We rode by ear, having a capital pilot in a young farmer, Mr. Barge, of Hilles- den, who knew every inch of the country. Had it not been for him we should have left the hounds out. Only Lord Penrhyn, Mr. E. Pennant, myself, and Mr. Barge, were left at the finish. The whipper-ins' horses being tired, they joined us on the road home. We reached the kennels at eight o'clock. 190 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1888-89 ''1889. 2ist. Jan. — Met at Stoke Plain. Found in -Stoke Park Wood; away almost directly, by Shutlanger Grove, crossed the brook, and up to Heathencote, did not ■cross the road, on by Bishop's, Druce's, Franklin's, and Linnell's farms, through Waterslade, across the Lawn, across Briary, over Mr. Elliott's Farm, Lovell's Wood, to Tile House; killed just in front of the house. All the Field were entertained sumptuously by Mr. A. J. Robarts. We then drew Water Hall, Easton, and Nun Woods, all blank. Found at Tiffield, and away over •the Northampton Road to Nun Wood, and Plane Woods, back at a tremendous pace to the Allotments, Eastcote, Astcote Thorns, and back to Caldecote, where we stopped them running. A famous day. ''Jan. 28th. — Adstone. Found in a stubble field, and ran away to Canons Ashby Gorse, after a good run to ground in a drain near the railway, by Canons Ashby; bolted a fresh fox out of the drain, and away as hard as they could race to Adstone ; a good run to Heathencote Plantation, to ground in the earths there. One of the most severe days for hounds I ever remember, and hard luck they did not catch a fox. 17^ couple bitches, all up at the finish. '' April 8th. — Horton. Found in Brayfield Furze, and ran away to the Chase, and on to ground in a drain between Bozeat and Harrold Park. Very fast all the way, away from all the horses, not more than four or five of us could live with them. Being out of our •country we had to leave him; we had just reached Horn Wood, and the fox came out of his own accord ; a man gave a view halloo. We were soon on his line, and they raced away towards Harrold Village, and on to Culworth, the seat of Mr. Magniac, M.P., where the fox went to ground in a big rabbit hole. A young 1889-90J Frank Beers' Diaries. 191 farmer, Mr. Townsend, was riding by my side when he viewed the fox dead-beat almost in view of the hounds ; the fox went to ground when another three or four hundred yards would have made a glorious finish to one of the best woodland days ever seen on that side of the country. I never was more certain of killing a fox ; we could feel him quite plainly with a stick." 1889-90. Sept. 2nd. — Began cub-hunting at Redmere, and finished Nov. 9th, at Stratford Hill, killing thirty-three foxes. 1889. Nov. nth. — Began regular hunting, much stopped by frost. '' Dec. 9th. — Maidford. Found in Bushey End, ran to Astcote Thorns, across the Turweston Road to Eastcote, lost him. Found in Astcote Thorns, away to Potcote, a ring by Grimscote Heath, the village to left, past Potcote, to ground in sand holes near Caswell. Found at Tite's Coppice, ran into Taylor's Spinneys, nearly to Blakesley ; crossed the road to Bradden Ponds, turned up to the village, Greens Park to the right, ran between Wappenham and Weedon Coppice, close past Astwell Mill, up to Falcote, turned to the right, and ran up to Helmdon Village, and lost him. A person was in the road with three greyhounds ; he declared he never saw our fox (?) we could never ^ touch on him afterwards. This was really a capital run. George Barrett, the jockey, was out, and went well. He got an awful cropper over some rails at Bradden and very nearly in Wappenham Brook. Captain Elmhirst's horse was in for two hours. Mr. Fuller was also in. I rode Falcon and Sunshine. 24 couple bitches. 192 Frank Beers Diaries. [1889-90 '' 1889. Dec. 1 6th. — Preston Capes. Found in Church Wood ; ran to Hogstaff and back, away to Louseland, Gandertons, and back to Hogstaff to ground. Found in the Laurels at Fawsley, ran to Badby, out of there, and back to Hogstaff again, into Badby, where hounds stuck to their fox well and killed him. Found again in Parson's Gorse ; they ran like mad to Char- welton Church, and short back to Fawsley, and killed him on the front doorstep at Fawsley House. Found again in Kingthorn Wood, away pointing for Rodmere ; turned up to Lichborough on the left, Seawell and Maidford Wood, and the Village, all on the left, Adstone to the right, to Canons Ashby Gorse, across Moreton Pinkney fields, through Gomeral's Holt, and stopped hounds at Weedon, going for the bushes. All the horses were done, and a brace of foxes in front of us. The best day of the season, so far, a capital scenting day. 22| bitches. "1890. Jan. nth. — Horton. Found in Salcey Forest, ran a short time, and killed a fox. Found again, ran away leaving Stoke Goldington Park on the right, then to Ravenstone Village, up to Yardley Chase. Stopped owing to shooting. Found in Stoke Goldington Park, ran to Salcey, a ring there ; a good scent ! Out by the Bull Head, Jarvis's Wood to the left. In Stoke Golding- ton Park, hounds ran almost the same ring again, and, getting up to the fox, ran harder than ever to Bunstye Wood and Gayhurst Wood, through Linford Wood, by Hanslope House, on to the village ; ran him back, in view, to Hanslope Park, and killed in a small plantation close to the house. A capital woodland day. 1 rode Falcon and Topsy. 2oi couple of dogs. " 1890. Jan. 27th. — Stoke Plain. Found in Plane Woods, and away at a rattling pace to Easton Park, 1889-90J Frajtk Beers' Diaries. 193 back through the Gardens to Nun Wood and Plane Woods, and to the cutting at Roade, where the hounds all went over, I got down with both whippers-in and ran with the pack through the Cutting northwards. Two express trains being due, we expected the hounds to be cut to pieces every minute, but we managed to get out of the dreadful place just in time. Two trains, one each way, dashed through half a minute after we had got the hounds out ! I never had such an anxious time I think. All's well that ends well ; for we finished the day with the best run I ever saw on that side of the country. After this we found our hunted fox in Tififield Allotments, and soon killed him. Found our next fox in Nun Wood, and, after a clipping run, killed at old Wolverton. Only about a dozen got to the end, including two ladies ; one, Mrs. George Barrett, the jockey's wife, had the brush. '^ April 5th. — Hartwell. Found in Ash Leys Gorse, and went away rapidly towards Courteenhall Grange, turned short to the left, and ran at best pace to Courteen- hall Church ; headed down the Park northwards, in view ; hounds ran hard to Quinton, up to Salcey Forest, through the clears and across the Lawn, into and through both Horton Woods, Ravenstone Wood to the left, down the fields towards Ravenstone, back to the Chase, away again, over the open, down to Ravenstone Village, and ran into him in the village grocer's shop, and killed him there. As we were running by Ravenstone Wood, we met the Oakley Hounds, running the reverse way : we were at the same time at one end of the field, they at the other ! Lord Spencer, Goodall, his huntsman, and Isaac, the first whipper-in, were out. It proved rather a lucrative business for the old lady who kept the shop, for Lord Penrhyn and Lord Spencer, besides O 194 Frank Beers' Diaries. [1889-90 giving her something, purchased all the oranges and biscuits in the shop, which to my knowledge were very acceptable, for the sun was as hot as in July. We drew Stoke Goldington Park blank. Found in Salcey Forest, had seven minutes as hard as hounds could run, to ground in an old tree. A good day for the time of year. Mixed pack, ig^ couples. I rode the Leamington mare and Comrade. "April 12th. — Castle Ashby Lodges. Found in covert, Easton Wood ; ran to Upper Wood, away to Easton Horn Wood to Easton Maudit, through Horn Wood, back to Easton Wood, to the Chase, crossed the Deer Park to Denton side to Brayfield Furze ; left it to the left, down to Brayfield-on-the-Green, short back to the right of Denton Village, through Collier's Earn to Cowper's Oak side, and killed a fine old dog-fox. We ran about two hours. Found in Salcey Forest, ran to Preston Deanery, past Piddington up to Brayfield Furze, through the Chase for Weston Underwood, away up to Cowper's Oak side of the Chase. Stopped the hounds late in the evening. It was a good hound day, and, considering the hard ground everywhere, as dry as chips, the hounds pleased me very much. A large Field out, including several M.F.H.'s ; some of them brought their huntsmen and whippers-in. I rode the Leaming- ton Mare and Sunshine." Lord Penrhyn . . Master. Frank Beers . . Huntsman. Tom Smith . . First Whipper-in. Tom Bishopp . . Second Whipper-in. At the end of the Season, 1889-90, Frank Frank Beers' Diaries. 195 Beers' health gave way, and his bright and successful career as a huntsman ended. With all possible kindness Lord Penrhyn had everything done that human skill could accomplish to help his faithful servant. During the summer flattering hopes were entertained of the patient's recovery. At the commencement of the season an attempt was made by the poor man to resume his duties, but one hour's trial proved to Mr. Robarts and those present that all hope had vanished, and the above - named gentleman, being in charge during Lord Penrhyn's absence, sent the hounds home. Tom Smith then took the horn, and hunted very much to the satisfaction of all, and had a very good season, of which there is no record beyond the fact of a good average of foxes being killed and good sport prevailing. In the month of January, 1891, I received the following letter from Lord Penrhyn on the subject of his Lordship's resigning the Mastership of the Hounds : — Penrhyn Castle, Bangor, N.W., Jan. ist, 1891. Dear Sir, — You have done so much to help me in hunting affairs, since I have been Master, that I am sure you will be sorry to hear that I have quite decided on giving up the hounds at the end of this season. My O 2 196 Frank Beers' Diaries. reason for doing so is that I really cannot find time to attend to my duties as Master of Hounds, without running the risk of neglecting business in this part of the world ; and, therefore, as I cannot do the whole thing in a manner which is satisfactory to myself, I have settled to abandon attempting what is an impossibility, I have no idea what the future of the country will be ; but I only hope my successor will be fortunate enough to meet, on all sides, with the same cordial co-operation that you have extended to myself. Wishing you and yours a Happy New Year, I am, Yours truly, J. K. Elliott, Esq., Penrhyn. Lillingstone Lovell. Sufficient proof, if such were needed, may be found in the huntsman's diary to shew that the nine seasons during which Lord Penrhyn was Master were very successful, and could not be surpassed. A meeting of the Hunt was called, and a vote of thanks was passed to the late Master; and universal regret was expressed at losing his lord- ship's services. The Grafton were in luck once more. Mr, Robarts, than whom no man was more popular, joined the Hon. Edward Douglas-Pennant, and carried on the Hunt in the old form. With this period I arrive at my limit of fifty years. Frank Beers Diaries. 197 and close my reminiscences and remarks as to the Grafton Masters and Hounds by stating how pleased I am that the country is now in such good hands as those of the Hon. E. Douglas- Pennant ; and I wish him ev^ery success. CHAPTER XIII. THE FARMERS— FOX PRESERVERS— THE GAMEKEEPERS. Although I was for many years a farmer my- self, and therefore feel some natural diffidence in writing of the farmers, yet all will freely admit that it is only their due to speak of them in the highest terms. No one has seen or known more of them during the last half-century than myself. I first knew them in the days of " Live and let live." I wish that I could repeat that in connection with them now. Circumstances, over which we have no control, have militated against the landed interest, and have operated in favour of others, leaving the farmer in a much worse position than he was ; and it seems very sad that it should be so. Notwithstanding this calamity, there is still great loyalty to Foxhunting remaining in the hearts of the farmers ; and where they are treated kindly TJie Farmers — Fox Prese?^vers, &c. 199 by those who are under an obligation to them no untoward results are to be feared. Masters of Hounds and Gentlemen hunting from their homes in the country are, as a rule, very liberal ; but there are visitors and strangers of whom it may truly be said that they might very easily do more than they do, and I shall hardly be ruled out of order if I remind that class of hunting men that the farmer finds the playground, and there is certainly something due to him for so doing. The apparent overlooking of this fact may be only the result of thought- lessness but it is not the right thing anyhow. It is a great pleasure to me to be able, in writing of the Grafton farmers, to say that in the period covered by this history we only had one man who revolted, and he did it openly ; he was utilised and that in a fitting manner, namely, to compare with the good ones and show them up to the best advantage. Some of the farmers had coverts on their farms, whether the same were their own property or rented. Messrs. Aris, of Weedon, father and son, had Weedon Coppice, than which there w^as no better place, and the Diary extracts now pub- lished will show the value of this covert to the hunt. Mr. Aris, of Oakley Bank, had the 200 The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. shooting and care of Plumpton Wood for sixty- five years, and had a luncheon on the table every Friday for years. Mr. Samuel Ayers of Potcote, was a wonderful fox preserver. Mr. J. Bartlett of Whitfield had two or three coverts ; Mr. Fairbrother a part of Allithorn ; Mr. William Whitton, and his son, Mr. Thomas Whitton, had the noted Tite's Coppice ; Mr. Joseph Whitton, Grub's Coppice ; Mr. Pike of Haversham, the gorse which bears his name ; Messrs. Whiting of Castlethorpe also had coverts ; Mr. Wait of Lichborough, The Coppice ; Mr. Roper had Blisworth Gorse. The following were large occupiers and loyal supporters : — Messrs. Aris (of Adstone), Amos. Barfords, Barretts, Birds, Chapmans, Goffs, Clarkes, Bennetts, Blunts, Dunkleys, Grimsdicks, Hursts, Corbett Whitton, Ward, Messingers, Montgomerys, Mannings, Nickson, Shepherds, Franklins, Scotts, Timms, Starmer, Hurleys, Linnell, York, Ganderton, Johnsons, Checkleys, Ridges, Whitlocks, Peas- land, Pinckards, Bull, Harris, Pains, George, Kennings, Newitts, Nichols, Maule, Jeffery, Jessett, Farmer, Wait, Gibbins, Underwoods, Wards, Bazeley, Watts, Stops, Savage, and many others. A few years ago Mr. James Bartlett, above The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. 201 mentioned, of Whitfield, which parish was but ill-provided with a church, and was besides very small and poor, being anxious to remedy this state of things, and finding it impossible to raise the necessary funds in the usual way, made a collection in the hunting field, with the result that the bulk of the money was provided by hunting gentlemen, which fact is commemorated by the church, which was duly built, being called " The Hunting Church." In the year 1871 the farmers and friends of Frank Beers subscribed at the rate of -£\ each towards a wedding present for him ; the sum collected amounted to ;^383. No country could be more highly favoured than the Grafton country was by noblemen and gentle- men in the way of shooting ; his Grace the Duke of Grafton only preserved the outlying coverts for foxes and the Forest from trespassers. Sir Robert Loder had great shootings with any number of foxes and was a staunch fox-hunter. Sir Henry Dryden was for many years most kind in preserving foxes, although he did not partici- pate in the sport. Colonel Morgan, of Biddlesden, has always been good, and Mrs. FitzGerald, of Shalstone, cannot be surpassed. Yardley Chase, and the woods on that side, I 202 The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. have alluded to in another place. Easton Neston has always been good. Captain Hall, of Foxcote, was never without foxes. Mr. Gough (of Maids- moreton), Mr. Grant, Mr. Ives, Mr. Grant-Ives, and many others, small proprietors, have always done well. Mr. Vernon, of Stoke Park ; Lady Hanmer, of Weston by Weedon ; Lord Ellesmere, Lord Barrington, Mr. Robarts, and Mr. George Campbell ; leading members of the Hunt. Sir Herewald Wake and the Gunning family are, and have been also good fox preservers ; and so has Mr. Delap of Lillingstone Lovell. The statement that Fox - hunting and its prospects have greatly changed during my life will occasion no surprise to my readers. The sport is more popular than ever, and it is a question how far the increase of its popularity may adversely affect it ; and much depends on the support extending in due proportion with the increase in the number of followers. " Iron " has indeed, '' entered into the soul " of the hunting-grounds ! and it seems to me, now, almost incredible that I can remember the time when there was not an iron rail in the Countries I have spoken of. How gradually and how steadily railways have increased, and are still Tlie Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. 203 increasing and scarifying the country ! From the time when the great George Stephenson was lodging in one of the Duke of Grafton's farm- houses at BHsworth, and giving directions and preparing specifications for the London and North Western Hne, through the Grafton Hunt, up to the present period, there has been no cessation in the promotion and formation of that which may be termed "The Necessity of the Age." After all, there is no apparent reason why hunting may not be carried on, even under existing difficulties of the kind mentioned above, although the sport is interfered with to a certain extent. Against the new hindrances to the exercise of "The Sport of Kings" must be set the vast improvements which have taken place in the Woodlands. Whittlebury Forest has been cur- tailed in a marked degree ; the large head of deer it formerly contained was disposed of at the time of the enclosure, only a small herd remaining, and these were confined on seven hundred acres, in Whittlebury Park, the greater proportion of which were reclaimed from the jungle, and this clearance gives hounds an oppor- tunity of chasing their fox without hindrance. 