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EHTUF^Y op FoxHUNT'NQ

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War.wich;shif\e ^oufsiDS

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1791 - 1891

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TUFTS UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

9090 014 533 513

Webster Family Library of Veterinary Medicine
Cunimings Schooi of Veterinary Medicine at
Tufts University
200 Westboro Road
North Grafton, MA 01536

A CENTURY OF FOXHUNTING

WITH THE

WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

BEING A SKETCH HISTORY OF THE HUNT

FROM 1791 TO 1891.

By CASTOE.

Copyright. Entered at Stationers' Hall.

BANBURY :
JOHN POTTS, 51, PARSON'S STREET.

LONDON :

E. MARLBOROUGH & Co., 51, OLD BAILEY, E.G.

1891.

BANBURY :

printed by john potts,
parson's street.

PEEF ACE

IN the chapters constituting this little book I attempted
week by week, in the Banhury Guardian, during the
past season, to give a brief account of the existence and
progress of the Warwickshire Hounds since their establish-
'ment just a century ago. The interest which was taken
in their doings during the appearance of my weekly in-
stalments, tempted me to think the whole might be
acceptable in a re-published form. This I now issue,
tendering at the same time my most sincere thanks to
the many kind friends who have come forward and given
me much help and encouragement during the preparation
and publication of my work.

CASTOR.

Restoratio7i Bay, 1S91.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Eably Days. Mr. John Warde, 1791.

Introduction— Soraerville, the Warwickshire Hunting Poet
— " The Chase " — His huntsman — Early packs of fox-
hounds —The first Warwickshire pack on record, 1780
— Mr. Wrightson—The first recorded day's sport in
Warwickshire — The celebrated John Warde — His
hunting record — His hounds — His horses — A char-
acteristic anecdote— His wit and anecdotes— Some
of his sayings Pages 1—7.

CHAPTER II.

Mr. John Corbet, 179M811.

Mr. John Corbet — His character — His early days — Trojan —
His powers — His leaping peiformances — The extent of
hunting Warwickshire — Mr, Corbet's Kennels— His
earliest recorded run, 1795 — His way across country —
The celebrated Will Barrow — Mr. Corbet's civility —
Barrow's Horsemanship — His horse — His last days and
epitaph Pages 8—14.

CHAPTER III.

Mr. John Corbet, 1791-1811.

Stratford-on-Avon as a hunting centre — The social aspect —
Leamington — The Hunt Club— The uniform— The
" Black Collars " — Toasts at the Club — Buying horses
by handicap— The commencement of the season — Mr.
Corbet's plate at the races —A memorable run from

Compton Wyniates, 1801— The finish— The conjectured
course — Another run from Wolford — The reputation of
Wolford — The severe nature of the run — Men and
horses in the run Pages 15— 21

CHAPTER IV.

Mk. John Coebet, 1791-1811.

The Cannings— Mr. Francis Canning— His weight-reducing
exploits — His horses — Mr. Robert Canning — The
"crack man" of the Hunt— His horsemanship— His
horses— Mr. Hawkes — His remark upon "Warwickshire
— A run from Walton — Mr. Edward Morant Gale —
His hard riding — Mr. John Venour — A run from
Wellesbourne, 1804 — A Warwickshire finish.

Pages 22—29.

CHAPTER V.

Mb. John Corbet, 1791-1811.

The Epwellj Run— Mr, Goulburn's Epioell Hunt—T\xe line
of the run — The first work of the day— The great run
— Riding to sell — Mr. Reginald Wynniatt — His hard
riding — Mr. Edward Goulburn — Mr. Fretwell — Lord
Alvanley — Sir Grey Skipwith — A good line to Ufton —
Lord Clonmell— Other names — Mr. Stubbs — An im-
promptu run — A peculiar habit ... Pages 30— 38.

CHAPTER VL

Mr. John Corbet, 1791-1811.

Mr. Boycott— Mr. Gould— Mr. Giffard— Mr. Bradley—
"Hunter-making Harry" — Mr. Lockley — Mr. Walsh
Porter— Mr. Roberts— Mr. Hooper— Mr. Kynaston—
Other followers of Mr. Corbet— A run from Welles-
bourne, 1808— A run from Ufton.— A run from Idlicote
— Farewell to Mr. Corbet— His resignation, 1811 — Fox-
catchers at Wolford— Death of Mr. Corbet, 1817— His
character — His public offices— His ancestry.

Pages 39—46^

CHAPTER VII.

Lord Middleton, 1811-1821,. -

Lord Middleton as Master — Commencement of his regime—
As a breeder — Some unpopular acts — Farnborough as a
trysting place— A first-rate run, 1814 — The line — The
death — A day in a fog — A ringing fox — A straighter-
running animal Pages 47—54.

CHAPTER VIII.

Lord Middleton, 1811-1821.

The Ditchley run, 1816 -Scenting winds- Lord Molyneux—
"Nimrod "—Mr. Campbell— Mr. J. Lucy— Mr. Sheldon
—Mr. H. Wyatt— Lord Brooke— Other names— A run
from Ufton Wood— Accident to Lord Middleton— His
retirement— His horsemanship— His staff.

Pages 55—61.

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Shirley, 1821-1825. Mr. Hay, 1825-1826.
Mr. Newton Fellowes, 1826-1830.

Mr. Shirley— Jack Wood— A run from Edgehill— Another
—A run from Alveston Pastures- Mr. Cockerill -Mr.
HoUoway— Mr. Handford— Mr. Charlton— Rev. Mr.
Hancox— Mr. Lyster— Resignation of Mr. Shirley— Mr,
Hay— A sharp run from Bowshot— Some of Mr. Hay s
followers— Mr. Newton Fellowes— A fine run into
Oxfordshire— A stiff run from Wolford— A good grass
line— A run from Lighth®rne Rough— Ladies at meets.

Pages 62—70.

CHAPTER X.

Captain Russell, 1830-1833. Mr. Thornhill, 1833-1836.

Captain Russell— A day from Ufton Wood— A run from
Radbourn Grove— An incident — An unpromising
morning— A direct line to Edgehill— Retirement of Mr.
Russell— Mr. Thornhill — A gallant member of the
tribe- A brilliant day from Meon Hill— Two unlucky
incidents— A stiff run from Itchington— Some more
Farnborough sport— An incident— A good line— A good
season— An immense run from Itchington— A piece of
water work— The next season's sport— Mr. Thornhill's
last season Pages 71— 79.

CHAPTER XI.

The Pack, 1827-1835.

The foundation of the pack by Mr. Newton Fellowes, 1827
—Sires from the Duke of Beaufort's, Mr. Osbaldeston's
and Lord Sonde's— Other kennels— Warwickshire stud
hounds — Mr. Fellowes' subsequent entries — Mr.
Russell's entries— Mr. Thornhill's entries.

Pages 80—86.

CHAPTER XII.

Mb. B. Gkanville, 1836-1839. Division of the
Country.

A Committee — Mr. B. Granville — A grass line to Southam
— A poor season— Another day at Bishop's Itchington —
Behaviour of the crowd at the Gorse — Warwickshire
names— The extent of the country — Neglect of the
Woodlands — " Nimrod's ""opinion — Division with " the
Atherstone "— Mr. Vyner's Pack— Mr. Hellier— Mr.
Wilson — Establishment of " the North Warwickshire "
— Complaints from Leamington — Meeting at Warwick
— Demands upon ' ' the Warwickshire " — A division of
duties — Mr. Selby Lowndes— Division of Warwickshire.

Pages 87—93.

CHAPTER XIII.

Leamington.

Leamington — Demands from the Spa— The Spa as a hunting
quarter — Action of the hotel keepers— A Club— Some
opinions of the Spa— The position of Leamington— A
day in the field, 1838 Pages 94-103.

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. Barnard, 1839-1856.

Mr. R.'J. Barnard— The Building of the Kineton kennels
—A run from Ufton— Mr. Bradley — A good grass line
—The Hunt Dinner, 1840— A meeting at Bilton Grange
— Good sport— Names at Leamington— A great run
from Weston House — A bye day at Cubbington Gate —
Sir William Don— His ride to London.

Pages 104—110.

CHAPTER XV.

Mr. Barnard, 1839-1856. Mr, Spencer Lucy, 1856-1858.
Mr. Henley Greaves, 1858-1861.

The season's record, 1846-7— The Hunt Dinner, 1849—
A splendid run from Ufton— Good sport— Lord Wil-
loughby de Broke — Meeting at Wellesbourne, 1856 —
Mr. H. Spencer Lucy — The sport— Mr. Henley Greaves
—George Wells— The boundary road — Jem Hills— A
run from Wolford — Crossing the Road— Mr. Gulliver.

Pages 111-117.

CHAPTEE XVI.

The Pack, 1838-1860.

Mr. Barnard' entries — Tarquin — Mr. Barnard's use of other
kennels— Saffron — Mr. Barnard's final lists— Mr. Lucy's
entries — Mr. Greaves' entries ... Pages 118—125.

CHAPTEE XVII.

LOBD "WlLLOUGHBT DE BROKE AND THE HON. W. H. J

NOETH, 1861-1862.
The Hon. W. H. J. North, 1862-1866.

Lord Willoughby de Broke and the Hon. "W. H. J. North —
Tom Matthews— Improvements and good sport — A
good run from Weston — A fair day from Farnborough —
A good time from Chesterton Wood — A run from
Whichford Wood — Death of Lord Willoughby de
Broke— Some sport in the Weston district— A good day
from Goldicote— A nice run fromthe Bourton Hills— A
fair day from Kineton — More sport from Weston — A
Wrox ton meet— An admirable run from Walton Wood
— A day from Shuckburgh— Bad scent— A good run
from Wroxton — A day from Shuckburgh — Fifty
minutes from Chesterton— A unique field— An extensive
run from Charlecote — More sport in the Weston district.

Pages 126-136.

CHAPTEE XVIII.

The Hon. W. H. J. North, 1862-1866.

The Hon. Mr. North's entries— Some Warwickshire sires —
The Saffron Blood — Careless — Peterborough prize-
winners descended from Careless — The pick of the pack
— An oil painting of the hounds — The Saffrons — Mr.
North's private pack — A meet at Coughton Court —
The private pack at Alcester— A couple of days from
Studley— Some fast work from Alne Wood — At Irons
Cross— At Coughton Court — A Woodland day — A day
at Lighthorne— Accident to Wilson — Eetirement of
Mr. North — Meeting at Wellesbourne — A successful
mastership Pages 137—148.

CHAPTEE XIX.

Me. H. Spencee Lucy, 1866-1876.

Mr. H. Spencer Lucy — An ardent sportsman— The sub-
scription— Some water feats — Mr. Campbell of Monzie

Robert Worrall— A good run from Ufton Wood— From
Wigginton Heath— A fine day from Billesley Hall— A
moonlight kill at Fainborough— A rough line from
Alveston— A great run in the Banbury country— A
capital fox from Eatington— At Billesley Hall again—
A fast run from Bowshot— A Shuckburgh day— More
sport at Billesley Hall— A long run from Hampton
Wood— A good thing from Tyaoe ... Pages 149—154.

CHAPTEE XX.

Mr. H. Spknoer Lucy, 1866-1876.

splendid run from Chadshunt— Hound slaughter— A
good run from Fenny Compton — A good season — A
run into the Heythrop country — A water incident —
The bi'ook again — An extraordinary fox from Bowshot
A brave finish— A fair day at Mitford Bridge— Two
incidents— A good opening— King Frost— Presentation
to Kobert Worrall— Charles Orvis ... Pages 155— 161.

CHAPTER XXI.

Mr. H. Spencer Lucy, 1866-1876.

An afternoon fox from Ladbroke— A gallant run from
Eatington Grove— A poetical account— Some regular
attendants— Mr. Lucy's entries— Castor— Banker —
Clasher— A private pack— Mr. Lucy a good master—
Taglioni— William Brown Pages 162—172.

CHAPTER XXIL

Lord Willoughby de Broke.

Lord Willoughby de Broke— His accession to the mastership
— Born and bred to the sport and to the hunt — His
sport— Lady Willoughby de Broke— Sport in 1876-7-8
—A memorable day from Wroxton— From Page's
Gorse to Idlicote— The Empress of Austria in the
Shuckburgh country— Presentation to Charles Orvis—
Sport in 1878-9—" Warwickshire Fridays "—An after-
noon fox from Chesterton Wood— At Pillerton and
Broughton— A hard run from Wroxton— A severe day
from Coughton— A good thing from Debdale— A day
from Broughton— Lord Willoughby takes the horn— A
notable day from Kineton— A clinking run from
Idlicote— From Ladbroke to Badby Wood— A couple
of hours from Broughton Pages 173—184.

XI

CHAPTER XXIII.

Lord Willoughby de Beoke.

A good day from Avon Dassett — A capital line from White's
Bushes — A narrow escape — An opening meet at
"Walton— An exceptional run from Ufton— A capital
run from the Kennels — The seasons 1885-6-7 — A
Shuckburgh Thursday— A first-rate day at Idlicote —
From Ufton to Badby— Accident to Lord Willoughby
— An admirable run from Honington— Re-appearance
of Lord Willoughby in the field ... Pages 185— 192.

CHAPTER XXIV AND LAST.

Lord Willoughby de Broke.

Dinner to Lord Willoughby de Broke— The season, 1889-90
— The season, 1890-91 — A hard season — A great frost —
From Idlicote to Banbury— An after-gallop — Lord
Willoughby's successful efforts — His remarks upon
puppy- walkers — His popularity — Presentations to Lord
Willoughby — An increased subscription — Banbury as a
hunting centre — Banbury and Warwickshire days —
Other local packs — Hunting quarters — The status of
Warwickshire — Conclusion — Good wishes — Au revoir.

Pages 193-199.

APPENDIX A.

BOB CANNING AND MR. MOEANT GALE,

Letter by the Rev. George Miller Page 200.

APPENDIX B.

THE GREAT RUN FROM COMPTON WYNIATES TO BOURTON
ON-THE-WATER.

Letter by the Hon. and Rev. W. R. Verney and Note by
"Castor" Page 202.

APPENDIX C.

SOME WARWICKSHIRE REMINISCENCES.

Letter by W. R. V Page 204.

THE WAEWICKSHIRE
HOUNDS.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTION — SOMERVILLE, THE WARWICKSHIRE

HUNTING POET— Early packs of fox-hounds —
Mr. VVrightson's— a day's sport in 1780 — The
celebrated John Warde.

AS iu our national annals it has been the lot of the Introduction.
"Heart of England," as Warwickshire may justly
call itself, to stand out in particular prominence, owing
to the deeds done withia its borders, or by the great
ones to whom it has given birth ; so I venture to think a
foremost place may be given it in the history of hunting,
on account of the sport of which it has shown itself
capable, and the illustrious names which have
appeared at different times in connection with
the chase over its lands, during the period which has
elapsed since the time, when, just a hundred years ago,
the great John Warde was sowing the seeds of fox-
hunting in the county. In giving a sketch of the pro-
gress of the sport since that time, I trust my readers
will acquit me, at start, of presumption enough
to attempt a history of the hunt in the full acceptance
of that word. Much material, has of course, disap-
peared for ever. Many, I have no doubt, of the most
brilliant runs have never been put on paper. The
history of a hunt lives and dies, to a large extent, with
its followers, but if I can give but a sketch of the
career of the pack, now known far and wid^ as " The
Warwickshire," during the century of its existence, I

A

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Somerville, the
Warwickshire
Huntinar Poet.

• The Chase."

Early Days. shall have provided satisfaction to myself and I trust
some little entertainment to my readers. As the native
county of the immortal William Shakespeare, War-
wickshire is known wherever the language, to the
literature of which he is sdch an adornment, is spoken,
and thousands each year visit his birthplace and tomb
at Stratford-upon-Avon. Within a few miles of the rest-
ingplaceof our national poet is the burial place of another,
who, although of course far behind Shakespeare as a
poet, is conspicuous in the history of the chase, and
whom Warwickshire as a hunting county may account
itself proud to possess. I refer to Somerville, who in
his well-known poem, ** The Chase," displays a know-
ledge of the art of hunting which may be looked upon
as remarkable, considering that he wrote^before the
chase of the fox had become an established national
pastime. He was born in 1692, and lived at Edstone,
near Wootton Wawen, in Warwickshire. It is probable
that " The Chase" was written during the reign of the
second George. Not only must he have had a practical
acquaintance with the fox-hunt, but from certain
lines in the poem, it would appear that the breed-
ing of hounds to follow the fox alone had come into
vogue. He says : —

A diff'rent hound for ev'ry diff'rent chase
Select with judgment ; nor the timorous hare
O'ei matched destroy.

This would make those who place the commence-
ment of thus breeding hounds in 1750, to have
under-estimated the age of the custom. Somerville
died in 1742, but although buried in his parish church
no monument maiks the spot. It is uncertain whether
we can consider him as the first master of fox-hounds in
Warwickshire or not. That he hunted hounds is un-
doubted, from the tombstone of his huntsman, J. Hoilt,
His Huntsman, in Wootton Wawen churchyard. Hoilt died in 1802
at the age of 85, and as the stone states that he had
been huntsman to Somerville and others nearly 70 years.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

he must have commenced at an early age.
is as follows : —

His epitaph Early Days.

Here Hoilt, and his sports and labour past,
Joins his loved master Somerville at last ;
Together wont the echoing fields to try,
Together now in silent dust they lie-
Servant and lord, when once we yield our breath,
Huntsoaan and poet are alike to death.

Early Packs of
Fox-hounds.

Somerville's residence at Edstone was close to the fox-
covert Austywood. It was a perusal of his poem that
first gave the well-known master, Earl Fitzhardinge, a
love of the chase, and indeed no one can read it with-
out being struck and charmed with the knowledge of
the details of hunting displayed therein.

During the last century a few hounds were to be
found in the kennels of almost every country squire.
With these he would provide his neighbours with an
occasional gallop after a hare, or a fox or two. In time
the advantages of breeding hounds according to the
chase in which they were to be used became recognised,
as is seen in the lines of the Warwickshire poet quoted
above. While many continued to keep the more
diminutive for following the hare, there were fewer
who established packs for the pursuit of the nobler
animal. The first pack of fox-hounds of which we have
any authentic account in Warwickshire is that kept
by Mr. Wrightson, of Cash worth, in Yorkshire. He
had two kennels, one at Swalclifife Q^range, and the
other on the other side of the country, at the White
Lion Hotel, Stratford-upon-Avon. ^This hostelry was
a conspicuous place in the earlier days of the Warwick-
shire Hunt. It was one of the principal resorts of
the sporting characters of the country, and well may
we imagine the merry evenings spent round the festive
board after a fine day's sport, in the good old days,
when three bottles of port were looked upon as the
ordinary sequence of a good dinner. The date at which
Mr. Wrightson hunted Warwickshire was about 1780. Mr. Wrightson.
The Warwickshire Hunt, however, can hardly be said

The first War-
wickshire Pack
on record,
1780.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOTTNDS.

Mr. JohnWarde to have commenced until a decade later, from which

• date there is an unbroken succession down to to-day.

Mr. Wrightson is said to have been a good sportsman
and to have spared no expense, as far as expenditure on
hunting a country went in those days. He was assisted
by a huntsman and two whips, whom he provided
with four horses a-piece.

A brief account of a day's sport enjoyed by him in
1780 has been preserved, and is, no doubt, the earliest
account of a hunting run in Warwickshire in exist-

^^ed^day'^sport e°ce. Alveston Pastures first provided a brace, but
in Warwick- both were lost. Eatington Grove was then tried and
a fox turned out, which, after running a ring for an
hour, was killed. Another fox was found in Honing-
ton Spinnies, which took them over Idlicote Heath,
and over a good bit of country, at a fast pace to Shut-
ford Hill, where he gave up his brush. Of the
length of time for which Mr. Wrightson hunted in
Warwickshire there does not seem to be any record.
The Earl of Thanet and Mr. Willoughby also pro-
vided sport with their hounds during these early
days. Of the latter I shall have more' to say when
I come to the period, when, as Lord Middleton, he
took the head of affairs in Warwickshire in succession
to the celebrated Mr. Corbet.

The • celebrated For some seasons previous to that of 1791, the
JohnWarde. celebrated John Warde hunted in Warwickshire,
having his kennels at Newbold, five miles from
Shipston and six from Stratford, and from this time
downwards we have an uninterrupted chronicle of
the chase in this country. Mr. Warde was at the
same time hunting in Oxfordshire, what is now theBices-
ter country, and took Warwickshire in addition.
Called *• the Father of the Field," he. may, indeed, be
looked upon as the first great M.F.H. He kept
hounds for 57 years, and the length of his services to
the chase was only equalled by the energetic manner
in which he went through with everything

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

His Hunting Re-
'^ cord.

connected with the sport. He was, indeed, Mr. John Wards

" a fine old English gentleman, one of the olden time." '

Popular with all classes, it is little to be wondered
that fox-hunting found no opposition among the
farmers in the countries in which he introduced it.
Followed as his successor in Warwickshire by Mr.
Corbet, who was equally a gentleman in thought,
action, and word, the Warwickshire agriculturists
soon became attached to the sport, and ardent sup-
porters and preservers, and it is gratifying to note that
this loyalty has ever been maintained. The following
are some of the countries hunted by him during the 57
years of mastership. Up to 1776 he hunted round
Squerries, his seat in Kent ; up to 1780 round Gatten-
den, in Berks ; up to 1798 in Oxfordshire, and during
some seasons Warwickshire. In 1797 he went to the
Pytchley country. From 1808 to 1814 he hunted in the
New Forest, and from 1814 to 1826 in the Craven.
This, however, must only be taken as quite a skeleton
list, and the dates as approximate ones. There are
other countries which can claim connection with him.
While in the New Forest an unfortunate outbreak of
madness destroyed his pack. The beginning of fox-
hunting saw large powerful hounds bred. Indeed size His Hounds
was a point which was much considered. As a breeder
of such hounds Mr. Warde was celebrated, his hounds
being noted equally for their huoting properties. He
built a number of kennels, and said he could do so for
less money than any man. In his stable, however, he
cannot be considered as successful as in his kennel. He
never gave much money for horses, either for himself or
his men. His huntsman, it is «true, usually rode a
useful sort of horse, but his whips were badly mounted.
He only gave 35 guineas for Blue Ruin, a horse for his
own use, bought ofif a distiller at Maidstone, with the
character of being v iolent in harness, and Coxcomb, the
best hunter he is said to have ever owned, was knocked
down at about the same price to him by Mr. Richard

His Horses.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. JohnWarde Tattersall at '* The Coroer." He was a strict discip-

* liDarian in the field, but it was generally done by wit

and ridicule. In fact he was as noted for his wit as he
was for his sport.

^anecdo?e!"^"° ^^^ following anecdote is a characteristic one of
this prince of masters. When he was hunting the
country now comprised in the Oakley, the Duke of
Bedford, who also had a pack of fox-hounds, appointed
them to meet one day at a covert on his own estate.
Mr. Warde, thereupon, wrote a polite note to the
Duke informing him that, according to the rights of
fox-hunting, he could not draw the appointed covert
although it was his own. In consequence of this the
Duke altered his fixture, and the first time Mr. Warde
drew that covert he and some friends who were
staying at Woburn attended the meet. Mr. Warde
rode up to his Grace and taking ofif his hat said — *' My
Lord Duke, I am extremely sorry that my duty as the
present occupier of this country, compelled me to
establish my right to draw this covert ; having done
so I now concede it to your Grace, so long as I hunt
the Oakley country, and have no doubt it will afford
you good sport."

Hiswitandanec- To a friend who had been making some remarks upon
dotes. ^jjg ^jg heads of his hounds, he replied that they

were of such a weight that, having got their
noses well down to the ground, it was not very
easy for them to raise them up again. Notwithstand-
ing his great hunting achievements in all parts, and the
large number of appointments he fulfilled, of a sporting
and social nature, far and wide, he managed pretty often
to run to his seat .in Kent to see how matters were
progressing, and many landlords would find benefit by
remembering more often his sage remark that *' the best
manure is the landlord's heel." Although in the latter
part of his career he was wealthy, he was not always so,
and once threatened to give up hunting in consequence
of a succession of bad harvests and arrears among his

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

ings.

tenants. The next week £1,000 was placed to his Mr. John Wards

credit in the bank by " A friend of fox-hunting," who '

was afterwards found to be his wife.

He was one of the party technically known as "The
Old Lot "who met annually atTattersall's Derby Dinner ^^^^^f ^^^ ^^y-
at *' the Corner " and the gatherings were always enli-
vened by his wit and anecdotes, in the telling of which
he excelled greatly. He would give a stirring description
of the race that he drove from London to Oxford, and
how, as he crossed Magdalen Bridge, he heard the
horn of the other coach coming down Headington
Hill. The last surviving member of "The Old Lot"
was Mr. Fitzroy Stanhope, who died early in the
sixties. A few of Warde's sayings have become almost
proverbs, and are worthy of ranking as such. "Never
buy a horse from a rich man who hunts" was a
warning he gave, another containing a warning never
to believe a word any man might say about
a horse he might have to sell. " The age
of a horse is in his legs" was another,
and of breeding hounds, he remarked " Breed your
hounds with bone and nose ; without the one they
will tire, without the other they will slack." He died
in 1838 at the ripe age of 86 years and in him, there
can be no doubt, passed away one of the best of
gentlemen and one of the ablest, as he was one
of the earliest, of masters. When he withdrew from
Warwickshire in 1791, the scarcely less cele-
brated— and as far as Warwickshire is concerned,
perhaps more celebrated — Mr. Corbet brought his
hounds into the country. But Mr. Corbet fills an
important page in the history of " the Warwickshire"
and with him I shall therefore start afresh in the next
chapter.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

C H A P:T E R II.

Mr. John Corbet.

His character.

His early days.

The celebrated Mr. John Corbet— Trojan— His
LEAPING POWERS— The extent of the country —
A great run from Wolford— Mr. Corbet's
WAY across country — WiLL Barbow— HiS
horsemanship — His epitaph.

When, in 1791, Mr. Warde deserted Warwickshire,
there came to the head of its fox-hunting affairs, one of
the most celebrated masters of the old school, in the
person of Mr. John Corbet, of Sundorne Castle, Shrop-
shire. He was the contemporary of the equally cele-
brated Mr. Meynell, of the Quorn, and under him
Warwickshire rose into a front rank position and
flourished as a hunting county. His name will ever be
associated with Warwickshire and indeed the county
owes him much. He was the pattern of masters.
Liberal-handed in his management of afifairs, he was at
the same time noted for his kindness of heart and
gentlemanly conduct, which was displayed both in and
out of the field. He wa=, in fact, a thorough English
gentleman, and there can be little doubt that it is
largely to his courteous and kindly treatment of all
who appeared at his meets, that the loyalty Warwick-
shire yeomen have invariably shown to the chase is
due.

He commenced his career as a sportsman in his native
county by keeping a pack of foxhounds, but there being
two other packs there he changed to harriers. He,
however, afterwards returned to foxhounds and hunted

THE WAR\^^CKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

in various parts of Shropshire. He had had some
experience of Warwickshire before he took it, as.Jas far
back as 1778, he hunted the district around Meriden.
The echoes of Staffordshire round Lichfield and Shen-
stone had also been awakened by the sound of his horn.
The fame of his pack may be largely attributed to the
reputation enjoyed by a single hound — the celebrated
Trojan. It was just previous to the taking of War-
wickshire by his master that the feats of Trojan were Trojan.
attracting the admiration of those who followed him,
and gaining for "Mr. Corbet's" a worthy place
in hunt story. He is said to have been the
offspring of a Pytchley hound, Trueboy, and a
harrier bitch Tidings, which was in a pack of
harriers purchased for Mr. Corbet at Tattersall's. Mr.
Corbet, however, came very near losing his treasure.
He was in the habit of entering his puppies to hares,
and Trojan refusing to look at them was very nearly
drafted. This was, no doubt, evidence of his
excellence, and when put to his proper sport he proved
a most perfect hound. During the eight or nine
seasons which he hunted (1780-88) he was never lame
and never remained in the kennels when it was his
turn to hunt. He always came back fresh and gay
with his stern up, even on the hardest days. His leap- His powers
ing powers have been the most notorious of all his
qualifications, although it has been suggested, that it
was the advantageous comparison with his companions
which made him shine in this particular, rather than
any very exceptional merit of his own. Two in-
stances of noteworthy jumps by Trojan, which have
been handed down, ^re, however, worth recording
here. One was in his first year, the other in his
second. In the latter instance, a fox found at Chilling-
ton, in Staffordshire, was run to Weston (Lord Brad-
ford's) and back to Chillington, leaping the park wall
of considerable height. The pack followed, but all
who attempted the leap fell back with the exception of

His leaping per-
fonnances.

10

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

The

extent of
hunting War-
wickshire.

Mr. Corbet's
Kennel.

Trojan, who cleared it and alone marked the fox to
ground. In the case of the former there is additional
credit attached to it, for, by his powers, he alone kept
up the sport and preserved an admirable run from
being nipped at its very commencement. They found
at Perry Woods, near Birmingham, the fox making for
Lord Dartmouth's park, into which he entered over the
high brick wall, Trojan alone following. The rest of
the pack and the field went round and entered by the
gate, only to find that Trojan and his game had
crossed the park and left it over the wall on
the opposite side. They accordingly made their
exit in the same way as that in which they had eflFected
an entrance, and, being told that a single hound had
been seen entering a wood, rightly surmised that it was
Trojan. He was quickly heard carrying on the
scent and the pack joining, a capital run was the
result, the kill being near Halesowen in Worcester-
shire. With regard to Trojan's pedigree, there seems
to be some degree of doubt as to whether there was
such a hound as Trueboy in the Pytchley kennels
during the years 1778-80.

The eccentric and celebrated' Tom Moody was a
short time in Mr. Corbet's service, but it is not certain
whether it was during the period he held War-
wickshire. In those days the hunting country of
Warwickshire meant Warwickshire. That is to say,
it comprised the whole county. Tile Hill, Prince-
thorpe, Newbold, Newnham, Combe, and all the Dun-
church country, afterwards given up to Lord Anson
and the Atherstone, were drawn by Mr. Corbet's
hounds. He hunted without subscription, except £5
a year from each of the members of the club for earth-
stopping. His kennel generally consisted of 70 couples
of hounds, the packs being classed according to age.
The dogs were large and stout animals, but the bitches
seem to have been the more preferable for hunting
purposes. He resided during his tenure of Warwick-

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

11

shire at Clopton House, near Stratford-on-Avon. He
had kennels at Stratford, and also at Meriden for that
part of the country, and at the end of every season the
bounds were removed back to Sundorne. During the
whole of the time he hunted Warwickshire, the well-
known Will Barrow was bis huntsman, but of this
individual, more anon.

The earliest run which we find recorded of Mr.
Corbet's, is one which is well worthy of a premier place.
The meet was at Wolford Heath on December 8tb,
1795. A fox found made a good start over Lemington
Heath, passed over Norton Common and Evenlode
Heath to Longborough Lees. His next point was
Donington, which he left for Scott's Brake, after which
fee took them to Eyford and Halford Holt and over the
Cold Aston Downs to within two miles of Farmington
Grove. Here he turned and went through Saperton
Grove and over the finest part of the Gloucestershire
hills to within four miles of Cheltenham and ten of
Gloucester, where he was rolled over, having proved
himself well worthy of the district from which he
hailed, and which, in the early days of '* the Warwick-
shire " was said to be always depended on to show
sport worth following.

The first hour and a half was a complete burst
and was succeeded by the same time in cold
hunting. Then there was a brilliant fifty minutes
running, as hard as possible, out of scent
into view, finishing with the climax, at Sande-
well Park close to the fashionable spa, against
which Leamington had not then risen as a
threatening and dangerous rival. The distance was
35 miles. Of the hundred who were out, the fingers of
one man were sufficient to sum up the number at the
death. They were Mr. Corbet, who was not at the
meet but who joined after the first burst was over,
Major Pigott, Mr. R. Canning, Captain Hawkes, Mr. W.
Greendle, the huntsman and the first whip. Mr. Hill

Mr John Corbet
1791-1811.

His earliest re-
corded run.
1795.

country.

12 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

^I^-JoyN Corbet came up not much after the end, and Mr. Thos. Handley,

* of Barford, on a clever chesnut, and Mr. Joseph

Russell, of Grove Fields, on a brown splint-legged
horse, were also in good places.

His way across Mr. Corbet had a peculiar way of crossing country.
Although he would not leap, he would gallop as fast as
any, and showed no small share of nerve, as well as
hand. In fact, there is little doubt that he possessed
the art of galloping, in which lies half the secret of
seeing what hounds are doing. Those who believe that
a place at the finish of a hard run is only to be acquired
by flying at all obstacles presented, may smile to be
told that it may be almost equally obtained by showing
them the shoulder. That this was, and we may say still
is, the case, may be seen by the fact that Mr. Corbet
generally saw his foxes pulled down. Neither must he
be allowed to lie under the reproach of lack of nerve,
for riding, as he did, at a splitting pace along rough
lanes and stony roads, does not fall far short in the
demands it makes upon that quality of a man, of the
negociation of a bullfinch or ox-rail. Neither, indeed,
did Mr. Corbet enjoy an immunity from falls. Several,
and some of them awkward ones, fell to his lot during
the season. Like another worthy master of the War.
wickshire of more recent times, he was not ashamed of
owning to a knowledge of every gate in his country,
and, after what has been said above, I do not think my
readers will see the slightest cause for shame in either
case. It is, indeed, astonishing how well some can
ride to hounds and enjoy an excellent day's sport,
and at the same time indulge in only a minimum of
fencing.

On coming to a fence he did not like the look of, but
which he meantto attempt, and seeing one he knew going
at it, he would say, "Thank ye, sir. I am very much
obliged to you, you'll just catch my horse." This just
catching the horse displayed a laudable loyalty to the
master, as it often cost the individual the run. There is

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

13

however, an exception to every rule, and Mr. Corbet, or
rather his hunter, made one in the Wolford run just
described. When the hounds viewed their fox their
worthy master was so delighted, that he instantly
clapped his spurs to his horse, and not being able to
stop him, as was his custom, at the next gate, he cleared
it on his back. When the run] was over he remarked,
•*I have done more than I meant to do."

Scarcely less celebrated than Mr. Corbet was his
huntsman, Will Barrow, whose brother Jack was first
whip, the second being one Jack Jones. With regard
to civility he and his master were "as the poles
asunder." If a man were seen in the midst of the
hounds, Mr. Corbet would call out "Pray, sir, hold
hard ; you will spoil your own sport." The remarks
of Barrow under the same circumstance had best be left
unchronicled. When the hounds were well settled on
their fox Mr. Corbet would call out, "Now, gentlemen,
ride over them ; now ride and catch them if you can."
Barrow was never so happy or good-tempered as when
" his lasses," as he called the bitch pack, were running
on a good scent, and when this was the case nothing in
shape of a fence that there was a chance of getting over
or through would turn him off the line. He is entitled
to a high place in the annals of British horsemanship.
There is no doubt as a horseman he excelled, and
thanks to himself his horses were as clever as he. In
this he owed his education to Mr. Childe, of Kinlet,
Shropshire, who was also great in the art. He " rode
like a gentleman," although, as I am aware, the vague-
ness of this term, has been discussed. Though
short in stature, through want of length of leg,
he sat his horse in a perfect manner, and
with an ease that almost amounted to graceful-
ness. Equally perfect was his hand, and as regards
nerve, there was nothing lacking. The line might be
over the stiffest of the many stiff parts of Warwickshire,
but still he kept it, and it is doubtful whether his falls

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

The celebrated
Will Barrow,

Mr, Corbet's
civilitj'.

Barrow's Horse-
manship.

14

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

His Horse.

His last days and
epitaph.

would number more than a couple during the season.
As regards his horses, I have already mentioned that
they fully did credit to the hand that guided them. A
high compliment to Barrow is to be found in the
remark made by his first master, Mr. Childe. Barrow,
he said, was the only servant he ever had or knew, fit
to trust with his own horses mouths, having so gentle
and good a hand on his bridle. By his own horses
he meant, of course, those he himself rode. Mr.
Corbet might well feel, then, that he had a huntsman
who would be worthy of the good horses he might buy
him, and the three chestnuts Barrow rode were
splendid animals and equal to far more than his weight,
which with his clothes was not ten stone. Perhaps the
best of them, by King Fergus, was one which would
have killed him if he had thrown him to the ground.
But he never did — his rider took good care of that. It
is not at all unlikely that the knowledge of his horse's
power and his own risk, helped to make him hia
favourite, for such he was always considered. Two
other horses he rode were a grey, a flier, and a black
gelding, Joe Andrews, which was as stout as steel.

His last days were spent with Mr. Corbet's harriers
at Sundorne, by a fall with which he met his death."
After his death £1,400 was found in odd places about
his bedroom. His epitaph in Sundorne Parish
Churchyard is as follows : —

Of this world's pleasure I have had uiy shsre ;
For few the sorrows I was doomed to bear ;
How oft I have enjoyed the noble chase
Of hounds and foxes, each striving for the race !
But the knell of death calls me away ;
So, sportsmen, farewell ! I must obey.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 15

CHAPTER III.

StRATFOED-ON-AvON as a HUNTING CENTRE — THE

HUNT CLUB. — " The Black Collars " — cus-
toms OF THE CLUB — A MEMORABLE RUN IN
1801— ANOTHER SEVERE DAY FROM WOLFORD.

I have already referred to the sporting character stratford-on;-
of the White Lion Hotel, at Stratford, in the merry huVtSig c^entre
old days when John Warde presided over the sport of
the locality. Merrier days however, were still in
store for it when Mr. Corbet came from a neigh-
bouring county and made it his centre. He es-
tablished there a hunt club on an extensive scale. In the
early days of fox-hunting, which may be taken as the
final quarter of last century and the first of this, the
social aspect of the sport had not arisen. The field
was not then graced by the many fair ones, who,
now-a-days, not only do not disdain to appear at covert-
side, but can give some of their stronger companions a
good lead on a stiS' line.

The followers of Mr. Corbet's hounds were men. The social aspect.
and men only, and as, in the morning, they
bore each other company in the field, so, in the even-
ing, they were mainly dependent upon their own good-
fellowship for the enjoyments wherewith to finish
up the day. When Mr. Corbet brought his hounds
to Stratford-on-Avon, Leamington was a mere village, Leamington.
the only pretensions to a spa it possessed being a
range of baths newly erected by Matthew Wise, Esq.

16 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. JoHx Corbet The accommodation provided for visitors, however,
179 -1811.

* was of a very humble character, and the place still

retained, its rural appearance. Stratford, on the
other hand, was quite established as a hunt-
ing centre, and it was here that the hunters
who selected Warwickshire as their ground of
action, congregated, and found, round the table of the
hunt club room, amusement for the time which Leam-
ington now oflfers them the possibility of passing with
the fairer sex, in whatever social attractions they may
find in its winter season. Stratford, however, was not
very well situated, being quite on the outside of the
country, and its position was much to its disadvantage
when other places, more central for the best Warwick-
shire meets and those of neighbouring hunts, rose into
competition with it.

The Hunt Club. The White Lion was kept by Bill Barke, a conspi-
cuous figure with the hounds, both on account of hia
person and the frequency of his attendance in the field.
He was a big fellow, quite a welter. The members of
the club dined in a room called the *' Tempest" in
honour of Shakespeare. Once a fortnight thera was
a strong muster at dinner, when Mr. Corbet made it his
custom to be present. The members, too, were most
hospitably received at his residence, Ulopton House.
On the night of the great Wolford run, described in the
last chapter, Mr. Corbet dined at the club and threw
the head on the table. It was preserved in a glass
case and was an ornament in the room for forty-five
years, at the expiration of which period a sale took
place on the occasion of the house changing hands, and,
on the day of sale, the object which had such pleasant
and early associations, vanished for ever.

The Uniform. The evening uniform of the club was black stockings,

breeches and waistcoat, and a scarlet coat with hand-
some gilt buttons with the letters"S.H. "upon them, and
a black velvet collar. This last appendage gained the

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

17

members of the club the name of *' Black Collars," and
as such they are referred to in the poem of *' The Epwell
Hunt." It corresponded, in fact, with the white collar
badge of the Pytchley Hunt, and seems to have been
also a part of the dress in the field, as it figures in a
coloured plate by Thomas Weaver of John Corbet
and his hounds. And a happy party the "Black
Collars " seem to have been. A quarrel at the club
was unheard of, and the good day's sport which the
country provided to such a master as " the Warwick-
shire Squire " would send them back well prepared, in
mind and body, for the substantial fare which was such
an important item in English country life in the ** good
old days. " Old Trojan retained a place in their memory
and the toast, "The Blood of the Trojans," always
followed that of " The King," at the club. Mr. Corbet
was called "TheFather of the Trojans." The "Trojans"
of course, were the Warwickshire Hounds.

A custom existed at the club of buying horses by
handicap. A Mr. Best gave 750 guineas for a horse.
Confidence, who had run well for an hour and ten
minutes in a trying country, and then done a good
timber jump. The next morning somej members
assembled at covert planned a decoy for the purchaser.
Picking out a very high rail in the corner of a field they
sent Will Barrow, whose powers I have already referred
to, to jump it. When he had done so, they cried out,
"Now, Mr. Best," and to their surprise he cleared it
with a yard to spare.

The commencement ot the season was always ushered
in in a marked manner. The members of the club con-
gregated once more at Stratford, and on the first Mon-
day in November, Lord Willoughby de Broke enter-
tained the master and a numerous party to dinner.
The day which is usually honoured in connection with
Guy Faux and his Gunpowder Plot, was also a great
day in Warwickshire, and, unless it fell upon a Sunday,

Mr. John Corbet
1791-18U.

The "Black
Collars."

Toasts
Club.

at the

Buying horses by
handicap.

The commence-
ment of the
season.

18

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Mr. Corbet's
plate at the
races.

A memorable run
from Compton
Wy ni a t e s,
1801.

The finish

Mr. Corbet would reserve some favourite covert for it.
A day or two previous to this the hunt races were held
at which he gave a plate of £50 to the farmers. The
conditions were that they should ride half-bred horses,
which had regularly hunted with the Warwickshire
hounds, and who had never won a race. They were to
carry 21 stone, in two mile heats, and to be ridden by
gentlemen.

A memorable run was that which, on the 10th of

December, 1801, originated in a meet at Lord

Northampton's seat at Compton Wyniates. With the

first fox nothing worth noting was done, but a second,

found in the gorse by the side of Epwell White

House gave them a day's sport, which those — and they

were few — who saw it to its end would remember for

the rest of their days. He went away over the rabbit

warren, and took a circle round Compton House into

Tysoe Field, and then returned almost to where he was

found. He then made for Shutford Hill, and after

taking a somewhat devious line and touching Tadmar-

ton, he arrived at Wroxton Abbey, from which he

passed right on to Banbury town. Here he lay down

in a garden and was viewed by most of those present.

But he had some splendid sport in store for them

yet, and being started again gave a clipping run

over a very fine district to Bourton-on-the- Water.

Here, however, the run did not end, and he took them

off again with a great extent of fine country before

them. At a quarter past five o'clock, the hounds

were still running hard, and as it was getting dark, they

were stopped by the huntsman on a hack. They had

run four and a quarter hours, the distance being at

the very least five-and-thirty miles.

I doubt if, in the whole course of its existence, "the
Warwickshire " can show many runs to equal this one,
for the extent of the country traversed. Let my
readers get a map and note the points for themselves.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

19

The ordnance survey inch map, if handy in sufficient sizd
will show at a glance what a splendid day's work was
done. Start with the find near Epwell White House,
on the ridge of the Edgehills, then account for the
little circle round Compton Wyniates and work the
line, somewhat of a see-sawing nature, on to Banbury.
Those of you, and I hope they are many, who hare
followed "the Warwickshire " over this much traversed
part, will know that a very fair piece of work had been
done over a country with hills abounding. Then,
placing one end of your rule on Banbury, let the other
drop, if your map allows it, at Bourton-on-the-Water,
right down in Gloucestershire, some four or five miles
south-west of Stow-on-the-Wold, and you will see at
once the amount of work done by "the Warwickshire"
that afternoon. If he went as straight as the line of
your rule, the points of this part of the run lie 22 miles
apart. It is a pity that the place where the
hounds were stopped is not chronicled, and
the absence of particulars between Banbury
and Bourton, is also to be regretted, although the lack
of this information is easily understood. We do not
know in what direction he left Banbury, or what line
he took to get to Bourton, but the very shortest — and
he must have been a straight-running individual —
would take them through Broughton, Tadmarton
Heath, Hook Norton, Great Rollright, leaving Chipping
Norton one mile to the left, and so on through Salford,
Cornwell, Wick Rissington, to Bourton-on-the-Water.
And it must not be forgotten that the end was not
here, although it is doubtful if he took them much
further.

A merry night would they have had at the club
after such a day as this, but the "Black Collars " on
this evening were scattered far and wide. Most of the
horses were tired after leaving Banbury, and not one re-
turned that night to the stable he had left in the morning.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

The conjectured
course.

20

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Another run
from Wolford.