204 Tke Farmers — Fox Preservers^ &c. There are thousands of acres cleared which grew the thickest underwood when I first hunted in the Forest, and now yield an opening for hounds to act freely and shew excellent sport. Salcey Forest in days gone by was a thicket from one end to the other ; there were deep ditches to bafifle hounds in every quarter. On account of the great growth of young oak timber the underwood has been destroyed, which enables hounds to work and press the foxes. Surly old Bucknells, which rarely holds a scent, has been greatly modernised in my time. I have a lively recollection of following George Carter through the only driftway there was in it. It has now eight ridings pointing to the centre and extending to the outside fence, with many cross- ridings ; but it is a curious fact that the foxes will not avail themselves of the open running thev might have in them, but persist in running the Covert, which is a very bad scenting one. Of the many huntsmen I have seen in those woods, I never knew one to speak well of them. To give the place its due, many good runs have been seen in it, and on a few occasions from it. I have seen a fox run from it to Fawsley. Lord South- ampton used to pay visits to shoot with other noblemen ; we always used to know when his The Fanners — Fox Preservers, &c. 205 lordship was going out by the Woodland Meets during his absence, for the purpose of driving the foxes into the open. Although Yardley Chase was a long way from me I always had a great affection for it ; hounds could always act there, and nowhere was better hunting to be seen than in the woods and in the surrounding country. A subject now comes up upon which I dare hardly trust myself to write, as it has no re- deeming feature in the eyes of a fox-hunter, and one cannot but regret that it has attractions for the farmer; the thing meant is "Barbed Wire." It may well be said of it that " the snake has risen out of the grass and secreted itself in the hedge I " and that so effectually that it is not visible to the naked eye, and until its horrid fangs are stuck into a poor horse there is no warningof its presence. It must be hoped that good offices and good-nature may avail to overcome the difficulty and lessen the danger. The Grafton country is perhaps second to none for making a pack of hounds perfect in their work, if they be kept what one may call "indoors" during cub-hunting. No man knew better what a pack of hounds should do, and how they ought to do it, than the late Lord Southampton. He was 2o6 The Far Die rs — Fox Preservers, &c. most severe in drafting from the head of his^ack. He gave away a dog called Priam, which I thought was the best I had seen up to that time ; on my expressing regret, his lordship gave his reason : " In the first place," he said^ " Bob Ward and that dog would lose any fox ! I admit his superiority, he wants to do all the work ! And, pray, what is the pack to do ? If you have a hound of that kind he disgusts the others and they lose their interest." A jealous hound his lordship would not keep. If he saw a hard runner, when he came to a check, follow an old hound and watch him pick the scent up, then slip in and take it away from him, he would have to go ; to take that for which he had not worked was dishonest. In conversation with Tom Firr — than whom there was no better authority — I remarked, '' Jealousy is a great curse in a foxhound." " I quite agree with you," he replied. '' In wanting to get on they lead the pack, when they miss the turn of the fox and bore on drawing the others after them." He added by way of illustration, " I had a hound of that kind, and I once saw him go ahead for two fields, the others stopped; he then stopped and looked back ; seeing they did not follow he went back as The Farmers — Fox Preservers, dfc. 207 fast as he could, picked up the line, and followed thence, knowing w^here he had left it ! " The Friday country is the best from a riding point of view ; it is as good a scenting district as can be, with plenty of jumping for a man who goes with the hounds ; and firm grass, in good proportion, to gallop over. Moreton Pinkney and Sulgrave require a good man and a hunter to surmount the impediments, and there have always been men who could hold their own over the severest part of it. Mr. G. Campbell and the Honourable R. Grosvenor went very straight, as did also Mr. T. Whitton and Mr. Blencowe, our two best w^elter-weights, who were only equalled by Mr. Muntz. All the light-weight farmers could go well, and many of them have shone between the flags. The Hunt servants, who were chosen by the Masters solely because they were good horsemen, have always been mounted on cattle which could compete with the pack. In or from the Monday country the Warden Hill district is occasionally reached. A very good run there, with most severe fencing, may be recalled. After leaving Charwelton hounds ran over Byfield, bearing to the right into Hellidon Field, the village on the right. Priors 2o8 The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. Marston on the right, at a great pace. Very near the village I had an easy fall. Mr. Harry Everard looked over the hedge ; I said, " It will do ! " *' No, thank you," he answered decidedly; " Beers is down and you have been down, I will have none of it !" Beers' horse, Hunting Horn, with the saddle flaps flying, was going down the field like Pegasus, verifying his nomenclature at every stride by carrying the horn without the Huntsman ! Hounds ran on over the Catesby doubles, along the vale, over the brook and nearly to Staverton Wood, when a flock of sheep brought them to a check ; Beers came up on the whipper-in's horse, and thought we had changed foxes, and there ended a very severe run. Mr. Vincent Shepherd rode w^ell on a chesnut horse which his father bred and sold to the Duke of Grafton after that performance. Lord Camperdown and Mr. Edward Knott used to go w^ell on that side. At the time this narrative commences and for twenty years afterwards there was only one fox in three compared with the present time ; a mangey fox was then seldom seen or heard of. A fox-hunting farmer said to me last autumn, *' I am completely eaten up with foxes." The Fanners — Fox Preservers, &c. 209 " Do you keep greyhounds ? '^ I asked. " No, I do not/' was the reply. " When you Hved in the Grafton country you used to do so," I rejoined, ''and many others also, and I always credited the greyhounds with killing one fox to five killed b)/ the pack ; and I do not think I exaggerated." "Well," he said, reflecting, "now that you name it I think there is a good deal in what you say, for I once had a dog which did catch them, and when he caught one he carried him about and would not let me have him." Formerly there were greyhounds, or lurchers, kept in every village in the Grafton Hunt, and the stubble was put into heaps in the field and formed a favourite bed for Reynard. At the present time I only know of one brace of grey- hounds in the Hunt, and they are in my native village ; and, happening to be there on a visit at Christmas, the hounds sent a fox down to the outskirts of the village, and one of the greyhounds killed him a very short distance from me. In Lord Southampton's time foxes were found to be very thin in the spring, and blank days threatened. Meeting on one occasion at Whistley — the Hunt's largest covert on the south side — we drew it blank ; Halse Coppice, p 2IO The Farmers — Fox Preservers, &c. Allithorn, Hutchinson's Covert, Plumpton, Seawell, and Grimscote Heath were also blank. Seeing Mr. William Wait of Lichborough, in the distance, I rode up and asked him if there were a fox about. ^* Yes," he said, '' You will find in Lichborough Coppice." Lord Southampton was informed of it, and also that it was a lamb-killer. He was viewed away at 5.5 and killed at 5.55 o'clock, after a ring up to Stowe, when hounds were so near him that he turned right-handed up to Cold Higham, and they caught him in the hedge before he could get into Grub's Coppice. A very good finish after the long draw. This was the last day in the open country in 1848. The Gamekeepers. One cannot over-estimate the value of a keeper who is loyal to fox-hunting and interests himself in the preservation of foxes. No history of the Grafton Hunt would be complete which should omit to mention men of this class who have done good service in the cause. Rayson, the park keeper at Fawsley, is a well- known figure trotting about the estate on hunting days. After many years' service he has attained a great age, and it is pleasant to hear that he still exerts himself, and applies his knowledge in The Farmers — Fox Preservers , dfc. 2 1 1 the office he has so long and so honourably filled, having served under four successive baronets. Paragreen of Blis worth, is another ; he served for many years under the late Colonel FitzRoy and his son (the General), who had the shooting over a large portion of the Duke of Grafton's property including Plane Woods. A more energetic or zealous man could not be, nor one who prided himself more in showing plenty of foxes. He was also of great service when depredations occurred in going to ascertain the extent of the damage, and in rendering a correct account to the manager of the Poultry Fund. Whistley Wood has long been under the care of John Pollard. The Huntsman knew where to find him in that large covert, and never failed to reach him as soon as he could knowing how reliable he was. Lord Ellesmere was and is his Master and appreciates the success of the hunt in that favourite covert. Another good man under the noble lord is Bonham who looks after Hatch Woods and Halse Coppice. The late Spencer Longland was employed by the Duke of Grafton for many years in the Green's Norton country, and, at his death, was succeeded in the Duke's service at Wakefield by his son. p 2 212 The Far7ners — Fox Preserver's, &c. Atkins, the present keeper at Green's Norton, being then appointed. The whole of the property swarms with foxes. Besides those above-men- tioned many good men have passed away leaving good characters behind them. Sir Charles Knightley, Bart. CHAPTER XIV. SIR CHARLES KNIGHTLEY. — SI R RAINALD KNIGHTLEY.— THE REV. VALENTINE KNIGHTLEY. — MR. SELBY- LOWNDES, M.F.H.— BOB WARD, HUNTSMAN. It was in my early manhood that I first knew Sir Charles Knightley, and as the acquaintance grew I came to regard him in the same light as Sydney Smith did Macaulay, namely as '' A book in breeches ! '' Every word Sir Charles uttered had a ring of knowledge that was delightful. When I first beheld the house at Fawsley nestling in its picturesque surroundings, I was greatly impressed with the beauties of the scene, and keenly realised that Nature had lavished loveliness upon it with no niggard hand. With its broad pastures stretching afar, its stately timber standing out in bold relief on Nature's elevations. 214 Sir Charles Knight ley. showing it off to great advantage ; its rich deer park mantled by a grove of majestic beeches ; and a lake to complete the beauty of the pano- rama, it stands conspicuous as one of ''The Stately Homes of England." It was an added satisfaction to know that the character of the owner was in harmony with the grandeur of the place : and Sir Charles Knightley was a prince among fox-hunters. The plentiful supply of venison enabled Sir Charles to exercise his generosity to his friends, tenants, and neighbours to the full. Men of all creeds could eat of his venison with avidity and a relish. But he was at variance with the cooks, and, considering that they did not do justice to the haunches he sent to his friends, he determined to ask the recipients, in many instances, within a radius of a dozen miles of Fawsley, to cook it there. To carry out this scheme he had an oven placed upon wheels and sent the venison to his friends, properly cooked, at any hour they chose to name. Many anecdotes were told of Sir Charles Knightley. Here is one : A fat deer managed to escape from the park in the height of the season for killing, and it strayed to a field in Byfield Parish near to Griffin's Gorse, and was killed by Sir Charles Knight ley. 215 Mr. Barnes's men. It was properly dressed by a butcher and a venison feast was proposed to celebrate the harvest home. On the following day Sir Charles's keeper appeared on horseback with a venison basket on each side of the saddle, and demanded the buck. Mr. Barnes gave it up at once but asked the keeper to wait while he wrote a note. On the keeper's return he met his master and handed him the note which ran as follows : — Mr. Barnes's compliments to Sir Charles Knightley, and he begs to say that he had intended to put the deer to a proper purpose by giving a feast to the poor. Sir Charles sent the keeper back to Byfield with his compliments to Mr. Barnes, and begged his acceptance of the venison for the purpose he had named. My informant told me that he lived with Mr. Barnes at the time and that the poor were treated with the present. Two other anecdotes of the worthy gentleman of whom I am now writing may here be given : — Byfield is noted for Freeholders. Sir Charles regularly attended the meetings of Guardians. On one occasion an applicant for relief came from that parish. '' Byfield again ! " Sir Charles 2i6 StJ' Charles Knight ley. exclaimed; "they are freeholders but not free givers I " In the days when dogs were used for drawing small carts a fishmonger from Daventry named Bree used to take fish into the country for sale. One day he was passing the " Lantern House ^' (a lodge gate) when the man who kept it stopped him and asked if he had a turbot ; Bree said he had, a good one. The lodge-keeper told him that the cook at Fawsley wanted one. Bree replied, " Open the gate, and I will go down.^' " Unless you promise to give me half the price of the fish I won't let you through," said the grasping lodge-keeper. After considerable argument Bree agreed, and was then admitted to the Park and went and sold his fish to the cook. While he was at the door Sir Charles appeared upon the scene and, enquiring the price, said he would settle for the fish. Bree said, " Forty stripes on my back, with a whip ! " pulling off his coat to receive them. And no other payment would he take. Sir Charles fetched the coachman, and, saying he had a fool to deal with, told the man not to hit him hard. Bree counted the stripes up to twenty, and then exclaimed : — " Stop now, there is a partner in this business ; Sir Charles Knight ley. 2 1 7 the lodge-keeper is to have half the price of the fish for letting me through ! " After that transaction Sir Charles greatly assisted the fishmonger. I never heard how the gate-keeper fared. Sir Charles Knightley was a great authority on agricultural matters and very successful as a breeder of Shorthorns, besides being a good practical grazier. His foresight regarding agri- cultural depression was only too correct. He made no secret of his predictions. '' Sooner or later it must come ! " he used to say to his tenants. This had such a powerful effect upon one of them, Mr. Jonas Paine, a large grazier, who was wont to appear in the hunting field well dressed and well mounted, that he altered his costume and came out in trousers. I overheard a friend ask him why he had made this change ; his reply was, " Bob Peel has got my breeches and boots ! " Sir Charles used to enjoy a chat about old days in the Quorn country, and with Charles King and the Pytchley. I once asked him if he had marked any time in particular when there had been a better scent with a fox than usual. He replied, " I have ; when I was at Melton in the month of March after the ground had been very 2i8 Sir Charles Knight ley. wet, a white frost followed every morning, and we went out and returned home about two o'clock in the afternoon, having accounted for a brace of foxes, and given our horses plenty to do, and this sport continued through the month." Sir Charles was his own steward, attending to the wants of his tenants whom he was very fond of meeting upon their land early in the morning. The estate being chiefly grass he paid the greatest attention to the drinking-places. Kindness to the poor has long been a great characteristic of the Knightleys. Sir Charles had a fixed morning for the aged poor to receive alms, as he had a dread of their going to the workhouse. Sir Charles Knightley lived in the " Good old times " and was my " Grand old Man." I will conclude this short memoir with one more story. In the old house at Fawsley there was a room which was reputed to be haunted, it is now pulled down. A good many years ago a large party had been invited there to meet the Bishop. None of the lady guests would sleep in the haunted room ; it was therefore arranged that the Bishop, who was not aware of the ghost, should occupy it. All the rest of the party knew of the ghost, and the arrival of his lordship at the breakfast table was awaited with considerable Sir Charles Knight ley. 219 interest, but some disappointment was felt when the Bishop appeared, quite unconcerned and at his ease, and partook of a hearty meal. However it was concluded that his lordship had been tired the night before and had fallen asleep before the ghost had appeared, or, perhaps^ was aware of his lordship's presence. They therefore decided to await the events of one more night before questioning the Bishop. The result was disappointing, for the Bishop came down next morning in perfect health, and with his appetite unimpaired. One lady could not restrain her curiosity, and asked his lordship if he knew that he had been sleeping in a haunted room. He replied he had discovered that on the first night, and related how his room had been suddenly illuminated by an unearthly light, and a beautiful lady, splendidly dressed, had appeared ; his lordship went on : — " Addressing her I said, ' you are evidently a wealthy lady, don't go away ! ' I w^ent to my pocket and pulled out a subscription list for a new church which I want to build, and turning towards the beautiful apparition I continued, ' I know you will give me ;^ioo towards it,' — but the words were scarcely spoken when she vanished awav, and I saw no more of her ! " 2 20 Sir Rainald Knight ley. The Bishop then, addressing the inquisitive lady, said, '' You are a rich lady too, I know you will help me ! " but she replied that she must really run away and pack, as she was leaving almost immediately ; and to similar appeals from his lordship the other guests returned like excuses, whereupon the Bishop exclaimed, '^ Oh dear ! what shall I do ? the dead fly from me, the living leave me — how shall I get my church built ! ! !" Sir Rainald Knightley. This gentleman succeeded to the estate on the death of Sir Charles. He represented the Southern Division of Northamptonshire in Par- liament for many years, until he was created a life Peer. In his young days he was a fine rider to hounds and knew the secret when to ride as well as how to ride. He possessed a horse of great merit, which he called " Go-easy " ; no man had a better or a better-looking horse. On him Sir Rainald was at home, and sailed over the country in the front rank in graceful style. He had the misfortune to meet with a bad fracture, after which he took things more quietly ; but he was a fine sportsman and welcomed the Grafton and Pytchley hounds on all occasions. The Rev. Valentine Knight ley. 221 Lady Knightley was very fond of hunting and graced the Field with her presence at the near meets, while by her affabihty and kind manner she gained the esteem of all. Lord Knightley' s mantle fell upon Sir Charles Knightley, the present baronet, w-ho is so well known and liked in the neighbourhood ; and with Lady Knightley fond of hunting also there will be a home for the fox and a w^elcome to the hunter as of old. The Rev. Valentine Knightley. A good man, who has recently departed this life, after devoting his time and talents to the benefit of others. He had for many years the charge of the foxes and game on the Fawsley estate. The shooting was wild and not being preserved very strictly it was a secondary consideration. Mr. Knightley, always popular, had a happy way of keeping the farmers good friends to the chase.. If the owner of Fawsley were asked where the hounds should draw no decision was given until he had been consulted. He was a great friend to the foxes and would beg them off if he could. Full of honourable feeling, if any damage had been done to cattle or colts, he took care that the farmer was remunerated. 22 2 Mr. Selhy- Lowndes. As well as conducting his clerical duties in an able manner he took the lead in his parishioners' games, pleasures, and holidays. No child who ever knew that good man will forget the kindness received at his hands. No man could be more respected in his generation than he was. The poor — and the foxes — have lost their best friend. This good pastor was sixty years at Preston Capes. Late in life he succeeded to the Fawsley estate ; but, in his great unselfishness and generosity, he at once made it over to the present baronet. Mr. Selby-Lowndes. The late Mr. William Selby - Lowndes com- menced to hunt the upper part of the Grafton country in the autumn of 1842. He was a great admirer of George Carter, and took Dickens, the second whipper-in, as his kennelman and whipper-in. Mr. Lowndes always *fed his hounds on Indian meal. He also had a notion, which does not go down with many people, that a hound need not be so very straight, and always maintained that those which were not so were the best wearers. At any rate he soon got together a killing pack of hounds, and could catch his foxes with them. I remember his bringing his William Selby-Lowndes. Esq., Senior. Mr. Selhy- Lowndes. 223 pack down by invitation to Whittlebury Forest and killing a brace of foxes handsomely. About the year 1853 Mr. Lowndes gave the country back again to Lord Southampton for a time, during which he hunted the North Warwickshire and the Atherstone. However, he returned and took back the country from Lord Southampton after five seasons, and it has remained in the possession of father and son ever since. In 1862 Mr. Lowndes bought Lord South- ampton's hounds, of which he retained the bitches, selling his own pack and the Whittlebury dog hounds at Tattersall's. On the 28th of October in that year I went to see the old pack. When I drew near College Wood, where they began, I met the pack coming over the cross-roads into the Grove, which was then standing. The people, one and all, pulled up at the cross-roads. As I knew by the tone of the cry that they meant to treat the fox severely, I followed the hounds. When I arrived at the bottom of the wood they were gone. I halloo'd lustily but no one appeared, and down to Little Horwood the 'ladies' were before me. The fox ran the Gardens, which hindered them, and enabled me to meet them in a dirty lane. The thought struck me that they would not get on 224 ^^'- Selby-Loivndes. very fast, so I called them, and every hound seemed to know me, and down the back street we went and into the direct road for Mursley. On clearing the village hounds caught the scent, and ran directly over Mr. Dauncey's Park, and down to a very awkward fence and brook at the bottom ; then a very rough country had to be crossed on the left of Winslow Spinneys, over the Swanbourne road, where more difficulties came for me, but the hounds kept singing away. The fox ran up a grass baulk with two or three gates upon it ; many hounds jumped them. We then crossed the Aylesbury road leaving Christmas Gorse and Mains Hill on the right. At this point a broad expanse of the creamy Vale presented itself ; not for one instant had they checked. Going as of old, they gave me work enough to keep with them ; and ran straight over the Vale up to North Marston. There the fox turned right- handed ; he had shot his bolt, but still they chased him down to the right of Granborough, and I saw him ; the bitches crept up to him and from scent to view they ran into a fine old fox in the middle of a large grass field. At that moment I saw a gentleman coming into the field at the bottom and he was the first man to appear. All through inattention on the part of Mr. Selhy- Lowndes. 225 the Field, as good a run as hounds could have, over so fine a line, was lost. The Squire reached Mains Hill whence he could see the hounds in the distance ; he came up delighted. Having such an affection for the old pack I hunted every Tuesday I was able to in the follow- ing season. The sport being exceptionally good the meets were well attended. On bad scenting days, which happily were few and far between, some of the wild gentlemen pressed on the hounds. The Vale of Aylesbury, as a rule, is very good scenting ground ; some of the grass is very deep in the winter and does not carry stock, which is a great help to the pack but is very severe for the horses ; only men well mounted, and possessed of good judgment, can live with the hounds on the low ground. At that time Lord Petre was fond of running down for one day a week, and enjoyed the change from the Essex ploughs, where he hunted the stag. Lord Charles Russell also used to enjoy a ride over the Vale. When hounds were running his lordship had a most peculiar habit. Nature had provided him with a very large tongue but with insufficient room for it in his mouth, which caused him to ride with it hanging out, and it was Q 2 26 Mr. Selby- Lowndes. always a wonder that he did not bite it off ! He was a very hard rider, and an excellent all-round ^ sportsman. Mr. John Leech, of Punch renown, came out with the Whaddon Chase Hounds, and there found subjects suitable for his sporting cartoons. No man was more popular than the Honourable Robert Grimston. Being rather a welter weight he used to ride strong blood horses and well understood how to make use of them. With honourable notions of the highest order he was often consulted as referee when difficulties arose between two people. He was a distinguished- looking man, of a peculiar type, and wore a hat with a very broad brim on the back of his head, with a black band under his chin. This gave him a rather clerical aspect ; and he was very fond of telling a story of two boys in a crowd who were attracted by his appearance. One boy was calling him names, when the other rebuked him, saying '' Hold your noise, he will hear you; it's the Dean of Westminster!" Mr. Grimston was a fine sportsman, and was highly esteemed by his numerous friends and acquaintances. Another good man at that time was Mr. Cazenove, who was also fond of the vale hunting, whether after fox or stag. Mr. Selby-Lowiides. 227 Mr. Lowndes had a hard-riding tenant named Charles Higgins, who possessed a good deal of knowledge of a kind very distasteful to a fox, and could undertake the duties of a whipper-in in assisting the Squire to catch one. He had a fine voice, of which, however, he lost control at times. I happened to be with the Squire in Shenley Wood when a fox was just afoot ; Charles galloped past us, screaming vehemently ; the Squire, turning to me, said '' He is very tonguey, but I shan't draft him." Although Mr. Lowndes did not ride hard he was generally on the line, having an accurate knowledge of the country ; and when he did come up, he, like George Carter, knew what to do. Two good men, who were also good riders, Colonel Hunt and Mr. John Foy, joined the hunt. The Colonel rode well to hounds without any fuss or hesitation. If anyone challenged him, he was not slow to accept the invitation. There was a gentleman then living in the hunt who rode fearfully hard at ^ first, and he tried the Colonel very much. One day this man started in his old form ; at him the soldier went, and as he passed me I said, '' Let him go, Colonel, he won't last five minutes." At the first fence over he went, and down he fell, the horse was up first. o 2 2 28 My. Selhy -Lowndes. A little on the left the Colonel's horse jumped Into a newly-cut drain, and rolled over ; the horses then had it to themselves and the riders had to run. The Colonel hunted for some years with the Whaddon Chase Hounds and was an ornament to the hunt. After poor Jem Mason died he piloted Lady William Osborn, and very well he performed that office. Mr. Foy was a good sportsman and would ride steadily and to the end of most of the gallops. As I kept no diary I am unable to say more than that there was first-rate sport. In a very good run over the Creslow country I felt sorry for Jem Mason. We were going along together so cheerfully and had negotiated a good water jump, when I looked back and saw Lady William Osborn drop into the brook ; of course Jem had to go back and lost the run. On another occasion we had a good run and reached the river at Thornton. " What's to be done now, Jem ? " I asked. " I am not going to do anything," was the reply. I said, " I will try for once in my life ! " and in I went ; my horse took two steps and then dived quite out of sight, came up, and swam across;. Mr. Selhy- Lowndes. 229 Jem laughing at me. Of course hounds ran two fields and then checked until the people came round, so that I had my trouble for my pains. As I was wet to my pockets I rode home, changed into dry clothes, and struck swimming out of my hunting programme. The Vale of Aylesbury is certainly a rare scenting country, and second to none. It was matter for great regret that Mr. Lowndes did not breed hounds enough to keep up that perfect pack of bitches, and at the present time it would probably puzzle anyone to trace back to them. For many years the Fitzwilliam draft was taken, and very good they were in those days. Time has slipped away and the old Squire is no more ; he is succeeded by a good son, an expert horseman and a good sportsman ; the farmers are with him and for him, and may he live long to enjoy the hunting and his neighbours' friendship ! When hunting in the Vale, you are bound to meet a thrusting Field. It is only natural that good horsemen should resort to such a playground in order to indulge in the game of which they are so fond. Mr. W. Levi, Messrs. Saunders, Wilson, Gerald Pratt, and many others whom I fear I did not know, were very good riders. Mr. Greaves 230 Mr, Selby- Lowndes. of Winslow has been most interested in the pack, and a great supporter of it. Bentley was huntsman for many years, and needs no praise of mine. He was brought up in a good school. From his hound knowledge throughout the whole science he was undoubtedly a most creditable pupil. It is a pleasing fact that although he has retired, he resides in the midst of his former followers and those who have the greatest friendship for him. Many ladies attend the Whaddon Chase fixtures ; Mrs. Leopold Rothschild and Mrs. Lambton are famous riders. I once saw Miss Wilson ride over a piece of timber as high and strong as anything I ever saw a lady attempt ; and she did it as if it were a common occurrence, At the present time if a stranger is wanting a pilot he might do worse than keep Mr. Gerald Pratt in sight. Another excellent rider was Mr. Chinnery, also Mr. Stewart Freeman, men any country may be proud of possessing. Later on Lord and Lady Orkney and the Honourable — Bouverie were very good. No man hunted longer, or rode better, than ''Billy" Levi for years. Lord Battersea and Mr. Peter Flower were good performers. In later days the illustrious Whyte Melville used to hunt Bob Ward. 231 regularly in the Vale. All know and lament his sad end. Bob Ward. Bob Ward was a leviathan huntsman ; a man of tall stature, broad in the chest, and on a large scale altogether. His size and weight, however, did not prevent his shewing great activity. He was quiet, civil, and most respectful in manner, and a general favourite with those with whom he came in contact. In listening to his conversation one would never have suspected Bob of having regularly attended school, as in his pronunciation he was at variance with orthodox prosody ; and in using such words as baker, gate, or lane he would put in as many " a's " as he could. Bob began in the ''baaking" business at Brixworth. In that village there then resided one Squire Wood, who kept harriers, which attracted Bob's attention ; and by some means he " got in with " the Squire and was trusted to hunt these hounds and prepare them for the season. Bob had a " chap " — a term by which he always afterwards addressed his whippers-in — to turn the pack to him. The following account I should not dare to write had I not heard it from Bob's own lips. I 232 Bob Ward. have had the honour of being invited by Mr. Leopold de Rothschild (through Fred Cox) to the puppy show at Ascott. On those occasions the party consisted of about half a score of hunts- men, past and present — Bob Ward always being one. The last time poor Bob was there he was in bad health, and he had his daughter with him to take care of him. There is no lack of fun with such a party. One of them called upon Bob for a tale before going into the kennel. "Well," Bob began, "you know I hunted harriers. I was out with them one morning ; we had a good scent, and gave them some good work, you know. After we had been running for some time, they got into a road ; they kept chattering to it you know. I couldn't quite understand it and I said to my chap, ' I don^t think this is right, they get so near the village ; ' and I said to my chap, ' I know they are running the old post-woman,' and into the village they went, and they ran up to a door where the old woman was, and jumped up at her back, and got into the house and made such a rattle, breaking the crockery fearfully. I got into no end of trouble about it ; the old woman had a basket of herrings ! " Boh Ward. 233 After great applause one of the company said, '' Let us have one more tale, Bob, before we go into the kennel." '' Well," Bob said, '' after that row with the old woman there was a deal of talk about it. There was a gentleman farmer in the plaace who had a saacy bull. He said to me, ' Bob, I wish you would let your dogs run my bull.' I said, ' If they do they will kill him.' ' I don't mind that,' he said, 'you run him.' So one morning we were out, and had had some work with the hares, and I said to my chap, ' We will go now and run the bull.' So we went into the field and my chap fetched the bull from among the cows, and I started him galloping and halloo'd them on, there was such a ' charm ' with them and I rode after them and cheered. Over the hedge he went, through it went they and across the next grass field, full cry. He jumped the next hedge, pitched on his head in the next field, and when I got round to him I found he had broken his neck and was dead ! I §aid to my chap, ' We must go and tell the gentleman,' so we trotted up to the house. I said, ' Sir, we have run the bull and killed him.' ' I am very glad, Bob,' he repHed, 'I will send the cart for him; where is he?' I told him and he said 'I am glad 234 Bob Ward. you have done him/ Now, none of you hunts- men ever killed a bull !' and we adjourned to the kennel." Bob was with Mr. Charles Barnet in Cam- bridgeshire before going to Lord Southampton to whip-in. Lord Southampton liked Bob very much ; he was very good at pulling down rails or lifting a gate off the hooks for my lord. One day his lordship cautioned Bob about the horse he had kicking hounds ; " I knew that years ago, my lord," was Bob's comment. '^ He is a good horse," his lordship said. " I never heard that of him, my lord," Bob replied. On going to Mr. Leigh to hunt the Hertford- shire, new kennels were built ; Bob was the architect, and everyone who has seen them must allow that they are a credit to the designer. He found a pack there which he did not consider tO' be suitable for the style of country, and set about forming one to his own fancy. I did not visit the kennel for six or seven years after Bob went there, and then I was never more pleased with a pack of the kind. He had bred the hounds much less in size than those he found there ; and he had taken as his model a good hound of Lord Southampton's, called Prophetess, of small size with great power, and he had Boh Ward. 235 succeeded in obtaining a very smart pack. Bob's reason for breeding small hounds was that the flints cut the large feet of heavy hounds so much. Mr. Arkwright thought very highly of Bob, and one could seldom mention him without Mr. Arkwright saying '' Ward is a very clever man." I happened to meet Bob on the railway one season, just after a great run he had had, and he related it to me with great delight. Hunting with the Oakley directly afterwards, I asked Mr. Arkwright if he had heard of the run with the Hertfordshire. " I have not heard the particulars," he said. So I related them. It appears that the fox was found in the centre of Bob's country, and set his head straight for the Oakley country, and crossed the line from Bletchley to Bedford, near Liddington, pointing straight for Marston Thrift. Bob knew his fox was beaten and dreaded a change in the Thrift. When approaching the covert he told his whipper- in to turn the pack to him .and not to make a noise. When he got the hounds he took them alongside the covert up to a gate, and was going through the gate when it struck him that the fox had not had time ; so he took the hounds and stood back out of sight ; and in about two minutes the fox 236 Boh Ward. came away. He did not let them see him ; but when he was out of sight put them on the Hne, and after racing him for a mile they ran into him. "There ! " Mr. Arkwright said, '' I always told you Bob was a clever man ; very few huntsmen would have made those calculations which killed the fox." On account of Bob's weight Mr. Leigh paid high prices for his horses, as the writer can testify. I was asked by Mr. Leigh to write to him if I happened to have a weight carrier. My then landlord had a good horse to sell, and asked me to find a customer for him. I wrote to Mr. Leigh full particulars of the horse's qualities. Bob was sent to see him ; he had a ride, and liked the horse very much ; he said that it would not suit his master, but would carry him. I said, " I am afraid your master would not give £Apo for a horse to carry you." '' He would, if I tell him," Bob answered. '^ Do you mean to tell him ? " I asked. " I do," was the reply. In due course I received a cheque for ;^400 which I endorsed and sent to my landlord. The horse was bred by Mr. Shadrach Tompkins of Leckhampstead, out of a cart mare ; and he carried Ward for eight seasons. Boh Ward. 237 It was quite remarkable how a man of Ward's weight could get over a country as he did. He liked short-legged horses best when he was with Lord Southampton. Nothing Lord Southampton said to Bob offended him. One day his lordship said, " Yes, you hunted for Mr. Barnet ; I heard he only killed one fox all the season, and it so happened that you were not out ! " CHAPTER XV. THE BELVOIR— MR. ARKWRIGHT AND THE OAKLEY — THE PYTCHLEY AND CHARLES PAYN — CAPTAIN ANSTRUTHER THOMSON. I HAD been wishing for many years to see the Belvoir pack, and I had had many invitations from Gillard. At last this worthy huntsman captured me at a show^ at Newark, and took me home with him in the evening. As he was to exercise the hounds in the morn- ing I asked to be allowed to rise early, and accompany the pack. We took the dog-hounds a round on the eastern side of the Castle for an hour. We then returned home and went on the southern side with the ' ladies.' A ride on a lovely morning, with the views surrounding Belvoir, is a great treat at any time ; but to be accompanied by such a talented man in the The Behoir. 239 ' noble science,' and such a pack of hounds, added all that I cared for to the pleasure. After breakfast Gillard gave me a most instruc- tive and agreeable morning on the flags. Hunting all my life with hounds descended from these kennels I could refer back to many of the old hounds which were there before Gillard's time. You see in the Belvoir Kennel a feature not to be noticed in any kennel I have visited, namely, uniformity of character, quality, colour, and symmetry which is not to be equalled. A list of 62J couples of hounds shewed five couples only immediately related to another pack. I made the remark to Gillard that I thought he must be much puzzled to know where to go for a change of blood, without losing the class of his own. To shew that there was something in this a novice like myself was able to pick out three bitches, before we had gone a quarter of a mile, which were of a different character and colour from the rest of the pack. Gillard remarked : " Those are all the strange blood I^ have besides one dog in the entry." Anyone referring to the list of 1887 will find that this was so. I returned home in the evening greatly pleased, and was then able to compare notes with Frank Beers, who always thought so highly of the 240 The Belvoir. Belvoir on account of his good Destitute having been bred there, and being descended, on the dam's side, from Mr. Drake's Duster. In the following season I met Mr. Ernest Chaplin, who invited me to accept a mount and have a day with the Belvoir. Of course I was only too pleased to avail myself of such a kind offer. During the season I received a very courteous letter inviting me to Grantham, offering me quarters and mounts for two days' hunting. Accordingly I went to " The Angel," and met there some gentlemen of my acquaintance and had an enjoyable time. In the morning I was riding to the Meet, and at Lord Brownlow's lodge gates I fell in with Gillard, who was letting his pack out of the van. He had the big pack out, all dogs, and a fine lot they were I and I was fortunate in having a ride to covert, a few miles distant, in his company. The fixture was " Byard's Leap," near to a wayside house. I was taken to see the Leap, marked out by four stumps with a horseshoe on each. There was a legend about it to which I did not pay much attention beyond thinking that our forefathers enjoyed greater license for " throwing the hatchet" than is permitted to their descendants. The Belvoir. 