The

reputatien
Wolford.

The severe na-
ture of the run

In those days there were no railways, which now help
the hunter back to his own roof, after a few negocia-
tions at awkward junctions with ill-fitting branch
trains. The choice then between a ride of some
miles in the dark and taking advantage of local
hospitality, or quarters at the nearest hostelry, rarely
resulted in the first-named being selected, and a night
out was not at all an uncommon sequel to a good run.

My next item is also a severe one. It also stands
near the one just described, too, as far as chronology
is concerned. It originated in the meeting place
that gave such a good run in 1795, viz., Wolford.
Two brace were afoot immediately, the place,
therefore, fully sustaining its reputation of being
always ready with the material for sport. Three of
them got away quickly but the hounds kept with the
one in the wood, which finally broke for Barton Grove.
He went forward for Weston and Sutton North,
near Compton Wyniates, Epwell, and on to Sibford,
fifteen miles from covert. He then turned for Brailes
and on to Halford Bridge, then for Idlicote and over a
fine country for Sutton, and on to Wichford Wood.
Here the hounds would have killed him but they were
halloed to a fresh one by a footman. Catching the
scent, they hunted him over a first-rate country to
Wolford, and were stopped by Jack Barrow, the first
whip, going into covert. The time was six hours.

Here, again, I recommend my readers to the map to
properly appreciate the character of the run. It will
be seen that, as regards time, it beats the former by two
hours, but it must be remembered that it was the work
of two foxes and would, but for the interference of the
footmen, have ended at Wichford. The area was more
confined than in the Bourton run ; there was more
backward and forward work. Still, for severity, it
does not fall far behind it. Jack Barrow
was the only one who finished the day on the

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 21

same horse he started on, but it was at the cost of the ^^■{^q^^-P^^^'^'^

horse, for he was of no use afterwards. The repu-

tation of the meet drew' an unusually large field, all
mounted in their best style. Alas for their fine *' get-
up " at the end of the day ! Will Barrow tired a
couple of horses. Mr. Morant, who, I ought to have
mentioned, rode better than any in the Bourton-on- in the run.
the- Water run, also exhausted two horses ; as did also
Mr. Fisher, of Idlicote.

Mr. Corbet's famous horse Trojan (his master evi-
dently could not forget his famous hound) was never
known to have stopped before, and it is good evidence
of the severe nature of the work on this day, that he
came to a stand-still at Wichford. Mr. Corbet tried
to lead him but he could neither go nor stand. Mr.
John Venour was one of the best men over Warwick-
shire at this time. His horse stopped in the same field
as Mr. Corbet's, and a young horse Mr. W. Barke was
on pulled up at Brailes Hill.

From the top of Brailes Hill on [this day were
seen groups of sportsmen leading or drawing
their horses home. At different periods of the
run the hounds*touched five miles of Banbury, two of
Chipping Norton, and^six of Stratford, and the extent
travelled must have been fifty^miles.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER IV.

Tab Cannings— the weight reducing efforts of
Francis Canning— Robert Canning, the "crack
man " of the hunt — his exploits and horses —
Mr. John Hawkes — Mr. Morant Gale— his

HARD RIDING— Mr. JoHN VeNOUR— A RUN FROM

Wellbsbourne, 1804.

e Cannings. j t^jajj^ perhaps, I have now sufficiently progressed

into Mr. Corbet's period of mastership to introduce my
readers to some of the worthies who followed his
hounds over Warwickshire. The position of '* crack
man " must, I think, be yielded to Mr. Robert Canning,
of Houndshill. He and his brother Francis, who lived
at Foxcote, shone brilliantly in the country, and welter
weights as they were, their performances were all the
more creditable. They were comparatively uneducated
in the art of riding to hounds, their education
having been obtained on the Continent, where
working a horse across country is not, as a rule, to be
added to the attainment of severer knowledge with
the same facility that it is in England. The elder
brother, Francis, was the heavier of the two, but such
was his zeal that he took every possible means to re-
duce the weight which would tell against him when
the hunting season came round. Both he and his
brother are referred to in the poem "The Epwell
Hunt," to which I shall make more reference directly.
Goulburn, the author, says—

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

23

Robert Canning comes next, the crack man of the hunt.

Let him ride what he will, either hunter or hack,

Sure by some means or other, to be with pack ;

At the end of the day, almost always alone,

And scarse ever behind tho' he rides sixteen stone.

In his wake pressing close and with much the same plan,

Frank, his brother, keeps up, tho' a heavier man.

Mr John Corbet
1791-1811.

And so they were, as a rule, well up at the finish,
notwithstanding their weight. Francis used to make
a practice of walking a certain distance every non-
hunting day in winter. In summer time he would
walk excessive distances, often 30 or 40 miles a day,
without regard to temperature. That his constitution
must have been of a Herculean nature will be seen by
some of the feats he performed with the idea of reduc-
ing his weight. On one excessive hot July day he
walked 35 miles swathed in flannel. On another
occasion he accompanied Lord Dormer on a tour
through the Highlands. The journey of course, was
made largely by road conveyances, but Canning, seizing
an opportunity to help to bring about the riiuch
desired reduction in weight, declined to avail himself
of riding, and walked the journey throughout, a total
of 1,600 miles. A loss of weight was the result, but a
loss of frame was, of course, not to be so easily acquired,
and reduce his flesh as much as he would, his frame was
such that he could not enter the scale under 15 stone.
His stud, with which he had extraordinary success
consisted of five or six hunters, and his stables are
described as being excellent. He also possessed the
admirable trait of character of knowing how to treat
his horses, and invariably thinking of them as well
as himself in his enjoyment of the chaae. Sometimes,
even, he would walk by their side many a long and
dirty mile to reach home after a severe run. His horses
had, of course, to be selected in accordance with his
weight, and with a few exceptions his style of animal
was coarse. Large heads, large hips, in fact large every-
thing, were the points of his horses, but they were

Mr. Francis Can-
ning.

His weight-
reducing ex-
ploits.

His Horses.

24

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811,

Mr. R. Canning*

The" crack man'g
of the Hunt.

nevertheless, generally capable of pace. Notwith-
standing his deficient education in the art, he possessed
a fine bridle hand. It was, in his case, a natural
faculty, and rarely, indeed, was horse or rider defeated.
Near to hounds they were generally to be seen, not-
withstanding the weight of both. I have made a
passing reference to the Epwell run, and quoted- the
remarks of the author of a poem founded upon it.
Francis Canning greatly distinguished himself on that
day on a horse much under his weight and only five
years old. It was named " The General," and passed
afterwards to Sir John Dashwood King, who sold it to
Mr. C. J. Apperley (known far and wide as "Nimrod,"
and of whom, as a " Warwickshire" man, I shall speak
again) at 160 guineas. "Nimrod" was lucky enough
to drop into a brilliant run the first time he rode him
and " The General" passed to the Earl of Warwick at
sixty guineas premium.

So much of the elder Canning. Great as he was, no
doubt, both in deeds as well as in figure, he was sur-
passed by his younger brother Robert in the former,
and was run rather close by him in the matter of weight.
To Robert Canning I assigned at^'start, the place
of ** crack man," and although in my remarks upon his
brother, my readers may have thought I was putting
him into that much to be coveted position, there is no
doubt Robert could give him a start and beat
him. As a sportsman as well as a horseman
he has rarely been surpassed. He was not
harassed by so many fleshy considerations as hia
brother, but he had, nevertheless, weight and frame
sadly against him. He stood 6ft. 4in. without his
shoes, and his weight in the saddle was not very far
behind that of his brother Francis.

As regards his mounts, they were, no doubt, superior
to those of his brother Francis, but he did not pay
the same attention to them as we have been able to

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

25

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

His

Horseman-
ship.

credit the other with doing. He always rode the same
horse all day, acd yet managed to sufficiently distin-
guish himself with hounds, to gain the place of honour
into which all authorities place him. But the horse
is not the only thing necessary in riding to hounds.
Certain qualifications the rider must have, or no matter
how excellentjthe steed, the rider will be a rare specta-
tor of the end of severe pieces of work. Robert Can-
ning, like his brother, possessed by nature these neces-
sary faculties. His eye was perfect. Hedge, ditch,
gate, brook, and even river, were all passed by him
and left behind, generally without having given much
trouble to either horseman or horse. The places he
would go through were astounding. On an obstacle pre-
senting itself, a "come up" was heard and the pair of
them were generally safe on the line on the other side.
An example of the hand he possessed is to be found in
a piece of water work he performed. A flooded brook
presented itself, and Robert Canning went at it and
leapt it ; his horse rising at it out of the overflow.

There were two horses in particular upon which he His Horses,
distinguished himself. These, with a few others, were
those upon which he did the chief part of his work.
One was a chestnut gelding, called "Favourite,"
which was apparently quite two stone under his weight,
but which carried him brilliantly. The other was a
stallion, called "Knowsley," and equally below his
weight. It was deficient in its fetlocks, and had the
appearance of a fourteen stone man's horse at most,
whereas his rider was two or three stone over that in
the saddle. But it was a finely constitutioned animal,
and had an excellent temper. His remarks upon weight-
carrying horses are worth noting. Referring on one
occasion to his own horses he said, "Narrow horses,
like Favourite, provided that they are deep, can carry
me ; but it matters not how thick a horse may be if he
have not depth of brisket, commonly called girth."

26

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Mr. Hawkes.

His remark upon
Warwickshire

A run
Walton.

from

Added to their superior horsemanship, their know-
ledge of the country helped to give them a chief place
in crossing it. They were admirable pilots, and when
a far-going fox had taken the field some distance, and
somewhat out of their latitude, the Cannings were
as good in bringing them home as they had been in
leading them there.

Riding to hounds at this time came rapidly forward
as an art to be cultivated, and an acquisition much to
be desired. A contemporary with the Cannings, and
one who, with them, did not a little to advance the art,
was Mr. John Hawkes of Snitterfield. He was one
of the first to exemplify the superiority of thorough-
bred horses in the hunting field, if ridden with that
refined skill, for which he himself was famed. Not only
in Warwickshire, however, did he shine. Equally
conspicuous, and perhaps more so, was he in Mr.
Meynell's country. He was the author of a pamphlet
called *' The Meynellian Science of Foxhunting," As
rider and as sportsman he stood high. He did not,
however, confine his equestrian performances to the
field, but went in as well for racing. He rode in a
hunting cap, leather breeches, and boots, and looked
the sportsman. Although he had hunted much
with Mr. Meynell in Leicestershire, and said that that
country — then, as now, the fashionable hunting ground
— spoilt every other country, he afterwards lived and
hunted many years in Warwickshire. This country
ranked third at that time, Ai^iiog Northamptonshire the
place next to Leicestershire. As to whether this posi-
tion is maintained, I hope to have something more to
say before I have finished. Mr. Hawkes, however, used
to say there was not sufficient room in it to show a run.
One day, when he was out on his horse "Featherlegs,"
Walton Wood was the draw and provided a fox which,
with only two momentary checks, took them over
Lighthorne, Long Itchington, and Upton to Watergall,
one-and-a-half miles from Soutbam, where he was

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

27

killed. Mr. Hawkes was not in at the death ; in fact,
so swift was the run that only three out of a large field
were, and Mr. Robert Canning said to him, when they
came together again, " Now, Mr. Hawkes, can
Warwickshire show a run ? "

Another old Leicestershire man was Mr. Edward
Morant Gale, who lived at Upton House, Edge Hill. He
was a regular hard going rider, and my readers will
doubtless remember that he figured conspicuously in
the two severe runs I described in my last chapter.
He is spoken of as :—

A Meltonian of old well versed in their creed ;
O'er riding all scent for the sake of a lead.

There is to be seen in this couplet a little bit of senti-
ment regarding Leicestershire which I shall elucidate,
I hope, when I have to deal with another poetical
efiusion. In addition to foxhunting Mr. Morant Gale
had kept a clever pack of harriers. He was, however,
a terrible sinner, both against horse and hounds, with
regard to his speed. Speed ! speed ! speed ! That
was the one thing he wanted, and the one thing he
would have, no matter the length of the run. There
was scarcely a horse living that could take him
through an hour. During a brilliant run with Mr.
Corbet he was on a horse by "No Pretender," and at
the end of fifty minutes hard work disappeared.
The field saw no more of him, but that was nothing
very extraordinary, as the pace at which he tore away
from covert generally resulted in his equally speedy
discomfiture. On the occasion referred to he was found
after the death sitting on his saddle under a black-
thorn hedge, both horse and rider presenting a most
woeful appearance. His hat was gone, his face was
bleeding, and his clothes were torn. He was, however,
very good natured, and joined in the laughter at his
appearance.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Mr. Edward
Morant Gale.

His hard riding.

28 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet On another occasion he made a bad start from covert,

' and, not able to bear being left in the rear so early,

pushed his horse along at a pace, which was simply
impossible for anything like an hour's duration.
Naturally he met with many falls, one of which sent
him on to his head on a heap of stones. Fearing a
slight concussion of the brain, he sent for a doctor upon
his return home. The doctor evidently shared his
apprehension and took the necessary precautions. He
left him for the night, promising to return in the
morning and see how he was progressing. He called,
but concussion or no concussion, Morant had gone to
the hounds.

Mr. John Veno Another, whom I had occasion to mention in eonnection

with the run from Epwell White House, was Mr. John
Venour. He was one of the best men over Warwick-
shire. He particularly distinguished himself on a little
horse named Hero which was sold him by *' Nimrod,"
when that well-known sporting writer was in his teens.
He was by Hero— a son of Herod, out of a Welsh
pony, but so restive that no man would venture on
him. Mr. Venour had him for £28.

A run from Wei- '^^^ sport during the first few years of this century
lesbourne, -was as good as any ever experienced. A succession of
good runs was generally to be enjoyed at any part of
the season. On December 7th, 1804, a fox found in
Wellesbourne Pastures took as many of the field as
could follow him, an excursion into the neighbouring
counties. He crossed Wellesbourne Wood for Walton,
and then passed by Compton Verney towards
Edgehill. About half a mile to the right of Kineton
he turned by Oxhill to Pillerton, and, passing near
Marton, and over Eatington Park, crossed the Stour at
Newbold, and entered Worcestershire. Taking them
by Armscott and Whimpstone Leys, he left Worcester-
shire for Gloucestershire. Preston Bushes and Quinton
were left to the right, and Meon Hill was crossed. The
Vale of Evesham then became the ground of action.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

29

The fine old pastures of Mickleton, Norton, and Aston,
were the closing scenes of this drama, which finished
with blood about a mile from the Broadway, before an
audience of fifteen, out of about a hundred at the find.
The run was one of three hours' duration, there having
been only one check, and that only of five minutes.

Many and various are the spots which witness the
finishes of runs, and a list of such during the history
of any hunt would, doubtless, be interesting and
curious. On Easter Monday, 1803, a Warwickshire
finish took pldce in Lady Hertford's ornamental dairy,
where

The pack, heedless of the damsels' screams,
First ate the fox — then drank the cream.

Another severe item was experienced in 1806, when,
starting from Bearley Bushes, the hounds killed their
fox after four hours and fifty minutes.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

A Warwickshire
"finish.

30 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER V.

The celebrated Epwell run— some more War-
wickshire WORTHIES.

The Epwell Run. ^* *^^® juncture I may be allowed, perhaps, to bring
in the famous Epwell run. An excellent piece of running
from this rendezvous has already been described and it
has been, no doubt, the originating point of many other
admirable days, both in Mr. Corbet's time and since.
One run, however, has come down to modern times as
** The Epwell Run" on account of a poem written
upon it by Edward Goulburn, Esq., and called

Mr. Goulburn'g "The Epwell Hunt." lam sorry that the exact date
EpwellHunt. q| ^^|^g j.^^ jg ^^^j ^^q y^g discovered. The poem bears the
date of 1807. *' The Warwickshire " met at Epwell on
November 14th and December 7th. Either of these
dates may, therefore, be the auspicious one. I am
sorry that I cannot fix it nearer than this, and those of
my readers who like time and place exact in all trans-
actions must forgive me. The gorse was the first to
yield a smart preliminary to the great event which was
to follow. It was sharp enough to thin down a field
of some two hundred to decent dimensions. But a very
few moments ensued after the death of this indi-
vidual before another fox was oflf and away, and took his
admirers back to Epwell. The exact geography of this
bit of business is vague, but we need not trouble about it
for it is the after work which lives in the history of " the
Warwickshire" as " the Epwell run." Let us take to
the map once more. Epwell may be said to have formed

run.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 31

tbe starting point of the run, for finding no hope of Mr. John Corbet
refuge there he settled down into a real bit of going, __L *

starting first of all through Swalclifife Plantations. The '^^.^'"'^ °* *^®
Plantations were left for a gallop over the Heath, which
the author calls Hook|Norton, but which, was no doubt,
Tadmarton. Scent was splendid and over the Heath
the pace increased accordingly, the field being gra-
dually diminished in consequence. Swerford was his
point, and the nice hill work to be met with proved
the quality of the wind of both horse and rider.
The high road was crossed at lightning speed, and a
descent made upon Heythrop — a place which has
since acquired happy hunting associations. Scent im-
proved, and even the brilliancy of his powers could not
save him, and "the Warwickshire " rolled him over, as
they have many another equally stout fox, just as he
was going to ground in the park. This was the run as
Mr. Goulburn has handed it down in his poem, "The
Epwell Hunt, or Black Collars in the Rear." The
quotation from Somerville's Chase, which he heads
the composition with, is appropriate and significant —

" A chosen few alone the sport enjoy."
The parts which give an idea of the work done are as
follows : —

As Epwell's wide heath, t'other day Ipasa'd over
The hounds I perceived were then trying the cover,
Enraptur'd I heard them, and spurring my horse.
Soon discovered the pack, which had found in the gor&e.
Two hundred smart sportsmen enliven'd the scene,
All determin'd to ride, and professedly keen,
Tho' the morning was cold, and the frost overnight.
Made the country around, in a terrible plight ;
Yet Reynard broke cover, disdaining to stay.
And in view of the horsemen, went travelling away.
But a sad country took, much against all their wills,
And led them a dance, over heart breaking hills,
Then led to some furze, remain'd dodging about,
Till Wanton at length, forced the vagabond out.
Thus routed his foes, he determin'd to face.
And again took them off at a rare splitting pace ;
O'er a strong and stiff country, went forward in style,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet "With the hounds at his brush, in full view for a mile ;
1791-1811. Was next seen in a Bottom, and there headed back,
And whilst climbing the steep fell a prey to the pack.
The burst— perhaps Melton will smile when he reads —
Was so quick, that it took something out of the steeds ;
Nay, to speak the whole truth, many found it too fast,
And various crack riders were looking aghast.

The first work of Such was the little work which acted as the lever de
the day. rideau to the main item of the day's programme. As

I before remarked, topographical particulars are alto-
gether missing, but I trust many of my readers, know
what a burst from rEpwell means. You will need a
a good mount, my friend, when you meet "the
Warwickshire " between Banbury and the ridge of
Edgehill. Grass vales abound ; it is a continual up and
down, with a little taste of water, as you cross the
brook which is usually found at the bottom of each.
After this piece of work, with scarcely time to remount,

The great run. ^^^ larger matter commenced, and we may imagine the
condition in which the majority had to face it.
I return°^to the words of thejauthor.

Tally-ho ! with a vengeance, for strange to recount,

Scarce allowing a moment, our nags to remount,

Another stout Reynard went boldly away,

And for Wimberton made a most desperate play.

How headed, and forc'd his first point to decline,

To Epwell push'd forward as straight as a line ;

Finding there nothing left for his life but to run,

He resolv'd to die game and show them some fun ;

So through Swalcliffe Plantations, he rapidly went,

Passing Hook Norton Heath, with a fine burning scent.

Where a few of the boldest, put on a wry face,

And the young ones no longer complain'd of the pace ;

From thence quite determin'd to give us our.fill,

For Swerford he made, and went straight up the hill ;

Cross'd the road at a speed that made somegpeople stare,

And was fatal, poor Fretwell, alas, to your mare ;

Close push'd, towards Heythrop despairing he roves,

But in vain, for the scent ev'ry moment improves ;

Till at length, having gone twenty miles right on end

At a rate that the oldest man out never kenn'd.

Having fiU'd the whole country with falls and disasters,

Nearly kill'djall the nags, and well pickled theirjmasters,

He was kill'd in the park|just when going to ground,

About twenty-three miles from the place he was found !

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

* * * * Mr. John Corbet

1791-1811.

Then let Leicestershire vauut of its far renowned speed,

Let them jostle and cross, for a start or a lead,
Upon selling their nags, more than hunting intent,
And scarce know the meaning of what is called scent ;
All declaiming at once, such a shout, such a yell,
Doing only what monkeys might do just as well ;
Where sport depends quite, upon knowing the cover,
And the very best run in an half hour is over ;
May such hunting as this never fall to my lot,
Let them race, if they like it, I envy them not ;
The blood of old Trojan is all I desire,
So give me the Hounds of the Warwickshire Squire.

Such is the enthusiastic ending of a composition which
is decided]}' above the average of rhyming accounts of
hunting runs. The " Warwickshire Squire " is, of
course, Mr. Corbet, and the "Blood of old Trojans"
I hope by this time, does not need to be interpreted to
my readers. The sentiments expressed towards Leices-
tershire are the same as were seen in a couplet given in
my last chapter. The " Meltonians " were accused by Riding to sell,
their brethren in the less fashionable, but more hunting,
countries of entertaining the conception that riding to
hounds were only a form of steeplechasing. That the
only essential was speed — that the hounds only played
the part of paper or flags and marked the
course, and, finally, that the ultimate and much to
be desired end of the day's work was to ride at as great
a pace as possible, to be in at the death, and to sell the
horse ridden at as handsome a premium as pos-
sible. There is no doubt that this was the true
state of things as far as a large section of men in
Leicestershire were concerned, although of course
my readers well know — I hope, in many cases, from
experience — that the " Cream of Leicestershire " always
has been, and doubtless always will be, a much
desired site, for at all events a portion of the season,
apart from its fashionable and social aspects.

But other countries were not entirely free from
sinning in this respect. Excessive hard riding, with

34

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Mr. Reginald
Wynniatt.

His hard riding.

Mr. Edward
Gk)ulbxirn.

an eye to a sale was often to be met with in War-
wickshire, and the sinners were not invariably Mel-
tonians. Mr. Reginald Wynniatt, of Gloucestershire,
was a very hard and jealous rider with ** the Warwick-
shire," and in order to sell a horse would go at anything.
He was, as a rule, a good hand in lifting a horse
over, or taking him through, places, although in the
Epwell run he fell at a brook, and although he
tried hard to make up, the sport had been too swift.
He possessed a rare nerve and was a powerful rider.
He had a wonderful mare 15 hands high, but long and
wide, which he sold for 200 guineas. As I have
just said, in order to effect a sale, he would make a
horse go anywhere. Hunting one day with Mr.
Osbaldeston's hounds, this behaviour brought about
a natural sequence, and he got a very hard fall
near Winwick Warren, He was carried on a gate to
a farmhouse, where he lay quite insensible. Two
friends were there and asked the farmer how it
had happened. The farmer replied that the
mishap had been entirely due to the horse.
This reference to his horse's character had the
eflfect of a powerful restorative on poor Wyn-
niatt. He opened his eyes, said, "It was not the
horse's fault at all," and then relapsed into insensibility.
The two friends then went in search of the horse,
which, when they had found, they began to gallop and
lark with over the neighbouring fences. A third friend
coming up asked what they were doing, when they
replied "Poor Wynniatt can't live and his horses must
go to Tattersall'H, so we thought we would take the
opportunity of trying this one to see if he is worth
buying."

I ought, no doubt, before this to have introduced
more particularly the author of the poem to my readers.
He was Mr. Edward Goulburn, who commenced life
by entering the navy. After a short experience he

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 35

determined/to change nautical for military service, and, Mr. John Corbet

forsaking salt water, he entered the Guards. But here

he was not to find his feeb, and he made a somewhat
unusual change from the army to the bar, becoming
ultimately a commissioner in bankruptcy. Although
he had laid aside the scarlet for the silk as regards his
sterner occupations, he was still an ardent patron of
both in a sporting sense, and hunting and racing were
his chief amusements. In the famous run, which is al-
ways connected with his name, and for a knowledge of
which weareindebtedtohim, he rode a five-year-old. He
went at a pace technically known as "a score," but at
SwerfordHill his horse refused a nasty oak stile, and re-
tirement from the run was the consequence. He was a
frequent follower of "the Warwickshire," and on
one occasion seeing a Worcestershire squire laughing
violently, he went up and said to him '* Quid rides.''
The squire was a better sportsman than linguist, and,
allowing his ear to deceive him, replied, " My Magog
horse."

Of Mr. Morant.Grale I have already spoken. He was
one of those in the Epwell run. The Cannings, too, did
justice to themselves. Mr. Fretwell, whose name Mr. Fretwell.
my readers will see in the lines quoted, was well
known in the hunt. He was a specimen of what may be
looked upon as a departed character — the English
sporting yeoman. He was quite of the old form and
fashion. The countries he patronised were the neigh-
bouring Duke of Beaufort's, and Mr. Seagreave's, the
former especially. He was popularly known as
Tommy Fretwell, and he and his old white mare were
noticeable objects whenever he was out. He was
never conspicuous as a horseman but his knowledge of
foxhunting was nevertheless sound. He was, in fact,
a real enthusiast and on a short stable managed to
make a frequent attendance on hounds. He was gene-
rally esteemed and was of particular value in the pre-
servation of foxes in his countries.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr- John Corbet Lord Alvanley was a frequent attendant in War-
_ll ' wickshire. In the Epwell run, he rode his horse

sf/'^G^l^'^^SM "Ploughboy" and kept well with the hounds the
with. whole day. Sir Grey Skipwith, afterwards a Member

of Parliament, went well over Warwickshire for a
quarter of a century. He was well mounted and
although he enjoyed the pleasures of the chase in a
quieter manner than many of its followers, he was
generally well placed at the finish. Mr. Goulburn
thus describes him on the Epwell day : —

Sticking close to the hounds, observe steady Sir Grey,
Eiding equally hard in a quieter way ;
Sufficiently forward, yet still keeping bounds.
His wish to ride after, not over the hounds.

^iSton ^^°^ *° ^"^ ^^^ occasion after a meet at Farnborough (this
place, by-the-way, produced some admirable sport in
the early days of "the War wickshire, "as I shall instance
more fully directly) the fox took them a capital spin
to Ufton Wood. There was a stretch of twelve miles
over grass with only one ploughed field, which, Sir
Grey said, for the honour of Warwickshire he would
not go into. He was one of the most respected mem-
bers of the hunt. His horses were always well bred,
and ridden with all the ardour of youth, and he was
a true friend ^of fox-hunting in every sense.

Lord Clonmell. Lord Clonmell, who lived at Allesley, must also be

remembered among Warwickshire worthies, although
he never appeared to wish to be a first flight man. He
was, however, an ardent sportsman and a dear lover of
the chase, riding sometimes twenty miles to cover. On
the Epwell day he came to a standstill at a nasty stone
wall and a ditch. He rode a horse named " Michael-
mas " on that occasion. He is not credited with an
abundance of nerve, and indeed a couplet, which has
come down in connection with his name, seems rather
rough upon him when it says : —

A sportsman so keen that he rides miles to cover —
To look at a place, that he dare not ride over.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

37

Mr. Holyoake, of Tettenhall, Staffordshire, was also
an ardent sportsman and generally joined " the War-
wickshire " during the season, as did also Mr. T. Pem-
berton, of Birmingham, who had some very famous
horses. He was generally in the front and went in
good style all the time. Mr. Gillibrand was another
good sportsman who frequently joined the hunt during
the season, and his horse experienced a bit of hard
work during the Epwell business.

While on the subject of the Epwell run I must not
forget to mention Mr. Stubbs, of Beckbury, Shropshire,
a conspicuous member of the hunt, and who got the
brush in the Epwell run. Let me introduce him in the
words of the author of the poem : —

"With his hat in his hand, looking out for a gate.
Neither looking nor riding by any means straight,
Mr. Stubbs, a crack rider no doubt in his time,
But who hunting on Sunday once deem'd it no crime,
Making desp'rate play thro' some fine muddy lanes,
And by nicking and skirting, got in for his pains ;
High waving the brush, and with pleasure half mad,
Koaring out, " Yoicks, have at 'em ! we've kill'd him, my
lad ! "

The reference to hunting on Sunday needs to be
explained. For some time this gentleman had kept a
pack of fox-hounds, which he was so anxious to provide
with sport that he kept a supply of caged foxes to avoid
a blank day. In feeding these one Sunday morning,
he managed to let one escape. Observing the runaway,
he exclaimed, "What! you thought you had me,
eh ? but I'll be a match for you," and so saying, he im-
mediately let loose the hounds, and a run of some
twenty miles or so ensued, the death taking place in
a village when the inhabitants were just returning
from Church. He was one of those, who, like the
master, managed to cross the country without much
fencing, but his pace was proverbial, and he usually
managed to be up not long after the sport was con-
cluded. He had good staying powers, too, and no

Mr. John CdRBEi
1791-1811.

Other names.

Mr, Stubbs.

An impromtu
run.

38 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOtTNDS.

^'iqa^^-Po^f^^ <^ay appeared too long for him. He would often re-
", * commend his companions to draw for a fresh fox
when the day was far advaticed, reminding them
there was a moon to kill him by. A peculiar habit
he contracted gave rise to a somewhat amusing incident.
He almost invariably kept one eye shut. In the ring

A peculiar habit. ^^ Newmarket one day he made a bet, and lost it.
Although depending upon one eye for general obser-
vation, any surprise or alarm usually had the effect of
opening the other. Being accosted somewhat suddenly
by the winner of the bet for the money, his second eye
opened, and the stranger, on" looking into his face,
apologised for having made a mistake and rode away,
observing that the gentleman he had bet with had only
one eye. Mr. Stubbs was a constant attendant at War-
wick Races and was held in universal estimation. His
hair became prematurely white and gave him the
appearance of having years to which he never attained,
as death put an end to his sport at the age of 54, on
the 18th of December, 1815, at Rumour Hill, near
Stratford.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 39

CHAPTER VI.

Another bunch of worthies— some more samples

OF SPORT— retirement AND DEATH OF Mr. CoRBET.

Mr. Boycott, of Rudgehall, Shropshire, afterwards air. Boycott.
Master of the hounds now known as the Albrighton,
was a leading man in Warwickshire in the early portion
of Mr. Corbet's time. As soon as a fox had started he
was on the move, and a stiff gate or two was accounted
nothing in his eyes. He was one of the earliest of hard
riders, and could do more with a poor horse than many
of his contemporaries could accomplish with a good one.
He was also a great coachman.

Mr. Charles Gould was one of the many good horse- m*. Gould,
men who hunted over Warwickshire. He was son of
the Colonel of the Notts Militia, and nephew of Lord
Dormer. He excelled both as regards nerve and hand,
and was as successful in his selection of young horses as
he was in their education as hunters. Mr. Walter Mr. Giffard.
Giffard was a beautiful horseman. He was a relation
of Mr. Robert Canning, and was no discredit to his
kinsman. His pace was of the first quality, and as a
creeper he excelled, pushing himself and horse through
almost impossible places.

Mr. Richard Bradley stands conspicuous in the Mr. Bradley.
young days of *' the Warwickshire." He was a horse
dealer and had seventy or eighty first-rate hunters in hia
stable at Newbold, near Shipston-on-Stour. He was one
of the finest riders in England, and his skill in the art
sold him scores of hunters at very long prices. Many a

40

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

" Hunter-
making Harry.

Mr. John Corbet time has a brilliant piece ot work by Bradley, entrapped
" * a partaker of the run into the purchase of the hunter
which had been so conspicuous. A large figure was
bound to be asked and agreed to, but all too soon did
the purchaser find that, although he had bought a
horse, without Bradley's hand he could not make him
a hunter. Bradley was proof against any remonstrance
in such cases and would reply, *' lam very sorry, sir,
you cannot ride him, but I only sold the horse, I
cannot sell the rider." He, at this time, probably
sold more hunters than any other man in England.
Having referred to Bradley, I must not omit to
mention in connection with him his boy or rather man,
Harry, or as he was generally known, "Hunter-
making Harry." He was, if possible, more of a
celebrity than his master. About nine stone weight
in his saddle, he cleared almost everything that came in
his way, no matter what kind of animal he was on. He
was exceedingly clever and would take a horse over the
country in a manner that would take the eye of an in-
tending purchaser, and as a rule the animal changed
hands. In many cases, however, the purchaser found
that ownership was not the only change it had under-
gone in the transaction, and that, as with the master, so
with the man, the hand of the vendor should have
gone with the horse. Harry was a horseman by nature,
and it is said he could make a hunter after a tuition of
three days. He possessed a firm seat, a good hand, and
an undaunted nerve, and seldom, despite the hazardous
character of his actions, got falls.

Mr. Lockley, who passed more than half his life on
horseback, was also an attendant on " the Warwick-
shire." He was one of the most extraordinary men in
the saddle in England. His weight was a little under
15 stone. He would go well in any country. His
horses were not always of the first water, for dealing
was one of his weak points, and often a low price over-

Mr. Locldey.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 41

oame his better judgment and tempted him into a ^^^^ iQ?'\9?-f-?'^''^
speculation which did not always prove favourable to "

him. This, however, was only occasionally the case.
In many instances the transactions proved in time to
have been much in his favour. An example of this
was his thoroughbred horse Confidence (by Weasel,
by Herod, dam by Young Eclipse) which was a superb
hunter and about the best he ever had. He gave
100 guineas for it when at foot, and after several
seasons sold it to Earl Sefton for 600 guineas. When
the Earl retired from the field the horse came again
to Mr. Lockley, and after a capital day with "the
Warwickshire," left him again at 750 guineas. He
possessed the qualities necessary to make a
good rider. His seat was firm and easy, bis hand
steady, and his temper fine. He was quick to hounds
and country, and, knowing the evil of having lost
ground to make up in a run, he always kept near to
the pack.
i^Ti'i*'^ Mr. Walsh Porter was another very fine man jij.. walsh
in Warwickshire, and distinguished himself par- Porter.
ticularly on his two little bay mares. They
were but little over fourteen hands high,
but were lengthy and well bred. One
of them went to him from Mr. Wynniatt, and the other
he purchased off Sir Grey Skipwith at 200 guineas.
There was one peculiarity that gave his riding an indi-
viduality. He always used a long stirrup-leather, and,
as he was 6ft. high and his mare so low, it gave him a
remarkable appearance. His feet hung down much
below his mare, and, as he crossed the country in a
gallant style, there seemed considerable danger of his
coming to sad grief at the fences. But he was a good
jumper and knew how to take his horse over. Like
others I have dealt with, has hand was excellent. He
resided quite on the outskirts of the country and so
came in for an immense amount of travelling during
the season.

42

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811,

Mr. Roberts.

Mr. Hooper.

Mr. Kynaston.

Other followers
of Mr. Corbet.

Despite all that has been written previously about
Warwickshire welters, I think the first place for weight
alone must be given to Mr. Henry Roberts, who
resided near Stratford-on-Avon, and was constantly
with " the Warwickshire." He could not have been, it
is said, under 20 stone, but he, nevertheless, rode well
to hounds. Mr. William Hooper, of Moreton-in-the-
Marsh, met "the Warwickshire" pretty regularly,
particularly in the Wolford part of the district. He
hunted on an old Waterloo horse which bore him
twenty seasons, the united age of horse and rider being
114.

Mr. E,. KynastoD, who hailed from near Chapel
House, Oxfordshire, should perhaps have been men-
tioned among those Warwickshire worthies who stand
grouped round the famous Epwell run, and whom I
dealt with last week. Be hunted in Warwickshire
during its early days and was at the meet at Epwell on
the morning in question, on his horse *' Whalebone,"
but he did not see the celebrated run, his horse having
lost a shoe and thrown him out of the sport daring the
preliminary business.

Among others who appeared in the field with Mr.
Corbet were Lord Willoughly de Broke, whom I have
referred to before in connection with an opening dinner
which he gave each season to the members of the club;
the Earl of Aylesford, of Packington Hall ; the Earl
of Warwick ; Mr. Holbech, of Farnborough ; Sir E.
Smythe, Sir John Mordaunt, General Williams, Mr.
Curtis, Mr. Fetherstone, Lord Villiers, Sir J. Shelley,
Mr. Cattell, Mr. H. Robbins, Mr. T. Handley, &c. I
am aware that this is but a skeleton list of names and
regret that I cannot clothe it with the flesh of anecdote.
Some of them I may possibly have occasion to refer to
again, but they are all worthy of mention in connec-
tion with the great man, of whose field they formed
part. During Mr. Corbet's absence abroad, the Earl

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

4S

of Craven, Sir R. Puleston, and the celebrated Col.
Wardle acted as his locum tenens with the hounds.

Let me give my readers a little more taste of the
quality of the sport enjoyed under Mr. Corbet before
I finish with the period of that celebrated master. A
famous day's sport was that enjoyed on a certain day
in 1808 from a meet at Wellesbourne. A fox was
turned out of; a small covert close to the wood and
went off at a clipping pace. He first of all traversed
Wellesbourne Wood and went on to Walton, then, as
now, the abode of a staunch supporter of the hunt. He
appeared to be making for Kinetou^Holt, but turned
to the right and went straight to Black Marton. From
here he visited another supporter of the hounds, who
was afterwards to become their master, and took his pur-
suers quickly through Mr. Shirley's Park at Eatington.
He crossed the Stour atNewbold, and ran across Arms-
cott Field, Blakewell Field, and over Meon Hill. Leav-
ing Mickleton to the left, and going by Norton Burnt
House, he arrived at Weston, where he got into a
hedge. "Bob" Canning, however, was to the front, as
usual, and whipped him out, and ,the hounds pulled
him over in fine style in the presence of about five or
six, which were all out of a large field who could
survive the pace. They were the worthy master, Mr.
E. Canning, Mr. H. Bobbins, Mr. R. Bradley, Mr. T.
Handley, the huntsman, and a whip. Their horses,
however, were done up. Mr. Bobbins was obliged to
leave his horse at Mickleton for the night. Mr.
Bradley, the dealer referred to above, acquired one
addition to his stable, from the run, as he purchased for
a large sum, the horse which had carried Mr. Handley
to the end. My readers will be able to trace on
their maps the nice little horseahoe-shaped piece of
work accomplished.

Another piece of business which was of almost equal
severity, and, but for the interference of a sheep dog,

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

A run from Wel-
lesbourne.
1808.

44 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr- John Corbet would doubtless have had an equally satisfactory
" ' finish, was that which began, at three o'clock one

A^n^fjo°^Ufton afternoon, about this time at Ufton Wood. He gave
them a good line through Chadshunt to Edgehill,
which he went over, and passing Upton, got close to
Epwell White House. At this point he turned a
little to the left, and went over Brailes Hill, and
straight into Long Compton Field. Here the shep-
herd's dog came into the question, and fought poor
Keynard until he carried almost as much
scent as the fox himself. The hounds hitting
upon the scent of the dog, were led away from their
true sport, which entirely escaped them. Neverthe-
less, a good run had been [enjoyed, and the day was
very far from being unsatisfactory. Mr. Corbet, Mr.
T. Cattell, Mr. H. Bobbins, and a few others saw it
throughout.

A run from Idli- A season or two previous to the retirement of Mr.
Corbet, the hounds had a run worth noting from
Idlicote. Honington Spinnies quickly provided the
material for sport, and it was at once evident that a
gallant member of the tribe was on foot. He broke
away to Idlicote, through Hell Brake into Whatcote
Field, and then into Tysoe Field. At a rattling pace
he left this, and went by Battleton Farm, Gaydon,
Thistleton Farm, and over Kineton Big Field. He next
crossed the brook in the valley, and ran up Burton
Dassett Hill, where he went to ground. This was a
smart staighforward run of 15 miles, right across the
Warwickshire plain, and done in good time. In
Kineton Field, Messrs. Cockbill and Bradley were
leading the way, but Mr. Hawkes, of Snitterfield,
and Mr. Kynaston afterwards got well up. Mr.
Hawkes was riding his well-known horse, *' The
Printer," and cried out, " They are going the right
pace now, I will shew you what blood can do." And
he kept his word, inasmuch as he was in a good posi-
tion at the end ot the run. It was not so severe a

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

45

His Resignation
1811.

thing as many experienced in Warwickshire, but it ^^■{Jni^-pQ^f^''
was done in very good time, and most of the horses "

were beaten at the finish. ^^^^T". *° ^'*-

Corbet.

I have now arrived at the time when I must, with a
certain amount of regret, take farewell of Mr. Corbet.
I say with regret, because in dealing with his period I
have had to present to my readers a' time when fox-
hunting was in the full enjoyment of popularity, unsullied
by the antagonistic elements which have since aflfected
it, happily, however, in Warwickshire only in a
minimum degree. I trust I have been successful in
depicting to my readers, to some extent, the happy times
which those who followed Mr. Corbet over Warwick-
shire enjoyed.

Owing to ill-health Mr. Corbet came to the deter-
mination during the season 1810-11 to resign the hounds
of which he had been so long a successful master. His
last fixture was on Saturday, February 9th, 1811. He
advertised his hounds and most of his hunters for sale.
The hounds consisted of 60 couples and were all bred
by himself. The hunters, twelve in number, were
disposed of at Stratford by auction on the 28th of
February, 1811, realising 1,220 gs., two of them going
for 250 gs. apiece. Mr. Corbet was presented with a
very magnificent silver vase by the Warwickshire
sportsmen. Of his character I have already made some
remarks. He was peculiarly adapted to the position
he filled. The whole field met with the most civil and
obliging treatment from him, particularly the farming
element. It was his custom not to fix any of his
principal meets for Saturday, as it was Warwick
market on that day, and many of his yeoman followers,
having to attend there, would have been prevented
from enjoying the sport.

Wolford Wood had for long been infested by fox-
catchers, who took them by means of the trap. To
put a stop to this Mr. Corbet found out the men
and agreed to give them £40 a year to discontinue

Fox-catchers at
Wolford.

46

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. John Corbet
1791-1811.

Death of Mr.
Corbet.
1817.

His character.

His pubUc offices

His ancestry.

their practices. To this they agreed and received the
amount regularly every Christmas Day.

The rupture of a blood vessel on the brain removed,
on the 19fch of May, 1817, at Muddiford, Hants, this
most celebrated of fox-hunters, and most worthy
member of society. His age at death was 65, and in him
died one, who, with the strictest moral and religious
principles, combined the best affections of the heart.
As a friend, husband, father, master, landlord, or, in
fact, in whatever character he might be called upon to
fill, he displayed those genuine qualities which a mere
superficial good nature can never supply.

For some years before his death he retired into the
enjoyments of a quiet life, but in earlier years he had
filled various public offices in his own county of Salop.
Among them were those of High Sheriff, treasurer to
the infirmary in 1775, lieutenant-colonel of the county
volunteers and local militia, and, on the death of Lord
Clive, in 1774, one of its representatives in Parlia-
ment.

The funeral took place at Battlefield on the 31st of
May, when Mr. Corbet was laid in the family vault
amongst tokens of most universal respect.

The first Corbet was a knight in the time of
William the Conqueror, and is reported to have
been " a cunning marksman against hart or
doe." Another Corbet, Robert, fought with King
Richard at Acre, where he won the admiration of his
lord, and obtained permission to bear two ravens for
his arms. In Norman French " Corbet " signifies
a raven. The family motto was*' Deus pascit corvos."
Peter Corbet is described as a mighty hunter in the
reign of Edward I., who gave him letters patent,
authorising him to take wolves in the royal forest.
The sporting proclivities so early displayed in his long
line of ancestors, seem to have been continued down
to the celebrated member, to whose memory in con-
nection with the Warwickshire Hounds, I have just
done honour as fully as the power within me lay.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

47

CHAPTER VII.

Lord Middleton as master — some sport from
Farnbokough.

When Mr. Corbet severed his sporting connection
with Warwickshire in 1811, Lord Middleton became
the possessor of his hounds for 1,220 gs., and assumed
the reins of government in the country. Quite in the
early days, when Mr. Willoughby, he had hunted
hounds in Warwickshire, and was, therefore, not entirely
new to the work. To follow such a master and such a
man as Mr. Corbet, was a sufficiently difficult task for any
one. Lord Middleton possessed many of the qualifica-
tions necessary to hunt such a country as Warwickshire.
His finances would bear the strain, which must neces-
sarily be placed upon them, and as regards the work in
the field, both as a rider and a sportsman he was quite
qualified for the leading position, which the retirement
of Mr. Corbet had rendered vacant.

His stud was said to be equal to any in the kingdom.
It was, therefore, with anticipations that the change of
masters would not make much difi'erence to the sport,
that Warwickshire men welcomed Lord Middleton
to their country.

His first meet was at Itchington Heath, on the 11th
of February, 1811. We have, however, no record of
the first bit of sport he was enabled to show his follow-
ers. He marked his assumption of the leadership of the
hounds by giving a dinner at the Sun Rising Inn, at
Edgehill, to upwards of three score farmers and other
guests. Every person present accorded his lordship a

Lord Middleton
as Master.