241 Two rare good hunters awaited my arrival, and I was asked to ride a black horse first. We moved on to the covert ; I saw Gillard making some alteration in his whip-lash which I could not understand, and, asking what it meant, was told : " We are in the stone-wall country and my horse wants rousing at them ; you are all right, there is no better wall jumper than that horse." Good hearing, I thought, as I did not often have an opportunity of practising over walls. We soon found a fox — and the walls. My information from the huntsman w^as correct ; the black horse jumped them beautifully, and many of them there were to be jumped. The dog-hounds romped along. It was just the country for a big pack, the ' cry ' was delightful, and so was the whole thing. After a good deal of knocking about, changing foxes now and then, we managed to give two horses a drilling, but did not succeed in catching a fox. The work of one hound in particular was excellent ; he was the sort of dog that pleases me ; very industrious and determined, and did not bore on, but he would insist upon stopping when he thought he ought to do so, and I saw him turn with the line and put the others right several times ; which pleased me so much that I asked R 242 The Belvoir. Gillard what his name was. " Gambler, sir ; you know him," he answered. '' No, I do not," I said, positively. '' Yes, you saw him, you know, in the summer," Gillard said. ''That is what I did not do," I replied; "you showed me Gameboy, but you said Gambler had been fighting, and was not fit to be seen." As I believe there is more progeny from that dog in different packs than from any other, it seemed very satisfactory. The fixture on the next day was close to Melton, and the small pack was out ; a smart lot they were ! We found at a gorse near to Melton ; ran for twelve minutes, treading on the fox's heels all the way, and killed him. We then went to Melton Gorse, found, and ran about, with a moderate scent ; but undulating ground, quarry pits, and arable land did not afford satisfactory results. A hard, long day. The impression which I formed of the country was, that after turning from Melton it is a hard- working place for hounds and huntsman ; while many foxes are not to be caught without earning them. As before remarked, I was delighted with the pack in the kennels, and liked their work Captain Arkwright. Mr. Arkwright and the Oakley. 243 very much ; but no marked superiority over some other packs I have hunted with was specially to be noticed. With many thanks to my kind friend for the four good hunters he had placed at my disposal, and the great pleasure afforded me of seeing Gillard and the pack in the field, I returned home greatly pleased with my outing. Mr. Arkwright and The Oakley. In 1848 a change took place in the Oakley country. George Beers left to go to Lord South- ampton, and Major Hogg, having just returned from foreign service, took the hounds. I believe Mr. Arkwright had been a brother officer of his. The Government requested the Major to go again to India, where he had served with much distinction ; but he only accepted the commission with reluctance, after trying in vain to persuade Mr Arkwright, or Major Magennis (who had lost an arm), to go in his place ; and it was under- stood that he was to have the hounds again upon his return. The business in India was well-nigh accom- plished when it was deemed necessary to -send an expedition up country again to make terms with some native chiefs. Major Hogg went on R 2 244 ^^'- Arkwright and the Oakley. this mission, and, while so engaged, he fell ill of fever and died. In 1 85 1 George Beers returned to the Oakley Hounds as huntsman. Mr. Arkwright was passionately fond of hunting, devoting the closest attention to it in field and kennel ; and embraced the opportunity which now offered of learning from so clever a man as his huntsman. When Beers left there was a good pack of hounds ; but during his absence the breeding as well as other matters had been mismanaged ; and all had gone wrong. After his return nothing was omitted that could be done to put matters right again ; and at the end of three years' apprenticeship to Beers Mr. Arkwright took the horn. Having been a visitor in that country for several years, and getting to know and like the Master, my visits continued ; indeed, they became more frequent ; and I there enjoyed so much sport that the title of this book binds me to give some account of it. I will not describe the country further than by saying that the Yardley Chase end of it Vs^as neutral with the Grafton, and was a very favourite place of mine in which to see good fox-hunting. There was, perhaps, no better country in which to test the qualities of a pack ; Mr. Arkwright and the Oakley. 245 and a pack or huntsman could hardly be pro- nounced perfect unless they could catch a brace of foxes there In a day, with anything like a scent. This property belongs to the Marquis of Northampton, and its resources for hunting are, as indicated above, very great, and the kindness of the noble owners has been equally so. There has always been an excellent keeper there ; and Mr. Carvel, who has been there for some years, is a very praiseworthy man. Mr. Finch has a property adjoining, which has been under the care of Mr. Shakeshaft and his father for many years, and the estate has always been a safe home for foxes. The Horton property brings the country up to Salcey, and there the neutrality ceases. It was a great treat to see Mr. Arkwright, with his worthy secretary, Mr. Harry Thornton, Mr. J. Gibbard, Captain Higgins, Messrs. Macan, Green, Orlebar, and a host of sporting farmers, to wit, Messrs. Battams (father and three sons), Harry Boulton, Lavender, Whitehead, Sanders Brothers, Joseph Robinson, Tom Turnell, Lucas Foster, Swannell, and many others, all horse fanciers, and splendidly mounted. No man was better supported than Mr. Arkwright. 246 Mr. Arkw7'ight and the Oakley. In the early part of his reign I had a curious experience. We were on the Newport Pagnell side, in the neighbourhood of Hardmead, hunting a fox over the plough, when an eclipse of the sun took place ; the birds went to roost, we were in semi-darkness and had to grope our way about, and it is puzzling to understand how we managed while this state of things continued. The country was strange to me ; but a few of the followers and the Master advanced with the greatest difficulty. In a very large grass field I caught sight of the fox and he appeared as much puzzled as we were. The hounds were in the same field with him ; he then went into the next field ; I rode at the fence, not a large one, but down my mare went on her side, and I on the ground, it seemed as if her eyes were eclipsed ! We therefore declined any more jumping and the fox beat us. Owing to the fact of the country where I hunted with the Oakley being large woods, with plains and fields intervening, it is not easy to write a description of the runs. If we made points from Cowper's Oak to Harrold, for instance, hounds would race from one wood to another, and it required a good horse to keep them in sight. Frequently a fox would run from the Mr. Arkwright and the Oakley. 247 Chase to Brayfield Furze, and go on to Houghton Lordship, where you might imagine you were in Leicestershire ; then was the time to see Mr. Arkwright shine ; he was quick, decisive, strong on his horse, and a rare stayer. One thing he used to do which was not to be commended ; if he caught sight of his hunted fox he would ride at him. In the woods one would do much to bother a fox, and turn him if possible, from his foil ; but to ride a fox down is a bad thing for hounds. Huntsmen and their whippers-in will sometimes ride a fox and get him down in a field, and then have to fetch the hounds to kill him I Indeed^ an instance of this is on record ; but I am happy to say that in fifty years I never saw it don^ in the Grafton Hunt. " From scent to view " may well be considered to be the greatest reward a pack of hounds can have. I was out in the Chase on the last day of cub- hunting, when we found an old fox ; and he led us a good round and tried all he knew t ) shake off his pursuers, but they caught him n a little over an hour. We then went and got another fox afoot and began well with him. After going over some foiled ground the pack pressed and kept on pressing. Mr. Arkwright said, '* He is a tough one, for a cub ! " I replied, " He was a cub once» 248 i/r. Arkwright and the Oakley. but not this year! " '' I'll bet you sixpence," he said ; '' Done ! " cried I. After a real case of earning him hounds caught this fox. Tom Whitmore was asked to decide the wager ; but, not liking to give it against his master, he said he would take the head home and put it into the copper. In three days I received a letter containing the old fox's tooth, and six- pence ! I had that tooth mounted as a scarf-pin, and I treasure it for its history. On meeting Mr. Arkwright at the covert side he never failed to ask how I thought the pack was looking. " Are they heavier or lighter than the Grafton ? " he would enquire. One morning, before we moved off, he said, " Oh ! if vou notice anything wrong to-day I wish vou would tell me." I laughed, and said, " To think that I could tell you anything ! " '' I mean what I say," he replied, and rode away. We were not long in finding and after a turn round two or three large quarters the hounds went away at a good pace, down to Warrington toll- bar ; but they checked at the gate leading into the road. I waited a short distance from the gate, and, hearing a hound speak in the road, approached the gate, when, looking over, I saw Mr. Arkwright and the Oakley. 249 what took place. Mr. Arkwright came up and asked w^here they brought the Hne to. " These gate-bars," I said ; "he has not gone down the road." The hounds turned left-handed and hit the scent and on we went, but the fox beat us. We then went to find another. I was riding with Mr. Arkwright, and, pointing to a hound, I said, " What's this gentleman ? " '' He is a ' Sportsman ' dog," he replied, ''what about him ? " '' When the hounds reached the gate," said I, ''up to which you came, he w^ent down the road throwing his tongue; the others turned to him, and, after trying, would not have it. He then turned and looked back to see if they were coming, put his head down and spoke again ; then he turned back." "That," Mr. Arkwright said, " I saw him do the other day, and that is why I asked you to tell me if you saw anything wrong ; he must go ! " I wTite this to show how vice orets into kennels. There was a dog in the Grafton pack called Sentinel, a son of Oakley Sportsman, he was the best Chase hound in the kennel. One night, going home, I asked Frank Beers if he had seen Sentinel do anything he ought not. 250 . Mr. Arkwi'ight and the Oakley. He said, " No, you would crab anything! " It was too true however ; soon afterwards this hound led all the pack up a road for two hundred yards to two men standing therein. They told Beers that no fox had been there, and pointed to the hound which brought the pack on. Down went the character of that breed ! My readers may see in Winfield's Lecture, which I shall give later on, what he thought of that failing. The Oakley hunted in the Chase until " Prim- rose Day," when the ladies did not forget to mark the occasion. Mr. Arkwright, at one time, had a small black- and-white pack ; there was nothing dismal about them, the white predominating ; they took honours at Peterborough, even when G. Carter was so stroncr with the Fitzwilliam Hounds. Mr. Arkwright and Tom Whitmore, with the above-named pack, riding into the meeting-field, looked as much like fox-catching as one could imagine. This pack acted well in the woods, and hunted over the ploughs to the satisfaction of the Master and his followers. Two days in the Chase I remember very well. One was in the middle of the season. The meet was Cowper's Oak. It was not long before we hit on a fox and hunted from fox to fox for an hour and a half^ \ Mr. Arkwright and the Oakley. , 251 until one went to ground near the Deer-park rails on the north side. I asked : '' Shall you bolt him, Captain ? " '' No," he replied, " I will have him ; if I bolt him he will go into another drain in five minutes ; I don't believe in letting them off here, it is not fair for hounds, and, you see, there are too many foxes." He was accordingly accounted for. We then trotted on to Easton Wood, found a fox directly, and went away close at him, leaving Easton Maudit to the right ; he ran over the open, leaving the Castle on the left, the Chase also, nearly to Brayfield Furze ; turned left-handed through Collier's Earn, down the Deer Park like ffying, through the Chase to old Pond ; turned right-handed out into the open, and hounds ran into their fox before he could reach Weston Wood ; forty-five minutes without a check ; it was getting dark. On the other occasion the Deer Park was the meet, with the small pack. They had a great deal of running in the Chase without killing. In the afternoon the scent improved, and a fox went away to Olney Court, turned right-handed, ran parallel with the Chase up to Ravenstone Brook, over it and the turnpike road, through Jarvis's Wood, over Hanslope Field and ran into the fox 252 Mr. Ai'kwright and the Oakley. about thirty yards inside the forest. A very hard day finished with a capital run. Hounds a long way from home, had to return in the dark. Many people used to come for spring hunting. Mr. and Mrs. Sharman, Mr. G. Higgins and Miss Higgins, Miss Whitworth and her sister, the Misses Higgins and Turvey, and Mr. Hill from Wollaston. Masters of hounds and hunts- men always came at the finish. Bedford has long been a sporting county, and the home of the harrier for many a year. Captain Browning did good service in the Oakley country by keeping a good pack of hounds together. Mr. J. Race has killed hundreds of hares ; he is a good sportsman too and a fine judge of a foxhound. He had a neighbour who was very good to him in finding hares and land to hunt over. Mr. Race told me that he thanked his friend, one day, saying how greatly obliged he was to him. The reply was, " All I can say is you ought to be if you are not ! " ^ In old days there was another pack near Bedford, the Owner of which had an only daughter w^ho was passionately fond of going out with the harriers. There was a young Magnate in Bedford who also had a great taste for ' Currant Jelly ' ; and he found out the meets and attended very Mr. Ark-wright and the Oakley. 253 regularly. The lady of the house saw what the loadstone was, and, not approving of any encour- agement being given in a certain quarter, the Squire had no peace until the hounds were sent away. When the day fixed for the departure of the pack came the poor Squire took leave of them and sent them byroad to London to be sold. They had not been long gone before the Squire was informed that his daughter had eloped with the young Magnate. He at once summoned a messenger and started him to overtake the hounds and bring them back. " They are sure ta want them when they come home ! " he said. He was a good father ! % Mr. Arkwright had for many years a good and faithful servant in Tom Whitmore. Few men w^ere his superior in the kennel and he was a real good man in the field. The excellent pack he left in the Oakley kennel proved the knowledge he possessed in breeding hounds. In concluding my feeble record I feel satisfied that everyone who was fortunate enough to know the late Captain Robert Arkwright could not fail to recognise in him a great man, possessing those qualities which constitute a gentleman, a soldier, and a sportsman ; and knew him also to be a true friend to the Oaklev countrv and its people. 254 Th^ Pytchley, and Charles Payn. The Pytchley, and Charles Payn. In the days when this history commences good sport with the Pytchley was a matter of tradition only. Three changes took place without mending matters. Mr. Smith was said to be a good workman but he was handicapped by having bad horses and indifferent hounds. Sir Harry Goodrich held the Mastership for two years with matters getting worse. Mr. George Payn had a great reputation and I once hacked twenty- four miles to a meet at Stamford Hall where a capital mount awaited me. I could only come to the conclusion that the Squire, in assuming the role of huntsman, had greatly mistaken his vocation. We were on fine grass all day yet with no good result. The only person In the establishment who shewed skill was Ned Johnson as whipper-in. He soon afterwards came to Lord Southampton to whom he gave great satisfaction. Ned was offered the horn many times, but he always refused it, saying : ^' I know nothing of hunting and will never undertake it." At this time people from the Pytchley hunted regularly with the Grafton, and they did not return to their own hunt until Charles Payn Charles Payn. The Pytchley, and Charles Pay)i. 255 entered the Pytchley kennel. Then the good old character of that pack revived. Charles, as a pupil of George Beers, went to a good school and made the most of that advan- tage. Charles was gallant and graceful in the saddle, sitting more firmly than any other man could be strapped on. He was strong in body and nerve, cool in the head, and patient in temper. The way in which he used to treat a large Field was admirable. The thrusters looked upon him as a fugleman, knowing full well that he would do his best and succeed if possible. All difficulties seemed to fade before Charles, and no man knew better how to catch a fox or how to breed hounds for that purpose. I have seen him over the cream of the country race his fox to death in thirty-five minutes; and I have also seen him hunt a fox with a display of great science. It fell to my good fortune to witness one of Charles Payn's finest runs; this was on the 29th of December, 1862. The fox was found in a hedgerow in Preston fields Hounds ran through the Church Wood, away at the bottom over Preston fields up to Mantel s Heath, through the covert ; they skirted Knightley Wood, leaving Farthingstone Village 256 The Pytchley, and Charles Payn. on the left, pointing for Lichborough, where the fox was headed, and turned over the road leading to Maidford, with Seawell Wood in his face, which he objected to ; so ran the bottom over the plough^ and through Grimscote Heath to Grimscote Village, Cold Higham on his left, into Astcote Thorns, pointing for Duncote, and turned over the old Chester road at the end of Duncote lane, with his head straight for TiflBeld Allot- ments, where he was headed, and turned, with Caldecote on his right, crossing the Towcester and Northampton road at the old Brickyard, over the hill through the old road Plantation, to Shoseley Grounds. He was again headed by a shepherd, ran the lane and by the side of the road to Cappenham Bridge, over it, turned down Paulers- pury Meadows (here we had more than one fox) into Alderton fields, and up to the road leading from Alderton to Paulerspury ; this is the extreme point. He turned and ran parallel with the turn- pike road nearly to Cuttle Mill, where the fox crossed the road and the Mill-dam and ran to Heathencote field and Wood Burcote ; he turned to the right, crossed the old Chester road again at Heathencote Toll-bar, through Heathencote and Easton Park to Hulcote Village, where we gave it up. The Pytchley, and Charles Pavii. 257 It was a fourteen-mile point, and considered so- good a run that I was requested to write it out for the annals of the Pytchley Hunt. I well remember Charles Payn's speaking of diggmg out foxes ; — like Mr. Arkwright, he did not care for leaving them after a good run — ► he said that there was a drain between two hunts, at which, by agreement, neither party used to dig. After a time there arose a necessity for opening it all through and laying it afresh,, and when the drain was taken up thirteen masks of foxes which had died in it were found there ! Charles was a loss to the Pytchley country when he went into Wales ; it was a case where two suns could not shine in one firmament, Captain Thomson being one and Charles Payn the other. Although he had a good place, financially, with Sir Watkin Wynn, he liked the Pytchley better. I once went to see him at Wynnstay, and saw the crack dog Painter ; he was very smart, but of a bad colour, and too effeminate in appearance ; I saw others in the kennel which I liked better. In the Pytchley Charles had a good sort in the Pillagers ; he used to say that they were so good and honest, and he left fifty couples of hounds in the Pytchley kennel which would run nothing but a fox. s 258 Captain Anstruther Thonisoyi. The last time I saw Charles Payn was at George Beers' funeral ; it was pleasing to hear the warm terms in which he spoke of his old master. He said : " This was a great man in his profession, and I owe a great deal to him. All that man taught me was worth learning ; and everything he told me I found to be correct." Captain Anstruther Thomson. There could not be a greater wonder in creation than the gallant Captain. Handicapped as he was by weight, it was astonishing to witness his performance over, or rather through, a country ; he was, of course, obliged to creep and squeeze through a good deal, and very wisely guarded his knees for that purpose. No man could hunt a fox with more patience than he, neither did anyone ride better cattle. It was my good luck to see Captain Thomson perform in the Pytchley — and also in the Bicester — country ; the latter, I think, suited him the better. In 1866 I saw him to advantage in a run from Preston High Wood. The hounds ran at a great pace up to Canons Ashby, away over the large grass grounds to Eydon. I complimented the Captain on the " little horse " (as I called it) Captain Anstruthei' Thomson. 259 which he was riding. " Yes/' he said, " there is no surrender about him." We ran through Eydon on to Edgcote, through that village, and killed the fox in good style near Banbury. It was so good a run and so well done that it was most creditable to the huntsman and pack. I believe that was his last season. On the retirement of Captain Thomson, which took place far too soon, a succession of changes followed. An old friend of mine, a member of the hunt, wrote very doleful letters upon the prospect, until the good day arrived for Lord Spencer to take the Mastership and to put Will Goodall in charge. All Pytchley men look back with pleasure to those good days with their favourite Master and huntsman. s 2 CHAPTER XVI. H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES— H.R.H, PRINCE ARTHUR (THE DUKE OF CONNAUGHT)— H.M. THE EX-QUEEN OF NAPLES— H.I. M. THE EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA. In 1870 His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales paid a visit to Earl Spencer at Althorp Park, and hunted with the Pytchley Hounds at Stowe-Nine- Churches. I was asked by Lord Spencer to conduct the Prince through the wood, and to obtain a good start with the hounds when the fox should go- away. On being presented to the Prince, who was most affable, and full of enquiries about the surrounding property, I informed him that the parish of Stowe-Nine-Churches belonged to the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy, whereupon he manifested the greatest interest ; and I was- H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. 261 able to give information which was very gratifying to His Royal Highness. When the hounds were put into the wood I took up my usual position near the earths, which are situated upon an eminence, as it is likely that the fox will ascertain for certain if the door of his dwelling is closed against him before he takes his departure from the covert. It so happened that the surrounding part of the wood had been then recently cut, which gave an opening through which a good view of the country round was obtainable. We had not been long there before a gentleman-in-waiting came to me, and said, " You had better go on." " Not yet," I replied ; the Prince still keeping up the conversa- tion. Very shortly the same gentleman came again and repeated the order, to which I replied, "' Presently ! " He then said, " Look at all these country people coming on foot." " Well," I said, " this is one of the most loyal parts of Her Majesty's dominions, let them have a look at the Prince!" I . could see that there was no objection on the part of His Royal Highness by his smiling at the idea. Th'c^ people came, and formed a half-circle ; — fine fellows they were, too — and feasted their eyes upon the Prince. 262 H,R.H. the Prince of Wales. Then I heard a halloo at the top of the wood» ^' Now we must go ! " I said. In those days the wood was much larger than it is at present, and we had to go up a very soft riding in which there was a very nasty bog. I made all the signs I could for the Prince to avoid it by getting on the side, but the horse did not answer to the rein and floundered into the worst part of it ; by good horsemanship the Prince just managed to save a fall. When we reached the top of the wood the fox had been headed back by the people and had gone into the covert again. I then said, " This fox will now go through the wood and out at the other end ; we must go at best pace back again." " I will go anywhere but through that bog with you ! " the Prince remarked, with a smile. We then made good haste to the Weedon corner of the wood, where I had the satisfaction of saying, '' Yonder he goes I '' as fine a fox as ever was seen. My duties ended there for the day. In the following season the Prince of Wales came to hunt with the Duke of Grafton. On this occasion Bradden was the fixture, a very popular meet. I was told that a very large and aristocratic assemblage was there, but^ H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. 263 having no great liking for a crowd, I was not present. Knowing the draw, I saw the fox away, and caught the hounds when there was a momentary check caused by a flock of sheep. At that point I was asked by Lord Charles FitzRoy to pilot the Prince of Wales. I was fully sensible of the honour, but felt it to be a responsibility ; on joining His Royal Highness he graciously mentioned our last meeting. Having long before made up my mind that, when a man is upon a " hunter," the safest place in the hunting-field is close to the hounds, I asked the Prince to gallop fast to get to the front ; and this, the pace not being great, we accomplished in a few fields. The hounds then beg^an to run over the larcre pastures near to Bradden. A real good stake- and-bound fence presented itself to us, with the ditch on the taking-off side. Over the Prince went I and I never saw a fence better jumped. On reaching the top of the hill there was a very nasty double fence which had to be jumped, so I gave the lead over, and the Prince landed well into a large grass field where there was every sign of a run. Hounds had settled down and matters were going very nicely when the hounds 264 H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. turned right-handed and set their heads straight for a brook. Having made up my mind I raced down, jumping a fence into the meadow and charged the brook, and was no sooner over than I turned round and called out : " Send him at it ! " The Prince rode readily at it and jumped the brook in gallant style. The pack ran up to Blakesley Village and did not do much after- wards. His Royal Highness was charmed ; he ■declared that he had never jumped such a good piece of water in his life. Lord Royston and another gentleman in attendance got into trouble over the same place. The Prince informed me that Lord Royston was not content with fewer than two falls in a day ! The weather was very hot, and no sport of any account followed. In addition to being pilot I was timekeeper, and the time came for the Prince to leave for the station, when he expressed himself very kindly and left for the train. The honour of being within speaking distance of the Prince did not again fall to my lot for twenty vears after that day, when His Royal Highness came to stay with Sir Thomas Hesketh at Easton Neston, and hunted from there, on which occasion he came and shook hands with nie and spoke most cordially. H.R.H. Prince Arthur. 265 H.R.H. Prince Arthur. In the season following the one last recorded His Royal Highness Prince Arthur (now Duke of Connaught) paid the Duke of Grafton a visit, and hunted two days with his Grace's hounds, on which occasion I was honoured by a request to attend His Royal Highness in the field. On the first day we found a fox and ran by Grimscote Heath pointing for Seawell ; the fox ran along the little brook-side parallel with the wood, until it entered a ravine. I happened to know of a place where one could creep down and get up the bank with a scramble, and this we did, thinking that the fox would go into Maidford Wood. We were no sooner over than the hounds came to us. The Field had to go on some distance in order to get round. Instead of going into the wood as anticipated, the fox ran between Seawell and Maidford Coverts. I shall never forget the Prince's delight when he discovered our advantage. The hounds raced for a mile into Blakesley field, where the dry ploughs hindered them, and Beers joined us. Turning left-handed hounds ran on again nicely over the Foxley Bottom and the meeting-field, up to Grub's Coppice, straight 266 H,R,H. Prince Arthur. through, and on to Cold Higham. It was a hot day, and I thought that the nice grey mare which the Prince was riding might not feel very fresh, and I asked His Royal Highness what he thought about it; he answered, "Oh, all right, your horse is not tired yet ! " We then ran past Cold Higham, pointing for Stowe-Nine-Churches, when I saw some large ploughed fields ahead ; I said^ "We shall check directly," and we did. Many questions followed as to how I knew the hounds would check. The ploughed fields were very dry, which saved the fox's life. On the following day, a Saturday, the Prince was out again, but only for half a day. A fox was found, but there was not much running. Finding another at Colonel FitzRoy's covert, with a capital scent, hounds ran very hard about the large grass fields at Grafton Regis, on to Alderton, very fast over the meadows, and up to Stoke Bruerne House, round the large park, the fox wanting to get back to Grafton, but he was headed at the river and turned towards Stoke Bruerne Locks ; very shortly he came into the road, with the pack running in view. No sooner had the Prince seen them than away he went at full speed after them until the fox turned left-handed, wanting to reach the Park The ex-Queen of Naples. TJie ex 'Queen of Naples. 267 Wood. A very stiff clipped hedge had to be jumped, which His Royal Highness's horse re- fused ; I lost no time in giving a lead. Hounds were still in view, screaming after the fox, Frank Beers cheering his very best. There were two young ladies racing in front, one with her hair down her back. " Look at those ladies I " the Prince said, and gave chase; in two fields the fox was pulled down. The ladies ran in a dead heat, the Prince about three lengths behind. I never saw a more lively finish in my life. The Prince w^as obliged to 4e^ve at once ; he shook hands all round, and left a very pleasing im- pression of his riding and charming manners. The ex-Queex of Naples. In the month of December, 1875, Her Majesty the ex-Queen of Naples came to England for fox-hunting. Her Majesty took up her residence at a house called " Park View," near to Towcester, and quite in the centre of the Grafton Hunt, whence she attended many of the open meets. The ex-Queen's first appearance in the hunting field took place at Castlethorpe. Although she was a splendid horsewoman, quite devoid of fear, had ridden at the head of an army and had been under fire, yet her Majesty had never ridden 268 The ex-Queen of Naples. over a country. Mr. Frederick Allen, the riding master, had given her many lessons In the art, and great credit was due to him for teaching the Queen so successfully. Mr. Allen also provided the hunters ; these were two chesnut horses called respectively Pilot and Pickles, which could not be surpassed In any way for the purpose of carrying the Oueen. Quite unexpectedly I was asked by the Queen herself to act as her Majesty's pilot. From Pike's Gorse a fox went away, which happened to be the first her Majesty had seen going away from covert. To my great amusement she exclaimed, with great excitement : '' I do see the fox ! I do see the fox ! ! " I then requested her Majesty^ s attention and rode over a few small clipped fences. I soon found, however, that my part was to get out of the way, and on the many occasions when I had the honour of piloting the Royal Lady she never seemed to find the fences too large. We had a good day's sport and killed a fox. When the hounds caught the fox the Queen said : " Let us go away, I do not care for this part of It." Her behest was, of course, obeyed. As time went on it became apparent that the ex-Queen was passionately fond of hunting, and The ex-Queen of Naples. 269- the bitrtrer the fence the better she hked it I We were awav with a fox in a hurry one day, when a fence and a brook came early in the run. The huntsman and the Field did not face it. I took it, and went over ; the Queen jumped it with a good start ; we then jumped more fences, and were riding along when I heard myself called by name, and, greatly excited, her Majesty said, " There is nobody with the hounds but ourselves, not even the huntsman or the whipper-in ; if my Sister were here she would love it ! " I often heard remarks of this kind, and in the spring it was announced that the Empress of Austria intended to pay a visit to England. From time to time most amusing remarks would fall from the ex-Queen's lips. Once she said, " I do see some of the gentlemen go and look at the hedge, then they go to another place and look, and then they go over, is that better for them ? " The performances of Pilot and Pickles were so entirely satisfactory that I dissuaded her Majestv from riding any other horses. Her style of riding was only suitable for a perfect horse, possessed of the most accomplished manners. After a time a young Irish horse called Chit arrived ; I observed that there was a great longing on the part of the Royal Lady to ride this animal. 270 The ex -Queen of Naples. but I threw cold water upon the idea. However, one day the Queen said, " May I ride Chit ? " '' No, your Majesty," I replied, " I really dare not let you ride him, he is a horse not at all suited to the purpose, and I hope your Majesty will not mind my saying so." A very gracious reply settled the matter. In about a fortnight afterwards Chit was out, being ridden by a smart man, properly attired, and having every appearance of being a good horseman. I enquired of the ex-Queen what part this man was to perform. '* He is to ride Chit after me ! " was the reply. " Has your Majesty insured him ? " I enquired, with simulated anxiety. " Oh, no ! " the Queen said, nonchalantly ; " he can ride." " I do not dispute that, your Majesty ; but he cannot ride upon Chit to follow;)/^//." " Now, I do assure you, he can ride beauti- fully ! " insisted the Queen. " Well," I added, still unconvinced, " I must say I should be better satisfied if the man were insured, because he is bound to come to grief ! " We found a fox at Allithorn and raced over the sfrass in the direction of Weston. In about five fields came the brook ; I reached and jumped The ex -Queen of Naples. 271 it first, the Queen flew over on Pickles, and then, going up the hill for Weedon Wood, her Majesty called out anxiously to me : '' Chit is going up the meadow ! " " Let him go," I cried ; " he will be caught. Come along, please." After the run, which was a good one, was over, the Queen made enquiries, and told me that the man had been knocked off. On the following Friday Chit was out again. We had a very trying day for horses. We ran fast over the Westbury ploughs pointing for Evenley, turned right-handed, all going well, and we in the front. I heard her Majesty calling out : " My man will be killed I " I looked, and over the last fence, which was a clipped hedge with a broad top, a ploughed field on either side of it, the horse had fallen and lay upon his rider. I said : " Come along, your Majesty, it is a very soft place and will not hurt." We soon killed the fox,- and I asked 'what was to be done now.' " Next time will finish him," I said, with mock seriousness. " Oh," replied the Queen, " he shall go by the road. I do see that you know better than I do ; I am glad that you would not let me ride Chit." 272 The ex-Qiieeii of Naples. Ridinof home from Stowe-Nine-Churches one evening with the Empress of Austria and the ex-Queen I was asked if I could get them a glass of milk. Knowing a nice old farmer, a tenant of the Duke of Grafton, at Grimscote, I rode to his house, which, being upon a bank, prevented access on horseback to the front door ; I therefore went into the farmyard, where I met Mr. Gibbins, and told him that I had come to ask for a glass of milk for the two Royal Ladies. Of course I received a ready response, and on the arrival of their Majesties they were perforce obliged to ride up to the back door, where the hostess appeared with a jug of milk and tumblers, and handed the refreshment over the paling where the horses were standing up to their knees in straw. The idea struck me what a nice picture it would have made ! The good people were deeply sensible of the honour done them, and the Empress and Queen thanked them most graciously. The ex-King of Naples was not a rider of much experience, but after a time he took the field and was indebted to Lady Knightley for showing him a great deal of sport in the Fawsley country. The ex-Queen hunted two seasons and part of a third, and then, owing to her Majesty's health giving way, she was obliged to retire in the month H.I .M. The Empress of Austria. 273 of January. For some time previously her Majesty had only been able to take part in one run, and on that occasion she had to retire early. I was asked one day, after the ex-Queen had returned home, by a lady visitor from Yorkshire, a Mrs. Clarke, if I would pilot her ; of course I said, " With pleasure." A few minutes later Miss Hesketh asked if she might follow me, to whom I returned the same reply. We had a real good run and killed the fox seven or eight miles from the find ; and both ladies were up at the death and enjoyed the run thoroughly. The ex- Queen was very fond of chamois shooting, and used to entertain me greatly by relating her excursions after the wary animals. I enquired how her Majesty managed the rifle, and was told that she had a man to carry that. During the summer following Her Majestv's first season's hunting she had a beautiful picture painted for me showing the chamois on their native mountains. And later on a companion picture of a lively hunting 4:^pisode arrived, both most beautifully painted by Benno Adom. H.I.M. The Empress of Austria. In March, 1876, Her Imperial Majesty the P^mpress of Austria paid a visit to England, and T 2 74 H.I.M. The Empi^ess of Austria. joined her sister, the ex-Queen of Naples, in the Grafton country, the ex-Queen having commenced hunting there before Christmas. Easton Neston House, with its fine stabHng, was taken for the Empress and suite ; but so numerous w^as the latter that some of the gentle- men-in-waiting had to be accommodated in Tow- cester, about a mile distant. On the arrival of the Empress, on a Monday, a private day w^as arranged with the hounds in order that Her Majesty might lose no time in commencing the longed-for sport. On Tuesday Wakefield Lawn was the fixture, and as good news spreads quickly a number of people assembled from all parts ; and of course there was a goodly show of ladies anxious to • welcome so lovely a specimen of their sex. Colonel FitzRoy of Grafton Regis did the honours as Master of the hunt, in the absence of the Duke of Grafton, who was abroad, and of Lord Charles FitzRoy, who was in attendance upon Her Majesty the Queen at Windsor. The ex-Queen of Naples brought the Empress to me, and introduced me to Her Majesty. The Empress, addressing me, said, " It is all through you, Mr. Elliott, that I have come to England I " The Empress of Austria. H.I .M. The Empress of Austria. 