Commencement
of his regime.

48

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord Middleton
1811-1821.

As a breeder.

Some unpopular
acts.

warm welcome and promised him support in the preser-
vation of foxes. Lord Middleton, too, continued to
treat the parties connected with the fox-catching at
Wolford, in the same liberal way as his prede-
cessor. He also continued for a few seasons to give
the plate of £50 at the Warwick races, but as it
gave rise to many disputes, he afterwards discon-
tinued it. He divided his hounds into two packs,
dogs and bitches, Mr. Corbet having classed them
according to age. During his second year he an-
nounced that the hounds would remain permanently
throughout the season in the Warwickshire country,
and not as they had hitherto been, removed to other
districts for part.

Lord Middleton was a reputed breeder of dogs, of
spaniels most notably. As regards hounds, however,
his efforts might, perhaps, have been characterised
with a little more success. There were many points
which are considered essential to the hound which
were not conspicuous in those of his breeding,
— elegance of neck and shoulder, strength of thigh,
protuberant bodily muscle. He paid, perhaps, rather
too much notice to legs and feet. But his pack was
always in splendid condition. A favourite hound of his
was Vanguard (by a famous hound Vaulter, presented
to Lord Middleton by Lord Vernon, out of Mr.
Corbet's Traffic), but such was the extraordinary
treatment and indulgence he gave it that he allowed
it to enter his dining room and be fed during dinner.
The natural result was that he made it stout and
slow in the field.

Despite, however, all the qualifications which Lord
Middleton possessed for making a successful master
his regime in Warwickshire can hardly be said to
have been a popular one. One or two little acts,
— not apparently very important ones — tended to
cause dissatisfaction among those whose goodwill and

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

49

unfailing support are very essential to successful
seasons. He gave up the Meriden country, which,
although, of course, it left him at more liberty to attend
to other parts, was a fine woodland district and had
afforded capital sport in the spring. He also gave up
the Combe and Dunchurch side. He caused, too, a little
dissatisfaction by refusing to have accounts of the runs
with his hounds published, so that those of his sup-
porters who were prevented from regularly attending
his meets lost sight of the work the houtids were doing,
and very naturally their interest in them dropped
accordingly. Another act which was not at all conducive
to popularity among sportsmen, was the breaking up
of the club at Stratford, which, under Mr. Corbet had
been such a feature of the country. All these little acts
tended to cast somewhat of a cloud upon Warwickshire
and the merry days and evenings of the "Black Collars "
seemed to have become things of the past.

I have already referred to Farnborough as a trysting-
place which showed some good sport in Lord Middleton's
time. I propose to give some specimens of the
experiences which his lordship's followers had at Mr.
Holbech's seat. Within a fortnight of the commence-
ment of Lord .Middleton's rule he took his hounds
there, and a fine old fox was found at Burton
Dassett Hill, going away over the country and through
Knightcote Bottom at a tremendous rate. Pressed
by the hounds, who had got away on good terms, he
turned to the right and went over Fenny Compton Field,
through Wormleighton Bottoms and on to Boddington
Hill. Being driven through that cover, he made
for Hardwick Field, and the pace became killing
as he travelled from here to Red Hill Wood. Here
the first check occurred, which, as the pace had been
almost unequalled, was somewhat of a relief than other-
wise. Just as it seemed that the run was going to
be taken up, a second fox started, and, the hounds

LORB MiDDLETON

1811-1821.

Farnborough as a
trj^sting-place.

50 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

^°n'*Qi¥^?Q'^o™^ g®*'*'^'^g divided, the day's work was comparatively
18X1-1821, -ii. T 1

spoilt. It was, however, an excellent thing as far as

it went, and worth recording.

A first-rate run. The next item I have from Farnborough is of the
1814.

first water, and the conclusion was as satisfactory as

the ran had been. The meet was on December 23rd,
1814. No doubt in the intervening three years the
maijy excellent draws round Farnborough had provided
something worth remembering, and if they were all as
good as that I am about to record, Mr. Holbech would
have ample cause for satisfaction at the sport he was
enabled to give the hounds, of which he is remembered
as a constant and ardent follower. On the day in
question Mollingbon was drawn and a game fox
dashed away for Itchington. Sinking the vale at Rad-
way, he came up by the Round House an I took the
hill. Passing Compton Wyniates he went over a
splendid tract of country nearly to Hook Norton
Lodge, and from here took a line which, according to
the writer, reached nearly to Aynho. He then made
for Whichford, where he turned for Rollright Coombs,
crossed the hill by the turnpike gate to the other side of
Long Compton for Barton, and passed quickly through
Barton Grove and village. He then crossed the roads
between Wolford Wood and Stowe, near to the Four-
shire Stone, and then went away for Bourton-on-the-
Hill. The gallant " Warwickshire," however, would
not let him escape, and had him when he reached Even-
lode in the county of Worcester. The distance was 23
miles, and the time was two hours and twenty minutes,
rpjjg jjjjg I have inserted the run above exactly as it had been

handed down to us, but if my readers will run through
it on their maps, they will see that the line given by
the writer, and the distance calculated by him cannot
be reconciled even supposing the fox ran " as the crow
flies " from point to point. Let them take, if possible,
the Ordnance Survey inch map, and with a rule follow

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

51

the course. Starting at Mollington he took a north-
westerly direction across the valley, worked along
Edgehill and by Compton Wyniates to Hook Norton
Lodge. Here the writer makes him go an excursion
nearly to Aynho. This must be a mistake for
some other place nearer Hook Norton, for to have done
this he must have gone right across Oxfordshire and
back, a journey which would have left only a few miles
for the rest of the lengthy run. I think we may
therefore leave Aynho out of consideration and,
allowing for a more local intermediate point, take him
from Hook Norton Lodge to Whichford Wood. Roll-
right Coombs and Barton will be easily found at no
great distance from each other. Passing near the
Fourshire Stone his line enters the neighbouring
counties, pointing for Bourton-on-the-Hill. The end
came, in a manner I shall describe, near Evenlode, in
the county of Worcester.

It was just getting dusk when the pack viewed their
fox, when Mr. Cockbill, who was on a bay horse,
named *• Sidentail," and Zac Goddard, the first whip,
on a chestnut horse named ** Little Surprise," and
bought from Mr. Corbet's stud were close together in
the front. Mr. Cockbill took a lead over the last fence,
an awkward hog-backed stile and ditch. When he had
safely landed, he halloo'd to the whip to hold hard as
the hounds were all singing with their heads in the air,
and had come to a sudden check. The pack quickly
repassed over the stile, with the exception of a one-
year-old bitch. Bauble, who in taking her leap
endeavoured to alight on the top of the stile, but
tumbled over. She regained the stile, and it was seen
that Reynard had taken refuge in a neighbouring tree.
Bauble seized him by the hind quarters but could not
pull him down. Zac caught him by the back of the
neck and dragged him from his hold, and thus ** the
Warwickshire " secured their well-earned booty.

Lord Middleton
1811-1821.

The death.

52 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

I^ORD MiDDLETON Mr. Cockbill and Zac Goddard were the only two
-I— * present at the finish. Mr. Holbech was the first to
come up, and was followed soon afterwards by Lord
Middleton, and a few others whose horses had not
quite come to a standstill. Mr. Bayzant rode very
hard to Barton, where he gave up.
A very different day was that experienced from
ay in a o^. Parnborough somewhere about the following year.
The morning was so foggy that the men out could not
recognise one another at the distance of two horses'
lengths. So thick was the morning that sport was
considered impossible, but the ardent Mr. Morant
Gale had come for sport, and sport he meant to
have, if it were by any means possible. He recom-
mended that those out should whistle to warn any one
approaching them of their whereabouts, and said, ** I
don't ever wish to see more than twice the length of
my horse before I leap." And then looking upwards,
ironically observed, "Anyone with a keen eye can see the
sky through this bit of a fog. Hoicks ! hoicks ! have
at 'em, my lads ! " To satisfy those who were clamour-
ing for sport. Lord Middleton threw into Mollington
Wood. No sooner had they entered than a fine dog
fox went briskly away. The hounds kept well together
at starting, followed by Mr. Morant Gale and Goddard.
When they reached Han well brook, Mr. Gale charged
it, but his horse did not attempt to jump, and both fell
into the water. At Han well Spinnies the hounds were
lost and became divided. The whole field were
riding in all directions, following the sound of any
one who might be before them. Towards four o'clock
as Goddard was returning along the Claydon road, he
heard some hounds growling at each other, and on
riding up to them, found they had killed their fox
and eaten all but his head. He alighted and took
the head from them, and with great difficulty, by
fastening the head to his whip, and trailing it along

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

53

Lord Middleton
1811-1821.

the ground, he kept the hounds together and led
them home. What country they took, or exactly
where they killed, no one could tell, as most of the
field had ridden miles out of their way, and never
seen the hounds from the time they were thrown into
covert.

About the same period another Farnborough fox gave A ringing fox.
a day's sport of a severe nature, which, had he been a
straight running animal, would have given us another
extensive geographical description to record. After
several rings about the covert he shot away for the
New Inn, Wroxton, and then turned back to Hornton,
where he ran three or four more rings, and, after being
got away again, was turned up near to Edgehill. This
does not seem'much'to chronicle but the fox was ringing
for at least three hours without more than three or four
checks. The ground covered was at least twenty
miles and all the horses'were beaten. Indeed, out of a
large field, there were not more than half a dozen at the
death. Mr. Morant Gale, as might be expected, tired
his horse, No-Pretender, a favourite and famous old
hunter, and he died soon afterwards. Mr. Lawley
(afterwards Sir Francis Lawley) also beat his horse.
He jumped off his back, when he could get him no
further, left him standing in a field near Hornton,
and ran on foot to the place where the fox was killed.
When he returned he found the horse standing on the
spot where he had left him. The day was full of dis-
asters.

The last specimen of sport provided by Farnborough
that I have is of a straighter character, and conse-
quently a greater extent of country was traversed,
although the distance was not much greater than in the
one just given, and the run was not of so severe a
character. It was one morning in February of 1817,
that '* the Warwickshire " came to Farnborough.
There was a very sharp frost in the morning and it was

A straighter Tun-
ing animal.

54 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOtJNDS.

Lord MiDDLETON after one o'clock when the hounds were thrown off.

* There was a good deal of snow on the ground and no

one out anticipated much sport. However a fox was
turned out, and after ringing a little, started at a killing
pace for Edgehill. He then pointed for Compton
Wyniates, went over Brailes Hill and on for Weston
House. Leaving this to the left, he passed ou for
Whichford Wood, where the snow was very thick, and
ran, nearly as straight as a line, for Barton-on-the-
Heath. The pace then slowed and finally, almost
beaten, he lay down in a field. He was started again,
but was killed almost immediately, near Moreton-in-
the- Marsh. The distance was nearly twenty miles and
the run lasted two hours and fifty minutes. The hunts-
man and whips kept with the hounds, but of the field
only very few followed far, and Mr. Holbech was about
the only one who was up at the death, which occurred
in the dark.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 55

CHAPTER VIII.

The famous Ditchley run — a few words upon
SCENTING WINDS— SOME ** Warwickshire Lads"

—A DAT FROM UfTON WoOD— RETIREMENT AND

DEATH OF Lord Middleton.
A notable run was that which " the Warwickshire" The Ditchley run
had during the year 1816 from Idlicote. A little pre-
liminary business was transacted, with a kill towards
Compton Wyniates, and at the second find, in which origi-
nated a good day's sport, about one hundred and fifty
were present, among them a sprinkling of Meltonians.
Gilk's Brake was the spot at which, after several blanks,
Reynard was found at home, and from here he went
straight away for Sibbard. He then turned to the right
for Eathorpe, passed over the Thurlaston Hills,* and
made for Ditchley, where he earthed, twelve miles from
Oxford. Everybody got a fair start, but Mr. John
Lucy, whose name will ever be remembered in con-
nection with "the Warwickshire," was the only one
who went with the hounds to the end and was up when
they lost their fox. Lord Molyneux and Mr. Hugo

* In introducing this run into this history as it appeared week
by week in the Banbury Guardian, I inadvertently transcribed
some topographical errors, which I now correct. "Eathorpe"
should be Heythrop, and the hills are not the Thurlaston Hills,
which, as my readers doubtless know very well, are situated in the
Dunchurch district, but the Oxfordshire; hills upon part of
which Chipping Norton is situated. They are so described in
another account of this run I have seen. This will make an other-
wise inexpUcable piece of work an intelligible run. Running first
to Sibford (pronounced locally " Sibbard ") he turned to the right
for Heythrop and cressing the line of hills sank down to Ditchley
Park, near Spilsbury, on their south side.— Castor.

56

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord Middleton
1811-1821.

Scenting winds.

Campbell came up in about ten minutes after the fox
had gone to ground. Sir Charles Mordaunt,
on a horse he had given 450 guineas for, to Mr.
Manning, went well to Eathorpe, where his horse came
to a standstill. He left him at Lord Clonmell's, at
Weston, and sent for veterinary surgeons from Kineton,
Stratford, and Worcester, but he died two or three
days afterwards. Not one of Lord Middleton's men,
capitally mounted as they were, could get within reach
of the hounds, which were left in the Duke of Beaufort's
Kennels at Heythrop, for the night. Mr. Alfred Lloyd,
of Goldicote House, went well to the end of the day
and then rode his horse back to his abode at Goldicote
in the evening. The pace throughout the whole of the
run was exceptional and the country a most severe one.
It speaks much for the condition of the hounds that
they were able to run as they did.

It is worth noting that during the run it hailed and
rained with a cutting north-east wind. I have a
recollection of reading somewhere that the celebrated
Epwell run, described a few chapters back, was run
under somewhat similar conditions. I, however,
refrained from mentioning the fact then, because I
could not turn up the authority where it occurs. Upon
the subject of "Scent," I do not wish to be tempted to
say much ; it is a subject in which we may soon lose
ourselves. In drawing attention, however, to the
similarity between these two severe runs — the Epwell
and the Ditchley — as regards their meteorological con-
ditions, I venture to opine that, as regards atmospheric
bearings upon runs, a north-east wind will be found to
have been more productive of long and severe runs than
a wind from any other quarter. The fact, I suppose,
is that it generally brings frost, and scent is generally
good after a frosty night, provided, as Mr. Beckford
said years and years ago, that the frosj; is not in the act
of going at the time. I have no doubt that what may
be called "model hunting days" are, as a rule, more

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

57

to be obtained with the wind between S. and E.,
but with that from the N.E. quarter, a
bit of hard running may often be looked
for. It has been thought that a westerly wind de-
stroys scent from the saline particles which it carries
from the Irish Channel and Atlantic Ocean. Both
north-west and south-west winds are also bad, the
former being perhaps the worst of all winds. A
writer on the subject has said that he can only remem-
ber three good scenting days with a north-west wind
and each was just before a severe frost. The fact is, I
suppose, that they are usually accompanied by sleet and
rain which impedes scent while falling, although after it
is over an improvement is generally manifest. I have an
account of a run in which this is well illustrated.
Hounds had been running hard and scent had become
very poor, when a smart storm of hail and sleet came
on, which nearly stopped them. Immediately this was
over, scent improved and the hounds ran bravely on.
I believe this was a Warwickshire run, and that I
have it among my notes for introduction into this
account of the pack, but I cannot lay my hands on
it just now, although I have no doubt it will turn up
in its proper place. This^much, tn passant, upon a
subject which is at once "extensive and peculiar." I
must now return to Lord Middleton and the Ditchley
run.

The run from end to end would not fall far short of
a score of miles. Lord Molyneux, who, as I have
just recorded, was up soon after the finish, was one of
boldest and best of horsemen and had had a good ex-
perience of crack countries. On the day in question
he rode his capital old horse, " Oxford. " The saying
*' Molyneux tries at, what scarce horse will rise at,"
will sufficiently indicate his style of going. Mr. C. J.
Apperley, the well-known " Nimrod " of sporting
literature, was also in the run. He was on a horse
lent him by a friend with the particular request that

Lord Middleton
'1811-1821,

Lord Molyneux.

Nimrod.

58

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

1811-1821, j

Mr. Campbell.

Mr. J. Lucy.

Lord Middleton he would *' see what he was made of." The animal
dropped in for a severe test, but according to his rider
stood it well. He went to within the last six miles,
when a sheep hurdle proved his barrier, and, in com-
pany with others whose horses had done enough, *' Nim-
rod " turned for home. In 1802, Mr. Apperley
hunted in Leicestershire, but the following year he came
to Warwickshire, taking up his residence at Bilton Hall,
near Rugby, whose roof has sheltered many another
worthy follower of local packs since that time. He
seems to have hunted in Warwickshire for some eight-
een years, after which he moved to Hampshire, and
commenced to employ his pea for the amusement and
instruction of his fellow sportsmen. Before his death
he passed some time at Calais. Mr. Campbell, whose
name occurs above in connection with Lord Molyneux,
was a leading man in Warwickshire in Lord Middle-
ton's tim3 and was a first-rate man over country. Mr.
John Lucy, who distinguished himself by being actually
up when the fox went to ground, was another of
the foremost men in Warwickshire. His name is
worthy of being handed down with the history of " the
Warwickshire," and may there never come a day when
Warwickshire may forget it or the family of which
he was a member, and which has ever been associated
with the hunt.

I must not omit the name of Mr. Sheldon, of Brailes,
among those of the ** Warwickshire lads " worth record-
ing during Lord Middleton's period. He was one of
the best. His father, Mr. Ralph Sheldon, of Weston,
was a perfect sample of an old English gentleman.

And who are we to put as the star of Lord Middle-
ton's time ? Without in any way disparaging the many
conspicuous sportsmen and riders who followed "the
Warwickshire," I think the chietplace must be assigned
to Mr. H. Wyatt. Next to Mr. R. Canning he is said
to have been the best man Warwickshire saw in its early
days. Singularly, too, he was not much behind Mr.
Canning in the matter of size, being only about an

Mr. Sheldon.

Mr. H. Wyatt.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

59

inch shorter. He was 6ft. Sin. and weighed 15 stone. ^°-fo,5^?o^|J°^

He commenced hunting in Mr. Corbet's time and also

continued after Lord Middleton had left, but I think
he may be taken in connection with his lordship's period.
He was a most daring rider and a most gallant horse-
man. No matter what perplexities fell to his lot in
the course of the day, he soon recovered his ground,
and whenever he was out, no matter how big the
run, he generally saw the best part of it and might be
looked for at the finish. His horse '* Morgan Rattler,"
long and wide, but not tall, was a rare animal and could
take him over all sorts of places.

The Earl of Warwick, when Lord Brooke, was often Lord Brooke,
seen with Lord Middleton's pack. His stud was
selected with great care and judgment, and his hunters
generally cost high prices. He usually hunted half the
season in Warwickshire and half in Leicestershire. He
was a good sportsman and a capital rider to hounds.
After he met with an accident when riding in the Oakley
country he was not often seen in the field. He had a
famous grey horse which was a great favourite, and
upon him he frequently held a prominent place in the
field.

Among others who went well with the hounds were
Mr. John Biddulph and his relative Sir Wm. Parker ;
Mr. Shuckburgh, of Bourton ; Mr. Frank Lawley ;
Mr. Russell, of Blockley ; Mr. Pickering ; Mr. Augustus
Berkeley; Mr. Lloyd, of Drayton; and "Dick"
Bayzant.

A very decent day's sport was one provided by
Ufton Wood during the year 1817. Two or three
foxes got up together, but after a little skirmishing
round cover, one went away for Itchington Heath. The
dew was very heavy on the ground and scent indifferent.
At Itchington the fox went into a brake of gorse and
waited for his followers, taking them away again,
with an improved scent and at a good pace, for Kine-
ton. When he left there the field was for some time
delayed by cold hunting up to Pillerton Gorse. Scent

Other names.

A run from Ufton
Wood.

60

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

^1821^ '182^5°^ *^^'° improved and they ran him on to Tysoe. There

* he turned to the right and took them to Idlicote

Heath, being killed just before he could reach the
covert at that place. Altogether the work he gave the
field amounted to some three hours in point of time.
The pace was continually fast and the field, which at
the end was a very select one, was considerably beaten,
Mr. H. Campbell, Sir C. Mordaunt, and Mr. Augustus
Berkeley were up at the death. Mr. Napier rode a
famous black horse of Lord Clonmell's, but did not get
him to the death. He left the horse in a field and ran
alongside the huntsman, whose horse was also knocked
up, to the place where the fox was killed. Mr. Camp-
bell, who did so well in the Ditchley run, was the first
up and got the brush. The noble master stopped at
Idlicote.

One day at the end of the season 1820-21, the meet
was at Admington, and a good number was present.
As Lord Middleton was galloping round the field his
horse crossed its legs, fell, and threw him, afterwards
rolling upon him and injuring his shoulder and thigh.
Fortunately he sustained no serious injury, but it dis-
mounted him, and he resigned the hounds. The
hounds he gave to his friend Sir Tatton Sykes,
and his stud of hunters was sold about two years
after his actual resignation, at Leicester, fetching high
prices. During Lord Middleton's time and that of his
predecessor the hounds were sometimes at covert by
seven and generally by eight o'clock, so that, in those
days, sportsmen with some miles between them and
the fixture had to stir themselves betimes.

In the first year of Lord Middleton's mastership,
they killed 49J brace of foxes, which was the greatest
number killed within the same period of time during
his lordship's management. No one could sit
a horse better than Lord Middleton, but he worked
according to his humours. Sometimes he would jump
everything in his way and beat the whole field, and at
others he would stay behind and lead his horse over

Accident to Lord
Middleton.

His retirement.

His horseman-
ship.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 61

everything. During his regime he built kennels at Lord Middleton
Stratford and had temporary kennels at Kenilworth.

Will Barrow hunted the hounds for a day or two His staff,
after Lord Middleton took to them and was then suc-
ceeded by Will Don, who was with them for one
season. Tom Steeples followed, also for one season,
and then came Harry Jacksons, who remained with
Lord Middleton until 1818. He was excellent in the
kennel, although, perhaps somewhat slow in the field.
He had been huntsman to Lord Vernon before coming
to Warwickshire. A severe fall disabled him and he
retired with an annuity from Lord Middleton. Zac
Goddard, Tom Smith, and Jack Stevens were his Lord-
ship's whips. The men were always splendidly
mounted.

Lord Middleton died on the 19th of June, 1835, at
his seat, Wollaton House, Nottinghamshire, at the
ripe age of 75 years. His title was derived from
Middleton in Warwickshire, a county with which, as
the leader of its sport for ten years, he is mainly
associated.

62

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Shirley as master— three samples of his

SPORT— SOME OF HIS FOLLOWERS — Mr. Hay's
short mastership — A RUN FROM BoWSHOT —

SOME MORE Warwickshire men — Mr. Newton

FeLLOWES — MORE SPORT WORTH RECORDING.

Mr. Shirley. ^f^^^ Lord Middleton resigned " the Warwickshire "

in 1821, as described in my last chapter, there came a
succession of short masterships and a somewhat varied
display of sport. Lord Middleton having given his
hounds to his friend, Sir Tatton Sy kes, the cou n try, which
had been hunted without subscription, found itself not
only called upon to provide the wherewithal for sport
but also to find the hounds. The difficulty was over-
come by Mr. Shirley, of Eatington Hall, undertaking
the management until some other leader could be
' found. He purchased the Cranbourne Chase Hounds,
consisting of 24 couples. They were as pretty and
steady a pack as ever left a kennel, although some-
what small. A new kennel was built at Butler's
Marston and a subscription of £2,000 was raised.

Jack Wood. The celebrated Jack Wood, who had been huntsman

to Lord Althorpe and Sir Charles Knightley in North-
amptonshire, and to the Duke of Beaufort, now eutered
the service of "the Warwickshire " in the same capacity.
"Nimrod" says that there was no finer horseman than
Jack Wood. He had a graceful seat and light hand, and
rode like a gentleman. He was, however, somewhat
unlucky and included a broken leg, thigh, and collar-

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

63

Bill Boxall was the first

Mr. Shirley.
1821-1825.

bone in his list of disasters,
whip.

I have three samples of Mr. Shirley's sport to present A nm from Edge-
to my readers, two of them beiug from Edgehill. The
first was at that place io the year 1822. The fox went
away at Knoll End, but the hounds did not get upon
terms with him till they got to Arlescote, when a
pretty brisk pace was assumed, and kept up by War-
mington and over the fields to near VVroxton New Inn,
where the Banbury Road was crossed. Shutford was
the next point, the spinnies being brushed through and
the line carried on to Swalcliffe. From here he made a
straight line to the Bodicote brook, which he crossed,
and, passing over the Banbury Road, made his last
point at Aynho. The Master, Mr. Fellowes, Lord
George Forester, Mr. J. Lucy, Mr. Cockbill, Mr.
Cockbill, jun., and a few others were up at the death.
There were a few casualties at the brook, which was a
nine yards jump and was brimful. Mr. Cockbill, jun.,
on a capital little brown mare by " Knowsley," out of
a thoroughbred mare, cleared it, as did also Lord
Forester, although the bank gave way and his lord-
ship's horse slipped in. Lord Forester, however, threw
himself over the head, seized the bridle, and extricated
his horse. Mr. J. Lucy's horse also went in, and,
having thrown his rider on to the bank, swam out on
the wrong side.

My next item of work from Edgehill is dated Decern- Another,
ber 22od, 1823. It was a dull morning and there was
a splendid field. The hounds had scarcely begun to
try when a good fox was found by the Round House.
He made off first of all for the Warmington earths,
but, being stopped, he made over the fine scrap of
country which lies between it and Wroxton Abbey.
Leaving that fine old seat behind him, he went over the
hills by Shutford and on nearly to Bloxham. Here,
however, he turned to the left, and, leaving the village
a,bouta mile on his right, bore direct for Banbury. He

64

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Shirley.
1821-1825.

A run from Alve
ston.

Mr. Cockbill.

went straight on past the town to Middleton Cheney,
where he was killed. This stout old fox took them,
all points considered, a journey of some seventeen
miles and provided a capital thing of two hours and
forty minutes. Mr. Shirley, Mr. Napier, Mr. John
Lockley and Mr. Cockbill, jun., on his little brown
mare, had the best of the fun.

On the twenty-first day of the next month,
Mr. Shirley met his followers at Alveston Pastures
and gave them the bit of work which 1
have selected as my third specimen of the sport
of his time. A fine dog fox broke, and took a
good line across country, his first point being
Charlecote Park. From here a good bit of running
ensued until Leamington was reached, where he was
headed. He then sprang forward at his best pace,
dashed through the Avon, made for Leek Wootton, and
was finally killed on the turnpike road. It was a
hardly contested chase of some two hours and twelve
minutes, and the ground covered must have represented
a distance closely approaching thirty miles, as he was
headed several times. But very few were in at the
death, and the whole of the horses were more or less
distressed by the severity of the pace. When the
hounds crossed the Avon, the only gentlemen who
followed to the bank of the river were Captain Russell,
Mr. H. Wyatt, Mr. Napier, Mr. W. Pickering, Mr.
F. Holland, and Mr. Smith of Evesham, with Jack
Wood, the huntsman. These crossed at Guy's Cliff
Mill and were in at the death.

One who figured conspicuously in Mr. Shirley's runs,
and those of his predecessors and immediate successors,
was Mr. Cockbill. He attended Warwickshire meets
for full thirty years. He was a very heavy weight,
but a good sportsman, having an uncommonly good eye
to hounds and generally a relay of good mounts. He
was a strong horseman, but, as a rule, rode with a
martingale to his bridle. "Don't talk to me," he

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

65

would say, "of the danger and inconvenience of a Mr. Shirley.

! 1821-1825
martingale. With it I can make my horses put their _L. ' *

feet where I like ; without it they generally put them

where they like, and then I get a tumble, and I fall

heavy."

Mr. Ben Holloway was another Warwickshire man ^y Hollowav.
of about the same time. He was a good leader and a
capital judge of hunters. He was also known in
Oxfordshire. Mr. Handford, a nephew to Mr. Lockley, Mr. Handford.
with whom I have already dealt, was another man wh«
shone at this period. He was another of the heavy
weights, as he stood six feet and weighed nearly six-
teen stone. Few, however, could equal him over a
rough country. Mr. Francis Charlton must also be Mr. Chailton.
named as a good man in the country. The Rev. Mr.
Hancox was one of the sporting members of '* the Rev.Mr. Hancox
cloth " to be seen in Warwickshire at the time of which
I am writing. He appeared at the meets for many
years and was undoubtedly a fine horseman. But he
had, unfortunately for him, a bad eye to hounds and
persisted in taking a line of his own, with the result
that he only saw about ten per cent, of the runs.

Mr. Lyster, of Rowton Castle, Shrewsbury, was a Mr. Lyster.
conspicuous leader on a small but wonderfully clever
mare called " the Doe." In a run from Wolford Wood
during Mr. Shirley's time he was in a leading place
and charged the obstacles presented in fine style.
One in particular was the Evenload river, the mare
landing with only her hind legs in the water and
springing out without wetting her rider. Mr. Lyster on
this occasion was in at the death, his only companions
being Mr. Biddulph, of Chirk Castle, Lords Forester
and Chesterfield, Mr. Simpson Bridgeman, the Rev.
Richard Goddard, and Mr. John Hesketh Lethbridge.

Mr. Shirley resigned at the beginning of 1825, and
was presented with a handsome piece of plate. A
request was made to Mr. Fellowes to hunt the

66

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Hay.
1825-1826.

Resignation of
Mr. Shirley.

Mr. Hay.

A sharp run from
Bowshot.

country, but he declinecl, and it was arranged that Mr.
Hay, of Dunse Castle, in Scotland, but who was then
residing at Wellesbourne, should be Mr. Shirley's
successor. He had already kept hounds in Berwick-
shire, and himself took the horn, hunting the
country with great energy and in excellent form. Jack
Wood was retained as kennel huntsman, and Bill
Boxall as first whip. Mr, Hay had a score of good
hunters, with not a low-bred one amongst them. He
tras popular in the hunting world, and brought
men from all parts, thereby adding much to the popu-
larity and reputation of Warwickshire. He may
almost be said to have established Leamington as a
hunting resort. He was a good sportsmen and rider
to hounds, and, although he did not present the same
abilities in making sport as his predecessors, that
which was provided was quite the average.

The only bit of sport during Mr. Hay's very short
tenure of the country that I have for my readers is
what occurred from a meet at Walton Park, on the 17th
of December, 1825. There was a fine burning scent, and
in the first burst the hounds ran away from everyone, the
field having to go round to a bridge over the river
which was flooded. A second find took place at
Bowshot after two o'clock, and after three attempts
to go, Reynard put his head straight for Edgehill,
and took them over a fine '[bit of country in good
style. When the hounds got upon the hills they got
a fresh fox, and it being impossible to stop them,
they went off with him at a ripping pace. Mr. Hay
followed the line of the hounds until it was quite dark,
when, not knowing the country, he was obliged to
give in. Bill Boxall succeeded in getting hold of a
part of the pack, but some of the hounds were out all
night. Mr. F. Holland, Mr. Patrick on a famous
little mare, Mr. Cockbill, jun., Mr. Dewes, and
Mr. Meyrick had the best of the run. Mr. Meyrick

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 67

went gallantly on his favourite old horse "Jack," tq^k ^^^'
but he declined at the last. The horses -1_

were all distressed, and would not face a small
fence, until a puff was afforded them. Mr. H. Wyatt,
Mr. H. Campbell, Mr. Fellowes, and Mr. Sheldon
were all unfortunate in not getting away. Mr. Sea-
grave and Mr. Hay were well up to hounds. Major
Bridgeman was thrown head first into a wide brook,
but he got out, remounted, and occupied a good place
at the end. Mr. S. Bradshaw had a forward
place. He was on a little grey horse,
once the property of Mr. Hornihold, a former
master of '*the Worcestershire." There were
several other well-known sportsmen out on this capital
day, many of whom were unfortunately thrown out,
and the horses of others were so much beaten that they
were reluctantly obliged to turn their heads home-
wards.

Amongst the regular men of Mr. Hay's time were Some of Mr.
X1A J.L1-TT ^/TTTi.. o- Hay'afollowerH.

Lord Avonmore and the Hon. Mr. Yelverton. Sir

Loftus Otway was another. He was generally a good
way in the rear and was in consequence commonly
called, "Sir Lost and Out-of-the-way." Mr. Chandos
Leigh, of Stoneleigh Abbey, was one of the resident
supporters of Mr. Hay. Major Moray, from the north,
was a rider who was thought much of in Warwick-
shire, and in IVlr. Hay's time showed them what he
could do over the strongest part of the country, once in
particular distinguishing himself in a brilliant fifty-
five minutes from Oakley Wood. In addition to several,
whose names have already been given in connection
with earlier masterships, there should be mentioned
among Mr. Hay's followers. Col. Robbins, of the 7th
Hussars, Mr. and Mrs. Shakerley, of Cheshire ; the
Marquis Herrera, who rode a cream-coloured pony
called Caf6-au-Lait ; Mr. Harry Williams, of Leam-
ington ; Mr. Knightley, of Offchurch, and his friends ;

68

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Newton

Fellowes.

1826-1830.

Mr. Newton Fel-
lowes.

Col. Davenport, Mr. Buck, Mr. Francis Holland, Mr.
Leader, Mr. Whitwick, Lord Mountsandford, Mr.
Edmund Willes, Mr. Wise, and Mr. Fred. Heysham.

Mr. Hay's tenure of office only lasted for one season,
and consequently in 1826 Warwickshire had again to
find a master. This time Mr. Robert Newton Fel-
lowes, who lived at Talton, near Shipston-on-Stour,
and who had declined to take the mastership at the
resignation of Mr. Shirley, acceded to the invitation
to take the reigns of government. He had a subscrip-
tion|of £2,000 a year and retained Wood as his hunts-
man. He was a good sportsman, though " Nimrod "
saw a fault in him in being tempted sometimes to
accept an offer for the purchase of one ot his servant's
horses after a good run. " Nimrod " remarks that
** Masters, and, of course, their servants, ^should ride
to hunt, not to sell."

On December 29th 1828, the hounds met at one of
their most westerly appointments,] viz., Mitford
A fine run into Bridge. It was in a part of the country, however,
which generally showed admirable sport and on this
day it did not fail to do so. They found close to
Barton and ran to the further end of Long Compton
without a check. They crossed the Rollright road,
and passed into Oxfordshire and through Over Norton
village towards Chapel House. Leaving this to the
right they swept gallantly across the open to Hey-
throp Park. The pack pressed him hard as he was
headed and took for Sandford Park. When near to
Sandford he turned again to the right and shortly
afterwards was viewed for the first time. The kill
took place near Kiddington, after a severe
run right into Oxfordshire. The scent got stronger
the further they went, and the time taken was ont
hour and fifty minutes. It was one of the finest runs
" the Warwickshire " had had to record for years. The
Duke of Beaufort, Lord Dillon, and others joined in

Oxfordshire.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

the run towards the end. Lord Clonmell, Mr. Shirley,
Mr. fl. Campbell, and Mr. John Lucy had good places
and the huntsman kept his place throughout. The
pack returned thirty miles to kennels the same night
not a hound being missing.

On January 8th of the following year Wolford Wood
provided a stiff run over a heavy country. He took
his line into Gloucestershire, passing over Adlestrop
Hill and near to Stow-on-the-Wold, going on to
near Cheltenham, upwards of fifteen miles from
the place where he was found. The time was over two
hours, the chief part of it being cold hunting. Lord
Clonmell, Mr. Pole, Mr. Fellowes, the Master, and
others, with the huntsman, were up at the death. Mr.
Abraham Pole, who stepped into a vacancy in the
mastership of the Vine Hounds in Hampshire for one
season, was a spirited subscriber to '• the Warwick-
shire " and a good sportsman.

I have already given some account of the sport
which was experienced from Mr. Holbech's seat at
Farnborough under Lord Middleton. Here is a day's
work from the place under Mr. Fellowes. It took
place on November 3rd, 1829. The fox went away to
Mollington, over Boddington Hill, through Prior's
Hardwick, to the left of Prior's Marston, through
Griflfin's Gorse, and through Hellidon Village. Then
he turned and went through Charwelton Spinnies to
Preston Capes and to Church Wood, where the hounds
were stopped. A good two hours save ten minutes in
a grass country which it would be diflacult to equal.
Say not my readers so ?

On the 7th of the same month, '* the Warwickshire "
had a most severe run from Oxhill to Over Norton,
lasting one hour and three quarters, and on the 16th
those who met them at Oakley Wood had another
good day to chronicle. On that occasion a gallant
fox went away from Lighthorne Rough in the

Mr. Newton

Fellowes.

1826-1830.

A stiff run from
Wolford.

A good grass
line.

A run from Ligh-
thorne Rough

70

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Newton

Fbllowbs.

1826-1830,

Ladies at Meets.

direction of Hill Farm. He then turned to the
left, and skirting Compton Verney House, bounded
to the right in the direction of Brickkiln Gorse,
and, after passing Red House, went at a rare pace
across Brook-Kinghampton fields for Butler's Marston.
Here there was a short check, but they were soon off
again to Pillerton Hersey, and leaving Oxhill to the
left they were taken towards Hell Brake, Here he
put on his speed to the utmost, and finally took refuge in
an ice-house at Compton Wyniates, into which singular
retreat he was followed by some of the hounds. This
represents a nice enjoyable piece of work in the heart
of the Warwickshire country. There is no need for
me to recommend my readers to their maps in this
case, for the different points are doubtless " as familiar
in their mouths as household words," and they will
be able to follow the line in their minds equally as well
as on their maps.

At the commencement of the season of 1829 there
were, among the followers of " the Warwickshire " at
Leamington, Sir Edward Mostyn, Sir E. Antrobus,
Mr. Shakerley, Colonel Nicholls, Mr. Cresvelt, Mr.
Cardwell, Mr. G. C. Antrobus, M. de Normandie, &c.
The Duke of St. Albans had joined " the Warwick-
shire " some two years before, making Leamington his
head-quarters. Ladies occasionally patronized the
meets in their carriages. At a meet at Oakley Wood
about this time it is recorded that Ladies Mostyn and
Ongley, Mrs. Nugent, Mrs. Hook and the Misses
Gregory were present in their carriages. The follow-
ing of the chase was, however, still left to the sterner
sex.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 71

CHAPTER X.

Captain Russell and some of his sport— Mr.

ThORNHILL— SPORT AND INCIDENTS DURING HIS
TENANCY OF OFFICE.

In 1830, Mr. FellowtiS was followed by Captain John ^^P*'^"^ ^"^^^l'-
Russell, nephew to the Dake of Bedford. He resided
at Upton House near Banbury. Bill Boxall became
his huntsman, and Tom Day, from the service of Sir
G-eorge Sitwell, filled the post of first whip. He
entered upon his duties with high pretensions. He
was a capital sportsman, and in society his name
was well-known. I might say at once, that the
anticipations he raised of sport were fully realized.
At a meeting held at Warwick during the second
season a subscription of £2,100 was guaranteed for one
year, and his proposition to hunt the Woodlands
twice a week was agreed to.

Let me give my readers one or two items which
occurred during his three years tenancy of office.
First of all, a day from Uf ton Wood on December "^uftonWood"'
17tb, 1830, which gave them a capital couple of
hours and ten minutes on the Warwickshire
Plain, only one slight check occurring during
the event. It was some time before the
necessary article could be got, but when at last a
break took place, the pace immediately assumed was
a spanking one, and a fine hunt followed. Whitnash
Gorse, Chesterton Wood, and Lighthorne Rough
were some of his points, he taking a capital line down
the centre of the Plain. The Plantations at Comptoa

72

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Capt. Russell.
1830-1833.

A run from Rad-
bourn Grove.

An incident.

An unpromising
morning.

Verney were skirted, and the line laid in the direction
of Brickkiln Gorse. But the end was near and came
in Walton Wood, his next point. Although not
recorded as one of the ** great runs " as regards extent
of country taken in, it was a smart piece of work and
afforded the well mounted and capable men in a large
field an opportunity of showing what they could do.
There were only a few in at the death.

On February 7 th, 1831, the field which turned out
at Ladbrooke proved to be the most numerous and
brilliant one of the season. It included some well-
known sportsmen from Sir J. Gerard's and Mr. Osbald-
eston's Hunts. They drew Radbourn Gorse and a fine
fox was viewed away and went at a first-rate pace for
five-and-thirty minutes over a splendid grass country.
By a most circuitous route he reached Watergall
where he went to ground. He was, however, dug out,
and the hounds held back until sufficient law had been
given him. Another twenty minutes was the result,
without the field, brilliant as it was, seeing either
fox or hound until they came to Farnborough, where
Reynard had secreted himself in a farm yard and the
game ended. One incident of the run is worth record-
ing as displaying great presence of mind and activity.
Mr. Brown, a veterinary surgeon of Warwick, was
going very fast at a high hawthorn hedge and did not
observe that there was water the other side until he
got to a few yards of it. He loosed his bridle and
caught the bough of an oak tree. His horse dropped
into the water at a distance of nine yards and a
quarter from the place he took up and swam to the
opposite side. He immediately came back to his rider
who remounted and continued the chase, neither horse
nor man receiving injury. On March 25th of the same
year, "the Warwickshire " were due at Whimpstone
Bridge, but the snow was thick on the hills, and the
anticipations raised were not very great. The material
for sport was, however, ready to hand and they were
soon away after as good a fox as ever crossed a country.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

73

A direct line to
Edi-ehill.

He continued his career with a pace as straight and 1830-1833!^^

uoflinching as it was fast. He was fioally run into

at Newcombe's White House after passing Weston
Wood a second time. The time was three minutes
over an hour, and the distance, as the crow i3ies, four-
teen miles.

On the 3rd of January, 1833, just before the close,
that is, of Mr. Russell's term of ofiSce, a run from
Radbourn lay in what all Warwickshire sportsmen, I
trow, know the meaning of — a direct line to Edgehill.
The grass is first-rate and the horses must be good
whose riders see the fun throughout. The fox found
ran at a splitting pace to Watergall and to Burton
Dassett Hill, but here he handed his cards to another
but equally game one, who ran at a merry pace to
Edgehill by Knoll End. From Edgehill he passed to
Sheningtou and thence to Epwell WhiteHouse,a famous
spot in the chronicles of "the Warwickshire," where
he went to ground.

Mr. Russell gave up the hounds at the end of the Retirement of
season of 1832-33, his horses being sold at Tattersall's ^^r- Russell.
on the 27th of May and bringing good prices. He died
at 32, Lansdowne Place, Leamington, on Sunday, 27th
of April of the same year. During the three seasons he
reigned over Warwickshire he acquired great and de-
served popularity. He possessed the sound judgment
and energy of a first-rate sportsman with the concili-
atory and polished manners of a gentleman, and was
much beloved for his gentleness of deportment and ex-
cellent temper. For many years he had served in the
navy.

Mr, Thornhill, of Houndshill, near Eatington, followed Mr. Thornhill.
Captain Russell and also had a three years reign, during
which brief period, however, he had many good things
to record. Bill Boxall remained as his huntsman, his
whips being Tom Day and Jack Ransom. He had a
subscription of £2,250. His regime commenced most
successfully. The sport was little short of brilliant.
His staff was most efiacient. Boxall, who had during

74

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

A gallant mem-
ber of the tribe.

A brilliant day
from Meon
Hill.

Mr. TdlRNHiLL. a spell of ill-luck been voted slow, regained his former
-1- * fame. One judicious point Mr. Thornhill made was of
fixing his meets at some distance from the coverts he
meant to draw. As, for example, Princethorpe for Deb-
dale, Gaydon Inn for Ladbroke and Radbourn Gorse,
and thus reducing the disturbance which the coverts
received from people assembling at them before the
hounds arrived. The first mentioned covert, Debdale,
provided some of the finest runs of Mr. Thornhill's
opening season. One fox — it being to all appearances
the same — gave them three good runs into North-
amptonshire from there, finishing once at Crick, and
another time at Watford. The third time, however,
after running for about an hour on almost exactly the
same line as he had done before,he was pulled down in
the open.

December 2nd, 1833, is said to have been the most
brilliant day "the Warwickshire " had seen for years.
The meet was at Ilmington village, the fine dog pack
being out. Foxcote was the order for the day, but
complaints having been received of an annoying
individual at Meon Hill the • hounds were
taken there. After drawing one or two little
plantations, a fox was started with the hounds on
capital terms, taking his way into the beautiful vale of
Evesham. Lower Quinton was left on the right and
Pebworth on his left, and he passed through Marston
Grounds and crossed the brook, just skirting Marston
village and leaving Dorsington on his right. From
this point he went on for Ullington Farm where
he found himself distressed and tried threading two
or three of the farm yards and out buildings. He
then boldly faced the large enclosures of Pebworth
and skirting the Gorse made a good run for life, but
was most gallantly run into in the open on the top of
Rumer Hill. It was a brilliant run of one hour and
five minutes, without a check or the hounds being cast
once during the whole time. The pace throughout

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

75

was great. Mr. Thoraliill aad Captain Smith lost two
valuable horses during the run. The horse of the
former slipped his hind leg into a rut and broke it,
while that of the latter broke his back in a deep ditch.
Mr. Woodward, Mr. Smith, Tom Day, and Mr.
Shirley's groom, on a young horse of his master's, were
the only persons with the hounds for the first fifty
minutes, owing to the pace, and the large fences, but
the sharp turn at UUington let all the field in to
witness the finale of this admirable piece of work. The
head of the fox was preserved in a glass 'case in the
Hunt Room at the Warwick Arms Inn, Warwick, with
an account of the run underneath.

On the 23rd of the same month the meet was at
Bishop's Itchington, and a fine fox was soon viewed
away for Itchington Heath. He made for Chesterton,
rounded the wood, and went as though making for
Chadshunt, at a slapping pace, which was unfortunately
broken by some checks. He was, however, recovered
in Lighthorne Rough, where the scent was breast high,
and the houndj were within fifty yards of the fox,
the pace being most severe. Compton Verney
was evidently his point, but this appears to have
been forsaken, and a change in the opposite direction
resorted to for safety, and passing through Chesterton
Wood in the direction of Harbury, he went on over
Ufton Bottom to the Wood, where at four o'clock
the hounds changed and were stopped. The last
bit was over one of the severest, deepest, and stifi'est
bits of country in England. Mr. Vyner, Captain
Mitchell, Boxall and Day were amongst the first.
This may not seem a very great accomplishment, as
we have not had to describe a far-reaching line, such
as has been the case in some^'previous events, but
some of the oldest sportsmen considered this one of
the most brilliant affairs ever witnessed, and the end
saw the field in a terrible state, horses and riders
being all over the place. The time was one hour
and ten minntes.

Mr. Thornhill.
1833-1836..

Two unlucky in-
cidents.

A stiff run from
Itchington.

76

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. THORNHILIi.

•1^33-1836.

Some more Farn-
borough sport.

An incident.

A good line.

I have now another sample of Farnborough sport,
and sport indeed ! The meet was on the 12th of
February, 1834, and it was, therefore, an item of the
same season as the foregoing. There was a brilliant
field, and just as the hounds were about to throw off,
a fox was halloed away from Mr. Holbech's magni-
ficent terrace in the direction of Mollington. The
hounds were soon on his line, and he took them
gallantly along the line of the brook in the valley
between the Banbury and Southam Road
and the Banbury and Warmington Road.
Leaving Warwickshire for Oxfordshire, he passed
through Hanwell Spinney and ran, as for a
time was supposed, into a drain near the Neithrop side
of Banbury. The time so far had been twenty minutes.
Now a check of about ten minutes ensued when a
farmer whipped up the fox from the grass out of a
ditch and away he went at his very best pace over
Wroxton Grounds with the Park to the right. Then
turning to the left he crossed over Crouch Hill and
ran down to Wykham Mill. Here, as Mr. H.
Horley was riding by the side of the dam, his horse
••Shakespere" swerved and fell backwards into the
water. Captain Lambe came up at this time on a
chestnut and assisted Mr. Horley to get his horse out
of the water. They overtook the hounds about half-
an-hour before they lost. Mr. Horley and Lord Howth
had a good start together and cleared the first brook
abreast, five successive times.

But to follow the chase. The fox took his line along
the right bank of the Wykham brook, and a short
check occurred in one of the meadows. The hounds
returned over the brook — which was cleared by
Lord Howth — and there was some doubt as
to whether the fox had crossed or not. Picking
up, however, the line again, some beautiful
running ensued, by Broughton, near the Castle
Gardens and over the Park. Then up the fields and

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

77

over Claydon Hill with North Newingtoa on the right, ^^i'gslfisie^'

Thus he went on straight until he reached the road to

Upton which he crossed and turning sharp to the left
ran, with Shenington on the right, close to the village of
Balscote, which he left to the right. At this point a
check of five minutes occurred, after which he ran at a
very severe pace with Shutford close on the left, and,
just touching the Shutford earths, ran over the hills,
with Epwell village to the left and Epwell Gorse to
the right, until he reached Compton Wyniates ponds.
There a fresh fox went away in view with the hounds
after him for three or four fields, when they were
whipped off and taken back to the hunted one, but he
had found a safe place of refuge for the night. The
time from Farnborough to Compton was two hours and
forty minutes and from the line the fox took twenty-
two miles of country must have been traversed.

During the season 1833-4, which included the items A good season.
given above, the sport was exceptionally good. It was
said that Mr. Thornhill's hounds had the best sport of
any in England, and that Mr. Drake's stood second.
So much for local fox-hunting.

My next item is also of the " immense " order. It
emanated from Lighthorne on the 24th of February, 1835.
There were a couple of hundred sportsmen on the Green.
Chesterton Wood was drawn and a fox found which
was soon killed. Itchington Heath provided a gay
and fine old fox which crossed the grounds in noble
style as though Ufton Wood was his point. He was,
however, headed and circled back to the covert, but,
being driven out again, he went at a rattling pace to
Chesterton Wood, from which he made bis way to
Itchington Heath, and, skirting one corner, passed to
Gaydon Spinney and went on to, and up the Burton
Hills. Along these he went to Farnborough and
from here to Clattercote and then, with a turn
towards the right, to Mollington. Great Bourton vil-
age was then skirted and Hauwell brook made for,

An immense run
from Itchington

78 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

^iftq^Tftlfi'^' ^°^" *^® ®^^® ^^ which he ran for a mile. He then
-1- ' passed by Little Bourton and over the valley to Wils-
cote, after which he passed over the Cropredy hills
to Claydon where he was lost. It was supposed that
he went into a drain here, but in consequence of a
labourer in a turnip field calling " Forward, " the
hounds were thrown off the line and were not able
to hit it again. The nags were pretty well done. Of
the two hundred who were out, only the master and
some five-and-twenty others were present to the end
of the day. The time was three and a quarter hours
audit was one of the best hunting runs ever witnessed.
The scent was not particularly good, yet ithe "hounds
hit it off cleverly and shewed to what perfection they
could be brought by proper kennel management and
training. The greater part returned home through
Farnborough and gladly accepted Mr. Holbech's hospit-
able invitation to rest and refresh themselves and their
steeds for a short time.

^ woiS °^ ^'"^^'^ 0^ April 4th, ] 835, the meet was at Uf ton Wood and
a find took place at Print Hill, the fox taking them to
Weston Mill. Here the field came to a standstill
owing to the swollen state of the stream, the water
being spread over the low ground on the margin of the
river. The hounds and fox crossed and went on. Mr.
Augustus Berkeley tried to open the gate near the Mill,
but the water was too deep and too rapid, and a country-
man whom he offered a couple of sovereigns to open it,
refused to do so. Mr. Russell distinguished him-
self by swimming it with hia horse, the water being
some seventeen or eighteen yards wide. He rode after
the hounds and caught them at Cubbington Wood,
and was up when the fox was killed, only two-and-a-
half couple of hounds remaining.

The next season's The season 1834-5 did not perhaps contain so many

^^°^ ' lengthy runs as the preceding one, but it was still a

very successful one. It finished on the 4th of April,

1835. Ufton Wood was drawn blank, but Print Hill

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 79

provided a clipping run of fifty-five minutes to Mr. Thornhill.
Waverley Wood, where they ran into him. The field 1^33-1836.
was small but select. Mr. Thornhill, Lord W. Lennox,
the Hon. A. Berkeley, and Messrs. Kussell, Brooke,
and Wilkinson were among the pinks.

Bill Boxall left at the close of this season, and was
succeeded by Tom Day, Jack Ransom becoming first
whip, and Jack Day second.

During the next season (1835-6) the hunting was Mr. ThornhiU's
indifferent. The scent was poor, and foxes were not
plentiful. Day, however, quitted himself well in his
new post. Mr. Thornhill gave up the hounds at the
end of this season.

80

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XI.

The foundation

of the pack.

1827.

Sires from the
Duke of Beau-
fort's.

The foundation op the pack by Mr. Newton
Fellowes— HIS subsequent entries— the pack
under Captain Russell and Mr. Thornhill.

1 have now arrived at a point in my history when I
may say something about the hounds themselves.
Upon the resignation of Lord Middleton, the country
had to find a subscription and a pack. When Mr.
Newton Fellowes took possession of the office of master
in 1827 he got together a pack which was the
foundation of the Warwickshire pack as it has been
since that time. It consisted in all of 53 couples, 40^
being old couples and 12J young ones. The principal
packs resorted to were the Duke of Beaufort's and
Mr. Osbaldeston's, and indeed the sires of half the
pack were from these two kennels.

Let us look down the list of these hounds as
got together by him. The hounds to be attributed
to the Duke of Beaufort's were Duncan, a five-
year-old hound, by his Duncan — his Wary ; Falstaff
and Fallacy, a four-year-old couple, by his Waterloo,
out of Friendly ; Ornament, another four-year-old
hound, by his Nectar, out of Ominous ; Rocket,
Rivers, and Rosamond, all three being also four-
year-olds, by his Hermit out of Rumsey ;
Dorimont, Danger, Dairymaid, Diligent, Dalliance,
Damsel, all three-year-olds, by the Duke's Dorimont
out of Bridesmaid ; Denmark, Duster, Dealer, two-
year-olds, by the same hound out of Juliet ; Benedict,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

81

Basker, Bodadil, also two-year-olds, by the Duke's
Rubens, out of Brilliant ; while Bertram, Barmaid,
Bashful and Bonnylass, by his Boxer out of Virulent,
Nimrod by his Nimrod out of Friendly, Platoff and
Prattle by his Platoff out of Whynot, and Pilgrim,
Pillager, Playful and Policy by his Platoff out of
Comedy,form the Duke's contributions to the one-year-
olds.

The hounds attributable to Mr. Osbaldeston are
Destiny, a four-year-old by his Pilot out of Diligent ;
Bachelor, Cardinal, Caliban, Comedy, Curious, Comus,
and Chariot, all three-year-olds, and all by his Chorister,
Bachelor being out of Blemish, the next four named
out of Whynot, and Comus and Chariot out of
Friendly ; Honesty and Heroine another three-year-
old couple by his Caliban out of Hyale ; Actress, also
a three-year-old by his Jasper out of Active ; Jovial,
Joker, Joiner, and Jessamy, two-year-olds also by
Jasper, but out of Lucy ; Valiant, Volatile and Vocal,
also two-year-olds by his Valentine out of Virulent ;
Wildfire and Warble, another two-year-old couple by
his Rasselas with Whynot as dam ; while the one-
year-olds contain Emperor by his hound of that name
out of Judy, Benefit and Butterfly by his Vanquisher out
of Blemish, and Vaulter by the same hound out of
Parasol.

The Pack.
1827-1835.

Sires from Mr.
Osbaldeston's^

Sires from Lord
Sondes'.

Seven hounds are attributable to Lord Sondes' pack,
five of them being by his hound Ottoman. They are
Minister a six-year-old out of his Madcap ; Alfred, a
five-year-old out of Atropos ; Orator, a five-year-old
out of Whynot ; and Virulent and Viola, also five-
year-olds out of Vengeance. The other two were a five-
year-old couple, Bajazet and Beatrice by his Bajazet
out of his Rarity. The other packs used were Lord Other Kennels,
Middleton's, the Brocklesby, the Belvoir, Sir E.
Smythe's, Mr. Meynell's, Mr. Oxendon's, Sir H.
Mainwaring's, Mr. Muster's, and Mr. Warde's.

82 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack. There are fifteen stud hounds mentioned in the list

ISiiT-"* 835

JJL ' of Mr. Fellowes' pack which were probably purchased

Warwickshire ^y ^^e Warwickshire Hunt from Mr. Shirley when he
resigned the country. Of these the hound mostly used
was Whynot, a bitch by Lord Harewood's Cinder out
of his Wanton, and entered in 1821. In addition to
the hounds given above she was the dam of Waterloo
by Warrior, another hound in the list in question by
Mr. Hornyhold's Waterman out of his Lilliput, and
entered in the same year as Whynot. Comedy, a
bitch by Sir E, Smythe's Ransom out of Conquest, and
entered in 1822, was dam to four of the hounds given
above as attributable to the Duke of Beaufort's kennel
andtoCymbeline and Cowslip, two five year old hounds
by Sir H. Mainwaring's Bangor. Another reference
to the hounds given at the opening of the chapter will
show that Lucy was dam to four two-year-olds by Mr.
Osbaldeston's Jasper. In addition to these she was
dam to Gaiety, a four year old by Guardsman, also in
the list of stud hounds. Lucy was by the Brocklesby
Wildboy out of their Warble, and was entered in 1818,
Guardsman being bred by Sir Bellingham Graham, and
entered four years later. He was sire to Lapwing, a
three-year-old in Mr. Fellowes' list out of Lapwing, who
was bred by the Duke of Beaufort and entered in 1818.
In the hounds attributable to Mr. Osbaldeston's and the
Duke of Beaufort's above, it will be seen the five are
from Friendly. This bitch was entered in 1820, being
by Lord Middleton's Denmark out of his Frantic.
Three of the hounds from the Duke of Beaufort's will
be seen to be of a dam, Juliet. She was by Mr,
Osbaldeston's Jargon out of Mr. Chaworth's Violet and
was entered in 1821. She was the dam, too, of Judge-
ment and Judy, two three-year-olds by Benedict.
Active, the dam of Actress by Mr. Osbaldeston's
Jasper, was by Sir E. Smythe's Admiral out of his
Careful, and was entered in 1821. Rumsey, dam to
three four-year-olds by the Duke of Beaufort's Eermit

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 83

was by Lord Middleton's Bachelor out of his Rarity -lol^^tPok

and was entered in 1819. Blemish, dam to three of

the hounds attributable to Mr. Osbaldeston's, was by
Lord Sondes' Bajazet out of his Rarity, and was
entered in 1823. Hyale, the dam of a couple by Mr.
Osbaldeston's Caliban, was entered in 1821, and was by
Lord Althorpe's Horsa out of Lord Sondes' Laundress.
Ominous, the dam of Ornament by the Duke of Beau-
fort's Hectar, was entered the same year and was by
Lord Althorpe's Orpheus out of his Purity. The two
remaining hounds in the list of those supposed to have
been bought from Mr. Shirley are Dafifodil and Dairy-
maid. Daffodil was bred by the Duke of Beaufort and
was entered in 1818, while Dairymaid was entered in
1825, being by the Duke of Beaufort's Dorimont out of
the Warwickshire Barmaid.

Such were the principal elements of the pack as Mr. Fellowes'
established by Mr. Newton Fellows in 1827. His triesT^°*^°'
entry for the following year consisted of nine and a
half couples. Rocket, by the Duke of Beaufort's Hermit
out of Rumsey, entered in 1824, being the sire of
three and a half couples. In the list for 1829, which
consists of twelve and a half couples, the same hound
appears as the sire of five couples. He also appears
in the lists for 1830 and 1831 ; in the first as the sire
of three couples, and in the second as the sire of two
and a half couples. As he appears as the sire of four
couples in the original list of 1S27, it will be seen
that he was an important member of the pack. In
Mr. Fellowes' list for 1828, he does not appear to have
used any other kennel for breeding purposes, but in
that of the next year there appears three sires from
the Duke of Beaufort's : — his Boxer and Rubens,
who also appear in his first list, and his Vanguard.
To these three are to be attributed five couples. In
Mr. Russell's list for the next year (1830), Rubens
and Vanguard also appear, the former as the sire of
Remnant, out of the Duke's Waspish, and the latter

tries.

84 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack. as the sire of Voucher, out of the Duke's Echo, and of
1827-1835. Yauiter, out of the Warwickshire Diligent. Diligent,
Mr. Russell's en- it vvjn be seen by a reference to the opening of this
chapter, was by the Duke's Dorimont, out of Brides-
maid. She was entered in 1825. Mr. Russell also
used Col. Berkeley's pack, Bugler being by his
Pagan out of his Bravery and Welcome by
his Woldsman out of his Rocket. The Duke of
of Beaufort's Workman appears as sire of two and a
half couple in the list for 1831. One hound, Harbinger,
is attributable to the Surrey being by their Harlequin
out of their Welcome. A hound, Hadrian, by Lord
Tavistock's Hercules out of Mr. Ward's Misery, was
bought by Mr. Russell as a five-year-old in the spring
of 1831, and appears in the list for that year as the sire
of a couple, Hercules and Hopeful, out of Pru-
dence. Two Bel voir sires appear in the same list. The
Belvoir Solomon by the Belvoir Roderick out of their
Songstress was bought by Mr. Fellowes as a nine-year-
old in 1829, and appears as sire to Solomon, out of the
Warwickshire Benefit, entered in 1827. The Belvoir
Whipster, by their Lifter out of their Wanton was
bought by Mr. Russell as a five-year-old in 1830. He
appears as sire to Watchman, Willing, and Wisdom
out of Warwickshire Wildfire ; Warspite out of the
Warwickshire Rosebud ; and Woldsman out of the
Warwickshire Rally. In the list for 1831, we find
Winifred by him out of Wildfire, and Woodbine by
him out of Rosebud. Another couple appears in the
same list by him out of Butterfly and another by him
out of Benefit. It will be seen, therefore, that Mr.
Russell had a good opinion of his purchase. The same
might be said of Hadrian, referred to above, as he ap-
pears in the same list as sire of Hadrian out of Rally,
Harasser out of Bonnylass, Jessamy and Jessica, out
Jessamy, Richmond and Rosamond out of Rosamond,
and Vengeance out of Hadrian. Four hounds in this
list are attributable to Lord Scarborough's kennel,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 85

viz., Challenge by his Rattler, — his Captious ; Governor The Pack.
by his General — his Rain ; General by his General — "

his Syren ; and Solomon by his Justice — his Sylia.
From Sir H. Goodrickes Manager — his Rarity appears
one hound. Midnight. The Warwickshire sires in the
list are Benedict, Bachelor, Pilot, Blucher and Ranter.

Mr. Russell only hunted three days a week, and so Mr. Thorhhill'a
he reduced the number of hounds. Mr. Thornhill, Entries.
however, restored them on his accession to the master-
ship in 1833. His entry for that year consisted of
seventeen and a half couple. Among the sires are
hounds from Mr. Muster's, the Belvoir, Mr. Osbal-
deston's, and Lord Tavistock's. Myrmidon, by Lord
Tavistock's Marmion out of his Hopeful, and bought
as a five-year-old by Mr. Russell in 1831, appears as
sire to three-and-a-half couple. Only three War-
wickshire stud hounds appear among the sires, viz.,
Benedict, entered in 1826 ; Bobadil, entered also in
1826 ; and Champion, entered in 1829. In the list for
1834 the Belvoir is also strongly represented, six couples
out of seventeen couples being attributable to sires of
those kennels. Mr. Drake's and the Duke of Beaufort's
are the only other kennels which appear in the list, the
Warwickshire sires being Benedict, Nimrod (entered
in 1827), Bluecap (entered in 1831), and Myrmidon.
The list for 1835 contains thirteen and a half couples.
The Belvoir are againlrepresented among the sires, this
time by Lucifer, who appears as sire to two couples
out of Doia, a bitch by Mr. Horlock's Dragon —
his Dowager, and bought as a two-year-old
by Mr. Thornhill in 1833 ; and by Rummager, who is
sire to a couple and a half out of the Warwickshire
Whimsey, a bitch entered in 1831. The blood of Mr.
Horlock's also finds an introduction in Famous, a
bitch by his Farmer — his Banquet, who was bought as
a five-year-old by Mr. Thornhill in 1834, and who ap-
pears as the dam of Famous by the Warwickshire
Woodman. Other kennels are represented in the sires

86 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack by Mr. Drake's Murmerer and the Cheshire Chanter.
1827-1.835

" * The blood of Lord Anson's appears in Termagent, a

bitch by his Dragon — his Twilight, who was bought

as a five-year-old by Mr. Thornhill in 1833, and who

is in the list as dam to a couple by the Warwickshire

Hermit.

A very dull chapter I am afraid the foregoing has

been to those who find no interest in this part of the

history of a pack, but we may now lay aside the stud

book for a time, and in my next chapter I shall return

to matter of more general interest.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

87

CHAPTER XII.

A COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT — Mr. B. GrANVILLE
—THE QUALITY OF THE SPORT— WARWICKSHIRE
NAMES — THE DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY AND
ESTABLISHMENT OF "THE NORTH " PACK.

To hark back to the end of Mr. ThornhiU's regime, A Committee.
he retired at the end of the season 1835-6 and Mr.
Smith, of the Craven Hunt, and previously of the
Hambledon, was spoken of as his successor. This,
however, did not come about and the hounds ultimately
came under the management of a committee consist-
ing of Mr. Shirley, Mr. Townsend, Mr. B. Granville,
Mr. Holden, and Mr. Barnard. The lease of the
kennels at Butler's Marston having expired, the hounds
were moved to Wellesbourne. There were also kennels
at Lillington, near Leamington, which had been erected
during Mr. Russell's mastership at a cost of £200.
Mr. B. Granville was to act as field master, and, in fact, Mr. B. Granville
may be looked upon as the actual master. The number
of hunting days were to be two a week with an
occasional bye-day. Tom Day continued to act as
huntsman. The new authority did not commence very
auspiciously as an attack of madness visited the
kennels and left destruction in its wake. The rule of
Mr. Granville was, like that of his immediate pre-
decessors, a three-years one, but I have not the amount
of sport to chronicle in connection with his term of
office that I had with some of the others. In fact, the

88 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Granville, sport during this period, if it cannot actually be classed
1836-1839. ^^ ^^^^ certainly fell very far short of the excellency
which it had attained during earlier years.

A grass line to On November the 30th, 1836, the meet was at Bishop's
Southam. Itchington, decidedly one of their best fixtures. Rad-

bourn Gorse provided a leash of foxes, one of which,
after giving the hounds half an hour's amusement in
covert, afforded a capital scurry of some twenty minutes
to Southam, on the outskirts of which he was killed.
The pace was tremendous and the line as straight as a
bird could fly, grass abounding all the way.

A poor season. The following season (1837-8) was one of the worst

that had been experienced for years. The commence-
ment was far from favourable, and for about six weeks
in the depths of winter hunting was totally suspended.

Another day at The best day was on March the 15th when the meet
Son.'^ "°^' "^^^ *g*^" Bishop's Itchington, and the famous Rad-
bourn Gorse was the appointed draw. On the way, how-
ever, to that place the hounds were put into Watergall,
and a burst of twenty minutes was obtained without a
check over the parishes of Wormleighton and Bodding-
ton, leaving Boddington Hill Gorse on the left, and
skirting Lower Boddington up to Warden Hill, where
the gallant fox gave the large field the slip. A large

Behaviour of the crowd had assembled at Radbourn to witness the draw,
Gorse. and upon the hounds not arriving there, they were so

exasperated that they took sticks and dogs and beat
the Gorse from end to end. A short time afterwards
was the Warwick Race Meeting, and when the hounds
came, with the large field that event generally produced,
to their favourite Gorse, the result of the crowd's
behaviour was that it was found to be blank.

Warwickshire Among those whose names may be recorded as

Names. followers of " the Warwickshire " during this period

were : — Lord Douglas ; Lord Howth, who will be
remembered as figuring in some water jumps in a
previous run ; Lord Hopetoun ; Lord Ongley, and
his brother the Hon. Sam Ongley ; Lord Vivian ; Si^

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Edward Mostyu ; Sir John Gerard, who had most ^;[-836^-liS9^'

perfect horses ; Sir Robert Brownrigg ; Captain Lamb,

a big man and owner of Vivian and many other good
horses, which were always ridden for him by the well-
known Captain Beecher ; Captain Serancke from
Hertfordshire ; Mr. Bertie Matthews ; Captain
*' Dick " Magennis, who had only one arm ; Mr. De
Burgh, who formerly kept staghounds near London ;
Mr. Birnard ; Colonels Gooch and Trevelyan ; Mr.
Sanderson, of Leamington ; Mr. Andrew Whyte ;
Mr. Hyde Clark ; Mr. J. T. Charlton ; Mr. J. W.
Little ; Mr. R. Greaves of Stratford ; Mr. Way ; Mr.
Philip Bennett of Suffolk ; Captain Hibbert of Bilton
Grange ; Mr. Ivens ; Mr. H. Horley of Upton, one
of the hardest men in the country and who, like Lord
Howth, will be remembered in connection with some
water work during a previous run ; and Mr. Mytton and
Bob Clifton, who generally kept the pace alive. These
are the names to be chronicled as forming parts of
the Warwickshire fields. I regret that the list is to
such an extent, a bare one, and that I have not been
able to garnish it more with the individualities of the
different persons mentioned, but it is a far cry back to
** the thirties."

When Mr. Corbet hunted Warwickshire his coun- The extent of the
try may be said to have roughly comprised the whole
country, although in those early days the boundaries
were not fixed with the exactitude with which they
may now be told, and there is some diflSculty in fix-
ing the dates and the varying districts of the early
days of "the Atherstone," which comprised a slice of
north-west Warwickshire. After Mr. Corbet's re-
tirement the more northern portions of the county
began to be deserted, and the attentions of the sue- Neglect of the
ceeding Warwickshire masters were mostly devoted
to the grass districts of the south. The sound of
the horn was rarely heard in the woodland districts
of the north, and naturally some considerable dis-

woodlanda.

90

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Division of thb
Country.

"NLmrod'a"
opinion.

Di,yision with
"the Ather-
stone.'

satisfaction arose among those who had been in the
habit of finding good sport there for a period of the
season. In 1826, " Nimrod " wrote : — " Warwick-
shire is not, neither do I suppose it ever will be, what
Warwickshire was. Bericote Wood, the best draw, is
now given to Lord Anson ; Frankton Wood, the very
best covert of these woodlands, is now drawn by
Lord Anson ; ditto, Debdale, a gorse on Theophilus
Biddulph's property, whence his lordship has had such
fine sport these last two seasons. It may be said
they cannot be given to a better man, which I readily
agree to. But what is to become of the Meriden
country, the finest woodland in the world. The
country that, when Mr, Corbet hunted Warwickshire,
produced such sport — such real sport to real lovers of
fox-hunting. I answer it is gone. The Warwickshire
woodlands are now termed the Kenilworth country,
which may be said to be a bad exchange. In short,
Warwickshire is shorn of its leaves, and they never,
I fear, will break forth again."

It will be seen, therefore, that in looking back at his
old country "Nimrod" did not see much to arouse
within him enthusiasm for the future. A large slice of
the north district had been handed to Lord Anson's
Hunt, now ** the Atherstone," and the indifference dis-
played by those in authority towards parting with
what in the old days had been favourite draws, was
viewed by "Nimrod" with concern. Five years,
however, after he wrote as above, "the Atherstone"
relinquished the district south of Coventry, and the
following places were added to the Warwickshire
country : —Weston Wood, Wappenbury Wood, Waver-
ley Wood, Bericote Wood, Bubbeohall, Bagginton,
Princethorpe, Ryton Woods, and Cubbington Woods.

Still, however, there was a large portion of northern
Warwickshire which was never visited by the hounds,
and the many good sportsmen who resided within
easy reach of this district, and those who took

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

di

Division of thb
Country.

Mr.Vyner'sPack.

Mr. Hellier*

up their abode for a portion of the year at the rapidly
rising town of Leamington, naturally began to give
vent to loud expressions of disapproval at being left
in the cold. The result was that in 1834, Mr. Robert
Vyner, of Eathorpe, established a pack of hounds
to hunt the practically vacant district, receiving
hearty support from Mr. Bolton King, of Umberslade,
a Warwickshire sportsman worthy of remembrance,
and other county gentlemen. During the first season
he resided at Solihull, where he had about thirty
couples of hounds, but the next year he removed to
Leamington. He can hardly be said to have founded
a separate country, as a reservation was made that the
district should be returned to any future master
of "the Warwickshire," who might desire to hunt
the whole of his country. In 1838 Mr. Thomas Shaw
Hellier succeeded Mr. Vyner, and like him hunted the
hounds himself until 1843, when he removed to Lin-
colnshire. This again left a vacancy in the parts of
Warwickshire hunted by him, and Mr. Wilson, of MrWUson.
Gumley, came forward and filled it for about two
seasons, when the district was divided between "the
Atherstone" and " the Warwickshire," and hunting
matters in North Warwickshire re-assumed the posi-
tion of earlier days.

The North Warwickshire country as it now exists
was not established until some eight years later, but as
I am now writing about the division of the country, I
may be allowed, perhaps, to anticipate a little in point
of time. For several seasons a great portion of the
country was without hounds. In 1850 it was arranged
with Captain Thomson, the master of "the Ather-
stone," that he should hunt it as far as Hampton
Coppice, Stonebridge, and Packington. The other por-
tion was to receive the attention of " the Warwickshire'*
two days a week. This made, however, somewhat heavy
demands upon "the Warwickshire," making their

E8tablisi{meDt of
"the North
Warwickshire."

92 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

■ •

Division of the hunting programme consist of six days a week, and the

COUNRTT = r o j ^

' Leamingtonians soon began to complain that they did

Complaints from jjgt receive their due in the way of handy meets, and
Lea<miiigtoii. ''

threatened to start a pack of their own. The com-
plaints were particularly loud during the Christmas

Meeting at War- ^^^^^^^ °^ 1851-2, and in March a meeting of
wick. owners and occupiers of lands and coverts, and of

gentlemen interested in hunting was held in Warwick
to consider a proposition emanating from Leamington
to establish a second pack. The feeling of the meeting
was strongly against the idea, and a letter was said
to have been received from Lord John Scott, expressive
of his decided objection to a second pack. After some
discussion the following resolution was adopted : —
"That the Warwickshire Hunt under the present
, management shall continue to hunt all the country, as

now hunted by them, five days a week, if sufficient
money be forthcoming and there be sufficient foxes ; if
not, then four days a week as at present."

Demands upon ^^ ^i^^ ^^ seen by the concluding words of this pro-
"the Warwick- position that "the Warwickshire" had found it
necessary to curtail their list of hunting days from the
arrangement made in 1850, when every day in the week,
Sundays excepted, had its fixture. The extra days
of course meant extra expense, and the portions of the
field from Leamington, which were loudest in their
demands for more attention, were, no doubt, composed,
as urban contingents generally are, of those who, though
they like to parade at the meets, dislike to pay sub-
substantially for sport which their lack of hunting
abilities prevents them from seeing. And besides it
is very uncertain whether the sport to be found in the
north was sufficient to justify the hunt deserting the
well-stocked coverts of the south for it. No doubt in
the earlier days good stout-running foxes were to be
met with in abundance in the woodland districts, and
I am happy to believe they are in these later
days admirably preserved there, but at that

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

A division
duties.

of

Mr. Selby
Lowndes.

time'the country had not been hunted, or'at best only Division of thb

■" Country
irregularly hunted, for some years, and let the atten-

tions of a hnnt be withdrawn from any district for any

length of time, and unsportsmanlike methods of^puttins;

an end to the lives of members of the tribe will be aura

to creep in.

On the 23rd of March in the following year'another
meeting was held at Warwick and a division of duties
was proposed. Lord Willoughby de Broke to give three
days a week to the southern district and Mr. Henley
Greaves to devote himself for three days a week to the
northern parts. "^ This proposition], was not, however,
carried out in its entirety, for 'within a few weeks
another excellent sportsman had appeared upon the
scene, in the person of Mr. Selby Lowndes, who had
been showing good sport in part of the Duke of
Grafton's country, which he had just returned to Lord
Southampton. ,i^This gentleman arranged to hunt the
north country twice a week during the next season,
with an occasional bye-day, according to the supply of
foxes, making Leamington his head-quarters. The
boundaries of the two countries were to be as follows : —
Between Dunchurch and Leamington, the River Leam ; Division of War
from Warwick to Rowington, the Birmingham and
Warwick Canal; from Rowington to Wootton Wawen,
the Birmingham and Stratford Canal ; from Wootton
Wawen to Alcester, the road from Wootton to Alcester ;
and from Alcester the turnpike road to Birmingham.

This is roughly the foundation of the North War-
wickshire country. After two seasons Mr. Selby
Lowndes moved to the Atherstone country, and
Mr. Baker succeeded him, and entered upon his
successful mastership.

94 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XIII.

The rise op Leamington— its effect on the
Warwickshire country— the Spa as hunt-
ing quarters— A DAY IN THE MELD IN 1838.

Leamington. In an earlier chapter, in speaking of Stratford-upon-

Avon as Mr. Corbet's centre, I made a reference to
Leamington, at that time a mere village, although
destined to develop rapidly into a town of no mean
proportions. At the point of my history which I
have now reached, that developement had to a very
large extent taken place. Substantially-built houses
had taken the place of some three score humble
cottages, which had formerly constituted the com-
paratively insignificant village of Leamington Priors.
Thanks to the medicinal properties which existed
in the mineral springs to be found there, the popula-
tion was increasing by leaps and bounds, having risen
from 543 in 1811 to 12,864 in 1841, and in 1851
having still further increased to 15,724.

I have thought fit to introduce this reference to
Leamington here, because the state of affairs is ex-
planatory to some extent of the agitation for an addi-
tional pack of hounds in Warwickshire, which I dealt
with in my last chapter. The rise of a fashionable
Spa in the heart of Warwickshire at this period when
the continental Spas were not sufficiently accessi-
ble to attract people from the English water-
ing-places, naturally put a new aspect upon
the fields of the local pack when the

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

95

meets were within reach of Leamington, and
might almost be said to have constituted a crisis in
the history of the pack. Had the master of "the
Warwickshire " bowed to the demands of resorters to
the new centre of fashion he would have moved to
Leamington, and have devoted his attentions to the
districts which they could reach with the least exer-
tions. But it was sport to his supporters and not
amusement to the gay birds of passage that he felt
himself called upon to provide, and hence, while meet-
ing their requirements as far as he felt justified in
doing, as was set forth in the last chapter, "the
Warwickshire" continued to keep to the more southern
half of the country, where, both before and since, regular
and excellent sport had, and has awaited them.

An assembly room, pump room, theatre, and, of
course, hotels had risen for the amusement and accom-
modation of the visitors, and, as an old book says, "pro-
vision was made for the gay as well as for the sick and
drooping." As a Spa no doubt Leamington was advanc-
ing by most creditable strides, and naturally as a
hunting quarter advanced too. There is some doubt,
however, whether its successful increase in the first
direction did not militate somewhat against its attain-
ment of full popularity from the sporting community.
Hunting at the time when our good Queen's reign was
only a year or two old had not attained the position of
a fashionable pastime and the pursuit in which society
contrives to kill time. The hounds were followed and
supported mainly by men who hunted with all the
seriousness they would have devoted to sterner occu-
pations. The hunting months of the year were to most
of them the only portions of their lives in which they
found its full enjoyment, and every hunting day con-
tained moments too precious to be wasted. To these the
attractions which were ofifered by a fashionable Spa were
gilded toys beneath their notice, and greatly clashed with

Leamington.

Demands from
the Spe.

The Spa as a
himting quar-
ter.

96 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lbamington. the repose and quiet with which a hunting man shakes
Action of the off one day's work in readiness for that of the next,
hotel keepers, Added to this the hotel keepers adopted a course,
which, also adopted by their brethren in that place, has,
I believe, affected seriously another town within a
score of miles of Leamington, which through a stroke
of luck some centuries ago has been placed in a most
enviable position to attract strangers and visitors. To
make hay while the sun shines is a maxim which un-
doubtedly should be followed, although it should also
be remembered that the gathering-in of the financial
harvest may be rushed at too hastily. The rapacious
character of the Leamington hotel keepers soon spread
abroad and the emptiness of their houses when they
might reasonably have been expected to be full is to be
ascribed so their desire for quick returns for their en-
terprise. The leading hotel was Copps', which was
A Club. fitted up at enormous expense. Here a club was

started by Lord Eastnor, of which I may say, that its
earliest days were its most successful.

To revert to the social elements which I thought
antagonistic to the success of Leamington as a
sporting centre, I may quote the remarks of a corres-
pondent writing during 1834-5, who described it as a
Some opinions of "Half-hunting, water drinking, waltzing, and amateur
the Spa. playing place," and who hints that the contingent it

sent into the field of the local pack did not, as a
rule, conduce to the peace of mind of the master, or the
enjoyment of the sport by those who hunted for
hunting's sake. Singularly enough I have found
another communication from one who had made it his
quarters for the same season, and who extols it highly,
referring in terms of approbation to the balls and
dinners which were promoted by the members of the
hunt. It is very likely, therefore, that he would be
classed by the correspondent first referred to, as one
of those whose presence was more acceptable in the
social circle than in the field.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 97

It must not be imagined, however, that the prospects Leamington.
of a sojourn at Leamiogton during the hunting months
was altogether disagreeable to the hunting man. Many
excellent sportsmen took up their abode there. I have ^ L^e^in^?n.°*
been led to make these remarks because the position of
Leamington at its rise, and its relations to the War-
wickshire hunt were somewhat peculiar. A new town
rises rapidly and becomes the seat of fashion right in the
centre of a hunt's country. Yet the hunt remains deaf
to the demands from it for more attention in the way
of handy fixtures ; the headquarters remain as before ;
districts surrounding the town are not hunted with
very much greater regularity than before ; and the
result is a division of the country and the establish-
ment of a second pack. This was the state of afifairs
as shown in my last chapter. In this one I have
attempted to ellucidate the situation by reminding my
readers that Leamington rose as a watering-place, not
as a hunting quarter The Warwickshire hunt in
remaining faithful to the sport-providing districts
and deaf to the demands from Leamington, was
faithful to the charge which is committed to every
hunt master or committee, — that of providing the
best sport with the greatest regularity to the sup-
porters who hunt for the sake of the chase. The
result, the introduction of a second pack and the
establishment of the North Warwickshire country,
was no doubt a desirable one all round.

The aspect of hunting has since these early days
entirely changed. The social element now pervades
the whole, and " the North " pack having got the
formerly deserted districts into good working order
again, Leamington may now be looked upon as a
very desirable winter abode.

To put before my readers a picture of Leamington as ^ jj^y Jq the
a hunting centre in its early days, when Copps' was field,
fresh in its glory, I might introduce an account of a
day in the field from Leamington given in an old and

98 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lbaminqton. now defunct magazine, called The Sunbeam under the
date of 1838, and for which I am indebted to the kind-
ness of a correspondent. I ought to say, in introducing
it, that he suggests that for Radsley, the scene of the
meet, we should read Badsley which is a moated hall,
while the name of Radsley in this locality is unknown
to him.

I introduce the article in its entirety, without, I
hope, any need of apology.

Those who have travelled in Warwickshire will remember
the site of that beautiful watering place called Leamington,
and those who^have that tour still before them will find it
about two miles distant from the ancient and picturesque
city of Warwick, so famous for its baronial castle, which
throws its vast shadow across the Avon, and appears in
its stern and^warlike structure to bid defiance to time, as
its reflection but mocks the current of that classic river.
In the hunting season, the huge stone hotels of Leaming-
ton assume the character of vast hunting lodges. Early in
the morning the large quadrangular courtyards at Copp's
or the Regent, surrounded by solid stone stabling, having
loose boxes and all the requisite conveniences for hunters,
are alive with the movements of grooms and stable boys.
High bred silky hunters are next led forth, and light com-
pact servants, in suitable livery slowly depart with them
for the covert, riding some and leading others.

At a later hour nimble valets are flying about the pas-
sages of the hotel, bearing on their arms buckskin breeches
and gloves, newly cleaned, top-boots, the tops white as
milk ; and polished spurs "folio win the hands of others,
and are carried within the various apartments.

Seats at the breakfast table are gradually occupied by
fresh looking gentlemen, in loose morning gowns and
slippers, all attired for the hunt, excepting coats and boots,
who deliberately partake of cold pheasant or mincemeats,
dry toast and coffee, make a few quaint observations to
each other on the nature of the weather and its aptness for
the scent, and on rising some cast themselves into spacious
elbow-chairs by the cheerful hearth at each end of the
breakfast hall, while others disappear as quietly as they
entered.

At ten o'clock the scene without becomes animated.
Covert hackneys are j led to the entrance, and gentlemen in
scarlet coats, bright coloured cravats, buckskin breeches
and gloves, top-boots, and having heavy, long-lashed
hunting whips are seen mounting and cantering
off to the field, while the bright eyes of
ladies look forth from casements, and now and

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 99

then, some gallant hunter will be led up to mount Leamington.
or pass with majestic steps beneath the windows, the easy
yet graceful position of his rider indicating to the practised
eye the finished sportsman. The streets between their
slabbed side walks and stately houses present a gay proces-
sion during the departure for the hunt, and then in con-
trast, seem as silent and lifeless as the aisles of a church.

Toward evening straggling parties are seen threading th»
streets in various plight, showing symptoms of the run ;
dismount at the hotels ; and their horses, drooping their
heads, with hollow flank and weary carriage, are led to the
stables. Then succeeds the savoury dinner, the quickening
champagne, the heart-restoring port. Cheeks that were
pale with hard riding, now rival the ruddy hue of the hunt-
ing coat, and conviviality reigns over the board.

Such were the scenes which Leamington presented at the
period of a late visit,

I rode from Copp's Hotel on a beautiful morning, the
meet was appointed at Eadsley, an old hall in the vicinity
of "Warwick. A small wood adjacent to the hall was known
to harbour one or two old foxes, and the fine sporting
morning, together with the assurance of sport, would, it
was thought, call out a strong field.

A white frost had silvered the tree and cast'a'light, gos-
samer drapery over the hedges. In each little inequality of
the road the water which had collectod was crystallized,
yet the open county was barely affected. It was in all
respects such a day as a fox-hunter loves. The jolly sun
infused a cheery smile through the atmosphere, the birds
twittered in the hedges which were painted with the red
hawthorn berry, and the green holly decorated the land-
scape, as though it were dressed out for Christmas Day.

My gallant horse, who knew, as well as his rider, what
was before him, trotted easily along the road-side, reserving
his energies for the field, and as I sat carelessly in the sad-
dle, my heart dilated with the freshness of the air and the
richness of the landscape.

As the landscape opened to my view from the opposite
side of the town, I observed the sun had mounted high in
the heavens ; and a group of scarlet coats, just turning a
bend of the road, admonished me, as they disappeared behind
the hawthorn, that I had loitered on my way. I
pressed forward, therefore, on a moderate but continued
trot and overtook several of my friends at the mouth of a
green lane, which, turning abruptly to the left from the main
road, leads to Eadsley Hall. Here the ground was soft,
and in places muddy, so we picked our way down it at a
careful walk. It was one of the green lanes which are the
chosen haunts of vagrant gypsies, who encamp beneath the
shelter of the hedge sides and the borders of small woods,
from which they supply themselves stealthily with fuel

100 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lkamixgton. and game. It abounds in old oaks and decayed trunks,

which may formerly have afforded a green canopy to the

bands of that merry freebooter, Robin Hood, and now fain
would protect themselves in their grey and withered age,
beneath a green mantle of youthful and vigorous ivy.

The lane, carpetted with close thick turf, led a winding
course to an old-fashioned ivy-covered park entrance. An
undulating green park, with clumps of ancient trees, wa*
now before us, and a canter across it brought us in front
of the hall. The park was scattered over with gentlemen
in scarlet, mounted on gallant hunters, waiting the
coming of the hounds, which were shortly to be assembled
in front of the hall ; and by the border of the wood, which
afforded shelter from the keen air, neat grooms moved
to and fro with led horses, of deer-like shape and move-
ment,

I was led by one of my companions to the drawbridge,
for the old hall was surrounded by a moat, and was intro-
duced to its possessor, who advanced upon the bridge, and
invited us to partake of a second dejeuner ^ an invitation
which curiosity, rather than appetite, led me cheerfully
to accept. The building was gray with age ; but like most
of such remnants of the feudal times, it had combined the
firmness of the fortress, and its aptness for defence, both
in turret and loopholes, with the conveniences of a family
residence, and not a stone had shrunk from its place,
although the lighter graces of its architecture had mould-
ered away.

We passed along a stone-arched passage, hung here and
there with stag's heads and antlers, and emerged as from
a cavern into a lofty Gothic hall. From thence we entered
a wainscoated apartment of cedar, where a centre table
was spread out with cold viands, and graced by tall silver
coffee-pots of quaint, old-fashioned form. In one of the
ipacious window recesses a group of ladies looked out upon
the gay scene of the park, and one of the younger, I ob-
served, was equipped in a riding-habit for the field.

Old-fashioned family portraits looked forth from the
dark cedar panellings in the costumes of successive ages,
one decided feature giving a general dominant character to
all alike, but exhibited in each under various modifications.
There hung the hearty old squire, who had once surveyed
these lands as his domain, his portrait now entailed with
the estate. The aspiring youth, to whose armed yet elastic
step, these halls had echoed as he departed for the wars,
and the blooming high-bred maiden, whose soft eye had
gazed from these casements over the velvet park, her mind
weaving some cobweb tissue of silver fancy, scarcely more
airy and evanescent than her own career. Upon the
latticed window was emblazoned in stained glass, the
family arms. On all sides, indeed, you beheld the insignia

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 101

of an ancient and honourable line, and it was gratifying to Leamingtox.
behold the plain, unostentatious disposition of the present

The huntsmen and whippers-in appeared in front of the
hall with the full pack of hounds, and we went forth to
mount. The attitude of the horses showed their various
tempers ; some standing with quiet indifference, others
arching their necks and bending their sinewy forms,
and others again rearing in the air as the foot was
placed on the stirrup. The skilful horsemen mounted
without embarrassment, and the huntsmen and whippers-in
surrounded by the full pack of dappled hounds, trotted
over the green park for the wood on its borders, the full
field of horsemen following in gallant array.