275 " Your Majesty," I replied, " I cannot conceive how I deserve that honour." '' I will tell you," said she ; " my sister has been riding with you, and you have given her so much pleasure in the field, that every night, after you had had a run, she did write to me and say so much about it that I thought I must come and ^ see what it was like ! " '' Your Majesty will be heartily received," I said, '' and no pains will be spared to find good sport for you." We then went to Fire Furze, a nice covert, which has the advantage of being situate in a rich vale of grass ; and it was a very favourite place with the Grafton Masters for getting away to after spending time in the forest. However, on this occasion this good covert proved to be blank. We then drew on to another, also belong- ing to the Duke of Grafton, called the Colonel's Covert ; there we found and ran smartly, but shortly, to ground. We then went to Stoke Park and found there, and went away with a good scent, but not over our best country. Still, there was a good deal of jumping, which afforded the Royal Ladies much pleasure. Their pilots had enough to do to keep with the hounds. Without jumping it was T 2 276 H.I.M. The Empress of Austria. impossible to do so, although people might ride to points and not be far behind. That style, how- ever, did not commend itself to the Empress and the ex-Queen, to whom the pace and the jumping gave the greatest satisfaction. Whilst we were running for our fox my attention was engrossed in looking forward, and I merely turned my head quickly from time to time for a glance at Her Majesty's skirt upon the right side of a fence. But, coming to a momentary check, to my surprise the Empress rode up to me. Greatly concerned, I enquired where the Queen (whom I had been piloting as usual) was. Her Majesty answered : "I have been riding after you for some time ; my sister is with the huntsman." In point of fact Frank Beers and I had exchanged the Empress for the Queen. After killing our fox, the meet being so late (two o'clock), we gave up and rode home. The Empress and Queen together, with myself in attendance. I was asked to look over the stud of ten horses which had been brought from Vienna for the use of the Empress, and I was requested to state my opinion of them to Her Majesty. The first horse she mentioned happened to be the best ;: but the two next I was unable to pass, and about H.I.M, The Empress of Austria. 277 the next, I told the Empress I was puzzled. ^' Why are you ? " she asked. " I hardly know what your Majesty could bring her for," I replied. '' Well, that is very strange ; the Emperor asked me to include her, she is a great favourite.'' " Perhaps His Majesty thought that a sea vovage and change of climate would do her good," I ventured to suggest ; '' but she is not a hunter." " I quite agree with you," the Empress answered. Four horses only in the stud were at all suitable for carrying Her Majesty in the hunting field. Buyers were sent off to Lincolnshire and elsewhere to procure hunters. During her visit the Empress had some very good days. The best certainly was from Brackley Gorse, fifty minutes over a very fine country. Her Majesty was well mounted and rode splendidly, although she was at a disadvantage at the finish from having taken a wrong turn. The Honour- able Mrs. Grosvenor, piloted by her husband, was in a very enviable position when the hounds went into Whistley Wood, thus maintaining her reputa- tion for riding well to hounds. At the end of the visit the Empress and the ex-Queen met the Bicester Hounds at Thorpe 278 H.I.M. The Empress of Austria. Mandeville, where there assembled the largest Field, perhaps, which was ever seen in that hunt. Lord Valentia was Master, and Stovin huntsman. With the first fox we had a scurry, but were altogether rather unlucky. It turned out to be one of those days when Master and huntsman are anxious for sport hut cannot succeed in obtaining it. Mr. Slater Harrison of Shelswell, piloted the Empress. Her Imperial Majesty could hardly be con- sidered so fortunate in her stud as the ex-Queen. During the day with the Bicester the Empress came to me and said that she wished to give her sister a horse. I remarked : "A very nice gift, your Majesty, if the Queen can ride it ; if not it would be a " white elephant " to her; allow me to suggest that the Queen should have a day on it as a trial." This was acceded to, but the hunter was found to be too headstrong, so the kind offer was declined. The Empress was possessed of great physical strength, which enabled her to ride a pulling horse ; in fact, I think she liked the strong exercise. Great liberality was shown throughout, and the Empress gave a large sum of money to be run for, which started the Grafton Hunt Steeple- chases, which have been an annual fixture ever H.I.M. The Empress of Austria. 279 since. Nothing could be more sad, nor create truer, deeper sentiments of sympathy and regret than the tragic end of that noble Lady. I was told by one of the Empress' attendants that she was a great Alpine climber, a recreation the Emperor also much enjoyed, making arduous ascents. On one occasion the attainment by His Majesty of a peak of great elevation was related to the Empress. Without comment she set out and reached the same peak, and on a table of rock Her Majesty deposited her watch and chain and left them there until the Emperor ascended again the next year. It is recorded in history that the Empress hunted first with the Pytchley ; but that was not the case. Wakefield Lawn was the meet where Her Majesty remarked that ' she thought she must come to see what it was like,' after the ex- Queen had written in such glowing terms of the sport. I must, therefore, claim for the Grafton country the honour of introducing Her Imperial Majesty to foxhounds in England. It may be said of that illustrious Lady that charity and loving-kindness held possession of her even unto death. CHAPTER XVII. HUNTING LADIES — THE BICESTER — MR. T. T. DRAKE, M.F.H. — TOM WINFIELD, HUNTSMAN— MR. T T DRAKE, JUN., M.F.H. — VISCOUNT VALENTIA, M.F.H. — BARON CHES- HAM, M.F.H.— STOVIN, AND OTHER HUNTSMEN— THE EARL OF JERSEY —DICK PAINTER, HORSEDEALER. The Grafton has rivalled other hunts in its attractions for the Ladies, and parti(^ularly so since it has been honoured by the presence of Royalty. Having previously mentioned the first lady whom I remember to have seen perform in the hunting-field I may, perhaps, record my first essay in piloting a lady. It would be in the late ' fifties ' that a friend came to me at Creslow, and, to my great astonishment, asked me if I would Hunting Ladies. 281 pilot a Miss Dickens, who was a member of an old Northamptonshire family. I agreed to the proposal on condition that the maker of it would keep close at hand, and put the lady upon a good horse ; both which conditions he promised to fulfil. We made a start and the hounds ran very hard indeed for about forty minutes, and killed the fox ; and Miss Dickens was presented with the brush after riding well all through the run. After that I had several more days with her, and found out that men are not the only riders to hounds. In the year i860, Mrs. Pilgrim, a resident in the hunt, honoured me with her company, and, being mounted on the best-bred Irish hunters that money could buy, it was not difficult for that lady to fly over the country. With no hesitation about beginning, riding into a place, and keeping with hounds, it gave me the greatest pleasure to pilot her during fifteen seasons ; and only on three occasions did I lose any time on her account. Some splendid sport was enjoyed during those fifteen years ; and after Mrs. Pilgrim had retired from the hunting-field she remained a strict preserver of foxes at Akeley. Many famous riders followed. The Honour- able Mrs. Grosvenor (now Lady Ebury) would 282 Hunting Ladies. always be seen in the front, piloted by her husband, the Honourable R. Grosvenor (now Lord Ebury) who was a capital horseman. Mrs. Byass, mounted on the best of cattle, was a fine rider. The Honourable Mrs. Candy rode with me after I broke my collar-bone, professing to be nervous ; but I could not detect in her any failing of that kind. I had the pleasure of riding before Lady Hesketh through the first run she saw, and a real good run it was ! and her ladyship, like other ladies, was greatly pleased with the sport. Lady Wake hunted for a few seasons and rode very nicely. When my readers go through the following list they must think the Grafton Hunt was highly appreciated by the sporting fair-sex. The Honourable Mrs. Campbell, the Honour- able Mrs. Robarts, Miss Campbell, Mrs. Lambton, Mrs. Whaley, Mrs. Ryan, Mrs. Gould, Mrs. Simpson, Mrs. Hunt, Miss Dryden, Miss Roper, Mrs. Knapp, Miss Judkins, and Mrs. Watts were all Grafton ladies. Many others have come to the country since, and are still going well, with the Honourable Mrs. E. S. Douglas-Pennant, the wife of the present popular Master. Mrs. Fitzroy, Mrs. Atkinson, Miss Berchett, Mrs. Wilder, Miss Wake, Mrs. Hatfeild Harter, piloted Hunting Ladies. 283 by Mr. Harter a splendid performer over a country, and Miss Whitehouse. Great credit is due to the Ladies for the way in which they rode. As a rule they are much more attentive than the men, and ride with more nerve. In all the good runs which I saw, after the Ladies took to riding, it was marvellous how forward they finished. There is no doubt that a lady who wishes to ride hard should have a pilot ; not because he can ride better than she can, but at times when there are things to do which a lady cannot manage a pilot is of service. Mrs. Bunbury (who is now the wife of Baron Max de Tuyll) was first-rate, and an extraordinary performer alone, taking her own tine and always going well. She could turn a hound better than most men, having hunted so much with her father, Mr. Watson, who at the present time is, I believe, the senior gentleman huntsman in Ireland, in which country Mrs. Bunburv first learned to enjoy the sport. Miss Tennant, Miss Peel, Miss Watson, and Miss Elliott also rode well. There was one gentleman. Captain Robert Oliver of Sholebroke, who, being lame, rode on a side-saddle for a few seasons in a very able 284 The Bicester. manner. In course of time he became thoroughly disabled, so he kept three pairs of fast harness- horses and drove regularly, and saw a good deal •of the sport. The Bicester. I first visited the Bicester Hounds in the year 1844, on a day when the fixture was at Trafford. Mr. Thomas Tyrwhitt Drake had been Master for some years, and had gained the goodwill of his farmers and followers. He enjoyed the highest reputation which a country gentleman could possess, namely, that he was a good landlord, and a fine sportsman. After being sufficiently long at the head of affairs he had become the owner of a fine pack of hounds. Everything was of the best, the men were well mounted, clever, intelligent, and civility itself. On this occasion Mrs. Drake was also out, and Avhen I first caught sight of her was shaking hands with a fine old yeoman named Greaves. No one could help being struck with the gentlemen at the meet. There were Lord Jersey, of Bay Middleton fame ; the Hon. P. S. Pierrepont of Evenley ; Mr. Cox, and his son ; Mr. Slater Harrison of Shelswell ; the Rev. John Drake, brother of the Squire ; and many ir*f F^ H The Bicester. 285 others, Including the young Squire, Mr Thomas Tyrwhitt Drake, jun. ; the Rev. Mr. Bennett ; also a number of hard-riding farmers — Messrs. Cowper, Selby, Hitchcock, and his son George Hitchcock, Ivens of Eydon, Horn of Trafford, and many others. It happened to be the last day of the season. We did not readily find, but at last Thenford Gorse proved a success, and away we went over some large fields and strong fences. The young Squire was all on the go and, jumping a fence on my left, down he fell, horse and all, heavily. I caught the horse and took it back to him, asking if he were hurt. He said, " No, he has not hurt me, but I think he must have shaken himself ; it generally happens the other way." That was mv introduction to one of my most agreeable acquaintances. \\'e had a real good thirty minutes, and ran the fox to ground in the Grafton country, then hunted by Lord Southampton Mr Drake said that he would not put a dog in, and would leave it to me to see that the fox might not be interfered with. A more gentlemanly man in the field there could not be ; everything went so pleasantly, and great confidence was placed in the huntsman, Tom Winfield. 286 Tlie Bicester. On the last day of the season, in 1846, I was out at Trafford Bridge. We went to Warden Hill to draw. Winfield informed me that his Master would not come near him that day, for, '' He is riding a horse which kicks hounds," said he. " I had my orders yesterday, before we left, to be out at Warden Kennel ; if I go north or south I know what to do." When we reached the covert he said, " Aloo ! creep in." Tom never threw his hounds in, and a fox was soon afoot, and, after a round or two, the fox went away on the Edgcote side. There stood Jem Hills, of the Heythrop, who told Tom that it was a dog fox. The hounds were soon down at the Edgcote Mansion, round it to the left, and into some long f^at meadows, running hard. My mare set her foot in a trench, and end over end she went. In getting up she pulled my right foot on to her shoulder, I was hanging on the near side, my foot having left the stirrup and gone through the leathers. Several people round did not know what to do ; but Winfield soon settled it, he lifted me by the shoulders and I was up in a second. This was the first and only time I was hung up. We then ran through Edgcote Coverts, away into the Grafton country, where Tom and his fine pack of hounds were seen to advantage going on The Bicester. 287 the left of Sulgrave, bearing towards Allithorn, over Stuchbury, leaving Greatworth on the right, when hounds began to run for the fox, leaving Greatworth Hall on the left, close past the earths, and soon after I jumped through a thick hedge, and called to what I took to be a man — but it proved to be a scarecrow or ' Mawkin ' — and asked if he had seen the fox. Winfield, who was close by, was greatly amused, and said, " My father once asked a ' Mawkin ' if he had seen the fox I " We soon had the fox in view, and Duster and Grasper were not long in rolling him over at Halse. The one and only instance in which I saw one pack of hounds join another happened thus : The Grafton were in the woods near Silverstone on a Saturday afternoon running a fox, when I remarked to Simpson that our pack had greatly increased in number. In a few minutes Winfield and others came up. The meeting of the huntsmen was very hearty, and after shaking hands Simpson said, " Now Mr. Winfield please take charge." "Oh!" said Winfield, "I could not think of it in your country ; please go on." Mr. Drake's hounds had brought their fox some miles ; but for want of scent the united pack did not get on. Winfield therefore asked 288 To7n Winjield's Lecture. to have a separation when convenient. Snupson trotted to the turnpike road ; then counted his pack, the huntsmen took leave of each other, each turned towards home and every hound followed its own master. Tom Winfield's Lecture. At the end of the month of June 1847 ^ went by appointment to the Bicester kennels with Tom Smith to see Winfield and Mr. Drake's pack. Tom was one of nature's gentlemen, a man rather angular in figure, tall, but not very heavy. No- man was more intelligent or possessed a more agreeable voice than Winfield. In conversation he was extremely bright and entertaining ; he raised his voice at times, and emphasised charmingly when necessary. On our way, which led through Tusmore Park, we saw the hounds coming to meet us, and we met in the middle of the park ; just as we approached a most lovely hound came bounding along towards us. She was grey, with a darker spot upon her near side, and when she met us she jumped around our horses and gave us a pleasant greeting. Smith remarked : " If all their hounds are like this one, they are worth looking at.'' o Tom Winfield' s Lecture. 289 We then had a hearty reception from the huntsman, and a chat on our way to Bucknell. Entering the kennel, we began our inspection of the young hounds, and received every informa- tion from Winfield, who was very eloquent and learned in pedigrees. On finishing the entry, 1 1^ couples, I said : " A short lot ! " " Oh ! I could not make room for more," said Winfield, "our old hounds are so fresh and good." On this occasion Winfield was charming, talking, with great glee, over the days we had hunted together during the two previous seasons. I said : " Tom, I know more about hounds running (and that is not much) than I do about them when standing still. Be so good as to draw out your best puppy and shew it to me." " I will, with pleasure. Let Gratitude out, Ben. There, sir, that is what I call a beauty. Is not that a beautiful head ? set on a neck which looks longer than it is, because her shoulders are long and flat, pointing to her ribs ; they should be that way, not towards their ears ; and I like them light at the points ; no animal I have to do with can get along with comfort if it has heavy shoulders. Then the next point is the elbows ; not pinned in, nor stand too much out ; these are just right. u 290 Tom Winjield' s Lecture. " Now, come in front ; look at those legs, you see they are straight, don't you ? It is a great point that this bone should continue right down ; if they are weak at the knee they don't stay here. '' Then the feet ; of course they are of great importance ; many hounds are spoiled by being tied up at walk. My Master is very lucky about that ; his tenants in Cheshire, and our farmers, are very good to the puppies." Tom stroked the hound very hard from head to stern, and ran it through his hand so firmly that he nearly lifted her off the flags. He then proceeded : *' That is what I call a beautiful feather on her stern. Standing here, you see what grand ribs she has ! Look at her strong back! a trifle arched; I don't like the back to dip, it looks so hollow as they get old. Those hind- quarters you cannot beat ; what a piece of ground she covers ! I never put a weedy one forward." '' How is she bred ? " I asked. " Grasper and Legacy," Winfleld replied ; " you know Grasper, I remember what you said about him that Trafford Bridge day. Let him out, Ben. There, sir ! that is what I call a fox- hound ! " ''I remember him," I said, " it requires a strong dog to keep pace with him." Winfleld then said, " Mr. Smith, two years ago Tom Winfield' s Lecture. 291 we had the best run in the Vale that we can remember, from Claydon Woods. Our gentlemen all said so. '' We found our fox in the big wood, and he went right away over the best grass we have, and you cannot say more for any country ; no matter where he went he could not go wrong, they raced him all the way, and that hound and Juvenal frightened me to death. Neck and neck they went when they were running for the fox. At last they ran up to him and got him in view ; he was making for a covert with a newly- cut hedge. The fox jumped it and this dog caught him on the top of the fence and rolled over with him." I enquired, " What were you frightened at, Tom, about those two hounds ? " " Why," he answered, " if they had gone over the scent I would never have bred from them ! The gentle- men came to me and said ' what a clever man I was ! ' Oh dear! gentlemen, I said, I had nothing to do with it, they did it all themselves. " You never know what hounds are going to do until they are through their second season ; they become opinionated, and what I call con- ceited ; some of my best have not begun in a hurry. I remember what you said about old Free- dom over that dry plough, sir. Let her out, Ben. u 2 292 Tom IVinJield' s Lecture. There, that's one of Lord Southampton's old sort which he had in the Quorn country, Hector and Faithless. Hector, a son of Hazard, bred by the Marquis of Tavistock. "You remember Duster, sir? Let him out, Ben. Now you carry Duster and Gratitude in your head and you will never be at a loss to know a good hound ! '' Let some of the old ones out, Ben. Now if it were not for these old hounds, and my good master I would not be a huntsman another day ! They won't run anything but a fox, not they ! We have a lot of riot in this country, so many hares ! and these old hounds hate them as much as I do. " I don't care for too many young hounds, Mr. Smith ; we have a lot of hard-riding men in this country, and when they press upon the pack the young ones are apt to get beyond it ; and the horses will press if there are hounds going on, right or wrong ; then it takes time to get back on the line ; your fox goes a mile while you are doing it ; on a bad scenting day it's soon all over. " Our Master never says anything to these hard riders ; there is Mr. George Hitchcock, he calls him *' Scorcher," he and our young Squire (what a good sort he is !), have nick-names for all Tom Win field' s Lecture. 293 of them ; there is Mr. Cowper, the draper, from Banbury ; Master Tom says to him, " Good morning, ' Ragman ' ! ^' and to his brother, " How are you, ' Farnborough ^ ? " '' I hear our gentlemen say Lord Southampton talks to his Field ; but, oh dear, sir ! if he had what I have to put up with, he would, what I call, ' go mad ! ' We get so many young Oxford gentlemen with us ; they are a great trial to a huntsman. They hire of Symonds, Seckham, and Tollit, and get some funny horses, and ride very wild. " When hounds run they start ; but they get into a ruck, and it seems no fun if they are not together; they don't care about hounds one bit, but they will go on the line. I often wish they would have it to themselves, it would be more comfortable for me and my hounds. My master says nothing to them, I say nothing ; they are such nice young gentlemen, if it were not for that. They always behave well to me, very ! " Now, let my lord come^ and see what I have to put up with ; he would never find fault with his Field ! " Tom looks at his watch and says it is 1.30. " I told Mrs. Winfield to get some luncheon, and she is very punctual," he adds. 294 ^^'^^^^ Winfield' s Lecture. After a pleasant afternoon we rode home in the cool of the evening, singing the praises of Winfield and his pack. When I was young I attended lectures because my parents said it was good for me ; but of all I then heard I remember not a single sentence ; yet I can very well remember all Tom Winfield said. This is, to my mind, a complete triumph of the living animal over the dead letter ! When Mr. Drake gave up the pack was sold and realised a great price, amounting to as much as Mr. Osbaldeston's sale made, putting the bogus sale out of the question. Mr. Drake spoke to Winfield about obtaining a huntsman's place for him ; but to this the faithful servant would not agree. He said, " I cannot work for any other gentleman than you, sir; please give me something to do ? " so Mr. Drake made Tom farm bailiff, and he held that appointment for many years. Being a careful man, he had saved his money, and he asked Mr. Drake to invest it for him. It was placed out upon a good security and remained untouched for a long time, and Winfield died a very rich man, but not more so than he deserved. There was no family like the Drakes in Winfield's estimation ; and Tom thought the T. Tyrwhitt-Drake, Esq., Junior. Mr. T. T. Drake, Jan. 295 late Mrs. T. T. Drake was the nicest lady on earth, and he was no mean judge ! It happened that a ball was taking place at Amersham, and, Tom Winfield having a great desire to see his mistress before she went into the room, asked the lady's maid if she could manage it for him, to which she readily agreed. It was accordingly arranged that Tom should go up in the evening for the purpose. Upon his arrival the maid concealed him in a cupboard, having previously taken her mistress into the secret. The lady walked past the door in order that Tom might have a peep ; then, turning, Mrs. Drake opened the door, unearthing Tom, and insisted upon taking him into the room to open the ball with her ! Mr. T. T. Drake, Jun. After his father's resignation Mr. T. T. Drake, jun., succeeded to the Mastership. . The Bicester people could not entertain the idea of changing the name. Ben Goddard, who had whipped-in to Winfield, became huntsman. The young Squire had a very good idea of following a fox, and used to be in close attendance when hounds ran, which enabled him to bring a good many foxes to hand himself. The Squire, and his two brothers, 296 Mr. T. T. Drake, Jun. Messrs. Edward and George Drake, were the three hardest men and best horsemen, so related, whom it ever fell to my lot to meet with. They were all of them very nice men ; but they would turn their backs upon people and ride away from them if they did not look sharp when hounds ran, without, however, entertaining the least ill- feeling. There were many hard men in the Bicester Hunt in those days, as, for instance. Captain Bill, Mr. William Chamberlyne, Mr. Severn, and others already mentioned. Oxford produced three very famous riders with the Bicester — Mr. Hall, a great supporter of the Heythrop Hounds ; Mr. Thompson, the banker, and " Bill " Holland, an innkeeper there (the Golden Cross) ; no hounds could beat them in a fair country. Mr. John Blake, a sportsman of many years' standing, was another well-known rider. I greatly enjoyed hunting with the young Squire, he was so bright and cheerful, with a smile on his face, a flower in his button-hole, and a good tale to tell. He was very fond of relating how he told a farmer to shoot a fox. One of his best supporters, who lived in the Vale, complained of the fox taking his lambs. The man said : " I cannot stand this. Squire ; he has one every night, Mr, T. T. Drake, J-mi. 297 and does not eat half of it, but buries it in the ploughed field." The advice he received was to shoot the fox at once, not to make it known, but to bury him. Losing no time, the farmer set his man to watch that very night. He had not long to wait ; over the wall came an object; the man fired, and killed — the Master's retriever ! I once had two good horses of Mr. Praed's, and met the Bicester at Chilton, and a nice ride I enjoyed in the Vale. Finding at Shearsley Gorse, the fox led us over a fine country, well supplied with water, and I have a vivid recollection of the fun there was over it. The Squire was himself hunting, and right well he did it ! He killed a good stout fox in a country (near Thame) where I never hunted before nor since. We then went into the Wootton Woods and found another fox, which was soon away, and he ran a whole line of deep meadows. I had sailing orders from Mr. Praed, and carried them out by indulging my horse in a good stride for thirty minutes. The fox beat us and we retired ; but, on my way home, I could feel an unpleasant bumping against my left leg, the only time I experienced that sensation with my horse. Weight-carriers, as a rule, don't like to be hurried, particularly at starting. 298 Mr. T. T. Drake, Jmu. The week after I met the Squire at Skimming- dish Gate. All the kennel horses were down with influenza ; the Squire was riding my first mount at Chilton, and the men were riding horses found by the gentlemen of the hunt. We had some ringing about in the morning without catching a fox. We drew Stratton Coppice in the afternoon. The fox was away in a hurry pointing for Frink- ford Hill, but was headed and turned over some large grass fields to the right. Jem Mason and I, sharp after them, jumped into a meadow near Stratton Mill, and the hounds checked. The Squire came over the fence directly, and, seeing us there, said, '' I see how it is ! " '' Not at all, Squire," said I, ''a hundred sheep have just gone through the gate, if you cast towards the water you will hit him " ; he did so with success, and we rode down to the water. " I said, " We cannot jump this at once." ''Jump in I " said the Squire. '' Not for me," I said. " Jem had the laugh against me once ! " In went the Squire ; we followed, and the bottom was as firm as a road. The fox set his head straight, and, without a turn, ran at least nine miles, and hounds ran into him in the Grafton country in fine style ! I wished Mr. T. T. Drake, Jun. 299 the Squire " good-night," and thanked him for his company so far towards home. From the Warden Hill part the Bicester ran a good deal into the Grafton country. On one occasion, about the time I am writing of, they ran a fox straight across from one side to the other, and killed at Huntsbury Hill, but I was not out on that day. I saw many good runs, but could not properly describe them now. The Squire once told me that he knew of a good horse which he thought he should buy, but that he was bad to mount — what did I think ? " Strap his leg up," I said. '' Well," he replied, " if that doesn't do I will be let down from the window ! " A runaway horse or a runaway hound he de- tested, and carried his dislike further. We had a mutual friend in London. One day the Squire said to me : '' Our friend is married ! " " Do you know the lady ? " I inquired, with interest. '' Yes," he answered, " very pretty I " " I hope they will be happy," said I. '' Well, I don't know," said the Squire, doubt- fully, " she ran away ! I always think when they have done it once they will do it again." In much too short a time I met him again. Laugh- ing, he said, " She has bolted I I told you so, 300 Lord Valentia. she has gone off, and I don't think that he will ever see her again ! " When Mr. Drake gave up he sold his stud at Stratton. He was succeeded by Mr. Greaves, Captain Thomson, and Lord North, successively, but neither of them retained office long. Sir Algernon Peyton then took the Bicester, and, had he been spared, would have been well supported, instead of being greatly lamented by all who knew him. Lord Valentia Then bought the pack. Stovin was huntsman, everything was well done, and there was famous sport. I had the pleasure of seeing many good days with his lordship. One of these was over the Warden Hill country. Crossing Prior's Marston I followed his lordship over some strong timber. My horse caught it, and I fell heavily without being seriously hurt. A noble lord, who was hunting that day, would have given me ;^300 for my horse, but I said he was worth ;^5o more after that fall, and in a short time I had it ! His lordship killed his fox in the afternoon in good style. I was once out on the last day of cub-hunting at Barton Common. The sun was very warm, and there was no scent, although we found plenty Lord Chesham. 301 of foxes ; but I remained out, and saw a fox found late in the afternoon near Frinkford Mill ; hounds set to, and ran very hard indeed, a ringing fox, but they turned and chased her until we reached Mr. Henry Paxton's house, and there she was killed, an old vixen. Forty-five minutes, very fast, into the house. After hunting the country for, I believe, thirteen seasons Lord Valentia retired, and w^as succeeded by Lord Chesham in 1884. No Master or hunts- man could have been more popular than Lord Valentia and Stovin were. Lord Chesham, Who had hunted in the Bicester country for two seasons at least before taking the pack, was well known and greatly approved of as a Master, Stovin remaining as huntsman, and every- thing was done in the best form, keepin^^ up the good all-round feeling and showing capital sport. After a time Stovin had very bad luck in falling heavily and receiving great injury, particularly from a summer fall. His lordship was most kind and attentive to him, procuring the best advice, which enabled him to hunt for another season, when a change was made, and Wilson took the horn in 1887. 302 Lord Cheshain. Lord Chesham, like his predecessor, was a great hound man, and made several purchases to keep up the pack and to improve it, the last addition being several couples of the Blankney bitches, which blended well with the pack, and the benefit was of a long-lasting nature. As I was residing in those days within reach of one side of the Bicester country, I saw a good deal of sport with the pack under both huntsmen, my lord himself carrying the horn occasionally with success. Although I remember many good runs, I cannot give a sufficiently correct report to enable me to write them. On one occasion I saw the bitch pack find a fox at Cockley Brake and run over the grass nearly to Brackley Gorse, turn left-handed up Steane Park at a tremendous pace. On leaving the park and running on the other side of Banbury Road, Captain Hannay, a very hard man, had a fall over a strong fence. The horse fell, and the Captain pitched over his head with both feet hung in the stirrups ; fortu- nately there was sufficient help near or the accident might have been serious. The pack raced on, leaving Hinton-in-the- Hedges to the left, bearing up to Farthinghoe on the right, and they raced together like a flock of pigeons, and killed the fox near Astrop. That Lord C lies ham. 303 pack reminded me of Lord Southampton's pack of bitches which I used to Hke so much. After hunting the country so successful!}^, and keeping the hounds up to perfection, Lord Chesham resigned, and was succeeded by Mr. Colville Smith. The prices obtained for the stud proved clearly how well the thing had been carried on. It has remained an unsettled point which of the three Masters was the most popular — Lord Valentia, Lord Chesham, or the much-beloved Sir Algernon Peyton. Wilson was a great success as huntsman, and, as far as my knowledge carried me, his condition, and his manner of hunting his foxes by accounting for them so well, w^ere worthy of high commendation, and it is certain that the present Bicester huntsman. Will Cox, may look back to Wilson, as Frank Beers did to his father, and be very thankful that he had such an in- structor ; and also such a clever man as Lord Chesham to form a pack of hounds for his master in his youth. Having had the pleasure of visiting the Bicester country for fifty seasons, I have had some insight into the happy manner in which the whole thing has been conducted. Many of the proprietors were good sportsmen, such as Sir Algernon Peyton and Mr. Harrison. Mr. Tubb, the worthy 304 The Earl of Jersey. secretary, has done good service for the hunt, and his efforts are greatly appreciated. Lord Lawrence, Major Green, Mr. Dewar, and Colonel Williamson hunted for many seasons with the Bicester, and rode well. The Earl of Jersey. A name greatly revered for generations is that of Lord Jersey, and the bearers of it were famous as good landlords, and also as capital riders. No pen of mine can do justice to the present lord. I once heard an American say that 'he had licked all Varginie ! ' and, extending his arm, he exclaimed, " Cast iron ! pillar of marble ! double- jointed all the way through ! my father licked all Varginie, and I licked my father !! " And so it is that, good as all the Jerseys have been, the present earl beats them all, and I hope he may live long to be the " pillar of marble " he is to the Bicester Hunt ! and it is very satisfactory to hear that Lord Villiers is carrying on the riding qualifi- cation of the family. The farmers do not stand in need of praise ; with Mr. Edward Paxton as leader, Messrs. Waters, Owen Clarke, Harper, Nichols, Leppei, Busby, Tomes, Barge, Warr, Hinton, Godwin, Rogers, Sanders, Terrys, Roper, Lester, John "■ Jonathan."' One of Dick Painter's Flyer,,: ridden by Frank Beers when whipper-in. Dick Painter. 305 Treadwell, Flowers, Dickens, King, Mansfields, and many others there is a strong sporting contingent. The Bicester country is one of the best, if not the best, in England, such good farmers abound all over it ; they set their faces against wire, and it is believed to be the fact that the country does not suffer from the presence of that cruel invention. Dick Painter. This worthy was a well-known dealer in horses who lived at Bicester. In the exercise of his calling he gained a large circle of friends, and earned an honest living. Dick was the youngest of a family of four girls and four boys, who were left orphans while still young ; and the girls, being all older than their brothers, worked hard and brought them up. They were plodding, steady boys, but none of them showed any aptitude for business except the youngest ; and two good gentlemen in Bicester, forming a satisfactory opinion of his capabilities, financed Richard, as they always called him, and enabled him to go into Wales to buy horses. From a small beginning Dick, by degrees, formed a fine connection for buying, and dealt very largely. X 3o6 Dick Painter. Being very straightforward in all his dealings, and a very amusing man besides, he enjoyed the patronage of most of the Bicester gentlemen. Dick^s education did not amount to much, but he was full of tact and common-sense, and possessed a vocabulary all his own. He was, as before remarked, most amusing. He had a brother called Jack who assisted him in his business, being a good rider, but was not allowed to do business alone ; and if anyone called in Dick's absence something of this sort would take place. The customer would inquire, ''What horse is this, Jack ? " to which Jack, unwilling to risk the smallest show of independence, would reply, " Don't know, ne'er 'eared our Dick say ! " One day a friend of mine led Jack on with questions, and amongst other things, asked him, " Had any wet up here lately? '' Dunno," answered Jack, doggedly, " ne'er 'eared our Dick say ! " Making a further effort to elicit information, the questioner said, ''Where is the nice bay horse I saw here the other day ? " " Oh ! our Dick selled 'im." " Oh, indeed ; where is he gone ? " pursued the enquirer. " I dunno," said Jack, " a little way up the country, t'other side Italy ! " Dick Painter, 307 When I paid my first visit to Dick Painter, and stated my wants, he said, " You want a gallopin' 'oss, I have one ! " The hunter was led out and I mounted him. ''There," said Dick, "you be on a 'oss now, he can gallop as fast as you can clap your hands, and jump like a fiea ! " A gentleman who wanted a horse called at Dick's stables, and stated his requirements in terms which indicated perfection. Dick listened in silence as the customer enumerated the requisite points, and then expressed his inabiHty to supply the demand thus : " Ah ! I know just what you want, sir, you want a H'Angel, and I don't deal in 'em!" Dick was a great favourite with Colonel Thomas, who was at that time Master of the Horse to His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales ; and the Colonel at one time pressed Dick to take some horses to the Windsor stables for His Royal Highness' inspection, and wrote a kind letter about quarters, and so forth. Dick wrote in reply : " I'm much obliged, but I think I won't ! " I myself dealt with Painter for many years, and always without the slightest misunderstanding ; good animals of all kinds were obtained from Bicester. Mr. Charles Praed had a stud of ten weight- carriers, all of which were bought from Painter, X 2 3o8 Dick Pa'mter. and were considered to be second to none in those days. Mr. Henry Lambton much hked the horses which he obtained from Dick out of South Wales and Shropshire. Colonel Gipps, also a hard man, bought many horses of Dick, who always called him '' Mr. Colonel Gipps." On one occasion Dick showed me what he called " A funny 'oss," and of which he said, " He can go as far in an hour as will take him all day to come back ! " '•What are you going to do with him?" I laughingly asked. " I'm beggared if I knows ! " was the character- istic reply. Dick would persist in saying '' Indi^gestion," which very much disturbed his two patrons before- mentioned, who used very frequently to walk down to see Dick after breakfast. On one such occasion another brother of Dick's, named George, who worked for him, was passing with a server of oats. One of the visitors took a handful of them, and, calling Dick's attention, asked him which horse they were for ; and, on hearing, he said : " If you put some chaff into them he will di-gest them better." " I hope to goodness he won't," cried Dick, " he cost eighty guineas ! " The gentleman, Dick Painter. 309 turning to his brother, said that he must give Dick up as incorrigible. In his latter days Dick became very ill, and sent for Dr. Symonds from Oxford. When he came Dick said to him : '' Doctor, I have a bit of money and no one my very near kin ; if you will undertake my case and attend to me, you may as well have some of it as any one else." The doctor took the hint and did his best, and pleased Dick's friends very much by relieving him, thereby prolonging his life. The gentlemen from the club used to go down every evening, after hunting, before they dressed for dinner, to tell Dick the events of the day. All the family lived to a great age, except Jack, who was the only one who married. Dick said he married a woman who kept an inn, and Jack got too near the barrel ! I have bought horses from all parts of England and Ireland, but none better than those purchased from Painter, which came out of South Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire. The softest horse I ever bought in my life I obtained from Ireland, where he had been the property of a priest ; and although, in deference to his late owner, I named him His Reverence, he was a cur ! 