Some gentlemen entered the wood with the huntsmen
and hounds at the extreme end, to draw its full length,
while others grouped around the skirts of it, taking care
not to get in advance of the hounds. For a time all was
silent save the chattering of jays and magpies, as the
feathered tribe were startled from the lower world, and
sought refuge in the tree tops, or the crash of boughs as
the horsemen penetrated the wood, where you caught a
glimpse of the scarlet coats, and heard the musical voices
of the huntsmen encouraging the hounds.

The horses by the covert side showed their usual ardour
and instinct, standing with heads aloft, and turned from
side to side, catching every sound, while their riders
lounged in the saddle with an air of cool nonchalance and
abandoned rein, but not with inattentive ear, such quiet
deportment signalising the most experienced sportsman
and sagacious hunter.

Younger and more fretful horses required all the art and
careful management of their riders to subdue their fire,
which chafed, irritated, and would have carried them
beyond bounds.

Hark ! to the tongue of a hound ! the voice of a second !
the long blast of the horn as the huntsman collects the
pack upon the scent. " Yoi-oik ! all right!" from a
hundred throats ! The wood echoes with the cry of the
horsemen, the crash of boughs, and the jubilee of the
hounds.

Hark ! the view halloo ! gone away ! " rings from the
end of the wood as the huntsman emerges from it and
leaning his head aside, with finger in his ear, rings out the
" Yoi-oik ! tally-ho ! tally-ho ! " and the full mouthed
pack burst into the open country.

I felt my chest swell and my blood mount as I dashed
amid a throng of others by the skirt of the wood. Lagging
hounds burst from the thicket as we swept by its term, and
the branches crashed before horsemen gallantly flying the
hedge and ditch to join the struggle for the lead.

102 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lbamikqton. We careered through the park, leaped its high fencing,

and were soon miles away over the country. The scent was

strong, the pace severe, and the field gradually became
thinner. Some had been daunted by the park palings, and
turning in search of a gate, were lost to both eye and ear,
others had thrown somersaults over the fence, and many
had fallen back on the side from which they leaped.

Now the practiced riders showed their craft, contending
for the post of honour. Each choosing his line, pursued it
as straight as the crow flies, gathering his horse up as he
approached a dangerous fence with yawning ditch beyond,
and aiding him in his leap by a timely lift of the hand,
saving him over heavy ground, urging over the more elastic
turf, selecting with a quick eye the spot for a leap and
charging the spot chosen with unfaltering nerve.

So sped those who were in the front rank, while the
country behind them, hill and valley, common and meadow,
were strewed with horsemen entangled in the fences, or
pursuing in hopes of coming up during a check.

Some knowing old fellows, crafty sportsmen, bold riders
in their day, but now become too bulky for the field, well
judging the course the fox would take, had cut off through
lanes and by-ways, atid appeared in front of us by a wood
in which they viewed the fox take covert. Huntsmen and
hounds penetrated to dislodge him.

In the meantime, manyTgentlemen riding into the court-
yard of an old country seat hard by delivered their horses
to attending stableboys while buxom maids flew to and
fro from the servants' hall with foaming tankards of ale,
receiving half-crowns andcompliments from the bespattered
gentlemen, which conjured roses to their cheeks in harmony
with the flush excited by the^ chase over the faces of the
hunters.

" Yoi-oik ! stole away !" reaches to the court-yard. Maids
and tankards fly in all directions, and the gentlemen hastily
mounting, scour into the open country.

The fox was a sturdy one. Some peasants^had seen him
steal from the wood with his brush still .undrooping, and
the mettle both of horse and hound were now : put to the
test. As the run continued, 'many wearied steeds began to
fall short in their leaps, and muddy ditches were explored
by horse and rider. Near by me a gallant'animalfunable
from exhaustion to cover his leap, [fell with his breast upon
a pleached hedge. A stake pierced him to the heart and
broke. His rider, unconscious, in his ardour of what had
happened, would have spurred him on as he reeled back
from the hedge, but another moment and^the noble animal
sank heavily on the field, the blood pouring from the
wound, and with a low moan expired.

The horses 2were. now, done, the chase became slow and
toilsome, and the brave fox gaining another covert, took to

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 103

ground — when twilight descending upon the country gained LEAMiNQTOif.
him the victory.

Homeward then we turned on a slow trot in jaded
parties, branching off by green lanes and by roads upon •

various routes, stopping at the nearest country inn to
procure gruel for our horses to support them on their
return.

The lamps of Leamington were a welcome sight gleaming
through the dark as we drew near the town, and gladly did
we deliver our weary horses to the care of the anxious
grooms.

Welcome the light of lamps, the glow of the hearth in
exchange for the chill, murky night air ; and welcome the
festive board, round which the feats of the day were thrice
done over and the brave fox was toasted, at that moment,
even beyond ladies' love.

104 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XIV.

Mr. R. J. Barnard— THE building of the Kineton
kennels — some sport and sportsmen — sir
William Don and his ride to London.

Mr. R. J. Barnard To take up once more the thread of my narrative in
the order of masterships — an order which my readers
must have begun to think I had wandered from for
good —I have to deal with one of the most honoured
of Warwickshire sportsmen, Mr. R. J. Barnard, of
Wellesbourne, afterwards Lord Willoughby de
Broke. He had always been a staunch supporter
of the hounds, and when in 1839 he took up
the reins of ofi&ce laid down by Mr. Granville, it
was as no stranger either to the country or to the hunt
that he assumed the command of the field. In his
management he found great assistance in Mr. Hugh
Williams and Mr. Townsend.

The Kineton ken- One event must always be remembered as marking
the first year of his reign, and that is the building of
the kennels at Kineton. This took place in 1839, and
as a token of hearty goodwill on the part of the farm-
ers and residents in the country must never be lost sight
of in the history of *' the Warwickshire." I have re-
ferred to the support the hunt received from the agricul-
turalists in its very early days, and that this had by no
means seriously diminished the following description
will prove. By the hearty co-operation of all who
could assist in any branch of the under-
taking the kennels were put up at as little a cost

nel8.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

105

»s was possible, and yet the structure was substantially
and conveniently erected, and has continued to serve
its purpose even down to this present day. The land
was given by Mr. George Lucy, of Charlecote, and the
design for the building was made by his brother-in-
law, Mr. Hugh Williams, without the assistance of a
professional architect. The funds for the actual con-
struction were supplied by the members of the War-
wickshire Hunt. The materials were drawn to the
spot by one hundred and eighty farmers, who put into
the field five hundred and fifty-three waggons. What
a testimony to the popularity of hunting ! It is
a record any hunt might be proud to have to make.
But it is considerably enhanced when we find that the
time of the year during which the work was carried on
was during the weeks when harvest is in progress
The first stone was laid on July 24th, 1839, and the
building was completed and in use on the 15th of the
October following . The buildings consisted of two
houses, for the huntsman and stud-groom, and accom-
modation for other members of the kennel staff. The
stabling consisted of ten loose boxes, three three-stall
stables, and a bait-stable capable of holding four hacks
and convertible also into two boxes. The kennels con-
sisted of three principal lodging-rooms and two smaller
ones with feeding rooms, boiling-house, flesh-house, &c.
*' The Warwickshire " had a capital day from Ufton
on the 20th of October, 1840. The well-known
Wood was the meet, and there was a smart
sprinkling of sportsmen. The hounds were put in the
Wood, but Reynard did not seem to be at home at
once. In about twenty minutes, however, an old fox
obliged by coming forward, and went away for Print
Hill. Before reaching that point he was headed and
turned back across Ufton Bottom and over Mr. H.
Horley's Farm and close to Mr. Bradley's kennels, and,
leaving Harbury on the right, went on to Ladbroke
village. Two admirable supporters of sport are named

Mr. Barnard.
1839-1806.

A run from Ufton

106

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Barnard.
1839-1856.

Mr. Bradley.

in this bit of description. I have already referred to the
prowess of Mr. Horley. Round Mr. Bradley's name
hangs a chain of sporting associations. He was ever
to the fore when a sporting movement was in progress.
His name was rarely absent from lists of supporters of
steeplechases and similar fixtures, and he frequently
provided his neighbours with some sport- after the
hare, and, I believe, occasionally the stag. At Ladbroke
the old fox stopped to take a little breath and
the check afiforded his followers an opportunity of
replenishing their stock of that most necessary
equipment for a good run. In a short time they
were off again, and went merrily away in full view
across the beautiful grass-land which lies all down
that side of the Warwickshire country. His line
lay for Mr. Alder's, of Hodnel, and then inclined a
little to the right and pointed for Watergall, but he
afterwards turned and bore away to Boddington, as
A good grass line, straight as a line, yet before he had reached the hill
he was headed short back in the direction of the
well-known Radbourn Gorse, skirting the end of
which his point appeared to be Debdale. But still
this was not to be reached, for before he got to
the Southam Turnpike he inclined to the right for
Napton, and on towards Shuckburgh. Before arriving
at this famous spot, however, the hounds all at once
threw up their heads and it appeared evident that
the game old fox had gone to ground. Here the
chase, therefore, ended. Reynard was now in Mr.
Drake's country, and so the property of that well-
known sportsman. Harry Taylor, the huntsman,
very reluctantly gave him up, for, he said, the hounds
deserved him. The time was three and-a-half-hours.
It was one of the best runs in one of the best possible
bits of country, many of the fences being raspers. At
the finish y\ere, Taylor and the first whip, Mr. H.
Horley, Mr. T. P. Ward, Mr. W. Brown and his
son. They and their horses were entertained by Mr.
Serjeant, of Napton.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

107

Mr. Barnard.
1839-1856.

The Hunt Dinner
1840.

A meet at Bilton
Grange.

At the hunt dinner held at the Warwick Arms
Hotel, Warwick, on December 4tb, 1840, were Lord
Leigh, Lord Eastnor, and Messrs. R. J. Barnard, J.
Drinkwater, H. Holden, J. Townsend, B. Granville,
J. K. West, G. Smith, W. J. Harding, J. Little, D.
Galton, and H. Williams. The only visitors were Sir
J. R. B, Cave and Mr. W. Williams.

At one of the meets at Bilton Grange during the
year 1844, three hundred well-mounted sportsmen met
•'the Warwickshire" and formed a good specimen of
the fields which the hounds drew at this time. Among
those out were the Marquis of Clanricarde, Lord
Macdonald, Sir William Standley, the Hon. F. Craven,
Captains Hibbert and Peel, and Messrs. J. Standley,
Rowland, Errington, Bolton King, Little, Beech,
Bradley, Wilson, Leigh, Skipwith, Hyde Clark,
Saunderson, Thursby, &c. The hounds were in first-
rate condition. Captain Hibbert dispensed hospitality
to those who had assembled and a move was made and
the hounds put into Hillmorton Gorse, from which a
fox broke without delay. He went along Hillmorton
Meadows, crossing the brook for the village of Clifton,
through Mr. ^Smith's farm, and crossing the brook a
second time, made in a direct line for Mr. Cook's Gorse,
when there was a slight check. He then skirted the
cover to the right and was making for Captain Hibbert's
when the run came to an end after having lasted 35
minutes and having been a regular clipper. There were
many falls.

Farnborough was still showing admirable sport, a run
from there at the opening of the season 1844-5 having
lasted for 40 minutes and finished with a kill, being,
it was said, decidedly superior to anything seen
for years. Indeed the sport with which the season Good sport,
opened was altogether of a most splendid description.
The following season (1845-6) also opened most pro-
pitiously. On the third day of November the hounds
had the opening meet at the kennels. The osier beds

108

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Barnard.
1839-1856.

Names at Leam-
ington.

A great run from
Weston House

near Kineton proved blank, bat Pool Field Gorse pro-
vided a fox, who went off for Gaydon Inn where a
slight check occurred, but it was only a brief one for
they were soon off again through Itchington Holt and
went straight on to Burton Dassett where they lost.

There was a large assemblage of foxhuoters at Leam-
ington for this season, including Lieutenant-Colonel
Best, Colonel Rolt, the Hon. W. Middleton Noel,
Captains Mulcaster, Reynolds, Lackie, and Hawkins,
and Messrs. W. H, Fazakerley, E Sanders, Welsh,
H. Peyton, Tower, J. A. Bruce, J. M. Berry, H. L.
Gaskell, Farrell, J. B. Phillipson, F. R. Price, H.
Clifton, J. Duckett, Lindsey, Mark Wood and Napper.

On the 2l9t of January, 1845, a great run originated
in a meet at Weston House, at that time the residence
of Sir George Phillips, Bart. Mr. Barnard ordered the
small spinnies round Rollright to be drawn previous
to trying Whichford Wood. A fox was found in the
first spinney after passing Long Compton village, and
was chopped in covert. They then put into a small
covert near the brook at Rollright Coombs, the hounds
being put in at the bottom, near the brook, and drawing
towards Rollright Hill. A fox dashed out with the
pack after him. From first to last a sheet might have
covered them all. Up Rollright Hill they went at a
killing pace, first pointing to the left as if for Swerford
Park, leaving Buryfield Farm to the right. They then
turned to the right, and he gallantly faced the open,
making straight for Heythrop, leaving Heath Farm to
his right. He then went short to the left, through the
Gorse below Walk Farm, which was to the left,
and so on to the Chipping Norton and Banbury
Road which he crossed half-way between Chapel
House and Pomfret Castle. Here Ned Stevefls gave
the view "halloa." The pace, which had been
tremendous throughout, increased. He over-ran the
first earth and Redcap and the leading hounds raced
him over the last fields and were within seventy yards

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

109

of his brush when, with a desperate effort, he reached
the main earths at Heythrop in sight of his eager pur-
suers, and after a run of forty minutes without a check.
The field at the finish I need hardly add was select.
Ned Stevens, the huntsman, and Morris, the first whip,
were well carried throughout. Lords Lovaine and
Redesdale, Sir Charles Kent, and Messrs. Little and
John Lucy, and the Hon. Capt. Foley and a few other
members of the Warwickshire and Heythrop hunts
comprised those who may be accounted as having seen
the last bit of the run. Fortunately the country was
light or not even the first-raters could have lived
through this "flying" visit to Oxfordshire.

On Christmas Eve of the same year the meet was at
Cubbington Gate. It was a bye-day, but there was,
nevertheless, a very numerous field. The Wood
immediately provided the material and away they
went gallantly for Wappenbury Wood, through
which he passed in quick time, making for Frankton
but he passed that on his left and went straight for
Waverley Wood, where, however, he could not remain.
He was viewed away in the direction of Ryton, which
he passed and then crossed the Dunchurch road and
made for Lewis' spinney, where he adroitly disappeared.
One of his fraternity, however, was ready to take up
the fun and went off at a tremendous pace for Frank-
ton Wood, through which he ran in quick time. He
then executed a double and retraced his steps to his
old quarters, Lewis' spinney, where the fun came to
an end. Altogether the run lasted nearly three hours.
The country was heavy and the fences trying.

Among those who were staying at Leamington
during the year 1846 were Mr. Mytton, who gener-
ally kept things lively, and Sir William Don. As
they, with others, were sitting at dinner at the hotel
about ten minutes before eleven o'clock, on the evening
of the seventh of February of that j'ear the conver-
sation led to the various feats that had been performed

Mr. Barnard.
1839-1856.

A bye-day at
Cubbington
Gate.

Sir W. Don's ride
to London.

110 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Barnard, across country and on the road. Sir William offered

* a bet of £500 that he would ride from Leamington to

London before eight o'clock the next morning. The
bet was accepted and at five minutes before eleven,
without making any alteration in his dress,
he was mounted on a grey horse belonging to Mr.
Mytton and was on the road. The grey carried him
gallantly fifty-five miles. A poster was then procured
with some difficulty and went about twenty] miles.
This was succeeded by a pony, on which he continued
and completed his match, arriving at the Burlington
Hotel, Piccadilly, at half-past seven on the following
morning. The match was performed in evening dress
in the middle of a February night and on a road with
which he was not acquainted. The actual distance
was 97 miles and included eighteen toll-gates. It may
fairly rank with anything of the kind on record.
Sir W. Don. Sir William Don, of Newton Don, Bart., belonged to

an old Scottish family, and was known as the
"eccentric baronet." He was considerably over six
feet in height, and his sporting proclivities having
proved too much for his purse, he took to the stage,
and was a very popular actor. At the Antipodes he
' was an immense success. He was a clever and versa-
tile comedian, and one of his parts was, I speak from
memory. Cousin Joe in " The Bough Diamond." He
afterwards married Miss Emily Sanders, a well-known
actress, and Sir William and Lady Don were favourites
in their day all over the country. He died a good
many years ago, and the title was taken by Sir J.
Wauchope, now Sir J. Don Wauchope.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Ill

CHAPTER XV.

Good sport — some members op the hunt— a
splendid day from upton wood— lord wll-
loughby de Broke— Mr. H. Spencer Lucy —
Mr. Henley Greaves — George Wells— Jem
Hills — the boundary road — a run into the
Heythrop country— Mr. Gulliver.

The record of local foxhunting during the season The season's re-
1846-7 shows that " the Warwickshire " took the ^^{gie 7
premier place among local packs for the sport they had
shown. Their season's work represented 39J brace,
while " the Heythrop " showed 30| brace and Mr*
Drake's 24 J brace.

At the annual hunt dinner held on November 2l9t, The Hunt Dinner
1849, with Mr. Barnard in the chair and Mr. Bolton 1849.

King in the vice-chair, the following members of the
hunt were present — Lord Guernsey, M.P., Lord Vil-
liers, the Hon. W. H. Leigh, the Hon. Mr. Finch,
the Rev. John Lucy, Mr. H. C. Wise, Mr. Mark
Phillips, Mr. Parker, Mr. H. W. Allfrey, Mr. Glad-
stone, Mr. Darwin Galton, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Earle,
Mr. Sheldon, Mr. J. Arkwright, Mr. Reid, Captain
Musgrove, Mr. Granville, Mr. Clark Ramsey and Mr.
Joseph Townsend.

On the 26th day of the same month the run was one of
the best ever enjoyed in Warwickshire and one,
which, if the fox had not been repeatedly headed,
would have resulted in a line, the extent of which,
would have equalled and beaten the long runs I
have already chronicled. The meet was at Napton-

112 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

on-the-Hill, and a little preliminary business was
done in the direction of Debdale, from a Gorse
A splendid run belonging to Sir. Francis Shuckburgh, but no sport
from Ufton. ensued. Having been obliged to give up the
first fox they sought a second in Ufton Wood, and
a very gallant member of the tribe immediately
obliged by going away in the direction of
Debdale with the hounds close to his brush.
Neither did he disappoint them in the good promise
he thus held out. He crossed the Long Itchington
road in good style and ran down to the Southam
Brook which he immediately put between him and his
pursuers. The Southam high road was passed over aa
though he had selected Ladbroke as his point, bub
deserting this place and leaving it on his right he kept
his line straight towards Wormleighton. This course
he kept faithfully until he found the canal across his
path and then, evidently not being in the mind for so
much water, he turned and kept alongside it for some
time. Then he was unfortunately headed and turning
to the right he laid his line for the new gorse covert at
Ladbroke. Here his plans were again upset for he
was headed once more. This time he turned for Rad^
bourn, where he succeeded in making his way, and
passing on he left Napton on his left and got to Shuck-
burgh, where he was viewed. Here he turned his head
again southwards and leaving Priors Marston to the
right went close to Griffin's Gorse and pointed for
Boddington Hill. The scene of operations now became
Northamptonshire. He turned the line to the
left by Charwelton Hill and leaving Byfield on the
right went on over a magnificent country for Preston.
But even now he was not to be allowed to have a good
straight bit of running in peace, for he was again
headed at the Woodford Road, and turning back was
killed close to Byfield. The entire run was over some
of the best country of the two counties, and the
work, it goes without saying, was of the severest

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 113

nature. The first forty-five minutes especially was Mr. Barnard.

very fast and was without a check. The run lasted

three hours and ten minutes. The distance from point
to point was 28 miles, but as hounds run it could not
have been less than between 30 and 40 miles. Men
and horses were beaten to a standstill and the hunts-
man only got up at the last by borrowing a farmer's
horse. The run is allowed to have been one of the best
ever seen in Warwickshire.

At this time, report says, ** the Warwickshire" were Good sport.
enjoying some admirable runs and particularly some
severe things on the eastern boundaries. The night
was often far advanced before the hounds under Ned
Stevens returned to the kennels. It is a pity more
particulars of these doings have not been preserved,
that I might have given my readers the benefit of
them, although I should trust by this time they are all
in a position to imagine what the country was capable
of showing and the hounds were able to do.

In 1852 Mr. Robert John Barnard became ninth Lord LordWilloughby
Willoughby de Broke by the death of his uncle, the ^^ Broke.''
eighth baron, who left no more direct heir. Four years
later he resigned the mastership of the hounds. This
resignation, however, signified nothing further than
retirement from the active control of the field and the
establishment, as he still remained one of the strongest
supporters of the pack, as is seen by his handsome sub-
scription of £500. Fox-hunting in Warwickshire
owes him a great debt for what he did for the chase in
the county. During his term of mastership his men
were Tom Day, Harry Taylor, Ned Stevens, Dick
Morris, Ben Morgan, and Jack Jones. Perhaps the
greatest sport was obtained while Ned Stevens carried
the horn.

Lord Willoughby de Broke was never a hard rider
and was uncertain sometimes in his style of going and
his manner in the field. He, however, loved the chase
with all his heart. His best horse was a grey which

H

114

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Barnard .
1839-1856.

Meeting at Wel«
lesbourne.
1856.

Mr. H. Spencer
Lucy.

The sport

he bought from Mr. Gulliver. He was also a driver
and was very fond of the box. His turn-out at the
Four-in-Hand Drag Club was always in nice taste.

At a meeting held at Wellesbourne on January 23rd,
1856, a vote of thanks was passed to him for his long and
eflBcient services and his very liberal and handsome
intimation of future support. The chair was occupied
by Mr. Mark Phillips and there were also present : —
Messrs. Bolton King, H. Spencer Lucy, W. Finnie,
0. Pell, C. Earle, H. K. I. Peach, G. Holland, H. J.
Sheldon, H. Smith, Oapt. Dallas, and the Rev.
J. Lucy. The resolution of the North Warwickshire
Hunt requesting the loan of Debdale, Print Hill,
and Honington Coppice was read, and it was decided
with one dissentient, that it was inexpedient to assent
to it. It was unanimously resolved that a tender be
made to the North Warwickshire Hunt of the privi-
lege of drawing Red Hill, Widdicombe, Aston Grove,
and Oversley Wood as neutral coverts, with the con-
sent of their owners. Mr. Spencer Lucy was spoken
of the successor of Lord Willoughby de Broke.

In Mr. Spencer Lucy, who succeeded to the master-
ship when Lord Willoughby de Broke retired, the
hunt had at its head the representative of a family
which had been conspicuous in the county history since
very early days. He was the second son of Mr.
George Lucy, and succeeded to the Charlecote estate
on the death of his brother eight years previous to his
succession to the mastership of the hounds.

William Mawe carried the horn during Mr. Lucy's
term of office, and his whips were William Enever,
Alfred Munns, Richard Morris and Mark Jones. Mr.
Lucy's regime was, however, an exceptionally short
one as he only held the reins of office for
two years. During his time and the time
of his successor, Mr. Henley Greaves, the
sport was not remarkable, and, indeed, I am afraid
it cannot be classed as anything but poor. A country

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

115

Mr.

SPENCEE

Lucy.
1856-1858.

with the reputation which Warwickshire has borne
from its earliest days is not exempt from the vicissi-
tudes which all countries experience, and there comes
a period, either shorter or longer, to all, when a cloud
seems to hang over its sport-providing qualities.
Warwickshire's experience in this way, however, was
happily to be of brief duration, and there soon came a
revival of good times and sport in plenty. The sum
guaranteed to Mr. Lucy at the commencement of his
mastership was £1,290, He managed his establish-
ment well, and the announcement of his intention to
retire, which he made at a meeting at Wellesbourne in
March, 1858, was received with great regret, and a
vote of thanks was passed to him. An adjourned
meeting was held on the last day of the same month,
Viscount Villiers being in the chair, as he had been on
the former occasion. There were two or three names
mentioned as Mr. Lucy's successor, but after some dis-
cussion the offer of Mr. Henley Greaves, of Alveston,
was accepted, and a sura of £2,000 was guaranteed.

Mr. Greaves held ofl&ce until 1861. His huntsmen
were William Mawe, Dan Berkshire, George Wells,
and Will Derry ; his whips being Morris and Jones,
and James Maiden, William Ward, and William
Wheatley.

* The death of Wells in 1860 was very sad, as he was a George Wells,
capital man and possessed admirable qualities for the
post he was called upon to fill. He was thirty-six
years of age before he got possession of the horn, but
he fulfilled all that was expected of him and showed
some good sport in a country quite strange to him,
and under great disadvantage as regards scent, which
just at this time was poor. Before coming to War-
wickshire he had been at Wynnstay for eleven seasons
and for one season with Lord Southampton. He had
also at one time ridden second horse in the Oakley
country for two seasons. He was fond of his pro-
fession, but possessed a slender frame, which was a

Mr. Henley

Greaves.

116

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. Henley

Greaves.

1858-1861.

The boundary
road.

Jem Hills.

A run from Wol-
ford.

Crossing
road.

the

poor equipment for the wear and tear of a huntsman's
life. He was only ill ten days before hia death.

One piece of work of his is worth recording. The
high road through Banbury,Bloxham, Chipping Norton,
and Stow-on-the-Wold constituted the boundary be-
tween the Warwickshire and the Heythrop countries.
The horn of the Heythrop was carried at this time by
the celebrated Jem Hills. A rare old huntsman was
Jem, and I almost regret that he was not in service with
the pack on the other side of the road, that I might
have been at liberty to have written more con-
cerning him here. This said high road was the
subject of a long standing joke between Jem
and the hunt on the other side. It was a curious
thing that for very many seasons no Warwickshire fox
had been chased across the boundary, which Jem
facetiously oflfered to have turfed that the hunt might be
able to cross it. At last, however, on one auspicious
day, when Mr. 'Greaves was master and Wells carried
the horn, the meet was at Wolford Wood and a stout
fox went away, taking them in a line laid well for the
enemy's country. Cornwell and Sarsden were his
principal points, and he yielded his brush at Pudlicot
Quarries, close to Shorthampton. The debt had been
paid with a vengeance. The brush was presented, to
Jem as a memento of the long delayed visit of his
neighbours, and he promised to have it mounted with a
silver plate bearing the inscription " This is the brush
of the fox which it took the South Warwickshire five-
and-twenty years to kill." It is somewhat singular
that foxes so rarely take a line into the Oxfordshire
districts compared with the runs they make in either
an easterly or westerly direction. My readers will re-
member in the earlier days one or two long runs into
Oxfordshire, but they are few compared with the many
good things I have recorded either into Gloucestershire
and Worcestershire on the one side, or into North-
amptonshire on the other. That runs into Oxfordshire

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

117

Mr. Henley

Greaves.
1858-1861.

have not reached the extent that those into the other
counties have is not so much to be wondered at, as
running from the fine grass vales of Warwickshire
into the cold, high lands which lie to the south of it,
almost invariably checks the run and the scent is not
held long ; but one would have thought that, for that
very reason, foxes would of tener have made their points
into a district which held out such promises of safety.
However, it is all the better for the sport of "the
Warwickshire " that they have not done so, and if the
grand old foxes of the olden time did not find where
their vantage ground lay, I think we may rest assured
that their descendants in these — shall I say degenerate ?
— days are not likely to spoil the good long days, at
present, I am happy to say, frequent, by making the
discovery.

A little above I referred to Mr. Gulliver in connec- Mr. Gulliver.
tion with a grey horse purchased from him by Lord
Willoughby de Broke. He was a well known figure
in sporting circles at this time. He had a large breed-
ing stud at SwalcliflFe, in the Warwickshire country,
which village, it will be remembered, was the site of the
earliest known Warwickshire kennels. He also farmed
largely. He was well known over the country, and an
unlucky accident while shooting in his earlier days had
marked him by depriving him of one arm. One of his
best horses, was Big Ben, a thorough-bred stallion, a
beautiful dark brown horse, standing over sixteen
hands high. In 1860 he started thirteen times and
won six and divided one. The next year he started
twice and won both. He was bred by Mr. Saxon in
1858, by Ethelbert out of Phoebe by Touchstone, her
dam Netherton Maid by Sheet Anchor — by Tantivy —
Myrtilla by the Flyer. Two stallions, Neville and
Grimston, were also conspicuous members of Mr.
Gulliver's stock.

118 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XVI.

The constitution of the pack — Mr. Barnard's
ENTRIES — Tarquin— Mr. Barnard's use of
OTHER KENNELS— Saffron — Mr. Spencer Lucy —
Mr. Henley Greaves.

Mr. Barnard's The length of time during which Mr. Barnard held the

en nes. reins of oflBce makes him an important factor in the

history of the constitution of the pack. In the list of

1838. entries for 1838, which is given under his name, there
appears only two Warwickshire sires, Woodman and
Dexter. Woodman was entered in 1831, and was by
the Duke of Beaufort's Workman out of the Warwick-
shire Brevity ; Dexter was entered two years later and
was by the Belvoir Rummager out of the Warwickshire
Daffodil. The sires from other kennels were Lord
Seagrave's Draco, Lord Scarborough's Rasselas, Mr.
Hall's Roderic, Mr. Whyndam's Cardinal, the Duke
of Grafton's Cromwell and Harrogate, Sir John
Cope's Comus, and Mr. Drake's Sultan. The Duke of
Grafton's blood is introduced among the dams in hia
Harmony and his Rival, and also in Ruby, by the
Duke's Rustic — his Rapid, who had been bought by
Mr. Granville as a two-year-old in 1837.

1839. Woodman also appears in the list for 1839, being,
with Bluecap and Craftsman, the only representative
of the home kennels among the sires. Bluecap was
also entered in 1831. He possessed a strain of Mr.
Osbaldeston's, his sire being Bachelor, whom Mr.
Fellowes had got as a three-year-old and who was

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 119

by Mr. Osbaldeston's Chorister out of Blemish, who The Pack.
was by Lord Sondes' Bajazet out of his Rarity. Crafts- _L_

man was entered in 1834 and was by the Belvoir
Craftsman out of the Warwickshire Blossom. Other
packs resorted to were Lord Scarborough's, the Duke
of Grafton's, the Heythrop, and Mr. Smythe Owen's.

The kennels visited for the entries of 1840 were the i840.
Belvoir, Mr. Foljambe's, the Brocklesby, and the Duke
of Grafton's. In this entry we find a notable hound,
viz., Tarquin. He was by the Belvoir Champion out Tarquin
of Testy. Testy was entered in 1835 and was by
Hermit out of Termagant. Termagant was by Lord
Anson's Dragon — his Twilight, and was bought as a
five-year-old by Mr. Thornhill in 1833. Hermit was
entered in 1828 and was by Hannibal out of Vocal.
Vocal appears in Mr. Fellowes' original list as a two-
year-old, being by Mr. Osbaldeston's Valentine out of
Virulent, while Hannibal is in the same list as a four-
year-old, by Hannibal out of Darling. Tarquin was a
big coarse hound, with a rough coat of a rusty-yellow
or lemon pie. He was walked by Mr. William
Potter, of Farnborough. He first appears as a
sire in the home kennel in the list for 1844, when we
find Crafty by him out of Cruel, a bitch entered in
1838, being by Sir John Cope's Comus out of Daffodil ;
and a couple. Ransom and Rustic by him out
of Rally, who was also entered in 1838
and was by Mr. Hall's Roderic out of
Barbara. In the list for 1846, Tarquin appears as
sire to Blossom, out of Buxom, a bitch by Mr.
Drake's Bachelor out of Vengeance, and entered in
1844 ; and to Traveller out of Rakish, by Mr. Viile-
bois' Hannibal, out of Racket, and entered in the
same year. The list for 1847 contains three couples
of Tarquin's progeny :— Pyrrhu9 out of Prudence,
another bitch of the 1844 entry by Hermit — Pastime ;
and Pontiff, Pilot, Pansy, Pleasant, and Priestess,
out of Proserpine, who was by the Belvoir Clasper,

120

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack.
1838-1860.

Mr. Barnard's
use of other
kennels.

1842.

out of Pastime. Tarquin makes his disappearance
from the stud book after the list of ,1848, in which
he appears as sire to Brilliant out of Brazen, a bitch
entered in 1843 by Commodore out of Brazen ; and
to Termagant and Trimbush, out of Tragedy, another
bitch of 1844, by Mr. Villebois' Hannibal, out of Ter-
magant. Of this list of hounds claiming Tarquin as
sire, five gained places in the home stud book, Rustic
appearing in the list in 1847, Ransom in 1849,
Traveller in 1851, Termagant in 1852, and Priestess
in 1849 and 1S55. Salesman, who was entered in
the Vale of the White Horse Hounds in 1869, was
one of the many whose pedigree might be traced to
Tarquin. He was by the Heythrop Joker, out
of the Vale of White Horse Spinster, Joker, I believe,
came from Tarquin through Lord Fitzharding's
Rambler. Salesman was very like Tarquin. He had a
wiry growth, square head and plenty of jowl. Sales-
man had a peculiar habit of screaming, and when near
a fox his back would be up like a sweep's brush.

For the short list of ten and a half couples which re-
present the entries for 1841, Mr. Drake's, the Brock-
lesby, and the Duke of Grafton's were the kennels
resorted to for foreign blood. The next list, however,
(1842) is a longer, and is fair evidence of the faith Mr.
Barnard had in going away from home for breeding pur-
poses. It consists of seventeen couples but only two
Warwickshire sires appear, and to these only two
couples are to be attributed. The two are Commodore
and Harper. Commodore was entered in 1837, being
by Cryer — Matchless, and Harper in 1835, being by
Hymen by Midnight. Commodore appears in the
list as sire to Clamorous out of Welcome, a bitch by
Lord Scarborough's Carver out of Whimsey and
entered in 1836 ; and to Comus and Crier out
of Rarity, a bitch by Mr. Osbaldeston's Racer out
of Midnight and entered the same year. Harper is
sire to Tuneful out of Testy, a bitch of the 1836 entries

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 121

by Hermit out of Termagant. The kennels which pro- loqo^'t^on
vided the sires for the remainder of this long list were "

the Vine, Mr, A. Smith's, Sir J. Mills', the Cheshire,
the Berkeley, the Duke of Grafton's the Heythrop,
Mr. Foljambe's, the Duke of Beaufort's, and the
!foocklesby. Mr. A. Smith's kennel is very much
en evidence among the dams, while representatives
are also to be found in that column from the Duke of
Beaufort's and the Duke of Grafton's. In the next year's i843.
list (1843) Commodore and Harper again represent the
home kennel among the sires, in company with Jericho,
who was entered in 1839 and was by Mr. Smythe
Owen's Jericho — his Jezebel, and Singer, who was
bought by Mr. Barnard as a four-year-old in 1840,
being by Mr. Wickstead's Cannibal — his Singer. The
order of things seen in the last list is quite reversed in
this, as out of eleven couples eight couples are to be at-
tributed to these sires, Lord Southampton's and Lord
Fitzwilliam's being the only other kennels which appear
among the sires in this list. Among the dams two
bitches from the Duke of Buccleuch's kennel appear,
and* foreign blood is also found in Brazen, a bitch
bought by Mr. Barnard as a five-year-old in 1840, and
who was by Sir Tatton Sykea' Brusher — Mr. Foljambe's
Willing. In the list for 1844, which contains nineteen 2^344
and a half couples, we again find Mr. Barnard mani-
festing his belief in foreign blood, as fifteen and a half
couples claim hounds in other kennels as their sires.
The kennels resorted to were Mr. Drake's, the Duke of
Buccleuch's, the Belvoir, Mr. Smith's, Mr. Villebois',
the Berkeley, Lord Lonsdale's, the Duke of Grafton's,
the Vine, and Sir R. Sutton's. Foreign blood among
dams is found in bitches from the Duke of Grafton's
Mr. Drake's, Sir W. Maxwell's, the Vine, and the
Oakley, and in Priestess, who was by Lord Lonsdale's
Platoff— Sir Tatton Sykes' Playful, and was
bought as a brood bitch by Mr. Barnard in 1844. The
Warwickshire uires in this list are Tarquin and Singer,

122

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack.
1838-1860.

1845.

1846-9.

with both of whom I have already dealt ; Albert,
entered in 1841 by Mr. Drake's Artist — the Duke of
Grafton's Captious ; Harrogate, entered also in 1841,
by Mr. Drake's Bachelor and the Duke of Grafton's
Hostage ; Hermit, entered in 1838, by Lord Segrave's
Draco out of the Warwickshire Hopeful ; and Hotspur,
entered in 1840, by Halifax— Careless. Halifax was
entered in 1833 and was by Mr. Osbaldeston's Boaster
— the Warwickshire Harmless ; while Careless, entered
in 1838, was by Mr. Whyndam's Cardinal— the
Warwickshire Bridesmaid.

This list, therefore, shows how fully Mr. Barnard
believed in the extensive use of other kennels besides
his own. This is equally shown in the lists for his
succeeding years. In 1845, Commodore, Jericho, and
Albert again represent the home kennel among the
sires, with Marplot, who was entered in 1839, and was
by the Duke of Grafton's Mortimer out of Woeful ;
and Rector, who was by Mr. Foljambe's Richmond —
his Primrose, and who was bought by Mr. Barnard in
1840. Mr. Drake's and the Belvoir were the other
kennels used.

The lists for 1846 and three succeeding years were all
comparatively short ones. The kennels which appear
during this period are the Duke of Buccleuch's, the
Duke of Rutland's, the Vine, the Belvoir, the
Heythrop, the Quorn, Mr. Drake's, Lord Fitzwilliams',
Lord Redesdale's, the Oakley, Mr. Horlock's, Lord
Southampton's, Mr. F. Smith's and Sir W. W. Wynn.
Of these, those mostly used were Mr. Drake's and
Lord Fitzwilliam's. This was particularly so in 1848,
when five and a half couples out of eleven and a half
were to be attributed to these two kennels. The home
sires used during this period were Tarquin ; Albert ;
Paradox, entered in 1842, by the Duke of Grafton's
Paradox — his Parasol ; Whipster, entered in 1843, by
Harper — Woodbine ; Fatal, entered in 1844, by
the Belvoir Fatal — Warwickshire Virgin ; Trouncer,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

123

entered in 1844, by the Duke of Grafton's
Talisman — his Florence ; Rustic, entered also in 1844,
by Tarquin — Rally ; Regent, entered in 1840, by
Craftsman — Resolute, a bitch by the Duke of Grafton's
Harrogate — his Rival, and bought as a two-year-old by
Mr. Barnard in 1839 ; Benedict, entered in 1845, by
the Belvoir Fatal — the Warwickshire Bounty ;
Hannibal, entered in 1842, by the Berkeley Jasper—
the Warwickshire Harmless ; and Singer, entered in
1844, by the Singer mentioned above, out of Harlot.

The list of 1850 consisted of eighteen and a half 1850.
couples and we find Mr. Drake's, Earl Fitzharding's,
Mr. Foljambe's, Mr. A. Smith, Lord Southampton's,
the Bel voir, Sir W. W. Wynn's, the Brocklesby, and
Mr. Morrell's. The Warwickshire sires in this list are
Benedict, Singer, Whipster ; Grasper, entered in 1848,
by Mr. Drake's Grasper out of the Warwickshire
Clamorous ; and Monitor, entered in 1847, by Rustic —
Matchless. Mr. A. Smith's kennel is represented by
Saflfron who is sire to Sunbeam out of Mr. Morrell's
Gratitude. He was by the Belvoir Splendour — the
Duke of Grafton's Parasol. In the next year's list he
occupies a place of prominence as sire to a hound
named after him who became an important factor in
the history of the pack. The Saffron of 1851 was one Saffron
of a couple and a half by Mr. A. Smith's hound out of
the Warwickshire Tuneful. Tuneful was entered in
1846 and was by the Belvoir Trueman — the Warwick-
shire Rhapsody. Rhapsody was entered in 1842 and
was by the Vine Pilgrim— the Warwickshire Rally.
Rally was entered in 1838 and was by Mr. Hall's
Roderic — the Warwickshire Barbara. Barbara was
entered in 1834 and was by Benedict— Bashful.
Benedict, appeared as a two-year-old in Mr. Fellowes'
original list, being by the Duke of Beaufort's Rubens —
the Warwickshire Brilliant. Bashful appeared as a
one-year-old in the same list, being by the Duke of
Beaufort's Boxer — the Warwickshire Virulent. Saffron

The Pack.
1838-1860.

124

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

The Pack.
1838-1860.

Mr. Barnard's
final lists.

Mr. Lucy's
entries.

was an immense powerful hound of a rich tan and
very good looking. He was also very good in his
work, and used most extensively for breeding pur-
poses. He was walked by Mr. Harry Over, of Pittern
Hill. He was the sire of many hounds in the Duke of
Beaufort's, Sir W. W. Wynn's, the Badaworth, the
Albrighton, Col. Clowe's, Mr. Garth's, and other
kennels. He makes his first appearance in the list
of home sires in the list of entries for 1855, Mr.
Barnard's last list, where we find him as sire to
one and a half couples. He does not appear in the
list for 1856. In 1857 he appears as sire to a couple.
In 1858 the good opinion in which he was held is mani-
fested by his being sire to six couples out of the
fifteen and a half couples composing the list. In 1859
he is given as sire to four couples out of the short list
a dozen couples. In 1860 he makes his last appear-
ance in the list appearing as sire to two and a half
couples. The other hounds mentioned as being of the
same parentage as Safifron were Splendour and
Sprightly. Splendour does not appear in any subse-
quent Warwickshire entries, but Sprightly appears
among the dams in the list of entries for 1852, 1854,
and 1857.

For his list of 1852 Mr. Barnard used largely Lord
H. Bentinck's kennels, and in his subsequent lists this
kennel also appears as the one most largely used. Earl
Fitzharding's and Mr. Foljambe's were the others from
which he drew mostly during the last years of his
regime. In his last list (1855) Mr. Morrell's Aimwell
is a conspicuous sire.

During the two years Mr. Spencer Lucy held the
reins of Government he seems to have followed upon Mr.
Barnard's lines as regards using outside blood. In the
list tor 1856 Mr- Morrell's Aimwell is again conspicuous,
and sires from Mr. R. Sutton's and the Duke of Beau-
fort's appear to have been largely used, while solitary
sires are found from Lord H. BeHtinck's, the Belvoir,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

125

and the Brocklesby. The home sires are only three in
number. In 1857 Lord Fitzharding's, Mr. Greaves',
Mr. Morrell's, Mr. Foljambe's, and the Belvoir, with a
bitch from Mr. Whebly's, represent other kennels.

The first two of Mr. Henley Greaves' trio of lists re-
present a change of method, for the names of other
kennels are, with a couple of exceptions,' conspicuous
by their absence, and the master seems to have seen
instead what could be done with the hounds he had at
hand. The hounds principally used were Admiral,
entered in 1852, by Lord H. Bentinck's Admiral — his
Roundelay ; Denmark, entered in 1852, by Mr. Drake's
Rufus — his Diligent ; and Gimcrack, entered in 1854, by
the Belvoir Guider — the Warwickshire Telltale. In
his last (1860), however, he appears to have gone to
other kennels, and the names of the Duke of Beau-
fort's, Lord Fitzharding's, Lord|Macclesfield's, and Sir
W. W. Wynn's appear among the sires. Of the three
Warwickshire sires used two of them bear the blood of
Lord Fitzharding's, as Ajax, entered in 1853, was by
his Farmer — his Arrogant, and Royal, entered in 1855,
was by his Mussulman out of Rosy, who was by the
Brocklesby Rally wood — Lord H. Bentinck's Ruthless,
and was bought by Mr, R. Barnard as a four-year-old
in 1853.

Not a very brilliant chapter this, I am afraid, but in
it I have endeavoured to show of what material the pack
was composed during the period under view, and to
those to whose interest this does not appeal, I hold out a
promise of good things in my next, when I come to
the time when Mr. Barnard, as Lord Willoughby de
Broke, and the Hon. W. H. J. North take command
of the affairs of '* the Warwickshire."

The Pack.
1838-1860.

Mr. Greaves'
entries.

126

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

CHAPTER XVII.

LordWilloughby
de Broke and
theHon.W. H.
J. North.

Lord Willoughby de Broke and the Hon. W. H. J.
North— Tom Matthews— the pack— their first
season's work — death of Lord Willoughby de
Broke— some pickings from the sport of Mr.
North's seasons.

Mr. Greaves having taken the mastership of the Vale
of the White Horse Hounds, the Warwickshire country
became vacant on the 1st of April, 1861. At a meeting
held at Wellesbourne towards the end of February, the
matter of his successor was discussed and the
names of Lord Willoughby de Broke, Colonel J. S.
North, and Capt. H. K. I. Peach were mentioned as
likely men. Captain Peach lived at Idlicote House,
which had been the scene of the steeplechases on the
30th of the preceding month, on which day he had
liberally thrown his house open. Messrs. Spencer
Lucy, T. Wright, and Captain Peach were the stewards
of the event. He was a prominent follower of the
hounds at this period. He was not, however, to be-
come their master, and the rumour which emanated
from the meeting was only partially correct. A pre-
vious rumour which had gone abroad to the effect that
Lord Willoughby de Broke and the Hon. Mr. North
were going to act as joint masters proved to be correct,
and on the first day of April they took over the affairs
of the pack from Mr. Henley Greaves. Their accession
to the place of command was altogether a most aus-
picious one. Lord Willoughby de Broke had already

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

127

to be completed, and
they had a little field
was huntsman, Jack
Hicks second whip,
soon afterwards
the next season.

served a long and important term in the office, and in Lord

Mr. North he had a colleague, who was not only zea- Broke

lously devoted to the chase itself, but who also found a hon^w^ H^ j
delight in what is to manv the "dry bones "of the North.

subject — the details of kennel management. J_

There was just the tail of the season, 1860-61,
so up to the 18th of April
work to do. Tom Matthews
Mason first whip, and Joe Tom Matthews.
Joe Hicks however, was
replaced by Dick Hall. By
Lord Willoughby de Broke and
Mr. North had got settled in their mastership, and
it was very evident that the supporters of the hunt
had not misplaced their confidence in consigning the
reins of government to their care. A great improve-
ment was manifest, indeed it was said that at the
opening of the season, 1861-2, the hounds were in a
more efficient state than they had been for some
years. The efforts of their masters were ably seconded
by Matthews as huntsman. Matthews came to
•* the Warwickshire " in 1860. He was a native of
Shropshire, and inherited the sporting proclivities and
capabilities with which his family is accredited. He
served his tuition to the chase in his own county.
Sir E. Smythe, of Acton Burnell, being his first
master. He was afterwards in the employ of Mr.
Smythe Owen, Lord Hill, and Mr. T. C. Eyton. He
was with ** the Worcestershire," and " the Cottes-
more " for a time, and then went to Ireland.
After some ten or twelve seasons in the
Emerald Isle, he recroased St. George's
Channel and entered the service of "the Warwick-
shire " under Mr. Henley Greaves. Both in the kennels
and in the field he was an excellent man. He rode
steadily and never exhibited undue excitement or
haste. He soon began to get the hounds to have a

DE

128

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY D

Broke

AND THE

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1861-1862.

Improvements
and good sport.

A good nin from
Weston.

better understanding about their work, and about one
one point in particular he exhibited a lot of patient
perseverance. The hounds had got accustomed a little
too much to the '*hark halloo" kind of running and
often had their heads up when they should have been
down. Matthews soon commenced to work an altera-
tion, and to make them understand that they would
do better to keep their noses to the ground and look
about less. The pack quickly appreciated his require-
ments and an improvement in their actions was soon
manifested.

The consequence of these improvements was that the
sport of the season, 1861-2, was admirable, and that
notwithstanding the variable character of the season.
I shall just note one or two runs which may be said
to represent the doings of the season.

On November 14th, the meet was at Shuckburgh,
but scent in the morning was very bad. A slow hunt-
ing run was had from the well-known hill lasting for
an hour and fifty minutes and ending in a kill. Three
were then found in Ladbroke Gorse, and on an im-
proved scent the hounds ran for three quarters of an
hour, the fox going to ground in the new cover at
Burton Dassett.

A meet at Weston Park, on the 17th of December,
was the originating point of quite one of the old sort of
runs. Weston Park provided a fox, but he was lost near
Cherrington. A brace, however, was found in Which-
ford Wood, and the bitches got away at a very fast
pace by Rollright Coombs and Wark Gorse, over the
boundary into the Heythrop country, and passed
Heythrop Park. Then through " the Ovens ".with a
turn to the right to Sarsgrove, where a short turn was
made by the Lodge towards Dean. From here he went
towards the Evenlode River, giving his followers the
idea that he was ofif to the Forest, but he made another
turn, this time for Chadlingtou and was fairly killed

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

129

in the open near the cross roads after two hours'
work, the distance from point to point being some
thirteen or fourteen miles.

On January 10th, 1862, a fair day's sport was en-
joyed from a meet at a spot which in past years had
given some days scarcely to be equalled, viz., Farn-
borough. Mollington Wood was successfully drawn and
a sharp twenty minutes was run by the Warmington
and Shotteswell turns, and back over the vale, passing
close to Angel's Piece, the fox being lost on the other
side of the Banbury Road. Another find, however,
took place in Angel's Piece, and a ring was made
by Mollington Hill and on to Cropredy, and then
back to ground near Mollington Village. A third find
took place in the Old Brake, the fox taking them away
over the railway by Fenny Compton Wharf to
Wormleighton, leaving Claydon on the right,
and on to Appletree, over the brook, point-
ing for Aston-le-Walls, which was left on the
right, and passing Byfield Reservoir and the back of
Lower Boddington, he took them through the clergy-
man's garden at Upper Boddington and on to Bodding-
ton Hill, skirting the cover. Here he ran very short,
dodging up and down the spinnies and was run into
just outside the cover, after a run of one hour and
twenty-five minutes.

A good two hours and twenty minutes was enjoyed
from Chesterton Wood on the 14th of February. The
meet was at Ladbroke, but the sport was not to
begin without hindrance. A fox was unfortunately
chopped in the Gorse, and Watergall, Itchington Holt,
Harbury Heath, and Whitnash all proving blank, the
hounds had a good bit of travelling to do before they
could begin the work of the day. At Chesterton Wood,
however, a brace was found, but there was then a long
delay before one was got away. After being headed, he
faced the open and got away clear by Lighthorne Vil-
lage, passing through the Roughs and on by Bishop's

I

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY DE

Broke

AND THE

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1861-1862.

A fair day fr( m
Farnborou'fh.

good time from

Chestirton

Wood.

130

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY D

Brokb

AND THE

Hox. W. H. J.

North.
1861-1862.

A run from
Whichford
Wood.

Death of Lord
Willoughby de
Broke.

Gorse and Chadshunt to Kineton Holt. Here a brace
of foxes were before the hounds and it was thought
a change was eflfected. They ran on up Edgehill by
the Sun Rising and were stopped in the dark near
Shennington, after having run the time mentioned at the
commencement of the paragraph. Had hounds been able
to have run on, there is no doubt but what I should have
had a considerable run to have chronicled.

On Friday, March 28th, Whichford Wood was the
meet and a fox was found at once, and after a couple
of rings, got away by Long Compton, passing between
Little Rollright and the Stones to Little Compton,
skirting Barton Grove and going on for Wolford Wood.
He turned, however, to Chastleton Grove and went on
Adlestrop Hill. Here they met "the Heythrop "
and the two packs joined together and killed the fox,
after one hour and twenty-five minutes, the pace
having been very good. A second find took place in
Weston Heath, He ran fast through Whichford
Wood, up the ridge of hills, past Hook Norton Hill
Gorse, and on to Swalcliflfe. Near to Mr. Gulliver's
house a sheep dog coursed him and he was lost,
after a very fast spin of one hour and forty minutes.
The fox was found dead in a field the next day by
Mr. Gulliver, not far from Wigginton Heath. The
last meet of the season was on the 22nd of April,
1862, the season's work having consisted ot 101 days,
with 40i brace to hand.

In the month of June, 1862, the sad event of Lord
Willoughby de Broke's death left the Hon. Mr.
North alone at'the head of the hunt. His death was
quite sudden, as he was at the meet of the Four-in-
Hand Club at Hyde Park, on Saturday, the last day
of May, and died on the following Thursday. In
previous chapters I have referred to the important
part he played in the history of " the War-
wickshire," but in chronicling the sad event which

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

131

out 80 short his second term of mastership, I would
reiterate that he was as greatly esteemed as he was
widely known, and that his mastership 'was one of the
most successful as it was one of the lengthiest in the
history of the pack.

Before the commencement of the season 1862-3,
Mason was succeeded in the office of first whipper-in
by Robert Worrall, who was Kineton bred.
The 110 days which composed the season's work
showed curiously enough 40| brace, exactly the same as
the preceding season. The season does not seem to have
been marked by any run of the " tremendous "' order,
although it contained some very good hunting. It
jommenced on November 3rd at Walton House. On
the 11th of the same month the hounds went to Weston
House. Whichford Wood, in which " the Heythrop "
had spent three hours the day before, held a brace.
The hounds got quickly away to Rollright Coombs,
where another fox got up and both were eventually
lost. Barton Grove and Weston Heath were blank,
but a find was effected in the spinney by the lodge at
Wolford Wood. They got away at a very fast pace
through Aston Hales, over the railway by Rook's
Coppice, and on to Bourton Wood. Through this
they went, and, with a turn to the right and leaving
Blockley on the right hand, ran him to ground close to
Northwick Park after a good three quarters of an hour.
Another very fair three quarters of an hour from the
same locality was enjoyed on the 9th of December.
The meet was at Brailes. They ran a brace to ground
on the Hill after the usual ringing about, and then
drew Greenhill blank. A fox, however, was found in
Whichford Wood, and got away with a wretched
scent, running a ring by Rollright Coombs, back
through the Wood to Weston, and back to the Wood.
Suddenly the scent changed, and they raced him by
Rollright and Hook Norton, and killed him in the open
close to Nill Gorse.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1862-866.

Some sport in the
Weston district.

132

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. Ji

North.
1862-1866.

A gcood day from
Goldicote,

A nice run from
the Burton
Hills.

A fair day from
Kineton,

More sport from
Weston.

Perhaps one of the best things of the season, after some
preliminary hindrances, was the day from Goldicote on
December 29th. Wellesbourne Wood, Alveston Pas-
tures, and part of Walton were drawn blank, but a find
was made in Bowshot, which, however, came to nothing;.
A fox turned out of Lighthorne Roughs, however, got
away to Chesterton Wood, where they undoubtedly
changed. He ran by Chesterton Windmill to Harbury,
thence through Itchington Holt, on through Gaydon
Spinnies, and over the flat to Burton Dassett, and
passing Fenny Compton ran to ground at Farnborough,
the time having been two hours and twenty minutes.
A nice hunting run, however, was that enjoyed from
the Burton Hills on March 6th. A fox was found at
once on the Hills, and ran with a middling scent by
Harbury, over the railway, to Ufton Wood, and pass-
ing through it, was killed just on the outside.

The season of 1863-4 opened at Walton on the 2nd
of November. Fred Smith and George Hayger had
replaced Bob Worrall and E,. Hall as whippers-in.
On the lOfch of December a very fair day indeed was
enjoyed from Kineton. They found in the Holt, and
ran very fast to Knoll End. Here there was a check
for a moment, and they then went away very fast by
Hornton to White's Bushes, where a long check
ensued. They then hunted him slowly to ground near
the road between Hanwell and Bourton. The run to
White's Bushes was a good fifty minutes.

An excellent day commenced from a meet at Weston
House on December 22nd. Whichford Wood, the
Cow Pastures, and Coomb's, were blank, but they found
in Long Compton Wood and ran a ring into Whichford
Wood, where they changed foxes and got away fast
through the Coombs and along the Hill by the Rollright
Stones to Bourton Grove. Going through it he pointed
for Wolford Wood, but turned for Chastleton, and pas-
sing the Grove went by Broadwell and crossed the
Eveulode at Cawthorn, and so on to Addington Ashes.

run from Wal-
ton VVood.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 133

They then recrossed the Evenlode, and crossing Adle- Hex. w. H. J.
strop Hill past Chastleton Camp, ran back over the 1862-1866.

Vale to Wolford Wood and cut him. It was a capital

hunting run, parts of it being very fast.

On December 26th a good line was made from a meet AWroxtonmeet.
at Wroxton Abbey. They drew blank up to Garrett's
Bushes where a brace was found. They got away
very fast by Wigginton Heath and went as if for
Swalcliflfe. They then turned for Hook Norton, and
passing Hook Norton Lodge, lost him close to Which-
ford Wood, after a fast fifty-five minutes.

February 17th, 1864, saw an admirable hunting run. An admirable
The meet was Wellesbourne, and a fox was found in
Walton Wood, but with this nothing was done. They
found again in Frizhill and ran through Moreton Wood,
back to Bowshot, where the hounds divided. One lot
slipped the whipper-in and were not stopped till they
got to Bricknell. The body were stopped after going
through Moreton Wood. The others having come up,
they drew Fletcher's coppice and had a capital hunting
run with an improving scent by Poolfields, Chadshunt,
and Kineton Holt, to Edgehill, along the top and
through ArlescoteWood, and over the flat to ground at
Burton Dassett.

On March 31st the meet was at Lower Shuckburgh, ^ ^i,,y ^^q^,
Matthews being ill Mr. North made his first attempt Shuckburgh.
at hunting hounds in the open, and seems to have
made a successful effort. They found three in the
Gorse and ran away for the hill and on by Grand-
borough, Wolscot and Willoughby and the old Gorse,
then over the brook, and leaving Wolfhampton and
Braunston to the right, checked almost exactly at the
same spot where they had done on many previous
occasions. The master, however, hit off the line at a
bridge, and they ran on pointing for Ashby St. Leger's
and killed him at Bragborough. The season closed on
the 29th of April, the hounds having killed 33 brace
in 123 days.

134

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOtJNDS.

Hon. vv. H J.

North
1862-1866.

Bad scent.

A good run from
VVroxton.

A day from
Shuckburgh.

Fifty minutes
from Chester-
ton.

The season 1864-5 opened on November 7th at
Walton. J. Sullivan had replaced Hayger as second
whip, otherwise the stafif remained the same The
scent throughout this season was very bad, except for a
period lasting from December 5th to the 20th and on
some rare occasions afterwards.

On Friday, November 4th, the meet was at Wroxton
and the master again hunted the hounds. A find in
Lord's Spinney gave them a good thirty-five minutes
to Cropredy, where they lost, but more work was
done with one afterwards found at Withycombe. He
went away through the Park, past Drayton, leaving the
Barleymow close on the right, and on close by Hanwell.
Then on and over the brook and across the turnpike
road by flardwick, down to the railway, across which
and the canal he went. He had now entered the
Bicester country. Passing Williamscote he gave them
a check for a few minutes, but they hit the line again
at the other side of the lane, and going on passed the
far end of Chipping Warden and turned into Edgcote
Park, running him to ground in the main earths on the
hill after a run of one hour and forty-five minutes.

On December 5th, the first fair scenting day they
had had that season, the hounds met at Ilmington and
had a succession of short runs. On the 8th of the
month the meet was Lower Shuckburgh. They found
several in Caldecote Spinney and got away with one up
to the hill. They then turned sharp back and went
away for Flecknoe and over the brook, leaving
Braunston to the left, by Staverton Wood, and on to
Badby village. Here there was a longish check, but
they finally went away through Badby Wood and
Fawsley Park and eventually marked him to ground
in a drain in a farm yard between Fawsley House and
Badby Wood.

On December 15th, the meet was Chadshunt and a
fiud was effected, but the field rode the hounds off the
Hue. Another find, however, took place in Chesterton

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

135

All extensive run
from Charle-
00 c.

Wood and they got away very fast to Itchington Holt. Hon. W. H. J.
Here they dwelt for a few minutes, and afterwards ran 1862-1866.
as hard as they could go to Burton Dassett where he
went to ground in Knott's Spinney after a good run of
fifty minutes.

On December 20th the meet was at Wolford Wood A unique field,
and the field reached the astonishing number of tivo.
This extraordinary turn out at a Warwickshire meet
was accounted for by the fact that the ground was
covered with snow, but Sir Charles Mordaunt and Mr.
Miller, who did not allow their comfort to lessen their
ardour for the chase, were rewarded with a good hunt-
ing run of one hour and twenty minutes, which
extended first of all towards Adlestrop. then back to
the Wood, out again through Aston Hales, and passing
Ditchford, to ground in Paxton Blakemore.

On January 16th, 1865, an extensive run was
obtained from Charlecote Park. Three were found
in the Gorse and the hounds ran off very fast by
Sherbourne, through Grove Park and on to the canal.
Up to here the time was thirty-five minutes. They
then hunted him slowly by Kenilworth and lost him
in Woodcote Park.

,0n Tuesday, January 17th, after a couple of short
hunting runs in and out of Wolford Wood they found
an afternoon fox at Weston and ran up to Barton,
they then turned back through Wolford Wood, then
by Adlestrop and on by Chastleton Grove, where
it was thought they changed, and afterwards to
ground near Long Compton. On the 7th of the fol-
lowing month a very fair day was enjoyed over almost
exactly the same ground. They found in Whichford
Wood and ran back through Weston Park, over the
road, then to the right along the brook to Whichford
village, through the Wood to Barton Grove and
to ground at Adlestrop. During this season the
hounds hunted six days a week. The season's work

More sport in the
Weston district.

136 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. w. h. J. showed a list of 121 days and 31 brace of foxes

1862-1866. handled.

I have given here what I think is a fair sample of

the sport •' the Warwickshire " enjoyed at this time.
In my next chapter I have to deal with the important
work the Hon. Mr. North did in the matter of
breeding and the constitution of the pack, and I also
have to chronicle some of the doings of his private
pack.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 137

CHAPTER XYIII.

The Hon. Mr. North's entries— some Warwick-
shire SIRES— THE Saffron blood— a noteworthy
bitch — Peterborough prize-winners descended
FROM Careless— the pick of the pack— some
sport in the Alcester district— a Warwick-
shire DAY at LiGHTHORNE— removal OF THE HON.

Mr. [North to the Bicester country.

In my last chapter I touched in passing upon the
important work which was effected in the kennels dur-
ing Mr. North's presidency, and I propose to indicate
the principal features of the constitution of the pack
and the entries during that period. We remember that
in Lord Willoughby de Broke's earlier lists, other
kennels appeared in comparatively large numbers. In
the list for 1861, over which his lordship appears in i ggi
conjunction with Mr. North, the same characteristic is
observable. Of the fifteen and a half couples com-
posing it, seven and a half claim sires in the Belvoir
Kennel. A couple have sires in Sir W. W. Wynn's
pack, and the parentage of one hound is obtained in the
Duke of Beaufort's. The Warwickshire sires which
appear areGimcrack, Champion, Stormer, and Welling-
ton. Gimcrack was entered in 1854 and was by the
Belvoir Guider — Telltale ; Champion was entered in
1857 and was by Lord Fitzharding's Challenger —
Tidings ; Stormer was entered in 1858 and was by the
famous Saffron — Waspish ; while Wellington, also
entered in 1858, was by Watchman (Lord H. Bentinck's

138

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1862-1866.

Mr. North'
entries.

1862.

Woldsman — his Eachel, and bought by Mr. Barnard as
a three-year-old in 1853) out of Songstress. The dams
in this list are, with one exception, of the home
kennel. The exception is the Duke of Beaufort's Fear-
less, which appears as dam to Hymen by the Duke's
Harlequin. The Saffron blood is found among the
dams in Songstress and Singwell, entered in 1858, by
him— Waspish ; Winifred, entered in 1857, by him—
Woodbine ; and Spinster, entered in 1855, by him —
Sanguine.

After the first list the name of the Hon. W. H. J,
North appears alone at the head of the lists. Of the
sad event which was the cause of this my readers are
cognisant. Mr. North threw himself most heartily
into this part of the business of mastership, ably
assisted by Matthews, who was well up in breeding
matters. Pedigrees were dived into, and no efforts
spared to improve the constitution of the pack. His
efforts were not fruitless and a marked improvement
took place.

In his list of entries for 1862 the most conspicuous
sire is Champion, who also figured in the previous year's
list, as appears above. Wellington and Stormeralso re-
appear. The other home sires are the Saffron of 1859
by old Saffron — Ruthful, and Forester, also of 1859, by
Denmark — Fearless. Other kennels represented in the
list of sires are Lord Southampton's, the Duke of Beau-
fort's and "the Cheshire." Foursiresappear from Lord
Southampton's, viz., Comus, Dorimont, Sportsman,
and Seaman. In three of them we get the Belvoir
blood, already extensively introduced into the War-
wickshire kennels, as Comus was by the Belvoir Comus
— Lord Southampton's Careful ; Dorimont by the Bel-
voir Chaur — Lord Southampton's Destiny ; and Seaman
by the Belvoir Guider — Lord Southampton's Stately.
Lord Southampton's Sportsman was by his Sultan — his
Sophie. The Duke of Beaufort's sires were FoiJer,

THE WARM^CK SHIRE HOUNDS.

139

entered in 1858, by his Falstcitf— his Teiltaie ; Contest,
entered in 1857, by Lord H. Bentinck's Contest — the
Duke's Mischief ; and Archer, entered in 1858, by his
Abercorn — his Pensive. Three couple of hounds are
attributable to Lord Southampton's, two couple to *' the
Duke's," and two couple to ** the Cheshire " who are only
only represented by one hound, Rockwood, by the
Brocklesby Kockwood^-the Cheshire Costly. The dams
are all of the home kennel. The Saffron blood is found
among them in Sportly, who, entered in 1859, claimed
Saffron as her sire out of Ruthful.

Champion appears in the list of entries for 1863, 1863.
being sire to two and a half couple. Forester also
appears, being sire to one couple and a half. Saffron II.
and Wellington are also met with, the former with one
couple and the other with a single hound. The only
fresh stud sire is, therefore. Bouncer, who was entered in
1860 and was by the Duke of Beaufort's Banker —
Rapture. He is sire to a couple and a half. Lord fl.
Bentinck's Stormer, Mr. J. Baker's Chieftain, Sir
W. W. Wynn's Nelson, the Duke of Beaufort's Harle-
quin, Lord Portsmouth's Lancaster, and Lord Fitz-
harding's Ottoman are the sires from other kennels.
Mr. J. Baker's Dewdrop, and Sir W. W. Wynn's
Mistletoe are the only dams from other kennels. The
Saffron blood comes in among the dams in Songstress
and Singwell, before referred to.

In the list of entries for 1864 Wellington and Lexicon, i864
of the home kennels, are the principal eires, as to the
former of these four couples and to the latter three
couples are to be attributed out of a total of fourteen
couples. Their entries, therefore, consitute half of the
complete list. With the parentage rf Wellington I
have already dealt. Lexicon was entered in 1861, and
was by the Belvior Lexicon out of Warwickshire
Winifred. From Winifred he got the Saffron blood,
as she was entered in 1857 by Saffron out of Wood-
bine. The Saffron blood also appears in Saffron II.,

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1862-1866.

140

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1802-1866.

1865.

who is sire to a couple and a half, and among the
dams in Songstress, entered in 1858, by SafiFron out of
Waspish ; Racket, entered in 1861, by Stormer out
Rakish, Stormer being entered in 1858, by Saffron
out of Waspish ; Lapwing, who, entered in 1862, also
gets the Saffron blood through Stormer, being by
that hound out of Lapwing ; and Lofty, entered in
1861, by the Belvoir Lexicon — Winifred, Winifred
being entered in 1857, and was by Saffron out of
Woodbine. To these four dams, six couples of the
list are attributed. There is only one other War-
wickshire sire in the list ; this is Rally wood, and as
he was by Stormer out of Rakish, the Saffron blood
finds another introduction here similar to that which
it does in the case of Racket. Only one hound,
however, is attributable to Rallywood. This ia
Harper, who is by Rallywood out of the Warwick-
shire Harriet. Other kennels appear to have been
used by Mr. North for his entries of 1864 to only a
minor degree, as the Brocklesby Blucher, with a
couple and a half, Lord Portsmouth's Lancaster, with
three couple, and the Holderness Napier, with one
hound out of the same hunt's Rosy, are the only
occurrences of names of other packs. The Holderness
bitch just mentioned is the only dam of that year
from other packs. The short list of nine and a half
couples, which comprise the entries for 1865, contains
a sire whose pedigree goes back to the hounds
taken by Lord Middleton when he gave up
the Warwickshire country. This is Orpheus, who was
entered by Lord Middleton in 1858, and was by Lord
Fitzwilliam's Ottoman out of Lord Middleton's
Tragedy. Two and a half couple are to be attributed
to him, Mr. Drake's Furrier, Mr. Meynell
Ingram's Trojan, and Mr. North's Magnet and Singer
are the representatives of other kennels, the solitary
Warwickshire sire in the list being Banker, who has
three acd a half couples attributed to him out of

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

141

Singwell. Banker was entered in 1860 and was by the
Duke of Beaufort's Banker — Rapture. In Singwell we
find the Saffron blood, as we do also among the dams in
Lapwing as already explained, and in Bonnybell, who
was entered in 1862 by Lord Southampton's Dorimont
out of Bluebell. Bluebell was entered in 1859 and was
by Bashful out of Saffron.

There can be scarcely any better testimony of the
excellence of the blood which had been introduced
into the pack than that which is given by the par-
ticulars I am about to record. In 1864 Mr. North
bought a bitch from Mr. Hall, of the Holderness,
called Rapid, by the Holderness Napier out of their
Rosy. Napier was by the Belvoir Notary out of
the Holderness Cowslip, and Rosy was by Lord Henry
Bentinck's Roderick out of the Holderness Careless.
In 1867 Mr. Lucy put forward a bitch called Careless
by Mr. North's Castor (which he had bought from the
Belvoir as a stud hound by the Belvoir Comus out
of their Rosy) out of Rapid. This bitch was the
dam of Clasher, by Nestor, by Nimrod, a hound
bought by Lord Willoughby de Broke and the
Hon. Mr. North in 1862 at Mr. Baker's sale of ''the
North Warwickshire," but not of his black and
tan blood. From this bitch Careless are descended no
less than fourteen prize-winners at Peterborough. They
are as follows :— 1888, Safety (1884) by the Bramham
Smoker— Rival*; 1887-9, Coxcomb (1885) by Furley
—Choral*; 1889, Stentor (1885) by the Bramham
Sailor— Frailty*; 1887, Pedlar and Petulant (1886),
by Proctor*— Abbess, and Playful (1886) by Proctor*
out of Ada; 1887, Trueman and Trusty (1887) by the
Brocklesby Tapster — Roundelay* ; 1889, Huntress
(1888) by Harper— Frailty* ; 1889-90, Student (1888)
by Stentor*— Flora ; 1889, Harpy (1889) by Harper-
Rosary* ; 1889-90, Hermit and 1890 Heiress (both
1889) by Harper— Ruthless * ; and 1889 Sympathy

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
3862-1866.

Careless.

Peterborough
prize-winners
descended
from Careless.

142 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. w. H. J. (1889) by Steator*— Famous. The dates in

North \ / j

1862-1866. parentheses are the years of entry. The hounds to
which asterisks are attached are those through whom
the descent from Careless can be traced. The hounds,

The pick of the which may have said to have been the pick of the pack
P*^'^ during Mr. North's time were Saffron (1859), by the

old Saffron— Ruthful; Talisman (1862), by the Duke
of Beaufort's Archer — Tempest ; Lavender and Lap-
wing (1862), by Stormer— Lapwing ; Bedford (1862),
by Lord Southampton's Comus — Beatrice ; Ferryman
(1863), by Forester— Tempest ; Banker (1860), by the
Duke of Beaufort's Banker — Rapture ; Orator (1863),
by Lord Fitzharding's Ottoman — Rakish ; Gamester
(1861), by the Belvoir Gamester — Bonny Lass ; Rally-
wood (1861), by Stormer— Rakish j Nelson (1863), by
Sir W. Wynn's Nelson — Careless ; Brusher
(1862), by Saffron II. — Brilliant ; Magnet (1862),
by Wellington— Mindful ; Ajax (1862) by the Duke of
Beaufort's Foiler— Artful ; Remnant (1861) by Sir W.
Wynn's Royal — Comfort ; and Harriet, Heedless and
Hasty (1860) by Lord Fitzharding's Hotspur — Hopeful.
The following were prize-winners at Birmingham : —
Talisman, Lavender, Lapwing, Termagant, Saffron II.,
Lightning, Bedford, Ferryman, Banker, and Orator.

Oil Painting of An admirable oil painting was executed in 1864
showing the Hon. Mr. and Mrs. North and the hounds
and hunting staff in front of Wroxton Abbey,
on the steps of which appear the late Baroness
North and the Right Hon. Col. J. S. North. The
picture has found a place on the walls of the
Abbey, whose noble proprietor, still a regular
attendant at the meets of the pack, and one of
their most ardent followers, can, on the canvass of
the picture, be brought face to face again with the
" Warwickshire beauties," who not only sustained
but added to the reputation of the pack, at the time he
rode as master. The Hon. Mr. North is seen mounted
on Queen Mab and the Hon . Mrs. North, scarcely less

the hounds.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

143

ardentlv attached to the pack than her husband, is Ho.v.w. H. J.

*' North

depicted as riding Sb. George. Matthews is on Peter 1862-1866.

Grey, and F. Smith and W. Hemming, the whips, on
White Leg and Chief Justice. The hounds, which
occupy conspicuous places in the painting, are Ter-
magant, Saffron II,, Remnant, Ajax, Gamester, Mag-
net, Lavender, Lightning, Brasher, Bedford, Orator,
Nelson, Promise, Rallywood, and Singer. Gamester
was good in dry weather and was a wonderful leader
over dry fallows. Bally wood was good at finding. In
writing of the Saffron of 1859 I have called him Saffron The Saffrons.
II. He does not appear as such in the stud book, and
there are other names I know which I have used in
connection with two or more hounds and have not so
distinguished between them ; but in the case of such im-
portant hounds as the Saffrons, I thought it desirable to
put some distinctive mark in every case and pre-
ferred that adopted to repeating their years of entry.
The old Saffron was still in the kennels in Mr.
North's time, although of course not as a
working hound. He still, however, retained
good scenting powers and would often go out with the
pack. It was interesting and amusing to see how, on
a poor day, perhaps, when there did not seem much
to be done. Saffron would leave the others and make
for home alone.

In 1862, Mr. North formed a pack out of drafts Mr. North's
from ** the Warwickshire," ** the Belvoir," " the Hoi- private pack
derness," Sir W. W. Wynn's, and other packs, with
which he hunted that part of the Warwickshire coun-
try on the other side of the Avon, round Alcester,
three day's a week, the master of "the North Warwick-
shire " and "the Worcestershire" kindly giving him
parts of their countries, and he continued to hunt that
country about once in three weeks with the Warwick-
shire hounds. Finding the distance from Kineton too
great for the hounds to travel be made a kennel at Alcester

144

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1832-866.

A. meet at Cough-
ton Court.

and removed his own hounds there with a part of the
stud of hunters in 1865, taking Tom Matthews as kennel
huntsman and Fred Smith and W. Hemming as
whippers-in. Among his meeting places were Billesley
Hall, Coombe's Hill, Harvington Cross, Bidford
Bridge, Studley, Cooke Hill, Irons Cross, Binton,
Crab's Cross, Goomb's Hill, Oversley, Welford, Cough-
ton Court, Ragley Park, &c. The days in the
Alcester district were Monday, Wednesday, and
Saturday in each week, " the Warwickshire " proper
hunting the usual Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and
Friday, so that altogether there were seven hunting
days a week, as both packs were out on Mondays.
By arrangement with the master of ** the North War-
wickshire " Mr. North gave up his right bo
Austy Wood in September, in exchange for
Spernal Park, at first only during cub hunting
but afterwards for the whole season, Mr. North
retaining his right to Austy Wood in Novem-
ber, January, and March. By arrangement with the
Master of "the Worcestershire," the Lench Woods
were made neutral. Both their arrangements, how-
ever, were only in force during theii respective master-
ships and by yearly letters. Zac Boxall was engaged
as huntsman for "the Warwickshire" upon the re-
moval of Matthews to Alcester, but he never took the
field on account of an accident, and James Wilson,
from Durham County, replaced him, with Jack
Woodley, formerly of the East Dorset and Joe Morgan
from Lord Middleton, as first and second whip.

A good many excellent days were enjoyed in this
district, and great credit was due to Mr. North for
the excellent manner in which he hunted it. Of
course the greater part of the work was in the woods,
bat before leaving Mr. North's period I can
give an account of one or two days in the open. On
Saturday December 10th, 1864 the meet was at
Coughton Court. They found in the park and ran for

THE WARVriCKSHTRE HOUNDS.

145

nearly an hour in covert. They got away at last over Hon. VV. H. J

Dane's Bmk and pointed for Coughton Court, but |1862-1866.

turned away for ^Studley and on for Rough Hill,

where they possibly changed foxes. They then worked

him through New Coppice, and ran on through

Astwood Bank and turned back into New Coppice,

but did not dwell a moment. They crossed the

Redditch Road to Hunt End and on to the old Hare

Mill and Callow Hill and Norgrave House to Webb

Heath, leaving Foxlydiate House on the left. They

crossed Holyoak farm and on to Hewell Park, over the

river and out of the Park for a field or two, and then

he doubled back and they ran him in view for a field,

and killed him in the open at the corner of the Park.

There was only one check and the hounds were never

oast. The time from New Coppice was one hour and

twenty minutes. During this season (1864-5) the

private pack had hunted the Alcester district on the

Wednesdays and Saturdays. On April 21st, 1865, the

hounds moved into the kennels at Alcester.

On the 9th of December, 1865, they met at the
kennels, Alcester. After a fair morning they found
an afternoon fox in Coughton Park and] got away
through Billingborough and turned back by Hanging
Well and on by Sambourne toj New Coppice, through
Rough Hill to Old Park and on to Ipsley, then they
pointed for Hewell but turned back by Skilts Wood,
through Rough Hill again by Sambourne to Astwell
Bank, where he got amongst the out-houses and was
lost. He was heard of next morning, when he nearly
frightened an old woman to death.

On Wednesday, December 13th, Studley was the A couple of days
fixture. They found in Spernal Park.and ran out at the *^°™ " ^^'
top, over the Skilts, and by Umberslade, Tunworth
and Hockley, It was a very long and severe day, and
unfortunately they did not kill him. The 30th of the
same month saw the hounds again at Studley.

The private pack
at Alcester.

146

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
18(^2-1866.

Some fast work
from Alne
Wood.

At Iioas Cross.

At Coughton
Court.

They found at once in Studley Osiers and ran
like mad past Spernal Park, Alne Wood,
and Wooton and then turned for Great Alne and
killed him in the mill dam at Grey's Mill. The
time was forty-five minutes without a check, and it
was one of the fastest runs ever seen. On the 27th
of January, 1866, they met at Aston!;[Cantlow, and
some more very fast work was done with an afternoon
fox from Alne Wood, through Spernal Park, Studley
Osiers, over the road, right down the centre ride of
Coughton Park to Sambourne. There was a momen-
tary check there, but they again went on at a fearful
pace and killed him in the road at the bottom of
Rough Hill. From Sambourne to Rough Hill the
hounds ran* clean away from their followers, who were
only up in time to save the head. It was the opinion
of the master that it was the best forty-five minutes
he had ever seen, and that he could never remember
having seen his hounds run so fast as they did on this
occasion. The run from Studley to Grey's Mill de-
scribed above was completely beaten by it.

On Monday, February the 5ch, they met at Irons
Cross and found in Bevington Waste. Again they ran
at a tremendous speed to the Lenches and back over
the flat to Goomb's Hill, thrdugh the Slad Woods
and over the flat through Weethley Wood, under
Thorn Hill into Pearson's Wood, over Ragley Park,
and killed him as he got into Lady Wood, after
two hours and forty minutes.

The season ended at Coughton Court on April 5th.
They found in Coughton Park and ran out by Billings-
borough as if for Alcester. They then turned over
the road through Coldcomfort, by Thorn Hill, left
Weethly Wood to the left and on over the flat, when
close to Inkberrow a violent storm came on and they
lost their fox. They found again in Coldcomfort and
were stopped after running in it for two hours.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

147

Before leaviug the doiug3 of "Mr. North's" in the
Alcester country I might give one sample of good days
in the Woodlands. The meet was on November 11th,
1865, at Goomb's Hill. They found in Slad Wood and
ran up to Rouse Leach, back through Slad Wood and
on to Rough Hill, skirting the waste to Cockman'a
Wood, by the side of, Weethly Wood to Pearson's
Wood, through Thorn Hill to Cook Hill, down to the
corner of Coldcomfort to Square Coppice and over the
flat to Coughton Park, and there checked for the first
time. Then out of the park by the Spinnies, nearly
to Coughton Court, and turned for Sambourne. He
then turned back through Coughton Park ; where it
was thought they changed, probably for the second or
third time. They then got through Billingborough
and down to the Court, then back by the Spinnies into
the Park to Hanging Well, up Astwood Bank to Sam-
bourne, and were stopped near Coughton Park after
four hours' running.

"The Warwickshire " had a very good day from
Lighthorne on February 12th, 1866. They found a
a brace in Chesterton Wood and got away for Oakley,
but turned for Lighthorne Roughs. Through it and on
through Hell Hole and round Moreton Wood. Through
Friz Hill and Combrook, over Pillerton Hill, and back
through Chadshunt and on to Itchington Holt.
Through it and back by Verney's Gorse into Chads-
hunt, after which they were stopped, the horses being
beaten. On the 28th of January Wilson had such a
severe fall that he could not hunt again, and Jack
Woodley carried the horn for the rest of the season.

It was during January, 1866, that Mr. North agreed
to take the Bicester country in succession to Mr.
Drake, who had resigned, and later in the year the
agreement took effect, and he moved his private pack
there from Alcester. Upon the auunuucenjcot of his
impending resignation by Mr. Nurtli, a meeting of
subscribers was held at Weliesbourue, there being

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1862-1866.

A woodland day.

A day at Light-
horne.

Accident
Wilson.

to

Retirement of
Mr. iSorth.

148

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Hon. W. H. J.

North.
1862-L866.

Meeting at Wei-
lesbourne.

A successful
mastership;

present :— Sir Charles Mordaunt, Bart., Colonel Camp-
bell, Captain Lomax, Captain Peach, and Messrs. E.
Bolton-King, Gustavus T. Smith, H. Spencer Lucy,
T. A. Perry, J. F. Starkey, R. AUenby, G. Hawkes,
H. J. Sheldon, W. H. Allfrey, J. Holford, and E. C.
B^obertson ; — names, the majority of which I am glad
to see still mentioned very regularly in connection with
•' the Warwickshire," although some have found what
the Indians believed to be "the happier hunting
grounds." At this meeting the following resolution
was passed unanimously : — ** That this meeting has
heard with great regret Mr. North's intention of resign-
ing the mastership of the Warwickshire Hounds, and
they consider the best thanks of the country are due to
him for the very liberal and popular way in which the
country has been hunted during his management." Thia
gives expression in minute-book language, but language
which at the same time is very sincere, to the senti-
ments of all who were connected in any way with the
Warwickshire country during Mr. North's term of
office. Not only was he popular on all sides, but the
ability and perseverance he brought to bear upon the
affairs of the pack and the energy he threw into the
working of the country, have rendered him one of the
most important of what I may call the later dynasty
of masters. Although his tenure of the office ex-
tended only over five years, the work accomplished
during that period has given it more importance than
many a master would have invested a much longer
one with, and it is with a feeling of only having done him
scant justice that I close this chapter of my history
with the departure of the Hon. Mr, North from
Warwickshire to the Bicester country.

tHI WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 149

CHAPTER XIX.

Mr. H. Spencer Lucy's second term of office— his
cross-country feats— robert worrall— some
days worth riding.

I did not think, when preparing my matter for Mr. Mr. H. Spencer
Lucy's period of mastership, that my notice would be ^°^'
an obituary one. It is singular that acarcely more
than an hour before I heard the sad intelligence of his
death, I had been entering in my book some notes for
use when I came to his time. Warwickshire men do
not need me to tell them what an ardent sportsman
passed away in his sudden death. My readers are
already acquainted with him as a Warwickshire master,
in the short period for which he reigned over the
affairs of the pack after the resignation of Lord
Willoughby de Broke. Upon the removal of the
Hon. Mr. North to the Bicester country, Mr. Lucy
again took the mastership with a guarantee of £1,900.
The family of the Lucys have formed a part of county
history since very early times, and a taste for sport is
generally to be seen in those who have handed down
the name through this long period. Mr. H. Spencer
Lucy was no exception. He was an excellent judge of An ardent sportsj
horse and hound, and a capital and ardent shot. As ™*°'
a steeplechase rider he was also well known, and was,
naturally, a good cross-country man. He was the second
son of Mr. George Lucy, to whom, my readers will
remember, " the Warwickshire " are indebted for the
land on which their kennels stand. Like many other

150 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spbnckr masters he had haadled harriers, whose doings extended

1866-1876. o^sr the borderlands on the western side, in fact, about

the same ground as Mr. North's private pack had

operated upon. Mr. Lucy kept his establishment well

and the turn gut in his time was always admirable.

The subscription. This, however, was not entirely done by the sub-
scription, liberal as it was, and Mr. Lucy had to
supplement it, it is said, to the amount of another
£1000. The guarantee was afterwards raised to £2,400-
In riding to hounds Mr. Lucy could go very straight
when he liked and at water had scarcely an equal.
On one occasion he distiuguiahed hirnaetf by jumping

Some water feats. Tysoe Brook on his horse Goldfinder, leaving the field
behind and having the hounds all to himself. At
another time he did a similiar feat atBroughton Brook.

Mr. Campbell of Mr. Campbell of MoHzie was also very difficult to beat
Monzie. ^^ water. He was, indeed, a very hard-going man.

Robert Worrall. la 1866, Robert Worrall, who had previously ridden
as first whip to "the Warwickshire'' for a season,
returned to the country as huntsman. But his
connection with the pack did not end here. As I have
before stated, he was bred at Kineton, and
had been five years as a kennel boy there in
his youth. In 1853, he became second horseman
to Jones, phe huntsman, and in 1856 went as
second whip to " the North Stafford." The next year
he became first whip to " the West Kent " and also
served in that capacity to Mr. Drake and "the War-
wickshire," returning in 1863 to Mr. Drake as first
whip and kennel huntsman. 1866 saw him again in
Warwickshire, this time carrying the horn, and in
1869 he commenced a seven year's service with "the
Vale of the White Horse," moving from there in 1876
to " the Old Berkeley," which he was with for nine
seasons, when he went to " the Craven "for a couple of
seasons. He has, therefore, seen sport in many countries
and still, I am glad to say, has strength and youth
enough to see more. He was an admirable hand with

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

151

the hounds, and his days are not too distant for those of
my readers who have followed the pack for some years,
to remember the many excellent runs, for the pleasure
of which they have been largely indebted to his work.

I may just note one or two of the principal things
"the Warwickshire" did during his time. On
December ISbh, 1866, they ran from Ufton Wood to
ground at B>ddiagcou. This was a grand run over a
splendid grass country as my readers, I have no doubt,
know well. The next day they met at Swalcliffe and
found a fox at Wiggintou Heath. A run without a
check to Swerford Osier Bed, in|the Heythrop country,
followed, the member of the tribe, which was tailless,
being pulled down in the field beyond, after thirty-three
minutes.

On December 17th of the same year they had a fine
day's sport from Billesley Hall and were running all
day, and after settling to a hunted fox ran a very fast
fifty minutes and killed. It was too dark to count tl)e
hounds. He was killed between Oversley Wood and
Alcester, seventeen miles from the kennel?.

On the 2l3t of the same mouth, the meet was at
Kineton House, and another fine day ensued. They
ran into their fox by moonlight at Faruborough, Mr.
Bolton King, Mr. Harry Over and the huntsman being
the only ones up when the fox was killed. On
February 22nd they had a good day from Farnborough.
It was a fine scenting day and after a good run the fox
was killed, a second from Chamberlin's Gorse being
run to ground at White's Bushes without a check.

On October 25th of 1867, they met at Alveston
Pastures and after running in covert for three hours
got away with an old fox and ran for fifty-five minutes
as though they were tied to the fox, over a rough
country, running into him one field from Pillerton
Gorse. This was a grand performance. The bitch
pack was out, and only the huntsman and one whip
were up when the hoauds killed their fox.

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

A good run from
Ufton Wood.

From Wiofginton
Heath. ^

A f]ne day from
Billeslev Hall.

moonlight kill
and a meet at
Farnborough.

A rough line from

Alveston.

162

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

A great run in
the Banbury
country.

A capital fox
from Eating-
ton.

At Billealey Hall
again.

A fast run from
Bowshot.

Another good day from Billesley Hall was enjoyed on
the 29th of the same month, when a fox was killed at
Little Alne after a good hour and ten minutes. On the
30th the meet was at Wroxton. There were several foxes
— it rarely happens that there are not— at Claydon Hill
Gorse and one was run to ground in a drain near South
Newington. A small osier bed was then the beginning
of a great thing, for a fox found there took a strong
line and a tremendously long one past Crouch Hill, to
the other side of Banbury, and on pastChacombe. Near
to Thenford, he turned to the left over a fine country for
Chamberlin's' Gorse. One field before reaching this
the stout fox fell a prey to the bitches, after running
for one hour and forty-five minutes. The'huntsman
presented the brush to Lady Willoughby de Broke.
She rode the stiff run very straight and no one went
better. She fully earned the mark of distinction she
received.