3IO Dick Painter. Painter bought a horse of a Doctor of Divinity, which was of very high breeding and good quahties, and had won many prizes as a colt, in consequence of which the doctor was beset with would-be purchasers ; and he therefore decided to sell the horse to Painter, who promised him to me. This doctor was very sensitive and very sagacious. In his early life he lived under a nobleman and was treated most kindly by his patron. In course of time the nobleman died and his son succeeded him ; and he, whether from accident or intention is not known, took no notice of the reverend gentleman, who keenly felt this neglect. One Sunday the doctor took for his text the words: "There arose up a new king over Egypt, w^hich knew not Joseph " ; and, after having expatiated on the unkindness of people who forget their old friends, he concluded his sermon, which, however, made no impression upon the young nobleman. Later on in the autumn the young nobleman went out shooting, and, by accident, stuck a shot into a labouring man. The following Sunday the doctor who, of course, had heard of the accident, took for his text the words : " A certain man drew a bow at a venture,^' and read a strong lecture upon such carelessness. Conclusion. 31 1 The nobleman at once said he would give him a much better living in order to be rid of him I Having at length brought my book to a con- clusion, I must crave the indulgence of my readers, and beg them to take into consideration the fact that I was never entered for, nor intended to be, an author; and I must apologise for the liberty I have taken in placing such a production before the public. It really ought to have been a good book had it been handled with more talent. One thing may be said in its favour, namely, that it is for the most part a statement of facts, the bulk of which were witnessed by the Author, and the remainder can be vouched for. It is fair to assume that the period of fifty years treated of in this book will compare favourably with any similar period in the history of fox- hunting ; and certainly men are mentioned who are or were as good as England ever produced. As it did not seem possible for me to relate all my experiences in one book, so a great many ofood men whom I have met are not named, and much more might easily have been written of those who have been named ; but I have en- deavoured not to " dwell on the line" and become prosy. 3 1 2 Conclusion. The title of my book confined me to fox- hunting, or I should have enjoyed relating the good sport I have seen in the Vale with the stag- hounds, where everything has been so well conducted for so many years by the de Rothschild family. I have always thought that the stag makes, as a rule, better lines than the fox, one reason being that you can place the deer in the best part of the Vale, when he is bound to take a good line ; and another is that the stag is hunted by a wonderful pack of hounds. I cannot close this book without expressing great thankfulness for the number of years allotted to me, with health and strength, to enjoy fox- hunting; and I hope my readers will join me in wishing success to the noble sport, which has been well termed '' The Sport of Kings." The End. INDEX. Alford, Lord, 29 Allen, F.. 268 Amos, W., 67 Anecdote of Captain Arkwright, 247 Ayers, S., 33 the Author, 15 Beers, G., 19, 'j'j ,, and Carter, 6 a Bedford magnate, 252 Mrs. Drake and T. Winfield, 295 jNIr. Drake, jun., 296, 299 Druid, 35 the Hon. R. Grimston, 226 Sir C. Knightley, 214, 215, 216 H. Lightfoot, 68 Dick Painter, 307, 308 J. Paine, 217 Parson of Cosgrove, 1 1 1 J. Roper, 44 Lord Southampton, 24, 32, 34, 61, 67, 68, 69, 75,237 Bob Ward, 232, 233, 234 D. Webb, 26 Aris, Messrs., 67, 160, 199 Arkwright, Captain, 6, 32, 46, 56, 238, 243; pupil of G. Beers, yy ; death of, 188; opinion of Bob Ward, 235 314 Index. Arthur Prince, see " Prince " Asslieton Smith, Mr., 16 Atherstone Hounds, 223 Atkins, keeper, 212 Atkinson, Mrs., 283 Ayers, S., 33, 34, 162, 200 Badby House, meet at, 174 Badger killed, 169 Bag-fox, 33 . Bailey, J., 5 Baker, Mr., 71 Barbed wire, 205 Barge, Mr., 189, 304 Barnes, Mr., 215 Barnet, C, 234 Barrett, G., 191 ; Mrs., 193 Barrington, Lord, 27, 202 Barry, Rev. H., 141 Bartlett, Messrs., 67, 162, 200 Battams, Mr.,. 245 Battersea, Lord, 230 Beckford, ]\Ir., saying of, 91 Bedfordshire, 252 Beech, Mr., 2 3 Beecher, Captain, 40 Beers, F., x., 39, 74, 90, 239, 249, 303 ; his father's pupil, "]"] ; appointed huntsman, 80 ; and the Furrier hounds, 83, 84 ; goes to Russian Poland, 90 ; and Destitute, 93 ; cub-hunting, 95 ; his diaries, 105, 114, 139, 164; health, 105, 124, 195; and Thistle, 182; and kennel lameness no; horsemanship, no; and Captain White, 131; and Empress of Austria, 146, 147, 148; wedding gift, 201 Index. 315 Beers, G., 22, 30, 39, 81, 82, 105, 243; and Carter, 6; huntsman to the Grafton, 31, 56; and the Oakley, 32, 46, 244; Lord Southampton's praise of, 67; pupils of, ']^, 94, 255; and the Bicester, 108; C. Payn's encomium on, 258 " Bell's Life," poetry from, 49 Belvoir Guider, 82; blood, 93; hounds. 238; Gambler and Gameboy, 242 Bennett, Rev. Mr., 285 Bentinck, Lord H., 54 Bentley, huntsman, 171, 230 Berchett, IMiss, 283 Be van, Mr., 94 Bicester Men, 25; Hunt, 73; hounds, 284, 297; byname; Duster, 292; Freedom, 291; Grasper, 290; Grati- tude, 289; Juvenal, 291; Legacy, 290 Bill, Captain, 296 Blake, J., 296 Blencowe, Mr., 207 Blood, 4, 22; Furrier, 40; Belvoir, 93 Bloodhounds, 1 1 Bluecap, 69 Bolero, 4 Bonham, keeper, 2 1 1 Bonnetty Bob, 177 Boniface, 94 Boulton, H., 245 Bouverie, Hon., 230 Boxall, huntsman, 24 Breeding, horse, 2 Breeders of horses, 2 Brocklesby, the horse, 125, 150, 156 Brown low. Lord, 240 Browning, Captain, 252 Brusher, 94 3i6 Index. Bucknells, 204 Bugbrook Brook, 72 Bull, Mr., 96 BuUen, huntsman, 24 Bunbury, Mrs., 172, 282 Bunker's Hill, 71 Burdett, Sir F., 21 Burton Hounds, 54 „ E., 79 Busby, Mr., 304 Butler, huntsman, 24 Byard's leap, 240 Byass, A., 96 ; Mrs., 282 Cairo, 46 Cairns, Sir H., 72 Campbell, G., 96, 149, 202, 207; Hon. Mrs., 282 ; Miss, 282 Camperdown, Lord, 208 Candy, Hon. Mrs., 282 Carr, T., 39, ']0 Carter, G., 9, 12, 14, 16, 250; and Beers, G., 6 Carvell, Mr., 245 Casenove, Mr., 226 Catsmeat, 26, 73 Cavendish, Mr., 19 Challenger, 22 Chamberlyne, W., 296 Chaplin, E., 240 Chaser, Yarborough, 22 Cheerful and Brocklesby (horses), 125 note. Chesham, Lord, 170, 304 Chinnery, Mr., 230 Chit, 269 Cholera, 47 Church, the Hunting, 201 Iiidex. 3 1 7 Clarke, Mrs., 273 O., 304 ,, the Royal Keeper, 10, 11, 38 Cloncurry, Lord, 125 note. Coke, W., 43, 49 Collison, P., 71 Colville Smith, Mr., 303 Coombe, H., 22, 83 Connaught, Duke of, 260, and see Prince Arthur Cork, Lord, 37 Corn, trodden down, 113 Country, neutral, 5; Friday, 26, 207; upper, 76; fine line of, 155, 165; Monday, 207 Councillor and Chester Cup, 14 Cowper, Messrs., 30, 285, 293 Cox, Mr., 284 ; W., 303 Craven, W., 37 Cry, 60, 85, 95, 241 Cubs, 27, 148 Cub-hunting, 28 Danger, 109 Deer, 10, 203 Delap, Mr., 202 Derry, W., 22, 23, 59 Destitute, F. Beers' favourite hound, 93, 95. 240 Dewar, Mr., 304 Dexter, iii, 112 Diaries, 105. 114 Dickens, W., 10, 16; ^liss, 280; Mr., 305 Douglas-Pennant, Col. A., 74, 147, 156 ,, Family, 162 ,, Hon. G. S., 96; becomes JVLF.H., 162 ,, Hon. E. S., i8g; becomes joint M.F.H., 196 ; Hon. Mrs., 282 3 1 8 Index. Drake, T. T., 25, 58, 80, 93 ; Master of the Bicester, 284 ; his pack sold, 294 ; Mrs., 284 „ the Rev. J., 284 „ T. T., Jun., 285, 295, 300 „ E. and G., 296 Druid, 35 Drummond, the Rev. Mr., 20 Dryden, Sir H., 201 ; Miss, 282 Duke, Green, 4 Duncan, Mr., 57 Dunkley, T., 67 Dustej, 292 Easton Neston House, 16, 274 EcHpse of the sun, 246 Ellesmere, Lord, 202, 211 Elliott, Mr., 2; J. M. K., hung up, 286; Miss, 283 Elmhirst, Captain, 191 Empress of Austria, 146, 147, 148, 269; visit to England, 273; first day's hunting, 274; Her Majesty's stud, 276, 278; riding, I'j'j, 278; pilots, 276, 278; started steeplechases, 278 ; as Alpine climber, 279; hunted first with the Grafton, 279 Euston, 11; Earl of, 80, 163, 181 Ex-Queen of Naples, 144, 146, 148, 267, 274; and chamois shooting, 273 ; presents to Author, 273 Ex-King of Naples, 144, 146, 148, 2^2 Everard, H., 208 Fairbrother, Mr., 200 Fall, "fair," 4 Farquhar, H., 58 Farmers, the, 198 Fawsley, 213; ghost story, 2 1 8 Fences, ox, 40 Index. 319 Finch, Mr., 245 FiiT, 206 Fitzgerald, Mrs., 201 FitzRoy, Lord James, 2, 126 Col. G., 8, 44, 45, 146 Lord Charles, 27, 96, 146, 263 „ Alfred, 155, 163 Mr., 156; Mrs., 282 Family, 163 Fitzwilliam Hounds, 229, 250 Flecknoe, 165 Flint, T., 22 Flower, P., 230 Flowers, Mr., 305 Foljambe, Mr., 94 Foster, L., 245 Fox, dug out, 12, 33; bag, 33, 34; bright-coloured, 45; bob-tailed, 106; killed in cottage, 109; in grocer's shop, 193; in garden, 57; by moonlight, 189; bolted with Roman candle, 127.; dead beat, 185; preservers, 198 Fox's head and brush, 168 Foxes, woodland, 39; riding down, 247; a dozen found, 170; four killed, 180; three killed, 112; scarce and plentiful, 208 ; in a drain, 257 Foxhunting, changes in, 202 Foy, J., 227, 228 Freeman, S., 230 Freedom, 291 Friday country, 26 Fuller, Mr., 96, 191 Furrier blood, 22. 40, 60, 78, 80; hounds, 83, 85 Gamekeepers, 199, 210 Gambler and Game'.ov, 242 320 Index. Gardner, Lord, 42 Ghost story, 218 Gibbard, J., 242 Gibbins, Mr., 272 Gillard, huntsman, 238 Gipps, Colonel, 308 Goddard, J. 75 ; Ben 295 Godwin, Mr., 304 Goodall, W., 193 Goodrich, Sir H., 8[. 254 Gordon, F., 'Ji Gough, Mr., 202 Gould, Mrs., 282 Grafton, Duke of, Fourth, 2, 3, 21; Fifth, 80; death, 88; Sixth, 88, 89, 94, 96, 128, 155, 160, 211, 272; and F. Beers, 105; and his huntsman, no; and Prince Arthur, 128, 265 ; and Prince Imperial, 152; retirement from Mastership, 161, 162; and Prince of Wales, 262 ; Seventh, 163 ,, Estate, I, 33 ; Hounds, i, 31 ; hunted by Mr. Sebly-Lowndes' hounds, 171 ; country, 5, 43, 81, 205; hounds by name: Blue- cap, 69 ; Boniface, 94 ; Brusher, 94 Challenger, 22; Danger, 109; Destitute 93; Dexter, in, 112; Druid, 35, 36 Hannibal, Herald, and Herdsman, 82 Hazard, 81, 82, 292 ; Magic, 82, 85 Marmion, 83, 84 ; Marquis, 78, 82 Merlin, 83 ; Merriman, 22, 83, 85 Minstrel, 84; Mischief, 41; Priam, 206 Prophetess, 234; Rattler, 97; Rescue, 84 Restless, 95 ; Ringlet, 95 ; Sanity, 85 Sailor, Saucebox, 22 ; Sentinel, 249 Singwell, 22, Symphony, 22 82 ; Sprightly, Syren, 22 148 Index. 3 2 Grant, IMr., 202 Grant-Ives, Mr., 202 Hall, Mr., 296 ; Captain. 202 Hanmer, Lady, 202 Hannay, Captain, 302 Hannibal, 82 Harrison, S., 25, 284, 303; death of, 72; eulogy of, 73 pilots Empress of Austria, 278 Harper, Mr., 304 Harter, H., Mr. and Mrs., 283 Hazard, 81, 82, 292 Hector, 82, 292 Herald, 82 Herdsman, 82 Hertfordshire Hounds, 55, 234, 235 Hesketh, Sir T. G. F.. 264; his children blooded, 182 ,, Lady, 282 ; Miss, 282 Heythrop Hounds, 296 High Havens, 74 Higgins, C, 227; Captain, 245; G. and Miss, 252 Hill, Mr., 252 Hills, J., 76, 286 Hill's Hounds, 80, 83, 92. 93 Hinton, Mr., 304 Hitchcock, G., 30, 64, 285, 292 Hoffman, Mr., 25 Hogg, Major, 31, 243 Holland, Bill, 296 Holmes, Miss, 14 Hora, 85, 92 „ Mr., 285 Horse lying down, 49 Horses, 26, 89, no, 125 note. Y 32 2 Index. Hounds, 21, 229; leading, 54; jealous, 128, 206; running in dark, 189; chase, 249; bought, 16, 22, 63, 70, 223, 302 ; sold, 64, 80, 223, 294 ; in railway cutting, 193; two packs meet, 193; in shop, 193; run an old woman, 232 ; run a bull, 233 ; Oakley, 244 Howth, Lord, 26 Hunt, Colonel, 22'] „ Mrs., 282 Hunters, improvement of, i, 89 Hunt servants, 20'j Hunting during eclipse, 246 Huntsman, qualifications of, 91 Ireland, 25 Isham, Sir J., 33 Ives, Mr., 202 Ivens, Mr., 285 Jane Ball, 76 Jersey, Earl of, 284, 304 Johnson, Sir J., 80, 92, 93 Ned, 254 Jones, Jack, 24 Judkins, Miss, 282 Jump, biggest water, 2"] Juvenal, 291 Kennel lameness, no Kennels, 89 King, Mr., 305 Knapp, Mrs., 282 Knott, E., 209 Knightley, Sir C, 26, 213; his venison, 214; anecdotes of, 215, 216; as breeder of shorthorns, 217; and his tenants, 218 Index. 020 Knightley, Mr., 2^, 29, 30, 64; Sir R., 213, 220; Lady, 221, 272 „ The Rev. V., 213, 221, 222 Ladies, hunting, 7, 13, 14, 42, 43, 57, 230, 267, 280, 281, 282, 283 Lambton, H., 25, 308; Mrs., 230, 282 Lameness, no Lavender, Mr., 245 Lawrence, Lord, 304 Lecture, T. Winfield's, 288 Leech, J., 226 Leicestershire, 21, 75. 78, %2 ; men, 159 Legacy, 290 Leigh, J. G., 70, 234, 236 Lepper, Mr., 304 Lester, Mr., 304 Letter from Duke of Grafton, 2; Lord Penrhyn, 195; Mr. Barnes, 215 Levi, W., 57, 229, 230 Liberty, 26 Lightfoot, H., 68 Little-Gilmour, Mr., 43 Livery, hunting, 4, 89 Loder, Sir R., 201 Lonsdale, Lord, 170 Longland, S., 211 Looton Hoo, 70 Lottery, 1 4 Lowndes, see Selb -Lowndes Macan, Mr., 245 Magennis, Major, 243 Magic, 82, 85 Magniac, IMr., 31 ' ' ". Y 2 324 Index. Mansfield, Miss, 305 Mares, 2, 4, 33 Marmaduke (shorthorn), 87 Marmion, 83, 84 Marquis, 78, 82 Marten cats, 11 Masks in a drain, 257 Mason, J., 14, 29, 57, 58, 72, 75, 228, 298 M.F.H's., 199 Mawkin, a, 287 Melton, 81 ; club, 21 Merlin, 83 Merriman, 22, 83, 85 Minuet, 4 Minstrel, 84 Mischief, 41 Monitor, 83 Mcore, J., 21 Morgan, Ben, huntsman to the Grafton, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37 ,, Colonel, 201 Mountford, G., 22, 81 Muntz, Mr., 155, 207 Naples, ex-Queen and King of, see ex-Queen and ex-King Neutral Country, 5 Newmarket, 12 Nichols, Mr., 304 Nimrod, 168 • North, Lord, 108 Northamptonshire, 21, 63 Northampton, 5, 13, 40; Marquis of, 245 Oakley country, the, 5, 6, 9, 81, 243, 246; hounds, 32, 46, 56, 244, 248, 250, 253; stud, 31 Oakley Bank, 67 Index. 325 Oldacre, Mr., 90 Oliver, Captain, 283 Orkney, Lord and Lady, 230 Orlebar, Mr., 245 Osbaldeston, Mr., 14, 22, 294 ,, Furrier blood, 78 Osborn, Lady W., 228 Oxford, 296 Oxfordshire, 63 Pack of hounds, meet another, 193; join another, 287 Paine, J., 217 Painter, 257 Dick, 305 Paragreen, keeper, 211 Parish, Mr., 3 Partisan, 4 Paxton, Mr., 304 Payn, C, 32, 258; pupil of G. Beers, "j^j, 255; huntsman to the Pytchley, 254; went to Wales, 257 Payne, G., 254 Peel, Miss, 283 Pennant, see Douglas-Pennant Penrhyn, Baron, First, 80, 86 ; and shorthorns, 87 ; and Mr. Hill's hounds, 92; Second, iii, 189, 193; and F. Beers, 195 ; letter from, 195 Pestilence, 46 Petre, Lord, 225 Peyton, Sir H., 25; Sir A., 303 Pickles, 268, 269, 271 Pierrepont, Hon. P. S., 284 Pigeon, 26 Pike, H., 57, 67, 200 Pilgrim, Mrs., 75, 281 Pillagers, Pytchley, 257 326 Index. ^' Pilot," 268, 269 Pilots, 273, 275, 277, 278, 280, 281, 283 ; the Empress of Austria's, 146, 147, 276 ; the Prince of Wales's, 260, 263 ; Prince Arthur's, 265 ; the ex-Queen of Naples', 268 Pioneer, 2, 3 Poetry : " A Dodging Rhyme," &c., 49 ; by Sir H. Wake, 96 Poland, Russian, 90 Pollard, J., 211 Poole, H., 57 Portsmouth, Lord, 37 Posthumous, 64 Potterspury, fox killed at, 109 Poultry fund, 162 Praed, C, 297, 307 Pratt, G., 229, 230 Priam, 206 Price, G., 57 Prince of Wales, 121, 182, 260 Prince Arthur, 128, 129, 260, 265 ,, Imperial of France, 152, 153 Prizes for puppies, 89 Prophetess, 234 Puppy show, 162 Puppies, new milk for, 94 ; at walk, 290 Pytchley Hunt, 5, 238, 254; country, 27; masters, 28; men, 141 QuoRN Hounds, 21, 81; Faithless and Hector, 292; country, 292 Race, J., 252 Railway, 27, 202, 203 Ratcatcher, anecdote of, 13 Rattler, 97 Index. 327 Raysan, keeper, 210 Rescue 84 Restless, 95 Rhyme," " A Dodo^ing, etc., 49 Rice, Mr., 140 Riddell, Captain, 165 Ringlet, 95 Robarts, A. J., 96, 156, 162, 190, 195, 202; joint master, 196 ; Hon. Mrs., 282 Robinson, Mr., 245 ^ Rock savage, Lord, 170 Rogers, Mr., 304 Roper, Mr., 2, 304; J., 44; C. E., 67, 85, 162, 200; Miss, 282 Rose, Ned, 9, 23 Rosslyn, Lord, 37 Rothschild, Mr. L. de, 158; Mrs. 230; Family, 312 Row and, Mr., 43 Royal Keeper, 10 Royston, Lord, 264 Run, good, from AUithorn, 59 „ Astwell Mill, 158 best of season, 185 good, from Blakesley, 140 ,, „ Brackley Gorse, 145, 147, 148 ,, ,, Brayfield Furze, 190 ,, ,, Charwelton, 207 ,, ,, Christmas Gorse, 48 „ ,, Claydon Wood, 291 „ „ College Wood, 225 ,, ,, Easton Neston, 172 „ ,, Foster's Booth, 140 ,, ,, Grafton, 183 . „ ,, Haversham Wood, 39 ,, ,, High Havens, 74 328 Index. Run, good, from Hinton Gorse, 154 „ Hopyard, 186 „ Lyncher, 134 ,, ,, ,, Mantel's Heath, 156 ,, ,, with the Oakley, 251 „ „ from Plumpton, 42, 147 ,, „ „ Porter's Wood, 65 „ „ „ Preston Capes, 106, 142, 165 High Wood, 258 „ „ with the Pytchley, 255 „ ,, from Ravenstone Wood, 177 „ remarkable, in snow, 59 ,, good, from Stoke Plains, 181 „ ,, ,, Stowe Wood, 76 ,, ,, ,, Tile House, 142 „ ,, „ Warden Hill, 286 „ ,, with the North Warsvick shire, 72 Run through four hunts from. Weedon Bushes, 167 ,, good, from Whistley Wood, 135, 150, 155, 15I ,, ,, Whitfield, 184, 189 Russell, Lord C, 225 Rutland, Duke of, 21 Ryan, Mrs., 282 Sailor, 22 Salcey Forest, 41, 44, 46, 204 Sanity, 85 Sanders, Messrs., 245, 304 Saucebox, 22 Saunders, Messrs., 229 Scent, 217, 218, 225 Scott, Lord J., 37 Season, wettest, 132, 149; good, 169 Seckham, Mr., 293 Selby, Mr., 285 Index. 329 Selby-Lowndes, W., 83, 213; takes the upper country, 76; M.F.H., 222; gives country back to Lord South- hampton, 223; buys Lord Southampton's hounds, 223; and C. Higgins, 227; his pack, 229; his Field, 230 Sentinel, 249 Severn, Mr., 296 Shakeshaft, Mr., 245 Shannon, Lord, 25 Sharman, Mr. and Mrs., 252 Shelswell, 25, 73 Shepherd, R., 5, 15; V., 208 Sherwood, A., 17 Shooting, 201 Shorthorns, 86, 87, 217 Silverstone, cholera at, 46 Simpson, Dick, huntsman, 38; good runs with, 39, 42, 45, 48; his success, 46; his pack, 54; and the Burton hounds, 54 ; and Bob Ward, 55 ; and Winfield, 287 „ Mrs., 282 Singwell, 22 Sires, i, 2, 4 . Sirett, Mr., 73 Smallpox, 46 Smith, Rev. L., 7, 18; Mrs. and the Misses, 7, 20 ,, J-, 15' 67 „ W., 90 „ Mr., 254 "^ „ T., 25, 28, 90, 195, 288; breaks horse's back, 143 Snow, remarkable run in, 59 Somerton, Lord, 37 Southampton, Charles, Baron, 15, 58, 64, 66, 67, 68, 74, 75, 81, 89; M. F. H., 21; buys hounds, 22, 25, 63 ; and Ned Rose, 23 ; and several huntsmen. 330 Index. 24; his Field, 27, 31; his strict orders, 27; and G. Beers, 30, 31, 'j'j^ and Ben Morgan, 32; and a bag-fox, 34 ; his hospitahty, 37 ; and the pesti- lence, 46 ; his testimonial, 48 ; his retirement, 79 ; sells his pack, 80; his hounds, 81, 82, 83, 206, 303 ; his shooting, 204 ; his knowledge of hunting, 205, 206; and Bob Ward, 234, 237; and Ned Johnson, 254; T. Winfield, upon, 293 Southampton, Lady, 57, 75, 76 Speedy-balls, 26 Spencer, Lord, 76, 79, 187, 193, 259, 260 Sportsman, 249 Sprightly, 148 Stepaway, 137 Stephenson, G., 203 Stevens, Ned, 10, 16, 37 St. Maur, Hon., 96 Stone, Miss, 7 Stovin, huntsman, 158, 278, 301 Strangers, 199 Strathmore, Lord and Lady, 41, 42 Stratton, Audley, 73 Mr., 27 Sutton, Sir R., 32 Swannell, Mr., 245 Switcher, the, 4 1 Symonds, Mr., 293 Symphony, 22, 82 Syren, 22 Tailby, Mr., 75, 76 Tattersall's, 80, 83, 223 Tavistock, Marquis of, 22, 78, 81 Taylor, H., 22 Teck, Duke of, 147 Index. Tennant, Miss, 172, 283 Terry, Mi^s, 304 Thistle, 182 Thomson, Captain, 30, 238, 257, 258 Thompson, Mr,, 296 Thornton, H., 245 Todd, W., 22 ToUit, Mr., 293 Tomes, Mr., 304 Tompkins, S., 236 Towcester, 16, 23, i-j, 34; cholera in, 46, 48 Townsend, Mr., 191 Treadwell, J., 305 Tubb, Mr., 303 Turnell, T., 245 Turvey, Mr., 252 Tuyll, Baron de, 188, 283 Valentia, Lady, 73; Lord, 132, 278, 306 Venison, 214 Vernon, B. W., 202 Villiers, F., 2^] Mrs. J., 43, IT, 58, 72 „ Lord, 304 Visitors, 199 Vivian, 40 Wait, Mr., 200, 210 Wake, Sir H., 96, 202; Lady, 282; Miss, 283 Wales, 257 „ Prince of, 182, 260 Ward, P., 57, 72 Z?^^ 332 Index. Ward, Bob, 39, 41, 70, 206, 213; and Simpson, 55; as huntsman, 231 ; anecdotes of, 232, 233, 234; and Mr. Arkwright, 235; his horses 236 ; and Lord Southampton, 237 Warwickshire, 16 „ North, 71, 223 Warr, Mr., 304 Water jump, biggest, 27 Waters, Messrs., 304 Watson, Mr., 72, 283 Watts, Mrs., 282 Waxy, 4 Webb, D., 25, 58, 72, 73; "Tape," 26; J., 25, 73 Wells, G., 22 Wemyss, Mr., 13 Westley, T., 14 Whaddon Hall, 80 ,, Chase Hounds, 226, 228, 230 Whaley, Mrs., 282 White, Captain, 131 Whitehead, Mr., 245 Whitehouse, Miss, 283 Whiting, Messrs., 200 Whitmore, T., 248, 250, 253 Whittlebury, 21, 27, 37, 81, 82, 89, 91; Forest, 10. 203; gardens, fox killed in, 57; Green, 65; Parks, 203 Whitton, W., 200; J. W., 67, 200; J., 67; T., 169, 200, 207 Whitworth, Miss, 252 Whyte-Melville, Captain, 230 Wicken Park, 86 Wilder, Mrs., 283 ' Wilson, Mr., 229; Miss, 230 „ huntsman of the Bicester hounds, 301 Williamson, Colonel, 304 Index. 333 Winkles, Mr., 12 Winfield, T., 82, 285, 286; and Simpson, 287; his lecture, 288 Wiseman, Mr., 96 Wolf-hunting, 90, 91 Wynn, Sir W. 257 Yardley Chase, 44, 46, 205 Yarborough, Lord, 90 ,, Chaser, 22