December 16th, was also a good day. A capi-
tal fox from Eatington Grove, ran them past Pillerton,
Butler's Marston, and over the Warwick Road, where
the Kineton Railway Station stands. Then he pointed
for Chadshunt, and left it just on the left, going to
Knightcote, and being lost between that place and
the Burton Hills. It was a fine hunting run, over a
strong country and only wanted a kill to make it
perfect. It was said that he was seen by a man to go
to the earths on the Burton Hills.

Still another fine day from Billesley Hall was that
which awaited those who met the pack there on the
20th December. A fox was killed in the morning, and
of ter two hours' hard work they found in a pit and ran
him to Great Alne, where they pulled him down after
43 minutes at their best pace.

On December 2l8t, the meet was at Brailes,
but the frost made the going very bad. They drew
homewards and found in Bowshot late in the day.
However, to make up for lost time, they ran lik«

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

153

H. Spbncbr
Lucy.
1866-1876.

A Shuckburgh
day.

Billesley H»ll.

mad for forty-tive minutes, finally pulling down their Mr.
sport at Lighthorne Rough. It was a capital gallop,
although it began so late.

Good things were enjoyed at this time from Shuck-
burgh. I suppose, however, my readers do not want
to be informed of this, as Shuckburgh and good sport
have always been, and always will, I hope, be
synonyms. One day I have about this time saw a fine
run. It is, however, dateless. They found in the
wood but lost. Ladbroke was then drawn and
provided a run over a very big country to Staverton
Wood in the Pytchley country, where he was killed.
It was a fine run of just over an hour.

January 11th, 1869, and Billesley Hall again, is the More sport at
commencement of another good thing. There was a
small field out. They found in the covert near
Red Hill and ran over the road to Withycomb Wood,
then recrossed the road through the Night Cap and
Oversley Wood. Then over the river and through
Ragley Park, past the Hall and through Weethley
Wood and a part of Bevington Waste, and leav-
ing the Lench Woods on his left, he went
over the field where "the Worcestershire"
met the same morning and turned to the right over
the Worcester and Stratford turnpike for Grafton
Wood, but one field from this he was headed by a
man with some cattle. He now bore to his left and
pointed for Worcester, but the bitches ran into their
fox in the middle of a stubble field, close to Fly-
ford Flavell. This was a very fine run of two hours,
chiefly over the Worcestershire country. Mr. G.
Hawkes of Talton had a pad of this stout fox.
It was very strange that *' the Worcestershire " had
just killed their fox in a wood near the road leading
home and Mr. Hawkes went to them and begged a
pad of their fox ; so that he carried home a double
trophy. This was quite one of the old sort. He was
ft tremendously large fox and the hounds fairly hunted

154 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS, •

Mr. H. Spehcbr him to death. The funeral of Mr. Campbell took

1866-1876. P^ace the same day and so the master was not out.

There were about a dozen at the death. The distance

was about 18 miles, as the hounds ran, and the finish

30 miles from the kennels.

On February 1st, the meet was at Charlecote

Village. Mr. Lucy was not out and Lord Willoughby

, de Broke acted as field master. They found in Hamp-

A long run from ttt i i -ry • -r. / • i i • i

Hampton Wood ton Wood and ran to Warwick Park, up wind, which

was very rough, without a check. They ran into him

in the open, only the huntsman and whips being with

them. There was a large field, but they got thrown

out and were unable to find the hounds afterwards.

The time, from find to kill, was thirty-nine minutes.

A good thing A splendid piece of work, although it may be dea-

from Tysoe. cribed as an after thought, occurred about this time.

The meet had been in the Brailes country. Foxes were

scant, and on the way home, not in the cheerfuUest of

minds, a large fox was discovered in a small gorse near

Tysoe. Hounds then went at a ripping pace, without

a check, up the hill past Upton, across^iCamp Lane,

straight over the valley, leaving Farnborough House on

the left, and straight down to ground within two

fields of Cropredy station. There were five or six

horses in the air together as they went over Farnborough

Brook.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

155

CHAPTER XX.

A splendid run
from Chads -
hunt.

Some more of Mr. Spencer Lucy's sport— hound
slaughter in the warwickshire country

— A GOOD RUN FROM FeNNY CoMPTON— A FLYING
VISIT TO THE HeYTHROP COUNTRY— AN EXTRAOR-
DINARY FOX FROM Bowshot— A fair day from
MiTFORD Bridge— FROST — the staff.
A splendid run was enjoyed on January 21st, 1870,
from Chadshunt, and that notwithstanding the un-
favourable state of the ground. The meet was fixed
for Wroxton New Inn, but inconsequence of the hard-
ness of the ground it was moved to the place named,
where it was thought the going was better. Here a
fox was soonjforthcoming, and took them, in a first-rate
line, over ground which has often been the scene of good
runs. Making off in a south-easterly direction he
entered the Farnborough Valley, up which he ran.
Then taking his course up to Hanwell, in almost the
same manner as one of my previous foxes did, he
crossed the Banbury and Warwick Road to Drayton,
and running through the allotments, passed Withy-
combe and was lost in the Broughton Road. The dis-
tance could not have been less than fifteen miles, and
with a kill, it would have been a perfect day's work.

It is a most regrettable thing when such dastardly Hound slaughter
acts of disloyalty as hound-slaughter have to be
chronicled in any country, but when that country has
such a bright account to give of its past as "the
Warwickshire " has, the deed seems all the darker.
That Warwickshire, with its "Century of Fox-

156 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spbncbr hunting," has so few instances of disaffec-
1866-1876. tion to record, is a matter for much con-

gratalation. A case, however, occurred at about

the time of which I am writing. On Monday, Febru-
ary 20th, 1871, the meet was Pebworth village, and as
the hounds were passing through Quinton Lane on
their way to the rendezvous, two of the dogs fell dead.
At Pebworth two more expired and shortly after three
others died. They were conveyed to the Red Horse
Hotel, at Stratford, and afterwards taken to Kineton
for a, post-mortem examination. It was said that three
also died as the pack was going through the village of
Teddington. It is quite unnecessary for me to make
any remark upon the state of feeling aroused by this
event. This case, however, does not stand alone, for
within a comparatively short time we find a repetition.
On December 8th, 1874, the hounds met at Adming-
ton House, and started in the direction of Preston
Bushes. Here they were put in, but it was shortly
afterwards observed that some of the dogs showed
symptoms of poison, to which it is stated, nine suc-
cumbed. A similar fate had awaited some of Lord
Coventry's hounds while hunting in the same neigh-
bourhood about the time of the earlier instance given
above.

A good run from One ot the best things of the season of 1872-3 was,
Fenny Comp- perhaps, that from Fenny Compton on February 14tb.
Watergall was blank but Ladbroke Gorse provided no
less than three. The hounds were quickly off with no
less than two or three hundred starters, a number, how-
ever, which was quickly reduced. The line, it is almost
superfluous to say, was over a grass country, with
rails and big ditches in abundance, and as the latter on
this occasion were mostly full of snow, falls were
plentiful. He laid his line to Upper Radbourn and then
turned for Prior's Marston, where a short check occurred,
which, however, was scarcely long enough to give
tnreathiDg time. After 25 minutes, a *' view halloa" was

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 157

given on Marstoa Hill and the hounds went on, if Mr. H. Spemcke
possible, with greater vigour, to Hellidon, crossing the 1866-Ib76.

valley by Catesby, the point being evidently Staverton

Wood. Being hard pressed, however, he turned to

the left, running across Newbold Grounds, in front of

Mr.Page's house, to the bottom,andcrossingthebrookto

the spinney at Upper Shuckburgh. Here he was viewed

by a keeper crossing the corner of the Park, and he

managed to earth almost in view of the hounds. This

season was one of the best known for many years in A good season.

Warwickshire. They killed 46 brace, and only used

the spade on two occasions.

The next season (1873-4) had not advanced far be- A run into the
fore "the Warwickshire " paid a flying visit to their country °^
southern neighbours " the Heythrop." On December
2nd the meet was Weston House, and in ten minutes
a fox was going from Weston Heath covert as straight
as possible to Stourton, where he got to earth.
Whichford Wood, however, soon provided them with
a second, and ofif they went to Long Compton Wood,
where it is probable that a change was effected, al-
though many of those out thought not. From the
corner of the Wood he went away at a great speed and
bearing to the left across the London Road nearly to
Long Compton Bank and leaving the King's Stone
to the right, went over some capital grass
and light ploughlands, with some stiflBsh fences.
Patting the steam on at high pressure he hardened his
heart to do Chaysell brook, a ten or twelve feet jump, Awaterinoident.
with some ugly banks at places. Only three attempted
it. One was a most plucky middle-aged farmer, on a
game-looking grey horse, which unfortunately refused
at the last moment and unseated his rider, who did
not make a second attempt. Lord Camperdown then
sent his horse at it, and arrived dry on the other side,
but his horse was in the water. Mr. Frederick
Walker, of Shipston, was the third, and he managed
it, and reached the opposite bank right and dry,

158

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr

H. Spencer
Lucy.
1866-1876.

The brook again.

An extraordinary
fox from Bow-
shot.

both as regards man and horse. The remainder
found a bridge. The brook being crossed, a half-circle
was taken towards Chipping Norton, but within two
fields of the town he turned and raced by the back of
Over Norton, as if for the Shipston road. Turning
again to his left, he made for Long Compton Hill, and
ringing round to his left, made up his mind to give
them another turn at the Chaysell brook. This time
a trio got over. Lord Camperdown and Mr. Walker
making their second passage successfully, and Orvia
the huntsman, equally successful, joining them. Swing-
ing round he again made for Over Norton, within
three fields of which he turned to his right and crossed
Rollright Bottom, and finished this capital piece of
work by getting to earth. It was a strong run of two
hours with few checks.

Another good couple of hours was experienced on
January 2nd, from Bowshot Cross-roads. The field
was select and workmanlike in character. Bowshot
covert was drawn, and in less than two minutes a fox
was off with a good start. It was a rare scenting
morning, there having been a slight frost overnight and
the atmosphere being perfectly calm. The ground
was good and the pace dashing across some fine
and strongly fenced meadow land. Hell Hole Covert
was his first point, and without dwelling here he rattled
away to Walton. Thence to the right and with a
circle back to Bowshot and Hell Hole. He
then set his head straight and sailed away
over a big country to Moreton Morrell. From
here he made the running even stronger than
before, and, apparently not the slightest distressed,
passed Newbold Pacey and turning to the right
held his way, with the same amount of go, to within
two miles of the Fir Tree Hill. Leaving this to the
left he dashed through Oakley Wood and would not
condescend to seek refuge, but put on a fresh spurt
to Peach Brook, passing which he pointed towards

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

159

Leamington, even now appearing as fresh as ever.
Within half a mile of the Royal Spa he got to ground,
and assuredly if ever a fox deserved to save his brush
he did. Three delds before he was lost the hounds
were running him in view, but he was evidently only
easing himself for a fresh effort, for he
spurted again and fairly out-paced his pursuers',
racing away clean out of sight in the open. There was
neither covert nor visible drain about the spot where
he was lost, and so extraordinary was his strength
and behaviour throughout, that had the run taken
place in the old times, his pursuers would doubtless
have concluded that they had been coursing the evil
one himself, and would have gone home, silent and
shivering with fright, and seen to the horse-shoes
over their stable doors. The time was as near as pos-
■ible two hours, and there was no check of any
account. Those at the finish were select and few.
Sir Charles Mordaunt ably took the place of the
master, Mr. Lucy not being out, and Mr. Holland
Corbett and Jem Adams, an old footman, should be
mentioned as being well to the front. There were
several hard men from the Heythrop country present.

On the sixth of this month a very fair day was
had from Mitford Bridge. Frost made the morning
not a very promising one, but a fox was soon off in
capital form towards Weston Heath. He disdained
to spoil sport here and turned as if for Barton Grove,
but then turned again to the left and crossed Wolford
Heath, through Little Wolford, and over an ugly
brook, which fortunately had a good supply of bridges,
or the field would have been out of it as completely
as they were in a run given in my last chapter. Only
one essayed it — young Frederick Walker, and he
got a regular souser. After this the pace increased.
The hounds were running in view and the pace became
of the hottest description towards Wolford Wood.
He was, however, run into in the open, having given

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

A brave finish.

A fair day at Mit-
ford Bridge.

160

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr
1866-1876

Two incidents.

H. Spencer them about an hour's excellent work to bring about
that end. Two exceptional incidents I may mention
in connection with the run before leaving it. The
first is that the mask was given to a plucky boy, the
son of Mr. Hiron, of Shipston, who, knowing the
country well, started from Mitford Bridge, on foot,
cut the hounds off without heading them at every
turn, and was at the finish very little beaten. The
other was that a lady, who, capitally mounted, rode
with a lot of dash, always in the front rank, in spite
of stiff fences and a good deal of plough, was first
up at the death, and then — mirabile dictu — refused the
preferred brush.

The sort of run which tries the mettle of the steeds
was that which followed the opening meet of the
season 1874-5. Mr. Bolton King most sumptuously
entertained the field, and about mid-day a fox was
found, and gave them a ring over a good country and
lasting for two hours, which ended in Chesterton
Wood.

The sport of 1874-5 was sadly interfered with by
the fox-hunter's arch-enemy. King Frost. A few lines,
written about the season in Leicestershire may be given
as showing the general state of affairs during the
season : —

good opening:.

King Frost.

November's first day saw a run ;

The rest of November saw none ;

All December in frost.

Half January lost,

Ere hunting had fairly begun.

The sport then for three weeks was rare,

Rarer soon till it vanished in air ;

Three weeks more of snow,

Till the March wind did blow.

And the end of the chase was despair.

I think my readers can scarcely fail to be struck with
the adequate description these lines also give of the
season just past (1890-1).

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

161

As I mentioned last week, Worrall left at the end of
the season 1868-9, and on the 20th of May was invited
by the farmers and tradesmen of the Warwickshire
country, to a complimentary dinner at the White Lion
Hotel, Banbury, and was presented with a silver horn
and a purse of 108 guineas. Mr. S. Berridge, of Drayton,
presided and made the presentation, and the unani-
mity with which the subscriptions were forthcoming
testified to the esteem, which those who followed the
hounds in the field, felt for the man who had so ad-
mirably worked them. During the following season
Mr. Lucy hunted the hounds himself two days a week,
Tom Hastings,whoin Worrall'stime had beenfirst whip,
taking them on the other two days. This, however,
did not work altogether satisfactorily, and at a meeting
of subscribers held at Wellesbourne at the end
of the season, it was decided to guarantee
an extra £300 for the engagement of a first-
class huntsman. James Young was engaged and
hunted one season, Charles Orvis, Scott, and Fryer
being the whippers-in, but after that season Young
left, and the horn was handed to Orvis, who carried it
with great credit to himself for the rest of Mr. Lucy's
mastership and a portion of the time of Lord
Willoughby de Broke. He always brought the
hounds out in the best condition and handled them
well while at work. Mr. Lucy afterwards arranged to
hunt the country north of the Avon himself on a fifth
day.

Mr.

H. Spencer
Lucy.
1866-1876.

Presentation
Worrall.

Charles Orvis.

162 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

An afternoon fox

CHAPTER XXI.

Two AFTERNOON FOXES— A GALLANT RUN FROM

Eatington Grove— A poetical contribution —

SOME OF the regular ATTENDANTS— Mr, LuCY'S

entries— Taglion I— old William Brown.

On Thursday, March 16th, 1876, the meet was at
"fromLadbroke. Shuckburgh, and those who did not go home to report
** no sport," because scent was bad and there was very
little to be done all the morning, received quite a
sample of the old sort. It was a quarter past
four when a fox, after about three quarters of an hour's
persuasion, left Ladbroke and pointed for Napton, but
turning to the right went past Prior's Hardwick,
Stoneton, and to within two fields of Boddington
Hill Gorse. He then turned to the left, over the
Wormleighton Hills and across the fine vale between
Boddington and Byfield, straight to Griffin's Gorse,
which he did not enter. Here the field got a view of
him, going on for Badby Wood. But he turned^
again to the right, past Charweltou, over the Banbury
and Daventry turnpike road, past Hinton House ;
again crossing the turnpike road near the village of
Byfield, back over the brook to Boddington, when he
made another turn. This time he went short to the
right and ran to within one field of the village of
Prior's Marston. It was now half-past six o'clock, and,
as the horses were all tired, the hounds were whipped
ofi' when not many hundred yards behind their fox.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 163

A gallant run was that which awaited the field at Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy
Eatington Grove, on the 4th of January, 1876. In the 1866-1876.

latter part of the day a brave fox helped to efi"ace dark .

1-1 • 1 • 1 1 Ti -^ gallant run

thoughts which were associated with the place. Jle from Eatington

left the Grove straight for Kiueton Holt, by Eatington C}*"ove.

Village and Pillerton. At the Holt there was a slight

check, after which Eigehill became the point. Up

this and down again by Arlescote, he made for War-

mington, and after some hard running took them again

to the hills and to Upton, where, with the help of some

sheep, he gave them the slip. The distance altogether

was twenty-five miles.

I have not had any poetical descriptions of recent A poetical ac-

pieces of work to adorn these pages with, but I have count.

been favoured with one upon the run just given,

written by one who was in it, and upon whom the

mantle of the poet Goulburn, of "Epwell Hunt"

renown, had evidently descended.* Let my readers,

however, judge upon this for themselves. " The pack's

dreadful fate" refers to some hound-poisoning inci- ♦

dents at Pebworth.

Let the Quornite so proud toast the memory that haunts,
Barkby Holt, or the Punchbowl, or famed John o' Groats ;
While the Pytchley man swears, " My dear fellow, of

course,
" No run equals our run from Waterloo Gorse ; "
Let the Heythrop man boast of their gallop so good,
When they killed near to Fairford their fox from Tarwood ;
But we Warwickshire men to ourselves fairly prove
That no run much surpassed ours from Eatington Grove.
'Twas an afternoon fox, and sad, sad to relate
Of the morning's fell work, and the pack's dreadful fate ;
* * * *

But away with such memories, shameful and sad.

Away to the cover that made us so glad.

And away with the fox, which so quickly we drove,

From his snug, cosy kennel in Eatington Grove ;

How gallant the field, which in pomp and in pride.

Followed Orvis's lead, through the quiet woodside ; ^

How scattered that field, 'ere yet evening's shades fell

If you've patience to read, I'll endeavour to tell.

Scarce had Orvis's cheer sounded twice through the wood.

When a whimper was heard, which was quickly made :.<ood

* The author, I believe, was Mr. H. Lupton, of Stratford-on-Avon.

Casto*.

164

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

By the whole of the pack, and the sweet chorus grew,

As quick to their leader the gallant hounds flew.

He's away ! tallo-ho ! and as straight as a bolt

Never doubting he points straight for Kineton's good Holt.

'Tis a seven mile point, yet away with stout heart,

Pug points for the cover as straight as a dart.

Past Eatington Village, by Pillerton's side,

The gallant hounds stream and the eager steeds stride ;

With Orvis close to them, Sir Charles on his grey,

By steam-plough or fences will not be said nay ;

'Tis a pleasure, I vow, when the ground's steep and

strong,
To see that good five-year-old bear him along.
Spencer Lucy, the master, too, goes like the wind.
And in deep ground, or sound ground, is not far behind ;
Lord Willoughby, too, as one safely may swear.
When hounds run their keenest is sure to be there.
And her Ladyship with him, not far in his rear ;
While George Smith, of Ailston, still keeps pretty near ;
John Mordaunt goes happily sailing along.
Be the ground ne'er so deep or the fences so strong ;
While on good "Charlie Foster " not far from the pack,
Shirley galloping on, on no fence shows his back.
But the cover is reached, and a slight pause ensues,
While a uumber discover the loss of their shoes ;
But away once again, and believe me my friend.
Not a nag once stood still from the find to the end.
In the Holt, as they cautiously picked the line through,
Horses came to a walk, all the respite they knew ;
And though " just cast a shoe "excused nags that were

done.
With no hat one man went to the end of the run.
But away once again they seemed ready to kill.
And go screaming along, straight away to Edge Hill,
And if I might borrow a couplet from Scott,
I could tell how of riders a fair goodly lot.
Tightened reins and, in sooth, it was quite in despair.
When they saw straight in front Edge Hills' crest rise in

air ;
But still on, on again, for no check here occurred.
And away once again, straight as flight of a bird.
For'ard still raced the hounds and the pace was the best
Along the steep slopes to the said Edge Hills' crest.
Then down once again, close by Arlescote below.
Straight pointing for Warmington, on the hounds go.
And they scream o'er the line, o'er those pastures of grass.
Though no longer we stick to them here, for alas !
It much grieves me to say for the sake of our shire,
That down hear we hear horrible murmurs of " wire,"
That terrible word quite sufficient to quell
The ardour of those who had followed so well.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 165

By necessity turned here, at best pace we strode, Mr. H. Spencer

To nick in with the pack, half-a-mile down the road. 1866-1876

Here kind fortune befriends us, we meet them again, "

And to keep with them now every muscle we strain.

And for'ard, still for'ard, in capital style,

Their keenness unchecked, they race mile after mile ;

Whilst Pug still holds his own, till the sun going down,

He bends to the right, near to Warmington town.

And distance unheeding, the pace, too, that kills,

Once again with rare courage he faces the hills.

Here I steal a look backwards as Orvis comes by,

And say *' but eleven bold riders I spy."

He replies, " a bit more, sir, to this lively tune,

*' And little the counting we'll need pretty soon."

And panting and sobbing, near done by this time.

Once again our good nags up those dreadful hills climb,

And scarce pausing a moment for breath at the top

It is for'ard again. Will those hounds never stop ?

And this fox must his colours have nailed to the mast,

"No surrender" his motto. A check comes at last,

And oh ! welcome the respite ; the nags nearly done,

The sun sunk to rest, and its light all but gone.

And how gladly at last the pursuit we all yield,

To Upton House close in the very next field.

Of the finish I scarcely know what I must say.

For the fox had earned life, and the hounds earned their

prey ;
Though Pug owed his escape, at the last to the sheep.
And its being too dark for a look 'ere a leap ;
But whichever you think, we had chased him in vain,
And the gallant fox lived to be hunted again.
But, oh ! think after this what a swell he will be.
How sought after for ball and for afternoon tea,
How he'll stroke his sharp snout, and curl gaily his brush,
And protest that for Orvis he cares not a rush.
While the cubs gaze with awe, and the vixens admire,
The bold rover who led us half over our shire.
'Twixt the points I have mentioned, his courage and wiles
Had forced us to follow nigh twenty-five miles.
And the size of the fences, deep ground, and the pace,
Had scattered our field o'er near half of that space ;
For of all those bold horsemen, so proud and elate
At the find, at the finish were left only eight.
And the man who was nearest the hounds at the last.
Was George Smith, of Ailston, his roan unsurpassed.
Next to him, bravely carried the whole good run through,
Was Lupton on " Burton," who's scarce fifteen two,
Though his stature be small, when it comes to a pinch.
He proves his heart large, and how good is each inch.
Sir Charles Mordaunt next ; in a wonderful way
He was borne to the end on that five-year-old grey ;

166

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr

H. Spencer
Lucy.
1866-1876.

While Orvis was next, and I scarcely need tell

How he stuck to his hounds and went boldly and well.

Lord Willoughby then, with " his fair lady wife,"

Who bravely kept on to the end of the strife ;

While good " Charlie Foster " was close at the end,

With another of Shirley's he'd mounted a friend,

I don't know his name, if I did I would tell

Who he was, for he went undeniably well.

But Pegasus hardly will bear me again,

To relate when each fell, when each tired one drew rein ;

And in fact, I don't know, for as one may surmise,

I went through that run with but one pair of eyes.

I looked at the finish — " Oh where ! and oh where, "

Was the keen Corbett-Holland, he was not up there.

John Mordaunt I heard near to Kineton stood still.

And Annesley drew rein at the foot of Edge Hill.

Percy Hodgson spurred on, in a grand disbelief

In his cobs' finite powers, and at last came to grief ;

Aye, sad that my Muse is compelled to tell how.

He received as they rolled, a sharp kick on his brow ;

But the run he'll remember to life's latest day.

For he carries for ever the mark of the fray.

Clifford Chambers, who always goes boldly and straight,

Stopped somewhere, but where, I can't certainly state.

And Lewty, did ever you hear such a prank ?

Was last seen at work shoving his steed down a bank.

Alas ! that consumption so ruthless and grim.

Should have seized, 'ere next season, a victim in him.

Fifield Pitt, too, I saw going straight as a bird,

But where he stopped going, I've never yet heard ;

Though he says, and I doubt not his words are quite true,

That he found near the Holt that he'd only one shoe.

Next day a friend said *' My dear fellow I think,

•' That each glass of port wine, which in future you drink,

" Will improved be in flavour, in fact I may say,

" You will find in each bottle a sweeter bouquet,

•' For, remembrance made sweet by the good rosy wine,

•' After dinner how oft you'll again ride the line. "

He was right, and how oft when the wine has been best,

Has that good run imparted additional zest,

As I've raised the bright glass to a toast of my own,

And, quietly drinking, have tossed the wine down.

And I've noticed sometimes that mine host's eyes will shine

As he thinks to himself " ah ! he likes the good wine.

'* My best vintage is not lost on him to be sure,

•' How he raises his glass like a brave connoisseur,

•' While the ruby wine sparkles so clearly and bright,

" Just balanced midvpay 'twixt his eye and the light."

But you're wrong my dear fellow, most kind-hearted

host
For it was not your wine, I was drinking a toast.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

167

I was drinking " Good luck to the hounds we all love,
" Their noaster, his lady, and Eatington Grove."
Now to make my conclusion where others commence,
I will venture, and hope I may give no offence,
To dedicate this, now my scribbling is done.
To the lady who rode to the end of the run.

With this sketch of a run and its riders I must leave
the field work of Mr. Lucy's period, to note one or two
other matters connected with his mastership. Before
doing so, however, I may record some of the names of
those who were among the regular attendants at his
meets. To begin with two of the oldest sportsmen, I
name Mr. John Lucy and Mr. Bolton King. The
former had hunted for over half-a-century, and the
latter had ridden with every master since the days of
old John Corbet, but, I believe, not with that cele-
brated master. The Rev. Mr. Hawkes was still to be
seen, too. As an instance of his extraordinary activity,
it may be said that he once married a couple, christened
a baby, had his fortune told, and was in at the death
of a fox before one o'clock. Then there were Lord and
Lady Willoughby De Broke, Lord Conyers, Sir Charles
Mordaunt, Mr. John Mordaunt, Mr. Everard, of Lad-
broke Hall, Lord Somerville, Lord Leigh, Lord Paget,
Lord St. Lawrence, afterwards Earl of Howth, Lady
Pole, of Todenham, the Earl of Camperdown, the Hon.
W. R. Verney, Sir F. Shuckburgh, of Shuckburgh,
Capt. Lomax, of Kineton, Capt. Painter, Capt. Eyton,
of Barford, the Rev. W. Miller, of Radway, a hard
rider, Mr. Greaves, of Barford, Capt. Allfrey, of
Alveston, Capt. J. F. Starkey, Capt. Armstrong, of
Kineton House, Captain Robertson, Col. Campbell, of
Wellesbourne, Mr. G. Hawkes, of Talton, Capt.
Paulet, of Wellesbourne, Mr. G. Granville, of
Wellesbourne, Mr. Bolden, of Leamington,
Mr. Perry, Mr. T. Alford, of Leamington,
Mr. Thursby, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Smith, of Goldicote,
Mr. and Mrs. Jessop, of Idlicote Hall, Mr.
Hunt, of Leamington, Mr. Norris, of Swalcliffe,

Mr.

H Spexcer
Lucy.
1866-1876.

Some regular at-
tendants.

168 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr H. Spencer Mr. Milward, Mr. Key, of Leamington, Mr. Bryden,
1S6d-1876. ^^ Leamington, a good old sportsman, Col. Stracey,
— - Mr. Robertson, of Leamington, Mr. W. Chamberlayne,

of Stoney Thorpe, a hard man, Mr. Chamberlin, of
Adderbury, Mr. Little, of Newbold Pacey, a grand old
sportsman, the Rev. J. Lucy, of Hampton Lucy, Mr.
Berkeley Lucy, Lord Mountgarrett, of Leamington,
Col. Little, Mr. H. Brassey, Capt. Montgomery, of
Leamington, a hard man, Mr. Fisher, of Banbury,
Col. Blackburn, Mr. G. Duppa, of Leamington, Mr.
George and his wife, one of the best ladies in the hunt.
Miss Davey, of Leamington, Mr. Brown, of Warwick,
Mr. Sheldon, of Brailes, Mr. Woodmas, Mr. Flower,
of Stratford, Mr. M. and Mr. R. Phillips, of Snitter-
field, Major Manley, of Upton, Mr. Gulliver, of
Swalcliffe, Mr. Welshman, of Southam, and Messrs.
Harry Over, of Pittern Hill, a capital sportsmen, S.
Berridge, T. Berridge, E. Scriven, Knott, Fairbrother,
H. Hawkes, J. Hawkes, J. Griffin, Wilson, Fletcher,
T. Wright, of Tiddington, D. Sargeant, of Long
Itchington, Bawcutt, of Burton, W. Cowper, of Farn-
borough. Godson, of Edgehill, Anderton, of Sugarswell
Farm, G. Hitchcox, of Hinton House, F. Wood, of
Bodicote, W. Eldridge, J. Eldridge, French, of flan-
well, Page, of Warmington, 0. Savage, of Warmington,
W. Coles, of Edgehill, T. Russell, of Ladbroke,
Potters (3), of Farnborough, Garrett, of Tadmarton,
Baker, of Brailes, Garretts (2), of Brailes, T. Page, of.
Adderbury, &c. This is a long list, but I hope my
readers will treat with leniency the omission of names
which must of necessity, after this space of time, have
been allowed to slip.

Mr. Lucy's en- With regard to breeding matters during Mr. Lucy's

*"®^* time, he does not seem to have followed the plan of some

of his predecessors and gone so extensively to other

kennels for sires. His own sires are generally the most

1QQQ conspicuous in his lists. In that for 1866, we find eleven

couples, the sires being the Warwickshire Bluecap,

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

169

Mr,

1867.

Castor.

Banker.

Bunker, and Nimrod, and the Hon. W. North's Rally-
wood. Bluecap was entered in 1858 and was by
Admiral— Bracelet, and Banker was entered in 1860
and was by the Duke of Beaufort's Banker out of
Rapture. The list for 1867 is a longer one. We find
among the aires the Hon. W. North's Castor, three
from Mr. Drake's, and Saffron II., Nimrod, Sorcerer,
and Trimmer of the home kennels. Castor was bred
at Belvoir, and was by their Comus out of their Rosy.
He went to Stratton Audley in a young draft and was
entered at those kennels. He was a famous dog in
his work and was good looking. Trimmer also carried
Belvoir blood, as he was by their Trusty out of the War-
wickshire Gadfly. He was entered in 1861. Sorcerer
was entered a year later, being by the Cheshire Rock-
wood out of Sportly.

The four couples of Mr. Drake's secured by the War-
wickshire Hunt at his sale were valuable acquisitions.
In addition to these was a stallion hound. Banker,
which Mr. Drake had given to his first whip, Robert
Worrall, who took him to Warwickshire when he went
to Mr. Lucy as huntsman. He was by Mr. Drake's
Hector out of his Bounty, and grandson of Lord
Scarborough's Hector. In the list for 1868, which 1868.
consists of seventeen couples, Banker is the sire of
three hounds out of Warwickshire dams. Other
foreign sires are Mr. North's Castor, the Quorn
Hector and Nelson, and the Duke of Grafton's Nimrod.
Foreign blood is also introduced among the dams in
Crimson, by Lord Henry Bentinck's Rebel — his Con-
cord, bought by Mr. Lucy as a four-year-old in 1866 ;
and Columbine, by the Brocklesby Vaulter — their
Columbine, bought by Mr. Lucy as a two-year-old in
1866. In the sires we get it also in Raglan, by the
Belvoir Rallywood — their Pastime, bought as a five-
year-old by Mr. Lucy in 1860 from Mr. Drake ; and
Regent, by Mr. Drake's Sparkler — his Rosy, bought as
a three-year-old by Mr. Lucy in 1866. In the list for

H. Spencer
Lucy.
1866-1876.

170

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

1869.

1870.

Clasher.

A private pack.

1871.

1869 we find one hound by Mr. Drake's Banker out of
the Warwickshire Tragedy. Mr. Drake's Guardian is
a conspicuous sire in this list. We find two couples by
him out of dams of his kennel. The same blood is
also found in two couples and a half by Hector —
Sanguine, Hector being of the 1867 entry by Mr.
Drake's Hector — his Crimson. Sanguine was entered
in 1862 and was by the Cheshire Rockwood by the
Warwickshire Sportly.

In the list for 1870 we find one important entry,
that of Clasher, who with Coaxer and Charity appears
as being by Nestor — Careless. He was a good looking
dog with a great deal of bone, and was very good in his
work. He was a remarkably good drawer and almost
always found the fox first. It is most interesting to
note that he went back to the celebrated old Saffron.
This was through Nestor who was by Nimrod —
Racket, Racket being by Stormer— Rakish, Stormer
being by Saffron — Waspish. The blood of Mr. Drake's
is again conspicuous. We find one hound by his
Guardian out of Spangle, and two couple by him out of
Torment. Spangle was by Mr. Drake's Rascal — his
Spangle and was bought by Mr. Lucy as a two year old in
1866. There are two couples by Nestor out of Midnight,
who was by Mr. Drake's Furrier — his Matron and was
bought by Mr. Lucy as a three-year-old in 1866. The
Duke of Grafton's Senator appears as sire to one
hound out of Mr. Drake's Sybil, who was by Mr.
Drake's Freeman— his Skilful and was bought by Mr.
Lucy as a three-year-old in 1866. Other blood is found
among the dams, besides in Spangle, Midnight and
Sybil already mentioned, in Nancy by^the Belvoir
Nimrod— Sir W. W. Wynn's Stately, and bought by
the Hon. Mr. North as a two-year old in 1865.

In 1871 Mr. Lucy formed a private pack which he
sold to the Warwickshire Hunt when he gave up the
country in 1876. In the list of entries for 1871 we find
aeven couples from Lord Middleton's kennels, one couple

THE WAIiWlCKSHIEE HOUNDS. 171

by Lord Hastings' Bloomer — his Charmer, and half-a- Mr. H. Spencer
couple by Lord Kesteven's Shiner — Lord Hastings' 1866^-^876.

Handsome. Hector and Nestor again appear among

the home sires. The list for 1872 is a short one. i872.
Foreign blood is drawn from Mr. Drake's, Lord Ports,
mouth's, "The Cotswold," and "The Vale of the
White Horse. " The Warwickshire Hector and Raglan
are the principal sires.

In the list for 1873 Lord Middleton's, '•' The Bel voir," 1873.
and Lord Hastings' are the kennels from which foreign
blood was drawn, and we also find one hound by the
Ledbury Cloudy, who was by the Worcestershire
Cruiser — the Ledbury Charity, and was bought by Mr.
Lucy as a four-year-old in 1871. Wilriboy, Nestor,
and Mercury are the home sires used. In the list for
^874 Clasher appears among the sires, having Cheerful 1874.
nd Columbine, two good-looking bitches out of
Precept. Among the sires, too, we find Lord Hastings'
Sportsman, who had also appeared in the previous year's
list, and was bought by Mr. Lucy as a four-year-
old in 1871, being by Lord Hastings' Sailor — his
Bridesmaid. Among the bitches we find the Ledbury
Volatile, by the Brocklesbury Hannibal — the Ledbury
Vocal, bought by Mr. Lucy as a two-year-old in 1871.

In Mr. Lucy's last list (1875), Clasher is again con- i875.
spicuous, and we again find Lord Hastings' Sports-
man. " The Vale of the White Horse " and Sir
W, W. Wynn's are the other kennels used. We
also find foreign blood among the bitches in Lord
Potimore's Sanguine, by his Stripling —his Needful,
bought by Mr. Lucy as a five-year-old in 1872 ; and
Lusty, by the Grove Looby — Lord Hastings' Lofty,
bought by Mr. Lucy as a four-year-old in 1871. The
Ledbury Cloudy, too, reappears.

Mr. Lucy was a good master, one excellent point a good master,
about him being that he always took the part
of his huntsman against the field in any difl3culty.
At Mr. Drake's sale he bought Long-eared, afterwards

172

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Mr. H. Spencer

Lucy.

1866-1876.

Taglioni.

William Brown.

named Taglioni, for 45gs. She carried Worrall for
three years, and is said to have only thrown him twice.
The reason she fetched so low a price at the sale was
that a rest of some months after a fall had given rise to
an impression that she was spoilt. This, however, was
not the case and she was afterwards sold for 375gs. to
a man who would not take more than three times that
amount to part with her again.

Before leaving Mr. Lucy's period, I must not
forget to mention a character of whom all those
intimately acquainted with the pack must have
a lively recollection. I refer to old William
Brown, the stud-groom. Brown ruled the stables
with the hand of an autocrat, but that he was
as valuable as he was eccentric the unexceptional
turn-out was always an ample testimony. At the
same time, he was, in his own opinion, the supreme
man in all the affairs of the stud, and would
brook no interference with his ideas and^arrangements
from master or man ; and woe-betide the luckless
youngster who, perhaps, had been sent out to "qua-
lify " a young horse, with strict injunctions to bring
it home at a certain time, and who, meeting with his
master in the course of the day, had been
told to keep it out a little longer. Any
enjoyment which might be derivable from the extra
time out would be spoilt by the prospects of an inter-
view with Brown upon his return home. Brown had
begun life as a gentleman's coachman, and it is said had
left the place he occupied previous to entering Mr.
Lucy's service, because his master had presumed to
make some trifling interference in the arrangement of the
reins. As is generally the case, however, his eccen-
tricity was simply the accompaniment of excellence and
skill in his work, as all who knew his stables will, I
think, be most ready to admit.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 173

CHAPTER XXII.

Lord Willoughby de Broke— his love of sport and

ENERGETIC MANAGEMENT— LaDY WiLLOUGHBY's

horsemanship— presentation to Charles Orvis
— some good seasons— pickings from the runs
OF Lord Willoughby de Broke's earlier

seasons.

And now I have arrived at the period of the present ^°de Sa^^^^
noble master, and how shall I pen all the good things
which might be written of his prosperous rule? One feels
almost inclined to follow the example of many writers
of our country's history, who, when they reach the
reign of Qaeen Victoria make a brief reference to the
prosperity which characterises it and conclude with
the sentiment, "Long may She Reign." And as
regards the sentiment I may well follow in their
steps, and my readers will echo the hope that for
long may he reign o'er the Warwickshire Hounds.
But he must by no means^'^be brought on to the stage
and taken off again without some reference to what he
has done for the hunt, and the debt which the country
owes him in consequence. Mr. Lucy resigned the His accession to
ofiBce of master in 1876 and Lord|,Willoughby De
Broke consented to fill the vacant post, -giving four
days a week with a subscription of £2,200, of which he
returned £500 to the hunt committee. His father, as
Mr. Robert John Barnard and as the ninth Lord
Willoughby ])e Broke, had been a notable master, as
my readers remember, in earlier days, and his Lordship

174 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord has worthily followed in his father's steps. He may

Broke. ^^ said to have been born and bred to the sport and to

the hunt, as he was born during his father's first

mastership, and long before he went to Eton
had taken to the noble science, and was a
straight-goer in the field. When he afterwards went
to Oxford he had plenty of opportunity to feed his
love of hunting, and he rode in the last Oxford and
Cambridge Steeplechases ever run. He also handled

His sport. the willow successfully, and was a prominent member

of the I Zingari team that went to Ireland. He has
plied the rod too, and Norwegian waters have known
him more than once, while his name has also been well-
known at Hurlingham and the Gun Club. But all
these play inferior parts to the one great sport. It is
foxhunting, and fox-hunting alone, in which Lord
Willoughby finds the desire of his heart. The question
as to which is our national sport presents no vexed
problem to Lord Willoughby's mind, for he is one of
those ardent followers of the chase who find the diffi-
culty more in conceiving what an existence would be
like in a nation without fox-hunting. This being so,
who else could be more fitted for the vacant master-
ship? Lord Willoughby was not slow to show the
hunt that they had the right man in the right place.
He is a bold and judicious rider, always in the van, and
always anxious to show sport. His men are splendidly
mounted, and his handling of the hounds all that can
be desired. His Lordship married in 1869 Geraldine,

Lady daughter of Mr. Smith Barry, of Marbury Hall,

Willoughby. QjjQghire, and Fota Island, Co. Cork, and without
flattery I must speak of her Ladyship as one of the
best horsewomen ever seen in the country. She has
followed couspicuously some of the stiffest runs, and is
ardently attached to the pack and its afifairs.

Lord Willoughby immediately determined to devote
all his energies to bringing the pack to the pink of per-
fection, and how well he has succeeded is within the

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

175

knowledge of my readers. Before referring, however, yv^jlloughby de
to kennel matters I will venture to give a few Broke.

samples of his sport, as I have done with his pre-
decessors. But I must give my readers a warning. I
am now on more familiar ground. The nearer we get
to the time of writing the better known are the doings
of the pack. I cannot, of course, pretend to give any-
thing like an exhaustive account of the sport of the
past fifteen years, neither have I pretended to do so in
the case of earlier periods. The runs I have given are
simply pickings to show the class of runs enjoyed at
the time, and if I venture to do the same with Lord
Willoughby's period, my readers must not be disap-
pointed if I omit some admirable piece of work which
they have taken part in. My space is limited and I
must content myself with pickings from here and there.

Lord Willoughby de Broke in taking oflBce retained Sport in 1876.
Charles Orvis as huntsman, with W. Shepherd
and J. Boore as whips. He began with a good
cubbing, foxes being plentiful, and his first season
(1876-7) can boast of several good specimens of sport.
They had a good run from Shuckburgh on the 7th of
December, and ended the old year with a fast thing
from Ufton Wood on the afternoon of the 29th, finish-
ing at Cubbington Heath. On the 15th of March they
had a fast twenty-five minutes from Calcot Spinney,
but the country was very heavy all the spring and scent
by no means of the first quality.

The season 1877-8 was exceptionally good. On the

15th of November, 1877, they met at Birdingbury Hall

and had a very fair run, and on the 29th another was

enjoyed from Calcot Spinney. Towards the end of

December they had a very fast thirty minutes from

Watergall, and on the 17th of that month they had a

capital run from Debdale to Stoneleigh Deer Park.

Friday, December 21st, 1877, was one of the days A memorable
u- u 1- • ^u r i.u u -^ .i.u u dayfromWrox-

which live in the memory of those who saw it, although ton.

Sport in
1877-8.

176

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WlLLOUGHBY DE

Broke.

From Page's
Gorse to Idli-
cote»

on this occasion the glory of the day came, as is often
the case, late, and many had departed for home. The
meet was VVroxton Abbey, and there was a large field.
A VVroxton fox met his fate in the gardens. Another
from Chamberlin's Gorse gave a gallant forty-five
minutes over the valley nearly to Farnborough and
back, leaving MoUington to the right, and pointing for
White's Bushes at a very fast pace. Making again for
Wroxton, he saved his brush in a drain about a mile from
the covert where he was found. The country was good,
but a brook early in the run prevented all except the
few who could take it from seeing exactly what was
done. But this was not the work of the day. In the
middle of the afternoon, from Page's Gorse, in the
neighbourhood of Farnborough, there stole away a fox
of the grand old sort. At a tremendous pace, the bitch
pack followed up the hill and over the Banbury road,
and near to White's Bushes. Then again over the
valley, and without a check to Edgehill, along the
crest of which they ran. Then ho sank the vale,
and settled for a good stiff line over that glorious bit
of country as his final effort. Some three or four miles
of the vale did he give them, or rather the few who
had been able to survive, before darkness descended and
saved him near Idlicote. The distance from Page's
Gorse to Idlicote is nine miles on the map,
and ten minutes under the hour was the time taken.
Lord Willoughby, Sir C. Mordaunt, Mr. John Mor-
daunt, Mr. George Norris, Mr. Bacchus, Mr. Frank
Wood, and Mr. Merry, were those at the finish. Orvis
was in his place throughout. One who rode it says of
it that it was one of the finest the old hunt can boast
of. Lady Willoughby was not in the big run as she
was amongst those who had gone home. She had,
however, ridden exceedingly well throughout the
earlier run on Dynamite, which was sold at Tattersall's
a few months later for 250gs.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

177

The year 1878 was commenced well with a fine run
of forty-five minutes from Calcot Spinney to Shuck-
burgh, on the^4th of January, in which the Master and
his brother, the Hon. and Rev. W. R. Verney, with
Captain Pritchard-Rayner, were in front throughout.
On the 24th they met at Lower Shuckburgh, when the
Empress of Austria, piloted by Captain Middleton,
with Prince Lichtenstein and Count Almassy,
was present. On this day there was nothing
done in the morning, but in the afternoon they
found at Shuckburgh Hall and got away in the
direction of Staverton Wood ; but he turned
to the left, and went straight for Flecknoe, where
he turned to the right by the village, and went over
those splendid grass fields between Braunston and
Staverton. The Braunston Brook was crossed and
the line laid for Welton Place in the Pytchley coun-
try, which was seven miles, as the bird flies, from
Shuckburgh. Here the fox saved bis brush in the open
earths.

On April 2nd, 1878, Orvia was presented with a
silver horn and a purse of 230 sovereigns in recogni-
tion of his indefatigable exertions to show sport, and
his courteous behaviour to all the field during the
seven or eight years he had hunted " the Warwick-
shire. " The money was presented in a purple velvet
purse beautifully embroidered, the work of Lady
Willoughby de Broke. The presentation was made by
Lord Camperdown at a dinner at the White Lion
Hotel, Banbury.

In May, 1878, Shepherd left and went as first whip to
Sir Bache Cunard, and J. Boore and C. Loman whip-
ped-in to Orvis. The season 1878-9 was productive of
some admirable sport. Hardly a week passed with-
out a run of the real good sort, which must have
gladdened the heart of the noble master, and been an
ample reward for the untiring exertion he had made to

Lord

Willoughby de

Broke.

The Empress of
Austria in the
Shuckburgh
countr}'.

Presentation
Orvis.

to

Sport in
1878-9.

178

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY DE

Broke.

' Warwickshire
Fridays."

An afternoon fox
from Chester-
ton Wood.

improve the pack. That his efforts were not in vain
the capital and name-making runs which Warwickshire
showed that season are strong evidence. On the Fridays
the meets were generally on the Banbury side, where
good grass lands are to be found, and the sport on these
days became proverbial, '* the Warwickshire Fridays "
being quite features in local hunting arrangements. Here
are one or two specimens of the sport of that season.
It opened on November 4th, at Charlecote Park.
Whatever might be said of the work of the morniug the
opening day was very far from being a mere social out-
ing. In the afternoon there came a piece of work
which would delight the heart of the most fastidious
sportsman, flow often it happens that the real work
of the day comes when the wind has been already taken
out of horse and man by the morning's work, and
possibly no second horse is forthcoming. It
was an afternoon fox found in Chesterton Wood
that gave them the noble run I am about, very
scantily, I am afraid, to put into black and white.
After leaving the Wood he made Bawcutt's cover his
point, and from here took them over the wind-trying
Burton Hills, by Avon Dassett, to MoUington Wood.
Then he sank the valley of the Cherwell by Oropredy,
near to which station the hounds were stopped, every
horse being done. This is the bare outline of a
run of twelve miles, the characteristics of
the country being hill and dale, which even early in
the day would test severely the enduring powers of
man and steed. A run over very much the same line
was had on the 11th of the same month. It originated
from Bishop's Gorse, and only the noble master,
Mr. Muntz, and Orvis could live for the first twenty
minutes, when they ran to Bawcutt's Covert, whence
they turned in the direction of the Burton Hills and
hunted at a slower pace to Edgcote, the floods being
out in that direction.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

170

Ou November 21st they met at Pillertoa Toll Bar,
and had an exceedingly good day. They found in
Oxhill Gorse and ran by Idlicote, over the Stour, leav-
ing Shipston just on the right, and killing in the open
close to Todenham. It was a splendid run, all grass,
the time being one hour and ten minutes. The field
were all far and wide, barely a dozen being up at the
death. The afternoon was also worth remembering, a
fox from Spencer's Gorse giving them a good hour and
quarter to Sibford, where the pack was stopped in the
dark. They were also destined to meet with good
sport the following day. Broughton Castle was the
fixture and the first fox was run to ground in ten
minutes. The ever to be depended upon Claydon Hill,
however, was ready with another, who gave them one
hour and a half at a good pace, finally giving up his
brush near Clattercote Reservoir in the Bicester
country. A third was forthcoming in Angel's Piece,
and after running a ring of one hour, he, too, was
pulled down by the gallant pack.

On February 7th, 1879, the meet was Wroxton, a
hard and long run was the work of the afternoon. A
long frost had made the steeds unfit and the going bad,
and the hard piece of work, which began in Chamber-
lin's Gorse and lasted for two hours, told on every
horse. The master at last got up to his hounds, and
stopped them near Farnborough. It was thought they
had changed more than once.

April 8th was another very severe day. The meet
was the far-away one of Coughton Court. They found
at Rough Hill, and ran, leaving Coughton Park to the
left, to Weathley Wood. Through this they went and
over the open to Round Hill in Worcestershire, and
then ofi" at a great pace to Grafton Wood, a very large
wood in Lord Coventry's country. Here they were
stopped, as they were thirty-five miles away from home,
and the horses were all tired,

Lord

WlLLOUGIIBY DE

Broke.

At Pillerton and
Brouj^hton.

A hard run from
Wroxton.

A severe day
from Coughton.

180

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WlLLOUGIIBY DE

Broke.

A ?ood thing:
from Debdale.

A day from

Brous:hton.

The opening of the next season (1879-80) was not
very promising. A good day or two was enjoyed
during the latter part of the cub-hunting, but November
was very bad. The season was not, however, altogether
destitute of good things.

Some splendid sport wag obtained by those who met
the hounds atUftonWood onJanuary 8th, 188®. A finrd
at Debdale took them to Leicester'sPiece, making across
the fine grass lands as if for Stockton. At the river
Leam the field came to a stop, the time having been thirty
minutes and the pace killing. The river was not
negotiable and the hounds having charged it, got clear
away and hunted the fox alone for twenty minutes,
pulling him down two fields before they reached
Debdale. The field, much disconcerted, had to gallop
back a mile to Kite's Hard wick Bridge, wondering
where in the world the hounds had gone, and
whether they would drop in with them
again that day. The death, however, was
not entirely unwitnessed, as some stragglers fell
in with them, and prevented the entire demolition of the
fox, before Orvis, or anyone else, could get up. A small
remnant of the field appeared in about twenty
minutes. Amongst those first to get to the river were
Lord and Lady Willoughby de Broke, the Hon.
Chandos Leigh, the'^Hon. Hubert Leigh, Mr. Caine,
Mr. Boddington, and two others whose names I have
not.

The next day's sport was also excellent, and as the
meet was at Broughton, it goes without saying, as the
French have it, that the field was of the same quality.
Broughton covert was blank, but Claydon Hill did
not fail; and a good one from there went for Shut-
ford, and after a ring of thirty-five minutes was
killed in Wroxton Park, the pace having been good
throughout. A covert in the Park gave them game,
which sent them spinning away, with a good promise

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

181

which was not fulfilled, as he was soon lost.
Chamberlin's Gorse was moved to next, and made
amends by providing them with a rattling one, which
went by Mr. Falkner's farm at Bourton, and on to
Angel's Piece, where two or three failed to negotiate
the brook. He went to earth at Hanwell, but not
caring to be dislodged, made an exit on his own
account, by some channel of which the field was igno-
rant, taking them off at a good spin to Bourton
Fields. He again earthed, but this time was killed ;
in the presence of only a few, however, as darkness had
descended, and sent many home.

In 1881 Orvis left for " the Holderness," and Lord
Willoughby de Broke decided to hunt the country
himself, with the assistance of Jack Boore as kennel
huntsman, with what success my readers are all
familiar.

A couple of hours' work, which was calculated to
take the smartness out of the riders, was that which
began with a meet at Kioeton on Friday, November
24th, 1882. Kineton Holt was blank as also was the
Oaks Plantation, but at Watts' Gorse, one, evidently of
the good old sort, was found and soon persuaded
to move off. With the right pace he gave them
first of all the Radway Brook and ran up to Knole
End, and without waiting passed to Arlescote Spinney
arid went over Camp Lane and down Ratley Bottoms.
From here he turned towards Upton House and went
on to the Sun Rising. Here he took a short rest by
laying down at the bottom of the covert, but did not
tarry long, and, keeping one field below the hill, ran till
he got about half-way between the Round House and
Miller's Gorse, when he topped the hill, crossed the
road, and left Ratley to the right. Then he went down
to the Hornton Brook and up the hill as if for Horley.
Then bearing to the right, he crossed the Hor)ey
Brook to the Lankcomb earths, which he found shut
against him. On he went across the Banbury Road,

Lord

Willoughby db

Broke.

Lord Willoughby
takes the horn.

A notable day
from Kineton.

182

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WiLIiOUGHBY DE

Broke.

A clinkiner day
from Idlicote.

and, leaving Shotteswell to the right, ran down to
Angel's Piece. He was now pressed hard, but
struggled bravely and saved his brush in a drain in
Mollington Village. The distance must have been 20
miles and the pace was good all the time, which, as I
stated in starting, was two hours. But this was not
all the work of the day. After a brief rest, the
noble master went on to Page's Gorse and a fox
went away at the bottom as if for Angel's Piece.
Being headed he took the vale below Shotteswell,
bearing up to the right of Hanwell and down nearly
to the Banbury Workhouse. He then crossed the
road and went over to the brickyards on the Broughton
Road, when he turned back to Withycombe Covert,
and he gave up his brush. These two runs made
up a day well worth remembering. They were the
best hunting runs seen for a long time.

Tuesday, January 16th, 1883, was a clinking day.
The meet was at Idlicote and, a new covert at Oxhill
was the first to provide sport. He went out for
Kirby's farm, across Bourland Farm, away past Piller-
ton Spinneys, and by Fulready to Idlicote. Then away
for Whatcote, and leaving this to his left, he went
by Kirby's Farm and straight up to Compton Wyni-
ates Windmill. Here he was headed and turned
across the bottoms by Tysoe, and went straight
on, by the old Lodge, to the Sun Rising, where he
was run into and killed. The time was two hours and
seventeen minutes. The work was hard and falls
numerous, and the brook, which was presented in the
course of the run, caused seven or eight loose horses.
But, like the day given above, this was not all ; for
another find took place at Tysoe and the hounds went
off again, but at such a pace that it was impossible to
live with them. No one was in it for a mile and a
half, when Lord Willoughby got up, and the fox was
killed at the Old Lodge.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

183

A capital thing on the Shuckburgh side was that
which occurred on the 25th of the same month. Ufton
Wood was the meet, and one from that place was killed
in Mr. Rice's garden, at Southam. Ladbroke was next
tried and almost as soon as the hounds were in, one of
right sort went away close to Hodnell Hill, where he
turned to the right pointing for Nun's Bushes, but, with
another turn to the right, and leaving Ladbroke
village to the left, he went at a rattling pace, over the
hill and the Welsh Road. Here he bore a bit to the
right and crossed the canal leaving Napton on the left.
Then straight over the grass and the big fences, which
are the characteristics of Shuckburgh, to that place.
Over the hill, without a pause, and on to Oatesby,
where he gave them the first check. The time up to
now was 55 minutes. Here there were fresh foxes on
foot and the line was hit ofiF, and one ran close to
Badby Wood in the Pytchley country, where he was
lost. The distance was nine miles from point to point
or about twelve as the hounds ran. It was a capital
thing and there were only a few in at the death.

The very next day was productive of a good two
hours. Broughton Castle was the fixture, and there
was a good field. An outlying fox was found near the
Broughton brook and was halloaed across the road,
pointing for Bradshaw's Mill, and ran parallel with the
brook nearly as far as]Prickett's Mill. Then he
turned over the brook for Wykham Park and went for
Crouch Hill. Turning to the right he went through
Wykham Park again, over the brook, where the lead-
ing hounds sighted him, and went away for Bloxhara.
Turning to the right he left BroughtonCastle close on the
left, and went on close to Withycombe, where he turned
short to the left as if for Wroxton. Then turning to
the right over the Banbury road between the Work-
house and the Barleymow, he went along the valley at
a rattling pace, leaving Chamberlin's [Gorse to the

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY DB

Broke.

From Ladbroke
to Badby Wood.

Acoup'eofhours
from Brough-
ton.

184 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord right and Haawell to the left. He went on at a sharp

^^B*ROKK^ "^ pace towards Angel's Piece, and, turning to the left,

made for Page's Gorse. He went on close to Shottes-

well, and just as the hounds were on him, a
snowstorm came on, and he saved his life. It was a
capital run. There was a little after-event from Page's
Gorse, but nothing to chronicle.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

185

CHAPTER XXIII.

Some sport of recent years— frosty
accident to lord willoughby.

SEASONS—

What an old sportsman called the best thing he
had known for twenty years, was the day which "the
Warwickshire " commenced at Bitham House, on
Friday, December 21, 1883. Like many other days
which have earned an excellent character, it was the
work of the after-part which gave it. There was a
large field and, in the words of the song, it was *'a
beautiful hunting morning," Reynard was found at
home in an adjacent covert, and across the hill he
went with Fenny Compton as his point. He was,
however, soon headed, and turned sharp to the left
into covert. The hounds were soon on the line again,
and a capital gallop began in earnest in the direc-
tion of Northend, over a beautiful country. Still bear-
ing to the left they pushed him along the railway,
skirting which he came over the road and bore round
for Miller's Grorse. This, however, he did not enter,
but reached Page's Gorse, which provided him
with an effective refuge. This was the end of the
first chapter of the day, and although it was a good
one, better things were in store in the second,
which opened immediately afterwards in White's
Bushes. Breaking away from here they ran straight
for Miller's Gorse, but he did not reach this, as he
turned to the right, and crossing the road went away
for Arlescote. This was comparatively slow hunting,

A good day from
Avon Dassett.

A capital line
from White's
Bushes.

186 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

WiLLouGHBY DE ^^^ ^^^^ ^" ^^^ ^^^^' ^ "^"^ ®^ ^^^^ genuiiie sort com-
Broke. menced. Below Warinington they passed at a merry

pace, and leaving Page's Gorse to the left, went over
a good line right into Mollington Wood. Here he did
not stay a moment, bat passed straight through, over
the Farnborough and Southara Roads, straight down
to Claydon Crossing. Here they had a somewhat
A narrow escape, narrow escape, as the down train was passing, and at
the same time the hounds checked. But the driver
had his iron horse well in hand, and pulled it to a
standstill while the hounds were casting. The check
was not destined to be of very long duration, and they
were soon off and ran by Claydon, over the canal and
the Aston brook, which obstacle stopped the fun for a
good many. Still keeping straight a-head this grand
fox led the field at a good pace by Appletree, over the
Daventry Road a quarter of a mile south of Chipping
Warden, and crossing the Cherwell ran into Edgcote
Park. Pushing him along the Park, they ran him into
the covert near the keeper's house. Through this he
rattled, and after executing a short ring he went to
ground exactly one hour and fifty-five minutes from
White's Bushes. The line was an exceptionally fine
one, as I need hardly remind my readers, and the
distance must have been ten miles. Taking the two
events together the hounds were running, except
for one short interval, for three hours and a half.
Among those who went well and were present at the
finish were Lord Willoughby, who throughout was in
his place with the hounds. Col. Molyneux, Capt.
Benyon, Mr. Jenkins, Major Waterhouse, Mr. G.
Norris, Mr. F. Wood, and Mr. F. Page. It is hardly
necessary to say that the stiff fences and the water
obstacles scattered the large field far and wide, and
only about a dozen were left to tell, from personal ob-
servation, what were the concluding items of one of the
finest hunting runs ever seen, and hunted as well as
hounds could possibly hunt.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

187

The opening meet of the season 1884-5 was at
Walton House on November 3rd, and produced a fine
run of just over an hour, over fully ten miles of
country. After a little skirmishing with some cubs
from the wood, a fox was started from a small spinney
on the way to Brick Hill Gorse. He went as if for
Walton Wood, but turning to the right ran a ring
round to Brick Hill to where he was found, the work
with him finishing at Combroke but with indififerent
scent. They then trotted to Pillerton Gorse, where one
of the right sort was on foot. He broke across the
Banbury and Stratford Road down to Fulready, and
then recrossed the road and pointed for Walton Wood,
and turning to the right, ran through Brick Hill»
straight on to Kineton Holt, and finally to Miller's Gorse,
Edgehill, where the hounds were whipped off in the
presence of only the noble master, Sir Charles Mordaunt,
the Hon. Susan Verney, who went well throughout,
Mr. Caine, and two gentlemen from Leamington, out
of a large field.

The run which began in Ufton Wood after a meet
at Long Itchington on Thursday, December 11th, was
one of those which grace only very occasional pages in
one's hunting diary. After knocking about for some-
thing like a quarter of an hour, he broke gallantly and
crossed the turnpike road as if for Harbury Station.
After passing Bull's farm he turned straight to the
left, crossed the Southam brook, which thinned the
field in a quick and business-like fashion, he crossed
the turnpike road just beyond the brick-kiln under
Ladbroke Hill, and leaving Ladbroke Gorse to the
right, crossed the Southam and Byfield road to the
canal near Napton. At this point a check occurred
for a minute or two, but it only seemed to have the
effect of increasing the pace. The field had been re-
duced to almost a bare half-dozen, and even the fittest
who survived could scarcely make out what was being
done, and their going was not improved by having to

Lord

WiLLOUGHHY DE

Brokk.

An opening meet
at Walton.

An exceptional
run from Ufton.

188

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

from the Ken-
nels.

Lord take the brow of Shuckburgh, which the pack tore

Broke. over, leaving the Shuckburgh Coverts to the left.

Straight to Braunston Gorse they went, but no further,

for here he entered, and, although in view, he achieved
his purpose and gave them the slip. The distance
from point to point was close on fifteen miles. The
honours of the run must fall to Mr. Caine, but the
noble master was in the whole of it and finished on a
farmer's horse. Sir Charles Mordaunt, Mr. Hibbert,
and Mr. Dalglish were also in it throughout.
A capital run A dozen miles point to point was the character of a
run from the Kennels on Friday, January 16, 1885.
Kineton Holt was the first successful draw and off they
went to the Oaks and back on excellent terms. They
forced him away to the other side, and went on over
the brook, leaving Herd Hill on the right, and on near
to Oxhill. Here he turned to the right as if for Piller-
ton old covert, but leaving this on the right he went
straight to Oxhill Gorse. He, however, altered his
mind about entering and played a better card, for he
checked them in the same field. His line, however,
was soon caught up and worked towards Kirby
Farm, where another check occurred. Again they
picked it up quickly and went on, pointing for
Compton Wyniates. A turn to the right, however,
took them close to Idlicote, Bearing to the left they
crossed the Shipston Road and ascended Brailes Hill
along which they ran, but which they had pretty much
to themselves as frost and snow, which had not quite
departed, played sad pranks with the few who were
left in. They passed Sutton and Cherrington but
were caught up by Weston House, where the blood
they so richly deserved escaped them among the shrubs.
It was a capital and straight-going run down to
the south-west corner of the country.

The season 1885-6 was not a particularly lively one
being interrupted by long continued frosts as was also
the following one (1886-7). In fact one worthy follower

The Seasons
1885-6-7

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 189

of ** the Warwickshire " remarked on one occasion that „^ Lord

. , . • WlLLOUGHBT DE

the Siberian winters they were having at this time Broke.

rendered sport impossible even with a pack like theirs.

A, similarly good run to that just given, and over

the same line of country, but in the reverse direction,

was run on February 8th, 1887, when an afternoon

fox started at Compton Wyniates, was killed on the

green near Kineton, after nearly an hour's work.

Of the season 18S7-8, a day which will for a long A Shuckburgh

11 mi Thursday.

time be remembered, was a Shuckburgh Tnursday on

the loth of March. The morning could not be called
inviting, and recent snows made the country some-
what unnegotiable. Nevertheless a good number
turned up at the meet to try what could be done,
but to ride with the hounds and to ride with the field
were two widely diflferent things that day. A fox
was found at Shuckburgh, and went oflf towards
Prior's Marston, and the hounds followed, on a good
high scent and at a great pace, by Prior's Hardwick
and Stoneton to Wormleighton Hill. At this point
he, without doubt, went to ground, and the hounds,
who were all alone, indulged in some digging-out
operations on their own account. Their e£forts might
have been successful, had Reynard waited, but, no
doubt finding the quarters too warm, he passed
through the earths and went on pointing for Water-
gall. The hounds hit his line and were quickly after
him, running in view down to a small spinney
adjoining the road from Banbury to Southam. They
checked for a minute or two at the bridge and again
at Wills' Pasture. But it was not destined to be effec-
tual on the fox's side, and a quick pace was resumed
across Lower Hodnel, Lower and Upper Radbourn,
and into the parish of Hardwick, and back to *' Doles
brickyard," which, early in the run, had, through the
snowdrifts, effectually stopped the horsemen ; and,
singularly enough, it was not until this second passage

190

THE WARWICKSHIRE ftOUNDS.

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY DE

Broke.

A first-rate day
at Idlicote.

From Ufton
Badby.

that the noble master and his followers regained
their position. The hounds had the run pretty
well to themselves, for it soon afterwards came to a
conclusion with blood at Prior's Marston. But the
disappointment of the morning was more than made up
for t>y the gallant thing of the second part of the day's
work, when experience had taught the riders that they
must drive well ahead and banish ideas of *' gate-ing "
and " cutting" if they would not again lose the pack.
It was a Shuckburgh fox, and he took them at a rare
pace down to the boundary brook, and by Newbold
Grounds up to Oatesby. They still drove ahead, as if
for Badby Wood, which they reached and passed
through, and went on nearly to Preston Capes, finally
having to give him up after some twisting and turning
near Charwelton. It was, however, a capital run,
mainly a grass one, and presenting by op means easy
fencing and water-work, which latter especially made
it a lively one for a great many out.

The sport during this and the following season was
of a very good character and was well maintained, as
my readers, no doubt, know from experience.
After a good cubbing, |the season 1889-90 opened
capitally, and sport was admirable. On November
12th, the meet was Idlicote and a first-rate day
ensued. Getting the hounds on the line of a fox,
they went from Idlicote House as if Eatington Park
was his point. Two fields from here a fox jumped up in
a stubble field and went away at a clipping pace, up
the Stratford Road for some distance, and then by the
Oxhill covert, without a check, by Compton Wyniates,
Broom Hill and past Epwell White House where he
contrived to save his brush after one hour and thirty-
five minutes. From point to point the distance was
eight miles, but as houuds worked it, it was some-
where near twice that distance.

An extraordinarily good run ^was that which?took
them from Ufton Wood to Badby Wood, on Thursday

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

191

Janaary 30th, 1890. Starting in a north-easterly
direction at a great pace he ran to Long Itchington
and turning there, went to the right of Stockton and
below Napton. In this district some ringing work
occurred and the fox nearly gave them the slip, but
catching a firmer hold upon his line, they followed it
along the Shuckburgh Hills and did a rush northward
from these to Sawbridge New Covert, which they
entered and where they no doubt changed. Then
crossing the canal and leaving Shuckburgh on the right,
they went for Charwelton and turned into Fawsley
Park, Here they encountered a fresh one, which took
them direct for Badby Wood. About this place, how-
ever, the work came to an end and nothing further
could be done. The hounds were running for four
hours and must have done something like five-and-
twenty miles. The very next day they had a good
couple of hours' work, running one from Swalcliflfe
Common, near Wigginton Heath, by Bloxham, back as
if for Hook Norton, but turning to the right by the
lodge, they went by Swalcliffe Grange, with Swalcliffe
to the left, for Shutford, touching Claydon Hill and
turning into Wroxton Park, where he ringed a bit and
went back for Lower Tadmarton, getting to ground on
Wigginton Heath.

On Tuesday, February 4th, a large field met at
Mitford Bridge and finding in Bull's Gorse would
have enjoyed a capital day had it not been marred by
an accident to the noble and popular master. Lord
Willoughby fell at some rails and fractured his collar,
bone, but such is the enthusiasm which always possesses
him when a fox is before his hounds, that he got on his
horse again and rode single-handed until he saw his
sport safely to ground at Aston Hall. This mishap
kept his Lordship from his place for a short time,
during which Jack Boore handled the hounds.
One of the best bits of work which his Lordship so
missed was a day on the 7th of the same month, when

Lord

Willoughby dk

Brokk.

Accident to Lord
Willoughb}'.

192

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

%f

Lord
illoughby de
Broke.

All admirable
run from Hon-
ington.

Re-appearnce of
LordWillough-

Jack found a gallant animal of the old sort in Hon-
nington Spinney. Away he went for Idlicote House,
heading for Fulready, but changing his mind he moved
his head round for Eatington Park, and going through
the Grove and Fir Grove, passed through Alveston
Pastures, without stopping to meditate on his next
move. At Loxley he shifted his line and again crossed
the pastures, and after taking* little wind at Fir Grove,
laid it for Alscote Park. Leaving this and sinking the
vale he successfully arranged a long check and nearly
check-mated the pack, and although they picked his line
up again, another fox dipped his fingers in the pie and
considerably complicated matters, but they stuck to
their fox and displaying all the powers and qualities
of the Warwickshire pack, and being splendidly
handled by Boore,they finally pulled him down close to
Admington. The distance up to Loxley was about 17
miles and the pace was very fast. The time was two
hours and a half. Lord Willoughby re-appeared in
command at the Long Itchington meet on Thursday,
February 27th, and gave the large field which welcomed
him some capital gallops on the grass which abounds
on that side of the country.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

193

CHAPTER XXIV. AND LAST.
Dinner to Lord Wtlloughby de Broke — the

RECENT SEASON — A GREAT FROST — RUN FROM IdLI-

coTE TO Banbury— Lord Willoughby's success-
ful EFFORTS — evidence OF HIS POPULARITY —

Banbury as a hunting centre— the rank of
Warwickshire — conclusion.

Rarely, perhaps, has so large and enthusiastic a
gathering taken place to do honour to one man in the
Warwickshire country as that which nnetin the County
Hall, at Warwick, on the evening of Saturday, March
29th, 1890, to mark the esteem in which Lord
Willoughby de Broke is held, and the appreciation his
services have met with during his fourteen years of
management. Mr. E. P. R. Knott, of Fenny
Compton, occupied the chair and proposed, in most
eulogistic terms, the toast of the evening, which was
drunk amid cheers,hunting cries, and musical honours.
Over three hundred hunting men and agriculturists
came from all parts of the country to do honour to
their master. It is so fresh in the memories of my
readers that I need hardly say any more about it, but
an account of his Lordship's rule without a reference
to such testimony of popularity as this presented,
would scarcely be complete.

The season 1889-90 was a remarkably good one.
There was a lot of capital sport, 47 braces of foxes
having been killed and 27 brace run to ground.

Dinner to Lord
Willoughby de
Broke.

The Season
1889-90.

194

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WlLLOUGIIBY DK

Broke.

The Season
1890-91.

A hard season.

A great frost.

From Idlicote to
Banbury.

And now to speak of the season just past (1890-1).
But how ? Do my readers ever remember such a
season. The autumn was an iron one, and those who
attempted to see anything of the cubbing got their
bones pretty well shaken out of their bodies. But a
moist November, it was said, would put all things
right. November came, but the moisture is still a
thing of the future. When ** the Warwickshire"
kept their appointment at Goldicote on December 8th
who thought that it would be the last meet until
January 26th ? Who thought that the frost, which
had so evidently got hold of the ground on the former
date, was not going to loosen its grip until seven solid
weeks had slipped away ? Nearly two months out of
the middle of the fox-hunter's time, during which the
hunters were eating their heads oflF, and their owners
disconsolately watching the increasing degrees of frost
with never a chance of a thaw. And when
at last the face of the country was again
seen, we were not to have even then an un-
broken time of it. With the driest and hardest Feb-
ruary of recent years, and the blizzard of March,
although we had a country full of foxes ready to kill,
and one of the best packs in the land ready to kill them,
very little could be done, and the end of the season put
a not unwelcome end to the anxieties and uncertanties
which had been the foxhunter's portion. But
one piece of work which they managed to
do I must tell, and that was how, on
February 17th, they met at Idlicote, found in the
Grove, and killed their fox within a few fields of Ban-
bury town. It was a run which will long be remem-
bered by those who were in it, indeed, one rider said it
was one of the best things he had ever seen, and as be
rode it all and has seen as much of the Warwickshire
runs as most men in his time, and probably more, we
may take it that it may be ranked with some of their
best doings. After some knocking about in the

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

195

Idlicote country, their fox put on a splendid speed and Lord

, p ^ T-rr • , • T , -1 1 VVlLLOlTGIIBT DE

made for Compton Wy mates, which he passed and Broke.

ascended the hills. After a little hesitation they went

on through Epwell Plantations, to the right of

the village and over the valley to Shutford, beyond

which they viewed. Broughton then was his point.

Touching the moat he turned through the village and

went over the fields to Crouch Hill, and passing this was

pulledover in sight of the town of cakes. The time was

a little over two hours and the distance quite a dozen

miles from point to point, and^ of course, as they ran it,

more. This did not, however, end the day, for

after accepting Mr. Fane Gladwin's invitation to refresh

themselves, they moved to the keeper's wood at

Wroxton, and turning one up, ran him back to

Broughton, over the brook, by Lower Tadmarton,

rounding as if for Bloxham, but marking

him to ground one field beyond the road to

that village, after a splendid gallop of five-and-

twenty minutes. This was undoubtedly the run of a

very broken season. In the intervals, when hunting

has been possible, Warwickshire has shown that it still

has sport in it. May next season enable Lord

Willoughby's followers to draw and to taste it " direct

from the wood."

A change of masters does not always aflfect the great Lord Willough-

An after-gallop.

matter of breeding to the same extent as it may do ^^ ^^.^^^^^^^^^^^"^

other affairs of the hunt. It very often indicates not

much more than a change in the field management, but

it was not so when Lord Willoughby took " the

Warwickshire " in hand. He determined to raise

them to the pink of perfection and energetically set

about doing so. His first lists contain drafts

from " the Belvoir " and " the Brocklesby " and bear

all the evidence of a careful selection, and the sparing

of no pains in going far and wide for the introduction

of blood, which would improve the status of the

pack. How well he has succeeded their results

196

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord

WiLLOUGHBY DE

Broke.

His remarks
upon puppy -
walkers.

Presentation to
Lord Willough-
by.

An increased
subscription.

at the Peterborough shows during late years speak
louder and plainer than can my pen. When he took
the country there was a poor entry, and he was told
that the country was a bad one for walking puppies,
and that he would not be able to get thirty couples
accepted. In three years, however, he had so aroused
the interest of his neighbours, and infused his enthu-
siam for the advancement of the pack into all parts of
the country, that he found no trouble in sending out
close on ninety couples. And Lord Willoughby
has never tired of urging upon puppy-walkers
their importance in the affairs of a pack. He
has almost, on occasions, seemed to place them even
in a more important position than the master himself.
The farmers, he has said, are the backbone of every
hunt, as they are of the whole country ; and the farmers
have repeatedly displayed the esteem they feel for his
Lordship in return. There is the recent dinner just
referred to, while in March 20th. 1884, they presented
him, at the White Lion Hotel, Banbnry, with a silver-
mounted riding whip. At the annual meeting of the
hunt held not long afterwards, he was presented
with a silver horn. In 1887, Lord Willoughby had
held the reins of office for eleven years,
and had devoted the whole of his time to the hunt
without asking for any increased subscription. At the
annual meeting of that year it became apparent that
the affairs of the hunt had grown so during the period,
that the members were putting too large a tax on his
Lordship's generosity, and an increase of £700 was pro-
posed. It is evidence of the popularity his Lordship
enjoys in his country that within a month £870 was
raised. Lady North, the Hon. Mrs. North, and the
Hon. Miss North had raised a ladies' subscription,
while the farmers had also come forward and helped
substantially. This enabled the guarantee to be raised
to £2,500.

THK WAKWICKSHIKK HOUiNDS.

197

It is evident to all my readers that I am near the
end of my run. Of material, I know, there has beea
plenty untouched, but time and space are limited, and
when this is the case you must treat lightly what
you handle. I warned my readers at start that this
was only a " sketch " history, and if they have found
it but ** sketchy " in nature, they have done no more
than their author expected. Before closing I should
like to make a brief reference to the hunting-quarters
character of the town where these chapters have
first seen the light. I have before referred to Strat-
ford and Leamington in this respect, but have
not mentioned Banbury. Stratford lies rather
wide of Warwickshire meets, while to some
extent the same may be said of Leamington,
whose immediate neighbourhood is not the best of
the Warwickshire country. The Royal Spa has
advantages for other packs, I know, but for that of
which I am writing it seems to me that Banbury is
by far better suited. At all events you can generally
manage three out of their four days a week. On
Monday they are generally in the home country round
the kennels, most of which is within easy reach of Ban-
bury by road. On Tuesday they are furthest away, and,
as a rule, are on the west of their country, but this
includes the Brailes district, which is not very much
out of the way from Banbury. Thursday is the day
for the Shuckburgh side, and a convenient Great
Western slow train leaves Banbury well in time to
enable you to reach the appointment for the day.
On Friday, they are in the Banbury country, and are
meeting within a few miles of the town. In addition,
however, to these there are other packs equally
handy. The Heythrop and Grafton are generally
within reach twice in the week, while the Bicester
Saturdays are looktd upon as belonging to the town
as much as the Warwickshire Fridays. In fact, if
you and your stable can stand it, you can fre-

LORD
WlLLCUGIlB'

Broke.

Banbury as a
hunting centre.

Warwickshire
days.

Other local packs

Ids THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Lord quently manage five hunting days out of

WlLLOUGHBY DE , , . , , . r . i r! i i

Broke. •'^e six, and by going lurther a-neld,

meets of *' the Pytchley," and " the North War-

wickshire " can be added to your engagement
book. Banbury is only two hours from London by two
lines of railway, half-an-hour from Oxford and the same
from Leamington, if the sojourner cares for an occasional

■ change. "Good accommodation for man and beast,''

quarters. ^^ ^^^ old inn signs used to say, is to be found there,
the Red and White Lions being ever ready in this
respect, the whiter animal of the two being all the
more appreciative of the needs of the hunting man
and steed, as its proprietor, and, of late years, his son,
are regular attendants on the local packs, and a mount
that will carry you is always to be found in its stables.
The status of 1° an earlier page I promised to make a further

Warwickshire, remark before closing as to the position of Warwick-
shire in the list of hunting countries. At that time
Leicestershire occupied the premier place, Northamp-
tonshire being second, and Warwickshire third. Now,
my readers, what is the verdict now ! I suppose we
daren't lay a finger upon the glorified Leicestershire,
but may we transpose the second and third ? I have half
a mind to do it. Of late years especially, " the Warwick-
shire " have so gone ahead, that for speed and for
hunting capabilities I venture to maintain they can
hold their own against any. The loyalty of the in-
habitants of their country gives them plenty of sport,
and as regards the country, well, let a fox from Shuck-
burgh or Ufton settle determinedly on a line down that
side of the country, and then, when he has seen him
pulled down after a ten mile point-to-point, ask one
from Northamptonshire what he thinks of it. Or
give him a Wolford or a Whichford fox with his nose
for "the wind-breaking" hills, and learn what he
thinks of the mettle that's needed in a Warwickshire
steed.
Gonclusion. And now, though far longer delayed than I imagined

TUE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 199

it would be at the commencement, I feel that the Lord

time of conclusion has arrived, and I must say au revoir Broke.

to my readers. Through the kindness and help of

several I have been able to embody more in my work

than I saw before me at starting. To those who have

so kindly helped me, and to the many who have given

me every encouragement during my work, I can only

very inadequately express my thanks. I am glad that

through this most extraordinary winter, when hunting

has been impossible for weeks, and, of course, hunting

notes equally so, to have been able to give my readers

week by week something in their place, and if the

pleasure they have derived from reading my weekly

chapters has been but half that I have found in their

compilation, then my scribbling has had its due reward. Qood wishes.

For myself I fain would extend them, but when

these words see light May will be fortnight old, and

bunting matters should be allowed a little rest ; so

wishing that another season may find Lord VVilloughby

still at the head of " the Warwickshire " with all the

requirements and conditions of sport ready to hand ;

that prosperity may ever wait upon him and his pack,

and on all those who, throughout his country,so heartily j^„ revoir.

support him ; and that next season may bring about a

renewing of all happy old associations, I say, to each

and all of my readers, " au revoir."

200 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Appendix A.

APPENDIX A.

BOB CANNING AND MR. MORANT GALE.

The following letter by the Rev. G. Miller, of Radway,
appeared in the Banbury Guardian of January 1st,
1891.

To the Editor of the Banbury Guardian.

Sir,— To Robert Canning, of Hound's Hill, ** Castor"
is, I am sure, right in ascribing the position of ** Crack
Man " of his time in the Warwickshire hunt. Many
anecdotes I have heard my father relate of the prowess
in the hunting field of "Bob Canning," as he was
usually called, and whom he always considered to be
the very best man he had ever seen out with the
hounds.

The poem on the Epwell Hunt I have often heard
quoted, and I should very much like to know where a
copy of it could be seen.

The couplet on Mr. Edward Morant Gale, I have
always heard quoted in a slightly different way : —

A Meltonian of old, and well versed in their creed.
Who would leap at a haystack for the sake of a lead ;

And well do I remember the description given by
my father of Mr. Morant Gale's appearance after the
run, described by "Castor" as he sat by his horse with
his clothes torn to ribbons under the blackthorn hedge.
Mr. Morant assumed the name of Gale at the death of
a relative who left him a considerable fortune. He

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 201

married Eliza, daughter of Gore Townsend, Esq., of Appendix A.
Honington Hall. He held large West Indian estates,
and being interested in the Indians, he backed Moly-
neux the black prize-fighter against the well-known
Cribb. The encounter took place at Shenington Glebe
farm at the back of the Temple pond at Upton, while
the Rector of Shenington was away from home. Cribb
won the fight. After his wife's death he left Warwick-
shire and went into Hampshire. One of his most
no ted horses was Sprawlo Brazilias, commonly called
"old Sprawlo." Well do I remember Mr. Evelyn
John Shirley, a short time before his death, and my
father speaking of this horse and relating many an
anecdote of their old hunting,days, while I stood listen-
ing with intense interest.

GEORGE MILLER.

2d2

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Appendix B.

APPENDIX B.

THE GREAT RUN TO BOURTON-ON-THE-WATER,

The following letter and note on the run from Compton
Wyniates to Bourton-on-the- Water, in 1801, which
will be found on page 18, appeared in the Banbury
Guardian of January 8th and 15th, 1891, respect-
ively.

Lighthorne Rectory, Warwick,

January 2nd, 1891.

Dear Sir, — Do we not read somewhere of "ancient
runs devoid of truth." I hope ** Castor " will not fall
into the error of maintaining these if there is not
authority for them. I cannot help being sure that the
great run which he described, as commencing at
Compton Wyniates and ending at Bourton-on-the-
Water must be a mistake. Bourton-on-the- Water must
be an error, I think, for Bourton-on-the-Hill, or Little
Bourton, the other side Chamberlayne's gorse,
especially as he says that there is no record of the
names of any places which the hounds passed through
between Banbury and his Bourton. It is quite im-
possible that any one fox could go so far, and unless
they walked after him no horses could have done it
either. I should be glad if he would give his authority,
which, I suppose, is the old book, ** The Warwickshire
Hounds," and let us know if there is any corroborating
eridence. If there is not, I hold that the fox ran to

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 203

Banbury, and then on over the high road, and down the Appendix B,
valley by Chamberlayne's Gorse, which, as "Castor"
well knows, is a very natural and usual run for a fox
to take.

Yours, &c.,

W. R. VERNEY.

To the Editor of the Ba>'bury Guardian.

I must thank the Rev. G. Miller and the Hon. and
Rev. W. R. Verney for their interesting notes.
Respecting the latter gentleman's suggestion concerning
the Bourton-on-the- Water run, I am afraid I cannot
coincide with his opinion respecting the finish. There
is only a very few miles difference between Bourton-on-
the-Water and Bourton-on-the-Hill, certainly not
enough to affect the severe nature of the run. As
regards Little Bourton, I am aware that it would be a
very natural line for a fox to take, but I hold in this
case it would reduce the run too considerably. The
hounds ran for four hours and a quarter having gone a
distance of at least thirty-five miles, according to an
account given at the time by "A Veteran Foxhunter."
They were stopped by the huntsman, who had followed
them on a hack, at a quarter past five, as it was get-
ting dark. So far as we can learn none of the field
lived to the end of the run. We are told that most of
the horses were tired soon after leaving Banbury, and
"that no horse got to the stable he came from that
morning, while most of the sportsmen were compelled
to spend a night out. This would not have been likely
to have been the case had the run finished at Little
Bourton, and I really see no reason to curtail the run
to such an extent. — Castor.

204 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS.

Appendix C.

APPENDIX C.

SOME WARWICKSHIRE REMINISCENCES.

The following letter appeared in the Banbury Guardian
of April 16th, 1891.

To the Editor of the Banbury Guardian.

Dear Sir, — I have been so much interested in
"Castor's" history of foxhunting in Warwickshire
that I venture to write a few lines to notice that he
has omitted the celebrated Hillmorton run which took
place in the period when my father, the late Lord
Willoughby de Broke, then Mr. Robert Baraard, was
master. The fox was found at Hillmorton and ran
perfectly straight to the Hempton Hills in about 50
minutes, over the finest country in the world. Ned
Stevens was then huntsman. My father was riding
"Comet," who carried first him and then Stevens
through the run, and came home at night nothing the
worse. Two of my uncles, Squire Fortescue, of Fullaa-
pit, and the Rev. Fitzwilliam Taylor, of East Ogwell
Rectory, who are both alive and well, were out and
went to the end. After they got to the Hempton
Hills there was a great deal of running up and down
with a beaten fox before the fox was killed. A good
many sportsmen (?) who had been out of the real run
made too much use of their horses then ; and report
says that 18 died that night. They were bled at Dun-
church in the old barbaric fashion which pnjbably was
the cause of their deaths, if they actually took place.

THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS. 205

This shows the folly of the old system of bleeding. It Appendix C,

is the rarest thing in the world now for a hunter to die

of over exhaustion in the hunting field. When my

father got back to Compton, where he was staying, he and

my uncles dined at a small table, the large party in the

house having nearly finished dinner. The late Sir Hugh

Williams asked many questions anent the run, and when

my father said that they had killed him, got up and

waving his napkin over his head shouted, *' Victory !

Victory !" Old Lord Willoughby who was not much

of a foxhunter, though a staunch preserver, said ** Sit

down Hugh," and looking up at the old naval picture

by Loutherbourg of the battles of the Nile and

Camperdown, added," Why you make as much fuss

as if England's navy had won a great Victory. " The

late Rev. H. C. Knightley, of Combroke, was also out

and of course reached the end. He had also a dinner

party who waited dinner for him, such stern stuff

were host and guests then made of, till 10 p.m. The

head of this old fox was preserved in a glass case in the

Muniment Room at Compton Verney, and was viewed

with the greatest reverence and respect by my brother,

the present Lord Willoughby, and myself, for many

years. Alas ! it has disappeared for ever.

I may mention another run which has often been
spoken of to me by the present Sir Charles Mordaunt.
It occurred in the second mastership of the late Mr.
Spencer Lucy, and was from Ladbroke to Eydon
Gorse in forty-five minutes. In another run which
took place in Mr. Lucy's mastership, in which he
carried the horn himself, Worrall being away or un-
well, I had the good fortune to participate. He got
away after two short rings from Shuckburgh Hill and
ran to Welton Place in forty or fifty minutes. From
thence over the Kilsbury Tunnel and perfectly
straight in the direction of Market Harborough to
within three or four miles of Husband's Bosworth. I

206 THE WARWICKSHIRE HOUNDS,

Appendix C. was riding two of the best horses in England, but got a
very bad start and did not see much of the
first and best part of the run, in which the
late Mr. Stanley, of Leamington, and Squire Chamber-
layne of Stoney Thorpe, held the pride of
place. "When I got on " Corsica, " Lord Willoughby's
well known bay mare, I passed plenty of good men who
had had enough, I remember passing the late Mr.
Bolton King, who had only one horse out, as was his
custom, and I asked him which way the hounds were.
He pointed forward, and said, "I could go on, but I will
not risk killing my mare," like a good sportsman as he
was. I jumped the last fence that was jumped that
day, and, like a silly young fool, decided to go to the
Market Harborough Ball that night instead of going
home with the jiounds, which would have been, of
course, the right thing to do, I asked Mr. Lucy to leave
word at the Lodge, at Compton, that I was not coming
back, and he passed there and left my message with
old Vincent, the stud groom at eleven o'clock at night.
When I got to the ball, in Lord Melgund's dress
clothes, I found I was not half such a hero as I ex-
pected to be, and the mare was so stiff next day that I
made up my mind there and then never to sleep out
again, a vow which has been religiously kept. We
did not kill the good fox, or it would have been the
finest run that ever was seen. Mr. Lucy was riding
** Goldfinder," and of course was there ; but I cannot
remember who else got to the end.

W. R. V.

BANB URT :
PRINTED BY JOHN POTTS, 51, PARSON'S STREET.

1891.

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